BackgroundParticulate matter (PM) is a key pollutant in ambient air that has been associated with negative health conditions in urban environments. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of orally administered PM on the gut microbiome and immune function under normal and inflammatory conditions.MethodsWild-type 129/SvEv mice were gavaged with Ottawa urban PM10 (EHC-93) for 7–14 days and mucosal gene expression analyzed using Ingenuity Pathways software. Intestinal permeability was measured by lactulose/mannitol excretion in urine. At sacrifice, segments of small and large intestine were cultured and cytokine secretion measured. Splenocytes were isolated and incubated with PM10 for measurement of proliferation. Long-term effects of exposure (35 days) on intestinal cytokine expression were measured in wild-type and IL-10 deficient (IL-10−/−) mice. Microbial composition of stool samples was assessed using terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism. Short chain fatty acids were measured in caecum.ResultsShort-term treatment of wild-type mice with PM10 altered immune gene expression, enhanced pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion in the small intestine, increased gut permeability, and induced hyporesponsiveness in splenocytes. Long-term treatment of wild-type and IL-10−/− mice increased pro-inflammatory cytokine expression in the colon and altered short chain fatty acid concentrations and microbial composition. IL-10−/− mice had increased disease as evidenced by enhanced histological damage.ConclusionsIngestion of airborne particulate matter alters the gut microbiome and induces acute and chronic inflammatory responses in the intestine.

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Digenean trematode distributions, compatibility profiles with their snail hosts, and complete life cycles remain mysteries in many parts of the world. Surveys of digenean biology and ecology provide further insight and perspective into just how incredibly diverse and important helminth parasites are in shaping local ecosystems. Past surveys have provided substantial characterizations of adult digeneans within their definitive hosts, and many now have contributed toward furthering our understanding of larval digeneans within their intermediate host communities. However, much information about the diversity of digeneans and their relationships with their snail intermediate hosts are lacking in many locations across the globe. This is certainly true in Canada, where few records related to digenean-snail relationships exist. Currently, there is a need for more information about the presence and distribution of digeneans across Canada, and how this compares to other parts of North America and beyond. To address this diversity gap in Western Canada, six lakes within central Alberta were surveyed for the presence of snails and larval digenean species and their associations. This investigation into the diversity of digeneans utilized a combined approach of morphological and molecular tools to identify 39 digenean species among five snail host species, from biweekly collections, taken over the course of 2 years (2013-2014). Here, digenean-snail combinations, presence, and distribution across sampling sites and lakes are reported. Overall, this survey contributes new information toward digenean-snail compatibility, life cycles, and distribution in Northern lake ecosystems within North America.

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