Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 12, 2026
10:05
Trichuris muris Infection: A Model of Type 2 Immunity and Inflammation in the Gut
Published on: May 24, 2011
16.3K
Microbiota dynamics during Ascaris suum larval migration: Implications for host microbial communities in a murine
Sergio Castañeda1, Cristina Poveda2, Charlie Suarez-Reyes3
1Centro de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Biotecnología-UR (CIMBIUR), Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia.
Microbial Pathogenesis
|November 16, 2024
Summary
Ascaris parasites harbor a unique microbiota distinct from their host, potentially exchanging bacteria during larval migration. This discovery offers insights into helminth-microbiota interactions for improved host health.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Parasitology
- Host-Microbiome Interactions
Background:
- Helminth infections significantly impact host health by altering the intestinal microbiota.
- Research on the specific microbiota associated with helminths themselves, beyond host changes, is limited.
- Understanding these interactions is crucial for developing novel therapeutic strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the bacterial microbiota associated with Ascaris larvae and host tissues during infection.
- To investigate the impact of Ascaris larval migration on the host's microbiota.
- To compare the microbial diversity and composition between Ascaris and host samples.
Main Methods:
- Murine model infected with Ascaris suum eggs.
- Sample collection from stool, intestine, liver, and lungs at 4, 8, and 14 days post-infection.
- 16S rRNA gene sequencing for bacterial community analysis.
Main Results:
- Ascaris-associated samples exhibited higher bacterial diversity compared to host tissues.
- Significant differences in microbial composition were observed between Ascaris larvae and host-associated samples.
- Specific bacterial genera, including Bradyrhizobium, Achromobacter, and Pseudomonas, were enriched in Ascaris.
Conclusions:
- Ascaris harbors a distinct microbiota that interacts with the host microbiome.
- Bacterial exchange between Ascaris and the host likely occurs during larval migration.
- These findings highlight the importance of helminth-associated microbiota in host-parasite dynamics and suggest potential therapeutic targets.
Related Concept Videos
01:22Introduction to the Human Microbiota
Microorganisms colonize various regions of the human body, including the mouth, nasal passages, throat, stomach, intestines, urogenital tract, and skin. The total number of microbial cells is estimated to range from 10¹³ to 10¹⁴—comparable to, or exceeding, the number of human somatic cells. This host–microbiome relationship has led to the conceptualization of humans as supraorganisms, wherein microbial communities perform vital roles in development, immunity, and disease...
01:27Microbiota of the Stomach and Small Intestine
The human gastrointestinal (GI) tract is characterized by distinct physicochemical conditions that shape its microbial communities. Among these, the stomach presents a particularly challenging environment for microbial colonization due to its highly acidic pH, ranging from 1 to 3. This extreme acidity effectively limits microbial density. However, certain acid-tolerant microorganisms are capable of surviving in this niche. Notably, Helicobacter pylori can colonize the gastric mucosa,...
01:27Microbiota of the Large Intestine
The large intestine hosts the most densely populated microbial ecosystem in the human body. This complex community primarily consists of anaerobic bacteria, with Bacillota (formerly Firmicutes) and Bacteroidota (formerly Bacteroidetes) as the predominant groups. The distribution of these microbes varies along different sections of the large intestine, influenced by local environmental factors such as oxygen availability and nutrient composition.The cecum, located at the beginning of the large...