From gut microbiota to host genes: A dual-regulatory pathway driving body weight variation in dagu chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus)

During the growth and development of animals, there is an interaction between the gut microbiota and the host genotype. The host genotype can regulate the microbiota, and in turn, the microbiota can influence host gene expression, thereby affecting the animal's production performance. This stud...

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Main Authors: Xiaohan Li, Xueru Han, Huan Yan, Hongyan Zhu, Hongcai Wang, Desheng Li, Yumin Tian, Yuhong Su
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-06-01
Series:Poultry Science
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0032579125003062
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author Xiaohan Li
Xueru Han
Huan Yan
Hongyan Zhu
Hongcai Wang
Desheng Li
Yumin Tian
Yuhong Su
author_facet Xiaohan Li
Xueru Han
Huan Yan
Hongyan Zhu
Hongcai Wang
Desheng Li
Yumin Tian
Yuhong Su
author_sort Xiaohan Li
collection DOAJ
description During the growth and development of animals, there is an interaction between the gut microbiota and the host genotype. The host genotype can regulate the microbiota, and in turn, the microbiota can influence host gene expression, thereby affecting the animal's production performance. This study explored the dynamic interplay between the gut microbiota and host gene expression in body weight variation in Dagu chicken, an indigenous poultry genetic resource in China. We characterized mucosa-associated microbiota across four gastrointestinal segments (duodenum, jejunum, ileum, cecum) and ileocecal chyme microbiota in 12-week-old Dagu chickens stratified by divergent body weight phenotypes, while simultaneously quantifying region-specific intestinal epithelial transcriptional regulation. 16S rDNA sequencing was employed to identify Firmicutes as the predominant bacterial phylum, with notable differences in the abundance of specific genera (e.g., Ligilactobacillus and Lactobacillus) being observed between the high- or low-body-weight groups. Enhanced biosynthesis pathways were functionally predicted in heavier roosters, whereas reduced nutrient metabolism pathways were contrasted. A conserved functional concordance was observed between regionally predominant differential microbiota and the physiological specialization of corresponding intestinal niches. Functional analysis revealed that the high-body-weight group demonstrated superior capabilities in microbial biosynthesis, whereas the low-body-weight group exhibited enhanced microbial metabolic activity. NAA80 was identified as the common differentially expressed gene across all intestinal epithelial tissues. The Gene Ontology and KEGG pathway analyses revealed elevated nutrient absorption efficiency in the high-body-weight group, while the low-body-weight group demonstrated accelerated cellular renewal rates and shorter cycles. Correlation analysis identified significant associations between gut microbiota and host genes expression profiles, with the majority of correlations being positive. These results suggest a coordinated interaction between microbial communities and host genetic regulation, potentially driving phenotypic differences in body weight performance.
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spelling doaj-art-2049d0d4d8e34d60831ec1ec92a784a82025-08-20T02:02:55ZengElsevierPoultry Science0032-57912025-06-01104610506710.1016/j.psj.2025.105067From gut microbiota to host genes: A dual-regulatory pathway driving body weight variation in dagu chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus)Xiaohan Li0Xueru Han1Huan Yan2Hongyan Zhu3Hongcai Wang4Desheng Li5Yumin Tian6Yuhong Su7College of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary, Jinzhou Medical University, Jinzhou 121001, Liaoning, PR China; Liaoning Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Product Quality and Safety, Jinzhou Medical University, Jinzhou 121001, Liaoning, PR ChinaCollege of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary, Jinzhou Medical University, Jinzhou 121001, Liaoning, PR China; Liaoning Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Product Quality and Safety, Jinzhou Medical University, Jinzhou 121001, Liaoning, PR ChinaCollege of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary, Jinzhou Medical University, Jinzhou 121001, Liaoning, PR China; Liaoning Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Product Quality and Safety, Jinzhou Medical University, Jinzhou 121001, Liaoning, PR ChinaCollege of Basic Medical Science, Jinzhou Medical University, Jinzhou 121001, Liaoning, PR ChinaCollege of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary, Jinzhou Medical University, Jinzhou 121001, Liaoning, PR China; Liaoning Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Product