1
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Koellsch C, Poulin R, Salloum PM. Microbial artists: the role of parasite microbiomes in explaining colour polymorphism among amphipods and potential link to host manipulation. J Evol Biol 2024; 37:1009-1022. [PMID: 38989853 DOI: 10.1093/jeb/voae085] [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: 02/04/2024] [Revised: 05/16/2024] [Accepted: 07/10/2024] [Indexed: 07/12/2024]
Abstract
Parasite infections are increasingly reported to change the microbiome of the parasitized hosts, while parasites bring their own microbes to what can be a multi-dimensional interaction. For instance, a recent hypothesis suggests that the microbial communities harboured by parasites may play a role in the well-documented ability of many parasites to manipulate host phenotype, and explain why the degree to which host phenotype is altered varies among conspecific parasites. Here, we explored whether the microbiomes of both hosts and parasites are associated with variation in host manipulation by parasites. Using colour quantification methods applied to digital images, we investigated colour variation among uninfected Transorchestia serrulata amphipods, as well as amphipods infected with Plagiorhynchus allisonae acanthocephalans and with a dilepidid cestode. We then characterized the bacteriota of amphipod hosts and of their parasites, looking for correlations between host phenotype and the bacterial taxa associated with hosts and parasites. We found large variation in amphipod colours, and weak support for a direct impact of parasites on the colour of their hosts. Conversely, and most interestingly, the parasite's bacteriota was more strongly correlated with colour variation among their amphipod hosts, with potential impact of amphipod-associated bacteria as well. Some bacterial taxa found associated with amphipods and parasites may have the ability to synthesize pigments, and we propose they may interact with colour determination in the amphipods. This study provides correlational support for an association between the parasite's microbiome and the evolution of host manipulation by parasites and host-parasite interactions more generally.
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Affiliation(s)
- Célia Koellsch
- Department of Zoology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Robert Poulin
- Department of Zoology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
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2
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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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3
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Vilela da Silva CA, Costa Dos Santos CE, de Paula Cortezzi MF, Moura CDSS, Cruz RE, Almeida Lopes CD, Costa K, Souza LTD, Silva PCLD, Neumann E, Nunes ÁC, Gomes MA, Silva Oliveira FM, Caliari MV. Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli modulates the virulence and pathogenicity of Entamoeba dispar. Exp Parasitol 2024; 261:108750. [PMID: 38614222 DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2024.108750] [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: 10/06/2023] [Revised: 12/28/2023] [Accepted: 04/06/2024] [Indexed: 04/15/2024]
Abstract
Amoebiasis is a disease caused by Entamoeba histolytica, affecting the large intestine of humans and occasionally leading to extra-intestinal lesions. Entamoeba dispar is another amoeba species considered commensal, although it has been identified in patients presenting with dysenteric and nondysenteric colitis, as well as amoebic liver abscess. Amoebic virulence factors are essential for the invasion and development of lesions. There is evidence showing that the association of enterobacteria with trophozoites contributes to increased gene expression of amoebic virulence factors. Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli is an important bacterium causing diarrhea, with high incidence rates in the world population, allowing it to interact with Entamoeba sp. in the same host. In this context, this study aims to evaluate the influence of enteropathogenic Escherichia coli on ACFN and ADO Entamoeba dispar strains by quantifying the gene expression of virulence factors, including galactose/N-acetyl-D-galactosamine-binding lectin, cysteine proteinase 2, and amoebapores A and C. Additionally, the study assesses the progression and morphological aspect of amoebic liver abscess and the profile of inflammatory cells. Our results demonstrated that the interaction between EPEC and ACFN Entamoeba dispar strains was able to increase the gene expression of virulence factors, as well as the lesion area and the activity of the inflammatory infiltrate. However, the association with the ADO strain did not influence the gene expression of virulence factors. Together, our findings indicate that the interaction between EPEC, ACFN, and ADO Entamoeba dispar strains resulted in differences in vitro and in vivo gene expression of Gal/GalNAc-binding lectin and CP2, in enzymatic activities of MPO, NAG, and EPO, and consequently, in the ability to cause lesions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - César da Silva Santana Moura
- Department of Genetics, Ecology, and Evolution, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Ruth Elizabeth Cruz
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Camila de Almeida Lopes
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Karen Costa
- Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Lucas Teixeira de Souza
- Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Patrícia Costa Lima da Silva
- Department of Genetics, Ecology, and Evolution, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Elisabeth Neumann
- Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Álvaro Cantini Nunes
- Department of Genetics, Ecology, and Evolution, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Maria Aparecida Gomes
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | | | - Marcelo Vidigal Caliari
- Department of General Pathology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Brazil
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4
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Bogza A, King IL, Maurice CF. Worming into infancy: Exploring helminth-microbiome interactions in early life. Cell Host Microbe 2024; 32:639-650. [PMID: 38723604 DOI: 10.1016/j.chom.2024.04.009] [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: 02/23/2024] [Revised: 03/25/2024] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 06/06/2024]
Abstract
There is rapidly growing awareness of microbiome assembly and function in early-life gut health. Although many factors, such as antibiotic use and highly processed diets, impinge on this process, most research has focused on people residing in high-income countries. However, much of the world's population lives in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where, in addition to erratic antibiotic use and suboptimal diets, these groups experience unique challenges. Indeed, many children in LMICs are infected with intestinal helminths. Although helminth infections are strongly associated with diverse developmental co-morbidities and induce profound microbiome changes, few studies have directly examined whether intersecting pathways between these components of the holobiont shape health outcomes in early life. Here, we summarize microbial colonization within the first years of human life, how helminth-mediated changes to the gut microbiome may affect postnatal growth, and why more research on this relationship may improve health across the lifespan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrei Bogza
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada; McGill Centre for Microbiome Research, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada; Meakins-Christie Laboratories, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada; McGill University Research Centre on Complex Traits, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Irah L King
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada; McGill Centre for Microbiome Research, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada; Meakins-Christie Laboratories, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada.
| | - Corinne F Maurice
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada; McGill Centre for Microbiome Research, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada; McGill University Research Centre on Complex Traits, Montreal, QC, Canada.
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5
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Rudzki EN, Antonson ND, Jones TM, Schelsky WM, Trevelline BK, Hauber ME, Kohl KD. Host avian species and environmental conditions influence the microbial ecology of brood parasitic brown-headed cowbird nestlings: What rules the roost? Mol Ecol 2024; 33:e17289. [PMID: 38327124 DOI: 10.1111/mec.17289] [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: 09/29/2023] [Revised: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
The role of species interactions, as well as genetic and environmental factors, all likely contribute to the composition and structure of the gut microbiome; however, disentangling these independent factors under field conditions represents a challenge for a functional understanding of gut microbial ecology. Avian brood parasites provide unique opportunities to investigate these questions, as brood parasitism results in parasite and host nestlings being raised in the same nest, by the same parents. Here we utilized obligate brood parasite brown-headed cowbird nestlings (BHCO; Molothrus ater) raised by several different host passerine species to better understand, via 16S rRNA sequencing, the microbial ecology of brood parasitism. First, we compared faecal microbial communities of prothonotary warbler nestlings (PROW; Protonotaria citrea) that were either parasitized or non-parasitized by BHCO and communities among BHCO nestlings from PROW nests. We found that parasitism by BHCO significantly altered both the community membership and community structure of the PROW nestling microbiota, perhaps due to the stressful nest environment generated by brood parasitism. In a second dataset, we compared faecal microbiotas from BHCO nestlings raised by six different host passerine species. Here, we found that the microbiota of BHCO nestlings was significantly influenced by the parental host species and the presence of an inter-specific nestmate. Thus, early rearing environment is important in determining the microbiota of brood parasite nestlings and their companion nestlings. Future work may aim to understand the functional effects of this microbiota variability on nestling performance and fitness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth N Rudzki
- Department of Biological Sciences, Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Nicholas D Antonson
- Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Behavior, School of Integrative Biology, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA
| | - Todd M Jones
- Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences, College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA
- Illinois Natural History Survey, Prairie Research Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, Illinois, USA
| | - Wendy M Schelsky
- Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Behavior, School of Integrative Biology, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA
- Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences, College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA
- Prairie Research Institute, Illinois Natural History Survey, University of Illinois, Champaign, Illinois, USA
| | - Brian K Trevelline
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
| | - Mark E Hauber
- Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Behavior, School of Integrative Biology, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA
- Illinois Natural History Survey, Prairie Research Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, Illinois, USA
- Advanced Science Research Center and Program in Psychology, Graduate Center, City University of New York, New York, New York, USA
| | - Kevin D Kohl
- Department of Biological Sciences, Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
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Muslim A, Aazmi S, Er YX, Shahrizal S, Lim YAL. Ascaris lumbricoides harbors a distinct gut microbiota profile from its human host: Preliminary insights. Food Waterborne Parasitol 2024; 34:e00223. [PMID: 38323096 PMCID: PMC10844936 DOI: 10.1016/j.fawpar.2024.e00223] [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: 11/11/2023] [Revised: 01/07/2024] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 02/08/2024] Open
Abstract
In indigenous populations where soil-transmitted helminths (STH) infections are endemic, STH parasites (i.e., Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura, hookworms) often co-exist and co-evolve with the gut microbiota of their human hosts. The association between STH infections and the gut microbiota of the colonized human hosts has been established, but few studies explored the gut microbiota of the parasites. This preliminary study aimed to characterize the microbiota of the STH parasite for further understanding the STH parasite-host relationship. The gut microbial genomic DNA from four adult A. lumbricoides worms recovered from a six-year-old indigenous Negrito boy living in an STH-endemic village in Perak, Peninsular Malaysia was extracted and sequenced for the V3-V4 region of the 16S rRNA. The microbiota profiles of these worms were characterized and compared with the gut microbiota of their human host, including the profiles from four STH-positive and three STH-negative individuals from the same tribe and village. The gut microbial structure of A. lumbricoides was found to be differed significantly from their human host. The worms contained lower gut bacterial abundance and diversity than human. This difference was evident in the beta diversity analysis which showed a clear separation between the two sample types. While both Firmicutes (52.3%) and Bacteroidetes (36.6%) are the predominant phyla followed by Proteobacteria (7.2%) in the human gut, the microbiota of Ascaris gut is highly dominated by Firmicutes, constituting 84.2% relative abundance (mainly from the genus Clostridium), followed by Proteobacteria (11.1%), Tenericutes (1.8%) and Bacteroidetes (1.5%). The parasites were also found to alter the microbial structure of the human gut following infection based on the relatively higher bacterial abundance in STH-positive versus STH-negative participants. Further studies with a greater number of Ascaris adults and human hosts are needed to confirm the gut microbiota profiles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Azdayanti Muslim
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Teknologi MARA (Sungai Buloh Campus), Jalan Hospital, Sungai Buloh, Selangor, Malaysia
- Institute for Biodiversity and Sustainable Development, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia
- Microbiome Health and Environment (MiHeaRT), Faculty of Applied Sciences, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Shafiq Aazmi
- Microbiome Health and Environment (MiHeaRT), Faculty of Applied Sciences, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia
- School of Biology, Faculty of Applied Science, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Yi Xian Er
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Shezryna Shahrizal
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Teknologi MARA (Sungai Buloh Campus), Jalan Hospital, Sungai Buloh, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Yvonne Ai Lian Lim
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
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McCann P, McFarland C, Megaw J, Siu-Ting K, Cantacessi C, Rinaldi G, Gobert GN. Assessing the microbiota of the snail intermediate host of trematodes, Galba truncatula. Parasit Vectors 2024; 17:31. [PMID: 38263069 PMCID: PMC10807216 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-024-06118-7] [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: 09/07/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 01/25/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The microbiome is known to play key roles in health and disease, including host susceptibility to parasite infections. The freshwater snail Galba truncatula is the intermediate host for many trematode species, including the liver and rumen flukes Fasciola hepatica and Calicophoron daubneyi, respectively. The snail-parasite system has previously been investigated. However, the specific interaction between the snail-associated microbiota and intra-snail developmental stages of trematodes has yet to be explored. METHODS Galba truncatula snails were collected from farms in Northern Ireland and trematode infection was diagnosed using PCR. High-throughput sequencing analysis of the bacterial 16S ribosomal DNA V3-V4 hypervariable regions was subsequently applied to characterise the microbiota of both uninfected and infected snails. RESULTS We first showed that the snail harboured microbiota that was distinct for its environment. The microbiota of infected snails was found to differ significantly from that of uninfected snails. In particular, the bacterial genera Mycoplasma and Methylotenera were significantly more abundant in infected snails, while genera Sphingomonas and Nocardioides were predominantly associated with uninfected snails. CONCLUSION These findings pave the way to future studies on the functional roles of bacteria in host-parasite relationships.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter McCann
- School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK
| | | | - Julianne Megaw
- School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK
| | - Karen Siu-Ting
- School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK
| | - Cinzia Cantacessi
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Gabriel Rinaldi
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Aberystwyth, Aberystwyth, UK
| | - Geoffrey N Gobert
- School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK.
