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Host-specific microbiome and genomic signatures in Bifidobacterium reveal co-evolutionary and functional adaptations across diverse animal hosts

M. Kujawska,David Seki,Lisa Chalklen,Jennifer Malsom,Sara Goatcher,Ioulios Christoforou,Suparna Mitra,Lucy Crouch,Lindsay J Hall

Published 2025 in bioRxiv

ABSTRACT

Animal hosts harbour divergent microbiota, including various Bifidobacterium species and strains, yet their evolutionary relationships, and functional adaptions remain understudied. By integrating taxonomic, genomic and predicted functional annotations, we uncover how Bifidobacterium adapts to host-specific environments, shaped by vertical transmission, dietary influences, and host phylogeny. Our findings reveal that host phylogeny is a major determinant of gut microbiota composition. Distinct microbial networks in mammalian and avian hosts reflect evolutionary adaptations to dietary niches, such as carnivory, and ecological pressures. At a strain-resolved level, we identify strong co-phylogenetic associations between Bifidobacterium strains and their hosts, driven by vertical transmission and dietary selection, underscoring the intricate co-evolutionary dynamics between these microbes and their hosts. Functional analyses highlight striking host-specific metabolic adaptations in Bifidobacterium, particularly in carbohydrate metabolism and oxidative stress responses. In mammals, we observe an enrichment of glycoside hydrolases (GH) tailored to complex carbohydrate-rich diets, including multi-domain GH13_28 α-amylases featuring diverse carbohydrate-binding modules (CBM25, CBM26, and the novel CBM74). These adaptations emphasise the ecological flexibility of Bifidobacterium in breaking down α-linked glucose polysaccharides, such as resistant starch. Together, our study provides new insights into the evolutionary trajectories and ecological plasticity of Bifidobacterium, revealing how host phylogeny and dietary ecology drive microbial diversity and function. These findings deepen our understanding of host-microbe co-evolution and the critical role of microbiota in shaping animal health and adaptation.

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