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Sun X, Hong J, Ding T, Wu Z, Lin D. Snail microbiota and snail-schistosome interactions: axenic and gnotobiotic technologies. Trends Parasitol 2024; 40:241-256. [PMID: 38278688 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2024.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2023] [Revised: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 01/28/2024]
Abstract
The microbiota in the intermediate snail hosts of human schistosomes can significantly affect host biology. For decades, researchers have developed axenic snails to manipulate the symbiotic microbiota. This review summarizes the characteristics of symbiotic microbes in intermediate snail hosts and describes their interactions with snails, affecting snail growth, development, and parasite transmission ability. We focus on advances in axenic and gnotobiotic technologies for studying snail-microbe interactions and exploring the role of microbiota in snail susceptibility to Schistosoma infection. We discuss the challenges related to axenic and gnotobiotic snails, possible solutions to address these challenges, and future research directions to deepen our understanding of snail-microbiota interactions, with the aim to develop microbiota-based strategies for controlling snail populations and reducing their competence in transmitting parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xi Sun
- Department of Parasitology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China; Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control, Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China; Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center for Diseases-vectors Control and Chinese Atomic Energy Agency Center of Excellence on Nuclear Technology Applications for Insect Control, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jinni Hong
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Tao Ding
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control, Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China; Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center for Diseases-vectors Control and Chinese Atomic Energy Agency Center of Excellence on Nuclear Technology Applications for Insect Control, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhongdao Wu
- Department of Parasitology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China; Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control, Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China; Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center for Diseases-vectors Control and Chinese Atomic Energy Agency Center of Excellence on Nuclear Technology Applications for Insect Control, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Datao Lin
- Department of Parasitology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China; Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control, Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China; Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center for Diseases-vectors Control and Chinese Atomic Energy Agency Center of Excellence on Nuclear Technology Applications for Insect Control, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China.
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