Commensal bacteria and essential amino acids control food choice behavior and reproduction

Summary

Choosing the right nutrients to consume is essential to health and wellbeing across species. However, the factors that influence these decisions are poorly understood. This is particularly true for dietary proteins, which are important determinants of lifespan and reproduction. We show that in Drosophila melanogaster, essential amino acids (eAAs) and the concerted action of the commensal bacteria Acetobacter pomorum and Lactobacilli are critical modulators of food choice. Using a chemically defined diet, we show that the absence of any single eAA from the diet is sufficient to elicit specific appetites for amino acid (AA)-rich food. Furthermore, commensal bacteria buffer the animal from the lack of dietary eAAs: both increased yeast appetite and decreased reproduction induced by eAA deprivation are rescued by the presence of commensals. Surprisingly, these effects do not seem to be due to changes in AA titers, suggesting that gut bacteria act through a different mechanism to change behavior and reproduction. Thus, eAAs and commensal bacteria are potent modulators of feeding decisions and reproductive output. This demonstrates how the interaction of specific nutrients with the microbiome can shape behavioral decisions and life history traits.

Related articles

• An Overview of the Factors Involved in Biofilm Production by the Enterococcus Genus

  This document provides a comprehensive review of the factors influencing biofilm production in the Enterococcus genus, detailing the mechanisms of biofilm formation and the implications for antibiotic resistance and infection persistence.

• Feeding behavior increases strength and frequency of vibrational communication signals of Neoaliturus tenellus (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae)

  This study investigates how feeding behavior affects the vibrational communication signals of the beet leafhopper, Neoaliturus tenellus. It combines electropenetrography and accelerometer recordings to understand the influence of probing on signal strength and frequency.

• Introduction to Biochemistry

  This document serves as a lecture introduction to biochemistry, exploring the basic principles of life, the role of molecules in living systems, and the importance of biochemical processes in healthcare, particularly nursing.

• Cell Membrane and Passive Transport

  This document outlines the structure and function of the cell membrane, focusing on passive transport mechanisms such as diffusion, osmosis, and facilitated diffusion, as well as the concept of homeostasis in cellular environments.

• Evolutionary Tree for All Bumblebee Species World-Wide Estimated by Combining Information from Fast-Evolving Genes, Slow-Evolving Genes, and Genomic Data (Apidae, Bombus)

  This article presents a comprehensive evolutionary tree for all extant bumblebee species worldwide, integrating data from fast- and slow-evolving genes along with genomic information to enhance understanding of their evolutionary relationships.