Gut microbiome modulates Drosophila aggression through octopamine signaling

Yicong Jia, Shan Jin, Kunkun Hu, Lei Geng, Caihong Han, Ruxue Kang, Yuxin Pang, Erjun Ling, Eng King Tan, Yufeng Pan () and Wei Liu ()
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Yicong Jia: Hubei University
Shan Jin: Hubei University
Kunkun Hu: Hubei University
Lei Geng: Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental and Evolutionary Biology, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Caihong Han: Southeast University
Ruxue Kang: Shanxi Medical University
Yuxin Pang: Shanxi Medical University
Erjun Ling: Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental and Evolutionary Biology, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Eng King Tan: Department of Neurology, National Neuroscience Institute, Singapore General Hospital Campus
Yufeng Pan: Southeast University
Wei Liu: Hubei University

Nature Communications, 2021, vol. 12, issue 1, 1-12

Abstract: Abstract Gut microbiome profoundly affects many aspects of host physiology and behaviors. Here we report that gut microbiome modulates aggressive behaviors in Drosophila. We found that germ-free males showed substantial decrease in inter-male aggression, which could be rescued by microbial re-colonization. These germ-free males are not as competitive as wild-type males for mating with females, although they displayed regular levels of locomotor and courtship behaviors. We further found that Drosophila microbiome interacted with diet during a critical developmental period for the proper expression of octopamine and manifestation of aggression in adult males. These findings provide insights into how gut microbiome modulates specific host behaviors through interaction with diet during development.

Date: 2021
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-23041-y

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