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Microorganisms in the gut play a role in the severity of malaria, according to a study published in PNAS.
Investigators examined the gut microbiomes of mice and found evidence to suggest that malaria severity is not only a function of the parasite or the host. It is also influenced by the microbes in the infected organism.
And 2 types of bacteria—Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus—were associated with reduced malaria severity.
“The research provides a potential new avenue to investigate factors that control the severity of malaria,” said study author Steven Wilhelm, PhD, of the University of Tennessee at Knoxville.
“With 1 million people dying [of malaria] each year, many of whom are young children, any approach that may save even a few lives is worth following up on.”
With this study, Dr Wilhelm and his colleagues found that genetically similar mice acquired from different vendors had differences in pathology after malaria infection. There were significant differences in both parasite burden and mortality after infection with multiple Plasmodium species.
The investigators measured gut microbiomes in the mice by sequencing bacteria in the digestive tract and noted significant differences within the different mouse populations.
So the team transferred cecal content from the first set of mice into germ-free mice and found that differences in malaria severity were transferred.
The mice that received transplants from donors that were more resistant to malaria had low parasite burdens. And mice that received transplants from donors that were more susceptible to malaria had high parasite burdens.
The investigators also observed an increased abundance of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus bacteria in the mice that exhibited reduced malaria pathology.
So the team took mice that were more susceptible to malaria, treated them with antibiotics, and fed them yogurt containing Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus. As expected, the severity of malaria in these mice decreased.
“These results demonstrate the possibility of modifying the gut microbiome to prevent severe malaria,” said study author Nathan Schmidt, PhD, of the University of Louisville in Kentucky.
Dr Wilhelm noted that, although the research interventions lessened the severity of malaria in mice, it did not prevent or cure it. And the investigators are a long way from perfecting similar treatments in humans but are working on understanding the mechanism.
“A way to help people who are infected—and especially a simple and cheap way, as much of the infection occurs in the developing world—would be a great service to society,” Dr Wilhelm said. 
Microorganisms in the gut play a role in the severity of malaria, according to a study published in PNAS.
Investigators examined the gut microbiomes of mice and found evidence to suggest that malaria severity is not only a function of the parasite or the host. It is also influenced by the microbes in the infected organism.
And 2 types of bacteria—Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus—were associated with reduced malaria severity.
“The research provides a potential new avenue to investigate factors that control the severity of malaria,” said study author Steven Wilhelm, PhD, of the University of Tennessee at Knoxville.
“With 1 million people dying [of malaria] each year, many of whom are young children, any approach that may save even a few lives is worth following up on.”
With this study, Dr Wilhelm and his colleagues found that genetically similar mice acquired from different vendors had differences in pathology after malaria infection. There were significant differences in both parasite burden and mortality after infection with multiple Plasmodium species.
The investigators measured gut microbiomes in the mice by sequencing bacteria in the digestive tract and noted significant differences within the different mouse populations.
So the team transferred cecal content from the first set of mice into germ-free mice and found that differences in malaria severity were transferred.
The mice that received transplants from donors that were more resistant to malaria had low parasite burdens. And mice that received transplants from donors that were more susceptible to malaria had high parasite burdens.
The investigators also observed an increased abundance of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus bacteria in the mice that exhibited reduced malaria pathology.
So the team took mice that were more susceptible to malaria, treated them with antibiotics, and fed them yogurt containing Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus. As expected, the severity of malaria in these mice decreased.
“These results demonstrate the possibility of modifying the gut microbiome to prevent severe malaria,” said study author Nathan Schmidt, PhD, of the University of Louisville in Kentucky.
Dr Wilhelm noted that, although the research interventions lessened the severity of malaria in mice, it did not prevent or cure it. And the investigators are a long way from perfecting similar treatments in humans but are working on understanding the mechanism.
“A way to help people who are infected—and especially a simple and cheap way, as much of the infection occurs in the developing world—would be a great service to society,” Dr Wilhelm said.
Microorganisms in the gut play a role in the severity of malaria, according to a study published in PNAS.
Investigators examined the gut microbiomes of mice and found evidence to suggest that malaria severity is not only a function of the parasite or the host. It is also influenced by the microbes in the infected organism.
And 2 types of bacteria—Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus—were associated with reduced malaria severity.
“The research provides a potential new avenue to investigate factors that control the severity of malaria,” said study author Steven Wilhelm, PhD, of the University of Tennessee at Knoxville.
“With 1 million people dying [of malaria] each year, many of whom are young children, any approach that may save even a few lives is worth following up on.”
With this study, Dr Wilhelm and his colleagues found that genetically similar mice acquired from different vendors had differences in pathology after malaria infection. There were significant differences in both parasite burden and mortality after infection with multiple Plasmodium species.
The investigators measured gut microbiomes in the mice by sequencing bacteria in the digestive tract and noted significant differences within the different mouse populations.
So the team transferred cecal content from the first set of mice into germ-free mice and found that differences in malaria severity were transferred.
The mice that received transplants from donors that were more resistant to malaria had low parasite burdens. And mice that received transplants from donors that were more susceptible to malaria had high parasite burdens.
The investigators also observed an increased abundance of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus bacteria in the mice that exhibited reduced malaria pathology.
So the team took mice that were more susceptible to malaria, treated them with antibiotics, and fed them yogurt containing Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus. As expected, the severity of malaria in these mice decreased.
“These results demonstrate the possibility of modifying the gut microbiome to prevent severe malaria,” said study author Nathan Schmidt, PhD, of the University of Louisville in Kentucky.
Dr Wilhelm noted that, although the research interventions lessened the severity of malaria in mice, it did not prevent or cure it. And the investigators are a long way from perfecting similar treatments in humans but are working on understanding the mechanism.
“A way to help people who are infected—and especially a simple and cheap way, as much of the infection occurs in the developing world—would be a great service to society,” Dr Wilhelm said.