Abundance Of Enterococcus Research Articles

Evaluation of in vitro simulated digestion and fermentation characteristics of the crude exopolysaccharide from Levilactobacillus brevis M-14.

The present study employed an in vitro static digestion model to simulate the saliva-gastrointestinal digestion and fecal fermentation of exopolysaccharides (EPSs) extracted from Levilactobacillus brevis M-14, aiming to understand the dynamic changes in physicochemical properties, biological potential of EPS, as well as their impact on the human enteric microorganism. EPS was mainly composed of polysaccharides. The molecular weight (Mw) showed that EPS comprised two parts with a high Mw and a low Mw fraction of 42.81 × 104 and 1.23 × 104 Da, respectively. EPSs mainly consisted of mannose, rhamnose, galacturonic acid, glucose, and galactose in a molar ratio of 0.42∶0.13∶0.21∶0.13∶0.11. In the simulated digestion process, EPS was relatively stable. Furthermore, simulated digestion increased the antioxidant and hypoglycemic capacities of EPS. During the fermentation stage, the total carbohydrate contents of EPS decreased by 20.19%. The Mw of the two components of EPS decreased by 16.37% and 61.67%, respectively, and accompanied by the production of free monosaccharides. EPS had the potential to modulate the composition of gut microbiota, increasing the relative abundance of Enterococcus and Parabacteroides, while decreasing the relative abundance of Bacteroides. The pH decreased and total short-chain fatty acids contents increased, especially acetic acid and propionic acid. This research provided valuable insights into the potential application of EPS as a prebiotic agent.

Impact of Exogenous Lactiplantibacillus plantarum on the Gut Microbiome of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation Patients Colonized by Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria: An Observational Study

Background: Lactiplantibacillus plantarum can inhibit the growth of multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) and modulate the gut microbiome. However, data on hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) are scarce. Aim: In an observational study, we assessed the impact of L. plantarum on the modulation of the gut microbiome in HSCT patients colonized by MDROs. Methods: Participants were allocated to an intervention group (IG = 22) who received capsules of L. plantarum (5 × 109 CFU) twice per day until the onset of neutropenia or a control group (CG = 20). The V4 region of the 16S bacterial rRNA gene was sequenced in 87 stool samples from a subset of 33 patients (IG = 20 and CG = 13). The Phylogenetic Investigation of Communities by Reconstruction of Unobserved States (PICRUSt2) program was used to predict metagenome functions. Results: L. plantarum demonstrated an average 86% (±11%) drug-target engagement at 43 (±29) days of consumption and was deemed safe, well-tolerated, and associated with an increase in the abundance of the Lactobacillales (p < 0.05). A significant increase in Lactococcus and a reduction in Turicibacter (p < 0.05) were identified on the second week of L. plantarum use. Although Enterococcus abundance had a greater rise in the CG (p = 0.07), there were no significant differences concerning the Gram-negative MDROs. No serious adverse effects were reported in the IG. We observed a greater, non-significant pyruvate fermentation to propanoate I (p = 0.193) relative abundance in the IG compared with the CG. L. plantarum use was safe and tolerable by HSCT patients. Conclusions: While L. plantarum is safe and may impact Enterococcus and Turicibacter abundance, it showed no impact on Gram-negative MDRO abundance in HSCT patients.

Effect of Lentilactobacillus buchneri on Chemical and Microbial Compositions of Herba Leonuri (Leonurus japonicus Houtt.)-Contained Alfalfa Silage

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) inoculants are commonly used in silage production, yet their effects on silage containing antimicrobial components, such as those found in Leonurus japonicus, remain less explored. Herein, the harvested alfalfa were thoroughly mixed with dried Leonurus japonicus Houtt. (LJH) at a ratio of 9:1 on a fresh weight basis and treated without (CK) or with a lactic acid bacterial inoculant (L; Lentilactobacillus buchneri). The mixtures were stored under anaerobic conditions in vacuum-sealed polyethylene bags for 30 days at ambient temperature. The L-treated silage exhibited high levels of water-soluble carbohydrates (4.98% dry matter (DM)) and acid detergent fiber (27.88% DM). Compared to that of treatment CK, treatment with L increased the acetic acid content of the silage, as a result of increased (p < 0.05) bacterial dominance and decreased (p < 0.05) bacterial richness indices (e.g., Pielou’s E, Shannon, and Simpson) in the pre-storage period. However, these changes gradually reduced as the storage length increased. Treatment L reshaped the bacterial community structure of silage, by increasing the prevalence of Lactobacillus and reducing relative abundances of Enterococcus and Weissella. However, the principal coordinate and Bray–Curtis index analyses illustrated that samples from the L-treated silages exhibited similarities to the CK samples post-fermentation. Overall, the effect of LJH on LAB was only observed in the later stages of fermentation, which did not sufficiently change the silage quality. Hence, using LJH in silage is vital for clean livestock production without compromising the function of LAB when mixed with alfalfa silage.

