Unraveling the role of bacterial metabolites and biofilms in modulating virulence and interactions between Entamoeba histolytica and gut microbiota

Entamoeba histolytica, a major parasitic pathogen, interacts intricately with the gut microbiota, profoundly affecting its virulence and survival. Our research highlights the role of bacterial metabolites such as oxaloacetate and queuine in shaping E. histolytica’s life cycle, redox balance, and epigenetic landscape. Using advanced imaging and biochemical tools, we show how trophozoites degrade bacterial biofilms and adapt to biofilm-mediated challenges. These findings unveil novel insights into host-parasite-microbiota dynamics, advancing therapeutic strategies against amebiasis.

Serge Ankri is a Full Professor at the Faculty of Medicine, Technion. He completed his PhD in the 1990s at Paris-Sud University, focusing on reprogramming amino acid synthesis in industrial bacteria. He then pursued postdoctoral research on amebiasis in David Mirelman’s lab at the Weizmann Institute. Boasting over 25 years of experience in physiological analysis and genetic manipulation of Entamoeba histolytica, Ankri has made important discoveries that have greatly advanced our understanding of how bacterial metabolites influence the parasite's virulence and resilience to environmental stresses.

Moderation: Professor Dr. Michael Lalk