Abstract:Improvements in high-throughput sequencing technologies have spurred a large number of studies aimed at obtaining a better understanding of the composition and the dynamics in gut microbiota and its associations with various human diseases, especially those in the intestinal tract. Here we briefly summarize results from three different such studies from our group, all of which used 454 based high-throughput 16S rRNA sequence analysis combined with other microbiota profiling methods to determine faecal microbio… Show more
“…A “core microbiota” has been established [ 70 ], but it remains unclear what the essential constituents are. A number of studies have emphasized that the distribution of specific microbial communities among individuals could be influenced by several factors, including the geographical origin, age, diet of the studied individual, gender [ 71 ], stress, smoking, GI infections, as well as antibiotic or probiotic uptake [ 70 , 72 – 78 ]. It is believed that the highly evolved biofilm communities that are closely associated with the intestinal epithelium are biologically more relevant than planktonic microbes that exist in the lumen of the gut or associated with food residue [ 79 ].…”
Section: The Human Gut Microbiota: Current Knowledgementioning
Blastocystis is an enteric parasite that inhabits the gastrointestinal tract of humans and many animals. This emerging parasite has a worldwide distribution. It is often identified as the most common eukaryotic organism reported in human fecal samples. This parasite is recognized and diagnosed more often than ever before. Furthermore, some strains develop resistance against currently recommended drugs, such as metronidazole; therefore, the use of natural remedies or special diets has many positive aspects that may address this problem. The goal of this review is to compare natural treatments and various diets against the efficacy of drugs, and describe their influence on the composition of the gut microbiota, which affects Blastocystis growth and the occurrence of symptoms. This article reviews important work in the literature, including the classification, life cycle, epidemiology, pathogenesis, pathogenicity, genetics, biology, and treatment of Blastocystis. It also includes a review of the current knowledge about human gut microbiota and various diets proposed for Blastocystis eradication. The literature has revealed that garlic, ginger, some medical plants, and many spices contain the most effective organic compounds for parasite eradication. They work by inhibiting parasitic enzymes and nucleic acids, as well as by inhibiting protein synthesis. The efficacy of any specific organic compound depends on the Blastocystis subtype, and, consequently, on its immunity to treatment. In conclusion, the article discusses the findings that human gut microbiota composition triggers important mechanisms at the molecular level, and, thus, has a crucial influence on the parasitic pathogenicity.
“…A “core microbiota” has been established [ 70 ], but it remains unclear what the essential constituents are. A number of studies have emphasized that the distribution of specific microbial communities among individuals could be influenced by several factors, including the geographical origin, age, diet of the studied individual, gender [ 71 ], stress, smoking, GI infections, as well as antibiotic or probiotic uptake [ 70 , 72 – 78 ]. It is believed that the highly evolved biofilm communities that are closely associated with the intestinal epithelium are biologically more relevant than planktonic microbes that exist in the lumen of the gut or associated with food residue [ 79 ].…”
Section: The Human Gut Microbiota: Current Knowledgementioning
Blastocystis is an enteric parasite that inhabits the gastrointestinal tract of humans and many animals. This emerging parasite has a worldwide distribution. It is often identified as the most common eukaryotic organism reported in human fecal samples. This parasite is recognized and diagnosed more often than ever before. Furthermore, some strains develop resistance against currently recommended drugs, such as metronidazole; therefore, the use of natural remedies or special diets has many positive aspects that may address this problem. The goal of this review is to compare natural treatments and various diets against the efficacy of drugs, and describe their influence on the composition of the gut microbiota, which affects Blastocystis growth and the occurrence of symptoms. This article reviews important work in the literature, including the classification, life cycle, epidemiology, pathogenesis, pathogenicity, genetics, biology, and treatment of Blastocystis. It also includes a review of the current knowledge about human gut microbiota and various diets proposed for Blastocystis eradication. The literature has revealed that garlic, ginger, some medical plants, and many spices contain the most effective organic compounds for parasite eradication. They work by inhibiting parasitic enzymes and nucleic acids, as well as by inhibiting protein synthesis. The efficacy of any specific organic compound depends on the Blastocystis subtype, and, consequently, on its immunity to treatment. In conclusion, the article discusses the findings that human gut microbiota composition triggers important mechanisms at the molecular level, and, thus, has a crucial influence on the parasitic pathogenicity.
“…3 ). As touched upon above, this complex interaction plays a key role in childhood growth and development, and in adult metabolic homeostasis ( Ukhanova et al, 2012 ; Ahmed et al, 2014 ). Fig.…”
Section: Commensal Microbiota and Host Metabolism: Impact On Developmmentioning
All higher organisms negotiate a truce with their commensal microbes and battle pathogenic microbes on a daily basis. Much attention has been given to the role of the innate immune system in controlling intestinal microbes and to the strategies used by intestinal microbes to overcome the host immune response. However, it is becoming increasingly clear that the metabolisms of intestinal microbes and their hosts are linked and that this interaction is equally important for host health and well-being. For instance, an individual's array of commensal microbes can influence their predisposition to chronic metabolic diseases such as diabetes and obesity. A better understanding of host–microbe metabolic interactions is important in defining the molecular bases of these disorders and could potentially lead to new therapeutic avenues. Key advances in this area have been made using Drosophila melanogaster. Here, we review studies that have explored the impact of both commensal and pathogenic intestinal microbes on Drosophila carbohydrate and lipid metabolism. These studies have helped to elucidate the metabolites produced by intestinal microbes, the intestinal receptors that sense these metabolites, and the signaling pathways through which these metabolites manipulate host metabolism. Furthermore, they suggest that targeting microbial metabolism could represent an effective therapeutic strategy for human metabolic diseases and intestinal infection.
“…In one instance the encoding arsM was found adjacent to an arsC , suggesting that this particular ArsM is part of an organized arsenic resistance response for a ( Para ) Bacteroides organism. ArsM functional variability would contribute to inter‐individual microbiome uniqueness (Eckburg et al ., ; O'Toole, ; Ukhanova et al ., ; Pérez‐Cobas et al ., ), which is supported by a SHIME‐based study that concluded arsenic methylation varies between individuals and particularly when comparing adults to children (Yin et al ., ). Again, however, there are caveats.…”
Summary
Arsenic is a toxin, ranking first on the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry and the Environmental Protection Agency Priority List of Hazardous Substances. Chronic exposure increases the risk of a broad range of human illnesses, most notably cancer; however, there is significant variability in arsenic‐induced disease among exposed individuals. Human genetics is a known component, but it alone cannot account for the large inter‐individual variability in the presentation of arsenicosis symptoms. Each part of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) may be considered as a unique environment with characteristic pH, oxygen concentration, and microbiome. Given the well‐established arsenic redox transformation activities of microorganisms, it is reasonable to imagine how the GIT microbiome composition variability among individuals could play a significant role in determining the fate, mobility and toxicity of arsenic, whether inhaled or ingested. This is a relatively new field of research that would benefit from early dialogue aimed at summarizing what is known and identifying reasonable research targets and concepts. Herein, we strive to initiate this dialogue by reviewing known aspects of microbe–arsenic interactions and placing it in the context of potential for influencing host exposure and health risks. We finish by considering future experimental approaches that might be of value.
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