Gut microbiota dysbiosis and neurological function recovery after intracerebral hemorrhage: an analysis of clinical samples.

We aimed to investigate the microbial community composition in patients with intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) and its effect on prognosis. We designed two clinical cohort studies to explore the gut dysbiosis after ICH and their relationship with neurological function prognosis. First, fecal samples from patients with ICH at three time points: T1 (within 24 h of admission), T2 (3 days after surgery), and T3 (7 days after surgery), and healthy volunteers were subjected to 16S rRNA sequencing using Illumina high-throughput sequencing technology. When differential gut microbiota was identified, the correlation between clinical indicators and microbiotas was analyzed. Subsequently, the patients with ICH were categorized into GOOD and POOR groups based on their Glasgow Outcome Scale Extended (GOS-E) score, and the disparities in gut microbiota between the two groups were assessed. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify independent risk factors. The composition and diversity of the gut microbiota in patients with ICH were different from those in the control group and changed dynamically with the extension of the course of cerebral hemorrhage. The abundances of Enterococcaceae, Clostridiales incertae sedis XI, and Peptoniphilaceae were significantly increased in patients with ICH, whereas Bacteroidaceae, Ruminococcaceae, Lachnospiraceae, and Veillonellaceae were significantly reduced. The relative abundance of Enterococcus gradually increased with the extension of the duration of ICH after surgery, and the abundance of Bacteroides gradually decreased. The abundance of Enterococcus before surgery was found to be negatively associated with patient neurological function prognosis. The original ICH score and Lachnospiraceae status were independent risk factors for predicting the prognosis of neurological function in patients with ICH (P < 0.05). Changes in the gut microbiota diversity in patients with ICH were related to prognosis. Lachnospiraceae may have a protective effect on prognosis.IMPORTANCEAcute central nervous system injuries like hemorrhagic stroke are major global health issues. While surgical hematoma removal can alleviate brain damage, severe cases still have a high 1-month mortality rate of up to 40%. Gut microbiota significantly impacts health, and treatments like fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) and probiotics can improve brain damage by correcting gut microbiota imbalances caused by ischemic stroke. However, few clinical studies have explored this relationship in hemorrhagic stroke. This study investigated the impact of cerebral hemorrhage on the composition of gut microbiota, and we found that Lachnospiraceae were the independent risk factors for poor prognosis in intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). The findings offer potential insights for the application of FMT in patients with ICH, and it may improve the prognosis of patients.

Host genetics and gut microbiota synergistically regulate feed utilization in egg-type chickens

BackgroundFeed efficiency is a crucial economic trait in poultry industry. Both host genetics and gut microbiota influence feed efficiency. However, the associations between gut microbiota and host genetics, as well as their combined contributions to feed efficiency in laying hens during the late laying period, remain largely unclear.MethodsIn total, 686 laying hens were used for whole-genome resequencing and liver transcriptome sequencing. 16S rRNA gene sequencing was conducted on gut chyme (duodenum, jejunum, ileum, and cecum) and fecal samples from 705 individuals. Bioinformatic analysis was performed by integrating the genome, transcriptome, and microbiome to screen for key genetic variations, genes, and gut microbiota associated with feed efficiency.ResultsThe heritability of feed conversion ratio (FCR) and residual feed intake (RFI) was determined to be 0.28 and 0.48, respectively. The ileal and fecal microbiota accounted for 15% and 10% of the FCR variance, while the jejunal, cecal, and fecal microbiota accounted for 20%, 11%, and 10% of the RFI variance. Through SMR analysis based on summary data from liver eQTL mapping and GWAS, we further identified four protein-coding genes, SUCLA2, TNFSF13B, SERTM1, and MARVELD3, that influence feed efficiency in laying hens. The SUCLA2 and TNFSF13B genes were significantly associated with SNP 1:25664581 and SNP rs312433097, respectively. SERTM1 showed significant associations with rs730958360 and 1:33542680 and is a potential causal gene associated with the abundance of Corynebacteriaceae in feces. MARVELD3 was significantly associated with the 1:135348198 and was significantly correlated with the abundance of Enterococcus in ileum. Specifically, a lower abundance of Enterococcus in ileum and a higher abundance of Corynebacteriaceae in feces were associated with better feed efficiency.ConclusionsThis study confirms that both host genetics and gut microbiota can drive variations in feed efficiency. A small portion of the gut microbiota often interacts with host genes, collectively enhancing feed efficiency. Therefore, targeting both the gut microbiota and host genetic variation by supporting more efficient taxa and selective breeding could improve feed efficiency in laying hens during the late laying period.

