Age-related Changs In Gut Microbial Composition And Function In Cynomolgus Macaques

BackgroundCynomolgus monkeys have similar homology with humans,and all systems are similar,especially the central system,and the animal models of cynomolgus monkeys are also very similar with humans in immunity and metabolism.Therefore,the cynomolgus monkey is an ideal experimental animal in the field of life science and medicine.Aging is an inevitable phenomenon for both humans and animals.At three key stages of the life cycle,named young,adult and old age,individuals exhibit markedly different biological characteristics and disease risks.Thus,the identification of biological characteristics at a different age is valuable in understanding the development of disease,and thus in developing methods for preventing disease and extending life.Gut microbes is the largest flora directly related to the external environment of humans and animals.The composition and function of gut microbes play a crucial role in maintaining the health of the host.ObjectiveThis study of cynomolgus monkeys to explore the composition and functional changes of intestinal microorganisms during the aging process is helpful to further elucidate the physiological mechanism of aging.MethodsSixteen cynomolgus monkeys were randomly selected from different encloses.According to the age distribution of cynomolgus monkeys mentioned in the literature,the 16 cynomolgus monkeys were divided into three age groups: young(2-4 years old),adult(5-15 years old)and old(17-20 years old),and collect fresh excrement separately,cryopreservation.Subsequently,16 S RNA sequencing and shotgun metagenome sequencing were performed on fecal samples,and the composition and functional genes of microorganisms in the samples were analyzed through database comparison and annotation.Look for key species and genes associated with age.ResultsOur findings revealed significant differences in microbial composition among the three groups.With age increasing,the relative abundances of Veillonellaceae,Coriobacteriaceae and Succinivibrionaceae increased significantly,Ruminococcaceae and Rikenellaceae decreased significantly at the family level.Functional enrichment showed that genes that differed among the three groups were mainly involved in arginine biosynthesis,purine metabolism and microbial polysaccharides metabolism.Moreover,CAZymes corresponding to polysaccharide degrading activities were also observed among the three groupsConclusionwe provide initial evidence as to how age shapes the structure and function of the gut microbiota based on monkey studies.Our findings provide insight into how the gut microbiota physiologically interacts the host at different age stages.