Integrated multi-omics to elucidate the interplay between rumen microorganisms and host metabolism in Hu sheep supplemented with herbal preparations

ABSTRACT The aim of this experiment was to study the effects of herbal preparations on serum metabolites, rumen microorganisms, and their metabolites, and the relationship between them. Hu sheep ram lambs with an average initial weight of (19.57 ± 1.56 kg) at 3 months of age were selected and random...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Chunhui Wang, Qiao Li, Xingcai Qi, Huihui Wang, Yi Wu, Keyan Ma, Juanjuan Song, Zilong Liu, Youji Ma
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: American Society for Microbiology 2025-04-01
Series:mSphere
Subjects:
Online Access:https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/msphere.00024-25
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850172024844976128
author Chunhui Wang
Qiao Li
Xingcai Qi
Huihui Wang
Yi Wu
Keyan Ma
Juanjuan Song
Zilong Liu
Youji Ma
author_facet Chunhui Wang
Qiao Li
Xingcai Qi
Huihui Wang
Yi Wu
Keyan Ma
Juanjuan Song
Zilong Liu
Youji Ma
author_sort Chunhui Wang
collection DOAJ
description ABSTRACT The aim of this experiment was to study the effects of herbal preparations on serum metabolites, rumen microorganisms, and their metabolites, and the relationship between them. Hu sheep ram lambs with an average initial weight of (19.57 ± 1.56 kg) at 3 months of age were selected and randomly divided into three groups of six lambs each. The groups were as follows: the control group (Con), which was fed the basic diet; Test I, which was fed a diet with 0.5% herbal preparations added to the concentrate; and Test II, which was fed a diet with 1% herbal preparations added to the concentrate. Also, the main component of herbal medicine is polysaccharide. The pre-experimental period was 10 days and the experimental period was 90 days. The results of the study showed that the addition of herbal preparations resulted in differences in species, abundance, and metabolic functions of rumen microorganisms. The abundance of rumen-dominant bacteria, such as Firmicutes and Proteobacteria, increased after the addition of herbal preparation, which was more conducive to rumen development. In addition, after the addition of 0.5% herbal preparation, there was an increase in the abundance of fermenting carbohydrate (CHO) and fiber-degrading bacteria (e.g., Ruminococcus and Prevotella). Herbal preparations significantly altered rumen microorganisms and serum metabolite compositions. Metabolites such as bile acids, L-glutamine, cytosine, and choline, which contribute to the antiviral and anti-inflammatory effects, nutrient metabolism, and immune responses, and increased rumen microbial activity, were increased in the rumen of the experimental group with the addition of the herbal preparations. The increase in serum metabolites, such as L-tryptophan, and the pathways of tryptophan metabolism and glutathione metabolism in animals were also significantly higher than those in Con. Prevotella and Ruminococcus were significantly positively correlated with histamine and L-arginine. The uncultured_rumen_bacterium was significantly negatively correlated with serum metabolites testosterone and guanine, but Prevotella and Ruminococcus were significantly positively correlated with both metabolite testosterone and guanine.IMPORTANCEIn this study, we investigated the changes in rumen microbes after supplementation with herbal preparations. We used 16S sequencing and metabolomics approaches to explore changes in rumen contents and serum metabolites and their interrelationships. Our findings revealed marked changes in rumen microbial profiles, including changes in species composition, abundance levels, and metabolic activities induced by herbal supplementation. The increased abundance of beneficial bacteria (e.g., fixative and proteobacteria) in the rumen was more favorable for their survival and colonization of the rumen. In addition, a surge in the abundance of fermenting carbohydrate and fiber-degrading bacteria was observed. It was also found that the addition of herbal preparations enhanced antiviral and anti-inflammatory responses, nutrient metabolism, immune function, and stimulation of rumen microbial activity as well as facilitated the acceleration of body metabolism in Hu sheep.
