Microbiome-by-ethanol interactions impact Drosophila melanogaster fitness, physiology, and behavior

The gut microbiota can affect how animals respond to ingested toxins, such as ethanol, which is prevalent in the diets of diverse animals and often leads to negative health outcomes in humans. Ethanol is a complex dietary factor because it acts as a toxin, behavioral manipulator, and nutritional sou...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	iScience Vol. 25; no. 4; p. 104000
Main Authors:	Chandler, James Angus, Innocent, Lina Victoria, Martinez, Daniel Jonathan, Huang, Isaac Li, Yang, Jane Lani, Eisen, Michael Bruce, Ludington, William Basil
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	United States Elsevier Inc 15-04-2022 Elsevier
Subjects:	Biological sciences Genetics Microbiology Microbiome Molecular biology Physiology Genetics Biological sciences Physiology Microbiology Molecular biology Microbiome
Online Access:	Get full text
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Summary:	The gut microbiota can affect how animals respond to ingested toxins, such as ethanol, which is prevalent in the diets of diverse animals and often leads to negative health outcomes in humans. Ethanol is a complex dietary factor because it acts as a toxin, behavioral manipulator, and nutritional source, with both direct effects on the host as well as indirect ones through the microbiome. Here, we developed a model for chronic, non-intoxicating ethanol ingestion in the adult fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, and paired this with the tractability of the fly gut microbiota, which can be experimentally removed. We linked numerous physiological, behavioral, and transcriptional variables to fly fitness, including a combination of intestinal barrier integrity, stored triglyceride levels, feeding behavior, and the immunodeficiency pathway. Our results reveal a complex tradeoff between lifespan and fecundity that is microbiome-dependent and modulated by dietary ethanol and feeding behavior. [Display omitted] •Flies produce more eggs on a low ethanol diet despite ingesting fewer calories•This increased reproductive efficiency does not occur for germ-free flies•Ethanol and commensal bacteria trigger immunity in a non-additive way•Intestinal barrier integrity is higher in flies consuming a low ethanol diet Biological sciences; Genetics; Microbiology; Microbiome; Molecular biology; Physiology
Bibliography:	ObjectType-Article-1 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-2 content type line 23 Present address: Impossible Foods, Inc. Redwood City, CA 94063, USA Lead contact
ISSN:	2589-0042 2589-0042
DOI:	10.1016/j.isci.2022.104000