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Bhat AH, Tak H, Ganai BA, Malik IM, Bambou JC. Beyond parasitism: Exploring the microbial profile of Haemonchus contortus and its predilection site (abomasum) in Kashmir Merino sheep. Vet Parasitol 2024; 330:110243. [PMID: 38944892 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2024.110243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2024] [Revised: 06/13/2024] [Accepted: 06/24/2024] [Indexed: 07/02/2024]
Abstract
Gastrointestinal helminth infection, particularly by Haemonchus contortus, poses significant challenges to sheep farming worldwide. While anthelmintic drugs have been traditional control measures, the emergence of resistance calls for alternative strategies. Understanding the interaction between parasites, host, and their microbiome is crucial for management of helminth infection. This study intricately explores the interactions between microbial communities in Kashmir Merino sheep infected with H. contortus, to understand the complex interplay between host, parasite, and their microbiome. Sheep abomasal contents and H. contortus were collected from infected and control groups, processed for DNA extraction, and subjected to metagenomic sequencing of the 16 S rRNA gene. Downstream analysis unveils distinct microbial patterns, where Proteobacteria were dominant in H. contortus, while Bacteroidota and Firmicutes prevailed in the sheep abomasum. The revelation of unique genera and shifts in diversity indices underscored helminth-induced disruptions in the host. Beta diversity analysis further showed significant variations in bacterial profiles, providing insights into the intricate host, parasite, and microbiome dynamics. Additionally, this study elucidated the presence of pathogenic bacteria within H. contortus, accentuating their potential role in exacerbating sheep health issues. This finding underscores the complexity of the host-parasite-microbiome interaction showing helminth-induced microbiome alterations of the host.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abid Hussain Bhat
- Department of Zoology, University of Kashmir, Hazratbal, Srinagar 190006, India.
| | - Hidayatullah Tak
- Department of Zoology, University of Kashmir, Hazratbal, Srinagar 190006, India
| | - Bashir Ahmad Ganai
- Centre of Research for Development, University of Kashmir, Hazratbal, Srinagar 190006, India
| | - Ishfaq Majeed Malik
- Department of Zoology, University of Kashmir, Hazratbal, Srinagar 190006, India.
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Hong A, Umar A, Chen H, Yu Z, Huang J. Advances in the study of the interaction between schistosome infections and the host's intestinal microorganisms. Parasit Vectors 2024; 17:185. [PMID: 38600604 PMCID: PMC11007984 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-024-06245-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2024] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Schistosomiasis, also called bilharziasis, is a neglected tropical disease induced by schistosomes that infects hundreds of millions of people worldwide. In the life cycle of schistosomiasis, eggs are regarded as the main pathogenic factor, causing granuloma formation in the tissues and organs of hosts, which can cause severe gastrointestinal and liver granulomatous immune responses and irreversible fibrosis. Increasing evidence suggests that the gut microbiome influences the progression of schistosomiasis and plays a central role in liver disease via the gut-liver axis. When used as pharmaceutical supplements or adjunctive therapy, probiotics have shown promising results in preventing, mitigating, and even treating schistosomiasis. This review elucidates the potential mechanisms of this three-way parasite-host-microbiome interaction by summarizing schistosome-mediated intestinal flora disorders, local immune changes, and host metabolic changes, and elaborates the important role of the gut microbiome in liver disease after schistosome infection through the gut-liver axis. Understanding the mechanisms behind this interaction may aid in the discovery of probiotics as novel therapeutic targets and sustainable control strategies for schistosomiasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ao Hong
- Department of Parasitology, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Human Microbiome and Health Group, Department of Microbiology, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Abdulrahim Umar
- Human Microbiome and Health Group, Department of Microbiology, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Hao Chen
- Department of Parasitology, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Human Microbiome and Health Group, Department of Microbiology, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Zheng Yu
- Human Microbiome and Health Group, Department of Microbiology, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- China-Africa Research Center of Infectious Diseases, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Jing Huang
- Department of Parasitology, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, China.
- Human Microbiome and Health Group, Department of Microbiology, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China.
- China-Africa Research Center of Infectious Diseases, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China.
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3
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Paz EA, Chua EG, Palmer DG, Greeff JC, Liu S, Cheuquemán C, Hassan SU, Martin GB, Tay CY. Revealing the associated microflora hosted by the globally significant parasite Trichostrongylus colubriformis. Sci Rep 2024; 14:3723. [PMID: 38355890 PMCID: PMC10866999 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-53772-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Trichostrongylus colubriformis is a parasitic helminth that primarily infects small ruminants, causing substantial economic losses in the livestock industry. Exploring the microbiome of this helminth might provide insights into the potential influence of its microbial community on the parasite's survival. We characterised the intestinal microbiome of T. colubriformis that had been collected from the duodenum of sheep, and compared the helminth microbiome with the duodenal microbiome of its host, aiming to identify contributions from the helminth's environment. At the same time, we explored the isolation of fastidious organisms from the harvested helminth. Primary alpha and beta diversity analyses of bacterial species revealed statistically significant differences between the parasite and the host, in terms of species richness and ecological composition. 16S rRNA differential abundance analysis showed that Mycoplasmoides and Stenotrophomonas were significantly present in T. colubriformis but not in the duodenal microbiome of the sheep. Furthermore, two bacteria, Aeromonas caviae and Aeromonas hydrophila, were isolated from T. colubriformis. Examinations of the genome highlight differences in genome size and profiles of antimicrobial resistance genes. Our results suggest that T. colubriformis carries a specific bacterial community that could be supporting the helminth's long-term survival in the host's digestive system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erwin A Paz
- UWA Institute of Agriculture, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA 6009, Australia.
- Helicobacter Research Laboratory, The Marshall Centre for Infectious Disease Research and Training, School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, 6009, Australia.
| | - Eng Guan Chua
- Helicobacter Research Laboratory, The Marshall Centre for Infectious Disease Research and Training, School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, 6009, Australia
| | - Dieter G Palmer
- Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development Western Australia, 3 Baron-Hay Court South Perth, Perth, WA, 6151, Australia
| | - Johan C Greeff
- UWA Institute of Agriculture, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA 6009, Australia
- Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development Western Australia, 3 Baron-Hay Court South Perth, Perth, WA, 6151, Australia
| | - Shimin Liu
- UWA Institute of Agriculture, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA 6009, Australia
| | - Carolina Cheuquemán
- Medicina Veterinaria, Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias, Universidad del Alba, La Serena, Chile
| | - Shamshad Ul Hassan
- UWA Institute of Agriculture, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA 6009, Australia
- Helicobacter Research Laboratory, The Marshall Centre for Infectious Disease Research and Training, School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, 6009, Australia
| | - Graeme B Martin
- UWA Institute of Agriculture, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA 6009, Australia
| | - Chin Yen Tay
- Helicobacter Research Laboratory, The Marshall Centre for Infectious Disease Research and Training, School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, 6009, Australia
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Rinaldi G, Paz Meseguer C, Cantacessi C, Cortés A. Form and Function in the Digenea, with an Emphasis on Host-Parasite and Parasite-Bacteria Interactions. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2024; 1454:3-45. [PMID: 39008262 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-60121-7_1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/16/2024]
Abstract
This review covers the general aspects of the anatomy and physiology of the major body systems in digenetic trematodes, with an emphasis on new knowledge of the area acquired since the publication of the second edition of this book in 2019. In addition to reporting on key recent advances in the morphology and physiology of tegumentary, sensory, neuromuscular, digestive, excretory, and reproductive systems, and their roles in host-parasite interactions, this edition includes a section discussing the known and putative roles of bacteria in digenean biology and physiology. Furthermore, a brief discussion of current trends in the development of novel treatment and control strategies based on a better understanding of the trematode body systems and associated bacteria is provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel Rinaldi
- Department of Life Sciences, Edward Llwyd Building, Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth, UK
| | - Carla Paz Meseguer
- Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology and Parasitology, School of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, Universitat de València, Valencia, Spain
| | - Cinzia Cantacessi
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Alba Cortés
- Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology and Parasitology, School of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, Universitat de València, Valencia, Spain.
