Gut microbiota and holobiont metabolome composition of the medaka fish (Oryzias latipes) are affected by a short exposure to the cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa

Blooms of toxic cyanobacteria are a common stress encountered by aquatic fauna. Evidence indicates that long-lasting blooms affect fauna-associated microbiota. Because of their multiple roles, host-associated microbes are nowadays considered relevant to ecotoxicology, yet the respective timing of microbiota versus functional changes in holobionts response needs to be clarified. The response of gut microbiota and holobiont's metabolome to exposure to a dense culture of Microcystis aeruginosa was investigated as a microcosm-simulated bloom in the model fish species Oryzias latipes (medaka). Both gut microbiota and gut metabolome displayed significant composition changes after only 2 days of exposure. A dominant symbiont, member of the Firmicutes, plummeted whereas various genera of Proteobacteria and Actinobacteriota increased in relative abundance. Changes in microbiota composition occurred earlier and faster compared to metabolome composition. Liver and muscle metabolome were much less affected than guts, supporting that the gut and associated microbiota are in the front row upon exposure. This study highlights that even short cyanobacterial blooms, that are increasingly frequent, trigger changes in microbiota composition and holobiont metabolome. It emphasizes the relevance of multi-omics approaches to explore organism's response to an ecotoxicological stress.

Automated summary

This study investigates the response of gut microbiota and the metabolome of a model fish species to exposure to cyanobacterial blooms. The results indicate that even short-lived blooms can cause significant changes in microbiota composition and holobiont metabolome. The study highlights the relevance of multi-omics approaches in ecotoxicology research.