Table 1.
Changes in gut microbiota composition induced by G. lamblia infection.
| Bacterial Species/Strains |
Function | Change (+/−) | Relation to Microbiota Biodiversity | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Escherichia coli | Pathogenic, can cause intestinal infections | + | Increase in harmful bacteria, contributing to dysbiosis and reduced gut health. | [59,60] |
| Enterococcus spp. | Opportunistic pathogens, can cause infections | + | Increase in harmful bacteria, leading to severe malabsorption syndrome and dysbiosis. | [59,60] |
| Bifidobacteria | Beneficial, involved in digestion and immunity | + | Altered balance with increased bifidobacteria can affect gut homeostasis. | [47,61] |
| Enterobacteriaceae | Mixed, some pathogenic species | + | Increase in enterobacteria like Klebsiella pneumoniae, Enterobacter cloacae, and Enterobacter hafniae associated with severe malabsorption. | [47,61] |
| Prevotella | Beneficial, involved in carbohydrate metabolism | + | Increased abundance is a robust signature of Giardia colonization and is linked to immune responses like Th17 cell differentiation. | [9,62] |
| Gammaproteobacteria | Diverse, includes many pathogens | − | Reduction in Gammaproteobacteria affects the overall balance and health of the microbiota. | [9,26] |
| Natronobacillus | Not well-defined | − | Decrease affects overall microbial diversity. | [9,26] |
| Lactobacillus | Beneficial, promotes gut health | − | Decrease reduces beneficial bacteria, affecting gut health and balance. | [9,26] |
| Leuconostoc | Beneficial, involved in fermentation | − | Decrease reduces beneficial bacteria, affecting gut health and balance. | [9,26] |
| Lachnospiraceae | Beneficial, involved in short-chain fatty acid production | + | Increase may compensate for some loss of beneficial bacteria, but overall contributes to a complex interaction. | [9,26] |
| Ruminococcus | Beneficial, involved in fiber digestion | + | Increase contributes to altered gut flora balance. | [9,26] |
| Clostridiales | Mixed, includes both beneficial and harmful species | + | Increase highlights complex interactions and potential shifts towards dysbiosis. | [9,26] |
“−” indicates a decrease in the number of a particular bacterial species/strain due to G. lamblia invasion; “+” indicates an increase in the number of a particular bacterial species/strain due to G. lamblia invasion.