Systems Metabolic Effects of a Necator americanus Infection in Syrian Hamster

Abstract

Hookworms (Ancylostoma duodenale and Necator americanus) are blood-feeding intestinal nematodes that infect ∼700 million people worldwide. To further our understanding of the systems metabolic response of the mammalian host to hookworm infection, we employed a metabolic profiling strategy involving the combination of 1 H NMR spectroscopic analysis of urine and serum and multivariate data analysis techniques to investigate the biochemical consequences of a N. americanus infection in the hamster. The infection was characterized by altered energy metabolism, consistent with hookworminduced anemia. Additionally, disturbance of gut microbiotal activity was associated with a N. americanus infection, manifested in the alterations of microbial-mammalian cometabolites, including phenylacetylglycine, p-cresol glucuronide, 4-hydroxy-3-methyl-phenylpropionic acid, hippurate, 4-hydroxyphenylactate, and dimethylamine. The correlation between worm burden and metabolite concentrations also reflected a changed energy metabolism and gut microbial state. Furthermore, elevated levels of urinary 2-aminoadipate was a characteristic feature of the infection, which may be associated with the documented neurological consequences of hookworm infection.

Differences in the Faecal Microbiome in Schistosoma haematobium Infected Children vs. Uninfected Children

“…haematobium eggs in the GIT [ 17 ] provides in theory, an opportunity for direct interaction between the parasites and the gut flora. Studies in Syrian hamsters [ 18 ], have shown shifts in the composition of the gut microbiota during helminth infection, while a recent study in humans reported that people infected with the intestinal helminths of the genus Trichuris , had greater gut bacteria species richness compared to uninfected people [ 19 ].…”

A murine model of diarrhea, growth impairment and metabolic disturbances withShigella flexneriinfection and the role of zinc deficiency

“…23 Leukocytes are known to contain high amounts of taurine, which can have a role in acute or chronic immune responses as an antioxidant and cytoprotectant. 36 Therefore, reduced leukocyte infiltration in zinc-deficient infected mice may reflect lower systemic availability of taurine and could help explain the reduced excretion of taurine related metabolites when compared with the house chow-fed infected mice. These metabolomic findings may help to explain the chronic effects of infection seen in zinc-deficient mice.…”

Metabolic Changes Reveal the Development of Schistosomiasis in Mice

“…This was broadly similar to the effects of infection by S. mansoni [28]–[29], suggesting such effects as a universal consequence of schistosomiasis. Amongst the microbial related metabolites, elevations of 4-cresol glucuronide and PAG and depressed levels of hippurate appeared to be common for the hosts infected with helminths [28]–[29] and intestinal nematodes [54]. Further research is required to determine the fine-grained alterations in the microbial community associated with infection, which will enhance our understanding of three-way host-parasite-microbiota interactions.…”