Reproducible changes in the gut microbiome suggest a shift in microbial and host metabolism during spaceflight

• DOI: 10.1186/s40168-019-0724-4
• Publication Date: 2019-08-09T15:02:43Z
• Authors: Peng Jiang; Stefan J. Green; George E. Chlipala; Fred W. Turek; Martha Hotz Vitat...
• Keywords: Spaceflight; UniFrac; Gut microbiome; Human Microbiome Project

Space environment imposes a range of challenges to mammalian physiology and the gut microbiota, interactions between two are thought be important in health space. While previous findings have demonstrated change microbial community structure during spaceflight, specific environmental factors that alter microbiome functional relevance changes spaceflight remain elusive.We profiled using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing fecal samples collected from mice after 37-day onboard International Station. We developed an analytical tool, named STARMAPs (Similarity Test for Accordant Reproducible Microbiome Abundance Patterns), compare reported here other relevant datasets. also integrated data with publically available transcriptomic liver same animals systems-level analysis.We report elevated alpha diversity altered were associated environment. Using STARMAPs, we found observed shared similarity flown space shuttle mission, suggesting reproducibility effects on microbiome. However, such not comparable those induced by space-type radiation Earth-based studies. led significantly taxon abundance one order, family, five genera, six species microbes. This was accompanied inferred suggests capacity energy metabolism. Finally, identified host genes whose expression concordantly content, particularly highlighting relationship involved protein metabolism putrescine degradation.These observations shed light contributed robust effect implications Our represent key step toward better understanding role provide basis future efforts develop microbiota-based countermeasures mitigate risks crew long-term human expeditions.