Shotgun Metagenomic Analysis of Dose-Dependent TCDD-elicited Effects on Cecal Gut Microbiota

Gut dysbiosis commonly associated with the development and progression of non-alcoholic liver disease (NAFLD), is recapitulated in male mice exposed to 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD). To investigate changes in the gut microbiota, male mice (n=3) were orally gavaged with sesame oil vehicle control or 0.3, 3 or 30 ug/kg TCDD every 4 days for 28 days. Shotgun metagenomic sequencing was used to evaluate TCDD-elicited shifts in taxonomy and metabolic pathways associated with and contributing to NAFLD progression.