Fig. 1.

Schematic representing known and proposed mechanisms of how T. muris interacts with the large intestinal microbiota. (1) Upon entry into the large intestine, worm eggs interact with bacteria to promote hatching and initiate infection of the large intestine. (2) Once embedded in host epithelium, T. muris is proposed to influence the composition of the mouse gut microbiota by direct and indirect mechanisms (competition for space and/or nutrients for growth, by the secretion of metabolites including Trichuris ES and bacterial-derived compounds). (3) T. muris has also evolved to have its own worm gut microbiota, which is derived from the mouse gut microbiota. The identity and function of worm-selective pressures on their gut microbiota, and how the worm-specific bacteria interact with the worm host are unknown. Schematic shows the gut epithelial barrier with epithelial cells (beige), Goblet cells (green), Tuft cells (blue) and enteroendocrine cells (purple) covered in thick mucus (grey). Image created with BioRender.com.