Gut Barrier Dysfunction and Microbiota Variations in Cryptosporidiosis: A Comprehensive Review
Cryptosporidiosis is a zoonotic protozoan parasite-born disease, equally significant in both animals and humans, especially affecting immunocompromised individuals (e.g., AIDS patients) and neonates. The prime concerns of this review article are to demonstrate the disruption of the intestinal barrie...
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2025-01-01
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| Series: | Veterinary Sciences |
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| author | Munwar Ali Chang Xu Mingyue Wang Qazal Hina Yaru Ji Subiha Anwar Sijia Lu Qing He Yawei Qiu Kun Li |
| author_facet | Munwar Ali Chang Xu Mingyue Wang Qazal Hina Yaru Ji Subiha Anwar Sijia Lu Qing He Yawei Qiu Kun Li |
| author_sort | Munwar Ali |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Cryptosporidiosis is a zoonotic protozoan parasite-born disease, equally significant in both animals and humans, especially affecting immunocompromised individuals (e.g., AIDS patients) and neonates. The prime concerns of this review article are to demonstrate the disruption of the intestinal barrier and variations in the gut microbiome during cryptosporidiosis, and to explore host gut–parasite interactions that can lead to the development of novel therapeutics. The review concluded that the enteric barrier is particularly maintained by tight junction proteins (e.g., occludin, claudin, and ZO-1, etc.) and mucosal immunity, both of which are severely compromised during <i>Cryptosporidium</i> spp. infections, resulting in increased intestinal barrier permeability, inflammatory responses, diarrhea, and ultimately death in severe cases. <i>Cryptosporidium</i>-induced dysbiosis is characterized by reduced microbial diversity and richness, a shift from commensal to pathogenic bacteria, as evidenced by increased pro-inflammatory taxa like Proteobacteria, and reduced proportions of beneficial SCFAs producing bacteria, e.g., Firmicutes. Recent investigations have highlighted the interrelations between gut microbiota and epithelial barrier integrity, especially during cryptosporidiosis, demonstrating the modulations regarding tight junctions (TJs), immune reactions, and SCFA production, all of which are main players in alleviating this protozoal parasitic infection. This review comprehensively describes the fine details underlying these impairments, including autophagy-mediated TJs’ degradation, inflammasome activation, and gut microbiome-driven alterations in metabolic pathways, providing the latest relevant, and well-organized piece of knowledge regarding intestinal barrier alterations and microbial shifts during cryptosporidiosis. This work emphasizes the future need for longitudinal studies and advanced sequencing techniques to understand host gut microbiota–parasite interactions, aiming to formulate innovative strategies to mitigate cryptosporidiosis. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-079eb8ec34b249c08455d1f07fc16218 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2306-7381 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Veterinary Sciences |
| spelling | doaj-art-079eb8ec34b249c08455d1f07fc162182025-08-20T02:03:31ZengMDPI AGVeterinary Sciences2306-73812025-01-011228510.3390/vetsci12020085Gut Barrier Dysfunction and Microbiota Variations in Cryptosporidiosis: A Comprehensive ReviewMunwar Ali0Chang Xu1Mingyue Wang2Qazal Hina3Yaru Ji4Subiha Anwar5Sijia Lu6Qing He7Yawei Qiu8Kun Li9College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, ChinaCollege of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, ChinaCollege of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, ChinaDepartment of Animal Nutrition, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore 54000, PakistanCollege of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, ChinaDepartment of Animal Husbandry, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad 38000, PakistanCollege of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, ChinaCollege of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, ChinaCollege of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, ChinaCollege of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, ChinaCryptosporidiosis is a zoonotic protozoan parasite-born disease, equally significant in both animals and humans, especially affecting immunocompromised individuals (e.g., AIDS patients) and neonates. The prime concerns of this review article are to demonstrate the disruption of the intestinal barrier and variations in the gut microbiome during cryptosporidiosis, and to explore host gut–parasite interactions that can lead to the development of novel therapeutics. The review concluded that the enteric barrier is particularly maintained by tight junction proteins (e.g., occludin, claudin, and ZO-1, etc.) and mucosal immunity, both of which are severely compromised during <i>Cryptosporidium</i> spp. infections, resulting in increased intestinal barrier permeability, inflammatory responses, diarrhea, and ultimately death in severe cases. <i>Cryptosporidium</i>-induced dysbiosis is characterized by reduced microbial diversity and richness, a shift from commensal to pathogenic bacteria, as evidenced by increased pro-inflammatory taxa like Proteobacteria, and reduced proportions of beneficial SCFAs producing bacteria, e.g., Firmicutes. Recent investigations have highlighted the interrelations between gut microbiota and epithelial barrier integrity, especially during cryptosporidiosis, demonstrating the modulations regarding tight junctions (TJs), immune reactions, and SCFA production, all of which are main players in alleviating this protozoal parasitic infection. This review comprehensively describes the fine details underlying these impairments, including autophagy-mediated TJs’ degradation, inflammasome activation, and gut microbiome-driven alterations in metabolic pathways, providing the latest relevant, and well-organized piece of knowledge regarding intestinal barrier alterations and microbial shifts during cryptosporidiosis. This work emphasizes the future need for longitudinal studies and advanced sequencing techniques to understand host gut microbiota–parasite interactions, aiming to formulate innovative strategies to mitigate cryptosporidiosis.https://www.mdpi.com/2306-7381/12/2/85<i>Cryptosporidium</i>protozoanzoonoticgutintestinal barriermicrobiota |
| spellingShingle | Munwar Ali Chang Xu Mingyue Wang Qazal Hina Yaru Ji Subiha Anwar Sijia Lu Qing He Yawei Qiu Kun Li Gut Barrier Dysfunction and Microbiota Variations in Cryptosporidiosis: A Comprehensive Review Veterinary Sciences <i>Cryptosporidium</i> protozoan zoonotic gut intestinal barrier microbiota |
| title | Gut Barrier Dysfunction and Microbiota Variations in Cryptosporidiosis: A Comprehensive Review |
| title_full | Gut Barrier Dysfunction and Microbiota Variations in Cryptosporidiosis: A Comprehensive Review |
| title_fullStr | Gut Barrier Dysfunction and Microbiota Variations in Cryptosporidiosis: A Comprehensive Review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Gut Barrier Dysfunction and Microbiota Variations in Cryptosporidiosis: A Comprehensive Review |
| title_short | Gut Barrier Dysfunction and Microbiota Variations in Cryptosporidiosis: A Comprehensive Review |
| title_sort | gut barrier dysfunction and microbiota variations in cryptosporidiosis a comprehensive review |
| topic | <i>Cryptosporidium</i> protozoan zoonotic gut intestinal barrier microbiota |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2306-7381/12/2/85 |
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