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Formenti F, Cortés A, Deiana M, Salter S, Parkhill J, Berriman M, Rinaldi G, Cantacessi C. The Human Blood Fluke, Schistosoma mansoni, Harbors Bacteria Throughout the Parasite's Life Cycle. J Infect Dis 2023; 228:1299-1303. [PMID: 37487539 PMCID: PMC10629713 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiad288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2023] [Revised: 06/28/2023] [Accepted: 07/22/2023] [Indexed: 07/26/2023] Open
Abstract
While symbiotic relationships between invertebrates and bacteria have been extensively described, studies of microbial communities inhabiting parasitic worms remain scarce. Exploring the microbiota associated with helminths responsible for major infectious diseases will inform on parasite biology, host-pathogen interactions, and disease pathophysiology. We investigated the presence of microorganisms inhabiting tissues of the human parasite Schistosoma mansoni. In situ hybridization using a pan-bacterial 16S rRNA gene probe revealed bacteria colonizing key developmental stages that were successfully removed after antibiotic treatment of live parasites. Understanding the composition and function of the S. mansoni-associated microbiota may lead to the development of novel microbiome-targeting control strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabio Formenti
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- IRCCS Sacro Cuore Don Calabria Hospital, Verona, Italy
| | - Alba Cortés
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- Departament de Farmàcia, Tecnologia Farmacèutica I Parasitologia, Facultat de Farmàcia, Universitat de València, Burjassot, Spain
| | | | - Susannah Salter
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Julian Parkhill
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Matt Berriman
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Hinxton, United Kingdom
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Gabriel Rinaldi
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Hinxton, United Kingdom
- Department of Life Sciences, Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth, United Kingdom
| | - Cinzia Cantacessi
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
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Bhat AH, Tak H, Ganai BA, Malik IM, Bhat TA. Bacteria associated with ovine gut parasites Trichuris ovis and Haemonchus contortus. J Helminthol 2023; 97:e75. [PMID: 37846203 DOI: 10.1017/s0022149x23000573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2023]
Abstract
An associated microbiome of any host helps it in different metabolic processes ranging from the decomposition of food to the maturation of gametes. Organisms with a parasitic mode of life, though present at nutritious sites inside their host, maintain their own microbiome. Nevertheless, the comprehensive characterization and functionality of microbiome in parasitic organisms remain understudied. We selected two nematode parasites of Kashmir Merino sheep viz;Haemonchus contortus and Trichuris ovis based on their higher prevalence, difference in mode of nutrition, habitation site and effect on host. The objective of the study was to explore the bacteria associated with these parasitic nematodes of sheep. We adopted a 16S rRNA metagenomic sequencing approach to estimate and compare the bacterial communities present in these two nematode species. Nematode parasites from Kashmir Merino sheep were identified morphologically and confirmed with DNA characterization. H. contortus was dominated by phylum Proteobacteria (57%), Firmicutes (25%), Bacteroidota (15%) and Actinobacteriota (3%). Conversely, T. ovis showed Proteobacteria (78%) followed by Firmicutes (8%), Bacteroidota (8%), Actinobacteriota (1%), Fusobacteriota (1%) and other phyla (4%). This study provides a comprehensive account of the microbiome composition of H. contortus and T. ovis, both of which are highly prevalent among Kashmir Merino sheep. Additionally, T. ovis exhibited a greater bacterial diversity compared to H. contortus. Notably, these nematodes were found to harbor certain pathogenic bacteria. This study can further be carried forward in gaining insights into the complex relationship between the microbiota of a parasite and its pathogenicity, reproductive potential and host microbiome modification.
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Affiliation(s)
- A H Bhat
- Department of Zoology, University of Kashmir, Hazratbal-Srinagar, India
| | - H Tak
- Department of Zoology, University of Kashmir, Hazratbal-Srinagar, India
| | - B A Ganai
- Centre of Research for Development, University of Kashmir, Hazratbal-Srinagar, India
| | - I M Malik
- Department of Zoology, University of Kashmir, Hazratbal-Srinagar, India
| | - T A Bhat
- Centre of Research for Development, University of Kashmir, Hazratbal-Srinagar, India
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Eco-evolutionary implications of helminth microbiomes. J Helminthol 2023; 97:e22. [PMID: 36790127 DOI: 10.1017/s0022149x23000056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/16/2023]
Abstract
The evolution of helminth parasites has long been seen as an interplay between host resistance to infection and the parasite's capacity to bypass such resistance. However, there has recently been an increasing appreciation of the role of symbiotic microbes in the interaction of helminth parasites and their hosts. It is now clear that helminths have a different microbiome from the organisms they parasitize, and sometimes amid large variability, components of the microbiome are shared among different life stages or among populations of the parasite. Helminths have been shown to acquire microbes from their parent generations (vertical transmission) and from their surroundings (horizontal transmission). In this latter case, natural selection has been strongly linked to the fact that helminth-associated microbiota is not simply a random assemblage of the pool of microbes available from their organismal hosts or environments. Indeed, some helminth parasites and specific microbial taxa have evolved complex ecological relationships, ranging from obligate mutualism to reproductive manipulation of the helminth by associated microbes. However, our understanding is still very elementary regarding the net effect of all microbiome components in the eco-evolution of helminths and their interaction with hosts. In this non-exhaustible review, we focus on the bacterial microbiome associated with helminths (as opposed to the microbiome of their hosts) and highlight relevant concepts and key findings in bacterial transmission, ecological associations, and taxonomic and functional diversity of the bacteriome. We integrate the microbiome dimension in a discussion of the evolution of helminth parasites and identify fundamental knowledge gaps, finally suggesting research avenues for understanding the eco-evolutionary impacts of the microbiome in host-parasite interactions in light of new technological developments.
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Hodžić A, Dheilly NM, Cabezas-Cruz A, Berry D. The helminth holobiont: a multidimensional host-parasite-microbiota interaction. Trends Parasitol 2023; 39:91-100. [PMID: 36503639 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2022.11.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Revised: 11/24/2022] [Accepted: 11/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Gastrointestinal helminths have developed multiple mechanisms by which they manipulate the host microbiome to make a favorable environment for their long-term survival. While the impact of helminth infections on vertebrate host immunity and its gut microbiota is relatively well studied, little is known about the structure and functioning of microbial populations supported by metazoan parasites. Here we argue that an integrated understanding of the helminth-associated microbiome and its role in the host disease pathogenesis may facilitate the discovery of specific microbial and/or genetic patterns critical for parasite biology and subsequently pave the way for the development of alternative control strategies against parasites and parasitic disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adnan Hodžić
- Centre for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science (CMESS), Department of Microbiology and Ecosystem Science, Division of Microbial Ecology (DoME), University of Vienna, Djerassiplatz 1, 1030 Vienna, Austria.
| | - Nolwenn M Dheilly
- ANSES, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, UMR VIROLOGIE, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, 14 rue Pierre et Marie Curie, 94706 Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Alejandro Cabezas-Cruz
- UMR BIPAR, INRAE, ANSES, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, 14 rue Pierre et Marie Curie, 94706 Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - David Berry
- Centre for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science (CMESS), Department of Microbiology and Ecosystem Science, Division of Microbial Ecology (DoME), University of Vienna, Djerassiplatz 1, 1030 Vienna, Austria
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Miyauchi E, Shimokawa C, Steimle A, Desai MS, Ohno H. The impact of the gut microbiome on extra-intestinal autoimmune diseases. Nat Rev Immunol 2023; 23:9-23. [PMID: 35534624 DOI: 10.1038/s41577-022-00727-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 124] [Impact Index Per Article: 124.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/20/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
The prevalence of autoimmune diseases (ADs) worldwide has rapidly increased over the past few decades. Thus, in addition to the classical risk factors for ADs, such as genetic polymorphisms, infections and smoking, environmental triggers have been considered. Recent sequencing-based approaches have revealed that patients with extra-intestinal ADs, such as multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, type 1 diabetes and systemic lupus erythematosus, have distinct gut microbiota compositions compared to healthy controls. Faecal microbiota transplantation or inoculation with specific microbes in animal models of ADs support the hypothesis that alterations of gut microbiota influence autoimmune responses and disease outcome. Here, we describe the compositional and functional changes in the gut microbiota in patients with extra-intestinal AD and discuss how the gut microbiota affects immunity. Moreover, we examine how the gut microbiota might be modulated in patients with ADs as a potential preventive or therapeutic approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eiji Miyauchi
- RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan
- Institute for Molecular and Cellular Regulation, Gunma University, Haebashi, Gunma, Japan
| | - Chikako Shimokawa
- RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan
- Department of Parasitology, National Institute of Infectious Disease, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Alex Steimle
- Department of Infection and Immunity, Luxembourg Institute of Health, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Mahesh S Desai
- Department of Infection and Immunity, Luxembourg Institute of Health, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg.
- Odense Research Center for Anaphylaxis, Department of Dermatology and Allergy Center, Odense University Hospital, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark.
| | - Hiroshi Ohno
- RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan.
- Immunobiology Laboratory, Graduate School of Medical Life Science, Yokohama City University, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan.
- Laboratory for Immune Regulation, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Chiba, Japan.
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The microbial community associated with Parascaris spp. infecting juvenile horses. Parasit Vectors 2022; 15:408. [PMID: 36333754 PMCID: PMC9636743 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-022-05533-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2022] [Accepted: 10/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Parasitic nematodes, including large roundworms colloquially known as ascarids, affect the health and well-being of livestock animals worldwide. The equine ascarids, Parascaris spp., are important parasites of juvenile horses and the first ascarids to develop widespread anthelmintic resistance. The microbiota has been shown to be an important factor in the fitness of many organisms, including parasitic nematodes, where endosymbiotic Wolbachia have been exploited for treatment of filariasis in humans. Methods This study used short-read 16S rRNA sequences and Illumina sequencing to characterize and compare microbiota of whole worm small intestinal stages and microbiota of male and female intestines and gonads. Diversity metrics including alpha and beta diversity, and the differential abundance analyses DESeq2, ANCOM-BC, corncob, and metagenomeSeq were used for comparisons. Results Alpha and beta diversity of whole worm microbiota did not differ significantly between groups, but Simpson alpha diversity was significantly different between female intestine (FI) and male gonad (MG) (P= 0.0018), and Shannon alpha diversity was significantly different between female and male gonads (P = 0.0130), FI and horse jejunum (HJ) (P = 0.0383), and FI and MG (P= 0.0001). Beta diversity (Fig. 2B) was significantly different between female and male gonads (P = 0.0006), male intestine (MI) and FG (P = 0.0093), and MG and FI (P = 0.0041). When comparing organs, Veillonella was differentially abundant for DESeq2 and ANCOM-BC (p < 0.0001), corncob (P = 0.0008), and metagenomeSeq (P = 0.0118), and Sarcina was differentially abundant across four methods (P < 0.0001). Finally, the microbiota of all individual Parascaris spp. specimens were compared to establish shared microbiota between groups. Conclusions Overall, this study provided important information regarding the Parascaris spp. microbiota and provides a first step towards determining whether the microbiota may be a viable target for future parasite control options. Graphical abstract ![]()
Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13071-022-05533-y.
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Clinical helminth infections alter host gut and saliva microbiota. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2022; 16:e0010491. [PMID: 35675339 PMCID: PMC9212162 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0010491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2021] [Revised: 06/21/2022] [Accepted: 05/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background
Previous reports show altered gut bacterial profiles are associated with helminth infected individuals. Our recently published molecular survey of clinical helminthiases in Thailand border regions demonstrated a more comprehensive picture of infection prevalence when Kato Katz microscopy and copro-qPCR diagnostics were combined. We revealed that Opisthorchis viverrini, hookworm, Ascaris lumbricoides and Trichuris trichiura were the most predominant helminth infections in these regions. In the current study, we have profiled the faecal and saliva microbiota of a subset of these helminth infected participants, in order to determine if microbial changes are associated with parasite infection.
Methods
A subset of 66 faecal samples from Adisakwattana et al., (2020) were characterised for bacterial diversity using 16S rRNA gene profiling. Of these samples a subset of 24 participant matched saliva samples were also profiled for microbiota diversity. Sequence data were compiled, OTUs assigned, and diversity and abundance analysed using the statistical software Calypso.
Results
The data reported here indicate that helminth infections impact on both the host gut and oral microbiota. The profiles of faecal and saliva samples, irrespective of the infection status, were considerably different from each other, with more alpha diversity associated with saliva (p-value≤ 0.0015). Helminth infection influenced the faecal microbiota with respect to specific taxa, but not overall microbial alpha diversity. Conversely, helminth infection was associated with increased saliva microbiota alpha diversity (Chao 1 diversity indices) at both the genus (p-value = 0.042) and phylum (p-value = 0.026) taxa levels, compared to uninfected individuals. Elevated individual taxa in infected individuals saliva were noted at the genus and family levels. Since Opisthorchis viverrini infections as a prominent health concern to Thailand, this pathogen was examined separately to other helminths infections present. Individuals with an O. viverrini mono-infection displayed both increases and decreases in genera present in their faecal microbiota, while increases in three families and one order were also observed in these samples.
Discussion
In this study, helminth infections appear to alter the abundance of specific faecal bacterial taxa, but do not impact on overall bacterial alpha or beta diversity. In addition, the faecal microbiota of O. viverrini only infected individuals differed from that of other helminth single and dual infections. Saliva microbiota analyses of individuals harbouring active helminth infections presented increased levels of both bacterial alpha diversity and abundance of individual taxa. Our data demonstrate that microbial change is associated with helminthiases in endemic regions of Thailand, and that this is reflected in both faecal and saliva microbiota. To our knowledge, this is the first report of an altered saliva microbiota in helminth infected individuals. This work may provide new avenues for improved diagnostics; and an enhanced understanding of both helminth infection pathology and the interplay between helminths, bacteria and their host.
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Castañeda S, Paniz-Mondolfi A, Ramírez JD. Detangling the Crosstalk Between Ascaris, Trichuris and Gut Microbiota: What´s Next? Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:852900. [PMID: 35694539 PMCID: PMC9174645 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.852900] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2022] [Accepted: 04/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Helminth infections remain a global public health issue, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, where roundworms from theTrichuris and Ascaris genera are most prevalent. These geohelminths not only impact human health but most importantly also affect animal well-being, in particular the swine industry. Host-helminth parasite interactions are complex and at the same time essential to understand the biology, dynamics and pathophysiology of these infections. Within these interactions, the immunomodulatory capacity of these helminths in the host has been extensively studied. Moreover, in recent years a growing interest on how helminths interact with the intestinal microbiota of the host has sparked, highlighting how this relationship plays an essential role in the establishment of initial infection, survival and persistence of the parasite, as well as in the development of chronic infections. Identifying the changes generated by these helminths on the composition and structure of the host intestinal microbiota constitutes a field of great scientific interest, since this can provide essential and actionable information for designing effective control and therapeutic strategies. Helminths like Trichuris and Ascaris are a focus of special importance due to their high prevalence, higher reinfection rates, resistance to anthelmintic therapy and unavailability of vaccines. Therefore, characterizing interactions between these helminths and the host intestinal microbiota represents an important approach to better understand the nature of this dynamic interface and explore novel therapeutic alternatives based on management of host microbiota. Given the extraordinary impact this may have from a biological, clinical, and epidemiological public health standpoint, this review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of current knowledge and future perspectives examining the parasite-microbiota interplay and its impact on host immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergio Castañeda
- Centro de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Biotecnología-UR (CIMBIUR), Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Alberto Paniz-Mondolfi
- Molecular Microbiology Laboratory, Department of Pathology, Molecular and Cell-Based Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Juan David Ramírez
- Centro de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Biotecnología-UR (CIMBIUR), Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia
- Molecular Microbiology Laboratory, Department of Pathology, Molecular and Cell-Based Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
- *Correspondence: Juan David Ramírez, ;
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13
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Papaiakovou M, Littlewood DTJ, Doyle SR, Gasser RB, Cantacessi C. Worms and bugs of the gut: the search for diagnostic signatures using barcoding, and metagenomics-metabolomics. Parasit Vectors 2022; 15:118. [PMID: 35365192 PMCID: PMC8973539 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-022-05225-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2022] [Accepted: 02/25/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Gastrointestinal (GI) helminth infections cause significant morbidity in both humans and animals worldwide. Specific and sensitive diagnosis is central to the surveillance of such infections and to determine the effectiveness of treatment strategies used to control them. In this article, we: (i) assess the strengths and limitations of existing methods applied to the diagnosis of GI helminth infections of humans and livestock; (ii) examine high-throughput sequencing approaches, such as targeted molecular barcoding and shotgun sequencing, as tools to define the taxonomic composition of helminth infections; and (iii) discuss the current understanding of the interactions between helminths and microbiota in the host gut. Stool-based diagnostics are likely to serve as an important tool well into the future; improved diagnostics of helminths and their environment in the gut may assist the identification of biomarkers with the potential to define the health/disease status of individuals and populations, and to identify existing or emerging anthelmintic resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina Papaiakovou
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB3 0ES UK
- Department of Life Sciences, Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD UK
| | | | | | - Robin B. Gasser
- Melbourne Veterinary School, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010 Australia
| | - Cinzia Cantacessi
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB3 0ES UK
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14
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Gobert GN, McManus DP, McMullan G, Creevey CJ, Carson J, Jones MK, Nawaratna SSK, Weerakoon KG, You H. Adult schistosomes have an epithelial bacterial population distinct from the surrounding mammalian host blood. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0263188. [PMID: 35085360 PMCID: PMC8794206 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0263188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2021] [Accepted: 01/13/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Background
Schistosomiasis is a neglected tropical parasitic and chronic disease affecting hundreds of millions of people. Adult schistosomes reside in the blood stream of the definitive mammalian host. These helminth parasites possess two epithelial surfaces, the tegument and the gastrodermis, both of which interact with the host during immune evasion and in nutrient uptake.
Methods
Female ARC Swiss mice (4–6 weeks old) were infected percutaneously with Schistosoma japonicum cercariae freshly shed from Oncomelania hupensis quadrasi snails (Philippines strain). Fluorescent in situ hybridisation (FISH) was performed by using fresh adult S. japonicum perfused from those infected mice. Adult S. japonicum worms were processed to isolate the tegument from the carcass containing the gastrodermis; blood and bile were collected individually from infected and uninfected mice. Total DNA extracted from all those samples were used for microbiome profiling.
Results
FISH and microbiome profiling showed the presence of bacterial populations on two epithelial surfaces of adult worms, suggesting they were distinct not only from the host blood but also from each other. Whereas microbial diversity was reduced overall in the parasite epithelial tissues when compared with that of host blood, specific bacterial taxa, including Anoxybacillus and Escherichia, were elevated on the tegument. Minimal differences were evident in the microbiome of host blood during an active infection, compared with that of control uninfected blood. However, sampling of bile from infected animals identified some differences compared with controls, including elevated levels of Limnohabitans, Clostridium and Curvibacter.
Conclusions
Using FISH and microbial profiling, we were able to demonstrate, for the first time, that bacteria are presented on the epithelial surfaces of adult schistosomes. These schistosome surface-associated bacteria, which are distinct from the host blood microenvironment, should be considered as a new and important component of the host-schistosome interaction. The importance of individual bacterial species in relation to schistosome parasitism needs further elucidation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geoffrey N. Gobert
- School of Biological Sciences, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
- * E-mail: (HY); (GNG)
| | - Donald P. McManus
- Molecular Parasitology Laboratory, Immunology Department, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Geoff McMullan
- School of Biological Sciences, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | | | - Jack Carson
- School of Biological Sciences, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Malcolm K. Jones
- School of Veterinary Science, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Sujeevi S. K. Nawaratna
- Molecular Parasitology Laboratory, Immunology Department, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia
- School of Medicine, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia
| | - Kosala G. Weerakoon
- Molecular Parasitology Laboratory, Immunology Department, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine and Allied Sciences, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka, Saliyapura, Sri Lanka
| | - Hong You
- Molecular Parasitology Laboratory, Immunology Department, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia
- * E-mail: (HY); (GNG)
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15
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Jorge F, Froissard C, Dheilly NM, Poulin R. Bacterial community dynamics following antibiotic exposure in a trematode parasite. Int J Parasitol 2021; 52:265-274. [PMID: 34863802 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2021.11.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2021] [Revised: 11/08/2021] [Accepted: 11/09/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Parasites harbour rich microbial communities that may play a role in host-parasite interactions, from influencing the parasite's infectivity to modulating its virulence. Experimental manipulation of a parasite's microbes would be essential, however, in order to establish their causal role. Here, we tested whether indirect exposure of a trematode parasite within its snail intermediate host to a variety of antibiotics could alter its bacterial community. Based on sequencing the prokaryotic 16S ssrRNA gene, we characterised and compared the bacterial community of the trematode Philophthalmus attenuatus before, shortly after, and weeks after exposure to different antibiotics (penicillin, colistin, gentamicin) with distinct activity spectra. Our findings revealed that indirectly treating the parasites by exposing their snail host to antibiotics resulted in changes to their bacterial communities, measured as their diversity, taxonomic composition, and/or the relative abundance of certain taxa. However, alterations to the parasite's bacterial community were not always as predicted from the activity spectrum of the antibiotic used. Furthermore, the bacterial communities of the parasites followed significantly divergent trajectories in the days post-exposure to antibiotics, but later converged toward a new state, i.e. a new bacterial community structure different from that pre-exposure. Our results confirm that a trematode's microbial community can be experimentally altered by antibiotic exposure while within its snail host, with the dynamic nature of the bacterial assemblage driving it to a new state over time after the perturbation. This research opens new possibilities for future experimental investigations of the functional roles of microbes in host-parasite interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fátima Jorge
- Department of Zoology, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand
| | - Céline Froissard
- Department of Zoology, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand
| | - Nolwenn M Dheilly
- ANSES, Agence Nationale de Sécurité Sanitaire de l'Alimentation, de l'Environnement et du Travail - Laboratoire de Ploufragan-Plouzané, Unité Génétique Virale de Biosécurité, Ploufragan, France; UMR 1161 Virology ANSES/INRAE/ENVA, ANSES Animal Health Laboratory, 94704 Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Robert Poulin
- Department of Zoology, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand.
