Cognitive and Microbiome Impacts of Experimental Ancylostoma ceylanicum Hookworm Infections in Hamsters

Immunity mediates host specificity in the human hookworm Ancylostoma ceylanicum

Hookworm infection affects millions globally, leading to chronic conditions like malnutrition and anaemia. Among the hookworm species, Ancylostoma ceylanicum stands out as a generalist, capable of infecting various hosts, including humans, cats, dogs and hamsters. Surprisingly, it cannot establish in mice, despite their close phylogenetic relationship to hamsters. The present study investigated the development of A. ceylanicum in immunodeficient NSG mice to determine the contribution of the immune system to host restriction. The infections became patent on day 19 post-infection (PI) and exhibited elevated egg production which lasted for at least 160 days PI. Infective A. ceylanicum larvae reared from eggs released by infected NSG mice were infectious to hamsters and capable of reproduction, indicating that the adults in the NSG mice were producing viable offspring. In contrast, A. ceylanicum showed limited development in outbred Swiss Webster mice. Furthermore, the closely related canine hookworm Ancylostoma caninum was unable to infect and develop in NSG mice, indicating that different mechanisms may determine host specificity even in closely related species. This is the first report of any hookworm species completing its life cycle in a mouse and implicate the immune system in determining host specificity in A. ceylanicum.

Helminths' therapeutic potential to treat intestinal barrier dysfunction

The intestinal barrier is a dynamic multi-layered structure which can adapt to environmental changes within the intestinal lumen. It has the complex task of allowing nutrient absorption while limiting entry of harmful microbes and microbial antigens present in the intestinal lumen. Excessive entry of microbial antigens via microbial translocation due to 'intestinal barrier dysfunction' is hypothesised to contribute to the increasing incidence of allergic, autoimmune and metabolic diseases, a concept referred to as the 'epithelial barrier theory'. Helminths reside in the intestinal tract are in intimate contact with the mucosal surfaces and induce a range of local immunological changes which affect the layers of the intestinal barrier. Helminths are proposed to prevent, or even treat, many of the diseases implicated in the epithelial barrier theory. This review will focus on the effect of helminths on intestinal barrier function and explore whether this could explain the proposed health benefits delivered by helminths.

Impact of helminth-microbiome interactions on childhood health and development-A clinical perspective

Humans have co-existed with parasites for virtually the entirety of our existence as a species. Today, nearly one third of the human population is infected with at least one helminthic species, most of which reside in the intestinal tract, where they have co-evolved alongside the human gut microbiota (GM). Appreciation for the interconnected relationship between helminths and GM has increased in recent years. Here, we review the evidence of how helminths and GM can influence various aspects of childhood development and the onset of paediatric diseases. We discuss the emerging evidence of how many of the changes that parasitic worms inflict on their host is enacted through gut microbes. In this light, we argue that helminth-induced microbiota modifications are of great importance in both facing the global challenge of overcoming parasitic infections, and in replicating helminthic protective effects against inflammatory diseases. We propose that deepening our knowledge of helminth-microbiota interactions will uncover novel, safer and more effective therapeutic strategies in combatting an array of childhood disorders.

Maternal gastrointestinal nematode infection enhances spatial memory of uninfected juvenile mouse pups

The developing brain is particularly vulnerable to factors including maternal infection during pregnancy. Establishment of neural networks critical for memory and cognition begins during the perinatal period, when Heligmosomoides bakeri, a gastrointestinal (GI) nematode restricted to the maternal mouse intestine, has been shown to upregulate expression of long-term potentiation genes in the young rodent pup brain. We explored the impact of maternal infection during pregnancy and early lactation on the spatial behavior of uninfected male and female juvenile mice. Pre-weaned pups of H. bakeri infected dams exhibited less exploratory behaviour compared to pups of uninfected dams on postnatal day (PD) 16 but not PD 17, possibly reflecting a transient fear of an unfamiliar environment and/or a brief neurodevelopmental delay. Our two spatial memory tests show for the first time an enhancement of spatial memory in response to maternal nematode infection regardless of pup sex. At PD 17, pups of infected dams expressed object location memories after 3 h in the Object Location Test whereas offspring of uninfected mothers did not. In addition, at PD 34, juveniles of infected mothers retained their ability to find the escape hole in the Barnes Maze Test for one week whereas offspring from uninfected mothers did not. This finding is even more striking given that spatial memory was positively associated with pup length, yet this maternal infection impaired linear growth of pups. Thus, the positive impact of maternal infection on spatial memory countered any impairment associated with the shorter length of the pups. Overall, these novel findings indicate that a maternal GI nematode infection during pregnancy and lactation positively influences the spatial memory of uninfected juvenile offspring with potential fitness implications for the next generation.

