Emran Hossain,
Shilpi Islam,
- Professor, Department of Animal Science and Nutrition, Chattogram Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Khulshi, Chattogram-4225, , Bangladesh
- Professor, Department of Animal Science and Nutrition, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University, Salna, Gazipur-1706, , Bangladesh
Abstract
The rumen serves as a highly intricate microbial ecosystem, fundamentally responsible for the degradation of fibrous plant materials in ruminant. The intricate host-microbiota crosstalk within the rumen significantly influences nutrient metabolism, growth, and health outcomes in livestock. The interaction between the host and its microbial community, mediated through signaling pathways including the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), bile acids, and various metabolites, is crucial for enhancing nutrient absorption, fermentation efficiency, and overall metabolic regulation. Additionally, the rumen microbiota contributes to immune regulation and disease resilience, influencing both local and systemic immunity. Dysbiosis, or imbalances in the microbial community, can disrupt these signaling mechanisms, leading to impaired digestion, nutrient absorption, and increased susceptibility to gastrointestinal diseases. Elucidating the molecular and cellular mechanisms governing this crosstalk provides critical insights for advancing livestock productivity, enhancing health, and developing effective disease prevention strategies. This study focuses on analyzing the signaling pathways that govern host-microbiota interactions within the rumen, emphasizing their significance in nutrient metabolism and the promotion of disease resilience. By deciphering these complex interactions, novel strategies can be developed to optimize rumen function, enhance nutrient utilization, and mitigate the risk of diseases, ultimately contributing to sustainable livestock farming practices and improved animal welfare.
Keywords: Crosstalk, disease resilience, digestion, fermentation, immune regulation, microbiota, molecular signaling, nutrient metabolism, rumen, short-chain fatty acids
[This article belongs to Research and Reviews: A Journal of Microbiology and Virology ]
Emran Hossain, Shilpi Islam. Host-Microbiota Crosstalk in the Rumen: Signaling Pathways for Nutrient Metabolism and Disease Resilience in Dairy Cows. Research and Reviews: A Journal of Microbiology and Virology. 2025; 15(01):29-41.
Emran Hossain, Shilpi Islam. Host-Microbiota Crosstalk in the Rumen: Signaling Pathways for Nutrient Metabolism and Disease Resilience in Dairy Cows. Research and Reviews: A Journal of Microbiology and Virology. 2025; 15(01):29-41. Available from: https://journals.stmjournals.com/rrjomv/article=2025/view=201069
References
- Tapio, D Fischer, L Blasco, M Tapio, RJ Wallace. Taxon abundance, diversity, co-occurrence and network analysis of the ruminal microbiota in response to dietary changes in dairy cows. PLoS One. 2017 [Online]. Available: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0180260.
- P Jia, L feng Dong, Y Tu, Q yu Diao. Bacillus subtilis and Macleaya cordata extract regulate the rumen microbiota associated with enteric methane emission in dairy cows. Springer; doi: 10.1186/s40168-023-01654-3.
- M Islam. Holstein and Jersey Steers Differ in Rumen Microbiota and Enteric Methane Emissions Even Fed the Same Total Mixed Ration. 2021. org. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.601061.
- G Martinez-Fernandez, J Jiao, J Padmanabha. Seasonal and nutrient supplement responses in rumen microbiota structure and metabolites of tropical rangeland cattle. Microorganisms. 2020 [Online]. Available at: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/8/10/1550.
- J Zhang. Effect of dietary forage to concentrate ratios on dynamic profile changes and interactions of ruminal microbiota and metabolites in holstein heifers. Front 2017 Nov;8:2206. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2017.02206.
- K Liu. Ruminal microbiota–host interaction and its effect on nutrient metabolism. Anim Nutr. 2021 [Online]. Available at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405654520301220.
- M Schären, J Frahm, S Kersten, U Meyer. Interrelations between the rumen microbiota and production, behavioural, rumen fermentation, metabolic, and immunological attributes of dairy cows. J Dairy. 2018 [Online]. Available at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022030218301413.
- C Hua. Feeding a high concentration diet induces unhealthy alterations in the composition and metabolism of ruminal microbiota and host response in a goat model. 2017. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2017.00138.
