Interactions between bacterial microbiota and protozoan parasites: an intimate relationship

Interactions between parasites and the gut microbiota play a key role in immune responses and susceptibility to zoonotic diseases; however, many aspects of how protozoan infections alter microbial diversity and how these changes influence parasite pathogenicity and host defense remain poorly understood. This review integrates recenst studies using murine models of the Muroidea superfamily, highlighting patterns in microbial diversity, functional interactions, and potential immunometabolic mechanisms underlying these relationships. Both consistent findings and discrepancies among studies are identified, reflecting differences in parasite species, experimental models, and infection conditions. Unlike previous work, this review emphasizes the link between microbiota alterations, infection progression, and host responses. Finally, these findings are integrated to provide an interpretive framework that advances our understanding of how the microbiota modulates infection dynamics and identifies key knowledge gaps that warrant further investigation.