Unbalanced relationships: insights into the interaction between gut microbiota, geohelminths, and schistosomiasis

Hosts and their microbiota and parasites have co-evolved in an adaptative relationship since ancient times. The interaction between parasites and intestinal bacteria in terms of the hosts' health is currently a subject of great research interest. Therapeutic interventions can include manipulations of the structure of the intestinal microbiota, which have immunological interactions important for modulating the host's immune system and for reducing inflammation. Most helminths are intestinal parasites; the intestinal environment provides complex interactions with other microorganisms in which internal and external factors can influence the composition of the intestinal microbiota. Moreover, helminths and intestinal microorganisms can modulate the host's immune system either beneficially or harmfully. The immune response can be reduced due to co-infection, and bacteria from the intestinal microbiota can translocate to other organs. In this way, the treatment can be compromised, which, together with drug resistance by the parasites makes healing even more difficult. Thus, this work aimed to understand interactions between the microbiota and parasitic diseases caused by the most important geohelminths and schistosomiasis and the consequences of these associations.

Infection with intestinal helminth (Hymenolepis diminuta) impacts exploratory behavior and cognitive processes in rats by changing the central level of neurotransmitters

Parasites may significantly affect the functioning of the host organism including immune response and gut-brain-axis ultimately leading to alteration of the host behavior. The impact of intestinal worms on the host central nervous system (CNS) remains unexplored. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of intestinal infection by the tapeworm Hymenolepis diminuta on behavior and functions of the CNS in rats. The 3 months old animals were infected, and the effects on anxiety, exploration, sensorimotor skills and learning processes were assessed at 18 months in Open Field (OF), Novel Object Recognition (NOR) and the Water Maze (WM) tests. After completing the behavioral studies, both infected and non-infected rats were sacrificed, and the collected tissues were subjected to biochemical analysis. The levels of neurotransmitters, their metabolites and amino acids in selected structures of the CNS were determined by HPLC. In addition, the gene expression profile of the pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6 and IL-10) was evaluated by Real-Time PCR to determine the immune response within the CNS to the tapeworm infection. The parasites caused significant changes in exploratory behavior, most notably, a reduction of velocity and total distance moved in the OF test; the infected rats exhibited decreased frequency in the central zone, which may indicate a higher level of anxiety. Additionally, parasite infestation improved spatial memory, assessed in the WM test, and recognition of new objects. These changes are related to the identified reduction in noradrenaline level in the CNS structures and less pronounced changes in striatal serotonergic neurotransmission. H. diminuta infestation was also found to cause a significant reduction of hippocampal expression of IL-6. Our results provide new data for further research on brain function during parasitic infections especially in relation to helminths and diseases in which noradrenergic system may play an important role.

Recent advances in the research on parasitic manipulation and/or control of the nervous system of their host resulted in the development of neuro-parasitology, a new and emerging branch of science. There have been advances in this area in relation to parasite-insect interactions or parasites directly invading central nervous system (CNS). However, the neuro-parasitology of parasitic infections in vertebrate hosts remains unexplored. In our study the effect of intestinal infection by the tapeworm on the behavior, neurotransmission and functions of the CNS in rats was evaluated. This infection positively influenced spatial memory and new object recognition. At the same time, the infected animals developed a greater level of anxiety and move more slowly. Behavioral changes were related to the reduction in noradrenaline level in the CNS structures, and less pronounced changes in striatal serotonergic neurotransmission. The results provide important data for the further progress in neuro-parasitology and our understanding of parasite-host interactions. In our opinion in the near future may turn out that the role of the intestinal host macrobiome in the CNS functioning may be just as significant as that of the microbiome. Presented neuro-immunological data provide a new perspectives for further studies on the CNS under intestinal parasite infection. The data of behavioral changes induced by active parasitic infection may be valid for explanations of the host-parasite relationship at the evolutionary level and their molecular adjustment.

