title: Impact of experimental hookworm infection on the human gut microbiota.
abstract: The interactions between gastrointestinal parasitic helminths and commensal bacteria are likely to play a pivotal role in the establishment of host-parasite cross-talk, ultimately shaping the development of the intestinal immune system. However, little information is available on the impact of infections by gastrointestinal helminths on the bacterial communities inhabiting the human gut. We used 16S rRNA gene amplification and pyrosequencing to characterize, for the first time to our knowledge, the differences in composition and relative abundance of fecal microbial communities in human subjects prior to and following experimental infection with the blood-feeding intestinal hookworm, Necator americanus. Our data show that, although hookworm infection leads to a minor increase in microbial species richness, no detectable effect is observed on community structure, diversity or relative abundance of individual bacterial species.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, Queensland Tropical Health Alliance Laboratory, James Cook University, Cairns.
authors.forename: Cinzia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cantacessi
authors.affiliation: Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, Queensland Tropical Health Alliance Laboratory, James Cook University, Cairns.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Giacomin
authors.affiliation: Prince Charles Hospital.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Croese
authors.affiliation: Bioinformatics Laboratory, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia.
authors.forename: Martha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zakrzewski
authors.affiliation: Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, Queensland Tropical Health Alliance Laboratory, James Cook University, Cairns.
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sotillo
authors.affiliation: Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, Queensland Tropical Health Alliance Laboratory, James Cook University, Cairns.
authors.forename: Leisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: McCann
authors.affiliation: Royal Veterinary College, University of London, Hawkshead, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Matthew J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Nolan
authors.affiliation: The Genome Institute Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis.
authors.forename: Makedonka
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mitreva
authors.affiliation: Bioinformatics Laboratory, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia.
authors.forename: Lutz
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Krause
authors.affiliation: Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, Queensland Tropical Health Alliance Laboratory, James Cook University, Cairns.
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Loukas
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology / Q000469:parasitology; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D006801:Humans; D064307:Microbiota / Q000502:physiology; D017221:Necator americanus; D009332:Necatoriasis / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology*
keywords: 16S rRNA gene; chronic inflammatory disorders; experimental infection; hookworms; microbial richness; parasitic helminths; pyrosequencing