Gut Microbial Profile Is Associated With Residential Settings and Not Nutritional Status in Adults in Karnataka, India

Interplay Between Helminth Infections, Malnutrition, and Gut Microbiota in Children and Mothers from Pemba, Tanzania: Potential of Microbiota-Directed Interventions

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES

Despite efforts within the framework of the Sustainable Development Goal to end malnutrition by 2030, malnutrition and soil-transmitted helminth infections persist in sub-Saharan Africa. A significant barrier to success is the inadequate understanding of effective intervention methods. Most research on the gut microbiota's role in health has been conducted in developed countries, leaving a critical gap in knowledge regarding low-income populations. This study addresses this gap by expanding research on the gut microbiota of underprivileged populations to help tackle these public health challenges.

METHODS

We employed 16S rDNA sequencing to assess the bacterial gut microbiota composition of 60 children (mean age: 26.63 ± 6.36 months) and their 58 mothers (mean age: 30.03 ± 6.31 years) in Pemba, with a focus on helminth infection and nutritional status.

RESULTS

Our differential abundance analysis identified bacterial taxa that were significantly negatively associated with both helminth infections and malnutrition, highlighting the potential for microbiota-directed interventions to address these health issues simultaneously. Notably, we identified Akkermansia, Blautia, Dorea, and Odoribacter as promising probiotic candidates for such interventions. In stunted children, positive co-occurrences were observed between Lactobacillus, Prevotella, and Bacteroides, while Escherichia/Shigella displayed negative co-abundance relationships with short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) producers in the gut microbiota. These findings suggest that administering Lactobacillus and SCFA-producing probiotics to children may foster the growth of beneficial bacteria like Prevotella and Bacteroides while reducing the relative abundance of Escherichia/Shigella, potentially enhancing overall health.

CONCLUSIONS

This study underscores the importance of microbiota-directed interventions in children and women of reproductive age as promising strategies, alongside established approaches, for combating helminth infections and malnutrition in vulnerable populations.

Association between Food or Nutrients and Gut Microbiota in Healthy and Helminth-Infected Women of Reproductive Age from Zanzibar, Tanzania

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.

Environmental exposure to swine farms reshapes human gut microbiota

The gut microbiota can change to varying degrees because of changes in the environment. In the present study, we performed microbial amplicon sequencing on the feces of people who had long-term exposure to swine farms (F) and that of people living in normal environments (S) to investigate the impact of the environment on the human gut microbiota. A total of 1,283,503 high-quality ordered sequences were obtained, which provided different levels of microbial classification and statistics. We found that different environments did not alter the richness and diversity of the microbial communities in participants, but caused significant changes in the proportion of some bacteria. The main bacterial phyla found in group F participants were Firmicutes (69.44-89.03%), Actinobacteria (1.7-18.95%), and Bacteroidetes (1.17-22.35%); those found in group S participants were Firmicutes (49.93-95.04%), Bacteroidetes (0.62-39.59%), and Proteobacteria (0.98-11.95%). Additionally, because of changes in phylum proportions, the Bugbase phenotypic classification predicted an increase in the proportion of Gram-positive bacteria in group F and an increase in the proportion of Gram-negative bacteria in group S. In conclusion, our findings suggest that human exposure to swine farms can reshape the gut microbiota, resulting in changes in the microbial abundances. This change can potentially reduce the odds of developing bowel disease and contribute to the prevention of intestinal diseases, providing a theoretical basis for improving human health.