Project 1.8

Data integration to derive biological networks of host gut expression and microbiota variation related to inositol phosphates, myo-inositol and P utilization in laying hens and quails

Siriluck Wimmers

There is increasing evidence that the composition of diet and life span play an important role in shaping gut microbiota composition and function which finally has a crucial impact in the development of host physiology and metabolism. Most commonly host-microbiota cross-talk occurs through metabolites of glycolysis/gluconeogenesis, propanoate, starch and sucrose metabolism, and citrate cycle pathways. Also, variable phosphorus (P) supply was shown to impact the microbiota composition.

Moreover, recent studies emphasize the role of host genetic background, as both genome and mitochondria can be targeted by microbiota. Host-microbiota relationship can also be mediated by molecules like microRNAs (miRNA) as demonstrated in recent studies. miRNAs are promising candidates for regulatory interactions between the host and the gut microbiota, due to their strong evolutionary conservation.

To draw a more comprehensive view of biological processes, experimental data based on genetic and non-genetic variations in the formation of inositol phosphate derivatives and myo-inositol by endogenous phytases, and their physiological relevance in fowl have to be integrated. Additionally, the important molecules mediating host-microbiome interactions, e.g., miRNAs will be analyzed and integrated with regulatory biological networks under different life span and dietary variables and genetic backgrounds.

This project will enable us to derive biological networks of host expression and microbiota variation related to inositol phosphates, myo-inositol and P utilization in laying hens and quails.

Results

Variation and heritability of phosphorus utilization (PU) traits were observed, indicating the general possibility of improvement. Molecular mechanisms of PU, including host and microbial effects, are still poorly understood. The most promising molecules that interact between the microbiome and host are microRNAs. In the study Ponsuksili et al. 2020 Japanese quail representing extremes for PU were selected from an F2 population for miRNA profiling of the ileal tissue and subsequent association with mRNA and microbial data of the same animals. Sixty-nine differentially expressed miRNAs were found, including 21 novel and 48 known miRNAs. Combining miRNAs and mRNAs based on correlated expression and target prediction revealed enrichment of transcripts in functional pathways involved in phosphate or bone metabolism such as RAN, estrogen receptor and Wnt signaling, and immune pathways. Out of 55 genera of microbiota, seven were found to be differentially abundant between PU groups. The study reveals molecular interactions occurring in the gut of quail which represent extremes for PU including miRNA-16-5p, miR-142b-5p, miR-148a-3p, CTDSP1, SMAD3, IGSF10, Bacteroides, and Alistipes as key indicators due to their trait-dependent differential expression and occurrence as hub-members of the network of molecular drivers of PU.

Variable plot of miRNA, mRNA, and microbiota with a link to phosphorus utilization (PU) groups. The optimal omics bio-signature consisted of 21 mRNA, 45 miRNA, and 27 microbial genera over two component sets. Brown connections indicate a positive correlation, while black connections indicate a negative correlation between the mRNA, miRNA, or microbiota. Blue and orange lines in the outer circle indicate the level of expression in either the high or the low PU group (n = 15).
Project leaders

PD Dr. Siriluck Wimmers
Research Institute for Farm Animal Biology (FBN), Dummerstorf
Institute of Genome Biology
+49 38208 68-703
E-mail

Prof. Dr. Klaus Wimmers
Research Institute for Farm Animal Biology (FBN), Dummerstorf
+49 38208 68-600
E-mail

Staff

Muhammad Arsalan Iqbal
Research Institute for Farm Animal Biology (FBN), Dummerstorf
+49 38208 68-702
E-mail

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