The role of gut archaea in the pig gut microbiome: a mini-review

Jianbo Yang; Routing Chen; Yunjuan Peng; Jianmin Chai; Ying Li; Feilong Deng

doi:10.3389/fmicb.2023.1284603

The role of gut archaea in the pig gut microbiome: a mini-review

Front Microbiol. 2023 Oct 9:14:1284603. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1284603. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Jianbo Yang^{1

2}, Routing Chen^{1

2}, Yunjuan Peng^{1

2}, Jianmin Chai^{1

2

3}, Ying Li^{1

2}, Feilong Deng^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Molecular Design and Precise Breeding, College of Life Science and Engineering, Foshan University, Foshan, China.
² School of Life Science and Engineering, Foshan University, Foshan, Guangdong, China.
³ State Key Laboratory of Swine and Poultry Breeding Industry, Guangzhou, China.

Abstract

The gastrointestinal microbiota of swine harbors an essential but often overlooked component: the gut archaea. These enigmatic microorganisms play pivotal roles in swine growth, health, and yield quality. Recent insights indicate that the diversity of gut archaea is influenced by various factors including breed, age, and diet. Such factors orchestrate the metabolic interactions within the porcine gastrointestinal environment. Through symbiotic relationships with bacteria, these archaea modulate the host's energy metabolism and digestive processes. Contemporary research elucidates a strong association between the abundance of these archaea and economically significant traits in swine. This review elucidates the multifaceted roles of gut archaea in swine and underscores the imperative for strategic interventions to modulate their population and functionality. By exploring the probiotic potential of gut archaea, we envisage novel avenues to enhance swine growth, health, and product excellence. By spotlighting this crucial, yet under-investigated, facet of the swine gut microbiome, we aim to galvanize further scientific exploration into harnessing their myriad benefits.

Keywords: feed efficiency; gut archaea; pig; pig gut microbiota; probiotics.

Publication types

Review

Grants and funding

The author(s) declare financial support was received for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. This work was supported by the Youth Project of Guangdong Foshan joint fund of the Guangdong Natural Science Foundation (2022A1515110819), National Natural Science Foundation of China (no. 32170430), and State Key Laboratory of Swine and Poultry Breeding Industry (2023GZ25).