Collateral Damage in the Human Gut Microbiome - Blastocystis Is Significantly Less Prevalent in an Antibiotic-Treated Adult Population Compared to Non-Antibiotic Treated Controls

Microbiota and parasite relationship

The diversity of microbiota is different in each person. Many health problems such as autoimmune diseases, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and depression can be caused by microbiota imbalance. Since the parasite needs a host to survive, it interacts closely with the microbiota elements. Blastocystis acts on the inflammatory state of the intestine and may cause various gastrointestinal symptoms, on the contrary, it is more important for gut health because it causes bacterial diversity and richness. Blastocystis is associated with changes in gut microbiota composition, the ultimate indicator of which is the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio. The Bifidobacterium genus was significantly reduced in IBS patients and Blastocystis, and there is a significant decrease in Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, which has anti-inflammatory properties in Blastocystis infection without IBS. Lactobacillus species reduce the presence of Giardia, and the produced bacteriocins prevent parasite adhesion. The presence of helminths has been strongly associated with the transition from Bacteroidetes to Firmicutes and Clostridia. Contrary to Ascaris, alpha diversity in the intestinal microbiota decreases in chronic Trichuris muris infection, and growth and nutrient metabolism efficiency can be suppressed. Helminth infections indirectly affect mood and behavior in children through their effects on microbiota change. The main and focus of this review is to address the relationship of parasites with microbiota elements and to review the data about what changes they cause. Microbiota studies have gained importance recently and it is thought that it will contribute to the treatment of many diseases as well as in the fight against parasitic diseases in the future.

Gut Microbiota Shifting in Irritable Bowel Syndrome: The Mysterious Role of Blastocystis sp

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a chronic disorder, which its causative agent is not completely clear; however, the interaction between microorganisms and gastrointestinal (GI) epithelial cells plays a critical role in the development of IBS and presenting symptoms. During recent decades, many studies have highlighted the high prevalence of Blastocystis sp. in patients with IBS and suggested a probable role for this protist in this disease. Recent studies have documented changes in the gut microbiota composition in patients with IBS regarding the presence of Blastocystis sp., but it is not clear that either disturbance of the gut during GI disorders is a favorable condition for Blastocystis sp. colonization or the presence of this protist may lead to alteration in the gut microbiota in IBS patients. In this review, we comprehensively gather and discuss scientific findings covering the role of Blastocystis sp. in IBS via gut microbiota shifting.