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Research Article | Therapeutics and Prevention

Oxalate-Degrading Bacillus subtilis Mitigates Urolithiasis in a Drosophila melanogaster Model

Kait F. Al, Brendan A. Daisley, Ryan M. Chanyi, Jennifer Bjazevic, Hassan Razvi, Gregor Reid, Jeremy P. Burton
Maria L. Marco, Editor
Kait F. Al
aCanadian Centre for Human Microbiome and Probiotic Research, Lawson Health Research Institute, London, Ontario, Canada
bDepartment of Microbiology and Immunology, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
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Brendan A. Daisley
aCanadian Centre for Human Microbiome and Probiotic Research, Lawson Health Research Institute, London, Ontario, Canada
bDepartment of Microbiology and Immunology, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
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Ryan M. Chanyi
aCanadian Centre for Human Microbiome and Probiotic Research, Lawson Health Research Institute, London, Ontario, Canada
bDepartment of Microbiology and Immunology, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
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Jennifer Bjazevic
cDivision of Urology, Department of Surgery, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
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Hassan Razvi
cDivision of Urology, Department of Surgery, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
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Gregor Reid
aCanadian Centre for Human Microbiome and Probiotic Research, Lawson Health Research Institute, London, Ontario, Canada
bDepartment of Microbiology and Immunology, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
cDivision of Urology, Department of Surgery, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
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Jeremy P. Burton
aCanadian Centre for Human Microbiome and Probiotic Research, Lawson Health Research Institute, London, Ontario, Canada
bDepartment of Microbiology and Immunology, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
cDivision of Urology, Department of Surgery, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
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Maria L. Marco
University of California, Davis
Roles: Editor
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DOI: 10.1128/mSphere.00498-20
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ABSTRACT

Kidney stones affect nearly 10% of the population in North America and are associated with high morbidity and recurrence, yet novel prevention strategies are lacking. Recent evidence suggests that the human gut microbiota can influence the development of nephrolithiasis, although clinical trials have been limited and inconclusive in determining the potential for microbially based interventions. Here, we used an established Drosophila melanogaster model of urolithiasis as a high-throughput screening platform for evaluation of the therapeutic potential of oxalate-degrading bacteria in calcium oxalate (CaOx) nephrolithiasis. The results demonstrated that Bacillus subtilis 168 (BS168) is a promising candidate based on its preferential growth in high oxalate concentrations, its ability to stably colonize the D. melanogaster intestinal tract for as long as 5 days, and its prevention of oxalate-induced microbiota dysbiosis. Single-dose BS168 supplementation exerted beneficial effects on D. melanogaster for as long as 14 days, decreasing stone burden in dissected Malpighian tubules and fecal excreta while increasing survival and behavioral markers of health over those of nonsupplemented lithogenic controls. These findings were complemented by in vitro experiments using the established MDCK renal cell line, which demonstrated that BS168 pretreatment prevented increased CaOx crystal adhesion and aggregation. Taking our results together, this study supports the notion that BS168 can functionally reduce CaOx stone burden in vivo through its capacity for oxalate degradation. Given the favorable safety profile of many B. subtilis strains already used as digestive aids and in fermented foods, these findings suggest that BS168 could represent a novel therapeutic adjunct to reduce the incidence of recurrent CaOx nephrolithiasis in high-risk patients.

IMPORTANCE Kidney stone disease is a morbid condition that is increasing in prevalence, with few nonsurgical treatment options. The majority of stones are composed of calcium oxalate. Unlike humans, some microbes can break down oxalate, suggesting that microbial therapeutics may provide a novel treatment for kidney stone patients. This study demonstrated that Bacillus subtilis 168 (BS168) decreased stone burden, improved health, and complemented the microbiota in a Drosophila melanogaster urolithiasis model, while not exacerbating calcium oxalate aggregation or adhesion to renal cells in vitro. These results identify this bacterium as a candidate for ameliorating stone formation; given that other strains of B. subtilis are components of fermented foods and are used as probiotics for digestive health, strain 168 warrants testing in humans. With the severe burden that recurrent kidney stone disease imposes on patients and the health care system, this microbial therapeutic approach could provide an inexpensive therapeutic adjunct.

  • Copyright © 2020 Al et al.

This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license.

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Oxalate-Degrading Bacillus subtilis Mitigates Urolithiasis in a Drosophila melanogaster Model
Kait F. Al, Brendan A. Daisley, Ryan M. Chanyi, Jennifer Bjazevic, Hassan Razvi, Gregor Reid, Jeremy P. Burton
mSphere Sep 2020, 5 (5) e00498-20; DOI: 10.1128/mSphere.00498-20

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Oxalate-Degrading Bacillus subtilis Mitigates Urolithiasis in a Drosophila melanogaster Model
Kait F. Al, Brendan A. Daisley, Ryan M. Chanyi, Jennifer Bjazevic, Hassan Razvi, Gregor Reid, Jeremy P. Burton
mSphere Sep 2020, 5 (5) e00498-20; DOI: 10.1128/mSphere.00498-20
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KEYWORDS

Bacillus subtilis
Drosophila
calcium oxalate
host-microbe interactions
microbiota
nephrolithiasis
Probiotics

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