16S rRNA sequencing of adult gilthead sea bream with differential sex and age

Intestinal microbiota is key for many host functions, such as digestion, nutrient metabolism, disease resistance and immune function. The aim of this study was to compare the intestinal microbiota of adult gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata) from three groups of age and sex (1-year-old males and 2- and 4-year-old females) maintained under the same conditions. These results show, for the first time, how intestinal microbiota is modulated in adult gilthead sea bream and highlight the importance of reporting age and sex variables in these type of studies in fish.