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16
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Chavez IN, Brown TM, Assié A, Bryant AS, Samuel BS, Hallem EA. Skin-penetrating nematodes exhibit life-stage-specific interactions with host-associated and environmental bacteria. BMC Biol 2021; 19:221. [PMID: 34620172 PMCID: PMC8499433 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-021-01153-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2021] [Accepted: 09/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Skin-penetrating nematodes of the genus Strongyloides infect over 600 million people, posing a major global health burden. Their life cycle includes both a parasitic and free-living generation. During the parasitic generation, infective third-stage larvae (iL3s) actively engage in host seeking. During the free-living generation, the nematodes develop and reproduce on host feces. At different points during their life cycle, Strongyloides species encounter a wide variety of host-associated and environmental bacteria. However, the microbiome associated with Strongyloides species, and the behavioral and physiological interactions between Strongyloides species and bacteria, remain unclear. Results We first investigated the microbiome of the human parasite Strongyloides stercoralis using 16S-based amplicon sequencing. We found that S. stercoralis free-living adults have an associated microbiome consisting of specific fecal bacteria. We then investigated the behavioral responses of S. stercoralis and the closely related rat parasite Strongyloides ratti to an ecologically diverse panel of bacteria. We found that S. stercoralis and S. ratti showed similar responses to bacteria. The responses of both nematodes to bacteria varied dramatically across life stages: free-living adults were strongly attracted to most of the bacteria tested, while iL3s were attracted specifically to a narrow range of environmental bacteria. The behavioral responses to bacteria were dynamic, consisting of distinct short- and long-term behaviors. Finally, a comparison of the growth and reproduction of S. stercoralis free-living adults on different bacteria revealed that the bacterium Proteus mirabilis inhibits S. stercoralis egg hatching, and thereby greatly decreases parasite viability. Conclusions Skin-penetrating nematodes encounter bacteria from various ecological niches throughout their life cycle. Our results demonstrate that bacteria function as key chemosensory cues for directing parasite movement in a life-stage-specific manner. Some bacterial genera may form essential associations with the nematodes, while others are detrimental and serve as a potential source of novel nematicides. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12915-021-01153-7.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivan N Chavez
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Taylor M Brown
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.,Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Adrien Assié
- Alkek Center for Metagenomics and Microbiome Research, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.,Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Astra S Bryant
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Buck S Samuel
- Alkek Center for Metagenomics and Microbiome Research, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.,Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Elissa A Hallem
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA. .,Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
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17
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Niedziela DA, Naranjo-Lucena A, Molina-Hernández V, Browne JA, Martínez-Moreno Á, Pérez J, MacHugh DE, Mulcahy G. Timing of Transcriptomic Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cell Responses of Sheep to Fasciola hepatica Infection Differs From Those of Cattle, Reflecting Different Disease Phenotypes. Front Immunol 2021; 12:729217. [PMID: 34616397 PMCID: PMC8488161 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.729217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2021] [Accepted: 08/18/2021] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Infection with the zoonotic trematode Fasciola hepatica, common in many regions with a temperate climate, leads to delayed growth and loss of productivity in cattle, while infection in sheep can have more severe effects, potentially leading to death. Previous transcriptomic analyses revealed upregulation of TGFB1, cell death and Toll-like receptor signalling, T-cell activation, and inhibition of nitric oxide production in macrophages in response to infection. However, the differences between ovine and bovine responses have not yet been explored. The objective of this study was to further investigate the transcriptomic response of ovine peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) to F. hepatica infection, and to elucidate the differences between ovine and bovine PBMC responses. Sixteen male Merino sheep were randomly assigned to infected or control groups (n = 8 per group) and orally infected with 120 F. hepatica metacercariae. Transcriptomic data was generated from PBMC at 0, 2 and 16 weeks post-infection (wpi), and analysed for differentially expressed (DE) genes between infected and control animals at each time point (analysis 1), and for each group relative to time 0 (analysis 2). Analysis 2 was then compared to a similar study performed previously on bovine PBMC. A total of 453 DE genes were found at 2 wpi, and 2 DE genes at 16 wpi (FDR < 0.1, analysis 1). Significantly overrepresented biological pathways at 2 wpi included role of PKR in interferon induction and anti-viral response, death receptor signalling and RIG-I-like receptor signalling, which suggested that an activation of innate response to intracellular nucleic acids and inhibition of cellular apoptosis were taking place. Comparison of analysis 2 with the previous bovine transcriptomic study revealed that anti-inflammatory response pathways which were significantly overrepresented in the acute phase in cattle, including IL-10 signalling, Th2 pathway, and Th1 and Th2 activation were upregulated only in the chronic phase in sheep. We propose that the earlier activation of anti-inflammatory responses in cattle, as compared with sheep, may be related to the general absence of acute clinical signs in cattle. These findings offer scope for "smart vaccination" strategies for this important livestock parasite.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Verónica Molina-Hernández
- Departamento de Anatomía y Anatomía Patológica Comparadas y Toxicología, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain
| | - John A. Browne
- Animal Genomics Laboratory, UCD School of Agriculture and Food Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Álvaro Martínez-Moreno
- Departamento de Sanidad Animal (Parasitología), Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain
| | - José Pérez
- Departamento de Anatomía y Anatomía Patológica Comparadas y Toxicología, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain
| | - David E. MacHugh
- Animal Genomics Laboratory, UCD School of Agriculture and Food Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
- UCD Conway Institute of Biomolecular and Biomedical Research, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Grace Mulcahy
- UCD School of Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
- UCD Conway Institute of Biomolecular and Biomedical Research, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
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18
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Haonon O, Liu Z, Dangtakot R, Intuyod K, Pinlaor P, Puapairoj A, Cha'on U, Sengthong C, Pongking T, Onsurathum S, Yingklang M, Phetcharaburanin J, Li JV, Pinlaor S. Opisthorchis viverrini Infection Induces Metabolic and Fecal Microbial Disturbances in Association with Liver and Kidney Pathologies in Hamsters. J Proteome Res 2021; 20:3940-3951. [PMID: 34270897 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jproteome.1c00246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Opisthorchis viverrini (Ov) infection causes hepatobiliary diseases and is a major risk factor for cholangiocarcinoma. While several omics approaches have been employed to understand the pathogenesis of opisthorchiasis, effects of Ov infection on the host systemic metabolism and fecal microbiota have not been fully explored. Here, we used a 1H NMR spectroscopy-based metabolic phenotyping approach to investigate Ov infection-induced metabolic disturbances at both the acute (1 month postinfection, 1 mpi) and chronic (4 mpi) stages in hamsters. A total of 22, 3, and 4 metabolites were found to be significantly different in the liver, serum, and urine, respectively, between Ov+ and Ov- groups. Elevated levels of hepatic amino acids and tricarboxylic acid (TCA)-cycle intermediates (fumarate and malate) were co-observed with liver injury in acute infection, whereas fibrosis-associated metabolites (e.g., glycine and glutamate) increased at the chronic infection stage. Lower levels of lipid signals ((CH2)n and CH2CH2CO) and higher levels of lysine and scyllo-inositol were observed in serum from Ov+ hamsters at 1 mpi compared to Ov- controls. Urinary levels of phenylacetylglycine (a host-bacterial cometabolite) and tauro-β-muricholic acid were higher in the Ov+ group, which coexisted with hepatic and mild kidney fibrosis. Furthermore, Ov+ animals showed higher relative abundances of fecal Methanobrevibacter (Archaea), Akkermansia, and Burkholderia-Paraburkholderia compared to the noninfected controls. In conclusion, along with liver and kidney pathologies, O. viverrini infection resulted in hepatic and mild renal pathologies, disturbed hepatic amino acid metabolism and the TCA cycle, and induced changes in the fecal microbial composition and urinary host-microbial cometabolism. This study provides the initial step toward an understanding of local and systemic metabolic responses of the host to O. viverrini infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ornuma Haonon
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand.,Chronic Kidney Disease Prevention in the Northeast of Thailand (CKDNET), Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand
| | - Zhigang Liu
- Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, U.K
| | - Rungtiwa Dangtakot
- Faculty of Medical Technology, Nakhonratchasima College, Nakhon Ratchasima 30000, Thailand
| | - Kitti Intuyod
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand
| | - Porntip Pinlaor
- Chronic Kidney Disease Prevention in the Northeast of Thailand (CKDNET), Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand.,Centre for Research and Development in Medical Diagnostic Laboratory, Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand
| | - Anucha Puapairoj
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand
| | - Ubon Cha'on
- Chronic Kidney Disease Prevention in the Northeast of Thailand (CKDNET), Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand.,Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand
| | - Chatchawan Sengthong
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand.,Chronic Kidney Disease Prevention in the Northeast of Thailand (CKDNET), Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand
| | - Thatsanapong Pongking
- Chronic Kidney Disease Prevention in the Northeast of Thailand (CKDNET), Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand.,Biomedical Science Program, Graduate School, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand.,Centre for Research and Development in Medical Diagnostic Laboratory, Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand
| | - Sudarat Onsurathum
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medical Science, Naresuan University, Phitsanulok 65000, Thailand
| | - Manachai Yingklang
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand.,Chronic Kidney Disease Prevention in the Northeast of Thailand (CKDNET), Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand
| | - Jutarop Phetcharaburanin
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand
| | - Jia V Li
- Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, U.K
| | - Somchai Pinlaor
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand.,Chronic Kidney Disease Prevention in the Northeast of Thailand (CKDNET), Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand
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19
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Gut-microbiota-derived extracellular vesicles: Overlooked mediators in host-helminth interactions? Trends Parasitol 2021; 37:690-693. [PMID: 34154932 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2021.05.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2021] [Revised: 05/23/2021] [Accepted: 05/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Helminth infections impact the composition of the mammalian gut microbiota; however, the mechanisms underpinning these interactions are, thus far, unknown. In this article, we propose that microbiota-derived extracellular vesicles might represent key players in host-helminth-microbiome crosstalk, and outline future directions to elucidate their role(s) in host-parasite relationships.
