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Review
. 2023 Jan-Dec;15(1):2226916.
doi: 10.1080/19490976.2023.2226916.

Neglected gut microbiome: interactions of the non-bacterial gut microbiota with enteric pathogens

Kanchan Jaswal  1 , Olivia A Todd  1 , Judith Behnsen  1
Affiliations
Review

Neglected gut microbiome: interactions of the non-bacterial gut microbiota with enteric pathogens

Kanchan Jaswal et al. Gut Microbes. 2023 Jan-Dec.

Abstract

A diverse array of commensal microorganisms inhabits the human intestinal tract. The most abundant and most studied members of this microbial community are undoubtedly bacteria. Their important role in gut physiology, defense against pathogens, and immune system education has been well documented over the last decades. However, the gut microbiome is not restricted to bacteria. It encompasses the entire breadth of microbial life: viruses, archaea, fungi, protists, and parasitic worms can also be found in the gut. While less studied than bacteria, their divergent but important roles during health and disease have become increasingly more appreciated. This review focuses on these understudied members of the gut microbiome. We will detail the composition and development of these microbial communities and will specifically highlight their functional interactions with enteric pathogens, such as species of the family Enterobacteriaceae. The interactions can be direct through physical interactions, or indirect through secreted metabolites or modulation of the immune response. We will present general concepts and specific examples of how non-bacterial gut communities modulate bacterial pathogenesis and present an outlook for future gut microbiome research that includes these communities.

Keywords: Enterobacteriaceae; Microbiota; archaea; enteric pathogens; fungi; gut; microbiome; parasites; viruses.

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Conflict of interest statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Components of gut microbiota, their approximate size and abundance.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Effect of the gut virome on enteric bacterial infections.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Effect of the gut archaeome on enteric bacterial infections.
Figure 4.
Figure 4.
Direct interactions of gut fungi with enteric bacterial pathogens.
Figure 5.
Figure 5.
Indirect effects of the gut mycobiome on enteric bacterial infections.
Figure 6.
Figure 6.
Effects of the gut parasitome on enteric bacterial infections.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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