Intestinal microecology associated with fluoride resistance capability of the silkworm (Bombyx mori L.).

The silkworm (Bombyx mori L.) is an ideal model of Lepidoptera. However, the diversity and function of the intestinal microbiota in the gut of silkworm remain largely unknown. Changes in the intestinal microecology in fluoride-resistant strain T6 and fluoride-susceptible strain 734 of the silkworm in response to fluoride exposure were investigated. T6 and 734 were treated with 200 mg/kg fluoride (designated as T6-T and 734-T groups) and deionized water (designated as T6-C and 734-C groups). Culture-dependent approach revealed that the numbers of intestinal bacteria in the 734-T group significantly decreased compared with that in the 734-C group (4.8 ± 0.6 × 10(7) CFU/mL vs. 7.5 ± 0.7 × 10(7) CFU/mL; P < 0.05). Analyses of the intestinal content pH showed that the pH decreased in the 734-T group only. Additionally, SCFA concentrations significantly decreased in both treatment groups compared with the control groups. High-throughput sequencing indicated that the intestinal microbiota in the 734-T group was significantly more diverse than those in the other groups. The bacterial community was composed of two dominant groups (Firmicutes and Proteobacteria). Principal component analyses revealed a significant difference in the composition of the intestinal microbiota in the 734-T group compared with those in the other groups. Thaumarchaeota and Euryarchaeota were more abundant in the 734-T group, but they were less abundant in the other groups. This study enhances our understanding about the diversity and function of silkworm intestinal microbiota in response to fluoride exposure among silkworm strains with diverse resistance.