Bacterial community analysis identifies Klebsiella pneumoniae as a native symbiotic bacterium in the newborn Protobothrops mucrosquamatus.

BACKGROUND

The study of the native microbiome of organisms is crucial. The connection between the native microbiome and the host affects the formation of the innate immune system and the organism's growth. However, the native microbiome of newborn venomous snakes has not been reported. Therefore, we aimed to determine the oral and skin microbiomes of newborn Protobothrops mucrosquamatus.

RESULTS

We performed 16 S full-length sequencing on 14 samples collected from 7 newborn P. mucrosquamatus individuals, specifically targeting their oral and skin microbiomes. In terms of the oral and skin microbiome, the main species were Klebsiella pneumoniae lineages. According to subspecies/species analysis, the proportion from highest to lowest was K. quasipneumoniae subsp. similipneumoniae, K. pneumoniae subsp. pneumoniae, and K. pneumoniae subsp. rhinoscleromatis. These three bacteria accounted for 62.5% and 85% of the skin and oral activity, respectively. The oral microbiome of newborn P. mucrosquamatus did not comprise common bacteria found in snakebite wounds or oral cultures in adult snakes. Therefore, the source of other microbiomes in the oral cavities of adult snakes may be the environment or prey. Functional Annotation of the Prokaryotic Taxa analysis showed that the skin/oral native microbiome metabolism was related to fermentation and human infection owing to the dominance of K. pneumoniae lineages. The characteristics of K. pneumoniae may impact the development of venom in venomous snakes.

CONCLUSION

The results of the native microbiome in the oral cavity and skin of newborn P. mucrosquamatus demonstrated that the habitat environment and prey capture may affect the composition of bacteria in adult snakes. We hypothesized that the native microbiome influences newborn venomous snakes and that K. pneumoniae lineages related to citrate fermentation may play a role in venom growth. However, further verification of this is required.