Two Key Actinobacteria Taxa in the Human Gut Microbiota are Differentially Associated with Schistosoma mansoni Infection Burden

In this study, we sought to identify the key microbial taxa associated with human gut dysbiosis during S. mansoni infection and whether the degree of dysbiosis is affected by the intensity of helminth infection. Stool samples were obtained from 20 persons infected with schistosomiasis, and 20 matched negatives were from an endemic rural community in Ghana. Infection intensity was scored as egg count per gram using the Kato-Katz method. Positive stool samples were further stratified by low-moderate and high infection burden. The composition and biodiversity of the gut microbiota and potential biomarkers associated with S. mansoni infection intensity were determined from 16S rRNA amplicon sequences analyses.