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Schemczssen-Graeff Z, Silva CR, de Freitas PNN, Constantin PP, Pileggi SAV, Olchanheski LR, Pileggi M. Probiotics as a strategy for addressing helminth infections in low-income countries: Working smarter rather than richer. Biochem Pharmacol 2024; 226:116363. [PMID: 38871336 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2024.116363] [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: 03/26/2024] [Revised: 06/07/2024] [Accepted: 06/11/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024]
Abstract
Helminth infections, which affect approximately 1.5 billion individuals worldwide (mainly children), are common in low- and middle-income tropical countries and can lead to various diseases. One crucial factor affecting the occurrence of these diseases is the reduced diversity of the gut microbiome due to antibiotic use. This reduced diversity compromises immune health in hosts and alters host gene expression through epigenetic mechanisms. Helminth infections may produce complex biochemical signatures that could serve as therapeutic targets. Such therapies include next-generation probiotics, live biotherapeutic products, and biochemical drug approaches. Probiotics can bind ferric hydroxide, reducing the iron that is available to opportunistic microorganisms. They also produce short-chain fatty acids associated with immune response modulation, oral tolerance facilitation, and inflammation reduction. In this review, we examine the potential link between these effects and epigenetic changes in immune response-related genes by analyzing methyltransferase-related genes within probiotic strains discussed in the literature. The identified genes were only correlated with methylation in bacterial genes. Various metabolic interactions among hosts, helminth parasites, and intestinal microbiomes can impact the immune system, potentially aiding or hindering worm expulsion through chemical signaling. Implementing a comprehensive strategy using probiotics may reduce the impact of drug-resistant helminth strains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zelinda Schemczssen-Graeff
- Comparative Immunology Laboratory, Department of Microbiology, Parasitology, and Pathology, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil
| | - Caroline Rosa Silva
- Department of Biotechnology, Genetics and Cell Biology, State University of Maringá, Maringá, Brazil
| | | | - Paola Pereira Constantin
- Department of Biotechnology, Genetics and Cell Biology, State University of Maringá, Maringá, Brazil
| | - Sônia Alvim Veiga Pileggi
- Environmental Microbiology Laboratory, Life Sciences and Health Institute, Structural and Molecular Biology, and Genetics Department, Ponta Grossa State University, Ponta Grossa, Brazil
| | - Luiz Ricardo Olchanheski
- Environmental Microbiology Laboratory, Life Sciences and Health Institute, Structural and Molecular Biology, and Genetics Department, Ponta Grossa State University, Ponta Grossa, Brazil
| | - Marcos Pileggi
- Environmental Microbiology Laboratory, Life Sciences and Health Institute, Structural and Molecular Biology, and Genetics Department, Ponta Grossa State University, Ponta Grossa, Brazil.
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Brealey JC, Kodama M, Rasmussen JA, Hansen SB, Santos-Bay L, Lecaudey LA, Hansen M, Fjære E, Myrmel LS, Madsen L, Bernhard A, Sveier H, Kristiansen K, Gilbert MTP, Martin MD, Limborg MT. Host-gut microbiota interactions shape parasite infections in farmed Atlantic salmon. mSystems 2024; 9:e0104323. [PMID: 38294254 PMCID: PMC10886447 DOI: 10.1128/msystems.01043-23] [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: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Animals and their associated microbiota share long evolutionary histories. However, it is not always clear how host genotype and microbiota interact to affect phenotype. We applied a hologenomic approach to explore how host-microbiota interactions shape lifetime growth and parasite infection in farmed Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). Multi-omics data sets were generated from the guts of 460 salmon, 82% of which were naturally infected with an intestinal cestode. A single Mycoplasma bacterial strain, MAG01, dominated the gut metagenome of large, non-parasitized fish, consistent with previous studies showing high levels of Mycoplasma in the gut microbiota of healthy salmon. While small and/or parasitized salmon also had high abundance of MAG01, we observed increased alpha diversity in these individuals, driven by increased frequency of low-abundance Vibrionaceae and other Mycoplasma species that carried known virulence genes. Colonization by one of these cestode-associated Mycoplasma strains was associated with host individual genomic variation in long non-coding RNAs. Integrating the multi-omic data sets revealed coordinated changes in the salmon gut mRNA transcriptome and metabolome that correlated with shifts in the microbiota of smaller, parasitized fish. Our results suggest that the gut microbiota of small and/or parasitized fish is in a state of dysbiosis that partly depends on the host genotype, highlighting the value of using a hologenomic approach to incorporate the microbiota into the study of host-parasite dynamics.IMPORTANCEStudying host-microbiota interactions through the perspective of the hologenome is gaining interest across all life sciences. Intestinal parasite infections are a huge burden on human and animal health; however, there are few studies investigating the role of the hologenome during parasite infections. We address this gap in the largest multi-omics fish microbiota study to date using natural cestode infection of farmed Atlantic salmon. We find a clear association between cestode infection, salmon lifetime growth, and perturbation of the salmon gut microbiota. Furthermore, we provide the first evidence that the genetic background of the host may partly determine how the gut microbiota changes during parasite-associated dysbiosis. Our study therefore highlights the value of a hologenomic approach for gaining a more in-depth understanding of parasitism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaelle C Brealey
- Department of Natural History, NTNU University Museum, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim, Norway
| | - Miyako Kodama
- Center for Evolutionary Hologenomics, Globe Institute, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences,University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jacob A Rasmussen
- Center for Evolutionary Hologenomics, Globe Institute, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences,University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Biology, Laboratory of Genomics and Molecular Biomedicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Søren B Hansen
- Center for Evolutionary Hologenomics, Globe Institute, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences,University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Luisa Santos-Bay
- Center for Evolutionary Hologenomics, Globe Institute, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences,University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Laurène A Lecaudey
- Department of Natural History, NTNU University Museum, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim, Norway
- Aquaculture Department, SINTEF Ocean, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Martin Hansen
- Department of Environmental Science, Environmental Metabolomics Lab, Aarhus University, Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Even Fjære
- Institute of Marine Research, Bergen, Norway
| | | | - Lise Madsen
- Institute of Marine Research, Bergen, Norway
- Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Bergen, Norway, Bergen, Norway
| | | | | | - Karsten Kristiansen
