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Nguélé AT, Carrara C, Mozzicafreddo M, Chen H, Piersanti A, Salum SS, Ali SM, Miceli C. Association between Food or Nutrients and Gut Microbiota in Healthy and Helminth-Infected Women of Reproductive Age from Zanzibar, Tanzania. Nutrients 2024; 16:1266. [PMID: 38732513 PMCID: PMC11085056 DOI: 10.3390/nu16091266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2024] [Revised: 04/19/2024] [Accepted: 04/20/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Modulating the gut microbiota is recognised as one strategy for preventing and fighting diseases. While the significant impact of diet on the gut microbiota's composition and function has been extensively researched, there is a notable lack of studies on the interactions between diet, microbiota, and helminth infections. Here, we used a combination of self-reported food intake and a 16S rDNA sequencing approach to analyse the composition of the gut microbiota in women of reproductive age from the two main islands of the Zanzibar archipelago, where helminth infections are endemic. We also applied a Spearman correlation analysis to food/nutrients and gut microbiota. Our results reveal that, despite close ethnic and cultural ties, the participants' gut microbiota differs depending on their location. A nutrient intake analysis revealed deficiencies in minerals and vitamins, indicating an imbalanced diet. A correlation analysis identified bacterial taxa consistently correlated with specific food or nutrients in healthy women from both locations, and in two types of helminth infections. Escherichia/Shigella abundances, usually associated with Trichuris trichiura infection, consistently correlated with insufficient levels of vitamins B2 and B12. In conclusion, our findings suggest that the increased consumption of specific food like cassava and fish, as well as essential nutrients such as calcium, B vitamins, and vitamin A, may modulate the gut microbiota of populations residing in regions where helminth infections are endemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aristide Toussaint Nguélé
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, 62032 Camerino, Italy; (A.T.N.); (C.C.); (H.C.); (A.P.)
| | - Chiara Carrara
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, 62032 Camerino, Italy; (A.T.N.); (C.C.); (H.C.); (A.P.)
| | - Matteo Mozzicafreddo
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, Marche Polytechnic University, 60126 Ancona, Italy;
| | - Hongliang Chen
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, 62032 Camerino, Italy; (A.T.N.); (C.C.); (H.C.); (A.P.)
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin Provincial Engineering Research Center of Animal Probiotics, Key Laboratory of Animal Production and Product Quality Safety of Ministry of Education, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China
| | - Angela Piersanti
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, 62032 Camerino, Italy; (A.T.N.); (C.C.); (H.C.); (A.P.)
| | - Salum Seif Salum
- School of Health and Medical Sciences, State University of Zanzibar, Zanzibar 146, Tanzania;
| | - Said M. Ali
- Public Health Laboratory Ivo de Carneri, Chake Chake 122, Tanzania;
| | - Cristina Miceli
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, 62032 Camerino, Italy; (A.T.N.); (C.C.); (H.C.); (A.P.)
