Abundance Of Escherichia-Shigella Research Articles

The effect of fecal microbiota transplantation on antibiotic-associated diarrhea and its impact on gut microbiota

BackgroundAntibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD) refers to symptoms of diarrhea that cannot be explained by other causes after the use of antibiotics. AAD is thought to be caused by a disruption of intestinal ecology due to antibiotics. Fecal Microbiota Transplantation (FMT) is a treatment method that involves transferring microbial communities from the feces of healthy individuals into the patient’s gut.MethodWe selected 23 AAD patients who received FMT treatment in our department. Before FMT, we documented patients’ bowel movement frequency, abdominal symptoms, routine blood tests, and inflammatory markers, and collected fecal samples for 16S rRNA sequencing to observe changes in the intestinal microbiota. Patients’ treatment outcomes were followed up 1 month and 3 months after FMT.ResultsOut of the 23 AAD patients, 19 showed a clinical response to FMT with alleviation of abdominal symptoms. Among them, 82.61% (19/23) experienced relief from diarrhea, 65% (13/20) from abdominal pain, 77.78% (14/18) from abdominal distension, and 57.14% (4/7) from bloody stools within 1 month after FMT. Inflammatory markers IL-8 and CRP significantly decreased after FMT, but there were no noticeable changes in WBC, IL-6, and TNF-α before and after transplantation. After FMT, the abundance of Bacteroides and Faecalibacterium increased in patients’ fecal samples, while the abundance of Escherichia-Shigella and Veillonella decreased.ConclusionFMT has a certain therapeutic effect on AAD, and can alleviate abdominal symptoms and change the intestinal microbiota of patients.

Gut Microbiota Alterations in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis Are Associated with Aberrant Bone Homeostasis.

Low bone mineral density is the major prognostic factor for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS), but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Accumulating evidence suggests that gut microbiota (GM) have the potential to affect bone development, and the GM signatures are altered in AIS patients. However, the effect of GM alterations on aberrant bone homeostasis in AIS remains unclear. This study aims to investigate the GM profile in AIS patients with different bone mineral density (BMD) and explore the association between GM, osteopenia, and aberrant bone turnover. A total of 126 patients with AIS who received surgical treatment were retrospectively included in this study. We analyzed the composition of the GM by 16S rRNA sequencing and BMD by dual X-ray absorptiometry. Based on the BMD of the femur neck, the patients were divided into the osteopenia group (OPN) if the Z score < -1, and the normal (NOR) group if the Z score ≥ -1 SD compared to the healthy control. For the 16S rRNA sequencing, the raw reads were filtered to remove low-quality reads, and operational taxonomic units were identified with the Uparse program. Weighted UniFrac distance matrix for the beta-diversity metrics and principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) was performed, and the statistical comparisons were made with permutational multivariate analysis of variance (PERMANOVA) and analysis of similarity (ANONISM). Linear discriminant analysis effect size (LEfSe) was used to identify the enriched species in two groups. The "Random forest" was applied to determine the optimal biomarker for OPN according to the mean decrease in Gini value. The metabolic function was predicted by the Tax4Fun analysis. The Pearson correlation coefficient was used to evaluate the associations between GM species, bone turnover markers, and BMD. The serum β-CTX was increased in the OPN group (n = 67) compared to the NOR group (n = 59). Patients in OPN groups showed significantly decreased α diversity indicated by the Shannon index. Principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) analysis showed significant clustering of GM between OPN and NOR groups. At genus level, the Escherichia-Shigella and Faecalibacterium were significantly enriched in the OPN group compared to that in the NOR group (p < 0.05), whereas the abundance of Prevotella was significantly decreased (p = 0.0012). The relative abundance of Megamonas and Prevotella was positively correlated with the femur BMD. The abundance of Escherichia-Shigella was negatively correlated with femur BMD and positively correlated with serum β-CTX levels. Functional analysis revealed significant differences in starch and sucrose metabolism, pyruvate and cysteine, and methionine metabolism between NOR and OPN groups. The alterations of GM in AIS patients are correlated with osteopenia. The association between enriched species, BMD, and bone turnover markers provides novel diagnostic and therapeutic targets for the clinical management of AIS.

Effect of endogenous sodium and potassium ions in plants on the quality of alfalfa silage and bacterial community stability during fermentation.

