Enhanced immunity: the gut microbiota changes in high-altitude Tibetan pigs compared to Yorkshire pigs

Chengming Liu; Haifeng Dan; Yiting Yang; Yong Du; Ziling Hao; Lei Chen; Kangping Zhu; Bin Liu; Lili Niu; Ye Zhao; Yan Wang; Linyuan Shen; Mailin Gan; Li Zhu

doi:10.3389/fmicb.2024.1469253

Enhanced immunity: the gut microbiota changes in high-altitude Tibetan pigs compared to Yorkshire pigs

Front Microbiol. 2024 Nov 18:15:1469253. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1469253. eCollection 2024.

Authors

Chengming Liu^#^{1

2

3}, Haifeng Dan^#^{1

2

3}, Yiting Yang^{1

2

3}, Yong Du^{1

2

3}, Ziling Hao^{1

2

3}, Lei Chen^{1

2

3}, Kangping Zhu⁴, Bin Liu⁴, Lili Niu^{1

2

3}, Ye Zhao^{1

2

3}, Yan Wang^{1

2

3}, Linyuan Shen^{1

2

3}, Mailin Gan^{1

2

3}, Li Zhu^{1

2

3}

Affiliations

¹ State Key Laboratory of Swine and Poultry Breeding Industry, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China.
² Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Multi-omics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China.
³ Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China.
⁴ Sichuan Dekon Livestock Foodstuff Group, Chengdu, China.

^# Contributed equally.

Abstract

Introduction: Long-term domestication in high-altitude environments has led to unique changes in the gut microbiota of Tibetan Pigs. This study aims to investigate specific alterations in the intestinal flora of Tibetan Pigs compared to Yorkshire pigs.

Methods: We employed 16S rRNA and metagenomic sequencing technologies for comprehensive analysis of the gut microbiota. The data collected allowed us to assess microbial community structures and functional capabilities.

Results: Our analysis revealed that Tibetan Pigs raised under a "free-range + supplementary feeding" model exhibited increased abundance of microbial communities associated with short-chain fatty acid synthesis and the digestion of cellulose and hemicellulose. Notably, the characteristic bacterium Rhodococcus, commonly found in high-altitude environments, was enriched in the gut microbiota of Tibetan Pigs, facilitating the efficient utilization of natural compounds and degradation of toxic substances. Additionally, the increased abundance of probiotics in these pigs enhances their immunity, which may involve mechanisms such as disrupting the structure of pathogenic bacteria and detoxifying harmful metabolites.

Discussion: These findings underscore the advantages of Tibetan Pigs over common commercial breeds, highlighting their unique gut microbiota adaptations. Furthermore, they open new avenues for screening potential probiotics and developing genetic breeding strategies for improved livestock varieties.

Conclusion: Understanding the distinct gut microbiota of Tibetan Pigs provides valuable insights into their health benefits and resilience, contributing to future research on breed improvement and microbiome applications in agriculture.

Keywords: 16S rRNA; Tibetan pig; Yorkshire pig; gut microbiota; metagenome.

Grants and funding

The author(s) declare that financial support was received for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. This study was supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (2021YFD1200801); the Sichuan Science and Technology Program (2021YFYZ0007, 2021ZDZX0008, and 2021YFYZ0030); the China Agriculture Research System (CARS-35); the Program for Pig Industry Technology System Innovation Team of Sichuan Province (sccxtd-2024-08-09); and the National Center of Technology Innovation for Pigs (NCTIP-XD/C13).