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Niciura SCM, Cardoso TF, Ibelli AMG, Okino CH, Andrade BG, Benavides MV, Chagas ACDS, Esteves SN, Minho AP, Regitano LCDA, Gondro C. Multi-omics data elucidate parasite-host-microbiota interactions and resistance to Haemonchus contortus in sheep. Parasit Vectors 2024; 17:102. [PMID: 38429820 PMCID: PMC10908167 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-024-06205-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2023] [Accepted: 02/18/2024] [Indexed: 03/03/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The integration of molecular data from hosts, parasites, and microbiota can enhance our understanding of the complex biological interactions underlying the resistance of hosts to parasites. Haemonchus contortus, the predominant sheep gastrointestinal parasite species in the tropics, causes significant production and economic losses, which are further compounded by the diminishing efficiency of chemical control owing to anthelmintic resistance. Knowledge of how the host responds to infection and how the parasite, in combination with microbiota, modulates host immunity can guide selection decisions to breed animals with improved parasite resistance. This understanding will help refine management practices and advance the development of new therapeutics for long-term helminth control. METHODS Eggs per gram (EPG) of feces were obtained from Morada Nova sheep subjected to two artificial infections with H. contortus and used as a proxy to select animals with high resistance or susceptibility for transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq) of the abomasum and 50 K single-nucleotide genotyping. Additionally, RNA-seq data for H. contortus were generated, and amplicon sequence variants (ASV) were obtained using polymerase chain reaction amplification and sequencing of bacterial and archaeal 16S ribosomal RNA genes from sheep feces and rumen content. RESULTS The heritability estimate for EPG was 0.12. GAST, GNLY, IL13, MGRN1, FGF14, and RORC genes and transcripts were differentially expressed between resistant and susceptible animals. A genome-wide association study identified regions on chromosomes 2 and 11 that harbor candidate genes for resistance, immune response, body weight, and adaptation. Trans-expression quantitative trait loci were found between significant variants and differentially expressed transcripts. Functional co-expression modules based on sheep genes and ASVs correlated with resistance to H. contortus, showing enrichment in pathways of response to bacteria, immune and inflammatory responses, and hub features of the Christensenellaceae, Bacteroides, and Methanobrevibacter genera; Prevotellaceae family; and Verrucomicrobiota phylum. In H. contortus, some mitochondrial, collagen-, and cuticle-related genes were expressed only in parasites isolated from susceptible sheep. CONCLUSIONS The present study identified chromosome regions, genes, transcripts, and pathways involved in the elaborate interactions between the sheep host, its gastrointestinal microbiota, and the H. contortus parasite. These findings will assist in the development of animal selection strategies for parasite resistance and interdisciplinary approaches to control H. contortus infection in sheep.
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Mules TC, Inns S, Le Gros G. Helminths' therapeutic potential to treat intestinal barrier dysfunction. Allergy 2023; 78:2892-2905. [PMID: 37449458 DOI: 10.1111/all.15812] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2023] [Revised: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 07/02/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
The intestinal barrier is a dynamic multi-layered structure which can adapt to environmental changes within the intestinal lumen. It has the complex task of allowing nutrient absorption while limiting entry of harmful microbes and microbial antigens present in the intestinal lumen. Excessive entry of microbial antigens via microbial translocation due to 'intestinal barrier dysfunction' is hypothesised to contribute to the increasing incidence of allergic, autoimmune and metabolic diseases, a concept referred to as the 'epithelial barrier theory'. Helminths reside in the intestinal tract are in intimate contact with the mucosal surfaces and induce a range of local immunological changes which affect the layers of the intestinal barrier. Helminths are proposed to prevent, or even treat, many of the diseases implicated in the epithelial barrier theory. This review will focus on the effect of helminths on intestinal barrier function and explore whether this could explain the proposed health benefits delivered by helminths.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas C Mules
- Malaghan Institute of Medical Research, Wellington, New Zealand
- University of Otago, Wellington, New Zealand
| | | | - Graham Le Gros
- Malaghan Institute of Medical Research, Wellington, New Zealand
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4
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Rojas CA, Entrolezo Z, Jarett JK, Jospin G, Kingsbury DD, Martin A, Eisen JA, Ganz HH. Microbiome Responses to Fecal Microbiota Transplantation in Cats with Chronic Digestive Issues. Vet Sci 2023; 10:561. [PMID: 37756083 PMCID: PMC10537086 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci10090561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2023] [Revised: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/02/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023] Open
Abstract
There is growing interest in the application of fecal microbiota transplants (FMTs) in small animal medicine, but there are few published studies that have tested their effects in the domestic cat (Felis catus). Here we use 16S rRNA gene sequencing to examine fecal microbiome changes in 46 domestic cats with chronic digestive issues that received FMTs using lyophilized stool that was delivered in oral capsules. Fecal samples were collected from FMT recipients before and two weeks after the end of the full course of 50 capsules, as well as from their stool donors (N = 10), and other healthy cats (N = 113). The fecal microbiomes of FMT recipients varied with host clinical signs and dry kibble consumption, and shifts in the relative abundances of Clostridium, Collinsella, Megamonas, Desulfovibrio and Escherichia were observed after FMT. Overall, donors shared 13% of their bacterial amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) with FMT recipients and the most commonly shared ASVs were classified as Prevotella 9, Peptoclostridium, Bacteroides, and Collinsella. Lastly, the fecal microbiomes of cats with diarrhea became more similar to the microbiomes of age-matched and diet-matched healthy cats compared to cats with constipation. Overall, our results suggest that microbiome responses to FMT may be modulated by the FMT recipient's initial presenting clinical signs, diet, and their donor's microbiome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Connie A. Rojas
- Genome Center, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA; (C.A.R.); (J.A.E.)
