Interaction between genetics and inulin affects host metabolism in rainbow trout fed a sustainable all plant-based diet.

Inulin affects nutrition and metabolism in many animals. Although inulin is widely used in the diet of teleosts, its mechanism of action is unknown. Here, we investigated the effect of inulin (2 %) on the intestinal microbiome and metabolism in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) selected for growth and survival when fed a 100 % plant-based diet (suave) and a control line (temoin). Metabolic responses to the two factors (line and inulin) in liver, intestine, muscle and adipose were tissue-specific, with line and interaction between the two factors influencing overall expression in liver. In the intestine, inulin and line and in muscle, line influenced the expression of metabolic genes. Microbiota between the mucus and digestive contents was significantly different, with genera from Proteobacteria being more abundant in the mucus, whereas genera from the Firmicutes and Planctomycetes being more abundant in contents. Effect of inulin and interaction between factors on the microbiome was evident in contents. The significant taxa of control and inulin-fed groups differed greatly with Streptococcus and Weissella being significantly abundant in the inulin-fed group. There was a general trend showing higher levels of all SCFA in temoin group with propionic acid levels being significantly higher. An operational taxonomic unit (OTU) belonging to the Ruminococcaceae was significantly abundant in suave. The tissue-specific correlations between OTU and gene expression may indicate the link between microbiome and metabolism. Together, these results suggest that line and inulin impact the gene expression in a tissue-specific manner, possibly driven by specific OTUs enriched in inulin-fed groups and suave.

Ontogeny of hepatic metabolism in mule ducks highlights different gene expression profiles between carbohydrate and lipid metabolic pathways.

BACKGROUND: The production of foie gras involves different metabolic pathways in the liver of overfed ducks such as lipid synthesis and carbohydrates catabolism, but the establishment of these pathways has not yet been described with precision during embryogenesis. The early environment can have short- and long-term impacts on the physiology of many animal species and can be used to influence physiological responses that is called programming. This study proposes to describe the basal hepatic metabolism at the level of mRNA in mule duck embryos in order to reveal potential interesting programming windows in the context of foie gras production. To this end, a kinetic study was designed to determine the level of expression of selected genes involved in steatosis-related liver functions throughout embryogenesis. The livers of 20 mule duck embryos were collected every 4 days from the 12th day of embryogenesis (E12) until 4 days after hatching (D4), and gene expression analysis was performed. The expression levels of 50 mRNAs were quantified for these 7 sampling points and classified into 4 major cellular pathways. RESULTS: Interestingly, most mRNAs involved in lipid metabolism are overexpressed after hatching (FASN, SCD1, ACOX1), whereas genes implicated in carbohydrate metabolism (HK1, GAPDH, GLUT1) and development (HGF, IGF, FGFR2) are predominantly overexpressed from E12 to E20. Finally, regarding cellular stress, gene expression appears quite stable throughout development, contrasting with strong expression after hatching (CYP2E1, HSBP1, HSP90AA1). CONCLUSION: For the first time we described the kinetics of hepatic ontogenesis at mRNA level in mule ducks and highlighted different expression patterns depending on the cellular pathway. These results could be particularly useful in the design of embryonic programming for the production of foie gras.

Kinetic study of the expression of genes related to hepatic steatosis, glucose and lipid metabolism, and cellular stress during overfeeding in mule ducks.

Induced by overfeeding, hepatic steatosis is a process exploited for the "foie gras" production in mule ducks. To better understand the mechanisms underlying its development, the physiological responses of mule ducks overfed with corn for a duration of 11 days were analyzed. A kinetic analysis of glucose and lipid metabolism and cell protection mechanisms was performed on 96 male mule ducks during overfeeding with three sampling times (after the 4th, the 12th, and the 22nd meal). Gene expression and protein analysis realized on the liver, muscle, and abdominal fat showed an activation of a cholesterol biosynthetic pathway during the complete overfeeding period mainly in livers with significant correlations between its weight and its cholesterolemia (r = 0.88; P < 0.0001) and between the liver weight and the hmgcr and soat1 expression (r = 0.4, P < 0.0001 and r = 0.67; P < 0.0001, respectively). Results also revealed an activation of insulin and amino acid cells signaling a pathway suggesting that ducks boost insulin sensitivity to raise glucose uptake and use via glycolysis and lipogenesis. Cellular stress analysis revealed an upregulation of key autophagy-related gene expression atg8 and sqstm1(P < 0.0001) during the complete overfeeding period, mainly in the liver, in contrast to an induction of cyp2e1(P < 0.0001), suggesting that autophagy could be suppressed during steatosis development. This study has highlighted different mechanisms enabling mule ducks to efficiently handle the starch overload by keeping its liver in a nonpathological state. Moreover, it has revealed potential biomarker candidates of hepatic steatosis as plasma cholesterol for the liver weight.

