Leveraging Gastrointestinal Microbiota‒Host Co-oscillation Patterns for Improving Nitrogen Utilization Efficiency in Ruminants: A Review.

Improving nitrogen utilization efficiency in ruminant livestock is vital for feeding a growing global population and lowering environmental pollution. The rumen and intestine harbor distinct epithelial structures and biogeographically stratified microbiota, and their co-oscillation assemblage patterns fulfill the pivotal role of metabolizing dietary nitrogen into bioavailable nutrients in ruminants. There is cursory evidence to suggest that an increased understanding of the spatial gastrointestinal microbiota‒host interactions will aid in the development of nutritional strategies to improve nitrogen utilization efficiency. In this review, we first explore the current knowledge on the processes of protein degradation, microbial protein synthesis, and urea nitrogen salvage in ruminal microorganisms and the epithelium. Second, we summarize the mechanisms of microbiota‒host interplay with regard to the amino acid utilization process in the intestine. Finally, we discuss the most pertinent and promising manipulation strategies that have emerged to balance food security and environmental impacts. In this review, we highlight the significance of leveraging gastrointestinal microbiota‒host co-oscillation patterns to improve nitrogen utilization efficiency, and put forward perspectives for future research opportunities that precisely target this coordinated interplay in the nitrogen metabolic network.