{
  "abstract": "Soil-transmitted helminth (STH) parasites, particularly Ascaris lumbricoides and Trichuris trichiura, co-exist and co-evolve with a complex human microbiota within the gut ecosystem. Most research has focused on how parasitic nematodes affect the host gut microbial structure and its consequences. In contrast, studies on the parasites’ own associated microbiota remain underexplored. Understanding this gap is crucial, as it adds another layer of complexity to holobiont-holobiont interactions. Driven by the Parasite Microbiome Project, this review summarizes current evidence on Ascaris- and Trichuris-associated microbiomes from both natural and experimental studies, with a focus on their compositions, potential functional roles, challenges, and future directions. Existing findings are largely based on microbiomes associated with the gut of the parasites and are often characterized by transient, host-derived communities acquired through horizontal transmission, which may contribute to parasite survival and host interaction. We therefore emphasize the need to expand investigations to other specific tissues, particularly reproductive organs, as potential sites of a stable and conserved microbiota in STH parasites. Understanding this aspect is essential for advancing our knowledge of parasite-microbiome-host interactions in STH infections and may uncover the potential of microbiome-based therapeutic interventions for STH control and prevention.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Cawangan Selangor, Kampus Sungai Buloh, Sungai Buloh, Selangor, Malaysia",
    "Institute of Medical Molecular Biotechnology, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Cawangan Selangor, Kampus Sungai Buloh, Sungai Buloh, Selangor, Malaysia",
    "School of Biology, Faculty of Applied Science, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia",
    "Microbiome Health and Environment (MiHeaRT), Faculty of Applied Sciences, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia",
    "Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia",
    "Institute for Biodiversity and Sustainable Development, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia"
  ],
  "article_type": "review article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 4,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1
      ],
      "name": "Shezryna Shahrizal"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2,
        3
      ],
      "name": "Mohd Shafiq Aazmi"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        4
      ],
      "name": "Yvonne Ai Lian Lim"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        3,
        5
      ],
      "name": "Azdayanti Muslim",
      "orcid": "0000-0003-1351-2526"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/4q69ymfk0ntwn.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.1128/msystems.00569-26",
  "fulltext_url": "https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC13712933/",
  "id": "4q69ymfk0ntwn",
  "issns": [
    "2379-5077"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://doi.org/10.1128/msystems.00569-26",
  "language": "en",
  "licence": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "heading",
      "Minireview"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "2405|Parasites and Host Interactions"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7214091703",
  "pdf_url": null,
  "pmcid": "PMC13712933",
  "pmid": "42775881",
  "published": "2026-09-23",
  "publisher": "American Society for Microbiology (ASM)",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/4q69ymfk0ntwn.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-31T12:23:25Z",
      "native_id": "PMC13712933",
      "source": "pmc",
      "url": "https://doi.org/10.1128/msystems.00569-26"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "biology",
      "origin": "openalex:2405|Parasites and Host Interactions",
      "subfield": "microbiology"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Parasite-associated microbiomes in Ascaris and Trichuris nematodes: current evidence, challenges, and future directions",
  "title_text": "Parasite-associated microbiomes in Ascaris and Trichuris nematodes: current evidence, challenges, and future directions",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-31T12:23:25Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/4q69ymfk0ntwn",
  "venue": "mSystems",
  "versions": []
}