Cited by 258Gut microbiota and healthGastrointestinal motility and disordersAnimal Nutrition and Physiology

Respiratory disease following viral lung infection alters the murine gut microbiota

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Groves, Helen T., Cuthbertson, Leah, James, Phillip, Moffatt, Miriam F., Cox, Michael J., Tregoning, John S.·2018·Frontiers in Immunology

Abstract

Alterations in the composition of the gut microbiota have profound effects on human health. Consequently there is great interest in identifying, characterising and understanding factors which initiate these changes. Despite their high prevalence, only recently have studies begun to look at how viral lung infections impact on the gut microbiota. There is also considerable interest in whether the gut microbiota could be manipulated during vaccination to improve efficacy. In this highly-controlled study, we aimed to establish the effect of viral lung infection on gut microbiota composition and the gut environment using mouse models of common respiratory pathogens Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) and influenza virus. This was then compared to the effect of live attenuated influenza virus (LAIV) vaccination. Both RSV and influenza virus infection resulted in significantly altered gut microbiota diversity, with an increase in Bacteroidetes and a concomitant decrease in Firmicutes phyla abundance. Although the increase in the Bacteroidetes phyla was consistent across several experiments, differences were observed at the family and operational taxonomic unit (OTU) level. This suggests a change in gut conditions after viral lung infection that favours Bacteroidetes outgrowth but not individual families. No change in gut microbiota composition was observed after LAIV vaccination, suggesting that the driver of gut microbiota change is specific to live viral infection. Viral lung infections also caused an increase in faecal lipocalin-2, suggesting low-grade gut inflammation, and colonic Muc5ac levels. Owing to the important role mucus plays in the gut environment, this may explain the changes in microbiota composition observed. This study demonstrates that the gut microbiota and the gut environment are altered following viral lung infections and that these changes are not observed during vaccination. Whether increased mucin levels and gut inflammation drive, or are a result of, these changes is still to be determined.

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Crossref · 10.3389/fimmu.2018.00182

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  • Using animal models of pulmonary infections by influenza and RSV, multiple groups have shown that the gut microbiome is clearly impacted by respiratory viral infections, despite the lack of detectable respiratory virus in the gut.

    “Using animal models of pulmonary infections by influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), multiple groups have shown that the gut microbiome is clearly impacted by respiratory viral infections, despite the lack of detectable respiratory virus in the gut”
  • Caloric restriction also results in increased relative abundance of Proteobacteria and increased Bacteroidetes to Firmicutes ratio, raising the possibility that decreased oral intake during influenza may contribute to changes in the microbiome.

    “caloric restriction also results in increased relative abundance of Proteobacteria and increased Bacteroidetes to Firmicutes ratio, raising the possibility that decreased oral intake during influenza may contribute to changes in the microbiome”

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Authors
Groves, H. T., Cuthbertson, L., James, P., Moffatt, M. F., Cox, M. J., & Tregoning, J. S.
Affiliations
Imperial College London (GB)
Corresponding author
  • Cox, Michael J.
  • Tregoning, John S.
Venue
Frontiers in Immunology
Published
2018-02-12
Volume
9
Pages
182-182
ISSN
1664-3224 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2791469390
Cited by
258
References
68
Citations by year
2026: 15 · 2025: 29 · 2024: 39 · 2023: 25 · 2022: 44 · 2021: 52 · 2020: 39 · 2019: 11 · 2018: 4
FWCI
9.42
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Frontiers in Immunology (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
  • University of Birmingham Research Portal (University of Birmingham) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • Spiral (Imperial College London) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
Funders
  • Medical Research Council
  • Wellcome Trust
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Gut microbiota and health
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Gastroenterology › Gastrointestinal motility and disorders
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Animal Science and Zoology › Animal Nutrition and Physiology
Keywords
gut microbiota, viral lung infection, respiratory syncytial virus, influenza virus, live attenuated influenza vaccine, Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, intestinal inflammation, neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin, mucin, MUC5AC, mucus, microbiome diversity, host-microbe interactions
MeSH terms
Bacillota, Gastrointestinal Microbiome, Lipocalin-2, Animals, Bacteria, Female, Influenza Vaccines, Lung, Mice, Inbred BALB C, Orthomyxoviridae, Orthomyxoviridae Infections, Respiratory Syncytial Viruses, Respiratory Tract Infections, RNA, Ribosomal, 16S, Vaccines, Attenuated, Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections, Bacteroidetes, Mice, Mucin 5AC

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