- Department of Evolution and Ecology, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Zhandra Entrolezo
- AnimalBiome, Oakland, CA 94609, USA; (Z.E.); (J.K.J.); (G.J.); (A.M.)
| | - Jessica K. Jarett
- AnimalBiome, Oakland, CA 94609, USA; (Z.E.); (J.K.J.); (G.J.); (A.M.)
| | - Guillaume Jospin
- AnimalBiome, Oakland, CA 94609, USA; (Z.E.); (J.K.J.); (G.J.); (A.M.)
| | - Dawn D. Kingsbury
- AnimalBiome, Oakland, CA 94609, USA; (Z.E.); (J.K.J.); (G.J.); (A.M.)
| | - Alex Martin
- AnimalBiome, Oakland, CA 94609, USA; (Z.E.); (J.K.J.); (G.J.); (A.M.)
| | - Jonathan A. Eisen
- Genome Center, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA; (C.A.R.); (J.A.E.)
- Department of Evolution and Ecology, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Holly H. Ganz
- AnimalBiome, Oakland, CA 94609, USA; (Z.E.); (J.K.J.); (G.J.); (A.M.)
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Volmer JG, McRae H, Morrison M. The evolving role of methanogenic archaea in mammalian microbiomes. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1268451. [PMID: 37727289 PMCID: PMC10506414 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1268451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 08/18/2023] [Indexed: 09/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Methanogenic archaea (methanogens) represent a diverse group of microorganisms that inhabit various environmental and host-associated microbiomes. These organisms play an essential role in global carbon cycling given their ability to produce methane, a potent greenhouse gas, as a by-product of their energy production. Recent advances in culture-independent and -dependent studies have highlighted an increased prevalence of methanogens in the host-associated microbiome of diverse animal species. Moreover, there is increasing evidence that methanogens, and/or the methane they produce, may play a substantial role in human health and disease. This review addresses the expanding host-range and the emerging view of host-specific adaptations in methanogen biology and ecology, and the implications for host health and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- James G. Volmer
- Centre for Microbiome Research, School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Translational Research Institute, Woolloongabba, QLD, Australia
| | - Harley McRae
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Queensland Frazer Institute, Translational Research Institute, Woolloongabba, QLD, Australia
| | - Mark Morrison
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Queensland Frazer Institute, Translational Research Institute, Woolloongabba, QLD, Australia
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Pheeha SM, Tamuzi JL, Chale-Matsau B, Manda S, Nyasulu PS. A Scoping Review Evaluating the Current State of Gut Microbiota Research in Africa. Microorganisms 2023; 11:2118. [PMID: 37630678 PMCID: PMC10458939 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11082118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2023] [Revised: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The gut microbiota has emerged as a key human health and disease determinant. However, there is a significant knowledge gap regarding the composition, diversity, and function of the gut microbiota, specifically in the African population. This scoping review aims to examine the existing literature on gut microbiota research conducted in Africa, providing an overview of the current knowledge and identifying research gaps. A comprehensive search strategy was employed to identify relevant studies. Databases including MEDLINE (PubMed), African Index Medicus (AIM), CINAHL (EBSCOhost), Science Citation index (Web of Science), Embase (Ovid), Scopus (Elsevier), WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP), and Google Scholar were searched for relevant articles. Studies investigating the gut microbiota in African populations of all age groups were included. The initial screening included a total of 2136 articles, of which 154 were included in this scoping review. The current scoping review revealed a limited number of studies investigating diseases of public health significance in relation to the gut microbiota. Among these studies, HIV (14.3%), colorectal cancer (5.2%), and diabetes mellitus (3.9%) received the most attention. The top five countries that contributed to gut microbiota research were South Africa (16.2%), Malawi (10.4%), Egypt (9.7%), Kenya (7.1%), and Nigeria (6.5%). The high number (n = 66) of studies that did not study any specific disease in relation to the gut microbiota remains a gap that needs to be filled. This scoping review brings attention to the prevalent utilization of observational study types (38.3%) in the studies analysed and emphasizes the importance of conducting more experimental studies. Furthermore, the findings reflect the need for more disease-focused, comprehensive, and population-specific gut microbiota studies across diverse African regions and ethnic groups to better understand the factors shaping gut microbiota composition and its implications for health and disease. Such knowledge has the potential to inform targeted interventions and personalized approaches for improving health outcomes in African populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara M. Pheeha
- Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town 7500, South Africa; (S.M.P.)
- Department of Chemical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, Pretoria 0208, South Africa
- National Health Laboratory Service, Dr George Mukhari Academic Hospital, Pretoria 0208, South Africa
| | - Jacques L. Tamuzi
- Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town 7500, South Africa; (S.M.P.)
| | - Bettina Chale-Matsau
- Department of Chemical Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0028, South Africa
- National Health Laboratory Service, Steve Biko Academic Hospital, Pretoria 0002, South Africa
| | - Samuel Manda
- Department of Statistics, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0028, South Africa
| | - Peter S. Nyasulu
- Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town 7500, South Africa; (S.M.P.)
- Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2193, South Africa
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7
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Tee MZ, Er YX, Easton AV, Yap NJ, Lee IL, Devlin J, Chen Z, Ng KS, Subramanian P, Angelova A, Oyesola O, Sargsian S, Ngui R, Beiting DP, Boey CCM, Chua KH, Cadwell K, Lim YAL, Loke P, Lee SC. Gut microbiome of helminth-infected indigenous Malaysians is context dependent. MICROBIOME 2022; 10:214. [PMID: 36476263 PMCID: PMC9727879 DOI: 10.1186/s40168-022-01385-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2022] [Accepted: 10/04/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND While microbiomes in industrialized societies are well characterized, indigenous populations with traditional lifestyles have microbiomes that are more akin to those of ancient humans. However, metagenomic data in these populations remains scarce, and the association with soil-transmitted helminth infection status is unclear. Here, we sequenced 650 metagenomes of indigenous Malaysians from five villages with different prevalence of helminth infections. RESULTS Individuals from villages with higher prevalences of helminth infections have more unmapped reads and greater microbial diversity. Microbial community diversity and composition were most strongly associated with different villages and the effects of helminth infection status on the microbiome varies by village. Longitudinal changes in the microbiome in response to albendazole anthelmintic treatment were observed in both helminth infected and uninfected individuals. Inference of bacterial population replication rates from origin of replication analysis identified specific replicating taxa associated with helminth infection. CONCLUSIONS Our results indicate that helminth effects on the microbiota were highly dependent on context, and effects of albendazole on the microbiota can be confounding for the interpretation of deworming studies. Furthermore, a substantial quantity of the microbiome remains unannotated, and this large dataset from an indigenous population associated with helminth infections is a valuable resource for future studies. Video Abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mian Zi Tee
- Department of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Yi Xian Er
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Alice V Easton
- Department of Microbiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Nan Jiun Yap
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Ii Li Lee
- Kulliyyah of Medicine and Health Sciences, University Islam Antarabangsa Sultan Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah, 09300, Kuala Ketil, Kedah, Malaysia
| | - Joseph Devlin
- Department of Microbiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Ze Chen
- Department of Microbiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Kee Seong Ng
- Department of Gastroenterology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Poorani Subramanian
- Bioinformatics and Computational Biosciences Branch, Office of Cyber Infrastructure and Computational Biology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Angelina Angelova
- Bioinformatics and Computational Biosciences Branch, Office of Cyber Infrastructure and Computational Biology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Oyebola Oyesola
- Type 2 Immunity Section, Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Shushan Sargsian
- Department of Microbiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Kimmel Center for Biology and Medicine at the Skirball Institute, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Romano Ngui