This study investigated the impact of endogenous sodium and potassium ions in plants on the quality of alfalfa silage, as well as the stability of bacterial communities during fermentation. Silage was produced from the fermented alfalfa, and the chemical composition, fermentation characteristics, and microbiome were analyzed to understand their interplay and impact on silage fermentation quality. The alfalfa was cultivated under salt stress with the following: (a) soil content of <1‰ (CK); (b) 1‰-2‰ (LP); (c) 2‰-3‰ (MP); (d) 3‰-4‰ (HP). The results revealed that the pH of silage was negatively correlated with the lactic acid content. With the increase of lactic acid (LA) content increased (26.3-51.0 g/kg DM), the pH value decreased (4.9-5.3). With the increase of salt stress, the content of Na+ in silage increased (2.2-5.4 g/kg DM). The presence of endogenous Na+ and K+ ions in plants significantly affected the quality of alfalfa silage and the dynamics of bacterial communities during fermentation. Increased salt stress led to changes in microbial composition, with Lactococcus and Pantoea showing a gradual increase in abundance, especially under high salt stress. Low pH inhibited the growth of certain bacterial genera, such as Pantoea and Pediococcus. The abundance of Escherichia-Shigella and Comamonas negatively correlated with crude protein (CP) content, while Enterococcus and Lactococcus exhibited a positive correlation. Furthermore, the accumulation of endogenous Na+ in alfalfa under salt stress suppressed bacterial proliferation, thereby reducing protein degradation during fermentation. The pH of the silage was high, and the LA content was also high. Silages from alfalfa under higher salt stress had higher Na+ content. The alpha diversity of bacterial communities in alfalfa silages showed distinct patterns. Desirable genera like Lactococcus and Lactobacillus predominated in silages produced from alfalfa under salt stress, resulting in better fermentation quality.

Boar Seminal Microbiota in Relation to Sperm Quality under Tropical Environments.

The present study was carried out to determine the seminal microbiota of boars and their correlation with sperm quality. A total of 17 ejaculates were collected from 17 Duroc boars and were classified according to sperm quality into two groups: low-quality (n = 8) and high-quality (n = 9). Each ejaculate was subjected to (i) semen evaluation, (ii) bacterial culture and MALDI-TOF identification, and (iii) 16S rRNA gene sequencing and bioinformatic analyses. No difference in the total bacterial count, alpha diversity, and beta diversity between the high-quality group and the low-quality group was detected (p > 0.05). While Globicatella sanguinis was negatively correlated with sperm quality (p < 0.05), Delftia acidovorans was positively correlated with sperm quality (p < 0.05). Lactobacillales (25.2%; LB) and Enterobacterales (10.3%; EB) were the most dominant bacteria and negatively correlated: EB = 507.3 - 0.5 × LB, R2 = 0.24, p < 0.001. Moreover, the abundance of Escherichia-shigella was negatively correlated with LB (r = -0.754, p < 0.001) and positively correlated with Proteus (r = 0.533, p < 0.05). Alysiella was positively correlated with Lactobacillus (r = 0.485, p < 0.05), Prevotella (r = 0.622, p < 0.01), and Staphylococcus (r = 0.489, p < 0.05). In conclusion, seminal microbiota is significantly associated with boar semen qualities. The distributions of the most dominant bacterial genera, the differences in the abundance of small subset microbes, and their correlation appear to have far more impact than the overall seminal bacterial content (e.g., total bacterial count, alpha diversity, and beta diversity) on sperm quality.

Changes and correlation analysis of intestinal microflora composition, inflammatory index, and skeletal muscle mass in elderly patients with sarcopenia.

This study aimed to explore the alterations in characteristics of intestinal flora, inflammatory factors and skeletal muscle mass in elderly patients affected by sarcopenia, as well as the correlation among the three, in order to provide a reference for the early identification, intervention, and treatment of sarcopenia in elderly patients. A total of 206 elderly patients (≥60 years old) admitted to the Geriatric Outpatient Department of China Resources Wugang General Hospital were included in this study as the research participants. The differences in the general data, laboratory examination and intestinal flora in patients between the two groups were statistically analyzed, and the correlation between intestinal flora composition and skeletal muscle mass index, grip and inflammatory factors was also determined. The normal group and sarcopenia group exhibited a significant difference in the composition of the intestinal flora (P < 0.05). The abundance of Escherichia-Shigella between the two groups was negatively correlated with the patient's relative skeletal muscle mass index and positively correlated with the interleukin-6 (IL-6) level; moreover, Lacchnospira abundance was positively correlated with relative skeletal muscle mass index; Lactobacillus and Roseburia abundance were negatively correlated with IL-6; and Lactobacillus, Lachnospira, and Eubacterium_rectale_group were positively correlated with grip, and the differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05). Overall, it was found that elderly patients with sarcopenia have intestinal flora disorders, and the abundance of such flora was negatively correlated with the relative skeletal muscle mass index, which was positively correlated with the IL-6 level. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2024; 24: 140-146.

