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Scientific Reports Jun 2024Intestinal parasitic infections (IPIs) can lead to significant morbidity and mortality in cancer patients. While they are unlikely to cause severe disease and are...
Intestinal parasitic infections (IPIs) can lead to significant morbidity and mortality in cancer patients. While they are unlikely to cause severe disease and are self-limiting in healthy individuals, cancer patients are especially susceptible to opportunistic parasitic infections. The gut microbiota plays a crucial role in various aspects of health, including immune regulation and metabolic processes. Parasites occupy the same environment as bacteria in the gut. Recent research suggests intestinal parasites can disrupt the normal balance of the gut microbiota. However, there is limited understanding of this co-infection dynamic among cancer patients in Malaysia. A study was conducted to determine the prevalence and relationship between intestinal parasites and gut microbiota composition in cancer patients. Stool samples from 134 cancer patients undergoing active treatment or newly diagnosed were collected and examined for the presence of intestinal parasites and gut microbiota composition. The study also involved 17 healthy individuals for comparison and control. Sequencing with 16S RNA at the V3-V4 region was used to determine the gut microbial composition between infected and non-infected cancer patients and healthy control subjects. The overall prevalence of IPIs among cancer patients was found to be 32.8%. Microsporidia spp. Accounted for the highest percentage at 20.1%, followed by Entamoeba spp. (3.7%), Cryptosporidium spp. (3.0%), Cyclospora spp. (2.2%), and Ascaris lumbricoides (0.8%). None of the health control subjects tested positive for intestinal parasites. The sequencing data analysis revealed that the gut microbiota diversity and composition were significantly different in cancer patients than in healthy controls (p < 0.001). A significant dissimilarity was observed in the bacterial composition between parasite-infected and non-infected patients based on Bray-Curtis (p = 0.041) and Jaccard (p = 0.021) measurements. Bacteria from the genus Enterococcus were enriched in the parasite-infected groups, while Faecalibacterium prausnitzii reduced compared to non-infected and control groups. Further analysis between different IPIs and non-infected individuals demonstrated a noteworthy variation in Entamoeba-infected (unweighted UniFrac: p = 0.008), Cryptosporidium-infected (Bray-Curtis: p = 0.034) and microsporidia-infected (unweighted: p = 0.026; weighted: p = 0.019; Jaccard: p = 0.031) samples. No significant dissimilarity was observed between Cyclospora-infected groups and non-infected groups. Specifically, patients infected with Cryptosporidium and Entamoeba showed increased obligate anaerobic bacteria. Clostridiales were enriched with Entamoeba infections, whereas those from Coriobacteriales decreased. Bacteroidales and Clostridium were found in higher abundance in the gut microbiota with Cryptosporidium infection, while Bacillales decreased. Additionally, bacteria from the genus Enterococcus were enriched in microsporidia-infected patients. In contrast, bacteria from the Clostridiales order, Faecalibacterium, Parabacteroides, Collinsella, Ruminococcus, and Sporosarcina decreased compared to the non-infected groups. These findings underscore the importance of understanding and managing the interactions between intestinal parasites and gut microbiota for improved outcomes in cancer patients.
Topics: Humans; Malaysia; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Male; Female; Middle Aged; Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic; Adult; Neoplasms; Aged; Feces; Tertiary Care Centers; Hospitals, Teaching; Prevalence; Cryptosporidium; Entamoeba; Microsporidia; Coinfection; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S
PubMed: 38871760
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-59969-6 -
BioRxiv : the Preprint Server For... May 2024Microsporidia are single-celled intracellular parasites that cause opportunistic diseases in humans. is a prevalent human-infecting species that invades the small...
Microsporidia are single-celled intracellular parasites that cause opportunistic diseases in humans. is a prevalent human-infecting species that invades the small intestine. Dissemination to other organ systems is also observed, and is potentially facilitated by macrophages. The macrophage response to infection and the developmental trajectory of the parasite are not well studied. Here we use single cell RNA sequencing to investigate transcriptional changes in both the host and parasite during infection. While a small population of infected macrophages mount a response, most remain transcriptionally unchanged, suggesting that the majority of parasites may avoid host detection. The parasite transcriptome reveals large transcriptional changes throughout the life cycle, providing a blueprint for parasite development. The stealthy microsporidian lifestyle likely allows these parasites to harness macrophages for replication and dissemination. Together, our data provide insights into the host response in primary human macrophages and the developmental program.
