Meeting Abstract
Changes in the early-life host microbiota could affect infectious disease risk throughout life if such disruptions during formative years adversely affect the development of the immune system. We tested this hypothesis by manipulating the microbiota of tadpole Cuban tree frogs (Osteopilus septentrionalis) and challenging them with parasitic gut worms (Aplectana sp.) later in life. Adult frogs with reduced microbial diversity as tadpoles had significantly more worms as adults than adults with unmanipulated microbiota as tadpoles. This was because tadpole bacterial diversity negatively predicted infections and thus positively predicted host resistance in adult frogs. In contrast, adult gut bacterial diversity at the time of parasite exposure was not significantly correlated with host resistance against parasites. Thus, we demonstrate that an early-life disruption of the microbiota has lasting effects on infectious disease risk, which was likely mediated by its effects on immune system development. Environmental factors that disrupt the early life frog microbiota will also be discussed.