Experimental infection with the hookworm, Necator americanus, is associated with stable gut microbial diversity in human volunteers with relapsing multiple sclerosis

BACKGROUND

Helminth-associated changes in gut microbiota composition have been hypothesised to contribute to the immune-suppressive properties of parasitic worms. Multiple sclerosis is an immune-mediated autoimmune disease of the central nervous system whose pathophysiology has been linked to imbalances in gut microbial communities.

RESULTS

In the present study, we investigated, for the first time, qualitative and quantitative changes in the faecal bacterial composition of human volunteers with remitting multiple sclerosis (RMS) prior to and following experimental infection with the human hookworm, Necator americanus (N+), and following anthelmintic treatment, and compared the findings with data obtained from a cohort of RMS patients subjected to placebo treatment (PBO). Bacterial 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing data revealed significantly decreased alpha diversity in the faecal microbiota of PBO compared to N+ subjects over the course of the trial; additionally, we observed significant differences in the abundances of several bacterial taxa with putative immune-modulatory functions between study cohorts. Parabacteroides were significantly expanded in the faecal microbiota of N+ individuals for which no clinical and/or radiological relapses were recorded at the end of the trial.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, our data lend support to the hypothesis of a contributory role of parasite-associated alterations in gut microbial composition to the immune-modulatory properties of hookworm parasites.

Egg genotyping reveals the possibility of patent Ancylostoma caninum infection in human intestine

Hookworms are intestinal parasites that cause major public health problems, especially in developing countries. To differentiate eggs from different hookworm species, it is necessary to use molecular methodologies, since the eggs are morphologically similar. Here, we performed the molecular identification of single hookworm eggs from six Brazilian states. Of the 634 eggs individually analyzed, 98.1% (622/634) represented Necator americanus, and surprisingly, 1.9% (12/634 eggs from the same patient) represented Ancylostoma caninum. DNA analysis of the A. caninum-positive stool sample revealed no contamination with animal feces. This is the first report of the presence of A. caninum eggs in human feces, which may have a direct implication for the epidemiology of hookworm infection caused by this species. This suggests the need for special attention regarding prophylaxis, as different reservoirs, previously not described, may have great relevance for the spread of A. caninum.

Gut microbial signatures associated with moxidectin treatment efficacy of Haemonchus contortus in infected goats

Parasitic infections are associated with profound changes in the structure and function of the gut microbiome in various host-parasite systems. Here we examined the microbial composition and function in the abomasum, proximal colon and feces of Haemonchus contortus-infected goats after a partial anthelmintic drug clearance. A single-dose treatment of H. contortus-infected goats with Cydectin (moxidectin) resulted in an 83.9 % and 61.8 % reduction in fecal egg counts (EPG) and worm burden, respectively (P < 0.01), and restored abomasal pH to a normal baseline level. The treatment significantly increased the abundance of Proteobacteria, particularly that of Campylobacter, in the proximal colon. It also significantly affected several basic pathways, including bacterial secretion, butyrate metabolism, and LPS biosynthesis, and seemingly reduced the cellulolytic capacity in the colon. Several network modules displayed a strong correlation with EPG and worm burden. The Mantel test indicated a strong correlation between treatment related network topologies of the operational taxonomic units (OTU) belonging to Actinobacteria and Rikenellaceae and EPG and worm burden levels, respectively. Furthermore, microbial signatures that may better predict anthelmintic efficacy were identified. A signature or balance represented by the log ratio of the abundance of Verrucomicrobiaceae and Camplyobacteraceae had a strong correlation with EPG (r = 0.80). These novel insights into the interactions between H. contortus and gut microbiome in the caprine host and the consequence of a partial anthelmintic clearance on animal health and well-being may facilitate the design of more effective next-generation anthelmintics.