Diversity in gut microbiota among colorectal cancer patients: findings from a case–control study conducted at a Tunisian University Hospital

PurposeGlobally, colorectal cancer (CRC) is among the most prevalent cancers. One distinctive feature of colorectal cancer is its close relationship to the gut microbiota, which is a crucial component of the tumor microenvironment. Over the last ten years, research has demonstrated that colorectal cancer is accompanied with dysbiosis of gut bacteria, fungi, viruses, and Archaea, and that these alterations may be causal. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the disruption of the microorganism composition in the intestine, especially bacteria and to determine their relationship with colorectal cancer.MethodsAn evaluation system for determining colorectal cancer (CRC) risk and prognosis can be established more easily with the help of accurate gut microbiota profiling. Stool samples from 14 CRC patients and 13 controls were collected and the flora relative abundance was measured using targeted quantitative PCR (qPCR) assays to evaluate diagnostic potential of selected biomarkers: Streptococcus gallolyticus and Enterococcus faecalis. Culture and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry were coupled to identify the gut microbiota in both colorectal cancer and control groups.ResultsCompared with controls, the gut microbiota of CRC patients showed an increase in the abundance of Enterococcus, Fusobacterium and Streptococcus. At the species level, the CRC enriched bacterium including Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecalis, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Streptococcus gallolyticus, Flavoni fractorplautii and Eggerthella lenta acted as promising biomarkers for early detection of CRC.ConclusionThis study highlights the potential of gut microbiota biomarkers as a promising non-invasive tool for the accurate detection and distinction of individuals with CRC.

A disturbed metabolite-GPCR axis is associated with microbial dysbiosis in IBD patients: Potential role of GPR109A in macrophages

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the gastrointestinal tract characterized by disrupted immune function. Indeed, gut microbiota dysbiosis and metabolomic profile alterations, are hallmarks of IBD. In this scenario, metabolite-sensing G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs), involved in several biological processes, have emerged as pivotal players in the pathophysiology of IBD. The aim of this study was to characterize the axis microbiota-metabolite-GPCR in intestinal surgical resections from IBD patients. Results showed that UC patients had a lower microbiota richness and bacterial load, with a higher proportion of the genus Cellulosimicrobium and a reduced proportion of Escherichia, whereas CD patients showed a decreased abundance of Enterococcus. Furthermore, metabolomic analysis revealed alterations in carboxylic acids, fatty acids, and amino acids in UC and CD samples. These patients also exhibited upregulated expression of most metabolite-sensing GPCRs analysed, which positively correlated with pro-inflammatory and pro-fibrotic markers. The role of GPR109A was studied in depth and increased expression of this receptor was detected in epithelial cells and cells from lamina propria, including CD68+ macrophages, in IBD patients. The treatment with β-hydroxybutyrate increased gene expression of GPR109A, CD86, IL1B and NOS2 in U937-derived macrophages. Besides, when GPR109A was transiently silenced, the mRNA expression and secretion of IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α were impaired in M1 macrophages. Finally, the secretome from siGPR109A M1 macrophages reduced the gene and protein expression of COL1A1 and COL3A1 in intestinal fibroblasts. A better understanding of metabolite-sensing GPCRs, such as GPR109A, could establish their potential as therapeutic targets for managing IBD.

Revealing the optimal traditional processing methods and its protective effects against febrile seizures of Arisaema cum bile.

