Gut bacteria associated with nonhuman model of malaria.

Top 2 panels show baseline gut bacteria differentially abundant in mice either susceptible or resistant to P. yoelii 17XNL hyperparasitemia and P. chabaudi AS pregnancy outcomes. Fecal pellets are collected at baseline prior to Plasmodium infection to determine the gut microbiota composition. Bottom 2 panels show the shift in gut microbiota composition during Plasmodium infection in mice and monkeys. In nonlethal infection models, fecal pellet microbiota composition at peak parasitemia is compared to before Plasmodium infection. Bacteria that are significantly increased (up arrow) or decreased (down arrow) are shown. P. yoelii 17XL causes lethal infection due to hyperparasitemia while P. berghei ANKA causes mortality due to experimental cerebral malaria. Gut fecal samples are collected before mortality and compared to baseline gut microbiota. Changes in bacteria population at phylum, family, and genus level are shown. Figure was created with BioRender.com.