Sequential Changes in the Host Gut Microbiota During Infection With the Intestinal Parasitic Nematode Strongyloides venezuelensis

Abstract

Soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) are medically important parasites that infect 1. 5 billion humans globally, causing a substantial disease burden. These parasites infect the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) of their host where they co-exist and interact with the host gut bacterial flora, leading to the coevolution of the parasites, microbiota, and host organisms. However, little is known about how these interactions change through time with the progression of infection. Strongyloidiasis is a human parasitic disease caused by the nematode Strongyloides stercoralis infecting 30–100 million people. In this study, we used a closely related rodent parasite Strongyloides venezuelensis and mice as a model of gastrointestinal parasite infection. We conducted a time-course experiment to examine changes in the fecal microbiota from the start of infection to parasite clearance. We found that bacterial taxa in the host intestinal microbiota changed significantly as the infection progressed, with an increase in the genera Bacteroides and Candidatus Arthromitus, and a decrease in Prevotella and Rikenellaceae . However, the microbiota recovered to the pre-infective state after parasite clearance from the host, suggesting that these perturbations are reversible. Microarray analysis revealed that this microbiota transition is likely to correspond with the host immune response. These findings give us an insight into the dynamics of parasite-microbiota interactions in the host gut during parasite infection.

Cryptosporidium parvum Infection Depletes Butyrate Producer Bacteria in Goat Kid Microbiome

“…More recently, the modulatory effect of C. parvum infection on the gut microbiota was reported in immune-compromised (Ras et al, 2015) and newborn (Mammeri et al, 2019) mouse models. Similar microbiota-modulating effects were observed with the Strongyloides venezuelensis infection progress in a mouse model (Afrin et al, 2019), or Haemonchus contortus in goats (Li et al, 2016). Some limitations of these studies are (i) the focus on the general composition of the gut microbiota without understanding the possible interactions between microbiota bacteria and (ii) the lack of functional insights into parasite-microbiota interactions.…”

Comparison of Rumen Microbiota and Serum Biochemical Indices in White Cashmere Goats Fed Ensiled or Sun-Dried Mulberry Leaves

“…Hence, the effects of mulberry leaves on carbohydrate metabolism and lipid metabolism were presented in this study. The pentose phosphate pathway is a vital pathway for degradation of cellulose [ 78 ] and protection from oxidative stress [ 79 ]. Dietary crude fiber levels in the present research were increased when mulberry leaves were added to the diets; in addition, mulberry leaves have antioxidant properties [ 15 ].…”

Intestinal parasites may be associated with later behavioral problems in internationally adopted children

“…Intestinal parasite infections may cause behavioral problems via multiple plausible biological mechanisms. Intestinal parasites may influence the maturing and developing brain by causing micronutrient deficiencies [ 20 ], or affecting gut-brain-axis by changing the intestinal microbiome [ 25 – 27 ], and causing intestinal inflammation [ 28 ]. Changes in the intestinal microbiota after antibiotic treatment [ 41 , 42 ] for intestinal parasite infections may also impact the children’s brain.…”