Arisaema cum bile (known as Dan Nanxing in Chinese, DNX) is a herbal medicine used for treating febrile seizure (FS), which commonly prepared by using Arisaematis Rhizoma and animal bile. This study was designed to explore the optimal processing time of DNX and its potential mechanism on the anti-FS effect. A total of 17 volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were the characteristic ones to distinguish different fermentation stages of DNX by using gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry (GC-IMS), such as 2-heptanone monomer, and heptanal monomer. DNX with fermentation for 3 months had an obvious pattern of VOCs with others, which could be regarded as the optimal fermentation time. The Enterococcus and Staphylococcus might be the core bacteria on the production of VOCs. Additionally, DNX (2.8 g/kg, p.o.) reversed hot water bath-induced FSs of rats, as indicated by increased seizure latency and decreased seizure duration time. It also prevented hippocampal neuronal loss, increased GABAAR, and decreased GRIA1 expression. At the genus level, relative abundance of Enterococcus and Akkermansia were enriched after DNX treatment. These findings suggested that fermentation for 3 months might be the optimal process time for DNX, and DNX possess an anti-FS effect through regulating neurotransmitter disorder and gut microbiota.

Heat-killed Bifidobacterium longum BBMN68 and inulin protect against high-fat diet-induced obesity by modulating gut microbiota.

Obesity, a pervasive global epidemic, has heightened susceptibility to chronic ailments and diminished the overall life expectancy on a global scale. Probiotics and inulin (IN) have been documented to mitigate obesity by exerting an influence on the composition of the gut microbiota. Whether heat-killed Bifidobacterium longum BBMN68 (MN68) and IN have an anti-obesity effect remains to be investigated. In this study, Wistar rats were fed a high-fat diet (HFD), and orally administered heat-killed MN68 (2 × 1011 CFU/kg) and/or inulin (0.25 kg/kg) for 12 weeks. Histological analysis, serology analysis and 16S rRNA gene sequencing were performed. Heat-killed MN68 + IN treatment showed an enhanced effect on preventing weight gain, diminishing fat accumulation, and regulating lipid metabolism, compared to either heat-killed MN68 treatment or inulin treatment. Gut microbiota results showed that heat-killed MN68 + IN treatment significantly increased the relative abundance of Bacteroidota, Oscillospira, Intestinimonas, Christensenella, and Candidatus_Stoquefichus, and reduced the relative abundance of Enterococcus. Furthermore, heat-killed MN68 + IN significantly increased the SCFA levels, which were correlated with changes in the gut microbiota. This research provides support for the application of heat-killed MN68 and IN in the treatment of obesity, and highlights the combination of heat-killed BBMN68 and IN as functional food ingredients.

Fecal bacterial communities of the platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) reflect captivity status-Implications for conservation and management.

The duck-billed platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) is currently listed as near-threatened. A key part of the conservation strategy for this species is its captive maintenance; however, captive animals often have dysbiotic gut bacterial microbiomes. Here, for the first time, we characterize the gut microbiome of wild platypus via fecal samples using high-throughput sequencing of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene and identify microbial biomarkers of captivity in this species. At the phylum level, Firmicutes (50.4%) predominated among all platypuses, followed by Proteobacteria (28.7%), Fusobacteria (13.4%), and Bacteroidota (6.9%), with 21 "core" bacteria identified. Captive individuals did not differ in their microbial α-diversity compared to wild platypus but had significantly different community composition (β-diversity) and exhibited higher abundances of Enterococcus, which are potential pathogenic bacteria. Four taxa were identified as biomarkers of wild platypus, including Rickettsiella, Epulopiscium, Clostridium, and Cetobacterium. This contrast in gut microbiome composition between wild and captive platypus is an essential insight for guiding conservation management, as the rewilding of captive animal microbiomes is a new and emerging tool to improve captive animal health, maximize captive breeding efforts, and give reintroduced or translocated animals the best chance of survival.

Bovine colostrum prevents formula-induced gut microbiota dysbiosis in preterm pigs.