Inter genotype differences in expression of genes involved in glucose metabolism in the establishment of hepatic steatosis in Muscovy, Pekin and mule ducks.

In waterfowls, overfeeding leads to a hepatic steatosis, also called "foie gras". Our main objectives were to determine what is the share of genes involvement of glucose metabolism in the establishment of fatty liver in three genotypes of waterfowls: Muscovy (Cairina moschata), Pekin ducks (Anas platyrhynchos) and their crossbreed, the mule duck. 288 male ducks of Pekin, Muscovy and mule genotypes were reared until weeks 12 and overfed between weeks 12 and 14. We analysed gene expression at the beginning, the middle and the end of the overfeeding period in different tissues. We have shown an upregulation of glucose transporters (GLUT) in peripheral tissues (pectoralis major or adipose tissue) in Pekin ducks. In addition, GLUT2 was not found in jejunal mucosa and another GLUT seems to replace it 3 h after the meal: GLUT3. Mule ducks upregulating GLUT3 earlier compared to Pekin ducks. However, these results need further investigations. In liver, globally, Pekin ducks exhibit the highest expression of GLUT or enzymes implicated in glycolysis. The few significant variations of gene expressions in glucose metabolism between these three genotypes and the momentary specific overexpression of GLUT do not allow us to detect a lot of specific genotype differences. To conclude, the differences in response to overfeeding of Pekin, Muscovy and mule ducks, for the establishment of hepatic steatosis, cannot be only explained by the glucose metabolism at transcriptomic level.

Genes involved in the establishment of hepatic steatosis in Muscovy, Pekin and mule ducks.

Our main objectives were to determine the genes involved in the establishment of hepatic steatosis in three genotypes of palmipeds. To respond to this question, we have compared Muscovy ducks, Pekin ducks and their crossbreed the mule duck fed ad libitum or overfed. We have shown a hepatic overexpression of fatty acid synthase (FAS) and di-acyl glycerol acyl transferase 2 (DGAT2) in overfed individuals, where DGAT2 seemed to be more regulated. This increase in lipogenesis genes is associated with a decrease of lipoprotein formation in Muscovy and mule ducks, especially apolipoprotein B (ApoB) and Microsomal Triglyceride Transfer Protein (MTTP), leading to lipid accumulation in liver. In Pekin ducks, MTTP expression is upregulated suggesting a better hepatic lipids exportation. Regarding lipids re-uptake, fatty acid-binding protein 4 and very-low-density-lipoprotein receptor are overexpressed in liver of mule ducks at the end of the overfeeding period. This phenomenon puts light on a mechanism unknown until today. In fact, mule can incorporate more lipids in liver than the two other genotypes leading to an intensified hepatic steatosis. To conclude, our results confirmed the genotype variability to overfeeding. Furthermore, similar observations are already described in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in human, and ask if ducks could be an animal model to study hepatic triglyceride accumulation.

Rapid adaptation of the rainbow trout intestinal microbiota to the use of a high-starch 100% plant-based diet.

Short-term adaptation of the microbiota could promote nutrient degradation and the host health. While numerous studies are currently undertaking feeding trials using sustainable diets for the aquaculture industry, the extent to which the microbiota adapts to these novel diets is poorly described. The incorporation of carbohydrates (CHO) within a 100% plant-based diet could offer a novel, cost-effective energy source that is readily available, potentially replacing the protein component in the diets. In this study, we investigated the short-term (3 weeks) effects of a high CHO, 100% plant-based diet on the mucosal and digesta associated microbiota diversity and composition, as well as several metabolic parameters in rainbow trout. We highlighted that the mucosa is dominated by Mycoplasma (44.86%). While the diets did not have significant effects on the main phyla (Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, and Actinobacteria), after 3 weeks, a lower abundance of Bacillus genus, and higher abundances of four lactic-acid bacteria were demonstrated in digesta. In addition, no post-prandial hyperglycemia was observed with high carbohydrate intake. These results provide evidence for the rapid adaptation of the gut microbiota and host metabolism to high CHO in combination with 100% plant ingredients in rainbow trout.

