An Early-Life Disruption of Gut Microbiota Has Opposing Effects on Parasite Resistance in Two Host Species.

ABSTRACT: Gut microbiota regulate multiple aspects of host health, including metabolism and the development of the immune system. However, we still know relatively little about how the gut microbiota influences host responses to parasitism in wild organisms, particularly whether host-microbiota interactions contribute to variation in parasitism across host species. The goal of this study was to determine the role of gut microbiota in shaping how birds respond to nest parasites and investigate whether this relationship varies between host species. Both eastern bluebirds (Sialia sialis) and tree swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) are parasitized by blow flies (Protocalliphora sialia), for which larval flies feed on nestlings' blood. We experimentally manipulated the gut microbiota of nestling bluebirds an

SUBMITTER: Love AC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12530280 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature