Contributions of intestinal protists on the human gut landscape through the lens of Entamoeba spp.
Marienela Y. Heredia, Laura J. Knoll · 2026
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Description
Marienela Y. Heredia and Laura J. Knoll review, in 2026, the role of single-celled gut organisms called protists, focusing on the Entamoeba group. Such life forms were long written off as parasites or mere passers-by. The authors argue they help shape the gut ecosystem and keep host immunity in balance.
Some Entamoeba species cause disease, notably the one behind amoebic dysentery, while close relatives live harmlessly. Species differ in how they steer immune responses, including inflammasome firing and macrophage habits. These protists also eat selected gut bacteria, which can reshape the gut's microbe mix for better or worse. Finding and growing them remains hard, though sequencing and animal models keep getting better. The review frames their presence as a possible signal of gut strength or weakness.
Catalog record
| CREATOR | Marienela Y. Heredia, Laura J. Knoll |
|---|---|
| YEAR | 2026 |
| COLLECTION | PAPERS |
| FORMAT | TXT |
| FILE SIZE | 38 KB |
| VERSION | 1.0 |
| LICENSE | CC BY 4.0 |
| RIGHTS | CC BY |
| SOURCE | Europe PMC |