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Daniel P Beiting
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | | | - Kek Heng Chua
- Department of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Ken Cadwell
- Department of Microbiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Kimmel Center for Biology and Medicine at the Skirball Institute, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - Yvonne Ai Lian Lim
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
| | - P'ng Loke
- Type 2 Immunity Section, Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
| | - Soo Ching Lee
- Type 2 Immunity Section, Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
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8
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Loke P, Lee SC, Oyesola OO. Effects of helminths on the human immune response and the microbiome. Mucosal Immunol 2022; 15:1224-1233. [PMID: 35732819 DOI: 10.1038/s41385-022-00532-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2022] [Revised: 05/17/2022] [Accepted: 05/22/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Helminths have evolved sophisticated immune regulating mechanisms to prevent rejection by their mammalian host. Our understanding of how the human immune system responds to these parasites remains poor compared to mouse models of infection and this limits our ability to develop vaccines as well as harness their unique properties as therapeutic strategies against inflammatory disorders. Here, we review how recent studies on human challenge infections, self-infected individuals, travelers, and endemic populations have improved our understanding of human type 2 immunity and its effects on the microbiome. The heterogeneity of responses between individuals and the limited access to tissue samples beyond the peripheral blood are challenges that limit human studies on helminths, but also provide opportunities to transform our understanding of human immunology. Organoids and single-cell sequencing are exciting new tools for immunological analysis that may aid this pursuit. Learning about the genetic and immunological basis of resistance, tolerance, and pathogenesis to helminth infections may thus uncover mechanisms that can be utilized for therapeutic purposes.
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Affiliation(s)
- P'ng Loke
- Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA.
| | - Soo Ching Lee
- Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Oyebola O Oyesola
- Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
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Niu H, Feng XZ, Shi CW, Zhang D, Chen HL, Huang HB, Jiang YL, Wang JZ, Cao X, Wang N, Zeng Y, Yang GL, Yang WT, Wang CF. Gut Bacterial Composition and Functional Potential of Tibetan Pigs Under Semi-Grazing. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:850687. [PMID: 35464912 PMCID: PMC9023118 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.850687] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2022] [Accepted: 02/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Gut bacterial community plays a key role in maintaining host health. The Tibetan pig (Sus scrofa), an ancient breed in China, has been known for its high adaptability to harsh environments and for its meat quality. To understand the underlying mechanisms facilitating to shape these unique features, in this study, 16S rRNA sequencing using pigs feces and subsequent bacterial functional prediction were performed. Also, the gut bacteria of two other breeds of pigs, Barkshire and Landrace, were examined for comparison. It was revealed that the structure of bacterial community in Tibetan pigs appeared to be more complex; the relative abundances of dominant bacterial families varied inversely with those of the other pigs, and the proportion of Firmicutes in Tibetan pigs was lower, but Bacteroides, Fibrobacterota, Lachnospiraceae, Oscillospiraceae, and Ruminococcaceae were higher. Bacterial functional prediction revealed that the dominant flora in the Tibetan pigs was more correlated with functions regulating the hosts’ immune and inflammatory responses, such as NOD-like_receptor_signaling_pathway and vitamin metabolism. In addition, in Tibetan pigs, the taxonomic relationships in the gut bacteria on day 350 were closer than those on earlier stages. Furthermore, gender played a role in the composition and function of bacterial inhabitants in the gut; for boars, they were more correlated to drug resistance and xenobiotics metabolism of the host compared to the sows. In sum, our preliminary study on the gut bacterial composition of the Tibetan pigs provided an insight into the underlying host–microorganism interactions, emphasizing the role of intestinal bacteria in the context of modulating the host’s immune system and host development.
