Publications by authors named "Piper Thacher"
Article Synopsis
- Reproductive microbiomes play a crucial role in fertility and reproductive health in humans, but data on these microbiomes in most animal species, especially endangered ones like black-footed ferrets, is limited.
- A study characterized the male and female microbiomes of 59 black-footed ferrets using advanced sequencing techniques, analyzing their links to fertility markers such as offspring viability and sperm concentration.
- Findings revealed lower variation in vaginal microbiomes, the presence of soil bacteria in wild ferrets, and significant correlations between sperm concentration and specific bacterial taxa in males, indicating the importance of understanding microbiomes for improving conservation efforts.
Article Synopsis
- * A study of 48 ferrets at the Smithsonian National Zoo found that their gut microbiomes varied significantly between the breeding and non-breeding seasons, with notable differences between male and female populations during breeding.
- * The findings revealed low diversity in gut bacteria and high levels of potentially harmful microbes, suggesting the need for further research and therapeutic options to enhance gut health and support the conservation of black-footed ferrets.
The microbes inhabiting an animal's gastrointestinal tracts, collectively known as the gut microbiome, are vital to animal health and wellbeing. For animals experiencing gut distress or infection, modulation of the gut microbiome, for example, via fecal microbiota transplant (FMT), provides a possible disease prevention and treatment method. The beneficial microbes present in the donor's transplanted feces can help combat pathogens, assist in digestion, and rebalance the recipient's microbiota.
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