Comparison of Helicobacter pylori positive and negative gastric cancer via multi-omics analysis.

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) has been regarded as a definite carcinogenic bacterium for gastric cancer (GC). This multi-omics research was designed to investigate the genetic, microbial, and metabolic changes of GC patients when they are infected with H. pylori. We first mined The Cancer Genome Atlas Stomach Adenocarcinoma (STAD) data to identify the key genes and critical pathways in H. pylori-positive individuals with GC compared to H. pylori-negative individuals with GC. Then, fresh stool samples were collected from GC individuals screened for eligibility, and we analyzed the microbial changes and metabolite alterations between H. pylori-positive and H. pylori-negative GC individuals. Finally, we tried to explore the interaction between key gut flora and metabolite changes in GC patients infected with H. pylori. We identified three genes (GCG, APOA1, and IGFBP1) with significant relevance to H. pylori infection, and the survival monogram based on the three H. pylori-related genes showed good predictive ability for overall survival among GC individuals. 16S rRNA sequencing showed that the abundance of Escherichia-Shigella, Bacteroides, Enterococcus, and Lactobacillus was upregulated in GC cases with H. pylori at the level of genus. There exists a great difference in alpha and beta diversity between H. pylori group and non-H. pylori group. The untargeted metabolome analysis identified 295 significant fecal metabolites, and the levels of penitrem E, auberganol, stercobilinogen, and lys thr are upregulated in the H. pylori group. Finally, correlation analysis showed that there exists a significant correlation between the fecal metabolites and gut bacterial strains. This is the first clinical research to investigate the difference between GC patients with H. pylori and GC patients without H. pylori via multi-omics analysis. 16S rRNA sequencing along with untargeted metabolomics demonstrated decreased microbial diversity and metabolic dysregulation in gastric carcinoma individuals with H. pylori infection.IMPORTANCEThis is the first clinical research to systematically expound the difference between gastric cancer (GC) individuals with Helicobacter pylori and GC individuals without H. pylori from the perspective of multi-omics. This clinical study identified significant genes, microbes, and fecal metabolites, which exhibited nice power for differentiating GC individuals with H. pylori infection from GC individuals without H. pylori infection. This study provides a crucial basis for a better understanding of eradication therapy among the GC population.

High-throughput sequencing analysis of the characteristics of the gut microbiota in aged patients with sarcopenia

BackgroundThe gut microbiota is a complex microbial community that changes in response to various intestinal diseases, including aging-related diseases such as sarcopenia. Several studies have shown that the metabolites of the gut microbiota affect the dynamic balance of the skeletal muscle. However, the effect of gut microbiota imbalance on sarcopenia is still largely unknown. MethodsWe collected the baseline characteristics and fecal samples of 14 patients with sarcopenia and 21 patients without sarcopenia, and used the 16S rRNA sequencing technology to analyze the differences in the gut microbiota in the two groups. α-diversity and β-diversity were employed to assess the abundance and diversity of species and variations in microflora composition, respectively. Moreover, Tax4Fun was employed to predict the functional capacities of the microbial communities. ResultsIn the sarcopenia group, the abundances of beneficial bacteria such as Bacteroides, Faecalibacterium, Fusobacterium, and Prevotella were reduced, whereas those of pathogenic bacteria, such as Escherichia-Shigella and Klebsiella, were increased. The genera and species of the family Enterobacteriaceae were the main pathogenic bacteria in patients with sarcopenia, and Escherichia-Shigella and Klebsiella could be used as key biomarkers of sarcopenia. The defective protein processing and amino acid synthesis pathways in patients with sarcopenia indicated that protein synthesis and nutrient transport may be damaged. Moreover, the abundances of Escherichia-Shigella and Enterobacteriaceae have been found to have a negative correlation with muscle mass and were the main parameters predicting the change in muscle mass. ConclusionsIn this study, we have identified changes in the gut microbiota of sarcopenic individuals, which were linked to the loss of muscle mass and function. Escherichia-Shigella is a conditional pathogen of sarcopenic patients, and its levels are found to have a significant negative correlation with muscle mass.

Exploration of pathogenic microorganism within the small intestine of necrotizing enterocolitis.