- Y Fu. The role of rumen microbiota and its metabolites in subacute ruminal acidosis (SARA)-induced inflammatory diseases of ruminants. Microorganisms. 2022 [Online]. Available at: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/10/8/1495.
- H Shen, Z Lu, Z Xu, Z Chen, Z Shen. Associations among dietary non-fiber carbohydrate, ruminal microbiota and epithelium G-protein-coupled receptor, and histone deacetylase regulations. Microbiome. 2017. doi: 10.1186/s40168-017-0341-z.
- HJ Van Lingen, JE Edwards, JD Vaidya, et al. Diurnal dynamics of gaseous and dissolved metabolites and microbiota composition in the bovine rumen. 2017. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2017.00425.
- M Daghio, F Ciucci, A Buccioni, A Cappucci, et al. Correlation of breed, growth performance, and rumen microbiota in two rustic cattle breeds reared under different conditions. 2021. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.652031.
- F Hassan. Effect of methionine supplementation on rumen microbiota, fermentation, and amino acid metabolism in in vitro cultures containing nitrate. Microorganisms. 2021 [Online]. Available at: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/9/8/1717.
- NR Parmar, JV Solanki, AB Patel, TM Shah et al. Metagenome of Mehsani buffalo rumen microbiota: An assessment of variation in feed-dependent phylogenetic and functional classification. J 2014 [Online]. Available at: https://karger.com/mmb/article/24/4/249/197251.
- M Garcia, BJ Bradford, TG Nagaraja. Invited review: Ruminal microbes, microbial products, and systemic inflammation. Anim Sci. 2017;336:635–650.
- R Taschuk, PJ Griebel. Commensal microbiome effects on mucosal immune system development in the ruminant gastrointestinal tract. Anim Heal Res 2012;13(1):129–141.
- D Rowan-Nash, BJ Korry, E Mylonakis, P Belenky. Cross-domain and viral interactions in the microbiome. Microbiol Mol Biol 2019;83(1):10–1128.
- H Shen. Unveiling novel antimicrobial peptides from the ruminant gastrointestinal microbiomes: A deep learning-driven approach yields an anti-MRSA candidate. J Adv 2025.
- CB Welch, VE Ryman, TD Pringle, JM Lourenco. Utilizing the Gastrointestinal Microbiota to Modulate Cattle Health through the Microbiome-Gut-Organ Axes. Microorganisms. 2022;10(7). doi: 10.3390/microorganisms10071391.
- JA Roque-Jiménez. Role of long chain fatty acids in developmental programming in ruminants. Animals. 2021;11(3):1–19. doi: 10.3390/ani11030762.
- SC Huang, YF He, P Chen, KL Li, A Shaukat. Gut microbiota as a target in the bone health of livestock and poultry: Roles of short-chain fatty acids. Anim 2023;3(1):1–13. doi: 10.1186/s44149-023-00089-5.
- G Wessels. Influence of the Gut Microbiome on Feed Intake of Farm Animals. Microorganisms. 2022;10(7). doi: 10.3390/microorganisms10071305.
- González-Arancibia. Do your gut microbes affect your brain dopamine? Psychopharmacol (Berl). 2019;236(5):1611–1622. doi: 10.1007/s00213-019-05265-5.
- H Shen, Z Xu, Z Shen, Z Lu. The regulation of ruminal short-chain fatty acids on the functions of rumen barriers. Physiol. 2019;10:1305.
- S Meissner. Key role of short-chain fatty acids in epithelial barrier failure during ruminal acidosis. J Dairy Sci. 2017;100(8):6662–6675.
- M Khan et al. The microbiota: A key regulator of health, productivity, and reproductive success in mammals. Microbiol. 2024;15:1480811.
- MP Quintana-Hayashi, M Padra, JT Padra, J Benktander, SK Linden. Mucus-pathogen interactions in the gastrointestinal tract of farmed animals. Microorganisms. 2018;6(2):55.
- H Wang et al. Yeast culture repairs rumen epithelial injury by regulating microbial communities and metabolites in sheep. Microbiol. 2023;14:1305772.
