Cytomegalovirus infection disrupts the influence of short-chain fatty acid producers on Treg/Th17 balance

• Published in: Microbiome Vol. 10; no. 1; p. 168
• Main Authors: Chin, Ning, Narayan, Nicole R, Méndez-Lagares, Gema, Ardeshir, Amir, Chang, W L William, Deere, Jesse D, Fontaine, Justin H, Chen, Connie, Kieu, Hung T, Lu, Wenze, Barry, Peter A, Sparger, Ellen E, Hartigan-O'Connor, Dennis J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central 10.10.2022; BMC
• Subjects: Animals; Bar codes; CD8 antigen; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes; Cell proliferation; Cloning; Cytokines; Cytomegalovirus; Cytomegalovirus - genetics; Cytomegalovirus infection; Cytomegalovirus Infections; Digestive system; Digestive tract; Elastic net; Fatty Acids, Volatile; Flow cytometry; Helper cells; Host-microbe interactions; Immune system; Immunophenotype; Infections; Intestinal microflora; Life sciences; Lymphocytes T; Macaca mulatta; Mice; Microbiome; Microbiomes; Microbiota; Pathogenesis; Rhesus macaque; Software; Statistical analysis; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory; Vaccines; Viral infections; Host-microbe interactions; 16S analysis; Immunophenotype; Cytomegalovirus infection; Elastic net; Rhesus macaque; Microbiome
• ISSN: 2049-2618; 2049-2618
• DOI: 10.1186/s40168-022-01355-3

Both the gut microbiota and chronic viral infections have profound effects on host immunity, but interactions between these influences have been only superficially explored. Cytomegalovirus (CMV), for example, infects approximately 80% of people globally and drives significant changes in immune cells. Similarly, certain gut-resident bacteria affect T-cell development in mice and nonhuman primates. It is unknown if changes imposed by CMV on the intestinal microbiome contribute to immunologic effects of the infection. We show that rhesus cytomegalovirus (RhCMV) infection is associated with specific differences in gut microbiota composition, including decreased abundance of Firmicutes, and that the extent of microbial change was associated with immunologic changes including the proliferation, differentiation, and cytokine production of CD8 T cells. Furthermore, RhCMV infection disrupted the relationship between short-chain fatty acid producers and Treg/Th17 balance observed in seronegative animals, showing that some immunologic effects of CMV are due to disruption of previously existing host-microbe relationships. Gut microbes have an important influence on health and disease. Diet is known to shape the microbiota, but the influence of concomitant chronic viral infections is unclear. We found that CMV influences gut microbiota composition to an extent that is correlated with immunologic changes in the host. Additionally, pre-existing correlations between immunophenotypes and gut microbes can be subverted by CMV infection. Immunologic effects of CMV infection on the host may therefore be mediated by two different mechanisms involving gut microbiota. Video Abstract.