Evolution of the marsupial gut microbiome and adaptation to eucalypt toxins

桉树叶是包括考拉在内的一些有袋动物的全部或部分食物。肠道微生物群协助这些叶食性动物耐受桉树毒素的能力，尽管目前对这一过程的理解是初步的。该项目旨在通过与不能消化桉树叶子的双齿兽亲属进行比较分析，使用不依赖于培养的分子方法来识别和表征参与植物化学解毒的肠道种群。这将突出有毒叶食性动物肠道微生物群的进化趋同，并揭示微生物对桉树毒素的反应和代谢机制。有袋动物消化功能的更广泛的进化背景将有助于正在进行的保护工作。

Eucalyptus leaves comprise all or part of the diet of some marsupials including koalas. Gut microbiota assist in the ability of these folivores to tolerate eucalyptus toxins although present understanding of this process is rudimentary. This project aims to use culture-independent molecular methods to identify and characterise gut populations involved in phytochemical detoxification by comparative analysis with diprotodont relatives that are not capable of digesting eucalyptus leaves. This will highlight evolutionary convergence of gut microbiomes in toxic folivores and reveal mechanisms by which microorganisms respond to and metabolise eucalypt toxins. A broader evolutionary context of marsupial digestive function will assist in ongoing conservation efforts.