Early-life Factors Shaping the Gut Microbiome of Young Birds

Jenn Hoskins
15th May, 2024

Early-life Factors Shaping the Gut Microbiome of Young Birds

Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo)

Photo adapted from: Bin Aden / CC BY (Source)

Key Findings

  • Age is a primary factor shaping the gut microbiota and microbial diversity decreased as nestlings grew older
  • The nest environment was a major predictor of microbiota composition because nestlings in the same nest had more similar microbial communities
  • The body condition of nestlings and their infection status with a blood parasite were both linked to the gut microbial community's composition
The gut microbiome – the community of bacteria, fungi, and other microorganisms living in the digestive tract – is increasingly recognised as vital for animal health. Disruptions to this community, known as dysbiosis, can have negative consequences, impacting immune function and overall wellbeing. Understanding how this microbiome develops, particularly in young animals, is crucial for understanding long-term health outcomes. While much research has focused on short-lived model organisms like mice, less is known about microbiome development in long-lived species. A recent study conducted by researchers at Bielefeld University[1] investigated the gut microbiome of young buzzards, a long-lived bird of prey, to address this knowledge gap. The study focused on wild common buzzard nestlings, tracking changes in their gut microbiome over their early developmental stages. Researchers analysed both bacterial and eukaryotic (organisms with cells containing a nucleus, including fungi and protists) communities using genetic techniques targeting specific genes – the 16S rRNA gene for bacteria and the 28S rRNA gene for eukaryotes. This allows scientists to identify the types of microbes present in a sample without needing to culture them, providing a snapshot of the microbiome’s composition. The findings revealed that the age of the nestling was a significant factor influencing the diversity and composition of the gut microbiome. As the buzzards grew, their gut microbial communities changed. Importantly, the study also highlighted the influence of the nest environment. The microbial communities, particularly the eukaryotic ones, differed depending on the specific habitat where the nest was located. This suggests that environmental factors play a role in shaping the early-life microbiome. Furthermore, the condition of the nestling – its overall health – and the presence of a blood parasite infection (Leucocytozoon) were also linked to differences in the gut microbial composition. These findings build upon earlier work demonstrating the importance of the gut microbiome in maintaining host health and preventing infection[2]. Commensal bacteria, those that normally reside in the gut, actively compete with harmful pathogens, preventing them from establishing an infection and disrupting the gut environment. The buzzard study suggests this principle applies even in wild populations and during early development. The observation that infection with a blood parasite influences the microbiome also aligns with the understanding that parasites can induce dysbiosis[3], altering the gut microbial community. The study’s emphasis on the nest environment as a predictor of microbiome composition is particularly noteworthy. It suggests that factors within the nest, such as the presence of specific microbes from the parents or the surrounding environment, contribute to the initial colonisation of the nestling gut. This early colonisation is likely critical, as the initial microbial community can influence the development of the immune system and shape the microbiome for the rest of the bird’s life. The researchers emphasize the importance of studying microbiome dynamics over time, capturing the changes that occur as an animal develops. This longitudinal approach, tracking the microbiome at different stages of development, provides a more complete picture than a single snapshot in time. The study also highlights the potential for microbial communities to serve as indicators of host health, reflecting the overall condition of the animal.

HealthGeneticsAnimal Science

References

Main Study

1) Early-life factors shaping the gut microbiota of Common buzzard nestlings

Published 14th May, 2024

https://doi.org/10.1186/s42523-024-00313-8

Related Studies

2) Commensal bacteria mediated defenses against pathogens.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coi.2014.03.003

3) Avian Malaria Parasites Modulate Gut Microbiome Assembly in Canaries.

https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms11030563


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