Effects of probiotics and/or infection on larval zebrafish transcriptomes

Host-associated microbiota plays a key role in protection against infection by pathogenic microorganisms. Probiotics have been suggested as alternative treatments to control infections. Here we sequenced the transcriptomes of germ-free zebrafish upon reconventionalization with probiotic C. massiliae, infection with F. covae, or both. Our results show how endogenous microbiota provide protection against pathogenic bacteria in a relevant vertebrate model. These findings can be applied broadly to inform how probiont-pathogen interactions benefit host health and design alternatives to antibiotic or chemical treatments.