The common mouse protozoa Tritrichomonas muris alters mucosal T cell homeostasis and colitis susceptibility.

ABSTRACT: The mammalian gastrointestinal tract hosts a diverse community of microbes including bacteria, fungi, protozoa, helminths, and viruses. Through coevolution, mammals and these microbes have developed a symbiosis that is sustained through the host's continuous sensing of microbial factors and the generation of a tolerant or pro-inflammatory response. While analyzing T cell-driven colitis in nonlittermate mouse strains, we serendipitously identified that a nongenetic transmissible factor dramatically increased disease susceptibility. We identified the protozoan Tritrichomonas muris as the disease-exacerbating element. Furthermore, experimental colonization with T. muris induced an elevated Th1 response in the cecum of naive wild-type mice and accelerated colitis in Rag1^-/- mice aft

SUBMITTER: Escalante NK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5154950 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature