The toxic effects of and benzo(a)pyrene in inducing atrophic gastritis and gut microbiota dysbiosis in Mongolian gerbils.

Food chemical and microbiological contamination are major global food safety issues. This study investigated the combined effects of the food-borne pathogen () and the pollutant benzo(a)pyrene (Bap) on atrophic gastritis and gut microbiota in Mongolian gerbils. The results demonstrated that simultaneous administration of and Bap caused more severe weight loss, DNA damage, and gastritis in Mongolian gerbils compared with those exposed to or Bap alone. The combination also significantly increased the serum level of proinflammatory cytokines, including IL-1β ( < .05), IL-6 ( < .0001), and TNF-α ( < .05). Additionally, the and Bap combination altered the composition of gut microbiota in Mongolian gerbils: the relative abundance of and at the genus level ( < .05) was significantly reduced while the relative abundance of and enhanced ( < .0001,  < .05). Our study revealed that the synergy of and Bap can boost the development of atrophic gastritis and lead to gut microbiota dysbiosis in Mongolian gerbils, which provides essential implications for preventing contaminated foods to sustain life and promote well-being.