Exploring the effects of dietary inulin in rainbow trout fed a high-starch, 100% plant-based diet.

BACKGROUND: High dietary carbohydrates can spare protein in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) but may affect growth and health. Inulin, a prebiotic, could have nutritional and metabolic effects, along with anti-inflammatory properties in teleosts, improving growth and welfare. We tested this hypothesis in rainbow trout by feeding them a 100% plant-based diet, which is a viable alternative to fishmeal and fish oil in aquaculture feeds. In a two-factor design, we examined the impact of inulin (2%) as well as the variation in the carbohydrates (CHO)/plant protein ratio on rainbow trout. We assessed the influence of these factors on zootechnical parameters, plasma metabolites, gut microbiota, production of short-chain fatty acids and lactic acid, as well as the expression of free-fatty acid receptor genes in the mid-intestine, intermediary liver metabolism, and immune markers in a 12-week feeding trial. RESULTS: The use of 2% inulin did not significantly change the fish intestinal microbiota, but interestingly, the high CHO/protein ratio group showed a change in intestinal microbiota and in particular the beta diversity, with 21 bacterial genera affected, including Ralstonia, Bacillus, and 11 lactic-acid producing bacteria. There were higher levels of butyric, and valeric acid in groups fed with high CHO/protein diet but not with inulin. The high CHO/protein group showed a decrease in the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines (il1b, il8, and tnfa) in liver and a lower expression of the genes coding for tight-junction proteins in mid-intestine (tjp1a and tjp3). However, the 2% inulin did not modify the expression of plasma immune markers. Finally, inulin induced a negative effect on rainbow trout growth performance irrespective of the dietary carbohydrates. CONCLUSIONS: With a 100% plant-based diet, inclusion of high levels of carbohydrates could be a promising way for fish nutrition in aquaculture through a protein sparing effect whereas the supplementation of 2% inulin does not appear to improve the use of CHO when combined with a 100% plant-based diet.

Insulin effect on lipogenesis and fat distribution in three genotypes of ducks during overfeeding.

In waterfowl, the response to overfeeding differs from one genotype to the other. Pekin ducks generally store lipids in the peripheral tissues while Muscovy and mule ducks promote hepatic lipid storage. A possible reason for these various susceptibilities to hepatic steatosis could be a difference in insulin sensitivity. We suggest a resistance to insulin in Pekin ducks. In the present work we investigate the action of insulin on glucose and lipid metabolisms for the three overfed genotypes. Regardless of the kind of genotype, all ducks appear to be sensitive to insulin: their glycemia is lower when the animals are treated with insulin. Insulin-treated Muscovy and Pekin ducks present a lower increase in total body weight (-16.5% for Muscovy; -8.3% for Pekin); and a significantly lower liver weight than the controls (-9.6% and -18.3%). The percentage of total lipids in the liver is higher in the controls than in the insulin-treated Pekin and mule ducks (respectively -40.4% and -34.7%), which means a decreased hepatic lipogenesis. Pekin ducks present a higher pectoral muscle weight when the individuals are insulin-treated (+9.7%). Lipoprotein lipase (LPL) activity appears to be significantly higher in insulin-treated Pekin and Muscovy ducks (1.39 and 3.38 times greater than controls). Insulin-treated mule ducks present a decrease of muscle and abdominal lipid storage compared to controls (-11.6% and -13.8%). In this experiment, exogenous insulin has induced an increase of lipid oxidation and has led to a less favorable use and storage of dietary glucose. The hypothesis of insulin-resistance of Pekin ducks is not verified.

The intestinal microbial composition in Greylag geese differs with steatosis induction mode: spontaneous or induced by overfeeding.

