Microbiota-produced indole metabolites disrupt mitochondrial function and inhibit Cryptosporidium parvum growth.

ABSTRACT: Cryptosporidiosis is a leading cause of life-threatening diarrhea in young children in resource-poor settings. To explore microbial influences on susceptibility, we screened 85 microbiota-associated metabolites for their effects on Cryptosporidium parvum growth in vitro. We identify eight inhibitory metabolites in three main classes: secondary bile salts/acids, a vitamin B₆ precursor, and indoles. Growth restriction of C. parvum by indoles does not depend on the host aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) pathway. Instead, treatment impairs host mitochondrial function and reduces total cellular ATP, as well as directly reducing the membrane potential in the parasite mitosome, a degenerate mitochondria. Oral administration of indoles, or reconstitution of the gut microbiota with indole-

SUBMITTER: Funkhouser-Jones LJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10530208 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature