The Gut Microbiota Composition of the Moth Brithys crini Reflects Insect Metamorphosis

Lepidoptera is a highly diverse insect order with major importance in agriculture as many species are considered pests. The role of the gut microbiota in insect physiology is still poorly understood, despite the research undertaken in recent years. Furthermore, Lepidoptera are holometabolous insects...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Microbial ecology 2020-05, Vol.79 (4), p.960-970
Main Authors: González-Serrano, Francisco, Pérez-Cobas, Ana Elena, Rosas, Tania, Baixeras, Joaquín, Latorre, Amparo, Moya, Andrés
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biomedical and Life Sciences
Butterflies & moths
Composition
Detoxification
Developmental stages
Digestive system
Ecology
Gastrointestinal tract
Geoecology/Natural Processes
Hindgut
Insects
Intestinal flora
Intestinal microflora
Intestine
Intestines
INVERTEBRATE MICROBIOLOGY
Larvae
Lepidoptera
Life Sciences
Metamorphosis
Microbial Ecology
Microbiology
Microbiomes
Microbiota
Midgut
Nature Conservation
Nutrition
Ova
Pests
Physiology
rRNA 16S
Water Quality/Water Pollution
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Summary:Lepidoptera is a highly diverse insect order with major importance in agriculture as many species are considered pests. The role of the gut microbiota in insect physiology is still poorly understood, despite the research undertaken in recent years. Furthermore, Lepidoptera are holometabolous insects and few studies have addressed the influence of the changes taking place on the gut microbiome composition and diversity during metamorphosis, especially in monophagous species. The V3-V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene was sequenced to investigate the microbiota composition and diversity of the monophagous moth Brithys crini during three different life stages: egg, larvae (midgut and hindgut), and adult (gut). Our results showed that the microbiota composition of B. crini was stage specific, indicating that the developmental stage is a main factor affecting the gut microbiome in composition and potential functions. Moreover, the diversity of the gut microbiome reflected the developmental process, since a drop in diversity occurred between the larval and the adult phase, when the intestine is completely renewed. In spite of the changes in the gut microbiota during metamorphosis, 29 genera were conserved throughout the three developmental stages, mainly belonging to the Proteobacteria phylum, which define the core microbiome of B. crini. These genera seem to contribute to host physiology by participating in food digestion, nutrition, and detoxification mechanisms.
ISSN:0095-3628
1432-184X
DOI:10.1007/s00248-019-01460-1