Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41618136›Full record

ArticleBMC microbiology2026

Genome-resolved analysis of bile acid-metabolizing microbiota in Tibetan antelope (Pantholops hodgsonii).

Jian Liu, Hany M Elsheikha, Cong-Cong Lei, Si-Yuan Qin, Yan Liu, Hong-Bo Ni, Ya Qin, Hai-Long Yu, Jin-Wen Su, Bei-Ni Chen and 3 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC microbiology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

13 authors.

Jian Liu *College of Life Sciences, Changchun Sci-Tech University, Shuangyang, Jilin Province, PR China.
Hany M Elsheikha *Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough, UK.
Cong-Cong Lei *Center of Prevention and Control Biological Disaster, State Forestry and Grassland Administration, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, PR China.
Si-Yuan QinCenter of Prevention and Control Biological Disaster, State Forestry and Grassland Administration, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, PR China.
Yan LiuCenter of Prevention and Control Biological Disaster, State Forestry and Grassland Administration, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, PR China.
Hong-Bo NiCollege of Veterinary Medicine, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, Shandong Province, PR China.
Ya QinCollege of Veterinary Medicine, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, Shandong Province, PR China.
Hai-Long YuCollege of Veterinary Medicine, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, Shandong Province, PR China.
Jin-Wen SuCollege of Veterinary Medicine, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, Shandong Province, PR China.
Bei-Ni ChenCollege of Life Sciences, Changchun Sci-Tech University, Shuangyang, Jilin Province, PR China. xihani@126.com.
Jing JiangCollege of Life Sciences, Changchun Sci-Tech University, Shuangyang, Jilin Province, PR China.
He-Ting SunCenter of Prevention and Control Biological Disaster, State Forestry and Grassland Administration, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, PR China. xiaofengsht@163.com.
Xiao-Xuan ZhangCollege of Veterinary Medicine, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, Shandong Province, PR China. zhangxiaoxuan1988@126.com.

Funding

National Science and Technology Major Project for Prevention and Control of Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases 2025ZD01900110Shandong Province Higher Education Institutions "Youth Innovation Team Plan" 2022KJ169
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe Tibetan antelope (Pantholops hodgsonii), an iconic species endemic to the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, thrives at altitudes of 4,500–5,000 m under conditions of extreme hypoxia, cold, and limited nutrition. As a critical mediator of host physiology, the gut microbiome may play a key role in supporting these adaptations.

resultsThis study presents the first genome-centric investigation of bile acid (BA) metabolism in the gut microbiome of the Tibetan antelope, unveiling unique microbial pathways that potentially facilitate survival in harsh environments. Comparative analysis of metagenome-assembled genomes revealed that the antelope’s BA-metabolizing microbiota is taxonomically distinct from that of other Caprinae species and humans, with only two of the top ten BA-producing genera shared across groups. Importantly, individuals infected with Blastocystis exhibited marked differences in BA-related KEGG ortholog (KO) profiles compared to uninfected counterparts. Our findings highlight that the proportion of bile salt hydrolase (K01442) genes in the gut microbiota of Tibetan antelopes is higher than that in other Caprinae species and humans. Among them, the genus Alistipes carries the highest proportion of K01442 in the Tibetan antelope’s gut microbiota. Additionally, infection-associated KO gene shifts were observed, suggesting a microbial contribution to the Tibetan antelope’s remarkable physiological resilience.

conclusionsIn Tibetan antelopes, Alistipes was the dominant genus associated with bile acid synthesis. While bile acid synthesis KO distributions were broadly similar across species, K01442 higher proportion than other in Tibetan antelope gut microbiomes. Furthermore, Blastocystis infection altered three key bile acid synthesis KOs and induced distinct shifts in gut microbiome composition.

Indexed as

AntelopesBacteriaBile Acids and SaltsGastrointestinal MicrobiomeAmidohydrolasesAnimalsGenome, BacterialMetagenomePhylogenyTibetAmidohydrolasesBile Acids and Saltscholoylglycine hydrolaseBile acid metabolismBlastocystis infectionGut microbiomeHigh-altitude adaptationMetagenomicsTibetan antelope

Identifiers

PMID41618136
PMCPMC12990503

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.