Metagenomic analysis of intestinal bacterial communities and genetic characterization of isolates of pathogenic intestinal parasites: a comparative study between children with diarrhea and the control subjects

• Grant number: 15/21254-6
• Support type: Regular Research Grants
• Duration: February 01, 2016 - July 31, 2018
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Parasitology - Protozoology of Parasites
• Principal researcher: Semíramis Guimarães Ferraz Viana
• Grantee: Semíramis Guimarães Ferraz Viana
• Home Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IBB). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Botucatu. Botucatu , SP, Brazil
• Assoc. researchers: Fabio Tosini ; Jayme Augusto de Souza-Neto ; Simone Mario Caccio

Abstract

The human gut is a complex ecosystem where biological interactions occur at different levels between host, pathogens and bacterial communities. In some circumstances, these interactions can induce imbalance and consequently elicit gastrointestinal disorders as diarrhea. Although the relationship between the genetic variability of pathogenic parasites such as Giardia, Cryptosporidium spp., Blastocystis spp., Dientamoeba fragilis, and Enterocytozoon bieneusi symptomatology are still poorly understood, many researchers support the idea that enteric flora may have a relevant role in the clinical picture of these parasitic infections. On these bases, in the present study, applying conventional molecular techniques and a metagenomic approach combined with high-performance sequencing techniques (Illumina platform), we intend to, respectively, to determine the genetic diversity of human isolates of the highlighted Giardia, Cryptosporidium spp., Blastocystis spp., D. fragilis, E. bieneusi and analyze the diversity of the composition of the intestinal microbiota, in situations that arise gastrointestinal disorders such as diarrhea. For this purpose, the target population will comprise preschool children of pre-school aged 0-6 years, including a group with diarrhea and a group of healthy individuals. In this view, the present project will open avenues to advance the understanding of the possible interactions between the gut microflora and pathogenic intestinal parasites, expanding the possibilities for the best knowledge of how this can determine different clinical phenotypes. (AU)