Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41776697›Full record

ArticleAnimal microbiome2026

Comprehensive catalog of gut microbial genomes in Asian elephants: insights from shotgun metagenomics.

Xingwei Shi, Fei Chen, Min Dai, Yongjing Tang, Jishan Wang, Yuheng Lin, Minhui Shi, Tianming Lan, Huan Liu, Xin Jin and 3 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Animal microbiome, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing 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

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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.

Xingwei Shi *BGI Research, Wuhan, 430074, P. R. China.
Fei Chen *Institute of International Rivers and Eco-Security, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650500, P.R. China.
Min DaiBGI Research, Wuhan, 430074, P. R. China.
Yongjing TangAsian Elephant Research Center of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Kunming, 650031, P.R. China.
Jishan WangAsian Elephant Research Center of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Kunming, 650031, P.R. China.
Yuheng LinBGI Research, Wuhan, 430074, P. R. China.
Minhui ShiBGI Research, Wuhan, 430074, P. R. China.
Tianming LanBGI Research, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518083, P.R. China.
Huan LiuLaboratory of Integrative Biomedicine, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, 2100, Denmark.
Xin JinBGI Research, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518083, P.R. China.
Liang XiaoBGI Research, Wuhan, 430074, P. R. China. xiaoliang@genomics.cn.
Karsten KristiansenLaboratory of Integrative Biomedicine, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, 2100, Denmark. kk@bio.ku.dk.
Xiaoping LiBGI Research, Wuhan, 430074, P. R. China. lixiaoping@genomics.cn.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe gut microbiota plays a crucial role in metabolism, immune regulation, and ecological adaptation of mammals. Although significant advancements have been made in shotgun metagenomic sequencing and the emergence of algorithms for generation of metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs), a comprehensive investigation of the gut microbiota at the species level of wild mammals, among these the Asian elephant (Elephas maximus), is still lacking.

resultsHere, based on a total of 82 fresh fecal samples collected from Asian elephants residing in distinct regions of the Yunnan Province, we established a comprehensive genome catalog containing 1421 species-level genome bins (SGBs) and a gene catalog comprising 44,596,628 non-redundant genes covering the gut microbiota composition of representative Asian elephant populations. At the species level, 1368 bacteria and 53 archaea were identified, and more than 93% of the SGBs remained unclassified, indicating that there are a large number of potential new species in the Asian elephant gut microbiota. At the functional level, carbohydrate hydrolases, biosynthetic gene clusters, and metabolic pathways dominated the gut microbiome of Asian elephants. Lifestyle and migration affected the composition and functional potential of the gut microbiota of Asian elephants. A northward migration was accompanied by an increase in gut microbiota diversity, an increase in the abundance of the phylum Bacteroidota, and a decrease in the presence of potentially pathogenic genera. In contrast, a southward migration of elephant herds was accompanied by exposure to unfavorable environments, with changes in gut microbiota including increased xenobiotic degradation and metabolic capacity.

conclusionsWe constructed comprehensive catalogs of gut microbial genes and genomes representative for Asian elephant populations, providing a valuable data resource for future research. Our study elucidates migration and lifestyle may modulate the composition and functionality of the gut microbiota in Asian elephants, offering critical insights for monitoring their health and enhancing conservation strategies for wild populations.

Indexed as

Asian elephantGut microbiotaLifestyleMetagenomeMigration

Identifiers

PMID41776697
PMCPMC13064403

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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.