BACKGROUND: Relationships between microbial composition and steatosis are being extensively studied in mammals, and causal relations have been evidenced. In migratory birds the liver can transiently store lipids during pre-migratory and migratory phases, but little is known about the implications of the digestive microbiota in those mechanisms. The Landaise greylag goose (Anser anser) is a good model to study steatosis in migratory birds as it is domesticated, but is still, from a genetic point of view, close to its wild migratory ancestor. It also has a great ingestion capacity and a good predisposition for hepatic steatosis, whether spontaneous or induced by conventional overfeeding. The conventional (overfeeding) and alternative (spontaneous steatosis induction) systems differ considerably in duration and feed intake level and previous studies have shown that aptitudes to spontaneous steatosis are very variable. The present study thus aimed to address two issues: (i) evaluate whether microbial composition differs with steatosis-inducing mode; (ii) elucidate whether a digestive microbial signature could be associated with variable aptitudes to spontaneous liver steatosis. RESULTS: Performances, biochemical composition of the livers and microbiota differed considerably in response to steatosis stimulation. We namely identified the genus Romboutsia to be overrepresented in birds developing a spontaneous steatosis in comparison to those submitted to conventional overfeeding while the genera Ralstonia, Variovorax and Sphingomonas were underrepresented only in birds that did not develop a spontaneous steatosis compared to conventionally overfed ones, birds developing a spontaneous steatosis having intermediate values. Secondly, no overall differences in microbial composition were evidenced in association with variable aptitudes to spontaneous steatosis, although one OTU, belonging to the Lactobacillus genus, was overrepresented in birds having developed a spontaneous steatosis compared to those that had not. CONCLUSIONS: Our study is the first to evaluate the intestinal microbial composition in association with steatosis, whether spontaneous or induced by overfeeding, in geese. Steatosis induction modes were associated with distinct digestive microbial compositions. However, unlike what can be observed in mammals, no clear microbial signature associated with spontaneous steatosis level was identified.

Impacts of Embryonic Thermal Programming on the Expression of Genes Involved in Foie gras Production in Mule Ducks.

Embryonic thermal programming has been shown to improve foie gras production in overfed mule ducks. However, the mechanisms at the origin of this programming have not yet been characterized. In this study, we investigated the effect of embryonic thermal manipulation (+1°C, 16 h/24 h from embryonic (E) day 13 to E27) on the hepatic expression of genes involved in lipid and carbohydrate metabolisms, stress, cell proliferation and thyroid hormone pathways at the end of thermal manipulation and before and after overfeeding (OF) in mule ducks. Gene expression analyses were performed by classic or high throughput real-time qPCR. First, we confirmed well-known results with strong impact of OF on the expression of genes involved in lipid and carbohydrates metabolisms. Then we observed an impact of OF on the hepatic expression of genes involved in the thyroid pathway, stress and cell proliferation. Only a small number of genes showed modulation of expression related to thermal programming at the time of OF, and only one was also impacted at the end of the thermal manipulation. For the first time, we explored the molecular mechanisms of embryonic thermal programming from the end of heat treatment to the programmed adult phenotype with optimized liver metabolism.

Positive Impact of Thermal Manipulation During Embryogenesis on Foie Gras Production in Mule Ducks.

Animal studies have shown that very early life events may have programing effects on adult metabolism and health. In this study, we aim, for the first, time to elucidate the effects of embryonic thermal manipulation (TM) on the performance of overfed mule ducks, in particular for the production of foie gras (fatty liver). We designed three embryonic TMs with different protocols for increasing the incubation temperature during the second part of embryogenesis, to determine whether hepatic metabolism could be "programed" to improve its fattening response to overfeeding at the age of three months. Initial results confirm that an increase in the incubation temperature leads to faster development (observed for all treated groups compared to the control group), and a decrease in the body surface temperature at birth. Thereafter, in a very innovative way, we showed that the three TM conditions specifically increased liver weights, as well as liver lipid content after overfeeding compared to the non-TM control group. These results demonstrate that embryonic TM effectively "programs" the metabolic response to the challenge of force-feeding, resulting in increased hepatic steatosis. Finally, our goal of improving foie gras production has been achieved with three different embryonic thermal stimuli, demonstrating the high reproducibility of the method. However, this repeatability was also perceptible in the adverse effects observed on two groups treated with exactly the same cumulative temperature rise leading to a reduction in hatchability (75 and 76% vs. 82% in control), in addition to an increase in the melting rate after cooking. These results suggest that embryonic thermal programing could be an innovative and inexpensive technique for improving foie gras production, although the specific protocol (duration, level or period of temperature increase), remains to be elucidated in order to avoid adverse effects.

