The effect of dietary lead (Pb) on the murine intestinal microbiome was explored to determine if there was an association between microflora modulation and Pb source. Mice were treated with 6.25-25 ppm Pb acetate (PbOAc) or 7.5-30 ppm Pb in reference soil SRM 2710a having 0.552% Pb among other heavy metals such as Cd. Feces and ceca were collected following 9 days of treatment and the microbiome analyzed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Treatment effects on the microbiome were observed in both feces and ceca of mice. Changes in the cecal microbiomes of mice fed Pb were similar except for a few exceptions regardless of source. Akkermansia, a common gut bacterium, was highest ranked species in control microbiomes whereas Lactobacillus ranked highest in treated mice. Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratios in the ceca of PbOAc and SRM 2710a treated mice increased suggestive of changes in gut microbiome metabolism that promotes obesity. Bacilli/Clostridia increased in the ceca of PbOAc treated mice and may be indicative of increased risk of host sepsis. Family Deferribacteraceae also were modulated by PbOAc or SRM 2710a, respectively, possibly impacting iron metabolism. Understanding the relationship between microbiome composition and Pb concentration, especially in soil, may ultimately provide new insights into the utility of various remediation methodologies that modulate the effects and assist in the selection of an optimal treatment for a specific contaminated site.

This dataset is associated with the following publication: George, S., R. Devereux, J. James, Y. Wan, G. Diamond, K. Bradham, and D. Thomas. Dietary lead modulates the mouse intestinal microbiome: Subacute exposure to lead acetate and lead contaminated soil. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY. Elsevier Science Ltd, New York, NY, USA, 249: (2023).