A1 Journal article (refereed)
Idiosyncratic effects of coinfection on the association between systemic pathogens and the gut microbiota of a wild rodent, the bank vole Myodes glareolus (2023)


Brila, I., Lavrinienko, A., Tukalenko, E., Kallio, E. R., Mappes, T., & Watts, P. C. (2023). Idiosyncratic effects of coinfection on the association between systemic pathogens and the gut microbiota of a wild rodent, the bank vole Myodes glareolus. Journal of Animal Ecology, 92(4), 826-837. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2656.13869


JYU authors or editors


Publication details

All authors or editors: Brila, Ilze; Lavrinienko, Anton; Tukalenko, Eugene; Kallio, Eva R.; Mappes, Tapio; Watts, Phillip C.

Journal or series: Journal of Animal Ecology

ISSN: 0021-8790

eISSN: 1365-2656

Publication year: 2023

Publication date: 12/12/2022

Volume: 92

Issue number: 4

Pages range: 826-837

Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell

Publication country: United Kingdom

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2656.13869

Publication open access: Not open

Publication channel open access: Channel is not openly available

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/93072


Abstract

The effects of systemic pathogens on gut microbiota of wild animals are poorly understood. Furthermore, coinfections are the norm in nature, yet most studies of pathogen–microbiota interactions focus on effects of single pathogen infections on gut microbiota.
We examined the effects of four systemic pathogens (bacteria Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, apicomplexan protozoa Babesia microti and Puumala orthohantavirus) and coinfections among them on the (bacterial) gut microbiota of wild bank voles Myodes glareolus.
We hypothesized that: (1) the effects of coinfection on gut microbiota generally differ from those of a single pathogen infection, (2) systemic pathogens have individual (i.e. distinct) associations with gut microbiota, which are modified by coinfection and (3) the effects of coinfection (compared with those of single infection) are idiosyncratic (i.e. pathogen-specific).
The gut microbiota of coinfected bank voles differed from that of single pathogen infected individuals, although, as predicted, the effects of coinfections were unique for each pathogen. After accounting for coinfections, only Puumala orthohantavirus was associated with higher α-diversity; however, all pathogens affected gut microbiota ß-diversity in a pathogen-specific way, affecting both rare and abundant gut bacteria.
Our results showed that the effects of systemic pathogens on host's gut microbiota vary depending on the pathogen species, resulting in idiosyncratic signatures of coinfection. Furthermore, our results emphasize that neglecting the impact of coinfections can mask patterns of pathogen–microbiota associations.


Keywords: bacteria; pathogens; Apicomplexa; gastrointestinal microbiota; viruses

Free keywords: Apicomplexa; bacteria; coinfection; disease ecology; gut microbiota; host–pathogen interactions; pathogens; virus


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Ministry reporting: Yes

VIRTA submission year: 2022

JUFO rating: 2


Last updated on 2024-03-07 at 00:07