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20
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Zerna G, Spithill TW, Beddoe T. Current Status for Controlling the Overlooked Caprine Fasciolosis. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:1819. [PMID: 34207215 PMCID: PMC8235714 DOI: 10.3390/ani11061819] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2021] [Revised: 06/16/2021] [Accepted: 06/16/2021] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The disease fasciolosis is caused by the liver flukes Fasciola hepatica and F. gigantica, which infect a wide range of mammals and production livestock, including goats. These flatworm parasites are globally distributed and predicted to cost the livestock industry a now conservative USD 3 billion per year in treatment and lowered on-farm productivity. Infection poses a risk to animal welfare and results in lowered fertility rates and reduced production yields of meat, milk and wool. This zoonotic disease is estimated to infect over 600 million animals and up to 2.4 million humans. Current and future control is threatened with the global emergence of flukes resistant to anthelmintics. Drug resistance calls for immediate on-farm parasite management to ensure treatments are effective and re-infection rates are kept low, while a sustainable long-term control method, such as a vaccine, is being developed. Despite the recent expansion of the goat industry, particularly in developing countries, there are limited studies on goat-focused vaccine control studies and the effectiveness of drug treatments. There is a requirement to collate caprine-specific fasciolosis knowledge. This review will present the current status of liver fluke caprine infections and potential control methods for application in goat farming.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Travis Beddoe
- Department of Animal, Plant and Soil Sciences and Centre for AgriBioscience, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria 3083, Australia; (G.Z.); (T.W.S.)
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21
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Abstract
![]()
Helminths
represent a diverse category of parasitic organisms that
can thrive within a host for years, if not decades, in the absence
of treatment. As such, they must establish mechanisms to subsist off
their hosts, evade the immune system, and develop a niche among the
other cohabiting microbial communities. The complex interplay of biologically
small molecules (collectively known as the metabolome) derived from,
utilized by, or in response to the presence of helminths within a
host is an emerging field of study. In this Perspective, we briefly
summarize the current existing literature, categorize key host–pathogen–microbiome
interfaces that could be studied in the context of the metabolome,
and provide background on mass spectrometry-based metabolomic methodology.
Overall, we hope to provide a comprehensive guide for utilizing metabolomics
in the context of helminthic disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey D. Whitman
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94110, United States
| | - Judy A. Sakanari
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94158, United States
| | - Makedonka Mitreva
- Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63130, United States
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22
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Jirků M, Lhotská Z, Frgelecová L, Kadlecová O, Petrželková KJ, Morien E, Jirků-Pomajbíková K. Helminth Interactions with Bacteria in the Host Gut Are Essential for Its Immunomodulatory Effect. Microorganisms 2021; 9:microorganisms9020226. [PMID: 33499240 PMCID: PMC7910914 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9020226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2020] [Revised: 01/20/2021] [Accepted: 01/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Colonization by the benign tapeworm, Hymenolepis diminuta, has been associated with a reduction in intestinal inflammation and changes in bacterial microbiota. However, the role of microbiota in the tapeworm anti-inflammatory effect is not yet clear, and the aim of this study was to determine whether disruption of the microflora during worm colonization can affect the course of intestinal inflammation. We added a phase for disrupting the intestinal microbiota using antibiotics to the experimental design for which we previously demonstrated the protective effect of H. diminuta. We monitored the immunological markers, clinical parameters, bacterial microbiota, and histological changes in the colon of rats. After a combination of colonization, antibiotics, and colitis induction, we had four differently affected experimental groups. We observed a different course of the immune response in each group, but no protective effect was found. Rats treated with colonization and antibiotics showed a strong induction of the Th2 response as well as a significant change in microbial diversity. The microbial results also revealed differences in the richness and abundance of some bacterial taxa, influenced by various factors. Our data suggest that interactions between the tapeworm and bacteria may have a major impact on its protective effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Milan Jirků
- Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Parasitology, Branišovská 31, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic; (Z.L.); (O.K.); (K.J.P.)
- Correspondence: (M.J.); (K.J.-P.); Tel.: +420-38-777-5470 (M.J.); +420-38-777-5470 (K.J.P.)
| | - Zuzana Lhotská
- Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Parasitology, Branišovská 31, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic; (Z.L.); (O.K.); (K.J.P.)
- Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branišovská 31, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Lucia Frgelecová
- Department of Pathology and Parasitology, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Palackého tř. 1/3, 612 42 Brno, Czech Republic;
| | - Oldřiška Kadlecová
- Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Parasitology, Branišovská 31, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic; (Z.L.); (O.K.); (K.J.P.)
| | - Klára Judita Petrželková
- Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Parasitology, Branišovská 31, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic; (Z.L.); (O.K.); (K.J.P.)
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Květná, 8603 65 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Evan Morien
- Department of Botany, University of British Columbia, 3156-6270 University Blvd., Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada;
| | - Kateřina Jirků-Pomajbíková
- Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Parasitology, Branišovská 31, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic; (Z.L.); (O.K.); (K.J.P.)
- Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branišovská 31, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic
- Correspondence: (M.J.); (K.J.-P.); Tel.: +420-38-777-5470 (M.J.); +420-38-777-5470 (K.J.P.)
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Helminth Microbiota Profiling Using Bacterial 16S rRNA Gene Amplicon Sequencing: From Sampling to Sequence Data Mining. Methods Mol Biol 2021; 2369:263-298. [PMID: 34313994 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-1681-9_15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Symbiont microbial communities play important roles in animal biology and are thus considered integral components of metazoan organisms, including parasitic worms (helminths). Nevertheless, the study of helminth microbiomes has thus far been largely overlooked, and symbiotic relationships between helminths and their microbiomes have been only investigated in selected parasitic worms. Over the past decade, advances in next-generation sequencing technologies, coupled with their increased affordability, have spurred investigations of helminth-associated microbial communities aiming at enhancing current understanding of their fundamental biology and physiology, as well as of host-microbe interactions. Using the blood fluke Schistosoma mansoni as a key example of parasitic worms with complex life cycles involving multiple hosts, in this chapter we (1) provide an overview of protocols for sample collection and (2) outline an example workflow to characterize worm-associated microbial communities using high-throughput sequencing technologies and bioinformatics analyses of large-scale sequence data.
