Analysis of Chicken Gut Microbiome Fed by Phyllanthus urinaria as Phytobiotic Using 16S rRNA Metagenome

Applying of antibiotic growth promoters (AGPs) in chicken has been forbidden due to leaving residues and resistance in people who consume them, especially in livestock products. The provision of phytobiotics as AGPs substitute for chickens increases their immunity and productivity. Phytobiotics may threaten patho-genic bacteria or promote colonization of beneficial bacteria for chickens. This study analyzed the effect of meniran leaves (Phyllanthus urinaria) as a phytobiotic and an alternative for AGPs on the abundance, di-versity, and composition of the chicken gut microbial community. The microbial ecology of chicken gut used the molecular markers of the 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing V3-V4 region. Samples were 20 chickens maintained for 21 days and fed according to basal requirements that were divided into two treatments, namely 0% phytobiotic provision (T0) and 2% meniran leaves phytobiotic provision. The sequencing librar-ies were constructed by utilizing the Ion Plus Fragment Library Kit 48 rxns. The sequencing result was evaluated by performing single-ends reads quality control, operational taxonomic units (OTUs) clustering, species annotation, and diversity within groups (alpha diversity). The outcome data revealed that Firmicutes was the predominant phylum in both samples. Based on the class level, T0 was identified to have 100% Bacteroidia, while T1 was detected to have 78% Bacteroidia and 22% Flavobacteriia. Based on the order level, T0 was dominated by the Negativicutes and T1 was dominated by the Selenomonadales. Based on the genus level, T0 was dominated by the Megamonas and T1 was dominated by the Lactobacillus. The OTUs of T0 and T1 were 126 and 144. This study concludes that the Phyllanthus urinaria provision as a phytobi-otic influences the diversity, relative abundance, and composition of the chicken gut microbiota.