1.Analysis of Microbial Diversity in Feces of Adult Nycticebus bengalensis by High-throughput Sequencing
Feiyan ZHANG ; Chao LIU ; Longbao LÜ
Laboratory Animal and Comparative Medicine 2024;44(3):297-304
Objective To analyze the composition of microbial community in gut of elderly male Nycticebus bengalensis,aiming to explore the health impact factors associated with artificial captivity.Methods Fecal samples of 4 adult male Nycticebus bengalensis were collected and the V4 region was amplified using bacterial 16S rDNA universal primers.Illumina NovaSeq sequencing platform was used for microbial sequencing analysis.The complexity and similarity of the samples were analyzed using the QIIME software analysis tool.The species structure and abundance of the intestinal flora were analyzed at the phylum and genus levels based on validated data.The PICRUSt software was applied to predict the metabolic function of the flora.Results The results showed that the diversity index(Shannon index)of the flora in the youngest Nycticebus bengalensis was higher than that of the others.PCoA analysis showed that the bacterial community compositions of the four samples had a certain degree of similarity.Bacteria identified in the Nycticebus bengalensis feces included 12 phyla,18 classes,28 orders,49 families,93 genera,and 59 species.Among them,the dominant phyla were Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes with average relative abundances of 46%and 28%,respectively;The genera Bacteroides,Bifidobacterium,and Fusobacterium had higher abundances,with relative abundances of 33%,6%,and 6%,respectively;The beneficial genus Bifidobacterium was found in all samples,with the highest relative abundance found in the younger Nycticebus bengalensis.PICRUSt function prediction analysis showed that the abundance of the functional genes related to amino acid transport and metabolism,carbohydrate transport and metabolism,was relatively high.Conclusion The use of Illumina NovaSeq high-throughput sequencing technology can comprehensively detect the fecal microbial community of the Nycticebus bengalensis.The bacterial composition of Nycticebus bengalensis has rich diversity.Many bacteria are not identified and have higher relative abundance,which need further study.
2.Research Progress on Human Ovarian Aging Using Non-Human Primates as Laboratory Animals
Laboratory Animal and Comparative Medicine 2025;45(1):47-54
The ovary has two main functions: folliculogenesis and hormone secretion, both of which are closely related to female fertility. Ovarian aging is characterized by morphological changes, a reduction in follicle numbers, and fluctuations in hormone levels. It not only leads to a decline in female fertility, but is also considered to be a key driver of multi-organ aging. In addition, the disruption of sex hormone secretion associated with ovarian aging can lead to the occurrence of related diseases and symptoms, such as cardiovascular diseases, sleep disorders, and hot flashes. Due to the influence of social pressures and personal career planning, many modern women are increasingly postponing childbearing. However, ovarian aging does not slow down with advancing age. As a result, many women face issues such as infertility when they are ready to have children, having missed their optimal childbearing age. This leads to growing interest in research on delaying ovarian aging. Non-human primates share the closest evolutionary relationship with humans, with a genomic sequence identity of 93%, which grants them unparalleled advantages over other model animals in studies on physiological metabolism, reproductive endocrinology, and developmental aging. Findings obtained in non-human primates are also more reliably translatable to human medical research. This study begins by discussing the current state of ovarian aging research and treatment strategies, highlighting the advantages of non-human primates as laboratory animals for ovarian aging research. It then reviews research progress in areas such as reproductive endocrine hormone levels, ovarian morphology and function, and other physiological changes associated with ovarian aging. Furthermore, it summarizes existing challenges and future research directions, aiming to provide valuable insights for researchers.