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24
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Chevalier FD, Diaz R, McDew-White M, Anderson TJC, Clec’h WL. The hemolymph of Biomphalaria snail vectors of schistosomiasis supports a diverse microbiome. Environ Microbiol 2020; 22:5450-5466. [PMID: 33169917 PMCID: PMC8023393 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.15303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2020] [Accepted: 11/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The microbiome - the microorganism community that is found on or within an organism's body - is increasingly recognized to shape many aspects of its host biology and is a key determinant of health and disease. Microbiomes modulate the capacity of insect disease vectors (mosquitoes, tsetse flies, sandflies) to transmit parasites and disease. We investigate the diversity and abundance of microorganisms within the hemolymph (i.e. blood) of Biomphalaria snails, the intermediate host for Schistosoma mansoni, using Illumina MiSeq sequencing of the bacterial 16S V4 rDNA. We sampled hemolymph from five snails from six different laboratory populations of B. glabrata and one population of B. alexandrina. We observed 279.84 ± 0.79 amplicon sequence variants per snail. There were significant differences in microbiome composition at the level of individual snails, snail populations and species. Snail microbiomes were dominated by Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes while water microbiomes from snail tank were dominated by Actinobacteria. We investigated the absolute bacterial load using qPCR: hemolymph samples contained 2784 ± 339 bacteria/μl. We speculate that the microbiome may represent a critical, but unexplored intermediary in the snail-schistosome interaction as hemolymph is in very close contact with the parasite at each step of its development.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Robbie Diaz
- Texas Biomedical Research Institute, PO Box 760549, San Antonio, TX 78258
| | - Marina McDew-White
- Texas Biomedical Research Institute, PO Box 760549, San Antonio, TX 78258
| | | | - Winka Le Clec’h
- Texas Biomedical Research Institute, PO Box 760549, San Antonio, TX 78258
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25
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Daniels SP, Leng J, Swann JR, Proudman CJ. Bugs and drugs: a systems biology approach to characterising the effect of moxidectin on the horse's faecal microbiome. Anim Microbiome 2020; 2:38. [PMID: 33499996 PMCID: PMC7807906 DOI: 10.1186/s42523-020-00056-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2020] [Accepted: 10/02/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Anthelmintic treatment is a risk factor for intestinal disease in the horse, known as colic. However the mechanisms involved in the onset of disease post anthelmintic treatment are unknown. The interaction between anthelmintic drugs and the gut microbiota may be associated with this observed increase in risk of colic. Little is known about the interaction between gut microbiota and anthelmintics and how treatment may alter microbiome function. The objectives of this study were: To characterise (1) faecal microbiota, (2) feed fermentation kinetics in vitro and (3) metabolic profiles following moxidectin administration to horses with very low (0 epg) adult strongyle burdens. Hypothesis: Moxidectin will not alter (1) faecal microbiota, (2) feed fermentation in vitro, or, (3) host metabolome. Results Moxidectin increased the relative abundance of Deferribacter spp. and Spirochaetes spp. observed after 160 h in moxidectin treated horses. Reduced in vitro fibre fermentation was observed 16 h following moxidectin administration in vivo (P = 0.001), along with lower pH in the in vitro fermentations from the moxidectin treated group. Metabolic profiles from urine samples did not differ between the treatment groups. However metabolic profiles from in vitro fermentations differed between moxidectin and control groups 16 h after treatment (R2 = 0.69, Q2Y = 0.48), and within the moxidectin group between 16 h and 160 h post moxidectin treatment (R2 = 0.79, Q2Y = 0.77). Metabolic profiles from in vitro fermentations and fermentation kinetics both indicated altered carbohydrate metabolism following in vivo treatment with moxidectin. Conclusions These data suggest that in horses with low parasite burdens moxidectin had a small but measurable effect on both the community structure and the function of the gut microbiome.
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Affiliation(s)
- S P Daniels
- School of Equine Management and Science, Royal Agricultural University, Cirencester, Gloucestershire, GL9 6JS, UK. .,School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey, GU2 7TE, UK.
| | - J Leng
- School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey, GU2 7TE, UK
| | - J R Swann
- Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - C J Proudman
- School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey, GU2 7TE, UK
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26
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Cortés A, Rooney J, Bartley DJ, Nisbet AJ, Cantacessi C. Helminths, hosts, and their microbiota: new avenues for managing gastrointestinal helminthiases in ruminants. Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther 2020; 18:977-985. [PMID: 32530331 DOI: 10.1080/14787210.2020.1782188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Evidence is emerging of complex interactions occurring between gastrointestinal (GI) parasites of ruminants and the resident gut flora, with likely implications for the pathophysiology of worm infection and disease. Similarly, recent data point toward the occurrence of a GI nematode (GIN)-specific microbiota, with potential roles in worm fundamental physiology and reproduction. Parasite-microbiota relationships might represent potential targets for the development of novel parasiticides. AREAS COVERED In this article, we review current knowledge of the role(s) that host- and helminth-associated microbiota play in ruminant host-parasite relationships, and outline potential avenues for the control of GIN of farmed ruminants via the manipulation of resident microbial species with putative functions in infection establishment, host-immune modulation, and/or parasite fitness and survival. EXPERT OPINION In order for this knowledge to be translated into practical applications, we argue that several aspects of the nematode-microbiota cross-talk must be addressed, including (i) the causality of interactions between the parasite, the gut microbiota, and the host immune system, (ii) the modes of action of dietary prebiotics and probiotics, (iii) the mechanisms by which diet supplementation aids the development of resistance/tolerance to GI helminth infections and (iv) the composition of the GIN microbiome and its role(s) in parasite biology and physiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alba Cortés
- Departament de Farmàcia i Tecnologia Farmacèutica i Parasotologia, Facultat de Farmàcia, Universitat de València , València, Spain.,Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge , Cambridge, UK
| | - James Rooney
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge , Cambridge, UK
| | | | | | - Cinzia Cantacessi
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge , Cambridge, UK
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Faniyi AA, Wijanarko KJ, Tollitt J, Worthington JJ. Helminth Sensing at the Intestinal Epithelial Barrier-A Taste of Things to Come. Front Immunol 2020; 11:1489. [PMID: 32849506 PMCID: PMC7409516 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.01489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2020] [Accepted: 06/08/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Human intestinal helminth infection affects more than 1 billion people often in the world's most deprived communities. These parasites are one of the most prevalent neglected tropical diseases worldwide bringing huge morbidities to the host population. Effective treatments and vaccines for helminths are currently limited, and therefore, it is essential to understand the molecular sensors that the intestinal epithelium utilizes in detecting helminths and how the responding factors produced act as modulators of immunity. Defining the cellular and molecular mechanisms that enable helminth detection and expulsion will be critical in identifying potential therapeutic targets to alleviate disease. However, despite decades of research, we have only recently been able to identify the tuft cell as a key helminth sensor at the epithelial barrier. In this review, we will highlight the key intestinal epithelial chemosensory roles associated with the detection of intestinal helminths, summarizing the recent advances in tuft cell initiation of protective type 2 immunity. We will discuss other potential sensory roles of epithelial subsets and introduce enteroendocrine cells as potential key sensors of the microbial alterations that a helminth infection produces, which, given their direct communication to the nervous system via the recently described neuropod, have the potential to transfer the epithelial immune interface systemically.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aduragbemi A Faniyi
- Biomedical and Life Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medicine, Lancaster University, Lancaster, United Kingdom.,Institute of Inflammation and Ageing, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Kevin J Wijanarko
- Biomedical and Life Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medicine, Lancaster University, Lancaster, United Kingdom.,Department of Biomedical Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong
| | - James Tollitt
- Biomedical and Life Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medicine, Lancaster University, Lancaster, United Kingdom
| | - John J Worthington
- Biomedical and Life Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medicine, Lancaster University, Lancaster, United Kingdom
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28
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Jorge F, Dheilly NM, Poulin R. Persistence of a Core Microbiome Through the Ontogeny of a Multi-Host Parasite. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:954. [PMID: 32508779 PMCID: PMC7248275 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.00954] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2020] [Accepted: 04/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Animal microbiomes influence their development, behavior and interactions with other organisms. Parasitic metazoans also harbor microbial communities; although they are likely to modulate host-parasite interactions, little is known about parasite microbiomes. The persistence of microbial communities throughout the life of a parasite is particularly challenging for helminths with complex life cycles. These parasites undergo major morphological changes during their life, and parasitize host species that are immunologically, physiologically, and phylogenetically very different. Here, using 16S amplicon sequencing, we characterize the microbiome of the trematode Coitocaecum parvum across four of its life stages: sporocysts, metacercariae and adults inhabiting (respectively) snails, crustaceans and fish, as well as free-living cercariae. Our results demonstrate that, at each life stage, the parasite possesses a phylogenetically diverse microbiome, distinct from that of its hosts or the external environment. The parasite's microbiome comprises bacterial taxa specific to each life stage in different hosts, as well as a small core set of taxa that persists across the parasite's whole life. The apparent existence of an ontogenetically and vertically transmitted core microbiome is supported by the findings that the diversity and taxonomic composition of the microbiome does not vary significantly among life stages, and that the main source of microbial taxa at any life stage is the previous life stage. Our results suggest that microbes are an integrated component of the trematode, possibly shaping its phenotype and host-parasite interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fátima Jorge
- Department of Zoology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Nolwenn M. Dheilly
- School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, United States
- Unité Génétique Virale de Biosécurité, Laboratoire de Ploufragan-Plouzané, Agence Nationale de Sécurité Sanitaire de l’Alimentation, de l’Environnement et du Travail, Ploufragan, France
| | - Robert Poulin
- Department of Zoology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
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Sharpton TJ, Combrink L, Arnold HK, Gaulke CA, Kent M. Harnessing the gut microbiome in the fight against anthelminthic drug resistance. Curr Opin Microbiol 2020; 53:26-34. [PMID: 32114334 DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2020.01.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2019] [Revised: 01/20/2020] [Accepted: 01/24/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Intestinal helminth parasites present major challenges to the welfare of humans and threaten the global food supply. While the discovery of anthelminthic drugs empowered our ability to offset these harms to society, the alarming rise of anthelminthic drug resistance mitigates contemporary efforts to treat and control intestinal helminthic infections. Fortunately, emerging research points to potential opportunities to combat anthelminthic drug resistance by harnessing the gut microbiome as a resource for discovering novel therapeutics and informing responsible drug administration. In this review, we highlight research that demonstrates this potential and provide rationale to support increased investment in efforts to uncover and translationally utilize knowledge about how the gut microbiome mediates intestinal helminthic infection and its outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas J Sharpton
- Department of Microbiology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, 97331, USA; Department of Statistics, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, 97331, USA.
