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Mapping Pesticide-Induced Metabolic Alterations in Human Gut Bacteria
Li Chen1,2, Hong Yan3,4, Shanshan Di5
1Human Nutrition Program, Department of Human Sciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
Abstract:
Pesticides can modulate gut microbiota (GM) composition, but their specific effects on GM remain largely elusive. Our study demonstrated that pesticides inhibit or promote growth in various GM species, even at low concentrations, and can accumulate in GM to prolong their presence in the host. Meanwhile, the pesticide induced changes in GM composition are associated with significant alterations in gut bacterial metabolism that reflected by the changes of hundreds of metabolites. We generated a pesticide-GM-metabolites (PMM) network that not only reveals pesticide-sensitive gut bacteria species but also report specific metabolic changes in 306 pesticide-GM pairs (PGPs). Using an in vivo mice model, we further demonstrated a PGP's interactions and verified the inflammation-inducing effects of pesticides on the host through dysregulated lipid metabolism of microbes. Taken together, our findings generate a PMM interactions atlas, and shed light on the molecular level of how pesticides impact host health by modulating GM metabolism.
Insights
Pesticides alter gut microbiota (GM) composition and metabolism, even at low doses. This study reveals specific pesticide-gut bacteria interactions and their impact on host health via metabolic changes.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Microbiology
- Toxicology
Background:
- Pesticides are known to affect gut microbiota (GM) composition.
- The precise mechanisms and consequences of these interactions remain largely unknown.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the specific effects of pesticides on GM growth, composition, and metabolism.
- To establish a comprehensive network of pesticide-GM-metabolite (PMM) interactions.
- To elucidate the molecular mechanisms by which pesticides impact host health through GM modulation.
Main Methods:
- In vitro assessment of pesticide effects on GM species growth.
- Generation of a PMM network to identify pesticide-sensitive bacteria and metabolic alterations.
- In vivo validation using a mouse model to confirm PGP interactions and host inflammatory responses.
Main Results:
- Pesticides inhibit or promote GM growth and can accumulate within the microbiota.
- Significant alterations in gut bacterial metabolism were observed, with hundreds of metabolites affected.
- A PMM network identified 306 pesticide-GM pairs (PGPs) and linked them to specific metabolic changes.
- In vivo studies confirmed PGP interactions and demonstrated pesticide-induced inflammation via dysregulated microbial lipid metabolism.
Conclusions:
- The study provides a PMM interactions atlas, detailing how pesticides affect GM and host metabolism.
- Pesticides impact host health at a molecular level by modulating GM metabolism, particularly lipid metabolism.
- Findings highlight the critical role of GM in mediating pesticide toxicity and host inflammatory responses.
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