The contribution of yeast to gastrointestinal microbial ecology and regulation of host physiology

酵母对胃肠道微生物生态和宿主生理调节的贡献

• 批准号: RGPIN-2019-06336
• 负责人: Willing, Benjamin
• 金额: $ 3.42万
• 依托单位: University of Alberta
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2021
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2021-01-01 至 2022-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=738850
• 关键词: contribution; yeast; gastrointestinal; microbial; ecology

Over the past two decades there has been an exceptional amount of research exploring the role of the intestinal microbiota in regulating animal physiology. Through this time it has been identified that microbes in the gastrointestinal tract contribute to host metabolism, immune development, and animal behaviour. The microbiota includes all bacteria, archaea, fungi, and viruses, however, the vast majority of microbiome research has focused on the bacterial component. The fungal population, which is largely composed of yeast, has been identified as a source of opportunistic pathogens, such as Candida albicans, however there is almost no research exploring the ecological role of yeast in the gastrointestinal tract. Yeast have been used fairly extensively as probiotics in livestock production, and the addition of yeast cell wall components to the diet has been an effective means to improve health outcomes. We hypothesize that there are host-adapted yeast that have a symbiotic relationship with the host, interact with the bacterial community, and contribute to metabolic functionality of the microbiota. The ultimate goal of the research program will be to develop evidence-based approaches to manipulate the yeast population of animals to support efficient livestock production. One objective will be to create an improved inventory of yeast that colonize the gastrointestinal tract of multiple animal species. A second key objective will be to characterize how yeast impact intestinal ecology, metabolic activity of the microbiome, and host response. This will be achieved by introduction of defined yeast populations to germ free animals that are colonized with bacterial populations, but are free of yeast. This will provide the opportunity to study the colonization dynamics of yeast, the metabolites they co-generate with bacterial populations, and the impact they have on host physiology. Colonization of yeast into germ-free animals will also provide insight into the host pathways yeast activate and repress, as well as yeast metabolic activity in the intestinal environment. A third objective will be to demonstrate whether yeast are host adapted. This will be determined by introducing yeast isolated from different animal species using competitive and non-competitive colonization experiments. This research will address important questions regarding the overall role of yeast in animal gastrointestinal microbial ecology and provide insights into how yeast can be utilized as therapeutics to support efficient animal production.

在过去的二十年里，有大量的研究探索了肠道微生物群在调节动物生理中的作用。通过这段时间，已经确定胃肠道中的微生物有助于宿主代谢，免疫发育和动物行为。微生物群包括所有细菌、古生菌、真菌和病毒，然而，绝大多数微生物组研究都集中在细菌成分上。真菌种群主要由酵母菌组成，已被确定为条件致病菌的来源，如白色念珠菌，但几乎没有研究探索酵母菌在胃肠道中的生态作用。酵母作为益生菌在畜牧生产中得到了相当广泛的应用，在饲料中添加酵母细胞壁成分是改善健康状况的有效手段。我们假设存在适应宿主的酵母，它们与宿主具有共生关系，与细菌群落相互作用，并有助于微生物群的代谢功能。该研究计划的最终目标将是开发基于证据的方法来操纵动物的酵母种群，以支持有效的牲畜生产。一个目标将是创建一个改进的库存酵母定殖胃肠道的多种动物物种。第二个关键目标将是表征酵母如何影响肠道生态，微生物群的代谢活动和宿主反应。这将通过将确定的酵母种群引入无菌动物来实现，这些动物定植有细菌种群，但没有酵母。这将为研究酵母的定植动力学、它们与细菌群体共同产生的代谢物以及它们对宿主生理的影响提供机会。酵母在无菌动物体内的定植也将有助于了解酵母激活和抑制宿主的途径，以及酵母在肠道环境中的代谢活动。第三个目标将是证明酵母是否适应宿主。这将通过引入从不同动物物种分离的酵母来确定，使用竞争和非竞争定殖实验。这项研究将解决有关酵母在动物胃肠道微生物生态中的整体作用的重要问题，并为酵母如何作为治疗药物来支持有效的动物生产提供见解。