Quality and Safety, Jinzhou Medical University, Jinzhou 121001, Liaoning, PR ChinaCollege of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary, Jinzhou Medical University, Jinzhou 121001, Liaoning, PR China; Liaoning Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Product Quality and Safety, Jinzhou Medical University, Jinzhou 121001, Liaoning, PR ChinaCollege of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary, Jinzhou Medical University, Jinzhou 121001, Liaoning, PR China; Liaoning Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Product Quality and Safety, Jinzhou Medical University, Jinzhou 121001, Liaoning, PR ChinaCollege of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary, Jinzhou Medical University, Jinzhou 121001, Liaoning, PR China; Liaoning Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Product Quality and Safety, Jinzhou Medical University, Jinzhou 121001, Liaoning, PR China; Corresponding author.During the growth and development of animals, there is an interaction between the gut microbiota and the host genotype. The host genotype can regulate the microbiota, and in turn, the microbiota can influence host gene expression, thereby affecting the animal's production performance. This study explored the dynamic interplay between the gut microbiota and host gene expression in body weight variation in Dagu chicken, an indigenous poultry genetic resource in China. We characterized mucosa-associated microbiota across four gastrointestinal segments (duodenum, jejunum, ileum, cecum) and ileocecal chyme microbiota in 12-week-old Dagu chickens stratified by divergent body weight phenotypes, while simultaneously quantifying region-specific intestinal epithelial transcriptional regulation. 16S rDNA sequencing was employed to identify Firmicutes as the predominant bacterial phylum, with notable differences in the abundance of specific genera (e.g., Ligilactobacillus and Lactobacillus) being observed between the high- or low-body-weight groups. Enhanced biosynthesis pathways were functionally predicted in heavier roosters, whereas reduced nutrient metabolism pathways were contrasted. A conserved functional concordance was observed between regionally predominant differential microbiota and the physiological specialization of corresponding intestinal niches. Functional analysis revealed that the high-body-weight group demonstrated superior capabilities in microbial biosynthesis, whereas the low-body-weight group exhibited enhanced microbial metabolic activity. NAA80 was identified as the common differentially expressed gene across all intestinal epithelial tissues. The Gene Ontology and KEGG pathway analyses revealed elevated nutrient absorption efficiency in the high-body-weight group, while the low-body-weight group demonstrated accelerated cellular renewal rates and shorter cycles. Correlation analysis identified significant associations between gut microbiota and host genes expression profiles, with the majority of correlations being positive. These results suggest a coordinated interaction between microbial communities and host genetic regulation, potentially driving phenotypic differences in body weight performance.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0032579125003062Dagu chickenmicrobiotaintestinal epitheliumgene expressionbody weight
spellingShingle Xiaohan Li
Xueru Han
Huan Yan
Hongyan Zhu
Hongcai Wang
Desheng Li
Yumin Tian
Yuhong Su
From gut microbiota to host genes: A dual-regulatory pathway driving body weight variation in dagu chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus)
Poultry Science
Dagu chicken
microbiota
intestinal epithelium
gene expression
body weight
title From gut microbiota to host genes: A dual-regulatory pathway driving body weight variation in dagu chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus)
title_full From gut microbiota to host genes: A dual-regulatory pathway driving body weight variation in dagu chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus)
title_fullStr From gut microbiota to host genes: A dual-regulatory pathway driving body weight variation in dagu chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus)
title_full_unstemmed From gut microbiota to host genes: A dual-regulatory pathway driving body weight variation in dagu chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus)
title_short From gut microbiota to host genes: A dual-regulatory pathway driving body weight variation in dagu chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus)
title_sort from gut microbiota to host genes a dual regulatory pathway driving body weight variation in dagu chicken gallus gallus domesticus
topic Dagu chicken
microbiota
intestinal epithelium
gene expression
body weight
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0032579125003062
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