Application of shotgun metagenomics to detail the taxonomic and functional diversity of the Nelore microbiome associated with dietary and phenotypic factors

• Grant number: 20/15565-7
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctorate
• Effective date (Start): July 01, 2021
• Effective date (End): June 30, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Genetics - Molecular Genetics and Genetics of Microorganisms
• Principal researcher: Luciana Correia de Almeida Regitano
• Grantee: Liliane Costa Conteville
• Home Institution: Embrapa Pecuária Sudeste. Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária (EMBRAPA). Ministério da Agricultura, Pecuária e Abastecimento (Brasil). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 19/04089-2 - The Nelore hologenome: implications in beef quality and feed efficiency, AP.ESCIENCE.TEM

Abstract

The action of microorganisms harbored in the rumen (the microbiome) and the rumination allows ruminants to obtain nutrients and energy from the consumption of plants. In addition to modulating the health and physiology of animals, the microbiome is responsible for several phenotypes that impact environmental and economic factors. The methane produced in the rumen contributes significantly to the environmental footprint of livestock. Food and water efficiencies are highly relevant to the sustainability of cattle production systems. Considering the importance of the microbiome for different aspects of production, we designed this project. We will apply shotgun metagenomics to analyze the rumen microbiome of Brazilian Nelore cattle submitted to different diets, and study its association with methane emission, feed efficiency and water footprint. This project will be linked to the thematic project "The Nelore hologenome: implications in beef quality and feed efficiency", as it will contribute to its general objective, which aims to study the interaction of host/microbiome genomes and their relationship with bovine phenotypes. Metagenomics, different from previous analyzes, will allow the broad characterization of the microbial community, without amplification and target selection bias, allowing the recovery of genomes, taxonomic, genetic and functional analyzes. The deepening of knowledge of rumen microbiomes will directly impact the creation and implementation of strategies to reduce the environmental footprint of livestock. And in addition to the bovine functional genome, metabolome and metatranscriptome, which will be produced by the thematic project, the metagenomes generated by the present project will compose an unparalleled basis for the study of the functional interrelationships of the Nelore "hologenome". (AU)