Preterm birth and formula feeding increase the risk of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), a gut inflammatory disease known to be associated with gut microbiota (GM) changes in infants. Supplemental bovine colostrum may protect against formula-induced NEC via GM changes. We hypothesised that feeding colostrum before, after, or during formula feeding affects NEC sensitivity via changes to GM. Colonic GM (profiled by 16S ribosomal RNA gene amplicon sequencing) was compared in preterm pigs fed colostrum for 4 days, either before, after, or together with formula feeding for 4 days. Correlations between GM and gut parameters were assessed on day 5 or 9. Both exclusive and partial colostrum feeding induced higher GM diversity, lower Enterococcus abundance, and improved intestinal maturation parameters (villus structure, digestive enzymeactivities, permeability), relative to exclusive formula feeding (all p < 0.05). Across feeding regimens, Enterococcus abundance was inversely correlated with intestinal maturation parameters. Conversely, there was no correlation between GM changes and early NEC lesions. Bovine colostrum inhibits formula-induced Enterococcus overgrowth and gut dysfunctions just after preterm birth but these effects are not causally linked. Optimising diet-related host responses, not GM, may be critical to prevent NEC in preterm newborn pigs and infants. Supplement of bovine colostrum to formula feeding modified the gut microbiota by increasing species diversity and reducing Enterococcus abundance, while concurrently improving intestinal functions in preterm pigs. Diet-related changes to the gut microbiota were not clearly associated with development of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) in preterm pigs, suggesting that diet-related gut microbiota effects are not critical for diet-related NEC protection. The study highlights the potential to use bovine colostrum as a supplement to formula feeding for preterm infants lacking human milk.

Association between the structure of intestinal flora and inflammatory response in children with sepsis: a prospective cohort study

To investigate the structural characteristics of intestinal flora in children with sepsis and its association with inflammatory response. A prospective cohort study was conducted. The children with sepsis who were admitted from December 2021 to January 2023 were enrolled as the sepsis group, and the children with non-sepsis who were admitted during the same period were enrolled as the non-sepsis group. The two groups were compared in terms of the distribution characteristics of intestinal flora, peripheral white blood cell count (WBC), C reactive protein (CRP), and cytokines, and the correlation of the relative abundance of fecal flora with WBC, CRP, and cytokines was analyzed. At the genus level, compared with the non-sepsis group, the sepsis group had significantly lower relative abundance of Akkermansia, Ruminococcus, and Alistipes and significantly higher relative abundance of Enterococcus, Streptococcus, and Staphylococcus (P<0.05). At the phylum level, Proteobacteria was the dominant phylum (37.46%) in the group of children with a score of ≤70 from the Pediatric Critical Illness Score (PICS), and Firmicutes was the dominant phylum in the group of children with a score of 71-80 or 81-90 from the PICS (72.20% and 43.88%, respectively). At the genus level, among the 18 specimens, 5 had a relative abundance of >50% for a single flora. Compared with the non-sepsis group, the sepsis group had significant higher levels of WBC, CRP, interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-10 (IL-10), and tumor necrosis factor-α (P<0.05). The Spearman's rank correlation analysis showed that at the genus level, the relative abundance of Ruminococcus, Alistipes, and Parasutterella in the sepsis group was negatively correlated with the levels of WBC, CRP, and IL-6 (P<0.05); the relative abundance of Enterococcus was positively correlated with the CRP level (P<0.01); the relative abundance of Streptococcus and Staphylococcus was positively correlated with the levels of CRP and IL-6 (P<0.05); the relative abundance of Streptococcus was positively correlated with WBC (P<0.05). Intestinal flora disturbance is observed in children with sepsis, and its characteristics vary with the severity of the disease. The structural changes of intestinal flora are correlated with inflammatory response in children with sepsis.

The mitigative role of novel aflatoxin-degrading enzymes in diverse broiler performance indicators and gut microbiota following the consumption of diets contaminated with aflatoxins.

