Meta-omics to uncover rumen helminth-microbiome interactions

Helminth parasites are responsible for >55% of livestock diseases representing a major threat to global food security and food borne disease, with control being through anthelmintic drugs due to vaccine failure. A major obstacle to improving control options is a lack of a holistic understanding of host-parasite interactions. Links between helminth infection, the host and its microbiome are only at a basic level of understanding. Recent preliminary work (RM) has suggested that there is a substantial contribution of parasite-mediated changes in the ruminant gut microbiota following investigation into the rumen fluke, Calicophoron daubneyi, within an in vitro rumen model. Additional preliminary evidence (RM/SH) suggests a direct role of rumen fluke extracellular vesicles (EVs) in shaping the microbial communities of the host rumen. Therefore, understanding the impact of parasitic helminths on rumen functionality is a must to prevent losses to animal productivity and rumen functionality.
A combined meta-omics approach will reveal the interaction between the host rumen microbiome and the rumen fluke and/or secreted EVs whilst generating an understanding of rumen functionality following exposure to the parasite or parasite derived EVs.