Cecal microbiome analysis of TALLYHO/Jng mice versus C57BL/6J mice on chow, high-sugar high-fat, or high-sugar low-fat diets

The TALLYHO/Jng (TH) mouse is an inbred polygenic model that presents a metabolic syndrome (metS) of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and hyperlipidemia. Phenotypic and genetic characterizations of the TH mouse have shown that this model recapitulates many of the pathophysiologic and genetic manifestations of human metS, including more than 300 variants in genes orthologous to human genes of obesity, diabetes, and metabolic traits. However, the role of the gut microbiota in the development of metS in the TH mouse is unknown. Therefore, the aim of this project was to characterize the responses of the cecal microbiota in TH mice versus normal C57BL/6J (B6) mice maintained on chow, semi-purified high-sugar high-fat (HSHF), and semi-purified high-sugar low-fat (HSLF) diets. Our findings expand the knowledge and relevance of the TH mouse as a useful model for determining the clinical and genetic implications of human metS, including intestinal dysbiosis and related gut immunity, which are likely contributing factors.