β-Glucan-triggered Akkermansia muciniphila expansion facilitates the expulsion of intestinal helminth via TLR2 in mice

Abstract

Trichinellosis caused by Trichinella spiralis is a serious zoonosis with a worldwide. β-Glucans (BG) are readily used across the world with noted health benefits, yet the effect and mechanism of BG on host defense against helminth infection remain poorly understood. We observed that BG could trigger worm expulsion via mucus layer independently of type 2 immunity, but was dependent on the gut microbiota in mice. BG restored the abundance of Bacteroidetes and Proteobacteria changed by T. spiralis infection to the control group level and markedly increased the relative abundance of Verrucomicrobia. Akkermansia (belonging to Verrucomicrobia) were significantly expanded in the BG + T. spiralis group. Notably, daily oral supplementation of pasteurized A. muciniphila has a stronger deworming effect than live bacteria and interacted with TLR2. These findings of this study is an easily implementable strategy to facilitate expulsion of gastrointestinal helminth.

Keywords: Akkermansia muciniphila; Microbiota; STAT6; TLR2; Trichinella; β-Glucan.