| | - Leigh Combrink
- Department of Microbiology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, 97331, USA; Department of Biomedical Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, 97331, USA
| | - Holly K Arnold
- Department of Microbiology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, 97331, USA; Carlson College of Veterinary Medicine, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, 97331, USA
| | | | - Michael Kent
- Department of Microbiology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, 97331, USA; Department of Biomedical Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, 97331, USA
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Ogier JC, Pagès S, Frayssinet M, Gaudriault S. Entomopathogenic nematode-associated microbiota: from monoxenic paradigm to pathobiome. MICROBIOME 2020; 8:25. [PMID: 32093774 PMCID: PMC7041241 DOI: 10.1186/s40168-020-00800-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2019] [Accepted: 02/05/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The holistic view of bacterial symbiosis, incorporating both host and microbial environment, constitutes a major conceptual shift in studies deciphering host-microbe interactions. Interactions between Steinernema entomopathogenic nematodes and their bacterial symbionts, Xenorhabdus, have long been considered monoxenic two partner associations responsible for the killing of the insects and therefore widely used in insect pest biocontrol. We investigated this "monoxenic paradigm" by profiling the microbiota of infective juveniles (IJs), the soil-dwelling form responsible for transmitting Steinernema-Xenorhabdus between insect hosts in the parasitic lifecycle. RESULTS Multigenic metabarcoding (16S and rpoB markers) showed that the bacterial community associated with laboratory-reared IJs from Steinernema carpocapsae, S. feltiae, S. glaseri and S. weiseri species consisted of several Proteobacteria. The association with Xenorhabdus was never monoxenic. We showed that the laboratory-reared IJs of S. carpocapsae bore a bacterial community composed of the core symbiont (Xenorhabdus nematophila) together with a frequently associated microbiota (FAM) consisting of about a dozen of Proteobacteria (Pseudomonas, Stenotrophomonas, Alcaligenes, Achromobacter, Pseudochrobactrum, Ochrobactrum, Brevundimonas, Deftia, etc.). We validated this set of bacteria by metabarcoding analysis on freshly sampled IJs from natural conditions. We isolated diverse bacterial taxa, validating the profile of the Steinernema FAM. We explored the functions of the FAM members potentially involved in the parasitic lifecycle of Steinernema. Two species, Pseudomonas protegens and P. chlororaphis, displayed entomopathogenic properties suggestive of a role in Steinernema virulence and membership of the Steinernema pathobiome. CONCLUSIONS Our study validates a shift from monoxenic paradigm to pathobiome view in the case of the Steinernema ecology. The microbial communities of low complexity associated with EPNs will permit future microbiota manipulation experiments to decipher overall microbiota functioning in the infectious process triggered by EPN in insects and, more generally, in EPN ecology.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sylvie Pagès
- DGIMI, INRAe-Université de Montpellier, 34095, Montpellier, France
| | - Marie Frayssinet
- DGIMI, INRAe-Université de Montpellier, 34095, Montpellier, France
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Olia A, Shimokawa C, Imai T, Suzue K, Hisaeda H. Suppression of systemic lupus erythematosus in NZBWF1 mice infected with Hymenolepis microstoma. Parasitol Int 2020; 76:102057. [PMID: 31954872 DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2020.102057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2019] [Revised: 01/13/2020] [Accepted: 01/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Intestinal helminths induce immune suppressive responses thought to regulate inflammatory diseases including allergies and autoimmune diseases. This study was designed to evaluate whether helminthic infections suppress the natural development of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in NZBWF1 mice. Infection of NZBWF1 SLE-prone mice with two nematodes failed to establish long-lasting settlement. However, the Hymenolepis microstoma (Hm) rodent tapeworm successfully established long-term parasitization of NZBWF1 mice and was used to evaluate the suppressive effects of helminth infection. Ten-month-old NZBWF1 mice developed symptoms including autoantibody generation, proteinuria, glomerular histopathology, and splenomegaly, but mice infected with Hm at 2 months of age did not show any clinical signs. Furthermore, infection with Hm reduced lymphocyte activation and increased regulatory T cells in the spleen and mesenteric lymph nodes. These results indicate that infection with Hm protects NZBWF1 mice from naturally developing SLE and suggest that pathological immunity is attenuated, presumably because of the induction of regulatory T cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex Olia
- Department of Parasitology, Graduate School of Medicine, Gunma University, Gunma, Japan; Department of Parasitology, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Chikako Shimokawa
- Department of Parasitology, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takashi Imai
- Department of Parasitology, Graduate School of Medicine, Gunma University, Gunma, Japan
| | - Kazutomo Suzue
- Department of Parasitology, Graduate School of Medicine, Gunma University, Gunma, Japan
| | - Hajime Hisaeda
- Department of Parasitology, Graduate School of Medicine, Gunma University, Gunma, Japan; Department of Parasitology, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan.
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Abstract
AbstractNew technological methods, such as rapidly developing molecular approaches, often provide new tools for scientific advances. However, these new tools are often not utilized equally across different research areas, possibly leading to disparities in progress between these areas. Here, we use empirical evidence from the scientific literature to test for potential discrepancies in the use of genetic tools to study parasitic vs non-parasitic organisms across three distinguishable molecular periods, the allozyme, nucleotide and genomics periods. Publications on parasites constitute only a fraction (<5%) of the total research output across all molecular periods and are dominated by medically relevant parasites (especially protists), particularly during the early phase of each period. Our analysis suggests an increasing complexity of topics and research questions being addressed with the development of more sophisticated molecular tools, with the research focus between the periods shifting from predominantly species discovery to broader theory-focused questions. We conclude that both new and older molecular methods offer powerful tools for research on parasites, including their diverse roles in ecosystems and their relevance as human pathogens. While older methods, such as barcoding approaches, will continue to feature in the molecular toolbox of parasitologists for years to come, we encourage parasitologists to be more responsive to new approaches that provide the tools to address broader questions.
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