Metagenomics reveals the divergence of gut microbiome composition and function in two common pika species (Ochotona curzoniae, Ochotona daurica) in China.

Gut microbiome plays crucial roles in animal adaptation and evolution. However, research on adaptation and evolution of small wild high-altitude mammals from the perspective of gut microbiome is still limited. In this study, we compared difference in intestinal microbiota composition and function in Plateau pikas (Ochotona curzoniae) and Daurian pikas (Ochotona daurica) using metagenomic sequencing. Our results showed that microbial community structure had distinct differences in different pika species. Prevotella, Methanosarcina, Rhizophagus and Podoviridae were abundant bacteria, archaea, eukaryotes and viruses in Plateau pikas, respectively. However, Prevotella, Methanosarcina, Ustilago and Retroviridae were dominated in Daurian pikas. Functional pathways related to carbohydrate metabolism that refer to utilization of pectin, hemicellulose and debranching enzymes were abundant in Plateau pikas, while the function for degradation of chitin, lignin and cellulose was more concentrated in Daurian pikas. Pika gut had abundant multidrug resistance genes, followed by glycopeptide and beta-lactamase resistance genes, as well as high-risk ARGs, such as mepA, tetM and bacA. Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae may be potential hosts of mepA. This research provided new insights for adaptation and evolution of wild animals from perspective of gut microbiome, and broadened our understanding of high-risk ARGs and potential pathogens of wild animals.