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is the most common severe gastrointestinal emergency in neonates. We designed this study to identify the pathogenic microorganisms of NEC in the microbiota of the small intestine of neonates. Using the 16S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) sequencing method, we compared and analyzed the structure and diversity of microbiotas in the intestinal feces of different groups of neonates: patients undergoing jejunostomy to treat NEC (NP group), neonates undergoing jejunostomy to treat other conditions (NN group), and neonates with NEC undergoing conservative treatment (NC group). We took intestinal feces and saliva samples from patients at different time points. The beta diversities of the NP, NN, and NC groups were all similar. When comparing the beta diversities between different time points in the NP group, we found similar beta diversities at time points E1 to E3 but significant differences between the E2-E3 and E4 time points: the abundances of Klebsiella and Enterococcus (Proteobacteria) were higher at the E1-E3 time points; the abundance of Escherichia-Shigella (Proteobacteria) increased at the E2 time point, and the abundance of Klebsiella decreased significantly, whereas that of Streptococcus increased significantly at the E4 time point. Our results suggest that the pathological changes of intestinal necrosis in the small intestine of infants with NEC are not directly caused by excessive proliferation of pathogenic bacteria in the small intestine. The sources of microbiota in the small intestine of neonates, especially in premature infants, may be affected by multiple factors.

Abstract 082: Dysregulated Microbiota-indole Axis In Male, Not Female Ace2 Deficient Salt-sensitive Hypertension

Introduction: Aberrant tryptophan (Trp) absorption may promote hypertension (HTN) due to gut microbiota converting Trp to pro-hypertensive indoles. Intestinal Ace2 regulates Trp homeostasis, but its role in salt-sensitive HTN is unknown. Further, lack of Ace2 can affect males and females differently because Ace2 is transcribed from the X-chromosome in a genomic region which escapes X-inactivation. Therefore, we hypothesized that sex-specific intestinal ACE2 dependent transport of Trp contributes to salt-sensitive HTN via the microbiota-indole axis. Methodology: 8-10-week-old Dahl salt-sensitive (S) rats and newly generated CRISPR/Cas9 Ace2 deficient S rats of both sexes (N= 7 rats/group) were maintained on either a low (0.3 % NaCl, LS) or high (2 % NaCl, HS) salt diet for 21 days. BP was measured by radiotelemetry for 24 hours on day 21. Serum and cecal content were collected for indole measurement and microbiota analysis. Results: Mean arterial BP of S Ace2 deficient rats on LS was elevated in females by 38 mmHg (S Ace2 -/- 170 ± 10 vs. S 132 ± 3; P =0.0028) and in males by 18 mmHg (S Ace2 -/Y 140 ± 6 vs. S 122 ± 1.5; P =0.01), and further elevated on HS by 68 mmHg in females (S Ace2-/- 211 ± 14 vs. S 143 ± 4.5; P =0.0003) and by 40 mmHg in males (S Ace2-/Y 182 ± 9 vs. S 142 ± 3; P =0.0009). These were associated with elevated serum indole levels mainly in male S Ace2 -/Y rats, compared to S rats on both LS (1.2 ± 0.2 vs. 0.3 ± 0.2 μM; P =0.02) and HS (1.5 ± 0.25 vs. 0.2 ± 0.03 μM; P =0.0001). Microbiota analysis revealed (1) significant shifts in β-diversity in Ace2 deficient rats of both sexes with a higher R value and a lower P value in HS males; (2) Ace2 deficiency resulted in higher abundance of Trp-utilizing, indole-producing bacteria Escherichia - Shigella in males on both LS ( P &lt;0.05) and HS ( P &lt;0.0001). Strikingly, none of these differences were found in females. Conclusion: Lack of Ace2 led to increased mean BP regardless of sex and salt intake. In males, Ace2 deficiency led to increased indole levels with higher abundance of Escherichia - Shigella . Overall microbial changes by salt and ACE2 deficiency were found mainly in males, suggesting a more resilient microbiota in females. Thus, the microbiota-indole axis may be a potential therapeutic target for BP control in males with altered Trp metabolism.

Effect of gut microbiota homeostasis on hematopoiesis in a neonatal rat model of necrotizing enterocolitis

To study the effect of gut microbiota on hematopoiesis in a neonatal rat model of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). Neonatal Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into a control group and a model group (NEC group), with 6 rats in each group. Formula milk combined with hypoxia and cold stimulation was used to establish a neonatal rat model of NEC. Hematoxylin and eosin staining was used to observe the pathological changes of intestinal tissue and hematopoiesis-related organs. Routine blood tests were conducted for each group. Immunohistochemistry was used to observe the changes in specific cells in hematopoiesis-related organs. Flow cytometry was used to measure the changes in specific cells in bone marrow. 16S rDNA sequencing was used to observe the composition and abundance of gut microbiota. Compared with the control group, the NEC group had intestinal congestion and necrosis, damage, atrophy, and shedding of intestinal villi, and a significant increase in NEC histological score. Compared with the control group, the NEC group had significantly lower numbers of peripheral blood leukocytes and lymphocytes (P<0.05), nucleated cells in the spleen, thymus, and bone marrow, and small cell aggregates with basophilic nuclei in the liver (P<0.05). The NEC group had significant reductions in CD71+ erythroid progenitor cells in the liver, CD45+ lymphocytes in the spleen and bone marrow, CD3+ T lymphocytes in thymus, and the proportion of CD45+CD3-CD43+SSChi neutrophils in bone marrow (P<0.05). There was a significant difference in the composition of gut microbiota between the NEC and control groups, and the NEC group had a significant reduction in the abundance of Ligilactobacillus and a significant increase in the abundance of Escherichia-Shigella (P<0.05), which replaced Ligilactobacillus and became the dominant flora. Multi-lineage hematopoietic disorder may be observed in a neonatal rat model of NEC, which may be associated with gut microbiota dysbiosis and abnormal multiplication of the pathogenic bacteria Escherichia-Shigella.

Response of murine gut microbiota to a prebiotic based on oligosaccharides derived via hydrolysis of fungal α-(1→3)-d-glucan: Preclinical trial study on mice.

We investigated the modulating effect of α-(1→3)-glucooligosaccharides (GOS), i.e. a product of fungal α-(1→3)-d-glucan hydrolysis, on the gut microbiota composition. Mice were fed with a GOS-supplemented diet and two control diets for 21days, and fecal samples were collected at 0, 1, and 3-week time points. The bacterial community composition was determined by 16S rRNA gene Illumina sequencing. The gut microbiota of the GOS-supplemented mice showed profound time-dependent changes in the taxonomic composition; however, we did not observe significant changes in α-diversity indices. The biggest number of genus abundance shifts after 1week of the treatment was noticed between the group of the GOS-supplemented mice and the controls; however, the differences were still relevant after the 3-week treatment. The GOS-supplemented mice displayed higher abundance of Prevotella spp., with a concomitant decrease in the abundance of Escherichia-Shigella. Hence, GOS seems to be a promising candidate for a new prebiotic.

Effects of urbanization and lifestyle habits on the intestinal microbiota of adolescents in eastern China.

Owing to urbanization, living habits have changed widely, leading to alterations in the intestinal microbiota of urban residents. However, there are few studies on the characteristics of intestinal microbiota of adolescents living in different urbanized areas in China. A total of 302 fecal samples collected from adolescent students in eastern China were examined. 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing was used to identify the fecal microbiota. These data were combined with questionnaire survey results to investigate the effect of urbanization on the intestinal microbiota of adolescents in eastern China. Moreover, the role of lifestyle habits in this relationship was also evaluated. The results revealed significant differences in the structure of the intestinal microbiota among adolescents living in regions with different levels of urbanization. Adolescents living in urban regions had a significantly higher proportion of Bacteroides (p < 0.001, FDR = 0.004), whereas those living in towns and rural regions had higher proportions of Bifidobacterium (p < 0.001, FDR < 0.001) and Prevotella (p < 0.05, FDR = 0.019). The diversity of the intestinal microbiota was higher in urban residents than in adolescents living in towns and rural regions (p < 0.05). In addition, the differences in intestinal microbiota across individuals living in cities, towns, and rural regions were related to dietary preferences, flavor preferences, and sleep and exercise durations. Adolescents who ate more meat had more Dorea (LDA = 3.622, p = 0.04), while the abundance of Escherichia-Shigella is higher among adolescents who ate more condiments (LDA = 4.285, p = 0.02). The abundance of Dialister was significantly increased in adolescents with longer sleep durations (LDA = 4.066, p = 0.03). Adolescents who exercised for a long duration had more Faecalibacterium than those who exercised for a shorter duration (LDA = 4.303, p = 0.04). Our research has preliminarily demonstrated that there were differences in the composition of Gut microbiome in stool samples of adolescents living in different urbanized areas, and provide a scientific basis for the maintenance of a healthy intentional microbota in adolescences.

Low glycemic index potato biscuits alleviate physio-histological damage and gut dysbiosis in rats with type-2 diabetes mellitus induced by high-sugar and high-fat diet and streptozotocin

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is the most common type of diabetes globally and poses a major concern for human health. This study aimed to investigate the effects on T2DM of low-glycemic index (GI) potato biscuits with oat bran and inulin as functional additives. T2DM was induced in rats by streptozotocin (STZ) and a high-sugar and high-fat diet. The alleviation of T2DM by low-GI potato biscuits at different doses was evaluated based on the analysis of glycolipid levels, histological observations, inflammatory markers, and gut microbiota structure. Compared to wheat biscuits, low-GI potato biscuits resulted in lower postprandial blood glucose levels. After 8 weeks of intervention, fasting blood sugar levels were 16.9% lower in T2DM rats fed high-dose low-GI potato biscuits than in untreated T2DM rats. Moreover, the intervention with low-GI potato biscuits significantly alleviated T2DM-induced pathological damage, glucose and lipid metabolic disorders, and inflammation by reversing the levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, transforming growth factor-β, interleukin-1β, interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α. Moreover, the levels of short-chain fatty acids and gut microbiota structure in T2DM rats were significantly reversed. The abundance of beneficial bacteria (e.g., Bifidobacterium, Lachnoclostridium, Roseburia) in the gut of T2DM rats was significantly increased whereas the abundance of Escherichia-Shigella and Desulfovibrio decreased. The present study revealed that low-GI potato biscuits alleviated damages caused by high-sugar and high-fat diet- and STZ-induced T2DM in rats, as well as reversed disturbances in the gut microbiota. Thus, low-GI potato biscuits are potentially beneficial to T2DM patients.

Dysbiosis of the gut microbiome in elderly patients with hepatocellular carcinoma

Fecal samples from participants aged 60–80 were collected and sequenced by a high-throughput second-generation sequencer to explore the structural composition of gut microbiota in elderly patients with hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC). Comparison of gut microbiota between patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and healthy controls, α diversity and β diversity were statistically different. At the genus level, compared with the normal group, the abundance of A Blautia, Fusicatenibacter, Anaerostipes, Lachnospiraceae_ND3007_group, CAG-56, Eggerthella, Lachnospiraceae_FCS020_group and Olsenella were decreased significantly in the LC group. In contrast, the abundance of Escherichia-Shigella, Fusobacterium, Megasphaera, Veillonella, Tyzzerella_4, Prevotella_2 and Cronobacter increased significantly. The KEGG and COG pathway analyses showed that the dysbiosis of gut bacteria in primary liver carcinoma is associated with several pathways, including amino acid metabolism, replication and repair, nucleotide metabolism, cell motility, cell growth and death, and transcription. Age is negatively associated with the abundance of Bifidobacterium. Lachnospiraceae_ ND3007_ group, [Eubacterium]_hallii_group, Blautia, Fuscatenibacter and Anaerostipes are negatively correlated with ALT, AST and GGT levels (p < 0.05), respectively. Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is positively associated with the abundance of Erysipelatoclostridium, Magasphaera, Prevotella 2, Escherichia-Shigella, Streptococcus and [Eubacterium]_eligens_group (p < 0.05), respectively. A random forest model showed that the genera Eggerthella, Anaerostipes, and Lachnospiraceae_ ND3007_ group demonstrated the best predictive capacity. The area under the Receiver Operating Characteristic Curve of Eggerthella, Anaerostipes and Lachnospiraceae_ ND3007_ group are 0.791, 0.766 and 0.730, respectively. These data are derived from the first known gut microbiome study in elderly patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. Potentially, specific microbiota can be used as a characteristic index for screening, diagnosis, and prognosis of gut microbiota changes in elderly patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and even as a therapeutic clinical target.

Dietary fiber during gestation improves lactational feed intake of sows by modulating gut microbiota

BackgroundThe feed intake of sows during lactation is often lower than their needs. High-fiber feed is usually used during gestation to increase the voluntary feed intake of sows during lactation. However, the mechanism underlying the effect of bulky diets on the appetites of sows during lactation have not been fully clarified. The current study was conducted to determine whether a high-fiber diet during gestation improves lactational feed intake (LFI) of sows by modulating gut microbiota.MethodsWe selected an appropriate high-fiber diet during gestation and utilized the fecal microbial transplantation (FMT) method to conduct research on the role of the gut microbiota in feed intake regulation of sows during lactation, as follows: high-fiber (HF) diet during gestation (n = 23), low-fiber (LF) diet during gestation (n = 23), and low-fiber diet + HF-FMT (LFM) during gestation (n = 23).ResultsCompared with the LF, sows in the HF and LFM groups had a higher LFI, while the sows also had higher peptide tyrosine tyrosine and glucagon-like peptide 1 on d 110 of gestation (G110 d). The litter weight gain of piglets during lactation and weaning weight of piglets from LFM group were higher than LF group. Sows given a HF diet had lower Proteobacteria, especially Escherichia-Shigella, on G110 d and higher Lactobacillus, especially Lactobacillus_mucosae_LM1 and Lactobacillus_amylovorus, on d 7 of lactation (L7 d). The abundance of Escherichia-Shigella was reduced by HF-FMT in numerically compared with the LF. In addition, HF and HF-FMT both decreased the perinatal concentrations of proinflammatory factors, such as endotoxin (ET), lipocalin-2 (LCN-2), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and interleukin-1β (IL-1β). The concentration of ET and LCN-2 and the abundance of Proteobacteria and Escherichia-Shigella were negatively correlated with the LFI of sows.ConclusionThe high abundance of Proteobacteria, especially Escherichia-Shigella of LF sows in late gestation, led to increased endotoxin levels, which result in inflammatory responses and adverse effects on the LFI of sows. Adding HF during gestation reverses this process by increasing the abundance of Lactobacillus, especially Lactobacillus_mucosae_LM1 and Lactobacillus_amylovorus.

