Impact of the Gut Microbiota–Metabolite Axis on Intestinal Fatty Acid Absorption in Huainan Pigs
The gut microbiota critically influences lipid metabolism and fat deposition in pigs, processes that underpin pork quality preferences and differentiate the meat traits of Chinese indigenous breeds (fat-type) from those of Western commercial breeds (lean-type). To explore the mechanisms underlying b...
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2025-07-01
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| author | Jing Wang Liangying Zhu Yangyang Wang Qiang Ma Xiangzhou Yan Mingxun Li Baosong Xing |
| author_facet | Jing Wang Liangying Zhu Yangyang Wang Qiang Ma Xiangzhou Yan Mingxun Li Baosong Xing |
| author_sort | Jing Wang |
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| description | The gut microbiota critically influences lipid metabolism and fat deposition in pigs, processes that underpin pork quality preferences and differentiate the meat traits of Chinese indigenous breeds (fat-type) from those of Western commercial breeds (lean-type). To explore the mechanisms underlying breed-specific fatty acid absorption, we compared the rectal and colonic microbiota and metabolite profiles of Huainan and Large White pigs using 16S rRNA sequencing and untargeted metabolomics. HN pigs exhibited enriched <i>Lactobacillus johnsonii</i> and <i>Lactobacillus amylovorus</i>, along with a significantly higher Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio. Functional predictions further revealed elevated microbial pathways related to glycolysis, pyruvate metabolism, and ABC transporters in HN pigs. Conversely, LW pigs showed increased abundance of potentially pro-inflammatory bacteria and enriched pathways for lipopolysaccharide (LPS) biosynthesis. Metabolites such as 4-ethyl-2-heptylthiazole and picolinic acid were significantly upregulated in HN pigs and served as robust biomarkers (Area Under the Curve, AUC = 1.0),with perfect discrimination observed in both rectal and colonic samples. Integrative analysis identified 52 co-enriched microbial and metabolic pathways in HN pigs, including short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production, lipid biosynthesis and transport, amino acid metabolism, ABC transporter activity, and the PPAR signaling pathway, supporting a microbiota–metabolite axis that enhances fatty acid absorption and gut immune balance. These findings provide mechanistic insight into breed-specific fat deposition and offer candidate biomarkers for improving pork quality via precision nutrition and breeding. |
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| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
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| spelling | doaj-art-99ebca7da3794eccb5bfd8c1a85d1f602025-07-25T13:31:13ZengMDPI AGMicroorganisms2076-26072025-07-01137160910.3390/microorganisms13071609Impact of the Gut Microbiota–Metabolite Axis on Intestinal Fatty Acid Absorption in Huainan PigsJing Wang0Liangying Zhu1Yangyang Wang2Qiang Ma3Xiangzhou Yan4Mingxun Li5Baosong Xing6Henan Key Laboratory of Farm Animal Breeding and Nutritional Regulation, Institute of Animal Husbandry Science, Henan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Zhengzhou 450002, ChinaCollege of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, ChinaCollege of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, ChinaHenan Key Laboratory of Farm Animal Breeding and Nutritional Regulation, Institute of Animal Husbandry Science, Henan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Zhengzhou 450002, ChinaHenan Key Laboratory of Farm Animal Breeding and Nutritional Regulation, Institute of Animal Husbandry Science, Henan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Zhengzhou 450002, ChinaCollege of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, ChinaHenan Key Laboratory of Farm Animal Breeding and Nutritional Regulation, Institute of Animal Husbandry Science, Henan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Zhengzhou 450002, ChinaThe gut microbiota critically influences lipid metabolism and fat deposition in pigs, processes that underpin pork quality preferences and differentiate the meat traits of Chinese indigenous breeds (fat-type) from those of Western commercial breeds (lean-type). To explore the mechanisms underlying breed-specific fatty acid absorption, we compared the rectal and colonic microbiota and metabolite profiles of Huainan and Large White pigs using 16S rRNA sequencing and untargeted metabolomics. HN pigs exhibited enriched <i>Lactobacillus johnsonii</i> and <i>Lactobacillus amylovorus</i>, along with a significantly higher Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio. Functional predictions further revealed elevated microbial pathways related to glycolysis, pyruvate metabolism, and ABC transporters in HN pigs. Conversely, LW pigs showed increased abundance of potentially pro-inflammatory bacteria and enriched pathways for lipopolysaccharide (LPS) biosynthesis. Metabolites such as 4-ethyl-2-heptylthiazole and picolinic acid were significantly upregulated in HN pigs and served as robust biomarkers (Area Under the Curve, AUC = 1.0),with perfect discrimination observed in both rectal and colonic samples. Integrative analysis identified 52 co-enriched microbial and metabolic pathways in HN pigs, including short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production, lipid biosynthesis and transport, amino acid metabolism, ABC transporter activity, and the PPAR signaling pathway, supporting a microbiota–metabolite axis that enhances fatty acid absorption and gut immune balance. These findings provide mechanistic insight into breed-specific fat deposition and offer candidate biomarkers for improving pork quality via precision nutrition and breeding.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/13/7/1609Huainan piggut microbiotametabolomicsfatty acid absorptionmicrobiota–metabolite axis |
| spellingShingle | Jing Wang Liangying Zhu Yangyang Wang Qiang Ma Xiangzhou Yan Mingxun Li Baosong Xing Impact of the Gut Microbiota–Metabolite Axis on Intestinal Fatty Acid Absorption in Huainan Pigs Microorganisms Huainan pig gut microbiota metabolomics fatty acid absorption microbiota–metabolite axis |
| title | Impact of the Gut Microbiota–Metabolite Axis on Intestinal Fatty Acid Absorption in Huainan Pigs |
| title_full | Impact of the Gut Microbiota–Metabolite Axis on Intestinal Fatty Acid Absorption in Huainan Pigs |
| title_fullStr | Impact of the Gut Microbiota–Metabolite Axis on Intestinal Fatty Acid Absorption in Huainan Pigs |
| title_full_unstemmed | Impact of the Gut Microbiota–Metabolite Axis on Intestinal Fatty Acid Absorption in Huainan Pigs |
| title_short | Impact of the Gut Microbiota–Metabolite Axis on Intestinal Fatty Acid Absorption in Huainan Pigs |
| title_sort | impact of the gut microbiota metabolite axis on intestinal fatty acid absorption in huainan pigs |
| topic | Huainan pig gut microbiota metabolomics fatty acid absorption microbiota–metabolite axis |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/13/7/1609 |
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