Heat stress suppresses lactation through potential rumen-mammary communication mediated by extracellular vesicles: integrated analysis of microbiome, metabolome, and miRNA profiles

Quick Facts

  • Publication title: Heat stress suppresses lactation through potential rumen-mammary communication mediated by extracellular vesicles: integrated analysis of microbiome, metabolome, and miRNA profiles
  • Journal: Microbiome
  • Year: 2026
  • DOI: 10.1186/s40168-026-02363-3
  • PMID/PMCID: 41845494; PMC13107730

Research overview

This study aimed to elucidate how HS suppresses lactation through potential rumen-mammary communication mediated by EVs, using a comprehensive multi-omics approach. This study demonstrates that HS suppresses lactation through multi-level alterations in the rumen microbiome, metabolic homeostasis, and EV-derived miRNA signaling, collectively supporting the existence of a potential rumen-mammary communication axis.

Key findings

Dairy cows exposed to HS exhibited elevated rectal temperatures and respiratory rates, accompanied by significant reductions in the yield of milk, milk fat and protein.

Rumen fermentation was markedly impaired, with decreased pH, butyrate, and valerate proportions, and systemic inflammation was evidenced by increased pro-inflammatory cytokines and barrier dysfunction.

Metagenomic profiling revealed that HS reshaped the rumen microbiome, significantly reducing the relative abundances of Prevotella, Bifidobacterium, and Lactobacillus species while enriching methanogenic and low-efficiency fermentative taxa.

Functionally, HS enhanced microbial methane metabolism and suppressed carbohydrate degradation pathways, reducing the host's energy supply for milk synthesis.

Echo Biotech Role

Echo Biotech contributed EV isolation and purification, EV characterization, miRNA profiling/sequencing and bioinformatic analysis; the study also used or cited Exosupur®.

Related platforms: Exoomics®, Research Reagents & Tools

Related services and capabilities: Biofluid EV Isolation & Purification, EV Basic Characterization (TEM/NTA/WB), EV miRNA Profiling / Sequencing, Research Reagent / Product Supply

Related products or reagents: Exosupur® EV Isolation/Purification Kit

References

Original publication: Heat stress suppresses lactation through potential rumen-mammary communication mediated by extracellular vesicles: integrated analysis of microbiome, metabolome, and miRNA profiles Microbiome. 2026. DOI: 10.1186/s40168-026-02363-3. PMID/PMCID: 41845494; PMC13107730.