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Background: Analysis of the stool samples is an essential part of routine diagnostics of the helminthes infections. However, the standard methods such Kato and Kato-Katz utilize only a fraction of the information available. Here we present a method based on the nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) which could be auxiliary to the standard procedures by evaluating the complex metabolic profiles (or phenotypes) of the samples.Method: The samples were collected over the period of June-July 2015, frozen at -20 °C at the site of collection and transferred within four hours for the permanent storage at -80 °C. Fecal metabolites were extracted by mixing aliquots of about 100 mg thawed stool material with 0.5 mL phosphate buffer saline, followed by the homogenization and centrifugations steps. All NMR data were recorded using a Bruker 600 MHz AVANCE II spectrometer equipped with a 5 mm triple resonance inverse cryoprobe and a z-gradient system.Results: Here we report an optimized method for NMR based metabolic profiling/phenotyping of the stools samples. Overall, 62 metabolites were annotated in the pool sample using the 2D NMR spectra and the Bruker Biorefcode database. The compounds cover a wide range of the metabolome including amino acids and their derivatives, short chain fatty acids (SCFAs), carboxylic acids and their derivatives, amines, carbohydrates, purines, alcohols and others. An exploratory analysis of the metabolic profiles reveals no strong trends associated with the infection status of the patients. However, using the penalized regression as a variable selection method we succeeded in finding a subset of eleven variables which enables to discriminate the patients on basis of their infections status.Conclusions: A simple method for metabolic profiling/phenotyping of the stools samples is reported and tested on a pilot opisthorchiasis cohort. To our knowledge this is the first report of a NMR-based feces analysis in the context of the helminthic infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Opisthorchiasis is a neglected infectious disease caused by liver flukes, which affect populations in tropical regions of East Asia, as well as temperate and semi-arctic areas of Europe and Asia. These parasites can cause liver-related health issues, including bile duct fibrosis, cholangitis, and bile duct cancer. Despite its importance, opisthorchiasis has not received much attention from health authorities, grant-giving agencies, and the pharmaceutical industry. Ongoing research aims to understand the epidemiology, clinical features, treatment, and host-parasite interaction of these infections. The article also discusses the induction of regulatory cells by these parasites, which can suppress immune responses and potentially contribute to cancer development. Further research is needed on the innate immune components and genetic regulation of susceptibility to Opisthorchiidae, as well as the development of diagnostic tests and potential drug targets. The authors suggest the formation of a consortium to collaborate on research and control efforts for Opisthorchiidae infections. [Extracted from the article]

The liver flukes Opisthorchis viverrini, O. felineus, and Clonorchis sinensis are closely related fish-borne trematodes endemic in East Asia, Eurasia, and Siberia. Following ingestion, the parasites locate to the biliary tree, where chronic infection frequently leads to cholangiocarcinoma (CCA). Infection with C. sinensis or O. viverrini is classified as a Group 1 carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. Infection with O. felineus may also be carcinogenic. The mechanism(s) by which infection with these liver flukes culminates in CCA remain elusive, although they are likely to be multi-factorial. Not yet well studied is the influence of opisthorchiasis on the microbiome of the host despite reports that helminth parasites are capable of affecting the microbiome, potentially modulating gastrointestinal inflammation in response to the appearance of pathogenic strains of bacteria. Here, we review recent findings related to opisthorchiasis and the microbiome and related issues. In the hamster, a tractable model of infection with liver fluke and of infection-induced biliary morbidity and CCA, infection with O. viverrini perturbs the microbiome of the gastrointestinal tract, including increasing numbers of Lachnospiraceae, Ruminococcaceae, Lactobacillaceae, and others, while decreasing Porphyromonadaceae, Erysipelotrichaceae, and Eubacteriaceae. In addition, a complex microbial community associates with the parasites within the biliary tree, including Helicobacter pylori and related bacteria. Moreover, higher rates of infection with Helicobacter occur in Thailand in persons with opisthorchiasis in a liver fluke infection intensity-dependent manner. Experimental infection of hamsters with Opisthorchis felineus results in increased alpha diversity of the microbiota diversity in the biliary tract. In humans, infection with O. felineus modifies the composition of the biliary microbiome, with increasing numbers of species of Klebsiella, Aggregatibacter, Lactobacillus, Treponema, and others. Several phylotypes of Archaea occurred solely in bile from persons infected with O. felineus., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Analysis of the stool samples is an essential part of routine diagnostics of the helminthes infections. However, the standard methods such Kato and Kato-Katz utilize only a fraction of the information available. Here we present a method based on the nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) which could be auxiliary to the standard procedures by evaluating the complex metabolic profiles (or phenotypes) of the samples., Method: The samples were collected over the period of June-July 2015, frozen at -20 °C at the site of collection and transferred within four hours for the permanent storage at -80 °C. Fecal metabolites were extracted by mixing aliquots of about 100 mg thawed stool material with 0.5 mL phosphate buffer saline, followed by the homogenization and centrifugations steps. All NMR data were recorded using a Bruker 600 MHz AVANCE II spectrometer equipped with a 5 mm triple resonance inverse cryoprobe and a z-gradient system., Results: Here we report an optimized method for NMR based metabolic profiling/phenotyping of the stools samples. Overall, 62 metabolites were annotated in the pool sample using the 2D NMR spectra and the Bruker Biorefcode database. The compounds cover a wide range of the metabolome including amino acids and their derivatives, short chain fatty acids (SCFAs), carboxylic acids and their derivatives, amines, carbohydrates, purines, alcohols and others. An exploratory analysis of the metabolic profiles reveals no strong trends associated with the infection status of the patients. However, using the penalized regression as a variable selection method we succeeded in finding a subset of eleven variables which enables to discriminate the patients on basis of their infections status., Conclusions: A simple method for metabolic profiling/phenotyping of the stools samples is reported and tested on a pilot opisthorchiasis cohort. To our knowledge this is the first report of a NMR-based feces analysis in the context of the helminthic infections.