Tris (1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate exposure disrupts the gut microbiome and its associated metabolites in mice.

Background: Tris (1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate (TDCIPP) has been frequently detected in environmental media and biological samples. However, knowledge of its adverse health consequences is limited, and its impacts on the human gut microbiota, which play a key role in health and disease, remain unexplored.

Objectives: To better evaluate the potential risk of TDCIPP exposure in human health, we investigated the effects of TDCIPP on gut microbiome and gut metabolites in C57BL/6 mice.

Methods: We applied an integrated analytical approach by combing 16S rRNA gene sequencing, metagenomic sequencing and H NMR metabolomics analysis in fecal samples collected from mouse with TDCIPP exposure as well as those from controls.

Results: Both 16S rRNA sequencing and metagenome sequencing showed that TDCIPP exposure significantly changed the gut microbiome, with a remarkable increased Firmicutes at the expense of Bacteroidetes after exposure. Perturbed gut metabolic profiles in the treated group were also observed and closely related with altered gut microbiome. Gene functional annotation analysis further suggested perturbed gut metabolites could be directly caused by altered gut microbiome.

Conclusion: TDCIPP exposure has great influence on the gut ecosystem as reflected by perturbation of microbiome community structure, microbial species, gut microbe associated gene expression and gut metabolites, which may contribute to the progression of certain uncharacterized gut microbiota related host diseases. Our findings provide novel insights into adverse effects of TDCIPP exposure on human health.