AUTHOR=Yang Yongxian , Zhang Fuping , Yu Xuan , Wang Liqi , Wang Zhong 

TITLE=Integrating microbial 16S rRNA sequencing and non-targeted metabolomics to reveal sexual dimorphism of the chicken cecal microbiome and serum metabolome

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Microbiology

VOLUME=15

YEAR=2024

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2024.1403166

DOI=10.3389/fmicb.2024.1403166

ISSN=1664-302X

ABSTRACT=<sec id="sec1"><title>Background</title><p>The gut microbiome plays a key role in the formation of livestock and poultry traits via serum metabolites, and empirical evidence has indicated these traits are sex-linked.</p></sec><sec id="sec2"><title>Methods</title><p>We examined 106 chickens (54 male chickens and 52 female chickens) and analyzed cecal content samples and serum samples by 16S rRNA gene sequencing and non-targeted metabolomics, respectively.</p></sec><sec id="sec3"><title>Results</title><p>The cecal microbiome of female chickens was more stable and more complex than that of the male chickens. <italic>Lactobacillus</italic> and <italic>Family XIII UCG-001</italic> were enriched in male chickens, while <italic>Eubacterium_nodatum_group</italic>, <italic>Blautia</italic>, unclassified_Anaerovoraceae, <italic>Romboutsia</italic>, <italic>Lachnoclostridium,</italic> and norank_Muribaculaceae were enriched in female chickens. Thirty-seven differential metabolites were identified in positive mode and 13 in negative mode, showing sex differences. Sphingomyelin metabolites possessed the strongest association with cecal microbes, while 11β-hydroxytestosterone showed a negative correlation with <italic>Blautia</italic>.</p></sec><sec id="sec4"><title>Conclusion</title><p>These results support the role of sexual dimorphism of the cecal microbiome and metabolome and implicate specific gender factors associated with production performance in chickens.</p></sec>