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8
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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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Salloum PM, Jorge F, Poulin R. Different trematode parasites in the same snail host: Species-specific or shared microbiota? Mol Ecol 2023; 32:5414-5428. [PMID: 37615348 DOI: 10.1111/mec.17111] [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: 05/22/2023] [Revised: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 08/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/25/2023]
Abstract
The concept that microbes associated with macroorganisms evolve as a unit has swept evolutionary ecology. However, this idea is controversial due to factors such as imperfect vertical transmission of microbial lineages and high microbiome variability among conspecific individuals of the same population. Here, we tested several predictions regarding the microbiota of four trematodes (Galactosomum otepotiense, Philophthalmus attenuatus, Acanthoparyphium sp. and Maritrema novaezealandense) that parasitize the same snail host population. We predicted that each parasite species would harbour a distinct microbiota, with microbial composition similarity decreasing with increasing phylogenetic distance among parasite species. We also predicted that trematode species co-infecting the same individual host would influence each other's microbiota. We detected significant differences in alpha and beta diversity, as well as differential abundance, in the microbiota of the four trematode species. We found no evidence that phylogenetically closely related trematodes had more similar microbiota. We also uncovered indicator bacterial taxa that were significantly associated with each trematode species. Trematode species sharing the same snail host showed evidence of mostly one-sided bacterial exchanges, with the microbial community of one species approaching that of the other. We hypothesize that natural selection acting on specific microbial lineages may be important to maintain differences in horizontally acquired microbes, with vertical transmission also playing a role. In particular, one trematode species had a more consistent and diverse bacteriota than the others, potentially a result of stronger stabilizing pressures. We conclude that species-specific processes shape microbial community assembly in different trematodes exploiting the same host population.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Fátima Jorge
- Otago Micro and Nano Imaging, Electron Microscopy Unit, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Robert Poulin
- Department of Zoology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
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10
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Towett-Kirui S, Morrow JL, Close S, Royer JE, Riegler M. Bacterial Communities Are Less Diverse in a Strepsipteran Endoparasitoid than in Its Fruit Fly Hosts and Dominated by Wolbachia. MICROBIAL ECOLOGY 2023; 86:2120-2132. [PMID: 37103495 PMCID: PMC10497669 DOI: 10.1007/s00248-023-02218-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Microbiomes play vital roles in insect fitness and health and can be influenced by interactions between insects and their parasites. Many studies investigate the microbiome of free-living insects, whereas microbiomes of endoparasitoids and their interactions with parasitised insects are less explored. Due to their development in the constrained environment within a host, endoparasitoids are expected to have less diverse yet distinct microbiomes. We used high-throughput 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing to characterise the bacterial communities of Dipterophagus daci (Strepsiptera) and seven of its tephritid fruit fly host species. Bacterial communities of D. daci were less diverse and contained fewer taxa relative to the bacterial communities of the tephritid hosts. The strepsipteran's microbiome was dominated by Pseudomonadota (formerly Proteobacteria) (> 96%), mainly attributed to the presence of Wolbachia, with few other bacterial community members, indicative of an overall less diverse microbiome in D. daci. In contrast, a dominance of Wolbachia was not found in flies parasitised by early stages of D. daci nor unparasitised flies. Yet, early stages of D. daci parasitisation resulted in structural changes in the bacterial communities of parasitised flies. Furthermore, parasitisation with early stages of D. daci with Wolbachia was associated with a change in the relative abundance of some bacterial taxa relative to parasitisation with early stages of D. daci lacking Wolbachia. Our study is a first comprehensive characterisation of bacterial communities in a Strepsiptera species together with the more diverse bacterial communities of its hosts and reveals effects of concealed stages of parasitisation on host bacterial communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sharon Towett-Kirui
- Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith, NSW, 2751, Australia
| | - Jennifer L Morrow
- Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith, NSW, 2751, Australia
| | - Shannon Close
- Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, EcoSciences Precinct, Boggo Road, Dutton Park, QLD, 4102, Australia
| | - Jane E Royer
- Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, EcoSciences Precinct, Boggo Road, Dutton Park, QLD, 4102, Australia
| | - Markus Riegler
- Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith, NSW, 2751, Australia.
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11
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Grabner D, Rothe LE, Sures B. Parasites and Pollutants: Effects of Multiple Stressors on Aquatic Organisms. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2023; 42:1946-1959. [PMID: 37283208 DOI: 10.1002/etc.5689] [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: 02/09/2023] [Revised: 03/16/2023] [Accepted: 06/04/2023] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Parasites can affect their hosts in various ways, and this implies that parasites may act as additional biotic stressors in a multiple-stressor scenario, resembling conditions often found in the field if, for example, pollutants and parasites occur simultaneously. Therefore, parasites represent important modulators of host reactions in ecotoxicological studies when measuring the response of organisms to stressors such as pollutants. In the present study, we introduce the most important groups of parasites occurring in organisms commonly used in ecotoxicological studies ranging from laboratory to field investigations. After briefly explaining their life cycles, we focus on parasite stages affecting selected ecotoxicologically relevant target species belonging to crustaceans, molluscs, and fish. We included ecotoxicological studies that consider the combination of effects of parasites and pollutants on the respective model organism with respect to aquatic host-parasite systems. We show that parasites from different taxonomic groups (e.g., Microsporidia, Monogenea, Trematoda, Cestoda, Acanthocephala, and Nematoda) clearly modulate the response to stressors in their hosts. The combined effects of environmental stressors and parasites can range from additive, antagonistic to synergistic. Our study points to potential drawbacks of ecotoxicological tests if parasite infections of test organisms, especially from the field, remain undetected and unaddressed. If these parasites are not detected and quantified, their physiological effects on the host cannot be separated from the ecotoxicological effects. This may render this type of ecotoxicological test erroneous. In laboratory tests, for example to determine effect or lethal concentrations, the presence of a parasite can also have a direct effect on the concentrations to be determined and thus on the subsequently determined security levels, such as predicted no-effect concentrations. Environ Toxicol Chem 2023;42:1946-1959. © 2023 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Grabner
- Aquatic Ecology and Centre for Water and Environmental Research, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Louisa E Rothe
- Aquatic Ecology and Centre for Water and Environmental Research, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Bernd Sures
- Aquatic Ecology and Centre for Water and Environmental Research, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
- Research Center One Health Ruhr, Research Alliance Ruhr, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
- Water Research Group, Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa
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12
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Zhang P, Zhang Y, Cao L, Li J, Wu C, Tian M, Zhang Z, Zhang C, Zhang W, Li Y. A Diverse Virome Is Identified in Parasitic Flatworms of Domestic Animals in Xinjiang, China. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0070223. [PMID: 37042768 PMCID: PMC10269781 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00702-23] [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: 02/16/2023] [Accepted: 03/17/2023] [Indexed: 04/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Parasitic flatworms infect diverse vertebrates and are major threats to animal and even human health; however, little is known about the virome of these lower life forms. Using viral metagenomic sequencing, we characterized the virome of the parasitic flatworms collected from major domestic animals, including Dicrocoelium lanceatum and Taenia hydatigena, Echinococcus granulosus sensu stricto and Echinococcus multilocularis. Seven and three different viruses were discovered from D. lanceatum and T. hydatigena, respectively, and no viral sequences were found in adult tapeworms and protoscoleces of E. granulosus sensu stricto and E. multilocularis. Two out of the five parasitic flatworm species carry viruses, showing a host specificity of these viruses. These viruses belong to the Parvoviridae, Circoviridae, unclassified circular, Rep-encoding single-stranded (CRESS) DNA virus, Rhabdoviridae, Endornaviridae, and unclassified RNA viruses. The presence of multiple highly divergent RNA viruses, especially those that cluster with viruses found in marine animals, implies a deep evolutionary history of parasite-associated viruses. In addition, we found viruses with high identity to common pathogens in dogs, including canine circovirus and canine parvovirus 2. The presence of these viruses in the parasites implies that they may infect parasitic flatworms but does not completely exclude the possibility of contamination from host intestinal contents. Furthermore, we demonstrated that certain viruses, such as CRESS DNA virus may integrate into the genome of their host. Our results expand the knowledge of viral diversity in parasites of important domestic animals, highlighting the need for further investigations of their prevalence among other parasites of key animals. IMPORTANCE Characterizing the virome of parasites is important for unveiling the viral diversity, evolution, and ecology and will help to understand the "Russian doll" pattern among viruses, parasites, and host animals. Our data indicate that diverse viruses are present in specific parasitic flatworms, including viruses that may have an ancient evolutionary history and viruses currently circulating in parasite-infected host animals. These data also raise the question of whether parasitic flatworms acquire and/or carry some viruses that may have transmission potential to animals. In addition, through the study of virus-parasite-host interactions, including the influence of viral infection on the life cycle of the parasite, as well as its fitness and pathogenicity to the host, we could find new strategies to prevent and control parasitic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Zhang
- Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yao Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis, Prevention and Treatment of High Incidence Diseases in Central Asia, WHO-Collaborating Centre for Prevention and Care Management of Echinococcosis, Xinjiang Medical University, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, Xinjiang, China
| | - Le Cao
- Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jun Li
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis, Prevention and Treatment of High Incidence Diseases in Central Asia, WHO-Collaborating Centre for Prevention and Care Management of Echinococcosis, Xinjiang Medical University, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, Xinjiang, China
| | - Chuanchuan Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis, Prevention and Treatment of High Incidence Diseases in Central Asia, WHO-Collaborating Centre for Prevention and Care Management of Echinococcosis, Xinjiang Medical University, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, Xinjiang, China
| | - Mengxiao Tian
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis, Prevention and Treatment of High Incidence Diseases in Central Asia, WHO-Collaborating Centre for Prevention and Care Management of Echinococcosis, Xinjiang Medical University, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, Xinjiang, China
| | - Zhuangzhi Zhang
- Veterinary Research Institute, Xinjiang Academy of Animal Sciences, Urumqi, Xinjiang, China
| | - Chiyu Zhang
- Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Wenbao Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis, Prevention and Treatment of High Incidence Diseases in Central Asia, WHO-Collaborating Centre for Prevention and Care Management of Echinococcosis, Xinjiang Medical University, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, Xinjiang, China
- Veterinary Research Institute, Xinjiang Academy of Animal Sciences, Urumqi, Xinjiang, China
| | - Yanpeng Li
- Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
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13
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Salloum PM, Jorge F, Dheilly NM, Poulin R. Adoption of alternative life cycles in a parasitic trematode is linked to microbiome differences. Biol Lett 2023; 19:20230091. [PMID: 37282491 PMCID: PMC10244958 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2023.0091] [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: 02/22/2023] [Accepted: 05/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/08/2023] Open
Abstract
For parasites with complex multi-host life cycles, the facultative truncation of the cycle represents an adaptation to challenging conditions for transmission. However, why certain individuals are capable of abbreviating their life cycle while other conspecifics are not remains poorly understood. Here, we test whether conspecific trematodes that either follow the normal three-host life cycle or skip their final host by reproducing precociously (via progenesis) in an intermediate host differ in the composition of their microbiomes. Characterization of bacterial communities based on sequencing of the V4 hypervariable region of the 16S SSU rRNA gene revealed that the same bacterial taxa occur in both normal and progenetic individuals, independent of host identity and temporal variation. However, all bacterial phyla recorded in our study, and two-thirds of bacterial families, differed in abundance between the two morphs, with some achieving higher abundance in the normal morph and others in the progenetic morph. Although the evidence is purely correlative, our results reveal a weak association between microbiome differences and intraspecific plasticity in life cycle pathways. Advances in functional genomics and experimental microbiome manipulation will allow future tests of the significance of these findings.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Fátima Jorge
- Otago Micro and Nano Imaging, Electron Microscopy Unit, University of Otago, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand
| | - Nolwenn M. Dheilly
- School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
- ANSES, Agence Nationale de Sécurité Sanitaire de l'Alimentation, de l'Environnement et du Travail - Laboratoire de Ploufragan-Plouzané, Unité Génétique Virale de Biosécurité, 22440, Ploufragan, France
| | - Robert Poulin
- Department of Zoology, University of Otago, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand
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Sures B, Nachev M, Schwelm J, Grabner D, Selbach C. Environmental parasitology: stressor effects on aquatic parasites. Trends Parasitol 2023; 39:461-474. [PMID: 37061443 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2023.03.005] [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: 01/24/2023] [Revised: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/10/2023] [Indexed: 04/17/2023]
Abstract
Anthropogenic stressors are causing fundamental changes in aquatic habitats and to the organisms inhabiting these ecosystems. Yet, we are still far from understanding the diverse responses of parasites and their hosts to these environmental stressors and predicting how these stressors will affect host-parasite communities. Here, we provide an overview of the impacts of major stressors affecting aquatic ecosystems in the Anthropocene (habitat alteration, global warming, and pollution) and highlight their consequences for aquatic parasites at multiple levels of organisation, from the individual to the community level. We provide directions and ideas for future research to better understand responses to stressors in aquatic host-parasite systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bernd Sures
- Aquatic Ecology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany; Centre for Water and Environmental Research, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany; Research Center One Health Ruhr, Research Alliance Ruhr, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.
| | - Milen Nachev
- Aquatic Ecology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany; Centre for Water and Environmental Research, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Jessica Schwelm
- Aquatic Ecology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany; Centre for Water and Environmental Research, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany; Research Center One Health Ruhr, Research Alliance Ruhr, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Daniel Grabner
- Aquatic Ecology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany; Centre for Water and Environmental Research, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Christian Selbach
- Centre for Water and Environmental Research, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany; Freshwater Ecology Group, Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, UiT - The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
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15
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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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17
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Kuo HY, Chiu MC, Chou JY. Bacillus predominates in the Ophiocordyceps pseudolloydii-infected ants, and it potentially improves protection and utilization of the host cadavers. Arch Microbiol 2023; 205:53. [PMID: 36602580 PMCID: PMC9816197 DOI: 10.1007/s00203-022-03385-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Revised: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 12/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
The bacterial communities that colonize the cadaver environment of insects infected and killed by parasitic fungi can be selected by the sympatric fungi and provide novel impacts. In this study, we found that Bacillus cereus/thuringiensis predominate the bacterial community in Dolichoderus thoracicus ant cadavers colonized by O. pseudolloydii. The most predominant bacterial strains in these ant cadavers were hemolytic and able to produce hydrolytic enzymes for digesting the ant tissue. A relatively intense lethal effect on the co-cultured nematode was displayed by a hemolytic strain. Moreover, the antagonistic effect against pathogenic fungi detected in the bacteria sympatric with O. pseudolloydii was reported here. Naphthoquinones have been shown to confer antibacterial activities and produced by the ant-pathogenic Ophiocordyceps fungi. However, our results did not show the naphthoquinone tolerance we expected to be detected in the bacteria from the ant infected by O. pseudolloydii. The bacterial diversity in the samples associated with O. pseudolloydii infected ants as revealed in this study will be a step forward to the understanding of the roles playing by the microbial community in the native habitats of O. pseudolloydii.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao-Yu Kuo
- Department of Biology, National Changhua University of Education, 500, Changhua, Taiwan
| | - Ming-Chung Chiu
- Department of Biology, National Changhua University of Education, 500, Changhua, Taiwan
| | - Jui-Yu Chou
- Department of Biology, National Changhua University of Education, 500, Changhua, Taiwan.
