Effects of Vendor and Genetic Background on the Composition of the Fecal Microbiota of Inbred Mice

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0116704
• Publication Date: 2015-02-12T18:49:25Z
• Authors: Aaron C. Ericsson; J. Wade Davis; William Spollen; Nathan Bivens; Scott Givan; Catherine E. Hagan; Mark McIntosh; Craig L. Franklin
• Keywords: Weanling; Laboratory mouse; Inbred strain; Human feces

The commensal gut microbiota has been implicated as a determinant in several human diseases and conditions. There is mounting evidence that the of laboratory mice (Mus musculus) similarly modulates phenotype mouse models used to study disease development. While differing model phenotypes have reported using purchased from different vendors, composition uniformity fecal various genetic backgrounds vendors unclear. Using culture-independent methods robust statistical analysis, we demonstrate significant differences richness diversity microbial populations two large commercial vendors. Moreover, abundance many operational taxonomic units, often identified species level, well higher taxa, differed vendor- strain-dependent manners. Such were evident weanling persisted throughout study, twenty-four weeks age. These data provide first in-depth analysis developmental trajectory starting point which researchers may be able refine animal affected by thus possibly reduce number animals required perform studies with sufficient power.