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https://www.arca.fiocruz.br/handle/icict/46001
INVESTIGATING ASSOCIATIONS BETWEEN INTESTINAL ALTERATIONS AND PARASITE LOAD ACCORDING TO BIFIDOBACTERIUM SPP. AND LACTOBACILLUS SPP. ABUNDANCE IN THE GUT MICROBIOTA OF HAMSTERS INFECTED BY LEISHMANIA INFANTUM
Leishmania infantum
Trato gastrointestinal
Microbiota gastrointestinal
Author
Affilliation
Universidade Federal da Bahia. Instituto de Ciências da Saúde. Departamento de Bioquímica e Biofísica, Salvador, BA, Brasil.
Universidade Federal do Recôncavo da Bahia. Centro de Ciências da Saúde. Santo Antônio de Jesus, BA, Brasil.
Universidade Federal da Bahia. Instituto de Ciências da Saúde. Departamento de Bioquímica e Biofísica, Salvador, BA, Brasil.
Universidade Federal da Bahia. Instituto de Ciências da Saúde. Departamento de Bioquímica e Biofísica, Salvador, BA, Brasil.
Universidad Autónoma de Madrid. Facultad de Ciencias. Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas. Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa. Departamento de Biología Molecular. Madrid, Spain.
Universidad Autónoma de Madrid. Facultad de Ciencias. Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas. Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa. Departamento de Biología Molecular. Madrid, Spain.
Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Gonçalo Moniz. Salvador, BA, Bahia, Brasil.
Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Gonçalo Moniz. Salvador, BA, Bahia, Brasil.
Universidade Federal da Bahia. Instituto de Ciências da Saúde. Departamento de Bioquímica e Biofísica, Salvador, BA, Brasil.
Universidade Federal do Recôncavo da Bahia. Centro de Ciências da Saúde. Santo Antônio de Jesus, BA, Brasil.
Universidade Federal da Bahia. Instituto de Ciências da Saúde. Departamento de Bioquímica e Biofísica, Salvador, BA, Brasil.
Universidade Federal da Bahia. Instituto de Ciências da Saúde. Departamento de Bioquímica e Biofísica, Salvador, BA, Brasil.
Universidad Autónoma de Madrid. Facultad de Ciencias. Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas. Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa. Departamento de Biología Molecular. Madrid, Spain.
Universidad Autónoma de Madrid. Facultad de Ciencias. Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas. Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa. Departamento de Biología Molecular. Madrid, Spain.
Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Gonçalo Moniz. Salvador, BA, Bahia, Brasil.
Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Gonçalo Moniz. Salvador, BA, Bahia, Brasil.
Universidade Federal da Bahia. Instituto de Ciências da Saúde. Departamento de Bioquímica e Biofísica, Salvador, BA, Brasil.
Abstract
Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a tropical neglected disease with high associated rates of mortality. Several
studies have highlighted the importance of the intestinal tract (IT) and gut microbiota (GM) in the host immunological defense.
Data in the literature on parasite life cycle and host immune defense against VL are scarce regarding the effects of infection
on the IT and GM.
OBJECTIVES This study aimed to investigate changes observed in the colon of Leishmania infantum-infected hamsters, including
alterations in the enteric nervous system (ENS) and GM (specifically, levels of bifidobacteria and lactobacilli).
METHODS Male hamsters were inoculated with L. infantum and euthanised at four or eight months post-infection. Intestines
were processed for histological analysis and GM analysis. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) was performed to
quantify each group of bacteria: Bifidobacterium spp. (Bf) and Lactobacillus spp (LacB).
FINDINGS Infected hamsters showed histoarchitectural loss in the colon wall, with increased thickness in the submucosa and
the mucosa layer, as well as greater numbers of intraepithelial lymphocytes. Forms suggestive of amastigotes were seen inside
mononuclear cells. L. infantum infection induced changes in ENS, as evidenced by increases in the area of colonic enteric
ganglia. Despite the absence of changes in the levels of Bf and LacB during the course of infection, the relative abundance of
these bacteria was associated with parasite load and histological alterations.
MAIN CONCLUSIONS Our results indicate that L. infantum infection leads to important changes in the colon and suggest that
bacteria in the GM play a protective role.
Keywords in Portuguese
Leishmaniose visceralLeishmania infantum
Trato gastrointestinal
Microbiota gastrointestinal
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