Gene Expression of col Gene of Bactericides fragile and splA Gene of Lactobacillus acidophilus Associated with Pinworm Patients

Abstract

Background: The intestinal gut has a complex microcosm, as commensal microbiota plays a role in the establishment and survival of invading helminths such as Enterobius vermicularis and helps provide direct competitive protection from pathogen bacteria. Objective: The aim of the study was to investigate the role of the col gene, which produces collagenase which damage a mucosa intestinal gut and the slpA gene of Lactobacillus acidophilus, which encodes a protein for density and biological mechanisms of adhesion, colonization, and closes a receptor on epithelial intestinal cells to prevent Enterobius vermicularis as a pinworm parasite. Methodology: This was designed as a follow up study. About 100 patients in this follow-up study suffering from pinworm had signs and symptoms, and it was conducted in the Maysan Governorate Laboratory in Qalat Saleh District, Iraq, from May, 2025 to March, 2026 before treatment, 24 sample as a control patients without pinworm disease, and 24 samples were cultured on MRS and Bacteroides agar under anaerobic conditions. Microscopic examination and biochemical tests were used for all isolates. Quantitative PCR (qPCR) was employed to determine the adhesion and colonization genes for Lactobacillus acidophilus. Results: The results were reported Bacteroides fraglis was produce a sharp increase in collagenase enzyme and was associated with high metabolic gene expression against intestinal epithelial cells. After qPCR a fold change ranged between 1.04 and 7.29, with upregulation due to the presence of Enterobius vermicularis and increased upregulation in a specific gene, splA, of Lactobacillus acidophilus, interacting with the mucosa to provide protective functions. Conclusion: This study concluded upregulation in col gene, which encoded collagen protein in Bacteroides fragilis, and increased upregulation of the splA gene in Lactobacillus acidophilus in patients with pinworm disease. Bangladesh Journal of Infectious Diseases, June 2026;13(1):57-62