Intestinal mucosal and fecal microbiota profiles in Crohn's disease in Chinese children

Imbalance in the microbiota has been identified in Crohn's disease (CD). We explored the difference of the microbiota in fecal and intestinal mucosa (including ileocecal junction, terminal ileum and transverse colon) in pediatric patients with active CD, CD patients in remission, nonspecific enteritis (NE) and the healthy children. Seven children had active CD, 5 cases of patients achieve remission (CDR), 19 were NE patients, and 11 were healthy controls (Col). A total of 168 samples were collected. Microbiota compositions were analyzed using 16 ​S rRNA sequencing. The results showed that, in fecal samples, Clostridium_sensu_stricto, Enterobacter and Akkermansia had a higher relative abundance in the CD group than that in CDR, Col and NE groups. Fusobacterium and Streptococcus showed a higher abundance in both CD and CDR than that in Col group. In intestinal mucosa samples, the bacterial communities of the three sampling sites were extremely similar. Escherichia-Shigella was the most abundant mucosal bacteria in the CD group, and the abundance of Bacillus, Ruminococcus_torques_group, Streptococcus, Faecalibacterium and Blautia was lower in the CD group than in other groups. In conclusion, as a very characteristic bacteria, the abundance of Escherichia-Shigella in the intestinal mucosa can be used as a diagnostic criterion for CD patients. Also, the Bacilus and Blautia, which were not as prominent as Escherichia-Shigella could still be used as a diagnostic candidate due to their neatness in CD patients. Mucosal samples may be better than stool samples when assessing the community and diversity of patients' intestinal microbes.

Analysis of the gut microbiome in obese native Tibetan children living at different altitudes: A case-control study.

To explore the relationship between intestinal flora and obesity in Tibetan children at different altitudes. Using16S rRNA gene sequencing results and blood lipid metabolism indexes to study the characteristics of the intestinal flora present in faeces and changes in blood lipid metabolism in obese children in Tibet who reside at different altitudes and to study correlations between blood lipid metabolism indicators and the intestinal flora composition. The results showed the following. (a) The triglyceride (TG) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels in the obesity groups were higher than those in the normal-weight groups, and those in the high-altitude obesity groups were lower than those in the low-altitude obesity groups. (b) The 16S rRNA gene sequencing results showed that altitude affected the composition and relative abundance of the gut microbiota. These parameters were basically the same among the low-altitude groups, while they were significantly lower in the high-altitude groups than in the low-altitude groups. (c) Groups that lived at different altitudes and had different body weights had different dominant bacterial genera. Megamonas was closely related to obesity, and its relative abundance in the low-altitude groups was higher than that in the high-altitude groups. Prevotella was associated with altitude, and its relative abundance in the high-altitude groups was higher than that in the low-altitude groups. In addition, Prevotella elicited changes in the abundance of Escherichia-Shigella. The lower prevalence of obesity and incidence of intestinal inflammation in those living at high altitudes were related to the abundance of Prevotella. (d) There were correlations between the gut microbiota composition and lipid metabolism indicators. The abundance of Romboutsia was positively correlated with TG and LDL-C levels but negatively correlated with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels. The abundance of Akkermansia was negatively correlated with LDL-C levels, and the abundance of Blautia was negatively correlated with body mass index (BMI) and LDL-C levels. The intestinal flora diversity varied by body weight and altitude, with lower diversity in those at higher altitudes and with lower body weights. Prevotella likely plays a role in suppressing obesity at high altitudes.