Probiotics Strains Modulate Gut Microbiota and Lipid Metabolism in Mule Ducks.

BACKGROUND: Livestock production should respond to societal, environmental and economic changes. Since 2006 and the ban on antibiotics as growth factors in European Union, the use of probiotics has become widespread and has demonstrated the effect of intestinal microbiota on the performance of farm animals. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of supplementation with Lactobacillus salivarius (as a probiotics strain or combined with other strains) on zootechnical performance, metabolic and immune gene expression and intestinal microbiota diversity in mule ducks using high-throughput sequencing and real-time PCR. METHOD: The mule ducks were reared for 79 days and overfed for 12 days with or without probiotics. Samples were collected at 14 (starting period) and 91 days (end of overfeeding period), 3 hours post feeding. RESULTS: Irrespective of digestive content, age, level of feed intake or supplementation with probiotics, Firmicutes, Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes were the dominant phyla in the bacterial community in mule ducks. At 14 days, both the ileal and cecal samples were dominated by Firmicutes (in particular the Clostridiales order). Overfeeding induced a shift between Clostridiales and Lactobacillales in the ileal samples whereas in the cecal samples, the relative abundance of Firmicutes decreased. Overfeeding also induced hepatic over-expression of Fatty Acid Synthase (FAS) and of the lipid transporter gene Fatty Acid Binding Protein 4 (FABP4). This increase in lipid metabolism genes is associated with a decrease in inflammatory response. CONCLUSION: Finally, probiotic supplementation had only a slight impact on gene expression and microbiota diversity, both at 14 days and after overfeeding.

Composition of Intestinal Microbiota in Two Lines of Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus Mykiss) Divergently Selected for Muscle Fat Content.

BACKGROUND: Recently, studies suggest that gut microbiota contributes to the development of obesity in mammals. In rainbow trout, little is known about the role of intestinal microbiota in host physiology. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the link between intestinal microbiota and adiposity, by high-throughput 16S RNA gene based illumina Miseq sequencing in two rainbow trout lines divergently selected for muscle lipid content. Fish from these two lines of rainbow trout are known to have a differing lipid metabolism. METHODS: Samples from the two lines (L for lean and F for fat) were collected from Midgut (M) and Hindgut (H) in juvenile fish (18 months) to compare intestinal microbiota diversity. RESULTS: Whatever the lines and intestinal localisation, Proteobacteria, Firmicutes and Actinobacteria are the dominant phyla in the bacterial community of rainbow trout (at least 97%). The results indicate that richness and diversity indexes as well as bacterial composition are comparable between all groups even though 6 specific OTUs were identified in the intestinal microbiota of fish from the fat line and 2 OTUs were specific to the microbiota of fish from the lean line. Our work contributes to a better understanding in microbial diversity in intestinal microbiota of rainbow trout. CONCLUSION: Altogether, our study indicates that no major modification of the intestinal microbiota is induced by selection for muscle lipid content and associated metabolic changes. Finally, we identified members of core microbiota in rainbow trout.

Overfeeding and genetics affect the composition of intestinal microbiota in Anas platyrhynchos (Pekin) and Cairina moschata (Muscovy) ducks.

