Drosophila melanogaster females undergo a variety of post-mating changes that influence their activity, feeding behavior, metabolism, egg production and gene expression. These changes are induced either by mating itself or by sperm or seminal fluid proteins. In addition, studies have shown that axenic females (those lacking a microbiome) have altered fecundity compared to females with a microbiome, and that the microbiome of the female's mate can influence reproductive success. However, the extent to which post-mating changes in transcript abundance are affected by microbiome state is not well-characterized. Here we investigated fecundity and the post-mating transcript abundance profile of axenic or control females after mating with either axenic or control males. We observed interactions between the female's microbiome and her mating status: transcripts of genes involved in reproduction and genes with neuronal functions were differentially abundant depending on the females' microbiome status, but only in mated females. In addition, immunity genes showed varied responses to either the microbiome, mating, or a combination of those two factors. We further observed that the male's microbiome status influences the fecundity of both control and axenic females, while only influencing the transcriptional profile of axenic females. Our results indicate that the microbiome plays a vital role in the post-mating switch of the female's transcriptome.

中文翻译：

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微生物组和交配之间的相互作用影响果蝇中雌性的转录谱

果蝇雌性会经历各种交配后变化，从而影响其活动，进食行为，新陈代谢，产卵量和基因表达。这些变化是由于自身交配或由精子或精液蛋白引起的。此外，研究表明，与具有微生物组的女性相比，焦虑症女性（缺乏微生物组的女性）的生殖力发生了变化，并且雌性伴侣的微生物组会影响生殖成功。但是，转录组丰度的交配后变化受到微生物组状态影响的程度尚不十分清楚。在这里，我们调查了与雌雄性或对照雄性交配后雌雄性或对照雌性的繁殖力和交配后的转录本丰度图。我们观察到雌性微生物组与其交配状态之间的相互作用：取决于女性的微生物组状态，参与生殖的基因和具有神经元功能的基因的转录本差异丰富，但仅在交配的女性中。此外，免疫基因对微生物组，交配或这两个因素的组合均显示出不同的反应。我们进一步观察到，男性的微生物组状态会影响对照和雌性雌性的繁殖力，而仅影响雌性雌性的转录谱。我们的结果表明，微生物组在女性转录组的交配后转换中起着至关重要的作用。免疫基因对微生物组，交配或这两个因素的组合均显示出不同的反应。我们进一步观察到，男性的微生物组状态会影响对照和雌性雌性的繁殖力，而仅影响雌性雌性的转录谱。我们的结果表明，微生物组在女性转录组的交配后转换中起着至关重要的作用。免疫基因对微生物组，交配或这两个因素的组合均显示出不同的反应。我们进一步观察到，男性的微生物组状态会影响对照和雌性雌性的繁殖力，而仅影响雌性雌性的转录谱。我们的结果表明，微生物组在女性转录组的交配后转换中起着至关重要的作用。