Social networks strongly predict the gut microbiota of wild mice

The mammalian gut teems with microbes, yet how hosts acquire these symbionts remains poorly understood. Research in primates suggests that microbes can be picked up via social contact, but the role of social interactions in non-group-living species remains underexplored. Here, we use a passive track...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The ISME Journal 2021-09, Vol.15 (9), p.2601-2613
Main Authors: Raulo, Aura, Allen, Bryony E., Troitsky, Tanya, Husby, Arild, Firth, Josh A., Coulson, Tim, Knowles, Sarah C. L.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
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Biomedical and Life Sciences
Ecology
Evolutionary Biology
Intestinal microflora
Life Sciences
Males
Mammals
Microbial Ecology
Microbial Genetics and Genomics
Microbiology
Microbiota
Microorganisms
Network analysis
Sexual behavior
Social behavior
Social factors
Social interactions
Social networks
Social organization
Symbionts
Tracking systems
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Summary:The mammalian gut teems with microbes, yet how hosts acquire these symbionts remains poorly understood. Research in primates suggests that microbes can be picked up via social contact, but the role of social interactions in non-group-living species remains underexplored. Here, we use a passive tracking system to collect high resolution spatiotemporal activity data from wild mice ( Apodemus sylvaticus ). Social network analysis revealed social association strength to be the strongest predictor of microbiota similarity among individuals, controlling for factors including spatial proximity and kinship, which had far smaller or nonsignificant effects. This social effect was limited to interactions involving males (male-male and male-female), implicating sex-dependent behaviours as driving processes. Social network position also predicted microbiota richness, with well-connected individuals having the most diverse microbiotas. Overall, these findings suggest social contact provides a key transmission pathway for gut symbionts even in relatively asocial mammals, that strongly shapes the adult gut microbiota. This work underlines the potential for individuals to pick up beneficial symbionts as well as pathogens from social interactions.
ISSN:1751-7362
1751-7370
1751-7370
DOI:10.1038/s41396-021-00949-3