Impact of parasitic infection on human gut ecology and immune regulations

Ahsan Naveed,Sabahat Abdullah

doi:10.1186/s41231-021-00091-4

Abstract

The human body harbors trillions of microbes collectively known as microbiota. The human gut microbiota is importantly involved in most of the human metabolic and regulatory pathways. The gut microbiota needs to be balanced for the health of the host. Several factors are involved in the distribution of microbiota in the human body, in most cases these microbiotas are commensals, but some circumstances lead to serious disorders and the development of infections from microbiota. When parasites colonize the gut, the balance between the host and the gut microbiota can be disturbed. Parasitic invasion in the gut is associated with unhygienic conditions including contaminated food and water. Parasitic invasion in the gut induces the immune response to recognize and eliminate pathogens. The current study highlights the immune system’s response to disruption of normal intestinal microbiota and parasitic infections.

Highlights

The human gut harbors a diverse microbiome composed of bacteria, archaea, viruses, and parasites that are important to the well-being of the host
Pathogenic strains of E. coli and S. dysenteriae significantly augment the virulence of Entamoeba histolytica by enhancing the cysteine activity and expression of Gal/GalNAc lectin on the amoebic surface [40]. When it comes to the impact of helminth infections on the microbiota, parasite species do not appear to be a good predictor of how bacterial population composition or diversity will change after infection, as study results can vary even within single host-parasite systems
In 2016, a study of Blastocystis spp., Entamoeba spp., and Giardia intestinalis in a human population found a grouping division between Giardia-infected individuals and those infected with other parasites, suggesting that the microbial communities could be reshaped solely by the existence of Giardia parasites. These findings indicate that protozoa parasites, including helminths, alter the composition of the human bacterial gut microbiota [44]

Summary

Introduction

The human gut harbors a diverse microbiome composed of bacteria, archaea, viruses, and parasites that are important to the well-being of the host. Effective immune mechanisms against gut parasites and their regulation are important factors to human health and stability. The intestinal parasites including protozoa and helminthes constantly secrete and excrete the molecules that alter the gut environment for microbiota [33].

Results

Conclusion