Table and Figure captions
TABLE 1 The relative abundance (%) of predominant genera in CV and GF samples
FIGURE 1 The intestine length and weight of the faster and slower regenerating Apostichopus japonicus individuals during the different regeneration stages. The differences in the intestine length averages of the two groups, ”faster” and ”slower”, were statistically significant. ** indicates significant difference in the intestine length averages of the two groups atP <0.01 level. Different letters indicate significant differences (P <0.05) in the intestine weight.
Note: W-F: intestine weight of the faster regenerating A. japonicus individuals; W-S: intestine weight of the slower regeneratingA. japonicus individuals; L-F: intestine length of the faster regenerating A. japonicus individuals; L-S: intestine length of the slower regenerating A. japonicus individuals.
FIGURE 2 The intestinal microbiota of the faster and slower regenerating Apostichopus japonicus individuals are different. (a) Comparison of the intestinal bacterial communities in the faster and slower regenerating Apostichopus japonicus individuals during different regeneration stages. (b) Differences in bacterial communities at the family level between the faster and slower regenerating individuals (Wilcoxon rank-sum test, Storey’s methods for multiple tests adjustment).
Note: F: faster regenerating group; S: slower regenerating group.
FIGURE 3 Heatmap of the KEGG analysis of the intestinal microbiota in samples from the faster and slower regeneratingApostichopus japonicus individuals during the different regeneration stages.
FIGURE 4 Quantification of 16S rRNA gene copies/sea cucumber in the faster and slower regenerating Apostichopus japonicus individuals during the different regeneration stages. qPCR was performed with bacterial-specific primers on DNA extracted from the F or S groups. Different letters indicate significant differences (P <0.05).
FIGURE 5 Quantification of 16S rRNA gene copies/sea cucumber during the different regeneration stages. qPCR was performed with bacterial-specific primers on DNA extracted from the CV, XGF, or GF groups. Different letters indicate significant differences (P <0.05).
FIGURE 6 The intestine length (a) and weight (b) of samples from the CV, XGF, or GF groups during the different regeneration stages. (c) Images of regenerating intestines from the CV, XGF, or GF groups at 10 or 14 d. Different letters indicate significant differences (P <0.05).
Note: CV1-XGF1-GF1: 10 d; CV2-XGF2-GF2: 14 d.