This study aims to explore both the toxic effects of aflatoxins (AFs) and the protective effects of degrading enzymes (DE) on broilers exposed to AFs. The findings reveal that a diet contaminated with 69.15 μg kg-1 of aflatoxin B1 had significant adverse effects on broilers. Specifically, it led to a reduction in average daily gain, dressed yield percentage, half-eviscerated yield with giblet yield percentage, eviscerated yield percentage, as well as serum superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase activity and liver SOD activity (P < 0.05). Conversely, the diet increased the feed conversion ratio, liver index, serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase levels and malondialdehyde levels in both serum and liver (P < 0.05). Additionally, AFs disrupted the intestinal microflora significantly (P < 0.05), altering the relative abundance of Enterococcus, Lactobacillus and Escherichia in broiler jejunum. The addition of DE to AF-contaminated feed mitigated these negative effects and reduced the residues of aflatoxin B1, aflatoxin B2 and aflatoxin M1 in the liver and duodenum (P < 0.05). We also observed that broilers fed the diet pelleted at 80 °C exhibited improved dressing percentage and water holding capacity compared to those on the 75 °C diet. In summary, DE serves as an effective feed additive for mitigating AF contamination in poultry production. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Effects of diet and antibiotics on anastomotic healing: A mouse model study with varied dietary fiber and fat, and pre-operative antibiotics

IntroductionThis study investigated the separate impacts of diet and pre-operative antibiotics on gut microbiome and colonic anastomotic healing using a mouse model. MethodsMale C57BL/6J mice were fed either low-fat-high-fibre (SD) or high-fat-low-fiber (WD) groups for 6 weeks, then further received either pre-operative antibiotics or a control sham before a colonic anastomotic procedure was performed. After 7 days, the anastomosis was assessed and microbiota composition and biodiversity were analyzed in anastomotic tissue and stool. ResultsWD-fed mice had shorter survival (5.2 ​± ​2.3 vs. 6.9 ​± ​2.3 days, p ​= ​0.022), increased weight loss (5.55 ​± ​3.80g vs. 2.65 ​± ​2.36g, p ​= ​0.03), and reduced biodiversity compared to SD-fed mice. Pre-operative antibiotics improved anastomotic healing scores (1.33 ​± ​0.65 vs. 2.08 ​± ​0.79, p ​= ​0.02) and reduced Enterococcus faecalis growth in tissue and stool (p ​= ​0.02, p ​= ​0.02). Improved anastomotic healing correlated with lower Enterococcus abundance (p ​= ​0.04) and higher collagen III and IV levels (p ​= ​0.01, 0.04) in anastomotic tissue. ConclusionSD promotes enhanced post-operative recovery and increased microbiome biodiversity, while pre-operative antibiotics enhance anastomotic healing by suppressing Enterococcus faecalis growth, mitigating collagen III/IV degradation.

Antibiotic Cocktail Effects on Intestinal Microbial Community, Barrier Function, and Immune Function in Early Broiler Chickens.

This study investigated the effects of an antibiotic cocktail on intestinal microbial composition, mechanical barrier structure, and immune functions in early broilers. One-day-old healthy male broiler chicks were treated with a broad-spectrum antibiotic cocktail (ABX; neomycin, ampicillin, metronidazole, vancomycin, and kanamycin, 0.5 g/L each) or not in drinking water for 7 and 14 days, respectively. Sequencing of 16S rRNA revealed that ABX treatment significantly reduced relative Firmicutes, unclassified Lachnospiraceae, unclassified Oscillospiraceae, Ruminococcus torques, and unclassified Ruminococcaceae abundance in the cecum and relative Firmicutes, Lactobacillus and Baccillus abundance in the ileum, but significantly increased richness (Chao and ACE indices) and relative Enterococcus abundance in the ileum and cecum along with relatively enriched Bacteroidetes, Proteobacteria, Cyanobacteria, and Enterococcus levels in the ileum following ABX treatment for 14 days. ABX treatment for 14 days also significantly decreased intestinal weight and length, along with villus height (VH) and crypt depth (CD) of the small intestine, and remarkably increased serum LPS, TNF-α, IFN-γ, and IgG levels, as well as intestinal mucosa DAO and MPO activity. Moreover, prolonged use of ABX significantly downregulated occludin, ZO-1, and mucin 2 gene expression, along with goblet cell numbers in the ileum. Additionally, chickens given ABX for 14 days had lower acetic acid, butyric acid, and isobutyric acid content in the cecum than the chickens treated with ABX for 7 days and untreated chickens. Spearman correlation analysis found that those decreased potential beneficial bacteria were positively correlated with gut health-related indices, while those increased potential pathogenic strains were positively correlated with gut inflammation and gut injury-related parameters. Taken together, prolonged ABX application increased antibiotic-resistant species abundance, induced gut microbiota dysbiosis, delayed intestinal morphological development, disrupted intestinal barrier function, and perturbed immune response in early chickens. This study provides a reliable lower-bacteria chicken model for further investigation of the function of certain beneficial bacteria in the gut by fecal microbiota transplantation into germ-free or antibiotic-treated chickens.