PubMed: 38853846
DOI: 10.1101/2024.05.30.596468 -
Microbiology Resource Announcements Jun 2024sp. F41 is a potent insecticidal metabolite producing actinomycetes isolated from the topsoil, and the complete genome sequence was determined. The genome consists of...
sp. F41 is a potent insecticidal metabolite producing actinomycetes isolated from the topsoil, and the complete genome sequence was determined. The genome consists of 8,343,496 bp, with 7,221 genes and a GC content of 71.84%.
PubMed: 38842340
DOI: 10.1128/mra.00306-24 -
Frontiers in Cellular and Infection... 2024The genus harbors opportunistic pathogenic species, among which is pathogenic for honeybees although little studied. Recently, virulent strains of colonizing the...
The genus harbors opportunistic pathogenic species, among which is pathogenic for honeybees although little studied. Recently, virulent strains of colonizing the mite's mouth were found vectored into the honeybee body, leading to septicemia and death. also occurs as an opportunistic pathogen in the honeybee's gut with a low absolute abundance. The population seems controlled by the host immune system, but its presence may represent a hidden threat, ready to arise when honeybees are weakened by biotic and abiotic stressors. To shed light on the pathogen, this research aims at studying 's development dynamics in the honeybee body and its interactions with the co-occurring fungal pathogen . Firstly, the degree of pathogenicity and the ability to permeate the gut epithelial barrier of three strains, isolated from honeybees and belonging to different species (, , and ), were assessed by artificial inoculation of newborn honeybees with different doses (10, 10, and 10 cells/mL). The absolute abundance of in the gut and in the hemocoel was assessed in qPCR with primers targeting the gene. Moreover, the absolute abundance of was assessed in the gut of honeybees infected with at different development stages and supplied with beneficial microorganisms and fumagillin. Our results showed that all tested strains could pass through the gut epithelial barrier and proliferate in the hemocoel, with being the most pathogenic. Moreover, under cage conditions, better proliferates when a infection is co-occurring, with a positive and significant correlation. Finally, fumagillin and some of the tested beneficial microorganisms could control both and development. Our findings suggest a correlation between the two pathogens under laboratory conditions, a co-occurring infection that should be taken into consideration by researches when testing antimicrobial compounds active against , and the related honeybees survival rate. Moreover, our findings suggest a positive control of by the environmental microorganism in a in vivo model, confirming the potential of this specie as beneficial bacteria for honeybees.
Topics: Animals; Bees; Serratia; Nosema; Serratia marcescens; Gastrointestinal Tract; Serratia Infections; Cyclohexanes; Serratia liquefaciens; Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; Sesquiterpenes
PubMed: 38808063
DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2024.1323157 -
Microorganisms May 2024Multiple microbial detections in stool samples of indigenous individuals suffering from chronic gastroenteric disorder of a likely infectious origin, characterized by...
Collider Bias Assessment in Colombian Indigenous Wiwa and Kogui Populations with Chronic Gastroenteric Disorder of Likely Infectious Etiology Suggests Complex Microbial Interactions Rather Than Clear Assignments of Etiological Relevance.