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Helminth-Induced Human Gastrointestinal Dysbiosis: a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Reveals Insights into Altered Taxon Diversity and Microbial Gradient Collapse. mBio 2021; 12:e0289021. [PMID: 34933444 PMCID: PMC8689561 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.02890-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
High-throughput 16S rRNA sequencing has allowed the characterization of helminth-uninfected (HU) and helminth-infected (HI) gut microbiomes, revealing distinct profiles. However, there have been no qualitative or quantitative syntheses of these studies, which show marked variation in participant age, diet, pathogen of interest, and study location. A predefined minimally biased search strategy identified 23 studies in humans. For each of these studies, we qualitatively addressed the effects of helminth infection on within-individual (alpha) and between-individual (beta) fecal microbiome diversity, infection-associated microbial taxa, the effect of helminth clearance on microbiome composition, microbiome composition as a predictor of infection status or treatment outcome, and treatment-specific effects on the fecal microbiome. Concomitantly, we performed a meta-analysis on a subset of 7 of these studies containing raw, paired-end 16S reads and individual-level metadata, comprising 424 pretreatment or untreated HI individuals and 497 HU controls. After reducing the batch effect and adjusting for age, our data demonstrated that intestinal helminth parasites can alter the host gut microbiome by increasing alpha diversity and promoting taxonomic reassortment and gradient collapse. Most strongly influencing the microbiome composition were the helminths found in the large intestine, Enterobius vermicularis and Trichuris trichiura, suggesting that this influence appears to be specific to soil-transmitted helminths (STH) species and host anatomical niche. In summary, using a large and diverse sample set captured in the meta-analysis, we were able to evaluate the influence of individual helminth species as well as species-species interactions, each of which explained a significant portion of the variation in the microbiome.
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Lawson MAE, Roberts IS, Grencis RK. The interplay between Trichuris and the microbiota. Parasitology 2021; 148:1-8. [PMID: 34075861 PMCID: PMC8660641 DOI: 10.1017/s0031182021000834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2021] [Revised: 05/17/2021] [Accepted: 05/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Parasitic worms are amongst the most common pathogens to infect humans and have a long-established history of inflicting disease in their hosts. There is a large body of evidence that states intestine-dwelling helminths ensure their survival by influencing the host immune response against them. In recent years, it has become apparent that the large and diverse microbial communities that exist in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract of the host and within the parasite itself have a pivotal role in worm survival and persistence. Using a variety of mouse models (including laboratory, germ-free and rewilded mice), there have been new insights into how bacteria and worms interact with each other; this includes the discovery that Trichuris is unable to hatch and/or infect their host in the absence of bacteria, and that these worms contain a Trichuris-specific gut microbiota. These interactions are determined in part by the capacity of the host, gut microbiota and worms to communicate via metabolites such as butyrate, which are microbially derived and have known immunoregulatory properties. By exploring the contribution of gut bacteria to worm infections and the intricate relationship that exists between them, an exciting and emerging field in whipworm parasitology is established.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa A. E. Lawson
- Lydia Becker Institute for Immunology and Inflammation, Manchester, M13 9PT, UK
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell Matrix Research, Manchester, M13 9PT, UK
- Division of Infection, Immunity and Respiratory Medicine, Manchester, M13 9PT, UK
- School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK
| | - Ian S. Roberts
- Lydia Becker Institute for Immunology and Inflammation, Manchester, M13 9PT, UK
- Division of Infection, Immunity and Respiratory Medicine, Manchester, M13 9PT, UK
- School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK
| | - Richard K. Grencis
- Lydia Becker Institute for Immunology and Inflammation, Manchester, M13 9PT, UK
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell Matrix Research, Manchester, M13 9PT, UK
- Division of Infection, Immunity and Respiratory Medicine, Manchester, M13 9PT, UK
- School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK
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