- Z He, H Dong. The roles of short-chain fatty acids derived from colonic bacteria fermentation of non-digestible carbohydrates and exogenous forms in ameliorating intestinal mucosal immunity of young ruminants. Immunol. 2023;14:1291846.
- N Ma et al. Disturbances of Ruminal Microbiota and Liver Inflammation, Mediated by LPS and Histamine, in Dairy Cows Fed a High-Concentrate Diet. Animals. 2024;14(10):1495.
- Z Zhou et Critical roles of NLRP3 inflammasome in IL-1β secretion induced by Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis in vitro. Mol Immunol. 2019;116:11–17.
- W Yang et al. Effects of the Interaction between Rumen Microbiota Density–VFAs–Hepatic Gluconeogenesis on the Adaptability of Tibetan Sheep to Plateau. Int J Mol 2024;25(12):6726.
- G Conte et al. Exploring the relationship between bacterial genera and lipid metabolism in bovine rumen. Animal. 2022;16(5):100520.
- B Zhang et al. Rumen microbiome-driven insight into bile acid metabolism and host metabolic regulation. ISME J. 2024;wrae098.
- L Lin et al. Genome-centric investigation of bile acid metabolizing microbiota of dairy cows and associated diet-induced functional implications. ISME J. 2023;17(1):172–184.
- Y Hao et al. Rumen fermentation, digestive enzyme activity, and bacteria composition between pre-weaning and post-weaning dairy calves. Animals. 2021;11(9):2527.
- Z Luo et al. Alterations in the gut microbiota and its metabolites contribute to metabolic maladaptation in dairy cows during the development of hyperketonemia. Msystems. 2024;9(4):e00023–24.
- M Yu, B Yu, D Chen. The effects of gut microbiota on appetite regulation and the underlying mechanisms. Gut Microbes. 2024;16(1):2414796.
- E E Connor. Glucagon-like peptide 2 and its beneficial effects on gut function and health in production animals. Anim. Endocrinol. 2016;56:S56–S65.
- TA McAllister, KA Beauchemin, AY Alazzeh, J Baah, RM Teather, K Stanford. The use of direct fed microbials to mitigate pathogens and enhance production in cattle. Can J Anim 2011; 91(2):193–211.
- RA Leng. Unravelling methanogenesis in ruminants, horses and kangaroos: The links between gut anatomy, microbial biofilms and host immunity. Anim Prod 2018;58(7)1175–1191.
- RA Leng. Biofilm compartmentalisation of the rumen microbiome: Modification of fermentation and degradation of dietary toxins. Anim Prod 2017;57(11):2188–2203.
- SP Oliver, SE Murinda, BM Jayarao. Impact of antibiotic use in adult dairy cows on antimicrobial resistance of veterinary and human pathogens: A comprehensive review. Foodborne Pathog 2011;8(3):337–355.
- MD Auffret et al. The rumen microbiome as a reservoir of antimicrobial resistance and pathogenicity genes is directly affected by diet in beef cattle. Microbiome. 2017;5:1–11.
- S Osorio. Gut health, stress, and immunity in neonatal dairy calves: The host side of host-pathogen interactions. J Anim Sci 2020;11(1):105.
- N Vlasova, LJ Saif. Bovine immunology: Implications for dairy cattle. Front 2021; 12:643206.
- V Bronzo et al. The role of innate immune response and microbiome in resilience of dairy cattle to disease: The mastitis model. Animals. 2020;10(8):1–20. doi: 10.3390/ani10081397.
- D Bhattarai, T Worku, R Dad, ZU Rehman, X Gong, S Zhang. Mechanism of pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) and host pathogen interplay in bovine mastitis. Microb 2018;120:64–70.
- G Den Besten, K Van Eunen, AK Groen, K Venema, DJ Reijngoud, BM Bakker. The role of short-chain fatty acids in the interplay between diet, gut microbiota, and host energy metabolism. J Lipid Res. 2013;54(9):2325–2340. doi: 10.1194/jlr.R036012.
