Integration of Gut Microbiota with Transcriptomic and Metabolomic Profiling Reveals Growth Differences in Male Giant River Prawns (Macrobrachium rosenbergii)

Abstract

The giant freshwater prawn (GFP; Macrobrachium rosenbergii), a tropical species cultured worldwide, has high market demand and economic value. Male GFP growth varies considerably; however, the mechanisms underlying these growth differences remain unclear. In this study, we collected gut and hemolymphatic samples of large (ML), medium (MM), and small (MS) male GFPs and used the 16S rRNA sequencing and liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry-based metabolomic methods to explore gut microbiota and metabolites associated with GFP growth. The dominant bacteria were Firmicutes and Proteobacteria; higher growth rates correlated with a higher Firmicutes/Bacteroides ratio. Serum metabolite levels significantly differed between the ML and MS groups. We also combined transcriptomics with integrative multiomic techniques to further elucidate systematic molecular mechanisms in the GFPs. The results revealed that Faecalibacterium and Roseburia may improve gut health in GFP through butyrate release, affecting physiological homeostasis and leading to metabolic variations related to GFP growth differences. Notably, our results provide novel, fundamental insights into the molecular networks connecting various genes, metabolites, microbes, and phenotypes in GFPs, facilitating the elucidation of differential growth mechanisms in GFPs.