Ferroptosis, Inflammation, and Microbiome Alterations in the Intestine in the Göttingen Minipig Model of Hematopoietic-Acute Radiation Syndrome.

Hematopoietic acute radiation syndrome (H-ARS) involves injury to multiple organ systems following total body irradiation (TBI). Our laboratory demonstrated that captopril, an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, mitigates H-ARS in Göttingen minipigs, with improved survival and hematopoietic recovery, as well as the suppression of acute inflammation. However, the effects of captopril on the gastrointestinal (GI) system after TBI are not well known. We used a Göttingen minipig H-ARS model to investigate captopril's effects on the GI following TBI (60Co 1.79 or 1.80 Gy, 0.42-0.48 Gy/min), with endpoints at 6 or 35 days. The vehicle or captopril (0.96 mg/kg) was administered orally twice daily for 12 days, starting 4 h post-irradiation. Ilea were harvested for histological, protein, and RNA analyses. TBI increased congestion and mucosa erosion and hemorrhage, which were modulated by captopril. GPX-4 and SLC7A11 were downregulated post-irradiation, consistent with ferroptosis at 6 and 35 days post-irradiation in all groups. Interestingly, p21/waf1 increased at 6 days in vehicle-treated but not captopril-treated animals. An RT-qPCR analysis showed that radiation increased the gene expression of inflammatory cytokines IL1B, TNFA, CCL2, IL18, and CXCL8, and the inflammasome component NLRP3. Captopril suppressed radiation-induced IL1B and TNFA. Rectal microbiome analysis showed that 1 day of captopril treatment with radiation decreased overall diversity, with increased Proteobacteria phyla and Escherichia genera. By 6 days, captopril increased the relative abundance of Enterococcus, previously associated with improved H-ARS survival in mice. Our data suggest that captopril mitigates senescence, some inflammation, and microbiome alterations, but not ferroptosis markers in the intestine following TBI.

Enhancing Rumen Fermentation and Bacteria Community in Sika Deer (Cervus nippon) through Varying Levels of Dragon Fruit Peel Polyphenolic Extract: An In Vitro Study.

The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of dragon fruit peel polyphenolic extract (DFPE) on gas production, rumen fermentation, and bacterial communities in sika deer using an in vitro technique. Three treatments with different DFPE levels (DFPE0, base diet; DFPE5, base diet + 5 mg/g DFPE; DFPE10, base diet + 10 mg/g DFPE, respectively; n = 6) were implemented. The phenolic composition of DFPE, gas production (GP), ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N), volatile fatty acid (VFA), and bacteria communities was evaluated after 24 h of incubation. The results showed that GP and NH3-N were reduced by DFPE supplementation. Total VFA, isovaleric acid, and valeric acid were increased (p < 0.05) by the addition of DFPE. No changes (p > 0.05) were observed in pH, acetic acid, propionic acid, isobutyric acid, butyric acid, and the ratio of acetic acid to propionic acid. Additionally, the alpha indexes, including Sobs, Shannon, and Ace, were increased by DFPE supplementation. Moreover, at the phylum level, DFPE supplementation increased (p = 0.01) Bacteroidota but reduced (p < 0.01) Firmicutes. At the genus level, compared to DFPE0, the DFPE10 had increased relative abundances of Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group (p < 0.01), norank_f_Muribaculaceae (p = 0.01), Lachnospiraceae_NK3A20_group (p < 0.01), Christensenellaceae_R-7_group (p < 0.01), and NK4A214_group (p < 0.01), decreased relative abundances of Streptococcus (p < 0.01), Oribacterium (p = 0.01), and Enterococcus (p < 0.01). Compared to DFPE0, DFPE5 had no change (p > 0.05) in all bacteria at the genus level except for decreased relative abundance of Enterococcus (p < 0.01). These results indicated that DFPE may be able to be used as a feed additive to enhance fermentation parameters and improve ruminal bacteria communities in Sika deer.