- W Von Engelhardt, J Bartels, S Kirschberger, HDM Zu Düttingdorf, R Busche. Role of short‐chain fatty acids in the hind gut. 1998;20(sup3):52–59.
- C Li, F Wang, Y Mao, Y Ma, Y Guo. Multi-omics reveals the mechanism of Trimethylamine N-oxide derived from gut microbiota inducing liver fatty of dairy cows. BMC Genomics. 2025;26(1):10.
- M De Beni Arrigoni, CL Martins, MA Factori. Lipid metabolism in the rumen. Rumenology. 2016; 103–126. doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-30533-2_4.
- G Wu, FW Bazer, Z Dai, D Li, J Wang, Z Wu. Amino acid nutrition in animals: Protein synthesis and beyond. Annu Rev Anim 2014;2(1):387–417. doi: 10.1146/annurev-animal-022513-114113.
- Y Yu et al. Effects of dietary energy levels on microorganisms and short-chain fatty acids of rumen and tight junction proteins in Honghe Yellow cattle. Front 2024;15:1335818.
- Guo J Yao, Y Cao. Regulation of pancreatic exocrine in ruminants and the related mechanism: The signal transduction and more. Anim 2021;7(4):1145–1151.
- Bionaz, S Chen, MJ Khan, JJ Loor. Functional role of PPARs in ruminants: Potential targets for fine‐tuning metabolism during growth and lactation. PPAR Res. 2013;1:684159.
- Wang, EM Ibeagha-Awemu. Impacts of Epigenetic Processes on the Health and Productivity of Livestock. Front 2021;11:613636. doi: 10.3389/fgene.2020.613636.
- E Ojo, S Kreuzer-Redmer. MicroRNAs in ruminants and their potential role in nutrition and physiology. Vet 2023;10(1):57.
- J Fink-Gremmels. Implications of hepatic cytochrome P450-related biotransformation processes in veterinary sciences. Eur J 2008;585(2–3):502–509.
- KA Triantaphyllopoulos, I Ikonomopoulos, AJ Bannister. Epigenetics and inheritance of phenotype variation in livestock. Epigenetics Chromatin. 2016;9:1–18.
- F Li et al. Host genetics influence the rumen microbiota and heritable rumen microbial features associate with feed efficiency in cattle. Microbiome. 2019;7:1–17.
- BA Clemmons, BH Voy, PR Myer. Altering the gut microbiome of cattle: Considerations of host-microbiome interactions for persistent microbiome manipulation. Microb 2019;77:523–536.
- Palmonari, A Federiconi, A Formigoni. Animal board invited review: The effect of diet on rumen microbial composition in dairy cows. Animal. 2024;101319.
- Fan et al. Host genetic effects upon the early gut microbiota in a bovine model with graduated spectrum of genetic variation. ISME J. 2020;14(1):302–317.
- J Snel, HJM Harmsen, P Van der Wielen, BA Williams. Dietary strategies to influence the gastro-intestinal microflora of young animals, and its potential to improve intestinal health in Nutrition and health of the gastrointestinal tract. Wageningen Academic; 2002, pp. 37–69.
- DR Yáñez-Ruiz, L Abecia, CJ Newbold. Manipulating rumen microbiome and fermentation through interventions during early life: A review. Front 2015. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2015.01133.
- MJ Alipour et al. The composition of the perinatal intestinal microbiota in cattle. Sci 2018;8(1):10437.
- K DeGruttola, D Low, A Mizoguchi, E Mizoguchi. Current understanding of dysbiosis in disease in human and animal models. In Bowel Dis. 2016;22(5):1137–1150.
- KC Surendra, D Takara, AG Hashimoto, SK Khanal. Biogas as a sustainable energy source for developing countries: Opportunities and challenges. Renew Sustain Energy Rev. 2014;31:846–859. doi: 10.1016/j.rser.2013.12.015.

Research and Reviews: A Journal of Microbiology and Virology
| Volume | 15 |
| Issue | 01 |
| Received | 09/01/2025 |
| Accepted | 16/01/2025 |
| Published | 25/01/2025 |
| Publication Time | 16 Days |
Login
PlumX Metrics
