Gut microbiome alterations and hepatic metabolic flexibility in the Gansu zokor, Eospalax cansus: adaptation to hypoxic niches

we exposed Gansu zokors to severe hypoxia of 6.5% O2 (6 or 44 hours) or moderate hypoxia of 10.5% O2 (44 hours or 4 weeks) and then analyzed 16S rRNA sequencing, metagenomic sequencing, liver carbohydrate metabolites and related molecular levels. Our results showed that hypoxia altered the microbiota composition of Gansu zokor, and the relative contribution of Ileibacterium to carbohydrate metabolism became increased under hypoxia, such as glycolysis and fructose metabolism.