title: Ecotoxicology inside the gut: impact of heavy metals on the mouse microbiome.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The gut microbiota is critical for intestinal homeostasis. Recent studies have revealed the links between different types of dysbiosis and diseases inside and outside the intestine. Environmental exposure to pollutants (such as heavy metals) can also impair various physiological functions for good health. Here, we studied the impact of up to 8 weeks of oral lead and cadmium ingestion on the composition of the murine intestinal microbiome.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Pyrosequencing of 16S RNA sequences revealed minor but specific changes in bacterial commensal communities (at both family and genus levels) following oral exposure to the heavy metals, with notably low numbers of Lachnospiraceae and high numbers levels of Lactobacillaceae and Erysipelotrichaceacae (mainly due to changes in Turicibacter spp), relative to control animals.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Non-absorbed heavy metals have a direct impact on the gut microbiota. In turn, this may impact the alimentary tract and overall gut homeostasis. Our results may enable more accurate assessment of the risk of intestinal disease associated with heavy metal ingestion.
authors: Jérôme
authors: J
authors: Breton
authors: Sébastien
authors: S
authors: Massart
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Vandamme
authors: Evie
authors: E
authors: De Brandt
authors: Bruno
authors: B
authors: Pot
authors: Bactéries Lactiques & Immunité des Muqueuses, Centre d'Infection et d'Immunité de Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1019, UMR 8204, Université Lille Nord de France, 1 rue du Pr Calmette, Lille cedex, BP 245, F-59019, France. benoit.foligne@ibl.fr.
authors: Benoît
authors: B
authors: Foligné
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002104:Cadmium / Q000633:toxicity*; D002432:Cecum / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000382:microbiology; D058645:Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis; D054750:Ecotoxicology; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D000075322:Heavy Metal Poisoning; D007777:Lactobacillaceae / Q000235:genetics; D007854:Lead / Q000633:toxicity*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D064307:Microbiota / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D011041:Poisoning / Q000209:etiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; D002104:Cadmium; D007854:Lead