Commensal, pathogen, or passenger? Rethinking the role of Blastocystis in human health

Result code in IS VaVaI

<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F00216208%3A11120%2F25%3A43929086" target="_blank" >RIV/00216208:11120/25:43929086 - isvavai.cz</a>

Result on the web

<a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.onehlt.2025.101272" target="_blank" >https://doi.org/10.1016/j.onehlt.2025.101272</a>

DOI - Digital Object Identifier

<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.onehlt.2025.101272" target="_blank" >10.1016/j.onehlt.2025.101272</a>

Result language

angličtina

Original language name

Commensal, pathogen, or passenger? Rethinking the role of Blastocystis in human health

Original language description

Blastocystis is one of the most prevalent intestinal protists, colonizing more than one billion people worldwide. Nevertheless, its role in health and disease remains blurred. Blastocystis was historically dismissed as a commensal. However, it can have pathogenic or protective effects. This review synthesizes molecular epidemiology, clinical research, microbiome studies, and experimental models through a One Health approach to reassess Blastocystis. Subtypes ST1-ST4 are dominant in humans, but their health outcomes vary. ST4 is associated with irritable bowel syndrome and inflammatory responses. However, it has also been shown to exert protective effects on murine colitis models. In contrast, ST3 is frequently detected in healthy individuals with a diverse gut microbiota. Blastocystis is also widespread in animals, untreated water, wastewater, and food, reflecting complex transmission dynamics and raising concerns in low- and middle-income countries where poverty-related exposures increase risks. Diagnostic advances have improved detection, although mixed infections and inconsistent clinical interpretations persist, and treatment guidelines remain absent. Rather than being a uniform pathogen or benign passenger, Blastocystis emerges as a context-dependent component of the gut ecosystem and environmental microbiota. Its ubiquity across humans, animals, and the environment requires integrated surveillance, subtype-informed research, and interdisciplinary health strategies. Recognizing the ecological complexity of Blastocystis is essential for equitable diagnostics, treatment, and public health responses within the One Health framework.

Czech name

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Czech description

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Type

J_imp - Article in a specialist periodical, which is included in the Web of Science database

CEP classification

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OECD FORD branch

30303 - Infectious Diseases

Project

—

Continuities

I - Institucionalni podpora na dlouhodoby koncepcni rozvoj vyzkumne organizace

Publication year

2025

Confidentiality

S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů

Name of the periodical

One Health

ISSN

2352-7714

e-ISSN

2352-7714

Volume of the periodical

21

Issue of the periodical within the volume

December

Country of publishing house

NL - THE KINGDOM OF THE NETHERLANDS

Number of pages

13

Pages from-to

101272

UT code for WoS article

001620243700001

EID of the result in the Scopus database

2-s2.0-105021475160