Early Introduction of Plant Polysaccharides Drives the Establishment of Rabbit Gut Bacterial Ecosystems and the Acquisition of Microbial Functions
Charlotte Paës, Thierry Gidenne, Karine Bébin, Joël Duperray, Charly Gohier, Emeline Guené-Grand, G. Rebours, Céline Barilly, Béatrice Gabinaud, Laurent Cauquil, Adrien Castinel, Géraldine Pascal, Vincent Darbot, Patrick Aymard, Anne-Marie Debrusse, Martín Beaumont, Sylvie Combes
Abstract
Our study was designed to gain a better understanding of how different feeding patterns affect the dynamics of gut microbiomes and microbe-host interactions. This research showed that the timing of solid food introduction is a key component of the gut microbiota shaping in early developmental stages, though with lower impact on settled gut microbiota profiles in older individuals. This study also provided in-depth analysis of dietary polysaccharide effects on intestinal microbiota. The type of plant polysaccharides reaching the gut through the lifetime was described as an important modulator of the cecal microbiome and its activity. These findings will contribute to better define the interventions that can be employed for modulating the ecological succession of young mammal gut microbiota.