IJMS, Vol. 26, Pages 7491: Lipidomic Profile of Individuals Infected by Schistosoma mansoni

International Journal of Molecular Sciences doi: 10.3390/ijms26157491

Authors:
Thainá Rodrigues de Souza Fialho
Ronald Alves dos Santos
Yuri Tabajara
Ane Caroline Casaes
Michael Nascimento Macedo
Bruna Oliveira Lopes Souza
Kelvin Edson Marques de Jesus
Leonardo Paiva Farias
Camilla Almeida Menezes
Isadora Cristina de Siqueira
Carlos Arterio Sorgi
Adriano Queiroz
Ricardo Riccio Oliveira

Schistosoma mansoni infection is associated with hepatic inflammation and fibrosis, but its systemic metabolic effects remain poorly understood. This study aimed to investigate changes in the serum lipidomic profile associated with S. mansoni infection and parasite load in individuals from an endemic area. This cross-sectional analysis was nested within a longitudinal cohort study conducted in northeastern Brazil. Parasitological diagnosis and quantification were performed using the Kato–Katz technique. A total of 45 individuals were selected and divided into three groups: high parasite load (HL), low parasite load (LL), and uninfected controls (NegE). Serum samples were analyzed using mass-spectrometry-based lipidomics. The most abundant lipid subclasses across all groups were phosphatidylcholines (PC), triacylglycerols (TAG), and phosphatidylethanolamines (PE). However, individuals in the HL group exhibited distinct lipidomic profiles, with increased levels of specific phosphatidylinositols (PI) and reduced levels of certain TAG species compared to the NegE group. These changes may reflect host–parasite interactions and immune–metabolic alterations driven by intense infection. Our findings suggest that S. mansoni infection, particularly at higher parasite burdens, can influence the host’s serum lipid profile and may contribute to metabolic disturbances in endemic populations.

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Thainá Rodrigues de Souza Fialho www.mdpi.com