The gut microbial metabolic capacity of microbiome-humanized vs. wild type rodents reveals a likely dual role of intestinal bacteria in hepato-intestinal schistosomiasis

Cortés, A. et al. (2022) The gut microbial metabolic capacity of microbiome-humanized vs. wild type rodents reveals a likely dual role of intestinal bacteria in hepato-intestinal schistosomiasis. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 16(10), e0010878. (doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0010878) (PMID:36279280) (PMCID:PMC9633004)

Abstract

Increasing evidence shows that the host gut microbiota might be involved in the immunological cascade that culminates with the formation of tissue granulomas underlying the pathophysiology of hepato-intestinal schistosomiasis. In this study, we investigated the impact of Schistosoma mansoni infection on the gut microbial composition and functional potential of both wild type and microbiome-humanized mice. In spite of substantial differences in microbiome composition at baseline, selected pathways were consistently affected by parasite infection. The gut microbiomes of infected mice of both lines displayed, amongst other features, enhanced capacity for tryptophan and butyrate production, which might be linked to the activation of mechanisms aimed to prevent excessive injuries caused by migrating parasite eggs. Complementing data from previous studies, our findings suggest that the host gut microbiome might play a dual role in the pathophysiology of schistosomiasis, where intestinal bacteria may contribute to egg-associated pathology while, in turn, protect the host from uncontrolled tissue damage.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: This research was funded by grants awarded by the Wellcome Trust [grant 206194] to MB and GR, the Fundación Alfonso Martín Escudero to AC and the University of Cambridge to CC. KAS is the grateful recipient of a PhD scholarship by the Cambridge Trust.
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Berriman, Professor Matt

Creator Roles

Berriman, M.: Funding acquisition, Writing – review and editing

• Authors: Cortés, A., Martin, J., Rosa, B. A., Stark, K. A., Clare, S., McCarthy, C., Harcourt, K., Brandt, C., Tolley, C., Lawley, T. D., Mitreva, M., Berriman, M., Rinaldi, G., and Cantacessi, C.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Infection & Immunity
• Journal Name: PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases
• Publisher: Public Library of Science
• ISSN: 1935-2727
• ISSN (Online): 1935-2735
• Published Online: 24 October 2022
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2022 Cortés et al.
• First Published: First published in PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases 16(10): e0010878
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License