Date of Defense
25-2-2025 10:00 AM
Location
F1-1004
Document Type
Thesis Defense
Degree Name
Master of Science in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology
College
COS
Department
Biology
First Advisor
Prof. Khaled Amiri
Keywords
Camelus dromedaries, Microbiome, Core Microbiome, Alpha Diversity, Beta Diversity, Firmicutes, Bacteroidota, Metagenome, 16s rRNA
Abstract
In UAE, dromedary camels (Camelus dromedarius) are considered as vital sources of meat and milk, and they also symbolize the cultural heritage of the region. Understanding healthy dromedary camel’s core microbiome and microbiome diversity is essential for their conservation and sustainable management. To explore the fecal microbiome diversity and core fecal microbiome of healthy dromedary camels, in this study, we analyzed 150 fecal samples from camels collected across 10 different farms in the Dubai region. Each farm maintains healthy camels and provides specific diets and water types, with some farms also focusing on camels for racing purposes. In this study, we carried out 16s rRNA gene (V3-V4 region amplicon) based microbiome analysis. Initially, alpha diversity was estimated for all samples, among the 10 farms, samples from Farm_5 showed the lowest diversity (Shannon-Weiner diversity index: 4.10; food habit: Rhodes grass, wheat bran, bread, and sheep feed pellets). At the same time, the highest alpha diversity was observed in farm_4 (Shannon-Weiner diversity index: 6.74), which follows the food habits of Rhodes grass and wheat bran. Beta diversity analysis showed a clear segregation of Farm_3 samples from other farm samples. Overall, we observed, at the phylum level, Firmicutes, Bacteroidota, Spirochaetota, Verrucomicrobiota, Proteobacteria, Fibrobacterota, Fusobacteriota and Desulfobacterota constitute the core microbiome of the Arabian camel fecal samples. Like other camel types (Algerian camels and Bactrian camels), Arabian dromedary camels are dominated by the phyla Firmicutes and Bacteroidota. In contrast, we found that the studied camels showed less Firmicutes/Bacteroidota ratio than Algerian and Bactrian camels. Also, we found higher (>35%) amount of Bacteroidetes presence in studied 150 samples. Moreover, we observed less Firmicutes/Bacteroidota ratio in racing farms than in breeding farms. At the class level, we found Clostridia_258483, Bacteroidia, Spirochaetia, Negativicutes, Verrucomicrobiae, Bacilli, Fusobacteriia, Desulfovibrionia, Gammaproteobacteria and Fibrobacteria constitute the core microbiome of camel fecal samples. Overall, this study explored the core fecal microbiome of healthy Arabian dromedary camels. The fecal microbiome data generated from this study can be used as a reference point to monitor camel health in both breeding and racing farms.
FECAL MICROBIOTA OF HEALTHY ARABIAN CAMELS (Camelus dromedarius): A COMPREHENSIVE STUDY INVESTIGATING VARIOUS FACTORS (FOOD, CAMEL TYPE, AND DRINKING WATER) AND THEIR INFLUENCE ON FECAL MICROBIOME DIVERSITY IN ARABIAN CAMELS
F1-1004
In UAE, dromedary camels (Camelus dromedarius) are considered as vital sources of meat and milk, and they also symbolize the cultural heritage of the region. Understanding healthy dromedary camel’s core microbiome and microbiome diversity is essential for their conservation and sustainable management. To explore the fecal microbiome diversity and core fecal microbiome of healthy dromedary camels, in this study, we analyzed 150 fecal samples from camels collected across 10 different farms in the Dubai region. Each farm maintains healthy camels and provides specific diets and water types, with some farms also focusing on camels for racing purposes. In this study, we carried out 16s rRNA gene (V3-V4 region amplicon) based microbiome analysis. Initially, alpha diversity was estimated for all samples, among the 10 farms, samples from Farm_5 showed the lowest diversity (Shannon-Weiner diversity index: 4.10; food habit: Rhodes grass, wheat bran, bread, and sheep feed pellets). At the same time, the highest alpha diversity was observed in farm_4 (Shannon-Weiner diversity index: 6.74), which follows the food habits of Rhodes grass and wheat bran. Beta diversity analysis showed a clear segregation of Farm_3 samples from other farm samples. Overall, we observed, at the phylum level, Firmicutes, Bacteroidota, Spirochaetota, Verrucomicrobiota, Proteobacteria, Fibrobacterota, Fusobacteriota and Desulfobacterota constitute the core microbiome of the Arabian camel fecal samples. Like other camel types (Algerian camels and Bactrian camels), Arabian dromedary camels are dominated by the phyla Firmicutes and Bacteroidota. In contrast, we found that the studied camels showed less Firmicutes/Bacteroidota ratio than Algerian and Bactrian camels. Also, we found higher (>35%) amount of Bacteroidetes presence in studied 150 samples. Moreover, we observed less Firmicutes/Bacteroidota ratio in racing farms than in breeding farms. At the class level, we found Clostridia_258483, Bacteroidia, Spirochaetia, Negativicutes, Verrucomicrobiae, Bacilli, Fusobacteriia, Desulfovibrionia, Gammaproteobacteria and Fibrobacteria constitute the core microbiome of camel fecal samples. Overall, this study explored the core fecal microbiome of healthy Arabian dromedary camels. The fecal microbiome data generated from this study can be used as a reference point to monitor camel health in both breeding and racing farms.