format Article
id doaj-art-1ee4a3bfb2444955b1c12ffe371ff093
institution OA Journals
issn 2379-5042
language English
publishDate 2025-04-01
publisher American Society for Microbiology
record_format Article
series mSphere
spelling doaj-art-1ee4a3bfb2444955b1c12ffe371ff0932025-08-20T02:20:10ZengAmerican Society for MicrobiologymSphere2379-50422025-04-0110410.1128/msphere.00024-25Integrated multi-omics to elucidate the interplay between rumen microorganisms and host metabolism in Hu sheep supplemented with herbal preparationsChunhui Wang0Qiao Li1Xingcai Qi2Huihui Wang3Yi Wu4Keyan Ma5Juanjuan Song6Zilong Liu7Youji Ma8College of Animal Science and Technology, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, ChinaCollege of Animal Science and Technology, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, ChinaCollege of Animal Science and Technology, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, ChinaCollege of Animal Science and Technology, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, ChinaCollege of Animal Science and Technology, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, ChinaCollege of Animal Science and Technology, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, ChinaCollege of Animal Science and Technology, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, ChinaCollege of Animal Science and Technology, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, ChinaCollege of Animal Science and Technology, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, ChinaABSTRACT The aim of this experiment was to study the effects of herbal preparations on serum metabolites, rumen microorganisms, and their metabolites, and the relationship between them. Hu sheep ram lambs with an average initial weight of (19.57 ± 1.56 kg) at 3 months of age were selected and randomly divided into three groups of six lambs each. The groups were as follows: the control group (Con), which was fed the basic diet; Test I, which was fed a diet with 0.5% herbal preparations added to the concentrate; and Test II, which was fed a diet with 1% herbal preparations added to the concentrate. Also, the main component of herbal medicine is polysaccharide. The pre-experimental period was 10 days and the experimental period was 90 days. The results of the study showed that the addition of herbal preparations resulted in differences in species, abundance, and metabolic functions of rumen microorganisms. The abundance of rumen-dominant bacteria, such as Firmicutes and Proteobacteria, increased after the addition of herbal preparation, which was more conducive to rumen development. In addition, after the addition of 0.5% herbal preparation, there was an increase in the abundance of fermenting carbohydrate (CHO) and fiber-degrading bacteria (e.g., Ruminococcus and Prevotella). Herbal preparations significantly altered rumen microorganisms and serum metabolite compositions. Metabolites such as bile acids, L-glutamine, cytosine, and choline, which contribute to the antiviral and anti-inflammatory effects, nutrient metabolism, and immune responses, and increased rumen microbial activity, were increased in the rumen of the experimental group with the addition of the herbal preparations. The increase in serum metabolites, such as L-tryptophan, and the pathways of tryptophan metabolism and glutathione metabolism in animals were also significantly higher than those in Con. Prevotella and Ruminococcus were significantly positively correlated with histamine and L-arginine. The uncultured_rumen_bacterium was significantly negatively correlated with serum metabolites testosterone and guanine, but Prevotella and Ruminococcus were significantly positively correlated with both metabolite testosterone and guanine.IMPORTANCEIn this study, we investigated the changes in rumen microbes after supplementation with herbal preparations. We used 16S sequencing and metabolomics approaches to explore changes in rumen contents and serum metabolites and their interrelationships. Our findings revealed marked changes in rumen microbial profiles, including changes in species composition, abundance levels, and metabolic activities induced by herbal supplementation. The increased abundance of beneficial bacteria (e.g., fixative and proteobacteria) in the rumen was more favorable for their survival and colonization of the rumen. In addition, a surge in the abundance of fermenting carbohydrate and fiber-degrading bacteria was observed. It was also found that the addition of herbal preparations enhanced antiviral and anti-inflammatory responses, nutrient metabolism, immune function, and stimulation of rumen microbial activity as well as facilitated the acceleration of body metabolism in Hu sheep.https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/msphere.00024-25rumen microorganismsrumen metabolomeserum metabolome
spellingShingle Chunhui Wang
Qiao Li
Xingcai Qi
Huihui Wang
Yi Wu
Keyan Ma
Juanjuan Song
Zilong Liu
Youji Ma
Integrated multi-omics to elucidate the interplay between rumen microorganisms and host metabolism in Hu sheep supplemented with herbal preparations
mSphere
rumen microorganisms
rumen metabolome
serum metabolome
title Integrated multi-omics to elucidate the interplay between rumen microorganisms and host metabolism in Hu sheep supplemented with herbal preparations
title_full Integrated multi-omics to elucidate the interplay between rumen microorganisms and host metabolism in Hu sheep supplemented with herbal preparations
title_fullStr Integrated multi-omics to elucidate the interplay between rumen microorganisms and host metabolism in Hu sheep supplemented with herbal preparations
title_full_unstemmed Integrated multi-omics to elucidate the interplay between rumen microorganisms and host metabolism in Hu sheep supplemented with herbal preparations
title_short Integrated multi-omics to elucidate the interplay between rumen microorganisms and host metabolism in Hu sheep supplemented with herbal preparations
title_sort integrated multi omics to elucidate the interplay between rumen microorganisms and host metabolism in hu sheep supplemented with herbal preparations
topic rumen microorganisms
rumen metabolome
serum metabolome
url https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/msphere.00024-25
work_keys_str_mv AT chunhuiwang integratedmultiomicstoelucidatetheinterplaybetweenrumenmicroorganismsandhostmetabolisminhusheepsupplementedwithherbalpreparations
AT qiaoli integratedmultiomicstoelucidatetheinterplaybetweenrumenmicroorganismsandhostmetabolisminhusheepsupplementedwithherbalpreparations
AT xingcaiqi integratedmultiomicstoelucidatetheinterplaybetweenrumenmicroorganismsandhostmetabolisminhusheepsupplementedwithherbalpreparations
AT huihuiwang integratedmultiomicstoelucidatetheinterplaybetweenrumenmicroorganismsandhostmetabolisminhusheepsupplementedwithherbalpreparations
AT yiwu integratedmultiomicstoelucidatetheinterplaybetweenrumenmicroorganismsandhostmetabolisminhusheepsupplementedwithherbalpreparations
AT keyanma integratedmultiomicstoelucidatetheinterplaybetweenrumenmicroorganismsandhostmetabolisminhusheepsupplementedwithherbalpreparations
AT juanjuansong integratedmultiomicstoelucidatetheinterplaybetweenrumenmicroorganismsandhostmetabolisminhusheepsupplementedwithherbalpreparations
AT zilongliu integratedmultiomicstoelucidatetheinterplaybetweenrumenmicroorganismsandhostmetabolisminhusheepsupplementedwithherbalpreparations
AT youjima integratedmultiomicstoelucidatetheinterplaybetweenrumenmicroorganismsandhostmetabolisminhusheepsupplementedwithherbalpreparations