Colonization with the enteric protozoa Blastocystis is associated with increased diversity of human gut bacterial microbiota.

ABSTRACT: Alterations in the composition of commensal bacterial populations, a phenomenon known as dysbiosis, are linked to multiple gastrointestinal disorders, such as inflammatory bowel disease and irritable bowel syndrome, or to infections by diverse enteric pathogens. Blastocystis is one of the most common single-celled eukaryotes detected in human faecal samples. However, the clinical significance of this widespread colonization remains unclear, and its pathogenic potential is controversial. To address the issue of Blastocystis pathogenicity, we investigated the impact of colonization by this protist on the composition of the human gut microbiota. For that purpose, we conducted a cross-sectional study including 48 Blastocystis-colonized patients and 48 Blastocystis-free subjects and performed a

SUBMITTER: Audebert C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4857090 | biostudies-literature | 2016 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature