Intestinal microbiota mediates Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli-induced diarrhea in piglets

Abstract

BackgroundEnterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) causes diarrhea in humans, cows, and pigs. The gut microbiota underlies pathology of several infectious diseases yet the role of the gut microbiota in the pathogenesis of ETEC-induced diarrhea is unknown.ResultsBy using an ETEC induced diarrheal model in piglet, we profiled the jejunal and fecal microbiota using metagenomics and 16S rRNA sequencing. A jejunal microbiota transplantation experiment was conducted to determine the role of the gut microbiota in ETEC-induced diarrhea. ETEC-induced diarrhea influenced the structure and function of gut microbiota. Diarrheal piglets had lower Bacteroidetes: Firmicutes ratio and microbiota diversity in the jejunum and feces, and lower percentage of Prevotella in the feces, but higher Lactococcus in the jejunum and higher Escherichia-Shigella in the feces. The transplantation of the jejunal microbiota from diarrheal piglets to uninfected piglets leaded to diarrhea after transplantation. Microbiota transplantation experiments also supported the notion that dysbiosis of gut microbiota is involved in the immune responses in ETEC-induced diarrhea.ConclusionWe conclude that ETEC infection influences the gut microbiota and the dysbiosis of gut microbiota after ETEC infection mediates the immune responses in ETEC infection.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1186/s12917-018-1704-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG and Saccharomyces cerevisiae boulardii exert synergistic antipathogenic activity in vitro against enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli

“…Indeed, microbiota compositional analysis revealed an association between the presence of 12 Operational Taxonomic Units (OTUs) in the microbiota and the absence of development of diarrheal disease upon ETEC challenge. Similar results were obtained during studies with piglets challenged with ETEC (Bin et al, 2018). Microbiome profiling has revealed that travellers who develop diarrhoea upon ETEC infection have a dysbiotic colon microbiota that is characterised by a high Firmicutes:Bacteroidetes ratio (Youmans et al, 2015).…”

Dietary substitution of soybean oil with coconut oil in the absence of dietary antibiotics supports growth performance and immune function in nursery and grower pigs

“…There was no significant change in microbial dynamics in response to a diet containing coconut oil, but rather a shift in the microbiome of COC-fed pigs as compared with ABX-and NABX-fed pigs. Similar to studies of other potential dietary antibiotic substitutes, we found a higher ratio of Bacteroidetes:Firmicutes and specifically higher Prevotella and Lachnospiraceae [34,35]. Interestingly, this study also found an increase in Ruminococcaceae species which are important for caproic acid utilization and production [36].…”

Prevotella in Pigs: The Positive and Negative Associations with Production and Health

“…Restoration of the gut microbiota homeostasis in pigs has become an active area of research in order to enhance animal health and production through different strategies. For example, fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is one of the strategies used to improve pig health through modulation of the gut microbiota [ 11 , 12 , 13 ]. Understanding the biology and role of key members of the pig gut microbial community in defining host physiology is necessary to deduce the complex guiding principles that govern microbiota–host interactions in the gut, which will ultimately facilitate the development of gut microbiota-targeted strategies to improve pig health and productivity.…”