Investigation of the relationship between aging and microbiome in long-lived subterranean mammalian model spalax leucodon by utilizing 16s rrna amplicon sequencing method

This study found upon the hypothesis that there is a relationship between aging and microbial diversity and composition. For that purpose, Spalax, known for its long life span, was selected as a model organism. Skin and fecal samples were collected from Spalax Leucodon whose life span differs in nature and laboratory environment under wild and captivity conditions. 16S rRNA V3-V4 gene regions of the obtained skin and fecal samples were copied and 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing was performed for S. Leucodon for the first time. Alpha and beta diversity analyses were performed with the obtained data set and it was shown that the microbial diversity of S. Leucodon underwent changes under captivity conditions. In-silico analyses concluded that the Muribaculacea bacteria family associated with longevity is the indicator species for the gut microbiome of S. Leucodon. In addition, the hypothesis that the S. Leucodon microbiome and the microbiome of other long-lived creatures are similar has also been tested within the scope of this thesis study. Keywords: Spalax leucodon, Microbiome, 16S rRNA Sequencing, Longevity, Aging