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18
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Midha A, Jarquín-Díaz VH, Ebner F, Löber U, Hayani R, Kundik A, Cardilli A, Heitlinger E, Forslund SK, Hartmann S. Guts within guts: the microbiome of the intestinal helminth parasite Ascaris suum is derived but distinct from its host. MICROBIOME 2022; 10:229. [PMID: 36527132 PMCID: PMC9756626 DOI: 10.1186/s40168-022-01399-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2022] [Accepted: 10/18/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Intestinal helminths are extremely prevalent among humans and animals. In particular, intestinal roundworms affect more than 1 billion people around the globe and are a major issue in animal husbandry. These pathogens live in intimate contact with the host gut microbiota and harbor bacteria within their own intestines. Knowledge of the bacterial host microbiome at the site of infection is limited, and data on the parasite microbiome is, to the best of our knowledge, non-existent. RESULTS The intestinal microbiome of the natural parasite and zoonotic macropathogen, Ascaris suum was analyzed in contrast to the diversity and composition of the infected host gut. 16S sequencing of the parasite intestine and host intestinal compartments showed that the parasite gut has a significantly less diverse microbiome than its host, and the host gut exhibits a reduced microbiome diversity at the site of parasite infection in the jejunum. While the host's microbiome composition at the site of infection significantly determines the microbiome composition of its parasite, microbial signatures differentiate the nematodes from their hosts as the Ascaris intestine supports the growth of microbes that are otherwise under-represented in the host gut. CONCLUSION Our data clearly indicate that a nematode infection reduces the microbiome diversity of the host gut, and that the nematode gut represents a selective bacterial niche harboring bacteria that are derived but distinct from the host gut. Video Abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ankur Midha
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Center for Infection Medicine, Institute of Immunology, Freie Universität Berlin, Robert-von-Ostertag-Straße 7, 14163 Berlin, Germany
| | - Víctor Hugo Jarquín-Díaz
- Experimental and Clinical Research Center, a cooperation between the Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association and the Charité — Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Charité — Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Lindenberger Weg 80, 13125 Berlin, Germany
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Berlin, Germany
- Department of Molecular Parasitology, Institute for Biology, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Philippstraße 13, 10115 Berlin, Germany
- Research Group Ecology and Evolution of Molecular Parasite-Host Interactions, Leibniz-Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (IZW), Alfred-Kowalke-Straße 17, 10315 Berlin, Germany
| | - Friederike Ebner
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Center for Infection Medicine, Institute of Immunology, Freie Universität Berlin, Robert-von-Ostertag-Straße 7, 14163 Berlin, Germany
| | - Ulrike Löber
- Experimental and Clinical Research Center, a cooperation between the Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association and the Charité — Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Charité — Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Lindenberger Weg 80, 13125 Berlin, Germany
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Berlin, Germany
| | - Rima Hayani
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Center for Infection Medicine, Institute of Immunology, Freie Universität Berlin, Robert-von-Ostertag-Straße 7, 14163 Berlin, Germany
| | - Arkadi Kundik
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Center for Infection Medicine, Institute of Immunology, Freie Universität Berlin, Robert-von-Ostertag-Straße 7, 14163 Berlin, Germany
| | - Alessio Cardilli
- Experimental and Clinical Research Center, a cooperation between the Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association and the Charité — Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Charité — Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Lindenberger Weg 80, 13125 Berlin, Germany
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Berlin, Germany
| | - Emanuel Heitlinger
- Department of Molecular Parasitology, Institute for Biology, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Philippstraße 13, 10115 Berlin, Germany
- Research Group Ecology and Evolution of Molecular Parasite-Host Interactions, Leibniz-Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (IZW), Alfred-Kowalke-Straße 17, 10315 Berlin, Germany
| | - Sofia Kirke Forslund
- Experimental and Clinical Research Center, a cooperation between the Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association and the Charité — Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Charité — Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Lindenberger Weg 80, 13125 Berlin, Germany
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Berlin, Germany
- Structural and Computational Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Meyerhofstraße 1, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
- Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
- DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), Partner Site Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Susanne Hartmann
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Center for Infection Medicine, Institute of Immunology, Freie Universität Berlin, Robert-von-Ostertag-Straße 7, 14163 Berlin, Germany
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19
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Jorge F, Dheilly NM, Froissard C, Poulin R. Association between parasite microbiomes and caste development and colony structure in a social trematode. Mol Ecol 2022; 31:5608-5617. [PMID: 36004565 PMCID: PMC9826137 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2022] [Revised: 08/17/2022] [Accepted: 08/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Division of labour through the formation of morphologically and functionally distinct castes is a recurring theme in the evolution of animal sociality. The mechanisms driving the differentiation of individuals into distinct castes remain poorly understood, especially for animals forming clonal colonies. We test the association between microbiomes and caste formation within the social trematode Philophthalmus attenuatus, using a metabarcoding approach targeting the bacterial 16S SSU rRNA gene. Clonal colonies of this trematode within snail hosts comprise large reproductive individuals which produce dispersal stages, and small, non-reproducing soldiers which defend the colony against invaders. In colonies extracted directly from field-collected snails, reproductives harboured more diverse bacterial communities than soldiers, and reproductives and soldiers harboured distinct bacterial communities, at all taxonomic levels considered. No single bacterial taxon showed high enough prevalence in either soldiers or reproductives to be singled out as a key driver, indicating that the whole microbial community contributes to these differences. Other colonies were experimentally exposed to antibiotics to alter their bacterial communities, and sampled shortly after treatment and weeks later after allowing for turnover of colony members. At those time points, bacterial communities of the two castes still differed across all antibiotic treatments; however, the caste ratio within colonies changed: after antibiotic disruption and turnover of individuals, new individuals were more likely to become reproductives than in undisturbed control colonies. Our results reveal that each caste has a distinct microbiome; whether the social context affects the microbiota, or whether microbes contribute to modulating the phenotype of individuals, remains to be determined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fátima Jorge
- Otago Micro and Nano Imaging, Electron Microscopy UnitUniversity of OtagoDunedinNew Zealand
| | - Nolwenn M. Dheilly
- School of Marine and Atmospheric SciencesStony Brook UniversityStony BrookNew YorkUSA,Unité Génétique Virale de Biosécurité, Agence Nationale de Sécurité Sanitaire de l'Alimentation, de l'Environnement et du Travail ‐ Laboratoire de Ploufragan‐PlouzanéANSESPloufraganFrance
| | | | - Robert Poulin
- Department of ZoologyUniversity of OtagoDunedinNew Zealand
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20
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Doolin ML, Weinstein SB, Dearing MD. PINWORMS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH TAXONOMIC BUT NOT FUNCTIONAL DIFFERENCES IN THE GUT MICROBIOME OF WHITE-THROATED WOODRATS (NEOTOMA ALBIGULA). J Parasitol 2022; 108:408-418. [PMID: 36066907 DOI: 10.1645/22-11] [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: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Vertebrates rely on their gut microbiome for digestion, and changes to gut microbial communities can impact host health. Past work, primarily in model organisms, has revealed that endoparasites disrupt the gut microbiome. Here, using wild-caught white-throated woodrats (Neotoma albigula), we tested whether naturally acquired parasite infections are associated with different microbiome structure and function. We surveyed wild N. albigula in eastern Utah for gastrointestinal parasites in the spring and fall of 2019, using traditional fecal float methods and testing a PCR-based approach to detect infection. We tested whether the host gut microbiome structure and function differed based on infection with the most prevalent parasite, the pinworm Lamotheoxyuris ackerti. In spring, infected and uninfected animals had significantly different microbiomes, but these differences were not detected in the fall. However, for both sampling periods, infection was associated with differences in particular microbial taxa determined by differential abundance analysis. As N. albigula rely on their microbiomes to digest both fiber and the plant defensive compound oxalate, we compared microbiome function by measuring dry matter digestibility and oxalate intake in infected and uninfected animals. Although we expected infected animals to have reduced fiber degradation and oxalate intake, we found no difference in microbiome function using these assays. This work suggests that parasite effects on the microbiome may be difficult to detect in complex natural systems, and more studies in wild organisms are warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margaret L Doolin
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Utah, 257 South 1400 East, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112
| | - Sara B Weinstein
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Utah, 257 South 1400 East, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112
| | - M Denise Dearing
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Utah, 257 South 1400 East, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112
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21
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Rončević T, Gerdol M, Mardirossian M, Maleš M, Cvjetan S, Benincasa M, Maravić A, Gajski G, Krce L, Aviani I, Hrabar J, Trumbić Ž, Derks M, Pallavicini A, Weingarth M, Zoranić L, Tossi A, Mladineo I. Anisaxins, helical antimicrobial peptides from marine parasites, kill resistant bacteria by lipid extraction and membrane disruption. Acta Biomater 2022; 146:131-144. [PMID: 35470073 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2022.04.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2021] [Revised: 04/12/2022] [Accepted: 04/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
An infecting and propagating parasite relies on its innate defense system to evade the host's immune response and to survive challenges from commensal bacteria. More so for the nematode Anisakis, a marine parasite that during its life cycle encounters both vertebrate and invertebrate hosts and their highly diverse microbiotas. Although much is still unknown about how the nematode mitigates the effects of these microbiota, its antimicrobial peptides likely play an important role in its survival. We identified anisaxins, the first cecropin-like helical antimicrobial peptides originating from a marine parasite, by mining available genomic and transcriptomic data for Anisakis spp. These peptides are potent bactericidal agents in vitro, selectively active against Gram-negative bacteria, including multi-drug resistant strains, at sub-micromolar concentrations. Their interaction with bacterial membranes was confirmed by solid state NMR (ssNMR) and is highly dependent on the peptide concentration as well as peptide to lipid ratio, as evidenced by molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. MD results indicated that an initial step in the membranolytic mode of action involves membrane bulging and lipid extraction; a novel mechanism which may underline the peptides' potency. Subsequent steps include membrane permeabilization leading to leakage of molecules and eventually cell death, but without visible macroscopic damage, as shown by atomic force microscopy and flow cytometry. This membranolytic antibacterial activity does not translate to cytotoxicity towards human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (HPBMCs), which was minimal at well above bactericidal concentrations, making anisaxins promising candidates for further drug development. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Witnessing the rapid spread of antibiotic resistance resulting in millions of infected and dozens of thousands dying worldwide every year, we identified anisaxins, antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) from marine parasites, Anisakis spp., with potent bactericidal activity and selectivity towards multi-drug resistant Gram-negative bacteria. Anisaxins are membrane-active peptides, whose activity, very sensitive to local peptide concentrations, involves membrane bulging and lipid extraction, leading to membrane permeabilization and bacterial cell death. At the same time, their toxicity towards host cells is negligible, which is often not the case for membrane-active AMPs, therefore making them suitable drug candidates. Membrane bulging and lipid extraction are novel concepts that broaden our understanding of peptide interactions with bacterial functional structures, essential for future design of such biomaterials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomislav Rončević
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Split, Ruđera Boškovića 33, Split 21000, Croatia.
| | - Marco Gerdol
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste 34127, Italy
| | - Mario Mardirossian
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste 34125, Italy
| | - Matko Maleš
- Faculty of Maritime Studies, University of Split, Split 21000, Croatia
| | - Svjetlana Cvjetan
- Laboratory for Aquaculture, Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries, Split 21000, Croatia
| | - Monica Benincasa
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste 34127, Italy
| | - Ana Maravić
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Split, Ruđera Boškovića 33, Split 21000, Croatia
| | - Goran Gajski
- Mutagenesis Unit, Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Zagreb 10000, Croatia
| | - Lucija Krce
- Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Split, Split 21000, Croatia
| | - Ivica Aviani
- Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Split, Split 21000, Croatia
| | - Jerko Hrabar
- Laboratory for Aquaculture, Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries, Split 21000, Croatia
| | - Željka Trumbić
- University Department of Marine Studies, University of Split, Split 21000, Croatia
| | - Maik Derks
- NMR spectroscopy, Bijvoet Centre for Biomolecular Research, University of Utrecht, Utrecht 3584CH, The Netherlands; Membrane Biochemistry and Biophysics, Bijvoet Centre for Biomolecular Research, Department of Chemistry, Utrecht University, Padualaan 8, Utrecht 3584 CH, The Netherlands
| | - Alberto Pallavicini
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste 34127, Italy; Oceanography Division, Istituto Nazionale di Oceanografia e di Geofisica Sperimentale - OGS, Trieste, Italy
| | - Markus Weingarth
- NMR spectroscopy, Bijvoet Centre for Biomolecular Research, University of Utrecht, Utrecht 3584CH, The Netherlands
| | - Larisa Zoranić
- Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Split, Split 21000, Croatia
| | - Alessandro Tossi
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste 34127, Italy
| | - Ivona Mladineo
- Laboratory of Functional Helminthology, Biology Centre Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Parasitology BC CAS, Branisovska 31, Ceske Budejovice 37005, Czech Republic.
