Hymenolepis diet
This study provides the first evidence that Hymenolepis diminuta, an obligate intestinal tapeworm, undergoes reversible aestivation in response to a Western diet. This dormancy, marked by reduced growth, halted reproduction, and metabolic downregulation, mirrors survival strategies in free-living invertebrates but remains unexplored in intestinal symbionts. Our findings reveal that diet-induced aestivation is associated with significant shifts in gene expression, particularly in pathways related to muscle function, energy metabolism, and development. Using a rat model, we demonstrate that diet profoundly affects host-helminth interactions. Metagenomic and metabolomic analyses show that the Western diet not only induces aestivation in H. diminuta but also alters gut microbiota and metabolome in a diet-dependent manner. These findings challenge traditional perspectives on parasite persistence, identifying host diet as a key factor in helminth biology. The decline of helminths in modern populations is often attributed to improved hygiene and medical advances, but our results suggest that dietary shifts may have also contributed by exerting selective pressures on parasite physiology. Understanding these diet-driven effects could provide new insights into helminth evolution and pave the way for helminth-based therapies targeting immune and metabolic disorders.