The effect of oral live-attenuated and wildtype Shigella dysentariae 1 strain 1617 on gastrointestinal microbiota in Cynomolgus macaques

Little is known about the role of gastrointestinal microbiota in responses to oral vaccines and susceptibility of infection with enteric pathogens. To date, no approved vaccine exists against Shigella, the causative agent of the endemic disease Shigellosis. Here, we examined the effect of immunization with an oral live-attenuated Shigella vaccine and challenge with wild type Shigella on the gastrointestinal microbiota of cynomolgus monkeys from different geographic origins. These studies highlight the importance of further investigation into the possible protective role of the microbiota against enteric pathogens and the importance of genetic background in conducting vaccine studies in model organisms.