Relationship Among Blastocystis, the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes Ratio and Chronic Stress in Mexican University Students

• Published in: Current microbiology Vol. 79; no. 3; p. 72
• Main Authors: Guangorena-Gómez, Janeth Oliva, Lozano-Ochoa, Iliana Itzel, Rivera-Medina, Ilse Lizeth, Méndez-Hernández, Alejandra, Espinosa-Fematt, Jorge Antonio, Muñoz-Yáñez, Claudia
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01.03.2022; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Bacteroidetes; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biotechnology; Blastocystis; Blastocystis Infections - epidemiology; Colonization; Constipation; Cortisol; Cross-Sectional Studies; Fecal microflora; Feces; Firmicutes; Humans; Intestinal microflora; intestinal microorganisms; Intestine; intestines; Life Sciences; Microbiology; Microbiota; pain; Psychological stress; Students; Universities; University students
• ISSN: 0343-8651; 1432-0991; 1432-0991
• DOI: 10.1007/s00284-021-02756-7

The role played by Blastocystis in humans has been a subject of discussion due to its intestinal effects and modifications in the intestinal microbiota. We aimed to analyze the relationship between Blastocystis subtypes ST1-4 and 7, the Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes ratio ( F/B ratio) of fecal microbiota, and chronic stress in university students. This study had a cross-sectional design with a sample of 202 students. We analyzed fecal and hair samples, and stress inventories were applied to the students. The results showed a frequency of Blastocystis -colonized students of 52.97%. Regarding fecal microbiota, a median RAU of 0.801 for Firmicutes and 0.82 of Bacteroidetes were obtained, with an F/B ratio of 0.83. A low F/B ratio (66.04%) was more frequent in Blastocystis -colonized students, whereas a high F/B ratio (68.09%) ( p  =  < 0.0001) was found in the Blastocystis -non-colonized. Only Blastocystis ST3 did not significantly correlate with a low F/B ratio ( p  = 0.290). The ST4 was associated with lower values of cortisol ( p  = 0.030), psychological stress ( p  = 0.040), and lower frequency of constipation ( p  = 0.010). Only two students with the ST1 had abdominal pain ( p  = 0.007). Our results suggest that colonization by Blastocystis subtypes can modify the intestinal microbiota due to a decreased ratio between the two most representative phyla (F/B). Also, the results of this study show that ST4 colonization is related to a lower level of chronic stress. Graphical abstract