Characterisation of Gut Microbiota in Ossabaw and Göttingen Minipigs as Models of Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome

Recent evidence suggests that the gut microbiota is an important contributing factor to obesity and obesity related metabolic disorders, known as the metabolic syndrome. The aim of this study was to characterise the intestinal microbiota in two pig models of obesity namely Göttingen minipigs and the Ossabaw minipigs.The cecal, ileal and colonic microbiota from lean and obese Osabaw and Göttingen minipigs were investigated by Illumina-based sequencing and by high throughput qPCR, targeting the 16S rRNA gene in different phylogenetic groups of bacteria. The weight gain through the study was significant in obese Göttingen and Ossabaw minipigs. The lean Göttingen minipigs' cecal microbiota contained significantly higher abundance of Firmicutes (P<0.006), Akkermensia (P<0.01) and Methanovibribacter (P<0.01) than obese Göttingen minipigs. The obese Göttingen cecum had higher abundances of the phyla Spirochaetes (P<0.03), Tenericutes (P<0.004), Verrucomicrobia (P<0.005) and the genus Bacteroides (P<0.001) compared to lean minipigs. The relative proportion of Clostridium cluster XIV was 7.6-fold higher in cecal microbiota of obese Göttingen minipigs as compared to lean. Obese Ossabaw minipigs had a higher abundance of Firmicutes in terminal ileum and lower abundance of Bacteroidetes in colon than lean Ossabaw minipigs (P<0.01). Obese Ossabaws had significantly lower abundances of the genera Prevotella and Lactobacillus and higher abundance of Clostridium in their colon than the lean Ossabaws. Overall, the Göttingen and Ossabaw minipigs displayed different microbial communities in response to diet-induced obesity in the different sections of their intestine.Obesity-related changes in the composition of the gut microbiota were found in lean versus obese Göttingen and Ossabaw minipigs. In both pig models diet seems to be the defining factor that shapes the gut microbiota as observed by changes in different bacteria divisions between lean and obese minipigs

Fold-differences in the relative abundance of bacteria between lean and obese minipigs.

<p>Relative abundance of bacteria in different phylogenetic groups in cecal and colonic microbiota of obese Göttingen minipigs and in ileal and colonic microbiota of obese Ossabaw minipigs, estimated by qPCR dynamic array.</p><p>N.D. stands for Non Detectable.</p>*<p>indicates values with significant difference of <i>P<</i>0.05.</p

Abundance of different genera in colonic and ileal microbiota of lean and obese (MetS) Ossabaw minipigs.

<p>Selected genera in terminal ileum (TI) and colon of lean and obese Ossabaw minipigs. The unknown genera are indicated by parentheses belonging to the corresponding order or family.</p

Abundance of phyla in colonic and cecal microbiota of lean and obese Göttingen minipigs (A–C).

<p>Different phyla in colon and cecum of lean and obese Göttingen minipigs. The error bars represent standard deviations.</p

Different microbial profiles in microbiota of lean (Lean) and obese Ossabaw minipigs (MetS) at family level.

<p>Different phyla in terminal ileum (TI) and colon of lean and obese Ossabaw minipigs.</p