Evolution of the marsupial gut microbiome and adaptation to eucalypt toxins

有袋动物肠道微生物组的进化和对桉树毒素的适应

• 批准号: DP150104202
• 负责人: Prof Philip Hugenholtz
• 金额: $ 25.82万
• 依托单位: The University of Queensland
• 依托单位国家: 澳大利亚
• 项目类别: Discovery Projects
• 财政年份: 2015
• 资助国家: 澳大利亚
• 起止时间: 2015-01-01 至 2018-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://dataportal.arc.gov.au/RGS/Web/Grants/DP150104202
• 关键词: Evolution; marsupial; gut; microbiome; adaptation

Eucalyptus leaves comprise all or part of the diet of some marsupials including koalas. Gut microbiota assist in the ability of these folivores to tolerate eucalyptus toxins although present understanding of this process is rudimentary. This project aims to use culture-independent molecular methods to identify and characterise gut populations involved in phytochemical detoxification by comparative analysis with diprotodont relatives that are not capable of digesting eucalyptus leaves. This will highlight evolutionary convergence of gut microbiomes in toxic folivores and reveal mechanisms by which microorganisms respond to and metabolise eucalypt toxins. A broader evolutionary context of marsupial digestive function will assist in ongoing conservation efforts.

桉树叶构成了包括考拉在内的一些有袋动物的全部或部分饮食。肠道微生物群有助于这些食叶动物耐受桉树毒素的能力，尽管目前对这一过程的了解还很初级。该项目旨在通过与不能消化桉树叶的双门齿动物亲属进行比较分析，使用不依赖于培养物的分子方法来识别和表征参与植物化学解毒的肠道种群。这将突出有毒食叶动物肠道微生物群的进化趋同，并揭示微生物对桉树毒素的反应和代谢机制。有袋动物消化功能的更广泛的进化背景将有助于持续的保护工作。