Transfer of Human Microbiome to Drosophila Gut Model

Laboratory animals with human microbiome have increasingly been used to study the role of bacteria and host interaction. Drosophila melanogaster, as a model of microbiota-host interaction with high reproductive efficiency and high availability, has always been lacking studies of interaction with human gut microbiome. In this study, we attempted to use antibiotic therapy and human fecal exposure strategy to transfer the human microbiome to the drosophila. The method includes depleting the original intestinal bacteria using a broad-spectrum antibiotic and then introducing human microorganisms by a diet supplemented with donor's fecal samples. The sequencing results showed that 80-87.5% of the OTUs (Operational Taxonomic Units) from donor feces were adopted by the recipient drosophila following 30 days of observation. In comparison to females, the male recipient drosophila inherited more microbiota from the donor feces and had significantly increased lifespan as well as improved vertical climbing ability. Furthermore, distinctly differential expression patterns for age and insulin-like signaling-related genes were obtained for the male vs. female recipients. Only the male drosophila offspring acquired the characteristics of the donor fecal microbiota.

Automated summary

Laboratory animals with human microbiome have been used to study the interaction between bacteria and host. In this study, the human gut microbiome was successfully transferred to drosophila using antibiotic therapy and fecal exposure strategy. The male drosophila inherited more microbiota from the donor and showed improved lifespan and climbing ability. Differential gene expression patterns were observed between male and female drosophila recipients.