The gut microbiota-immune-brain axis in a wild vertebrate: dynamic interactions and health impacts

Pereira, Hugo; Hoffman, Joseph I. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5895-8949; Krüger, Oliver; Czirják, Gábor Á.; Rinaud, Tony; Ottensmann, Meinolf; Gladow, Kai-Philipp; Caspers, Barbara A.; Maraci, Öncü; Kaiser, Sylvia; Chakarov, Nayden. 2024 The gut microbiota-immune-brain axis in a wild vertebrate: dynamic interactions and health impacts. Frontiers in Microbiology, 15, 1413976. 16, pp. 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1413976

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Text (Open Access) Copyright © 2024 Pereira, Hoffman, Krüger, Czirják, Rinaud, Ottensmann, Gladow, Caspers, Maraci, Kaiser and Chakarov. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms. fmicb-15-1413976.pdf - Published Version Available under License Creative Commons Attribution 4.0. Download (1MB) | Preview

Abstract/Summary

The gut microbiota-immune-brain axis is a feedback network which influences diverse physiological processes and plays a pivotal role in overall health and wellbeing. Although research in humans and laboratory mice has shed light into the associations and mechanisms governing this communication network, evidence of such interactions in wild, especially in young animals, is lacking. We therefore investigated these interactions during early development in a population of common buzzards (Buteo buteo) and their effects on individual condition. In a longitudinal study, we used a multi-marker approach to establish potential links between the bacterial and eukaryotic gut microbiota, a panel of immune assays and feather corticosterone measurements as a proxy for long-term stress. Using Bayesian structural equation modeling, we found no support for feedback between gut microbial diversity and immune or stress parameters. However, we did find strong relationships in the feedback network. Immunity was negatively correlated with corticosterone levels, and microbial diversity was positively associated with nestling body condition. Furthermore, corticosterone levels and eukaryotic microbiota diversity decreased with age while immune activity increased. The absence of conclusive support for the microbiota-immune-brain axis in common buzzard nestlings, coupled with the evidence for stress mediated immunosuppression, suggests a dominating role of stress-dominated maturation of the immune system during early development. Confounding factors inherent to wild systems and developing animals might override associations known from adult laboratory model subjects. The positive association between microbial diversity and body condition indicates the potential health benefits of possessing a diverse and stable microbiota.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	10.3389/fmicb.2024.1413976
ISSN:	1664302X
Additional Keywords:	eukaryotic microbiota, bacterial microbiota, stress, immune system, body condition, longitudinal study, Buteo buteo
Date made live:	30 Sep 2024 15:12 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/538114

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