- Department of Biology, Laboratory of Genomics and Molecular Biomedicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - M Thomas P Gilbert
- Department of Natural History, NTNU University Museum, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim, Norway
- Center for Evolutionary Hologenomics, Globe Institute, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences,University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Michael D Martin
- Department of Natural History, NTNU University Museum, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim, Norway
| | - Morten T Limborg
- Center for Evolutionary Hologenomics, Globe Institute, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences,University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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3
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Lu C, Wang L, Jiang Y, Lan M, Wang F. Preconceptional, pregnant, and postnatal exposure to outdoor air pollution and indoor environmental factors: Effects on childhood parasitic infections. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 912:169234. [PMID: 38101631 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.169234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2023] [Revised: 11/26/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Parasitic infections (PIs) are common and pose substantial health hazards in children globally, but the fundamental environmental variables exposure during crucial time window(s) are unclear. OBJECTIVES To identify key indoor and outdoor environmental factors leading to childhood PIs throughout critical time window(s). METHODS A combined cross-sectional and retrospective cohort study was performed on 8689 children residing in Changsha, China. Data was acquired pertaining to the health status and environmental exposure of the children in their homes. Personal exposure to outdoor air pollutants at the residential address during the preconceptional, perinatal, and postnatal periods was computed using data from ten air quality monitoring stations. An analysis of the relationships between childhood PIs and both indoor and outdoor factors was conducted using a multiple logistic regression model. RESULTS Childhood PIs were associated with outdoor CO and ozone (O3) exposure during the 10th-12th months prior to pregnancy, with ORs (95 % CI) of 1.68 (1.24-2.27) and 1.60 (1.15-2.22), respectively; childhood PIs were also associated with CO exposure during one year prior to pregnancy and the first trimester in utero [ORs = 1.57 (1.14-2.15) and 1.52 (1.17-1.97)]. Childhood PIs were found to be associated with PM2.5 exposure during pregnancy and the first year, with odds ratios of 1.51 (1.14-2.00) and 1.95 (1.22-3.12) per IQR increase in pollutant exposure, respectively. Exposures to smoke, renovation-related indoor air pollution (IAP), dampness and plant-related indoor allergens in the early life and past year were all associated with childhood PI, with odds ratios (95 % CI) ranging from 1.40 (1.01-1.95) for environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) during pregnancy to 1.63 (1.12-2.37) for mold/damp stains in the past year. In terms of PI risk, the early life and present periods were critical time windows for outdoor and indoor exposures, respectively. Certain individuals were more vulnerable to the PI risk associated with both indoor and outdoor exposures. Antibiotic use during child's lifetime and early years increased and decreased the PI risk of exposure to outdoor and indoor environments, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Exposure to outdoor air pollution in early life and indoor environments in the past year were found to be associated with childhood PI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chan Lu
- XiangYa School of Public Health, Central South University, Changsha, China.
| | - Lin Wang
- XiangYa School of Public Health, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Ying Jiang
- XiangYa School of Public Health, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Mengju Lan
- XiangYa School of Public Health, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Faming Wang
- Division of Animal and Human Health Engineering, Department of Biosystems, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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Small CM, Beck EA, Currey MC, Tavalire HF, Bassham S, Cresko WA. Host genomic variation shapes gut microbiome diversity in threespine stickleback fish. mBio 2023; 14:e0021923. [PMID: 37606367 PMCID: PMC10653670 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.00219-23] [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: 01/25/2023] [Accepted: 06/30/2023] [Indexed: 08/23/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE A major focus of host-microbe research is to understand how genetic differences, of various magnitudes, among hosts translate to differences in their microbiomes. This has been challenging for animal hosts, including humans, because it is difficult to control environmental variables tightly enough to isolate direct genetic effects on the microbiome. Our work in stickleback fish is a significant contribution because our experimental approach allowed strict control over environmental factors, including standardization of the microbiome from the earliest stage of development and unrestricted co-housing of fish in a truly common environment. Furthermore, we measured host genetic variation over 2,000 regions of the stickleback genome, comparing this information and microbiome composition data among fish from very similar and very different genetic backgrounds. Our findings highlight how differences in the host genome influence microbiome diversity and make a case for future manipulative microbiome experiments that use host systems with naturally occurring genetic variation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clayton M. Small
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon, USA
- Presidential Initiative in Data Science, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon, USA
| | - Emily A. Beck
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon, USA
- Presidential Initiative in Data Science, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon, USA
| | - Mark C. Currey
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon, USA
| | - Hannah F. Tavalire
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon, USA
| | - Susan Bassham
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon, USA
| | - William A. Cresko
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon, USA
- Presidential Initiative in Data Science, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon, USA
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Leroux N, Sylvain FE, Holland A, Luis Val A, Derome N. Gut microbiota of an Amazonian fish in a heterogeneous riverscape: integrating genotype, environment, and parasitic infections. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0275522. [PMID: 37724869 PMCID: PMC10581195 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.02755-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2022] [Accepted: 07/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/21/2023] Open
Abstract
A number of key factors can structure the gut microbiota of fish such as environment, diet, health state, and genotype. Mesonauta festivus, an Amazonian cichlid, is a relevant model organism to study the relative contribution of these factors on the community structure of fish gut microbiota. M. festivus has well-studied genetic populations and thrives in rivers with drastically divergent physicochemical characteristics. Here, we collected 167 fish from 12 study sites and used 16S and 18S rRNA metabarcoding approaches to characterize the gut microbiome structure of M. festivus. These data sets were analyzed in light of the host fish genotypes (genotyping-by-sequencing) and an extensive characterization of environmental physico-chemical parameters. We explored the relative contribution of environmental dissimilarity, the presence of parasitic taxa, and phylogenetic relatedness on structuring the gut microbiota. We documented occurrences of Nyctotherus sp. infecting a fish and linked its presence to a dysbiosis of the host gut microbiota. Moreover, we detected the presence of helminths which had a minor impact on the gut microbiota of their host. In addition, our results support a higher impact of the phylogenetic relatedness between fish rather than environmental similarity between sites of study on structuring the gut microbiota for this Amazonian cichlid. Our study in a heterogeneous riverscape integrates a wide range of factors known to structure fish gut microbiomes. It significantly improves understanding of the complex relationship between fish, their parasites, their microbiota, and the environment. IMPORTANCE The gut microbiota is known to play important roles in its host immunity, metabolism, and comportment. Its taxonomic composition is modulated by a complex interplay of factors that are hard to study simultaneously in natural systems. Mesonauta festivus, an Amazonian cichlid, is an interesting model to simultaneously study the influence of multiple variables on the gut microbiota. In this study, we explored the relative contribution of the environmental conditions, the presence of parasitic infections, and the genotype of the host on structuring the gut microbiota of M. festivus in Amazonia. Our results highlighted infections by a parasitic ciliate that caused a disruption of the gut microbiota and by parasitic worms that had a low impact on the microbiota. Finally, our results support a higher impact of the genotype than the environment on structuring the microbiota for this fish. These findings significantly improve understanding of the complex relationship among fish, their parasites, their microbiota, and the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas Leroux
- Department of Biology, Laval University, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
- Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
| | - Francois-Etienne Sylvain
- Department of Biology, Laval University, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
- Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
| | - Aleicia Holland
- Department of Environment and Genetics, Centre for Freshwater Ecosystems, Wodonga, Victoria, Australia
| | - Adalberto Luis Val
- Laboratory of Ecophysiology and Molecular Evolution, Brazilian National Institute for Research of the Amazon, Manaus, Brazil
| | - Nicolas Derome
- Department of Biology, Laval University, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
- Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
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6
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Bolnick DI, Arruda S, Polania C, Simonse L, Padhiar A, Roth A, Rodgers ML. The dominance of coinfecting parasites' indirect effects on host traits. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.02.12.528182. [PMID: 36798170 PMCID: PMC9934634 DOI: 10.1101/2023.02.12.528182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/16/2023]
Abstract
Indirect genetic effects (IGEs) exist when there is heritable variation in one species' ability to alter a second species' traits. For example, parasites can evolve disparate strategies to manipulate host immune response, whether by evading detection or suppressing immunity. A complication arises during coinfection, when two or more parasite genotypes may try to impose distinct IGEs on the same host trait: which parasite's IGE will be dominant? Here, we apply the notion of dominance to IGEs during coinfection. Using a mathematical model we show that the dominance of IGEs can alter the evolutionary dynamics of parasites. We consider a resident parasite population receiving rare immigrants with a different immune manipulation trait. These immigrants' relative fitness depends on resident prevalence (e.g., the probability immigrants are alone in a host, or coinfecting with a native), and the dominance of the immigrant's IGE on host immunity. Next, we show experimentally that the cestode Schistocephalus solidus exerts an IGE on a host immune trait: parasite antigens from different populations produced different intensities of fibrosis. We then evaluated IGE dominance, finding evidence for overdominance (coinjected antigens induced an even stronger host immune response) which would be detrimental to immigrants when resident prevalence is high. This combination of experimental and modeling results shows that parasites do exhibit IGEs on host traits, and that the dominance of these IGEs during coinfection can substantially alter parasite evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel I. Bolnick
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs CT 06269, USA
| | - Sophia Arruda
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs CT 06269, USA
| | - Christian Polania
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs CT 06269, USA
| | - Lauren Simonse
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs CT 06269, USA
| | - Arshad Padhiar
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs CT 06269, USA
| | - Andrea Roth
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs CT 06269, USA
| | - Maria L. Rodgers
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs CT 06269, USA
- Present address: Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Morehead City NC 28557, USA
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7
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Boisseau M, Dhorne-Pollet S, Bars-Cortina D, Courtot É, Serreau D, Annonay G, Lluch J, Gesbert A, Reigner F, Sallé G, Mach N. Species interactions, stability, and resilience of the gut microbiota - Helminth assemblage in horses. iScience 2023; 26:106044. [PMID: 36818309 PMCID: PMC9929684 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.106044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2022] [Revised: 12/16/2022] [Accepted: 01/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The nature and strength of interactions entertained among helminths and their host gut microbiota remain largely unexplored. Using 40 naturally infected Welsh ponies, we tracked the gut microbiota-cyathostomin temporal dynamics and stability before and following anthelmintic treatment and the associated host blood transcriptomic response. High shedders harbored 14 species of cyathostomins, dominated by Cylicocyclus nassatus. They exhibited a highly diverse and temporal dynamic gut microbiota, with butyrate-producing Clostridia likely driving the ecosystem steadiness and host tolerance toward cyathostomins infection. However, anthelmintic administration sharply bent the microbial community. It disrupted the ecosystem stability and the time-dependent network of interactions, affecting longer term microbial resilience. These observations highlight how anthelmintic treatments alter the triangular relationship of parasite, host, and gut microbiota and open new perspectives for adding nutritional intervention to current parasite management strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michel Boisseau
- , Université de Tours, INRAE, UMR1282 Infectiologie et Santé Publique, 37380 Nouzilly, France,IHAP, Université de Toulouse, INRAE, ENVT, 31076 Toulouse, France
| | - Sophie Dhorne-Pollet
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, GABI, 78350 Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - David Bars-Cortina
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, GABI, 78350 Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Élise Courtot
- , Université de Tours, INRAE, UMR1282 Infectiologie et Santé Publique, 37380 Nouzilly, France