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Brealey JC, Lecaudey LA, Kodama M, Rasmussen JA, Sveier H, Dheilly NM, Martin MD, Limborg MT. Microbiome "Inception": an Intestinal Cestode Shapes a Hierarchy of Microbial Communities Nested within the Host. mBio 2022; 13:e0067922. [PMID: 35502903 PMCID: PMC9239044 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.00679-22] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2022] [Accepted: 04/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The concept of a holobiont, a host organism and its associated microbial communities, encapsulates the vital role the microbiome plays in the normal functioning of its host. Parasitic infections can disrupt this relationship, leading to dysbiosis. However, it is increasingly recognized that multicellular parasites are themselves holobionts. Intestinal parasites share space with the host gut microbiome, creating a system of nested microbiomes within the primary host. However, how the parasite, as a holobiont, interacts with the host holobiont remains unclear, as do the consequences of these interactions for host health. Here, we used 16S amplicon and shotgun metagenomics sequencing to characterize the microbiome of the intestinal cestode Eubothrium and its effect on the gut microbiome of its primary host, Atlantic salmon. Our results indicate that cestode infection is associated with salmon gut dysbiosis by acting as a selective force benefiting putative pathogens and potentially introducing novel bacterial species to the host. Our results suggest that parasitic cestodes may themselves be holobionts nested within the microbial community of their holobiont host, emphasizing the importance of also considering microbes associated with parasites when studying intestinal parasitic infections. IMPORTANCE The importance of the parasite microbiome is gaining recognition. Of particular concern is understanding how these parasite microbiomes influence host-parasite interactions and parasite interactions with the vertebrate host microbiome as part of a system of nested holobionts. However, there are still relatively few studies focusing on the microbiome of parasitic helminths in general and almost none on cestodes in particular, despite the significant burden of disease caused by these parasites globally. Our study provides insights into a system of significance to the aquaculture industry, cestode infections of Atlantic salmon and, more broadly, expands our general understanding of parasite-microbiome-host interactions and introduces a new element, the microbiome of the parasite itself, which may play a critical role in modulating the host microbiome, and, therefore, the host response, to parasite infection.
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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
| | - Laurène A. Lecaudey
- 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
- Laboratory of Genomics and Molecular Medicine, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | - Nolwenn M. Dheilly
- UMR 1161 Virology ANSES/INRAE/ENVA, ANSES Animal Health Laboratory, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - 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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23
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Poulin R, Jorge F, Salloum PM. Inter-individual variation in parasite manipulation of host phenotype: A role for parasite microbiomes? J Anim Ecol 2022; 92:807-812. [PMID: 35748637 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.13764] [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: 04/21/2022] [Accepted: 06/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Alterations in host phenotype induced by metazoan parasites are widespread in nature, yet the underlying mechanisms and the sources of intraspecific variation in the extent of those alterations remain poorly understood. In light of the microbiome revolution sweeping through ecology and evolutionary biology, we hypothesise that the composition of symbiotic microbial communities living within individual parasites influences the nature and extent of their effect on host phenotype. The interests of both the parasite and its symbionts are aligned through the latter's vertical transmission, favouring joint contributions to the manipulation of host phenotype. Our hypothesis can explain the variation in the extent to which parasites alter host phenotype, as microbiome composition varies among individual parasites. We propose two non-exclusive approaches to test the hypothesis, furthering the integration of microbiomes into studies of host-parasite interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Poulin
- Department of Zoology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Fátima Jorge
- Otago Micro and Nano Imaging, Electron Microscopy Unit, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
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24
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A World of Viruses Nested within Parasites: Unraveling Viral Diversity within Parasitic Flatworms (Platyhelminthes). Microbiol Spectr 2022; 10:e0013822. [PMID: 35536058 PMCID: PMC9241645 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00138-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Because parasites have an inextricable relationship with their host, they have the potential to serve as viral reservoirs or facilitate virus host shifts. And yet, little is known about viruses infecting parasitic hosts except for blood-feeding arthropods that are well-known vectors of zoonotic viruses. Herein, we uncovered viruses of flatworms (phylum Platyhelminthes, group Neodermata) that specialize in parasitizing vertebrates and their ancestral free-living relatives. We discovered 115 novel viral sequences, including 1 in Macrostomorpha, 5 in Polycladida, 44 in Tricladida, 1 in Monogenea, 15 in Cestoda, and 49 in Trematoda, through data mining. The majority of newly identified viruses constitute novel families or genera. Phylogenetic analyses show that the virome of flatworms changed dramatically during the transition of neodermatans to a parasitic lifestyle. Most Neodermata viruses seem to codiversify with their host, with the exception of rhabdoviruses, which may switch hosts more often, based on phylogenetic relationships. Neodermata rhabdoviruses also have a position ancestral to vertebrate-associated rhabdo viruses, including lyssaviruses, suggesting that vertebrate-associated rhabdoviruses emerged from a flatworm rhabdovirus in a parasitized host. This study reveals an extensive diversity of viruses in Platyhelminthes and highlights the need to evaluate the role of viral infection in flatworm-associated diseases. IMPORTANCE Little is known about the diversity of parasite-associated viruses and how these viruses may impact parasite fitness, parasite-host interactions, and virus evolution. The discovery of over a hundred viruses associated with a range of free-living and parasitic flatworms, including parasites of economic and clinical relevance, allowed us to compare the viromes of flatworms with contrasting lifestyles. The results suggest that flatworms acquired novel viruses after their transition to a parasitic lifestyle and highlight the possibility that they acquired viruses from their hosts and vice versa. An interesting example is the discovery of flatworm rhabdoviruses that have a position ancestral to rabies viruses and other vertebrate-associated rhabdoviruses, demonstrating that flatworm-associated viruses have emerged in a vertebrate host at least once in history. Therefore, parasitic flatworms may play a role in virus diversity and emergence. The roles that parasite-infecting viruses play in parasite-associated diseases remain to be investigated.
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25
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Scheifler M, Sanchez-Brosseau S, Magnanou E, Desdevises Y. Diversity and structure of sparids external microbiota (Teleostei) and its link with monogenean ectoparasites. Anim Microbiome 2022; 4:27. [PMID: 35418308 PMCID: PMC9009028 DOI: 10.1186/s42523-022-00180-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2021] [Accepted: 04/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Animal-associated microbial communities appear to be key factors in host physiology, ecology, evolution and its interactions with the surrounding environment. Teleost fish have received relatively little attention in the study of surface-associated microbiota. Besides the important role of microbiota in homeostasis and infection prevention, a few recent studies have shown that fish mucus microbiota may interact with and attract some specific parasitic species. However, our understanding of external microbial assemblages, in particular regarding the factors that determine their composition and potential interactions with parasites, is still limited. This is the objective of the present study that focuses on a well-known fish-parasite interaction, involving the Sparidae (Teleostei), and their specific monogenean ectoparasites of the Lamellodiscus genus. We characterized the skin and gill mucus bacterial communities using a 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing, tested how fish ecological traits and host evolutionary history are related to external microbiota, and assessed if some microbial taxa are related to some Lamellodiscus species. Results Our results revealed significant differences between skin and gill microbiota in terms of diversity and structure, and that sparids establish and maintain tissue and species-specific bacterial communities despite continuous exposure to water. No phylosymbiosis pattern was detected for either gill or skin microbiota, suggesting that other host-related and environmental factors are a better regulator of host-microbiota interactions. Diversity and structure of external microbiota were explained by host traits: host species, diet and body part. Numerous correlations between the abundance of given bacterial genera and the abundance of given Lamellodiscus species have been found in gill mucus, including species-specific associations. We also found that the external microbiota of the only unparasitized sparid species in this study, Boops boops, harbored significantly more Fusobacteria and three genera, Shewenella, Cetobacterium and Vibrio, compared to the other sparid species, suggesting their potential involvement in preventing monogenean infection. Conclusions This study is the first to explore the diversity and structure of skin and gill microbiota from a wild fish family and present novel evidence on the links between gill microbiota and monogenean species in diversity and abundance, paving the way for further studies on understanding host-microbiota-parasite interactions. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s42523-022-00180-1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mathilde Scheifler
- Biologie Intégrative des Organismes Marins, BIOM, Observatoire Océanologique, Sorbonne Université - CNRS, 66650, Banyuls/Mer, France.
| | - Sophie Sanchez-Brosseau
- Biologie Intégrative des Organismes Marins, BIOM, Observatoire Océanologique, Sorbonne Université - CNRS, 66650, Banyuls/Mer, France
| | - Elodie Magnanou
- Biologie Intégrative des Organismes Marins, BIOM, Observatoire Océanologique, Sorbonne Université - CNRS, 66650, Banyuls/Mer, France
| | - Yves Desdevises
- Biologie Intégrative des Organismes Marins, BIOM, Observatoire Océanologique, Sorbonne Université - CNRS, 66650, Banyuls/Mer, France
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26
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Jorge F, Dheilly NM, Froissard C, Wainwright E, Poulin R. Consistency of Bacterial Communities in a Parasitic Worm: Variation Throughout the Life Cycle and Across Geographic Space. MICROBIAL ECOLOGY 2022; 83:724-738. [PMID: 34136952 DOI: 10.1007/s00248-021-01774-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2021] [Accepted: 05/12/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Microbial communities within metazoans are increasingly linked with development, health and behaviour, possibly functioning as integrated evolutionary units with the animal in which they live. This would require microbial communities to show some consistency both ontogenetically (across life stages) and geographically (among populations). We characterise the bacteriome of the parasitic trematode Philophthalmus attenuatus, which undergoes major life cycle transitions, and test whether its bacteriome remains consistent on developmental and spatial scales. Based on sequencing the prokaryotic 16S SSU rRNA gene, we compared the parasite bacteriome (i) across three life stages (rediae in snails, cercariae exiting snails, adults in birds) in one locality and (ii) among three geographic localities for rediae only. We found that each life stage harbours a bacteriome different from that of its host (except the adult stage) and the external environment. Very few bacterial taxa were shared among life stages, suggesting substantial ontogenetic turnover in bacteriome composition. Rediae from the three different localities also had different bacteriomes, with dissimilarities increasing with geographical distance. However, rediae from different localities nevertheless shared more bacterial taxa than did different life stages from the same locality. Changes in the bacteriome along the parasite's developmental history but some degree of geographical stability within a given life stage point toward non-random, stage-specific acquisition, selection and/or propagation of bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fátima Jorge
- Department of Zoology, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin, 9054, New Zealand
| | - Nolwenn M Dheilly
- School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
- 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
| | - Céline Froissard
- Department of Zoology, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin, 9054, New Zealand
| | - Eleanor Wainwright
- Department of Zoology, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin, 9054, New Zealand
| | - Robert Poulin
- Department of Zoology, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin, 9054, New Zealand.