Multiple microbial detections in stool samples of indigenous individuals suffering from chronic gastroenteric disorder of a likely infectious origin, characterized by recurring diarrhea of variable intensity, in the rural north-east of Colombia are common findings, making the assignment of etiological relevance to individual pathogens challenging. In a population of 773 indigenous people from either the tribe Wiwa or Kogui, collider bias analysis was conducted comprising 32 assessed microorganisms including 10 bacteria ( spp., spp., enteroaggregative (EAEC), enteropathogenic (EPEC), enterotoxigenic (ETEC), spp., Shiga toxin-producing (STEC), spp./enteroinvasive (EIEC), and spp.), 11 protozoa ( spp., spp., spp., , , /// complex, , , , and ), 8 helminths ( spp., , spp., , spp., spp., spp. and spp.), microsporidia ( spp.) and fungal elements (microscopically observed conidia and pseudoconidia). The main results indicated that negative associations potentially pointing towards collider bias were infrequent events (n = 14), while positive associations indicating increased likelihood of co-occurrence of microorganisms quantitatively dominated (n = 88). Microorganisms showing the most frequent negative associations were EPEC (n = 6) and spp. (n = 3), while positive associations were most common for spp. (n = 16), (n = 15), spp./EIEC (n = 12), spp. (n = 11) and spp. (n = 10). Of note, positive associations quantitively dominated for spp. In conclusion, collider bias assessment did not allow clear-cut assignment of etiological relevance for detected enteric microorganisms within the assessed Colombian indigenous population. Instead, the results suggested complex microbial interactions with potential summative effects. Future studies applying alternative biostatistical approaches should be considered to further delineate respective interactions.
PubMed: 38792799
DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12050970 -
Microorganisms Apr 2024spp. and Microsporidia are opportunistic microorganisms with remarkable zoonotic transmission potential due to their capacity to infect humans and animals. The aim of...
spp. and Microsporidia are opportunistic microorganisms with remarkable zoonotic transmission potential due to their capacity to infect humans and animals. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of these microorganisms in stool samples of animal and human origin. In total, 369 stool samples (205 from human patients with diarrhea and 164 of animal origin) were included in the study. spp. and Microsporidia presence were determined by using multiplex nested PCR. Positive results were analyzed by using Sanger sequencing of the amplicon, utilizing BLASTN and ClustalX software to confirm identification. spp. were found in 0.97% and 4.26% of human and animal samples, respectively. was detected in human and animal stools in 6.82% and 3.05% of the samples, respectively. No associations were found when analyzing the presence of spp. and and the demographic and clinical variables of patients and animals. This study demonstrates the presence of these microorganisms in human and animal samples from different species, and the most interesting findings are the detection of spp. in pets (e.g., rodents) that are not usually included in this type of study, and the identification of in patients with diarrhea without underlying disease.
PubMed: 38792745
DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12050918 -
Parasite (Paris, France) 2024Enterocytozoon bieneusi is the most common microsporidian species in humans and can affect over 200 animal species. Considering possible increasing risk of human E....
Enterocytozoon bieneusi is the most common microsporidian species in humans and can affect over 200 animal species. Considering possible increasing risk of human E. bieneusi infection due to close contact with pet dogs and identification of zoonotic E. bieneusi genotypes, 589 fresh fecal specimens of pet dogs were collected from Yunnan Province, China to determine the occurrence of E. bieneusi, characterize dog-derived E. bieneusi isolates, and assess their zoonotic potential at the genotype level. Enterocytozoon bieneusi was identified and genotyped by PCR and sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of the ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene. Twenty-nine specimens (4.9%) were positive. A statistical difference was observed in occurrence rates of E. bieneusi in pet dogs among 11 sampling sites by Fisher's exact test. Fifteen genotypes were identified and all of them phylogenetically belonged to zoonotic group 1, including four known genotypes (EbpC, D, Peru 8, and Henan-III) and 11 novel genotypes. Genotype Henan-III was reported in dogs for the first time. The finding of known genotypes found previously in humans and novel genotypes falling into zoonotic group 1 indicates that dogs may play a role in the transmission of E. bieneusi to humans in the investigated areas.
Topics: Dogs; Animals; Enterocytozoon; China; Microsporidiosis; Dog Diseases; Feces; Phylogeny; Genotype; Zoonoses; Pets; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer; DNA, Fungal; Humans; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Sequence Analysis, DNA
PubMed: 38787023
DOI: 10.1051/parasite/2024025 -
Emerging Infectious Diseases Jun 2024We retrospectively analyzed of 211 frozen cerebrospinal fluid samples from immunocompetent persons in the Czech Republic and detected 6 Encephalitozoon cuniculi-positive...
