Minor alterations in the intestinal microbiota composition upon Rotavirus infection do not affect susceptibility to DSS colitis

Abstract

Viral triggers at the intestinal mucosa can have multiple global effects on intestinal integrity, causing elevated intestinal barrier strength and relative protection from subsequent inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) induction in various models. As viruses can interfere with the intestinal immune system both directly and indirectly through commensal bacteria, cause-effect relationships are difficult to define. Due to the complexity of putatively causative factors, our understanding of such virus-mediated protection is currently very limited. We here set out to better understand the impact that adult enteric infection with rotavirus (RV) might have on the composition of the intestinal microbiome and on the severity of IBD. We found that RV infection neither induced significant long-lasting microbiota community changes in the small or large intestine nor affected the severity of subsequent dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis. Hence, adult murine RV infection does not exert lasting effects on intestinal homeostasis.

Association Between Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Viral Infections

“…RV is a non-enveloped triple-layered segmented doublestranded RNA (dsRNA) virus that infects mature intestinal epithelial cells (IECs). It is the most significant cause of dehydration, diarrhea, and severe gastroenteritis in young children and newborns worldwide, with over 200,000 deaths each year [60]. RV has long been considered a winter illness, particularly in temperate climates.…”

“…Neither the seriousness of subsequent DSS-induced colitis nor any substantial longterm alterations in the small or large intestine's microbial population was influenced by RV infection. Hence, adult mouse RV infection has no long-term consequences on intestinal homeostasis [67].…”