Science. 2008 Jun 20;320(5883):1647-51. Epub 2008 May 22.

Evolution of mammals and their gut microbes.

Ley RE, Hamady M, Lozupone C, Turnbaugh PJ, Ramey RR, Bircher JS, Schlegel ML, Tucker TA, Schrenzel MD, Knight R, Gordon JI.

Source

Center for Genome Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63108, USA.

Erratum in

Science. 2008 Nov 21;322(5905):1188.

Abstract

Mammals are metagenomic in that they are composed of not only their own gene complements but also those of all of their associated microbes. To understand the coevolution of the mammals and their indigenous microbial communities, we conducted a network-based analysis of bacterial 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequences from the fecal microbiota of humans and 59 other mammalian species living in two zoos and in the wild. The results indicate that host diet and phylogeny both influence bacterial diversity, which increases from carnivory to omnivory to herbivory; that bacterial communities codiversified with their hosts; and that the gut microbiota of humans living a modern life-style is typical of omnivorous primates.

PMID:: 18497261; [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
PMCID:: PMC2649005

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Figure 1

Network-based analyses of fecal bacterial communities in 60 mammalian species

(A) Simplified cartoon illustration of a host-gut microbe network. Network diagrams are color-coded by (B) diet, (C) animal taxonomy, (D) animal provenance, or represent randomized assignments of OTUs to animal nodes (E). Abbreviations used for animal species (* indicates wild): Asian Elephants, ElephAs1–3; Baboons, Baboon, BaboonW; African Elephants, ElephAf1–4; Bwindi Gorilla, GorillaW; Hartmann’s Mountain Zebra, ZebraW; Armadillo, Arma; Argali Sheep, SheepA1–3; Babirusa, Barb; Seba’s Short tailed Bat, Bat; American Black Bears, BrBear1,2; Bush Dogs, BshDog1,3; Banteng, Banteng; Bighorn Sheep, SheepBH1–3; Black Lemur, BlLemur; Bonobo, Bonobo; Calimicos (Goeldi’s Marmoset), Calimico; Capybara, Capybara; Cheetahs, Cheet2,3; Chimpanzees, Chimp1,12; Eastern Black and White Colobus, BWColob; East Angolan Colobus, BWColobSD; Cattle, Cow1–3; Douc Langur, DcLangur; Echidna, Echidna; Flying Fox, FlyFox; François Langur, FrLangur; Giraffe, Giraffe; Western Lowland Gorillas, Gorilla, GorillaSD; Giant Panda, GtPanda; Geoffrey’s Marmoset, Marmoset; Grevy’s Zebra, GZebra; Humans, HumAdB, HumAdO, HumAdS, HumEckA, HumEckB, HumEckC, HumNag6, HumOldA, HumOldB, HumOldC, HumSuau, HumVeg; HumLC1A, HumLC1B, HumLC2A, HumLC2B; Hedgehog, HgHog; Horses, HorseJ, HorseM; Rock Hyraxes, Hyrax, HyraxSD; Spotted Hyenas, Hyena1,2; Indian Rhinoceros, InRhino; Red Kangaroos, KRoo1,2; Lions, Lion1–3; Mongoose Lemur, MgLemur; Naked Mole rat, Mole rat; Okapi, Okapi1–3; Orangutans, Orang1,2; Polar Bears, PBear1,2; Rabbit, Rabbit; Norway Rat (Wistar), Rat; Black Rhinoceros, BlRhino; Red Pandas, RdPanda, RdPandaSD; Red River Hog, RRHog; Ring Tailed Lemur, RtLemur; White-Faced Saki, Saki; Springboks, SpBok and SpBokSD; Spectacled Bear, SpecBear; Speke’s Gazelles, SpkGaz2,3; Prevost’s Squirrel, Squirrel; Spider Monkey, SpiMonk; Takin, Takin; Transcaspian Urial Sheep, SheepTU1,2; Visayun Warty Pig, VWPig; Somali Wild Ass, WildAss. See Table S1 for additional details.

Evolution of mammals and their gut microbes

Science. Science;320(5883):1647-1651.