The Human Blood Fluke, Schistosoma mansoni, Harbors Bacteria Throughout the Parasite's Life Cycle. 2023

Fabio Formenti, and Alba Cortés, and Michela Deiana, and Susannah Salter, and Julian Parkhill, and Matt Berriman, and Gabriel Rinaldi, and Cinzia Cantacessi
Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.

While symbiotic relationships between invertebrates and bacteria have been extensively described, studies of microbial communities inhabiting parasitic worms remain scarce. Exploring the microbiota associated with helminths responsible for major infectious diseases will inform on parasite biology, host-pathogen interactions, and disease pathophysiology. We investigated the presence of microorganisms inhabiting tissues of the human parasite Schistosoma mansoni. In situ hybridization using a pan-bacterial 16S rRNA gene probe revealed bacteria colonizing key developmental stages that were successfully removed after antibiotic treatment of live parasites. Understanding the composition and function of the S. mansoni-associated microbiota may lead to the development of novel microbiome-targeting control strategies.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008018 Life Cycle Stages The continuous sequence of changes undergone by living organisms during the post-embryonic developmental process, such as metamorphosis in insects and amphibians. This includes the developmental stages of apicomplexans such as the malarial parasite, PLASMODIUM FALCIPARUM. Life Cycle,Life History Stages,Cycle, Life,Cycles, Life,History Stage, Life,History Stages, Life,Life Cycle Stage,Life Cycles,Life History Stage,Stage, Life Cycle,Stage, Life History,Stages, Life Cycle,Stages, Life History
D010271 Parasites Invertebrate organisms that live on or in another organism (the host), and benefit at the expense of the other. Traditionally excluded from definition of parasites are pathogenic BACTERIA; FUNGI; VIRUSES; and PLANTS; though they may live parasitically. Parasite
D006376 Helminths Commonly known as parasitic worms, this group includes the ACANTHOCEPHALA; NEMATODA; and PLATYHELMINTHS. Some authors consider certain species of LEECHES that can become temporarily parasitic as helminths. Aschelminthes,Gordius,Nematomorpha,Parasitic Worms,Worms, Parasitic,Aschelminthe,Helminth,Nematomorphas,Parasitic Worm,Worm, Parasitic
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D001419 Bacteria One of the three domains of life (the others being Eukarya and ARCHAEA), also called Eubacteria. They are unicellular prokaryotic microorganisms which generally possess rigid cell walls, multiply by cell division, and exhibit three principal forms: round or coccal, rodlike or bacillary, and spiral or spirochetal. Bacteria can be classified by their response to OXYGEN: aerobic, anaerobic, or facultatively anaerobic; by the mode by which they obtain their energy: chemotrophy (via chemical reaction) or PHOTOTROPHY (via light reaction); for chemotrophs by their source of chemical energy: CHEMOLITHOTROPHY (from inorganic compounds) or chemoorganotrophy (from organic compounds); and by their source for CARBON; NITROGEN; etc.; HETEROTROPHY (from organic sources) or AUTOTROPHY (from CARBON DIOXIDE). They can also be classified by whether or not they stain (based on the structure of their CELL WALLS) with CRYSTAL VIOLET dye: gram-negative or gram-positive. Eubacteria
D012336 RNA, Ribosomal, 16S Constituent of 30S subunit prokaryotic ribosomes containing 1600 nucleotides and 21 proteins. 16S rRNA is involved in initiation of polypeptide synthesis. 16S Ribosomal RNA,16S rRNA,RNA, 16S Ribosomal,Ribosomal RNA, 16S,rRNA, 16S
D012550 Schistosoma mansoni A species of trematode blood flukes of the family Schistosomatidae. It is common in the Nile delta. The intermediate host is the planorbid snail. This parasite causes schistosomiasis mansoni and intestinal bilharziasis. Schistosoma mansonus,mansonus, Schistosoma
D012555 Schistosomiasis mansoni Schistosomiasis caused by Schistosoma mansoni. It is endemic in Africa, the Middle East, South America, and the Caribbean and affects mainly the bowel, spleen, and liver. Schistosomiasis, Intestinal,Schistosoma mansoni Infection,Infection, Schistosoma mansoni,Infections, Schistosoma mansoni,Intestinal Schistosomiases,Intestinal Schistosomiasis,Schistosoma mansoni Infections,Schistosomiases, Intestinal

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