The impact of host genetics on porcine gut microbiota composition once excluded prenatal, maternal and environmental influences. The impact of host genetics on gut microbiota

The importance of gut microbiome for host homeostasis is widely accepted. Pig, as a major meat resource and as a biomedical model, is being increasingly studied to understand its microbiome and its interactions with the host genotype and phenotype. However, most studies comparing the microbiome in different breeds did not consider the importance of maternal environment in the colonization of the microbiota. The aim of the present study was to compare the gut microbiome along early growth between two genotypes (purebred Iberian and crossbreds Iberian x Large White), produced in one single maternal environment (pure Iberian mothers) through artificial insemination of Iberian sows with Iberian and Large White heterospermic semen. Piglets were also maintained in the same conditions during postnatal development. Results show that age and sex had significance influence on alfa and beta diversity, whereas genotype only affected beta diversity. There were differences between genotypes in Amplicon Sequence Variants (ASV) and genus level, especially in the Ruminoccocaceae and Prevotelleceae families. Short chain fatty acids (SCFA) were also affected by genotype, age and sex. These results may serve as a basis for further research in host genotype interactions with the gut microbiota.