Characterisation of gut microbiota in Ossabaw and Göttingen minipigs as models of obesity and metabolic syndrome - PubMed (original) (raw)

Characterisation of gut microbiota in Ossabaw and Göttingen minipigs as models of obesity and metabolic syndrome

Rebecca Pedersen et al. PLoS One. 2013.

Abstract

Background: Recent evidence suggests that the gut microbiota is an important contributing factor to obesity and obesity related metabolic disorders, known as the metabolic syndrome. The aim of this study was to characterise the intestinal microbiota in two pig models of obesity namely Göttingen minipigs and the Ossabaw minipigs.

Methods and findings: The cecal, ileal and colonic microbiota from lean and obese Osabaw and Göttingen minipigs were investigated by Illumina-based sequencing and by high throughput qPCR, targeting the 16S rRNA gene in different phylogenetic groups of bacteria. The weight gain through the study was significant in obese Göttingen and Ossabaw minipigs. The lean Göttingen minipigs' cecal microbiota contained significantly higher abundance of Firmicutes (P<0.006), Akkermensia (P<0.01) and Methanovibribacter (P<0.01) than obese Göttingen minipigs. The obese Göttingen cecum had higher abundances of the phyla Spirochaetes (P<0.03), Tenericutes (P<0.004), Verrucomicrobia (P<0.005) and the genus Bacteroides (P<0.001) compared to lean minipigs. The relative proportion of Clostridium cluster XIV was 7.6-fold higher in cecal microbiota of obese Göttingen minipigs as compared to lean. Obese Ossabaw minipigs had a higher abundance of Firmicutes in terminal ileum and lower abundance of Bacteroidetes in colon than lean Ossabaw minipigs (P<0.01). Obese Ossabaws had significantly lower abundances of the genera Prevotella and Lactobacillus and higher abundance of Clostridium in their colon than the lean Ossabaws. Overall, the Göttingen and Ossabaw minipigs displayed different microbial communities in response to diet-induced obesity in the different sections of their intestine.

Conclusion: Obesity-related changes in the composition of the gut microbiota were found in lean versus obese Göttingen and Ossabaw minipigs. In both pig models diet seems to be the defining factor that shapes the gut microbiota as observed by changes in different bacteria divisions between lean and obese minipigs.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Competing Interests: The characterisation of Göttingen minipigs and Ossabaw minipigs has only been possible due to collaborations between research groups at Copenhagen University, Novo Nordisk A/S and Indiana University School of Medicine. There are no patents, products in development or marketed products to declare. This does not alter the authors’ adherence to all PLOS ONE policies on sharing data and materials, as detailed online in the guide for authors.

Figures

Figure 1

Figure 1. Abundance of phyla in colonic and cecal microbiota of lean and obese Göttingen minipigs (A–C).

Different phyla in colon and cecum of lean and obese Göttingen minipigs. The error bars represent standard deviations.

Figure 2

Figure 2. Abundance of different bacterial families in colonic and cecal microbiota of lean and obese Göttingen minipigs.

Different families in colon and cecum of lean and obese Göttingen minipigs. Parentheses indicate unknown family.

Figure 3

Figure 3. Abundance of different genera in colonic and cecal microbiota of lean and obese Göttingen minipigs.

Different genera in colon and cecum of lean and obese Göttingen minipigs. Parentheses indicates unknown genus belonging to an order or a family.

Figure 4

Figure 4. Microbial profiles of colon vary between lean and obese (MetS) Ossabaw minipigs.

Selected phyla in terminal ileum (TI) and colon of lean and obese Ossabaw minipigs.

Figure 5

Figure 5. Different microbial profiles in microbiota of lean (Lean) and obese Ossabaw minipigs (MetS) at family level.

Different phyla in terminal ileum (TI) and colon of lean and obese Ossabaw minipigs.

Figure 6

Figure 6. Abundance of different genera in colonic and ileal microbiota of lean and obese (MetS) Ossabaw minipigs.

Selected genera in terminal ileum (TI) and colon of lean and obese Ossabaw minipigs. The unknown genera are indicated by parentheses belonging to the corresponding order or family.

Similar articles

Cited by

References

    1. WHO (2012) World Health Organization. Obesity and overweight. Fact sheet N° 311. Obesity: Preventing and managing the global epidemic. Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization. Updated May 2012. WHO Web site. Available: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs311/en/. Accessed 2012 August.
    1. Grundy SM, Brewer HB, Cleeman JI, Smith SC, Lenfant C (2004) Definition of Metabolic Syndrome. Circulation 109: 433–438. - PubMed
    1. Bäckhed F, Ding H, Wang T, Hooper LV, Koh GY, et al. (2004) The gut microbiota as an environmental factor that regulates fat storage. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 101: 15718–15723. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Bäckhed F, Manchester JK, Semenkovich CF, Gordon JI (2007) Mechanisms underlying the resistance to diet-induced obesity in germ-free mice. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 104: 979–984. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Jumpertz R, Le DS, Turnbaugh PJ, Trinidad C, Bogardus C, et al. (2011) Energy-balance studies reveal associations between gut microbes, caloric load, and nutrient absorption in humans. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 94: 58–65. - PMC - PubMed

Publication types

MeSH terms

Substances

LinkOut - more resources