We retrospectively analyzed of 211 frozen cerebrospinal fluid samples from immunocompetent persons in the Czech Republic and detected 6 Encephalitozoon cuniculi-positive samples. Microsporidiosis is generally underestimated and patients are not usually tested for microsporidia, but latent infection in immunodeficient and immunocompetent patients can cause serious complications if not detected and treated.
Topics: Humans; Czech Republic; Encephalitozoon cuniculi; Encephalitozoonosis; Male; Female; Middle Aged; Adult; Retrospective Studies; Aged; Immunocompetence
PubMed: 38782145
DOI: 10.3201/eid3006.231585 -
Cell May 2024FMS-related tyrosine kinase 3 ligand (FLT3L), encoded by FLT3LG, is a hematopoietic factor essential for the development of natural killer (NK) cells, B cells, and...
FMS-related tyrosine kinase 3 ligand (FLT3L), encoded by FLT3LG, is a hematopoietic factor essential for the development of natural killer (NK) cells, B cells, and dendritic cells (DCs) in mice. We describe three humans homozygous for a loss-of-function FLT3LG variant with a history of various recurrent infections, including severe cutaneous warts. The patients' bone marrow (BM) was hypoplastic, with low levels of hematopoietic progenitors, particularly myeloid and B cell precursors. Counts of B cells, monocytes, and DCs were low in the patients' blood, whereas the other blood subsets, including NK cells, were affected only moderately, if at all. The patients had normal counts of Langerhans cells (LCs) and dermal macrophages in the skin but lacked dermal DCs. Thus, FLT3L is required for B cell and DC development in mice and humans. However, unlike its murine counterpart, human FLT3L is required for the development of monocytes but not NK cells.
Topics: Animals; Female; Humans; Male; Mice; B-Lymphocytes; Bone Marrow; Cell Lineage; Dendritic Cells; Hematopoiesis; Hematopoietic Stem Cells; Killer Cells, Natural; Langerhans Cells; Membrane Proteins; Monocytes; Skin; Mice, Inbred C57BL
PubMed: 38701783
DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2024.04.009 -
Microbiology Spectrum Jun 2024Lipid droplets (LDs) are dynamic organelles that participate in the regulation of lipid metabolism and cellular homeostasis inside of cells. LD-associated proteins, also...
Lipid droplets (LDs) are dynamic organelles that participate in the regulation of lipid metabolism and cellular homeostasis inside of cells. LD-associated proteins, also known as perilipins (PLINs), are a family of proteins found on the surface of LDs that regulate lipid metabolism, immunity, and other functions. In silkworms, pébrine disease caused by infection by the microsporidian () is a severe threat to the sericultural industry. Although we found that relies on lipids from silkworms to facilitate its proliferation, the relationship between PLINs and proliferation remains unknown. Here, we found infection caused the accumulation of LDs in the fat bodies of silkworm larvae. The characterized perilipin1 gene () promotes the accumulation of intracellular LDs and is involved in proliferation. is similar to in humans and is conserved in all insects. The expression of was mostly enriched in the fat body rather than in other tissues. Knockdown of enhanced proliferation, whereas overexpression of inhibited its proliferation. Furthermore, we confirmed that increased the expression of the and in the JAK-STAT immune pathway and inhibited proliferation. Taken together, our current findings demonstrate that inhibits proliferation by promoting the JAK-STAT pathway through increased expression of and . This study provides new insights into the complicated connections among microsporidia pathogens, LD surface proteins, and insect immunity.IMPORTANCELipid droplets (LDs) are lipid storage sites in cells and are present in almost all animals. Many studies have found that LDs may play a role in host resistance to pathogens and are closely related to innate immunity. The present study found that a surface protein of insect lipid droplets could not only regulate the morphological changes of lipid droplets but also inhibit the proliferation of a microsporidian pathogen () by activating the JAK-STAT signaling pathway. This is the first discovery of the relationship between microsporidian pathogen and insect lipid surface protein perilipin and insect immunity.
Topics: Bombyx; Animals; Nosema; Insect Proteins; Lipid Droplets; Janus Kinases; Signal Transduction; Perilipin-1; STAT Transcription Factors; Fat Body; Larva; Lipid Metabolism
PubMed: 38690912
DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.03671-23