A Catalog of over 5,000 Metagenome-Assembled Microbial Genomes from the Caprinae Gut Microbiota.

Most microbiome studies regarding the ruminant digestive tract have focused on the rumen microbiota, whereas only a few studies were performed on investigating the gut microbiota of ruminants, which limits our understanding of this important component. Herein, the gut microbiota of 30 Caprinae animals (sheep and goats) from six provinces in China was characterized using ultradeep (>100 Gbp per sample) metagenome shotgun sequencing. An inventory of Caprinae gut microbial species containing 5,046 metagenomic assembly genomes (MAGs) was constructed. Particularly, 2,530 of the genomes belonged to uncultured candidate species. These genomes largely expanded the genomic repository of the current microbes in the Caprinae gut. Several enzymes and biosynthetic gene clusters encoded by these Caprinae gut species were identified. In summary, our study extends the gut microbiota characteristics of Caprinae and provides a basis for future studies on animal production and animal health. IMPORTANCE We constructed a microbiota catalog containing 5,046 MAGs from Caprinae gut from six regions of China. Most of the MAGs do not overlap known databases and appear to be potentially new species. We also characterized the functional spectrum of these MAGs and analyzed the differences between different regions. Our study enriches the understanding of taxonomic, functional, and metabolic diversity of Caprinae gut microbiota. We are confident that the manuscript will be of utmost interest to a wide range of readers and be widely applied in future research.

[Effects of bone morphogenetic protein and transforming growth fractor-beta on biomechanical property for fracture healing in rabbit ulna].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of exogenous bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) on biomechanical property for ulna of fracture healing. METHODS: Thirty-six adult rabbits were made the model of right ulnar fracture and treated locally with TGF-beta/PLA, BMP/PLA, TGF-beta + BMP/PLA or PLA (as control group). Fracture healing was evaluated by measurement of the mechanical parameters and geometric parameters. RESULTS: As compared with control group, the geometric parameters, the bending broken load, the ultimate bending strength, the bending elastic modulus, the ultimate flexural strength, the flexural elastic modulus, the ultimate compressing strength, the compressing elastic modulus, and the ultimate tensile strength for ulna of fracture healing increased significantly in the treatment groups(P < 0.01). These parameters were higher in TGF-beta + BMP/PLA group than in TGF-beta/PLA group or in BMP/PLA group and in TGF-beta/PLA group than in BMP/PLA group(P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in bone density between the treatment groups and control group. CONCLUSION: Local application of exogenous TGF-beta and BMP can increase the callus formation and enhance biomechanical strength of bone after fracture healing. A combination of TGF-beta and BMP has synergetic effect in enhancing fracture healing.