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27
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Jorge F, Brealey JC, Brindley PJ, Buysse M, Cantacessi C, Duron O, Fichorova R, Fitzpatrick CR, Hahn M, Hunter C, Hervé V, Knoll LJ, Kohl KD, Lalle M, Lukeš J, Martínez JM, Perkins SL, Poulin R, Rosario K, Schneider AC, Schriml LM, Thompson LR, Walls RL, Dheilly NM. MIxS-SA: a MIxS extension defining the minimum information standard for sequence data from symbiont-associated micro-organisms. ISME COMMUNICATIONS 2022; 2:9. [PMID: 37938691 PMCID: PMC9723553 DOI: 10.1038/s43705-022-00092-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2021] [Revised: 12/26/2021] [Accepted: 01/10/2022] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
The symbiont-associated (SA) environmental package is a new extension to the minimum information about any (x) sequence (MIxS) standards, established by the Parasite Microbiome Project (PMP) consortium, in collaboration with the Genomics Standard Consortium. The SA was built upon the host-associated MIxS standard, but reflects the nestedness of symbiont-associated microbiota within and across host-symbiont-microbe interactions. This package is designed to facilitate the collection and reporting of a broad range of metadata information that apply to symbionts such as life history traits, association with one or multiple host organisms, or the nature of host-symbiont interactions along the mutualism-parasitism continuum. To better reflect the inherent nestedness of all biological systems, we present a novel feature that allows users to co-localize samples, to nest a package within another package, and to identify replicates. Adoption of the MIxS-SA and of the new terms will facilitate reports of complex sampling design from a myriad of environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fátima Jorge
- Department of Zoology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
| | - Jaelle C Brealey
- Department of Natural History, NTNU University Museum, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Paul J Brindley
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Tropical Medicine, School of Medicine & Health Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, D.C, 20037, USA
| | - Marie Buysse
- MIVEGEC (Maladies Infectieuses et Vecteurs: Ecologie, Génétique, Evolution et Contrôle), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut pour la Recherche et le Développement (IRD) - Université de Montpellier (UM), Montpellier, France
- CREES (Centre de Recherche en Écologie et Évolution de la Santé), Montpellier, France
| | - Cinzia Cantacessi
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB3 0ES, UK
| | - Olivier Duron
- MIVEGEC (Maladies Infectieuses et Vecteurs: Ecologie, Génétique, Evolution et Contrôle), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut pour la Recherche et le Développement (IRD) - Université de Montpellier (UM), Montpellier, France
- CREES (Centre de Recherche en Écologie et Évolution de la Santé), Montpellier, France
| | - Raina Fichorova
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Connor R Fitzpatrick
- Biology Department, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Megan Hahn
- New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Long Island City, NY, USA
| | | | - Vincent Hervé
- Institut de Recherche sur la Biologie de l'Insecte, UMR 7261, CNRS-Université de Tours, Avenue Monge, Parc Grandmont, 37200, Tours, France
| | - Laura J Knoll
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Kevin D Kohl
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, 15260, USA
| | - Marco Lalle
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Foodborne and Neglected Parasitic Diseases; European Union Reference Laboratory for Parasite, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Julius Lukeš
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, and Faculty of Sciences, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice (Budweis), České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | | | - Susan L Perkins
- Department of Biology, The City College of New York, New York, NY, 10031, USA
| | - Robert Poulin
- Department of Zoology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Karyna Rosario
- College of Marine Science, University of South Florida, Saint Petersburg, FL, USA
| | - Adam C Schneider
- Biology and Health Sciences Department, Hendrix College, Conway, AR, USA
| | - Lynn M Schriml
- Institute for Genome Sciences, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - Luke R Thompson
- Northern Gulf Institute, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS, 39762, USA
- Ocean Chemistry and Ecosystems Division, Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Miami, FL, 33149, USA
| | - Ramona L Walls
- Data Collaboration Center, Critical Path Institute, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - 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.
- Anses, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, UMR VIROLOGIE, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, 94700, Maisons-Alfort, France.
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28
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Hahn MA, Piecyk A, Jorge F, Cerrato R, Kalbe M, Dheilly NM. Host phenotype and microbiome vary with infection status, parasite genotype, and parasite microbiome composition. Mol Ecol 2022; 31:1577-1594. [PMID: 35000227 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2021] [Revised: 09/09/2021] [Accepted: 12/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
A growing literature demonstrates the impact of helminths on their host gut microbiome. We investigated whether the stickleback host microbiome depends on eco-evolutionary variables by testing the impact of exposure to the cestode parasite Schistocephalus solidus with respect to infection success, host genotype, parasite genotype, and parasite microbiome composition. We observed constitutive differences in the microbiome of sticklebacks of different origin, and those differences increased when sticklebacks exposed to the parasite resisted infection. In contrast, the microbiome of successfully infected sticklebacks varied with parasite genotype. More specifically, we revealed that the association between microbiome and immune gene expression increased in infected individuals and varied with parasite genotype. In addition, we showed that S. solidus hosts a complex endo- microbiome and that bacterial abundance in the parasite correlates with expression of host immune genes. Within this comprehensive analysis we demonstrated that (i) parasites contribute to modulating the host microbiome through both successful and unsuccessful infection, (ii) when infection is successful, the host microbiome varies with parasite genotype due to genotype-dependent variation in parasite immunomodulation, and (iii) the parasite-associated microbiome is distinct from its host's and impacts the host immune response to infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan A Hahn
- School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Agnes Piecyk
- Evolutionary Ecology, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology, Plön, Germany.,Evolutionary Ecology of Marine Fishes, GEOMAR Helmholtz, Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, Germany
| | - Fátima Jorge
- Department of Zoology, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin, 9054, New Zealand
| | - Robert Cerrato
- School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Martin Kalbe
- Evolutionary Ecology, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology, Plön, Germany.,Evolutionary Ecology of Marine Fishes, GEOMAR Helmholtz, Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, Germany
| | - Nolwenn M Dheilly
- School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA.,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
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29
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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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30
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Pane S, Ristori MV, Gardini S, Russo A, Del Chierico F, Putignani L. Clinical Parasitology and Parasitome Maps as Old and New Tools to Improve Clinical Microbiomics. Pathogens 2021; 10:1550. [PMID: 34959505 PMCID: PMC8704233 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10121550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2021] [Revised: 11/15/2021] [Accepted: 11/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
A growing body of evidence shows that dysbiotic gut microbiota may correlate with a wide range of disorders; hence, the clinical use of microbiota maps and fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) can be exploited in the clinic of some infectious diseases. Through direct or indirect ecological and functional competition, FMT may stimulate decolonization of pathogens or opportunistic pathogens, modulating immune response and colonic inflammation, and restoring intestinal homeostasis, which reduces host damage. Herein, we discuss how diagnostic parasitology may contribute to designing clinical metagenomic pipelines and FMT programs, especially in pediatric subjects. The consequences of more specialized diagnostics in the context of gut microbiota communities may improve the clinical parasitology and extend its applications to the prevention and treatment of several communicable and even noncommunicable disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefania Pane
- Microbiology and Diagnostic Immunology Unit, Unit of Microbiomics, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, 00146 Rome, Italy; (S.P.); (M.V.R.); (A.R.)
| | - Maria Vittoria Ristori
- Microbiology and Diagnostic Immunology Unit, Unit of Microbiomics, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, 00146 Rome, Italy; (S.P.); (M.V.R.); (A.R.)
- Multimodal Laboratory Medicine Research Area, Unit of Human Microbiome, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, 00146 Rome, Italy;
| | | | - Alessandra Russo
- Microbiology and Diagnostic Immunology Unit, Unit of Microbiomics, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, 00146 Rome, Italy; (S.P.); (M.V.R.); (A.R.)
| | - Federica Del Chierico
- Multimodal Laboratory Medicine Research Area, Unit of Human Microbiome, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, 00146 Rome, Italy;
| | - Lorenza Putignani
- Microbiology and Diagnostic Immunology Unit, Unit of Microbiomics, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, 00146 Rome, Italy; (S.P.); (M.V.R.); (A.R.)