| | - Delphine Serreau
- , Université de Tours, INRAE, UMR1282 Infectiologie et Santé Publique, 37380 Nouzilly, France
| | - Gwenolah Annonay
- INRAE, US UMR 1426, Genomic platform, 31326 Castanet-Tolosan, France
| | - Jérôme Lluch
- INRAE, US UMR 1426, Genomic platform, 31326 Castanet-Tolosan, France
| | - Amandine Gesbert
- INRAE, UE Physiologie Animale de l’Orfrasière, 37380 Nouzilly, France
| | - Fabrice Reigner
- INRAE, UE Physiologie Animale de l’Orfrasière, 37380 Nouzilly, France
| | - Guillaume Sallé
- , Université de Tours, INRAE, UMR1282 Infectiologie et Santé Publique, 37380 Nouzilly, France,Corresponding author
| | - Núria Mach
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, GABI, 78350 Jouy-en-Josas, France,IHAP, Université de Toulouse, INRAE, ENVT, 31076 Toulouse, France,Corresponding author
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8
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Wesołowska A. Sex—the most underappreciated variable in research: insights from helminth-infected hosts. Vet Res 2022; 53:94. [PMID: 36397174 PMCID: PMC9672581 DOI: 10.1186/s13567-022-01103-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2022] [Accepted: 07/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The sex of a host affects the intensity, prevalence, and severity of helminth infection. In many cases, one sex has been found to be more susceptible than the other, with the prevalence and intensity of helminth infections being generally higher among male than female hosts; however, many exceptions exist. This observed sex bias in parasitism results primarily from ecological, behavioural, and physiological differences between males and females. Complex interactions between these influences modulate the risk of infection. Indeed, an interplay among sex hormones, sex chromosomes, the microbiome and the immune system significantly contributes to the generation of sex bias among helminth-infected hosts. However, sex hormones not only can modulate the course of infection but also can be exploited by the parasites, and helminths appear to have developed molecules and pathways for this purpose. Furthermore, host sex may influence the efficacy of anti-helminth vaccines; however, although little data exist regarding this sex-dependent efficacy, host sex is known to influence the response to vaccines. Despite its importance, host sex is frequently overlooked in parasitological studies. This review focuses on the key contributors to sex bias in the case of helminth infection. The precise nature of the mechanisms/factors determining these sex-specific differences generally remains largely unknown, and this represents an obstacle in the development of control methods. There is an urgent need to identify any protective elements that could be targeted in future therapies to provide optimal disease management with regard to host sex. Hence, more research is needed into the impact of host sex on immunity and protection.
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9
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Zhou S, Lu Y, Chen J, Pan Z, Pang L, Wang Y, Zhang Q, Strand MR, Chen XX, Huang J. Parasite reliance on its host gut microbiota for nutrition and survival. THE ISME JOURNAL 2022; 16:2574-2586. [PMID: 35941172 PMCID: PMC9561699 DOI: 10.1038/s41396-022-01301-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2022] [Revised: 07/20/2022] [Accepted: 07/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Studying the microbial symbionts of eukaryotic hosts has revealed a range of interactions that benefit host biology. Most eukaryotes are also infected by parasites that adversely affect host biology for their own benefit. However, it is largely unclear whether the ability of parasites to develop in hosts also depends on host-associated symbionts, e.g., the gut microbiota. Here, we studied the parasitic wasp Leptopilina boulardi (Lb) and its host Drosophila melanogaster. Results showed that Lb successfully develops in conventional hosts (CN) with a gut microbiota but fails to develop in axenic hosts (AX) without a gut microbiota. We determined that developing Lb larvae consume fat body cells that store lipids. We also determined that much larger amounts of lipid accumulate in fat body cells of parasitized CN hosts than parasitized AX hosts. CN hosts parasitized by Lb exhibited large increases in the abundance of the bacterium Acetobacter pomorum in the gut, but did not affect the abundance of Lactobacillus fructivorans which is another common member of the host gut microbiota. However, AX hosts inoculated with A. pomorum and/or L. fructivorans did not rescue development of Lb. In contrast, AX larvae inoculated with A. pomorum plus other identified gut community members including a Bacillus sp. substantially rescued Lb development. Rescue was further associated with increased lipid accumulation in host fat body cells. Insulin-like peptides increased in brain neurosecretory cells of parasitized CN larvae. Lipid accumulation in the fat body of CN hosts was further associated with reduced Bmm lipase activity mediated by insulin/insulin-like growth factor signaling (IIS). Altogether, our results identify a previously unknown role for the gut microbiota in defining host permissiveness for a parasite. Our findings also identify a new paradigm for parasite manipulation of host metabolism that depends on insulin signaling and the gut microbiota.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sicong Zhou
- Institute of Insect Sciences, College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
- Ministry of Agriculture Key Lab of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insect Pests, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
- Key Laboratory of Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Yueqi Lu
- Institute of Insect Sciences, College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
- Ministry of Agriculture Key Lab of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insect Pests, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
- Key Laboratory of Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Jiani Chen
- Institute of Insect Sciences, College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
- Ministry of Agriculture Key Lab of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insect Pests, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
- Key Laboratory of Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Zhongqiu Pan
- Institute of Insect Sciences, College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
- Ministry of Agriculture Key Lab of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insect Pests, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
- Key Laboratory of Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Lan Pang
- Institute of Insect Sciences, College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
- Ministry of Agriculture Key Lab of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insect Pests, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
- Key Laboratory of Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Ying Wang
- Institute of Insect Sciences, College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
- Ministry of Agriculture Key Lab of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insect Pests, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
- Key Laboratory of Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Qichao Zhang
- Institute of Insect Sciences, College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
- Ministry of Agriculture Key Lab of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insect Pests, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
- Key Laboratory of Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Michael R Strand
- Department of Entomology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA.