To investigate the effect of overfeeding on the ileal and cecal microbiota of two genotypes of ducks (Pekin and Muscovy), high-throughput 16S rRNA gene-based pyrosequencing was used. The ducks were overfed for 12 days with 58% maize flour and 42% maize grain. Samples were collected before the overfeeding period (at 12 weeks), at 13 weeks, at 14 weeks, and 3 h after feeding. In parallel, ducks fed ad libitum were killed at the same ages. Whatever the digestive segment, the genotype, and the level of intake, Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes are the dominant phyla in the bacterial community of ducks (at least 80%). Before overfeeding, ileal samples were dominated by Bacilli, Clostridia, and Bacteroidia classes (≥ 70%), and cecal samples, by Bacteroidia and Clostridia classes (around 90%) in both Pekin and Muscovy ducks. The richness and diversity decreased in the ileum and increased in the ceca after overfeeding. Overfeeding triggers major changes in the ileum, whereas the ceca are less affected. Overfeeding increased the relative abundance of Clostridiaceae, Lactobacillaceae, Streptococcaceae, and Enterococcaceae families in the ileum, whereas genotype affects particularly three families: Lachnospiraceae, Bacteroidaceae, and Desulfovibrionaceae in the ceca.

Site-specific antiphagocytic function of the Photorhabdus luminescens type III secretion system during insect colonization.

Photorhabdus is an entomopathogenic bacterium belonging to the Enterobacteriaceae. The genome of the TT01 strain of Photorhabdus luminescens was recently sequenced and a large number of toxin-encoding genes were found. Genomic analysis predicted the presence on the chromosome of genes encoding a type three secretion system (TTSS), the main role of which is the delivery of effector proteins directly into eukaryotic host cells. We report here the functional characterization of the TTSS. The locus identified encodes the secretion/translocation apparatus, gene expression regulators and an effector protein - LopT - homologous to the Yersinia cysteine protease cytotoxin YopT. Heterologous expression in Yersinia demonstrated that LopT was translocated into mammal cells in an active form, as shown by the appearance of a form of the RhoA GTPase with modified electrophoretic mobility. In vitro study showed that recombinant LopT was able to release RhoA and Rac from human and insect cell membrane. In vivo assays of infection of the cutworm Spodoptera littoralis and the locust Locusta migratoria with a TT01 strain carrying a translational fusion of the lopT gene with the gfp reporter gene revealed that the lopT gene was switched on only at sites of cellular defence reactions, such as nodulation, in insects. TTSS-mutant did not induce nodule formation and underwent phagocytosis by insect macrophage cells, suggesting that the LopT effector plays an essential role in preventing phagocytosis and indicating an unexpected link between TTSS expression and the nodule reaction in insects.

Stages of infection during the tripartite interaction between Xenorhabdus nematophila, its nematode vector, and insect hosts.

Bacteria of the genus Xenorhabdus are mutually associated with entomopathogenic nematodes of the genus Steinernema and are pathogenic to a broad spectrum of insects. The nematodes act as vectors, transmitting the bacteria to insect larvae, which die within a few days of infection. We characterized the early stages of bacterial infection in the insects by constructing a constitutive green fluorescent protein (GFP)-labeled Xenorhabdus nematophila strain. We injected the GFP-labeled bacteria into insects and monitored infection. We found that the bacteria had an extracellular life cycle in the hemolymph and rapidly colonized the anterior midgut region in Spodoptera littoralis larvae. Electron microscopy showed that the bacteria occupied the extracellular matrix of connective tissues within the muscle layers of the Spodoptera midgut. We confirmed the existence of such a specific infection site in the natural route of infection by infesting Spodoptera littoralis larvae with nematodes harboring GFP-labeled Xenorhabdus. When the infective juvenile (IJ) nematodes reached the insect gut, the bacterial cells were rapidly released from the intestinal vesicle into the nematode intestine. Xenorhabdus began to escape from the anus of the nematodes when IJs were wedged in the insect intestinal wall toward the insect hemolymph. Following their release into the insect hemocoel, GFP-labeled bacteria were found only in the anterior midgut region and hemolymph of Spodoptera larvae. Comparative infection assays conducted with another insect, Locusta migratoria, also showed early bacterial colonization of connective tissues. This work shows that the extracellular matrix acts as a particular colonization site for X. nematophila within insects.

Variation in the effectors of the type III secretion system among Photorhabdus species as revealed by genomic analysis.

Entomopathogenic bacteria of the genus Photorhabdus harbor a type III secretion system. This system was probably acquired prior to the separation of the species within this genus. Furthermore, the core components of the secretion machinery are highly conserved but the predicted effectors differ between Photorhabdus luminescens and P. asymbiotica, two highly related species with different hosts.