The role of the host gut microbiome in the pathophysiology of schistosomiasis

The pathophysiology of schistosomiasis is linked to the formation of fibrous granulomas around eggs that become trapped in host tissues, particularly the intestines and liver, during their migration to reach the lumen of the vertebrate gut. While the development of Schistosoma egg-induced granulomas is the result of finely regulated crosstalk between egg-secreted antigens and host immunity, evidence has started to emerge of the likely contribution of an additional player-the host gut microbiota-to pathological processes that culminate with the formation of these tissue lesions. Uncovering the role(s) of schistosome-mediated changes in gut microbiome composition and function in granuloma formation and, more broadly, in the pathophysiology of schistosomiasis, will shed light on the mechanisms underlying this three-way parasite-host-microbiome interplay. Such knowledge may, in turn, pave the way towards the discovery of novel therapeutic targets and control strategies.