| | - Xue-Xin Chen
- Institute of Insect Sciences, College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
- Ministry of Agriculture Key Lab of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insect Pests, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
- Key Laboratory of Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
- State Key Lab of Rice Biology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
| | - Jianhua Huang
- Institute of Insect Sciences, College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
- Ministry of Agriculture Key Lab of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insect Pests, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
- Key Laboratory of Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
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10
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Ni Q, Dong S, Fan Y, Wan W, Teng P, Zhu S, Liang X, Xu H, Yao Y, Zhang M, Xie M. Molecular Epidemiology of Blastocystis in Confined Slow Lorises, Macaques, and Gibbons. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:2992. [PMID: 36359116 PMCID: PMC9656527 DOI: 10.3390/ani12212992] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2022] [Revised: 10/19/2022] [Accepted: 10/25/2022] [Indexed: 09/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Blastocystis sp. is a common intestinal anaerobic parasite infecting non-human primates and many other animals. This taxon threatens the health of NHPs due to its high genetic diversity, impeding efforts to improve confined management and subsequent conservation practices. This study collected 100 and 154 fecal samples from captive macaques, gibbons, and slow lorises in the summer and winter, respectively. The Blastocystis infection, its gene subtypes, and its zoonotic potential based on small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU rRNA) were analyzed. The prevalence of Blastocystis in the three primate genera was 57.79% (89/154) in the summer (2021) and 29.00% (29/100) in the winter (2020). Four zoonotic subtypes-ST1, ST2, ST3, and ST4-were identified. ST2 was the most prevalent subtype, suggesting that these animals may serve as reservoirs for pathogens of human Blastocystis infections. The macaques showed a more significant variation in Blastocystis infection between seasons than gibbons and slow lorises. The slow lorises in small cages and enclosure areas were potentially more infected by Blastocystis in the summer, indicating that inappropriate captive management may have detrimental effects on their health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingyong Ni
- Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611134, China
- Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Multi-Omics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611134, China
| | - Shasha Dong
- Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611134, China
- Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Multi-Omics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611134, China
| | - Yumai Fan
- Dehong Wildlife Rescue Center, Forestry Bureau of Dehong Prefecture, Mangshi 678499, China
| | - Wen Wan
- Dehong Wildlife Rescue Center, Forestry Bureau of Dehong Prefecture, Mangshi 678499, China
| | - Ping Teng
- Dehong Wildlife Rescue Center, Forestry Bureau of Dehong Prefecture, Mangshi 678499, China
| | - Shaobo Zhu
- Dehong Wildlife Rescue Center, Forestry Bureau of Dehong Prefecture, Mangshi 678499, China
| | - Xiaobi Liang
- Dehong Wildlife Rescue Center, Forestry Bureau of Dehong Prefecture, Mangshi 678499, China
| | - Huailiang Xu
- College of Life Science, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya’an 625099, China
| | - Yongfang Yao
- College of Life Science, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya’an 625099, China
| | - Mingwang Zhang
- Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611134, China
- Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Multi-Omics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611134, China
| | - Meng Xie
- College of Life Science, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya’an 625099, China
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11
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Qin W, Li S, Wu N, Wen Z, Xie J, Ma H, Zhang S. Main Factors Influencing the Gut Microbiota of Datong Yaks in Mixed Group. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12141777. [PMID: 35883324 PMCID: PMC9312300 DOI: 10.3390/ani12141777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2022] [Revised: 06/28/2022] [Accepted: 07/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary This study examined the differences and similarities in gut microbial diversity and ecological assembly processes of Datong yaks, including domestic males and females and wild males, which were fed together on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau in a mixed group. The results revealed that mixed grouping could influence the gut microbiota of these three groups of yaks and improve the gut microbial diversity of domestic females. The findings of this study can help to understand the effects of mixed grouping on the gut microbiota of livestock on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and improve the production of Datong yaks. Abstract The Datong yak (Bos grunniens) is the first artificial breed of yaks in the world and has played an important role in the improvement of domestic yak quality on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. The Datong yak breeding farm in the Qinghai province of China is the main place for the breeding and feeding of Datong yaks. It hosts domestic Datong yaks and wild male yaks, mainly in mixed groups. Different managements have different effects on livestock. The gut microbiota is closely related to the health and immunity of Datong yaks, and mixed grouping can affect the composition and diversity of the gut microbiota of Datong yaks. To reveal the effects of mixed grouping on the gut microbiota of Datong yaks and wild yaks and identify the main dominant factors, we compared the gut microbial diversities of domestic males and females and wild males based on 16S rRNA V3–V4 regions using fresh fecal samples. The data showed significant differences in the gut microbial diversity of these three groups, and the α-diversity was the highest in wild males. Different factors influence the gut microbiota, and the main influencing factors were different in different groups, including sex differences, host genetics, and physical interactions. We also compared ecological assembly processes in the three groups. The results showed that mixed grouping contributed to the improvement of gut microbial diversity in domestic females. Our study provides effective and feasible suggestions for the feeding and management of the Datong yaks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen Qin
- State Key Laboratory of Plateau Ecology and Agriculture, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, China;
| | - Shuang Li
- Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining 810001, China;
| | - Nan Wu
- College of Ecological and Environmental Engineering, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, China; (N.W.); (Z.W.)
| | - Zhouxuan Wen
- College of Ecological and Environmental Engineering, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, China; (N.W.); (Z.W.)
