A strategic model of a host-microbe-microbe system reveals the importance of a joint host-microbe immune response to combat stress-induced gut dysbiosis

• Published in: Frontiers in Microbiology
• Main Authors: Scheuring, István, Rasmussen, Jacob A., Bozzi, Davide, Limborg, Morten T.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: 2022
• Subjects: bistability; mutualism; stress; pathogens; salmonids; microbiome; Mycoplasma sp; Aliivibrio sp; SALMON SALMO-SALAR; TROUT ONCORHYNCHUS-MYKISS; ATLANTIC SALMON; COMMUNITY; EVOLUTION; ANIMALS; DISEASE; Atlantic salmon; Salmo salar
• Online Access: https://curis.ku.dk/portal/da/publications/a-strategic-model-of-a-hostmicrobemicrobe-system-reveals-the-importance-of-a-joint-hostmicrobe-immune-response-to-combat-stressinduced-gut-dysbiosis(de0e3ae0-9957-4645-8084-9075aaad7b19).html; https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2022.912806; https://curis.ku.dk/ws/files/318201415/fmicb_13_912806.pdf

Microbiomes provide key ecological functions to their host; however, most host-associated microbiomes are too complicated to allow a model of essential host-microbe-microbe interactions. The intestinal microbiota of salmonids may offer a solution since few dominating species often characterize it. Healthy fish coexist with a mutualistic Mycoplasma sp. species, while stress allows the spread of pathogenic strains, such as Aliivibrio sp. Even after a skin infection, the Mycoplasma does not recover; Aliivibrio sp. often remains the dominant species, or Mycoplasma-Aliivibrio coexistence was occasionally observed. We devised a model involving interactions among the host immune system, Mycoplasma sp. plus a toxin-producing pathogen. Our model embraces a complete microbiota community and is in harmony with experimental results that host-Mycoplasma mutualism prevents the spread of pathogens. Contrary, stress suppresses the host immune system allowing dominance of pathogens, and Mycoplasma does not recover after stress disappears.