- Multimodal Laboratory Medicine Research Area, Unit of Human Microbiome, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, 00146 Rome, Italy;
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31
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Liu S, Zhang SM, Buddenborg SK, Loker ES, Bonning BC. Virus-derived sequences from the transcriptomes of two snail vectors of schistosomiasis, Biomphalaria pfeifferi and Bulinus globosus from Kenya. PeerJ 2021; 9:e12290. [PMID: 34820163 PMCID: PMC8601052 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.12290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2020] [Accepted: 09/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Schistosomiasis, which infects more than 230 million people, is vectored by freshwater snails. We identified viral sequences in the transcriptomes of Biomphalaria pfeifferi (BP) and Bulinus globosus (BuG), two of the world's most important schistosomiasis vectors in Africa. Sequences from 26 snails generated using Illumina Hi-Seq or 454 sequencing were assembled using Trinity and CAP3 and putative virus sequences were identified using a bioinformatics pipeline. Phylogenetic analyses were performed using viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase and coat protein sequences to establish relatedness between virus sequences identified and those of known viruses. Viral sequences were identified from the entire snail holobiont, including symbionts, ingested material and organisms passively associated with the snails. Sequences derived from more than 17 different viruses were found including five near full-length genomes, most of which were small RNA viruses with positive sense RNA genomes (i.e., picorna-like viruses) and some of which are likely derived from adherent or ingested diatoms. Based on phylogenetic analysis, five of these viruses (including BPV2 and BuGV2) along with four Biomphalaria glabrata viruses reported previously, cluster with known invertebrate viruses and are putative viruses of snails. The presence of RNA sequences derived from four of these novel viruses in samples was confirmed. Identification of the genome sequences of candidate snail viruses provides a first step toward characterization of additional gastropod viruses, including from species of biomedical significance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sijun Liu
- Department of Entomology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, United States
| | - Si-Ming Zhang
- Center for Evolutionary and Theoretical Immunology, Parasite Division Museum of Southwestern Biology, Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States
| | - Sarah K. Buddenborg
- Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States
| | - Eric S. Loker
- Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States
| | - Bryony C. Bonning
- Entomology & Nematology Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States
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32
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Martínez-Mota R, Righini N, Mallott EK, Gillespie TR, Amato KR. The relationship between pinworm (Trypanoxyuris) infection and gut bacteria in wild black howler monkeys (Alouatta pigra). Am J Primatol 2021; 83:e23330. [PMID: 34529285 DOI: 10.1002/ajp.23330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2020] [Revised: 07/17/2021] [Accepted: 09/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Gut bacteria may coexist with other groups of organisms, such as nematode parasites, that inhabit the gastrointestinal tract of primates; however, the possible effects of endoparasites on bacterial communities are frequently overlooked. Here we explored whether infection with Trypanoxyuris, an oxyurid gastrointestinal parasite, is associated with changes in the gut bacterial community of wild black howler monkeys (Alouatta pigra), by comparing gut bacterial communities of consistently infected individuals and individuals that never tested positive for Trypanoxyuris throughout different months across the year. We additionally controlled for other sources of variation reported to influence the primate microbiome including individual identity, social group, and seasonality. Trypanoxyuris infection was not related to differences in gut bacterial alpha diversity, but was weakly associated with differences in gut bacterial community structure. In contrast, among the covariates considered, both individual identity and social group were more strongly associated with variation in the howler gut bacterial community. Our results suggest that gastrointestinal parasites may be associated, to some extent, with shifts in the gut bacterial communities hosted by free-ranging primates, although a causal link still needs to be established. Further studies of wild primate hosts infected with parasite species with different pathogenicity are needed to better elucidate health-related consequences from the parasite-microbiome interplay.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodolfo Martínez-Mota
- Centro de Investigaciones Tropicales (CITRO), Universidad Veracruzana, Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico
| | - Nicoletta Righini
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Comportamiento Alimentario y Nutrición (IICAN), Universidad de Guadalajara, Ciudad Guzmán, Jalisco, Mexico
| | - Elizabeth K Mallott
- Department of Anthropology, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, USA
| | - Thomas R Gillespie
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Program in Population Biology, Ecology, and Evolutionary Biology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.,Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Katherine R Amato
- Department of Anthropology, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, USA
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33
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Editorial overview of Pearls Microbiome Series: E pluribus unum. PLoS Pathog 2021; 17:e1009912. [PMID: 34464427 PMCID: PMC8407538 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1009912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
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34
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Towards a more healthy conservation paradigm: integrating disease and molecular ecology to aid biological conservation †. J Genet 2021. [PMID: 33622992 PMCID: PMC7371965 DOI: 10.1007/s12041-020-01225-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Parasites, and the diseases they cause, are important from an ecological and evolutionary perspective because they can negatively affect host fitness and can regulate host populations. Consequently, conservation biology has long recognized the vital role that parasites can play in the process of species endangerment and recovery. However, we are only beginning to understand how deeply parasites are embedded in ecological systems, and there is a growing recognition of the important ways in which parasites affect ecosystem structure and function. Thus, there is an urgent need to revisit how parasites are viewed from a conservation perspective and broaden the role that disease ecology plays in conservation-related research and outcomes. This review broadly focusses on the role that disease ecology can play in biological conservation. Our review specifically emphasizes on how the integration of tools and analytical approaches associated with both disease and molecular ecology can be leveraged to aid conservation biology. Our review first concentrates on disease-mediated extinctions and wildlife epidemics. We then focus on elucidating how host–parasite interactions has improved our understanding of the eco-evolutionary dynamics affecting hosts at the individual, population, community and ecosystem scales. We believe that the role of parasites as drivers and indicators of ecosystem health is especially an exciting area of research that has the potential to fundamentally alter our view of parasites and their role in biological conservation. The review concludes with a broad overview of the current and potential applications of modern genomic tools in disease ecology to aid biological conservation.
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35
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Jacobson DK, Honap TP, Ozga AT, Meda N, Kagoné TS, Carabin H, Spicer P, Tito RY, Obregon-Tito AJ, Reyes LM, Troncoso-Corzo L, Guija-Poma E, Sankaranarayanan K, Lewis CM. Analysis of global human gut metagenomes shows that metabolic resilience potential for short-chain fatty acid production is strongly influenced by lifestyle. Sci Rep 2021; 11:1724. [PMID: 33462272 PMCID: PMC7813856 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-81257-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2020] [Accepted: 12/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
High taxonomic diversity in non-industrial human gut microbiomes is often interpreted as beneficial; however, it is unclear if taxonomic diversity engenders ecological resilience (i.e. community stability and metabolic continuity). We estimate resilience through genus and species-level richness, phylogenetic diversity, and evenness in short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production among a global gut metagenome panel of 12 populations (n = 451) representing industrial and non-industrial lifestyles, including novel metagenomic data from Burkina Faso (n = 90). We observe significantly higher genus-level resilience in non-industrial populations, while SCFA production in industrial populations is driven by a few phylogenetically closely related species (belonging to Bacteroides and Clostridium), meaning industrial microbiomes have low resilience potential. Additionally, database bias obfuscates resilience estimates, as we were 2-5 times more likely to identify SCFA-encoding species in industrial microbiomes compared to non-industrial. Overall, we find high phylogenetic diversity, richness, and evenness of bacteria encoding SCFAs in non-industrial gut microbiomes, signaling high potential for resilience in SCFA production, despite database biases that limit metagenomic analysis of non-industrial populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- David K Jacobson
- Laboratories of Molecular Anthropology and Microbiome Research, University of Oklahoma, 101 David L. Boren Blvd, Norman, OK, 73019, USA.,Department of Anthropology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, 73019, USA
| | - Tanvi P Honap
- Laboratories of Molecular Anthropology and Microbiome Research, University of Oklahoma, 101 David L. Boren Blvd, Norman, OK, 73019, USA.,Department of Anthropology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, 73019, USA
| | - Andrew T Ozga
- Halmos College of Natural Sciences and Oceanography, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL, 33314, USA
| | | | | | - Hélène Carabin
- Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, College of Public Health, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, 73104, USA.,Département de Pathologie et Microbiologie, Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, QC, J2S 2M2, Canada.,Département de médecine sociale et préventive, École de santé publique de l'université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, H3N 1X9, Canada.,Centre de Recherche en Santé Publique (CReSP) de l'université de Montréal et du CIUSS du Centre Sud de Montréal, Montréal, QC, H3N 1X9, Canada
| | - Paul Spicer
- Department of Anthropology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, 73019, USA.,Center for Applied Social Research, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, 73019, USA
| | - Raul Y Tito
- Department of Anthropology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, 73019, USA
| | | | - Luis Marin Reyes
- Centro Nacional de Salud Publica, Instituto Nacional de Salud, Lima, Perú
| | | | - Emilio Guija-Poma
- Centro de Investigación de Bioquímica y Nutrición, Facultad de Medicina Humana, Universidad de San Martín de Porres, Lima, Perú
| | - Krithivasan Sankaranarayanan
- Laboratories of Molecular Anthropology and Microbiome Research, University of Oklahoma, 101 David L. Boren Blvd, Norman, OK, 73019, USA.,Department of Microbiology and Plant Biology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, 73019, USA
| | - Cecil M Lewis
- Laboratories of Molecular Anthropology and Microbiome Research, University of Oklahoma, 101 David L. Boren Blvd, Norman, OK, 73019, USA. .,Department of Anthropology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, 73019, USA.
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36
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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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37
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Barrow P, Dujardin JC, Fasel N, Greenwood AD, Osterrieder K, Lomonossoff G, Fiori PL, Atterbury R, Rossi M, Lalle M. Viruses of protozoan parasites and viral therapy: Is the time now right? Virol J 2020; 17:142. [PMID: 32993724 PMCID: PMC7522927 DOI: 10.1186/s12985-020-01410-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2020] [Accepted: 09/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Infections caused by protozoan parasites burden the world with huge costs in terms of human and animal health. Most parasitic diseases caused by protozoans are neglected, particularly those associated with poverty and tropical countries, but the paucity of drug treatments and vaccines combined with increasing problems of drug resistance are becoming major concerns for their control and eradication. In this climate, the discovery/repurposing of new drugs and increasing effort in vaccine development should be supplemented with an exploration of new alternative/synergic treatment strategies. Viruses, either native or engineered, have been employed successfully as highly effective and selective therapeutic approaches to treat cancer (oncolytic viruses) and antibiotic-resistant bacterial diseases (phage therapy). Increasing evidence is accumulating that many protozoan, but also helminth, parasites harbour a range of different classes of viruses that are mostly absent from humans. Although some of these viruses appear to have no effect on their parasite hosts, others either have a clear direct negative impact on the parasite or may, in fact, contribute to the virulence of parasites for humans. This review will focus mainly on the viruses identified in protozoan parasites that are of medical importance. Inspired and informed by the experience gained from the application of oncolytic virus- and phage-therapy, rationally-driven strategies to employ these viruses successfully against parasitic diseases will be presented and discussed in the light of the current knowledge of the virus biology and the complex interplay between the viruses, the parasite hosts and the human host. We also highlight knowledge gaps that should be addressed to advance the potential of virotherapy against parasitic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Barrow
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington, Loughborough, Leicestershire, LE12 5RD, UK.