| | - Jiuxiang Xie
- College of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, China;
| | - Hongyi Ma
- Forestry and Grassland Comprehensive Service Center of Yushu Prefecture, Yushu 815000, China;
| | - Shoudong Zhang
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological Engineering, Coastal Ecosystems Research Station of the Yangtze River Estuary, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
- Global Flyway Ecology, Conservation Ecology Group, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences (GELIFES), University of Groningen, 9700 CC Groningen, The Netherlands
- Correspondence:
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12
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Colin Y, Molbert N, Berthe T, Agostini S, Alliot F, Decencière B, Millot A, Goutte A, Petit F. Dysbiosis of fish gut microbiota is associated with helminths parasitism rather than exposure to PAHs at environmentally relevant concentrations. Sci Rep 2022; 12:11084. [PMID: 35773378 PMCID: PMC9246949 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-15010-2] [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: 11/03/2021] [Accepted: 06/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Although parasite infection and pollution are common threats facing wild populations, the response of the gut microbiota to the joint impact of these stressors remains largely understudied. Here, we experimentally investigated the effects of exposure to Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) and infection by a common acanthocephalan intestinal parasite (Pomphorhynchus sp.) on the gut microbial flora of a freshwater fish, the European chub (Squalius cephalus). Naturally infected or uninfected individuals were exposed to PAHs at environmentally realistic concentrations over a five-week period. Characterization of the gut bacterial community through 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing revealed that parasitic infection was a more structuring factor of bacterial diversity and composition than PAH exposure. Specifically, chub infected by Pomphorhynchus sp. harbored significantly less evenly represented gut bacterial communities than the uninfected ones. In addition, substantial changes in sequence abundance were observed within the main bacterial phyla, including the Firmicutes, Fusobacteriota, Actinobacteriota, and Proteobacteria. Again, these compositional changes correlated with host infection with Pomphorhynchus sp., confirming its pivotal role in gut microbial assemblage. Overall, these results highlight the importance of defining the parasitic status of individuals when conducting microbial ecotoxicological analyses at the digestive tract level, as this should lead to better understanding of microbiota modulations and help to identify microbial markers specifically associated with chemicals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yannick Colin
- CNRS, M2C, UNICAEN, UNIROUEN, Normandie University, 76821, Rouen, France. .,CNRS, EPHE, UMR METIS, Sorbonne Université, 75005, Paris, France.
| | - Noëlie Molbert
- CNRS, EPHE, UMR METIS, Sorbonne Université, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Thierry Berthe
- CNRS, M2C, UNICAEN, UNIROUEN, Normandie University, 76821, Rouen, France.,CNRS, EPHE, UMR METIS, Sorbonne Université, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Simon Agostini
- Département de biologie, Centre de recherche en ecologie expérimentale et prédictive (CEREEP-Ecotron IleDeFrance), Ecole normale supérieure, CNRS, PSL University, 77140, Saint-Pierre-lès-Nemours, France
| | - Fabrice Alliot
- CNRS, EPHE, UMR METIS, Sorbonne Université, 75005, Paris, France.,EPHE, UMR 7619, PSL Research University, Sorbonne University, 4 place Jussieu, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Beatriz Decencière
- Département de biologie, Centre de recherche en ecologie expérimentale et prédictive (CEREEP-Ecotron IleDeFrance), Ecole normale supérieure, CNRS, PSL University, 77140, Saint-Pierre-lès-Nemours, France
| | - Alexis Millot
- Département de biologie, Centre de recherche en ecologie expérimentale et prédictive (CEREEP-Ecotron IleDeFrance), Ecole normale supérieure, CNRS, PSL University, 77140, Saint-Pierre-lès-Nemours, France
| | - Aurélie Goutte
- CNRS, EPHE, UMR METIS, Sorbonne Université, 75005, Paris, France.,EPHE, UMR 7619, PSL Research University, Sorbonne University, 4 place Jussieu, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Fabienne Petit
- CNRS, M2C, UNICAEN, UNIROUEN, Normandie University, 76821, Rouen, France.,CNRS, EPHE, UMR METIS, Sorbonne Université, 75005, Paris, France
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13
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Fu PP, Xiong F, Wu SG, Zou H, Li M, Wang GT, Li WX. Effects of Schyzocotyle acheilognathi (Yamaguti, 1934) infection on the intestinal microbiota, growth and immune reactions of grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella). PLoS One 2022; 17:e0266766. [PMID: 35413087 PMCID: PMC9004761 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0266766] [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: 10/19/2021] [Accepted: 03/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Our understanding of interactions among intestinal helminths, gut microbiota and host is still in its infancy in fish. In this study, the effects of Schyzocotyle acheilognathi infection on the intestinal microbiota, growth and immune reactions of grass carp were explored under laboratory conditions. 16S rDNA amplification sequencing results showed that S. acheilognathi infection altered the composition of intestinal microbiota only at the genus level, with a significant increase in the relative abundance of Turicibacter and Ruminococcus (P < 0.05) and a significant decrease in the relative abundance of Gordonia, Mycobacterium and Pseudocanthomonas (P < 0.05). Schyzocotyle acheilognathi infection had no significant effect (P > 0.05) on the alpha diversity indices (including Chao1, ACE, Shannon, Simpson index) of intestinal microbiota in grass carp, but PERMANOVA analysis showed that microbial structure significantly (P < 0.01) differed between hindgut and foregut. PICRUST prediction showed that some metabolism-related pathways were significantly changed after S. acheilognathi infection. The relative abundance of Turicibacter was positively correlated with the fresh weight of tapeworm (foregut: r = 0.48, P = 0.044; hindgut: r = 0.63, P = 0.005). There was no significant difference in the body condition of grass carp between the S. acheilognathi infected group and the uninfected group (P > 0.05). Intestinal tissue section with HE staining showed that S. acheilognathi infection severely damaged the intestinal villi, causing serious degeneration, necrosis and shedding of intestinal epithelial cells. The real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR results showed that S. acheilognathi infection upregulated the mRNA expression of the immune-related genes: Gal1−L2, TGF−β1 and IgM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pei P. Fu
- Key Laboratory of Aquaculture Disease Control, Ministry of Agriculture, and State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, P. R. China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P. R. China
- Center for Energy Metabolism and Reproduction, Institute of Biomedicine and Biotechnology, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, Guangdong, P. R. China
| | - Fan Xiong
