Seasonal shifts in the insect gut microbiome are concurrent with changes in cold tolerance and immunity

Authors

Laura V. Ferguson, Western
Pranav Dhakal, York
Jacqueline E. Lebenzon, Western
David E. Heinrichs, The University of Western Ontario
Carol Bucking, York
Brent Sinclair, university of western ontarioFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2018

Journal

Functional Ecology

Volume

32

Issue

10

First Page

2357

Last Page

2368

URL with Digital Object Identifier

https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2435.13153

Abstract

1. Seasonal changes in the environment, such as varying temperature, have the potential to change the functional relationship between ectothermic animals, such as insects, and their microbiomes. Our objectives were to determine: (a) whether seasonal changes in temperature shift the composition of the insect gut microbiome, and (b) whether changes in the microbiome are concomitant with changes in the physiology of the host, including the immune system and response to cold.
2. We exposed laboratory populations of the spring field cricket, Gryllus veletis (Orthoptera: Gryllidae), to simulated overwintering conditions in both a laboratory microcosm and a field‐like microcosm containing soil and leaves. In summer, autumn, winter and spring, we extracted and sequenced 16S bacterial genomic DNA from cricket guts, to capture seasonal variation in the composition of the microbiome.
3. The composition of the gut microbiome was similar between microcosms, and overall highly anaerobic. In both microcosms, we captured similar seasonal variation in the composition of the microbiome, where overwintering resulted in permanent changes to these microbial communities. In particular, the abundance of Pseudomonas spp. decreased, and that of Wolbachia spp. increased, during overwintering.
4. Concurrent with overwintering changes in the gut microbiome, G. veletis acquire freeze tolerance and immune function shifts temporarily, returning to summer levels of activity in the spring. In a specific manner, haemocyte concentrations increase but survival of fungal infection decreases in the winter, whereas the ability to clear bacteria from the haemolymph remains unchanged.
5. Overall, we demonstrate that the gut microbiome does shift seasonally, and in concert with other physiological changes. We hypothesize that these changes may be linked, and suggest that it will next be important to determine whether these changes in the microbiome contribute to host overwintering success.

Notes

This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Laura V. Ferguson, Pranav Dhakal, Jacqueline E. Lebenzon, David E. Heinrichs, Carol Bucking & Brent Sinclair (2018). Seasonal shifts in the insect gut microbiome are consurrent with changes in cold tolerance and immunity. Functional Ecology, 32(10), 2357-2368, which has been published in final form at https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2435.13153. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Use of Self-Archived Versions.