Dynamics of the Gut Microbiome in Shigella -Infected Children during the First Two Years of Life

Abstract

Shigella causes more than 180 million cases of diarrhea globally, mostly in children living in poor regions. Infection can lead to severe health impairments that reduce quality of life.

The Early Life Microbiota Is Not a Major Factor Underlying the Susceptibility to Postweaning Diarrhea in Piglets

“…A lower microbiota diversity could contribute to infection by diarrheal pathogens due to a reduced colonization resistance provided by commensal bacteria ( 13 , 28 ). However, a reduced microbiota diversity is not a necessary condition for the development of PWD since we found that the microbiota diversity in female suckling piglets was not linked to the later development of diarrheal disease, as reported in other species ( 24 – 26 ).…”

“…In contrast, we observed no link between the overall gut microbiota structure in suckling piglets and the later development of PWD, which is in agreement with previous results obtained 3 days before weaning in piglets that later developed PWD ( 18 ). Other studies on calves, rhesus macaque, and human infants similarly showed that the microbiota structure in early life was not associated with the later development of diarrheal diseases ( 24 – 26 ). The susceptibility to PWD could be mediated by a high abundance in early life of pathobionts involved in diarrheal diseases (e.g., Escherichia and Salmonella ) or by a depletion of protective taxa (e.g., Lactobacillaceae ) ( 3 , 4 , 9 , 15 ).…”

Animal and In Vitro Models as Powerful Tools to Decipher the Effects of Enteric Pathogens on the Human Gut Microbiota

“…Species of Lactobacillus were also pointed out as important defenders against Shigella infection, due to their anti-inflammatory activity and surface proteins of the S-layer that inhibit the adhesion of S. sonnei to epithelial cells [ 148 , 149 , 150 , 151 ]. Lactobacillus reuteri , L. ruminis , L. DJF-RP24, L. KLDS 1.0718, and L. TSK G32.2 were specifically demonstrated to carry out antagonistic interactions against Shigella [ 151 , 152 ].…”

“…Children naturally infected with Shigella have been commonly recruited to study the microbial dynamics arising from the interaction between Shigella spp. and the infant gut microbiota [ 152 , 153 ]. Lindsay and colleagues demonstrated that infant diarrheal stool containing high levels of Shigella displayed lower abundances of Prevotella and higher abundances of Streptococcus compared to healthy controls [ 153 ].…”

“…Lindsay and colleagues demonstrated that infant diarrheal stool containing high levels of Shigella displayed lower abundances of Prevotella and higher abundances of Streptococcus compared to healthy controls [ 153 ]. Contextually, Ndungo and co-authors pointed out that there were no differences in α-diversity between healthy and infected children and that Fusicatenibacter saccharivorans and Lachnospiraceae NK4A136 were significantly increased after Shigella infection [ 152 ].…”