- Key Laboratory of Aquaculture Disease Control, Ministry of Agriculture, and State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, P. R. China
| | - Shan G. Wu
- Key Laboratory of Aquaculture Disease Control, Ministry of Agriculture, and State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, P. R. China
| | - Hong Zou
- Key Laboratory of Aquaculture Disease Control, Ministry of Agriculture, and State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, P. R. China
| | - Ming Li
- Key Laboratory of Aquaculture Disease Control, Ministry of Agriculture, and State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, P. R. China
| | - Gui T. Wang
- Key Laboratory of Aquaculture Disease Control, Ministry of Agriculture, and State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, P. R. China
| | - Wen X. Li
- Key Laboratory of Aquaculture Disease Control, Ministry of Agriculture, and State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, P. R. China
- * E-mail:
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14
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Possible Interactions between Malaria, Helminthiases and the Gut Microbiota: A Short Review. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10040721. [PMID: 35456772 PMCID: PMC9025727 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10040721] [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: 02/21/2022] [Revised: 03/17/2022] [Accepted: 03/23/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Malaria, caused by the Plasmodium species, is an infectious disease responsible for more than 600 thousand deaths and more than 200 million morbidity cases annually. With above 90% of those deaths and cases, sub-Saharan Africa is affected disproportionately. Malaria clinical manifestations range from asymptomatic to simple, mild, and severe disease. External factors such as the gut microbiota and helminthiases have been shown to affect malaria clinical manifestations. However, little is known about whether the gut microbiota has the potential to influence malaria clinical manifestations in humans. Similarly, many previous studies have shown divergent results on the effects of helminths on malaria clinical manifestations. To date, a few studies, mainly murine, have shown the gut microbiota’s capacity to modulate malaria’s prospective risk of infection, transmission, and severity. This short review seeks to summarize recent literature about possible interactions between malaria, helminthiases, and the gut microbiota. The knowledge from this exercise will inform innovation possibilities for future tools, technologies, approaches, and policies around the prevention and management of malaria in endemic countries.
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15
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Fuess LE, Weber JN, den Haan S, Steinel NC, Shim KC, Bolnick DI. Between-population differences in constitutive and infection-induced gene expression in threespine stickleback. Mol Ecol 2021; 30:6791-6805. [PMID: 34582586 PMCID: PMC8796319 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2021] [Revised: 09/16/2021] [Accepted: 09/22/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Vertebrate immunity is a complex system consisting of a mix of constitutive and inducible defences. Furthermore, host immunity is subject to selective pressure from a range of parasites and pathogens which can produce variation in these defences across populations. As populations evolve immune responses to parasites, they may adapt via a combination of (1) constitutive differences, (2) shared inducible responses, or (3) divergent inducible responses. Here, we leverage a powerful natural host‐parasite model system (Gasterosteus aculeatus and Schistochephalus solidus) to tease apart the relative contributions of these three types of adaptations to among‐population divergence in response to parasites. Gene expression analyses revealed limited evidence of significant divergence in constitutive expression of immune defence, and strong signatures of conserved inducible responses to the parasite. Furthermore, our results highlight a handful of immune‐related genes which show divergent inducible responses which may contribute disproportionately to functional differences in infection success or failure. In addition to investigating variation in evolutionary adaptation to parasite selection, we also leverage this unique data set to improve understanding of cellular mechanisms underlying a putative resistance phenotype (fibrosis). Combined, our results provide a case study in evolutionary immunology showing that a very small number of genes may contribute to genotype differences in infection response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren E Fuess
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut, USA.,Department of Biology, Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas, USA
| | - Jesse N Weber
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Stijn den Haan
- International Institute for Industrial Environmental Economics (IIIEE), Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Natalie C Steinel
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Kum Chuan Shim
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA
| | - Daniel I Bolnick
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut, USA
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16
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Abstract
The repeated adaptation of oceanic threespine sticklebacks to fresh water has made it a premier organism to study parallel evolution. These small fish have multiple distinct ecotypes that display a wide range of diverse phenotypic traits. Ecotypes are easily crossed in the laboratory, and families are large and develop quickly enough for quantitative trait locus analyses, positioning the threespine stickleback as a versatile model organism to address a wide range of biological questions. Extensive genomic resources, including linkage maps, a high-quality reference genome, and developmental genetics tools have led to insights into the genomic basis of adaptation and the identification of genomic changes controlling traits in vertebrates. Recently, threespine sticklebacks have been used as a model system to identify the genomic basis of highly complex traits, such as behavior and host-microbiome and host-parasite interactions. We review the latest findings and new avenues of research that have led the threespine stickleback to be considered a supermodel of evolutionary genomics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kerry Reid
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York 11794, USA;
| | - Michael A Bell
- University of California Museum of Paleontology, Berkeley, California 94720, USA
| | - Krishna R Veeramah
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York 11794, USA;
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17
