Infection with two different Blastocystis subtypes is associated with strikingly different microbiome features, and severity of DSS-induced colitis in mice

The gut microbiota plays a significant role in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), while how prior Blastocystis infection and Blastocystis-altered gut microbiota influence the development of inflammatory diseases and the underlying mechanisms are not well explored. Herein, we investigated the effect of ST4 and ST7 infection on the intestinal microbiota, metabolism, and host immune responses, and then explored the role of Blastocystis-altered gut microbiome in the development of dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) induced colitis mice.