| | - Jean Claude Dujardin
- Molecular Parasitology Unit, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nationalestraat, 155, 2000, Antwerpen, Belgium
| | - Nicolas Fasel
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, Ch. des Boveresses 155, 1066, Epalinges, Switzerland
| | - Alex D Greenwood
- Department of Wildlife Diseases, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Berlin, Germany
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Institut für Virologie, Robert Von Ostertag-Haus - Zentrum Fuer Infektionsmedizin, Robert von Ostertag-Str. 7-13, 14163, Berlin, Germany
| | - Klaus Osterrieder
- Institut für Virologie, Robert Von Ostertag-Haus - Zentrum Fuer Infektionsmedizin, Robert von Ostertag-Str. 7-13, 14163, Berlin, Germany
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Public Health, Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences, 31 To Yuen Street, Kowloon, Hong Kong
| | - George Lomonossoff
- Department of Biological Chemistry, John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7UH, UK
| | - Pier Luigi Fiori
- Dipartimento Di Scienze Biomedice, Universita Degli Studi Di Sassari, Sardinia, Italy
| | - Robert Atterbury
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington, Loughborough, Leicestershire, LE12 5RD, UK
| | - Matteo Rossi
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, Ch. des Boveresses 155, 1066, Epalinges, Switzerland
| | - Marco Lalle
- Unit of Foodborne and Neglected Parasitic Diseases, European Union Reference Laboratory for Parasites, Department of Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore Di Sanità, viale Regina Elena 299, 00186, Rome, Italy.
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38
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Kinsella CM, Bart A, Deijs M, Broekhuizen P, Kaczorowska J, Jebbink MF, van Gool T, Cotten M, van der Hoek L. Entamoeba and Giardia parasites implicated as hosts of CRESS viruses. Nat Commun 2020; 11:4620. [PMID: 32934242 PMCID: PMC7493932 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-18474-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2019] [Accepted: 08/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Metagenomic techniques have enabled genome sequencing of unknown viruses without isolation in cell culture, but information on the virus host is often lacking, preventing viral characterisation. High-throughput methods capable of identifying virus hosts based on genomic data alone would aid evaluation of their medical or biological relevance. Here, we address this by linking metagenomic discovery of three virus families in human stool samples with determination of probable hosts. Recombination between viruses provides evidence of a shared host, in which genetic exchange occurs. We utilise networks of viral recombination to delimit virus-host clusters, which are then anchored to specific hosts using (1) statistical association to a host organism in clinical samples, (2) endogenous viral elements in host genomes, and (3) evidence of host small RNA responses to these elements. This analysis suggests two CRESS virus families (Naryaviridae and Nenyaviridae) infect Entamoeba parasites, while a third (Vilyaviridae) infects Giardia duodenalis. The trio supplements five CRESS virus families already known to infect eukaryotes, extending the CRESS virus host range to protozoa. Phylogenetic analysis implies CRESS viruses infecting multicellular life have evolved independently on at least three occasions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cormac M Kinsella
- Laboratory of Experimental Virology, Department of Medical Microbiology and Infection Prevention, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - Aldert Bart
- Laboratory of Clinical Parasitology, Department of Medical Microbiology and Infection Prevention, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Martin Deijs
- Laboratory of Experimental Virology, Department of Medical Microbiology and Infection Prevention, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Patricia Broekhuizen
- Laboratory of Clinical Parasitology, Department of Medical Microbiology and Infection Prevention, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Joanna Kaczorowska
- Laboratory of Experimental Virology, Department of Medical Microbiology and Infection Prevention, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Maarten F Jebbink
- Laboratory of Experimental Virology, Department of Medical Microbiology and Infection Prevention, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Tom van Gool
- Laboratory of Clinical Parasitology, Department of Medical Microbiology and Infection Prevention, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Matthew Cotten
- MRC/UVRI & LSHTM Uganda Research Unit, 3FC6+Q3, Entebbe, Uganda
- MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, G61 1QH, Glasgow, UK
| | - Lia van der Hoek
- Laboratory of Experimental Virology, Department of Medical Microbiology and Infection Prevention, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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39
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Formenti F, Cortés A, Brindley PJ, Cantacessi C, Rinaldi G. A bug's life: Delving into the challenges of helminth microbiome studies. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2020; 14:e0008446. [PMID: 32911483 PMCID: PMC7482834 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0008446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Fabio Formenti
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.,IRCCS Sacro Cuore Don Calabria Hospital, Negrar, Verona, Italy
| | - Alba Cortés
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.,Departament de Farmàcia i Tecnologia Farmacèutica i Parasitologia, Facultat de Farmàcia, Universitat de València, Burjassot, València, Spain
| | - Paul J Brindley
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Tropical Medicine, and Research Center for Neglected Diseases of Poverty, School of Medicine & Health Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States of America
| | - Cinzia Cantacessi
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Gabriel Rinaldi
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, United Kingdom
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40
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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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41
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Characterization of viruses in a tapeworm: phylogenetic position, vertical transmission, and transmission to the parasitized host. ISME JOURNAL 2020; 14:1755-1767. [PMID: 32286546 PMCID: PMC7305300 DOI: 10.1038/s41396-020-0642-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2019] [Revised: 03/18/2020] [Accepted: 03/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Parasitic flatworms (Neodermata) infect all vertebrates and represent a significant health and economic burden worldwide due to the debilitating diseases they cause. This study sheds light for the first time into the virome of a tapeworm by describing six novel RNA virus candidate species associated with Schistocephalus solidus, including three negative-strand RNA viruses (order Jingchuvirales, Mononegavirales, and Bunyavirales) and three double-stranded RNA viruses. Using in vitro culture of S. solidus, controlled experimental infections and field sampling, we demonstrate that five of these viruses are vertically transmitted, and persist throughout the S. solidus complex life cycle. Moreover, we show that one of the viruses, named Schistocephalus solidus rhabdovirus (SsRV1), is excreted by the parasite and transmitted to parasitized hosts indicating that it may impact S. solidus-host interactions. In addition, SsRV1 has a basal phylogenetic position relative to vertebrate rhabdoviruses suggesting that parasitic flatworms could have contributed to virus emergence. Viruses similar to four of the S. solidus viruses identified here were found in geographically distant S. solidus populations through data mining. Further studies are necessary to determine if flatworm viruses can replicate in parasitized hosts, how they contribute to parasite infection dynamics and if these viruses could be targeted for treatment of parasitic disease.
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Trevelline BK, Stephenson JF, Kohl KD. Two's company, three's a crowd: Exploring how host-parasite-microbiota interactions may influence disease susceptibility and conservation of wildlife. Mol Ecol 2020; 29:1402-1405. [PMID: 32115825 DOI: 10.1111/mec.15397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2020] [Revised: 02/21/2020] [Accepted: 02/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
A large body of research has demonstrated that host-associated microbiota-the archaeal, bacterial, fungal and viral communities residing on and inside organisms-are critical to host health (Cho & Blaser, 2012). Although the vast majority of these studies focus on humans or model organisms in laboratory settings (Pascoe, Hauffe, Marchesi, & Perkins, 2017), they nevertheless provide important conceptual evidence that the disruption of host-associated microbial communities (termed "dysbiosis") among wild animals may reduce host fitness and survival under natural environmental conditions. Among the myriad of environmental factors capable of inducing dysbiosis among wild animals (Trevelline, Fontaine, Hartup, & Kohl, 2019), parasitic infections represent a potentially potent, yet poorly understood, factor influencing microbial community dynamics and animal health. The study by DeCandia et al. in this issue of Molecular Ecology is a rare example of a host-parasite-microbiota interaction that impacts the health, survival and conservation of a threatened wild animal in its natural habitat. Using culture-independent techniques, DeCandia et al. found that the presence of an ectoparasitic mite (Otodectes cynotis) in the ear canal of the Santa Catalina Island fox (Urocyon littoralis catalinae) was associated with significantly reduced ear canal microbial diversity, with the opportunistic pathogen Staphylococcus pseudintermedius dominating the community. These findings suggest that parasite-induced inflammation may contribute to the formation of ceruminous gland tumours in this subspecies of Channel Island fox. As a rare example of a host-parasite-microbiota interaction that may mediate a lethal disease in a population of threatened animals, their study provides an excellent example of how aspects of disease ecology can be integrated into studies of host-associated microbiota to advance conservation science and practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian K Trevelline
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Jessica F Stephenson
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Kevin D Kohl
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
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Gupta P, Robin VV, Dharmarajan G. Towards a more healthy conservation paradigm: integrating disease and molecular ecology to aid biological conservation †. J Genet 2020; 99:65. [PMID: 33622992 PMCID: PMC7371965] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2019] [Revised: 04/23/2020] [Accepted: 05/25/2020] [Indexed: 08/23/2024]
Abstract
Parasites, and the diseases they cause, are important from an ecological and evolutionary perspective because they can negatively affect host fitness and can regulate host populations. Consequently, conservation biology has long recognized the vital role that parasites can play in the process of species endangerment and recovery. However, we are only beginning to understand how deeply parasites are embedded in ecological systems, and there is a growing recognition of the important ways in which parasites affect ecosystem structure and function. Thus, there is an urgent need to revisit how parasites are viewed from a conservation perspective and broaden the role that disease ecology plays in conservation-related research and outcomes. This review broadly focusses on the role that disease ecology can play in biological conservation. Our review specifically emphasizes on how the integration of tools and analytical approaches associated with both disease and molecular ecology can be leveraged to aid conservation biology. Our review first concentrates on disease mediated extinctions and wildlife epidemics. We then focus on elucidating how host-parasite interactions has improved our understanding of the eco-evolutionary dynamics affecting hosts at the individual, population, community and ecosystem scales. We believe that the role of parasites as drivers and indicators of ecosystem health is especially an exciting area of research that has the potential to fundamentally alter our view of parasites and their role in biological conservation. The review concludes with a broad overview of the current and potential applications of modern genomic tools in disease ecology to aid biological conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pooja Gupta
- Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, University of Georgia, PO Drawer E, Aiken, SC 29801, USA.
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