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Song X, Zhang J, Song J, Zhai Y. Decisive Effects of Life Stage on the Gut Microbiota Discrepancy Between Two Wild Populations of Hibernating Asiatic Toads ( Bufo gargarizans). Front Microbiol 2021; 12:665849. [PMID: 34413833 PMCID: PMC8369469 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.665849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2021] [Accepted: 07/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Until now, the effects of driving factors on the gut microbiota of amphibians are still mostly confounded. Due to a long-term fasting, hibernating amphibians are ideal experimental materials to explore this question. In this study, we characterized the small intestine microbiota of adult hibernating Asiatic toads (Bufo gargarizans) collected from two geographical populations using 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing technique and evaluated the effects of non-dietary factors (e.g., sex and host genetic background). Proteobacteria (0.9196 ± 0.0892) was characterized as the most dominant phylum in the small gut microbiota of hibernating Asiatic toads, among which five core OTUs were identified and three were classified into Pseudomonas. In view of the coincidence between the dominant KEGG pathways (such as the two-component system) and Pseudomonas, Pseudomonas appeared to be a key adaptor for small gut microbiota during hibernation. Furthermore, we detected a greater discrepancy of gut microbiota between geographical populations than between sexes. Both sex and host genetic background showed a minor effect on the gut microbiota variation. Finally, life stage was determined to be the decisive factor driving the gut microbiota discrepancy between populations. However, a large proportion of the gut microbiota variation (∼70%) could not be explained by the measured deterministic factors (i.e., sex, location, body length, and routine blood indices). Therefore, other factors and/or stochastic processes may play key roles in shaping gut bacterial community of hibernating amphibians.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaowei Song
- College of Life Sciences, Xinyang Normal University, Xinyang, China
- Institute for Conservation and Utilization of Agro-Bioresources in Dabie Mountains, Xinyang Normal University, Xinyang, China
- Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu, China
| | - Jingwei Zhang
- Hospital of Xinyang Normal University, Xinyang Normal University, Xinyang, China
| | - Jinghan Song
- College of Life Sciences, Xinyang Normal University, Xinyang, China
| | - Yuanyuan Zhai
- College of Life Sciences, Xinyang Normal University, Xinyang, China
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18
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Abstract
Commensal microbial communities have immense effects on their vertebrate hosts, contributing to a number of physiological functions, as well as host fitness. In particular, host immunity is strongly linked to microbiota composition through poorly understood bi-directional links. Gene expression may be a potential mediator of these links between microbial communities and host function. However, few studies have investigated connections between microbiota composition and expression of host immune genes in complex systems. Here, we leverage a large study of laboratory-raised fish from the species Gasterosteus aculeatus (three-spined stickleback) to document correlations between gene expression and microbiome composition. First, we examined correlations between microbiome alpha diversity and gene expression. Our results demonstrate robust positive associations between microbial alpha diversity and expression of host immune genes. Next, we examined correlations between host gene expression and abundance of microbial taxa. We identified 15 microbial families that were highly correlated with host gene expression. These families were all tightly correlated with host expression of immune genes and processes, falling into one of three categories—those positively correlated, negatively correlated, and neutrally related to immune processes. Furthermore, we highlight several important immune processes that are commonly associated with the abundance of these taxa, including both macrophage and B cell functions. Further functional characterization of microbial taxa will help disentangle the mechanisms of the correlations described here. In sum, our study supports prevailing hypotheses of intimate links between host immunity and gut microbiome composition.
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19
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Mair I, McNeilly TN, Corripio-Miyar Y, Forman R, Else KJ. Embracing nature's complexity: Immunoparasitology in the wild. Semin Immunol 2021; 53:101525. [PMID: 34785137 PMCID: PMC8713030 DOI: 10.1016/j.smim.2021.101525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2021] [Revised: 11/01/2021] [Accepted: 11/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
A wealth of research is dedicated to understanding how resistance against parasites is conferred and how parasite-driven pathology is regulated. This research is in part driven by the hope to better treatments for parasitic diseases of humans and livestock, and in part by immunologists who use parasitic infections as biomedical tools to evoke physiological immune responses. Much of the current mechanistic knowledge has been discovered in laboratory studies using model organisms, especially the laboratory mouse. However, wildlife are also hosts to a range of parasites. Through the study of host-parasite interactions in these non-laboratory systems we can gain a deeper understanding of parasite immunology in a more natural, complex environment. With a focus on helminth parasites, we here explore the insights gained into parasite-induced immune responses through (for immunologists) non-conventional experimental systems, and how current core findings from laboratory studies are reflected in these more natural conditions. The quality of the immune response is undoubtedly a central player in susceptibility versus resistance, as many laboratory studies have shown. Yet, in the wild, parasite infections tend to be chronic diseases. Whilst reading our review, we encourage the reader to consider the following questions which may (only) be answered by studying naturally occurring parasites in the wild: a) what type of immune responses are mounted against parasites in different hosts in the wild, and how do they vary within an individual over time, between individuals of the same species and between species? b) can we use wild or semi-wild study systems to understand the evolutionary drivers for tolerance versus resistance towards a parasite? c) what determines the ability of the host to cope with an infection and is there a link with the type of immune response mounted? d) can we modulate environmental factors to manipulate a wild animal's immune response to parasitic infections, with translation potential for humans, wildlife, and livestock? and e) in context of this special issue, what lessons for Type 2 immunity can we glean from studying animals in their natural environments? Further, we aim to integrate some of the knowledge gained in semi-wild and wild settings with knowledge gained from traditional laboratory-based research, and to raise awareness for the opportunities (and challenges) that come with integrating a multitude of naturally-occurring variables into immunoparasitological research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iris Mair
- Lydia Becker Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Oxford Road Manchester, M13 9PT, UK.
| | - Tom N McNeilly
- Disease Control Department, Moredun Research Institute, Midlothian, EH26 0PZ, Scotland, UK
| | - Yolanda Corripio-Miyar
- Disease Control Department, Moredun Research Institute, Midlothian, EH26 0PZ, Scotland, UK
| | - Ruth Forman
- Lydia Becker Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Oxford Road Manchester, M13 9PT, UK
| | - Kathryn J Else
- Lydia Becker Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Oxford Road Manchester, M13 9PT, UK.
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