Interplay Between Helminth Infections, Malnutrition, and Gut Microbiota in Children and Mothers from Pemba, Tanzania: Potential of Microbiota-Directed Interventions

Abstract

Background/objectives: Despite efforts within the framework of the Sustainable Development Goal to end malnutrition by 2030, malnutrition and soil-transmitted helminth infections persist in sub-Saharan Africa. A significant barrier to success is the inadequate understanding of effective intervention methods. Most research on the gut microbiota's role in health has been conducted in developed countries, leaving a critical gap in knowledge regarding low-income populations. This study addresses this gap by expanding research on the gut microbiota of underprivileged populations to help tackle these public health challenges.

Methods: We employed 16S rDNA sequencing to assess the bacterial gut microbiota composition of 60 children (mean age: 26.63 ± 6.36 months) and their 58 mothers (mean age: 30.03 ± 6.31 years) in Pemba, with a focus on helminth infection and nutritional status.

Results: Our differential abundance analysis identified bacterial taxa that were significantly negatively associated with both helminth infections and malnutrition, highlighting the potential for microbiota-directed interventions to address these health issues simultaneously. Notably, we identified Akkermansia, Blautia, Dorea, and Odoribacter as promising probiotic candidates for such interventions. In stunted children, positive co-occurrences were observed between Lactobacillus, Prevotella, and Bacteroides, while Escherichia/Shigella displayed negative co-abundance relationships with short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) producers in the gut microbiota. These findings suggest that administering Lactobacillus and SCFA-producing probiotics to children may foster the growth of beneficial bacteria like Prevotella and Bacteroides while reducing the relative abundance of Escherichia/Shigella, potentially enhancing overall health.

Conclusions: This study underscores the importance of microbiota-directed interventions in children and women of reproductive age as promising strategies, alongside established approaches, for combating helminth infections and malnutrition in vulnerable populations.

Keywords: Ascaris; Trichuris trichiura; children; gut microbiota; helminth; malnutrition; stunting; underweight; wasting; women of reproductive age.

Figure 1

Analysis of the diversity of the gut microbiota of children from Pemba. (A) Alpha diversity according to body weight, (B) beta diversity according to body weight, (C) alpha diversity according to stunting; (D) beta diversity according to stunting. “No” refers to “no stunting” while “Yes” indicates “stunted group”.

Figure 2

Significant differential abundance of taxa observed by comparing the microbiota of different body weight children from Pemba. * Stands for p ≤ 5 × 10⁻²; ** stands for p ≤ 1 × 10⁻².

Figure 3

Significant differential abundance of taxa observed by comparing the microbiota of stunted children from Pemba (A). “No” refers to “no stunting” while “Yes” indicates the “stunting group”. Significant differential abundance of taxa observed by comparing the microbiota of obese and not-obese women from Pemba (B). “No” refers to “not-obese” while “Yes” indicates “obese group”. * Stands for p ≤ 5 × 10⁻²; ** stands for p ≤ 1 × 10⁻².

Figure 4

Microbial network and bacterial co-occurrences in normal and stunted children. (A) Network in children with normal growth, (B) bacteria co-occurrences in normal growth, (C) network in stunted children, (D) bacteria co-occurrences in stunted children. Potential taxonomic clusters are indicated within the red circle.

Figure 5

Enterotypes of the gut microbiota. (A) Enterotypes in children and (B) enterotypes in mothers.

Figure 6

Comparative analysis of selected taxa relative abundances in the enterotypes ET1 and ET3. * stands for p ≤ 5 × 10⁻², *** stands for p ≤ 1 × 10⁻⁴, ns means p ≥ 5 × 10⁻². Means and standard deviations were used in the statistical analysis.