ORIGINAL RESEARCH article
Front. Microbiol.
Sec. Antimicrobials, Resistance and Chemotherapy
Intestinal microbiome Gone Native:Gut Microbiome Shift and Resistome Diversity in First Homecoming Giant Panda Family
Yuhang Wu 1
Linhua Deng 2,3
Xiangwang He 1
Dianyi Zhou 1
Shanshan Ling 2,3
Ming He 2,3
Qian Wang 2,3
Chengdong Wang 2,3
Minglei Wang 2,3
Honglin Wu 2,3
Linfeng Li 4
Desheng Li 2,3
Libing Yun 1
1. Department of Forensic Pathology, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
2. China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda, Chengdu, China
3. Key Laboratory of SFGA on The Giant Panda, Dujiangyan, China
4. Sichuan Fire Research Institute of Ministry of Emergency Management, Chengdu, China
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Abstract
The world-famous giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) often travel abroad for public exhibitions and international scientific cooperations. Previous research reported the altered gut microbiome structure and enriched gut antibiotic-resistant genes (ARGs) in human international travelers, which the latter one is harmful to native residents and environments. The microbiome and ARGs of these animal travelers, however, have not been investigated while they often interact with local keepers, visitors and other pandas. In this study, we have clarified the dynamic microbiome composition and snapshot of ARGs (resistome) of the first panda family returning from overseas. Fecal samples were applied for high-throughput sequencing for both the amplicon and metagenomics which were collected at the first day of their quarantine (Admission Stage) and three days after the quarantine (Release Stage). Feces from two native captive pandas were used as controls. The predominant Escherichia-Shigella proportion in mother and father pandas decreased from 79.02% and 47.46% to 57.03% and 33.77%, while the Streptococcus abundance increased from 0.27% and 12.44% to 29.47% and 54.59%. The main genera of child panda, Weissella decreased from 45.24% to 0.02% after quarantine and Streptococcus ratio increased 11.89% to 43.82%. Significant richness and bacteria diversities were found in these samples. The main ARGs types are multidrug and polymyxin, the latter is uncommon ARGs in native pandas. Consequently, to protect local ecosystems from the introduction of novel ARGs, it is imperative that waste from translocated giant pandas be managed under strict biosecurity protocols.
Summary
Keywords
16S rRNA, Antibiotic resistant genes, Giant pandas, international travel, Metagenomics, microbiome
Received
02 November 2025
Accepted
20 February 2026
Copyright
© 2026 Wu, Deng, He, Zhou, Ling, He, Wang, Wang, Wang, Wu, Li, Li and Yun. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
*Correspondence: Desheng Li; Libing Yun
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