Research

Life Sciences & Biotechnology

Title :

Metabolomics and Metagenomic Profiling of the Fish Gut Microbiome: Uncovering Key Metabolomic Pathways and Interactions for Understanding Fish Health Consequences

Area of research :

Life Sciences & Biotechnology

Principal Investigator :

Dr. Ram Krishan Negi, University Of Delhi

Timeline Start Year :

2024

Timeline End Year :

2027

Contact info :

Equipments :

Details

Executive Summary :

A deep understanding of the microbial community's composition, organization, and interactions between fish (host) and their microbiota can provide valuable insights into the health and functioning of the host organism. Fish comprise more than half of all vertebrate species and exhibit a remarkable diversity in physiology, ecology, and habitats. Therefore, they represent a crucial category for comprehending the various types and dynamics of symbiotic relationships with gut microbial communities (Ghanbari et al., 2015). However, the precise connection between host genetics, gut microbiota, and metabolic patterns remains poorly understood. Our objective is to investigate and characterize the composition of microbiota and metabolites in the gastrointestinal tracts of economically important fish species inhabiting the Yamuna River. To gain comprehensive insights into the metagenomics composition, we will be employing high-throughput sequencing techniques. Additionally, we will also utilize Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry and Nuclear magnetic resonance to analyze the metabolomic profiles. The study will primarily focus on carnivore, omnivore, and herbivore fish species present in both polluted and unpolluted sites in the Yamuna River. In this study, we aim to address three key questions: First, is there any correlation between the composition of gut microbiota and the metabolic profiles of fish? secondly, what kind of relationship exists between the main metabolic products and the predominant bacteria found in the fish guts? Lastly, can anthropogenic activities and pollution influence fish health by altering the internal environment of the fish gut? By employing "OMICs" technologies our study will prove a comprehensive understanding of the biological environment within the fish gut, encompassing genes, proteins, and metabolites.

Total Budget (INR):

43,12,000

Organizations involved