Multi-strain probiotics during pregnancy in women with obesity influence infant gut microbiome development: results from a randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled study

ABSTRACT Probiotics have been described to influence host health and prevent the risk of obesity by gut microbiome (GM) modulation. In a randomized double-blinded placebo-controlled feasibility study, we investigated whether Vivomixx® multi-strain probiotics administered to 50 women with obesity during pregnancy altered the GM composition and perinatal health outcomes of their infants up to 9 months after birth. The mothers and infants were followed up with four visits after birth: at 3 d, and at 3, 6, and 9 months after delivery. The infants were monitored by anthropometric measurements, fecal sample analysis, and questionnaires regarding health and diet. The study setup after birth was feasible, and the women and infants were willing to participate in additional study visits and collection of fecal samples during the 9-month follow-up. In total, 47 newborns were included for microbiome analysis. Maternal prenatal Vivomixx® administration did not alter infant GM diversity nor differential abundance, and the probiotic strains were not vertically transferred. However, the infant GM exhibited a decreased prevalence of the obesity-associated genera, Collinsella, in the probiotic group and of the metabolic health-associated Akkermansia in the placebo group, indicating that indirect community-scale effects of Vivomixx® on the GM of the mothers could be transferred to the infant. Moreover, 3 d after birth, the GM of the infant was influenced by mode of delivery and antibiotics administered during birth. Vaginally delivered infants had increased diversity and relative abundance of the metabolic health-associated Bifidobacterium and Bacteroides while having a decreased relative abundance of Enterococcus compared with infants delivered by cesarean section. Maternal antibiotic administration during birth resulted in a decreased relative abundance of Bifidobacteriumin the GM of the infants. In conclusion, this study observed potential effects on obesity-associated infant GM after maternal probiotic supplementation.

A meta‐analysis revealing the technical, environmental, and host‐associated factors that shape the gut microbiota of Atlantic salmon and rainbow trout

AbstractSalmonids, specifically Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) and rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), are commonly farmed and their gut microbiota plays important roles for optimal growth, health, and physiology. However, differences in experimental design, technical factors and bioinformatics make it challenging to compare the results from different studies and draw general conclusions about their influence on the fish gut microbiota. For a more comprehensive understanding of the gut microbiota, we collected all the publicly accessible 16S rRNA gene sequencing data with clearly stated sample metadata from freshwater Atlantic salmon and rainbow trout intestinal contents and mucosa sequenced on the Illumina MiSeq platform. A total of 783 samples from 19 published studies were included in this meta‐analysis to test the impact of the technical, environmental, and host‐accociated factors. This meta‐analysis revealed that all the tested factors significantly influenced the alpha and beta diversities of the gut microbiota of salmon and trout. Technical factors, especially target region and DNA extraction kit, affected the beta diversity to a larger extent, while host‐associated and environmental factors, especially diet and initial fish weight, had a higher impact on the alpha diversity. Salmon had a higher alpha diversity and higher abundance of Enterococcus and Staphylococcus than trout, which had higher abundance of Weissella and Mycoplasma. The results of this meta‐analysis fill in a critical knowledge gap that demonstrate technical methodologies must be standardized and factors associated with host and environment need to be accounted for in the future design of salmonid gut microbiota experiments.

Effect of lotus seed resistant starch on the bioconversion pathway of taurocholic acid by regulating the intestinal microbiota

Taurocholic acid (TCA) is abundant in the rat intestine and has multiple health benefits. In the gut, intestinal microbiota can transform TCA into different bile acid (BA) derivatives, with the composition of microbiota playing a crucial role in the transformation process. This study aims to investigate how lotus seed resistant starch (LRS) can regulate microbiota to influence BA transformation. A fecal fermentation study was conducted in vitro, using either LRS, high-amylose maize starch (HAMS), or glucose (GLU) to analyze microbiota composition, BA content, and metabolic enzyme activities over different fermentation times. Bioinformatics analysis found that LRS increased the relative abundance of Enterococcus, Bacillus, and Lactobacillus, and decreased Escherichia-Shigella, compared with HAMS and GLU. LRS also reduced total BA content and accelerated the conversion of TCA to cholic acid, deoxycholic acid, and other derivatives. These results reveal that LRS and GLU tend to mediate the dehydroxy pathway, whereas HAMS tends to secrete metabolic enzymes in the epimerization pathway. Therefore, the evidence that LRS may regulate TCA bioconversion may benefit human colon health research and provide an important theoretical basis, as well as offer new concepts for the development of functional foods.