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Altered gastrointestinal tract structure and microbiome following cerebral malaria infection
journal contribution
posted on 2023-02-14, 23:15 authored by SA Knowler, A Shindler, JL Wood, A Lakkavaram, CJ Thomas, Tania De Koning-WardTania De Koning-Ward, EL Hill-Yardin, TG Carvalho, AE FranksCerebral malaria (CM) is the most severe form of malaria with the highest mortality rate and can result in life-long neurological deficits and ongoing comorbidities. Factors contributing to severity of infection and development of CM are not fully elucidated. Recent studies have indicated a key role of the gut microbiome in a range of health conditions that affect the brain, but limited microbiome research has been conducted in the context of malaria. To address this knowledge gap, the impact of CM on the gut microbiome was investigated in mice. C57BL/6J mice were infected with Plasmodium berghei ANKA (PbA) parasites and compared to non-infected controls. Microbial DNA from faecal pellets collected daily for 6-days post-infection were extracted, and microbiome comparisons conducted using 16S rRNA profiling. We identified significant differences in the composition of bacterial communities between the infected and the non-infected groups, including a higher abundance of the genera Akkermansia, Alistipes and Alloprevotella in PbA-infected mice. Furthermore, intestinal samples were collected post-cull for morphological analysis. We determined that the caecal weight was significantly lower, and the small intestine was significantly longer in PbA-infected mice than in the non-infected controls. We concluded that changes in microbial community composition were primarily driven by the infection protocol and, to a lesser extent, by the time of infection. Our findings pave the way for a new area of research and novel intervention strategies to modulate the severity of cerebral malaria disease.
History
Journal
Parasitology ResearchLocation
GermanyPublisher DOI
ISSN
0932-0113eISSN
1432-1955Language
EnglishPublication classification
C1 Refereed article in a scholarly journalPublisher
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Keywords
Science & TechnologyLife Sciences & BiomedicineParasitologyCerebral malariaGastrointestinal tractMicrobiomeDysbiosisGUT MICROBIOMEINTESTINAL MICROBIOTAFERMENTATIONPATHOGENESISCOLITISLINKINGMODELSHEALTHNeurosciencesVector-Borne DiseasesMalariaInfectious DiseasesRare DiseasesDigestive Diseases2 Aetiology2.1 Biological and endogenous factors2.2 Factors relating to the physical environmentInfection3 Good Health and Well BeingMicrobiologyVeterinary Sciences not elsewhere classifiedMedical Microbiology not elsewhere classified
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