Characteristics and Clinical Significance of Intestinal Microbiota in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis B Cirrhosis and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

Background Chronic hepatitis B cirrhosis is often accompanied by glucose metabolism disorder, and intestinal microbiota was closely related to both cirrhosis and diabetes. There are few studies on the role of intestinal microbiota in hepatitis B liver cirrhosis and diabetes mellitus (LCDM). The purpose of this study was to investigate the characteristics of intestinal microbiota in patients with LCDM and to evaluate the relationship between the severity of intestinal microbiota imbalance and clinical significance. Methods A case-controlled study was conducted. People who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria of chronic HBV-related liver cirrhosis (LC), LCDM, and healthy controls (HC) were enrolled in, and their fecal and blood samples were collected. The V3-V4 region of 16s rDNA gene of fecal microbiota was sequenced; the bioinformatics analysis including α-diversity, β-diversity, and linear discriminant analysis (LDA) effect size (LEfSe) was performed; and the correlation between bacteria and clinical indexes was analyzed. Results A total of 70 participants completed fecal and blood tests, including 20 HC, 20 LCDM, and 30 LC. The α diversity of intestinal microbiota in the LCDM decreased than that in the HC. The abundance of Proteobacteria, Streptococcus, Escherichia-Shigella, and Lactobacillus increased, while the abundance of Bacteroidota, Bacteroides, Prevotella, Faecalibacterium, and Lachnospira decreased in the LCDM compared with the HC. The abundance of Lactobacillus, Roseburia, and Veillonella and the degree of hepatitis B cirrhosis dysbiosis indicator (HBCDI) increased in the LCDM than in the LC. The abundance of Escherichia-Shigella, Veillonella, and Lactobacillus positively correlated with liver injury and fasting blood glucose (FBG) level. The abundance of Escherichia-Shigella, Veillonella, Streptococcus, and Lactobacillus increased more significantly when FBG and glycosylated hemoglobin level increased. Conclusion Intestinal microbiota of patients with LCDM was significantly disordered, and the degree was more serious than that cirrhosis patients without diabetes.

Comprehensive Analysis of the Relationships Between the Gut Microbiota and Fecal Metabolome in Individuals With Primary Sjogren's Syndrome by 16S rRNA Sequencing and LC-MS-Based Metabolomics.

The gut microbiota has been associated with primary Sjogren’s syndrome (pSS), yet the biological implications of these associations are often elusive. We analyzed the fecal microbiota through 16S rRNA gene amplification and sequencing in 30 patients with pSS and 20 healthy controls (HCs); At the same time, the fecal metabolome was characterized by ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry. In addition, correlation analyses of microbiota and metabolome data were performed to identify meaningful associations. We found that the microbiota composition of pSS patients was significantly different from that of HCs. The pSS gut microbiota is characterized by increased abundances of proinflammatory microbes, especially Escherichia-Shigella, and decreased abundances of anti-inflammatory microbes. Concerning the metabolome, a multivariate model with 33 metabolites efficiently distinguished cases from controls. Through KEGG enrichment analysis, we found that these metabolites were mainly involved in amino acid metabolism and lipid metabolism. The correlation analysis indicated that there were certain correlations between the microbiota and metabolism in pSS patients. In addition, an abundance of Escherichia-Shigella was found to be correlated with high levels of four metabolites (aflatoxin M1, glycocholic acid, L-histidine and phenylglyoxylic acid). Our research suggests that in pSS patients, the gut microbiota is characterized by a specific combination of proinflammatory changes and metabolic states. Escherichia-Shigella is a factor related to gut dysbiosis, which may promote intestinal damage and affect amino acid metabolism.

Activation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway by lipopolysaccharide aggravates postoperative ileus in colorectal cancer patients.

Patients undergoing abdominal surgery can develop postoperative ileus (POI). Inflammation of the intestinal muscularis following intestinal manipulation may be caused by displaced bacteria or lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between gut microbiota, LPS, and POI in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients and explore underlying mechanisms of LPS-triggered POI. Sixty CRC patients undergoing colorectal resection were included. Bacterial communities from fecal samples were characterized by 16S rRNA gene sequencing, and fecal LPS levels were determined by Limulus amebocyte lysate assay. Mice were used to mechanistically investigate the causal relationship between microbiota, LPS, and POI. We discovered that CRC patients who developed prolonged POI (PPOI) had a unique pro-inflammatory gut microbial composition during the perioperative period. The highest proportions of Gram-negative bacteria at the genus level were Escherichia-Shigella and Bacteroides; the abundance of Escherichia-Shigella was higher throughout the perioperative period. Fecal LPS levels were significantly higher in patients with PPOI. In mice treated with an antibiotic cocktail, intestinal muscularis inflammation and intestinal dysfunction were significantly improved. Inflammation and dysfunction were significantly reduced in mice treated with polymyxin B, but were worsened by treatment with LPS. Moreover, LPS upregulated p38 phosphorylation in mice, and treatment with an inhibitor of p38 (SB203580) significantly alleviated intestinal inflammation and dysmotility. Lipopolysaccharide increases intestinal muscularis inflammation via activation of p38 signaling, which aggravates POI. Removing bacterial sources of LPS during the perioperative period is promising for the prophylactic treatment of PPOI.