Disease Bacterium Research Articles

The role of periodontitis-associated bacteria in Alzheimer's disease: A narrative review.

Alzheimer's disease causes memory loss and dementia in older adults through a neurodegenerative mechanism. Despite the pathophysiological clarification of this cognitive disorder, novel molecular and cellular pathways should be identified to determine its exact mechanism. Alzheimer's disease (AD) is pathologically characterized by senile plaques comprising beta-amyloid and neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) formed by hyperphosphorylated tau as a microtubule-associated protein with a key role in the pathogenesis of AD. Periodontitis through inflammatory pathways is a risk factor for deteriorating cognitive impairment in AD patients. Poor oral hygiene coupled with immunocompromised status in older adults causes periodontal diseases and chronic inflammations through an oral bacterial imbalance. Toxic bacterial products, including bacteria themselves, can reach the central nervous system through the bloodstream and evoke inflammatory responses. The present review was conducted to investigate relationships between AD and periodontitis-involved bacteria as a risk factor.

Metabolic syndrome and the urinary microbiome of patients undergoing percutaneous nephrolithotomy

ObjectiveTo identify possible stone-promoting microbes, we compared the profiles of microbes grown from stones of patients with and without metabolic syndrome (MetS). The association between MetS and urinary stone disease is well established, but the exact pathophysiologic relationship remains unknown. Recent evidence suggests urinary tract dysbiosis may lead to increased nephrolithiasis risk. MethodsAt the time of percutaneous nephrolithotomy, bladder urine and stone fragments were collected from patients with and without MetS. Both sample types were subjected to expanded quantitative urine culture (EQUC) and 16 S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing. ResultsFifty-seven patients included 12 controls (21.1%) and 45 MetS patients (78.9%). Both cohorts were similar with respect to demographics and non-MetS comorbidities. No controls had uric acid stone composition. By EQUC, bacteria were detected more frequently in MetS stones (42.2%) compared to controls (8.3%) (p=0.041). Bacteria also were more abundant in stones of MetS patients compared to controls. To validate our EQUC results, we performed 16 S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing. In 12/16 (75.0%) sequence-positive stones, EQUC reliably isolated at least one species of the sequenced genera. Bacteria were detected in both “infectious” and “non-infectious” stone compositions. ConclusionBacteria are more common and more abundant in MetS stones than control stones. Our findings support a role for bacteria in urinary stone disease for patients with MetS regardless of stone composition.

Association of Alzheimer's dementia with oral bacteria, vitamin B12, folate, homocysteine levels, and insulin resistance along with its pathophysiology, genetics, imaging, and biomarkers

Alzheimer's disease is a prevalent form of dementia, particularly among the elderly population. It is characterized by progressive cognitive decline and neurodegeneration. Despite numerous studies, the exact cause of Alzheimer's disease remains uncertain, and various theories have been proposed, including Aβ amyloid deposition in the brain and tau protein hyper-phosphorylation. This review article explores the potential pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease, focusing on the effects of derangements in the levels of vitamin B12, folate, and homocysteine, as well as the impact of oral bacteria causing periodontitis and insulin resistance, and their relationship to Alzheimer's. Studies have shown that high levels of homocysteine and low levels of vitamin B12 and folate, are associated with an increased risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. The article also explores the link between Alzheimer's disease and oral bacteria, specifically dental infections and periodontitis, which contribute to the inflammatory processes in the nervous system of Alzheimer's patients. There could be derangement in the insulin signaling further causing disruption in glucose metabolism within the brain, suggesting that Alzheimer's disease may represent a form of type 2 diabetes mellitus associated with the brain, commonly known as type 3 diabetes. Neuroimaging techniques, including MRI, PET, and tau PET, can identify the predictive characteristics of Alzheimer's disease, with amyloid PET being the most useful in ruling out the disease. The article concludes by stressing the importance of understanding genetic and neuroimaging factors in the diagnosing and treating Alzheimer's disease.

A Fractional Treatment to Food-Borne Disease Modeling by q- Homotopy Analysis Transform Method (q-HATM)

A non-linear mathematical model has been proposed and examined here portraying impact of biological control of the expansion of the fly population and the transmission of food-borne illnesses. In the model's design, we made the assumption that the human population becomes exposed to food borne illnesses through close contact between those who are vulnerable and those who are already afflicted. In the same way that flies contaminate human food by bringing infectious disease bacteria from the outside in, vulnerable people can also become infected by indirect transmission. Additionally, we employ the fractional approach in the well-known technique known as q-HATM to mathematically analyze suggested model. This technique can be used to acquire the analytical findings of suggested model have convergent series with necessary computation of several important components.

The effects of varying degrees of Japanese barberry invasion on the abundance of blacklegged ticks and white-footed mice

Berberis thunbergii (Japanese barberry) is an invasive shrub that escaped cultivation and spread in the northeastern United States. The impact of varying degrees of Japanese barberry invasion on the abundances of a Lyme disease bacterium vector, Ixodes scapularis (blacklegged tick), and reservoir, Peromyscus leucopus (white-footed mouse) was investigated. Blacklegged ticks and white-footed mice in three habitats with different levels of Japanese barberry invasion (fully invaded, partially invaded, non-invaded) were surveyed. The efficacy of three tick collection techniques (flagging, dry ice traps, walking) within these habitats were evaluated. Blacklegged ticks and white-footed mice were more abundant in the fully invaded habitat than the non-invaded and partially invaded habitats. The walking method was most effective for collecting blacklegged ticks. Habitat management that prevents full invasion by Japanese barberry may limit the abundance of Lyme disease bacterium vectors and reservoirs, thus contributing to disease management.

Architecture and matrix assembly determinants of Bordetella pertussis biofilms on primary human airway epithelium.

Traditionally, whooping cough or pertussis caused by the obligate human pathogen Bordetella pertussis (Bp) is described as an acute disease with severe symptoms. However, many individuals who contract pertussis are either asymptomatic or show very mild symptoms and yet can serve as carriers and sources of bacterial transmission. Biofilms are an important survival mechanism for bacteria in human infections and disease. However, bacterial determinants that drive biofilm formation in humans are ill-defined. In the current study, we show that Bp infection of well-differentiated primary human bronchial epithelial cells leads to formation of bacterial aggregates, clusters, and highly structured biofilms which are colocalized with cilia. These findings mimic observations from pathological analyses of tissues from pertussis patients. Distinct arrangements (mono-, bi-, and tri-partite) of the polysaccharide Bps, extracellular DNA, and bacterial cells were visualized, suggesting complex heterogeneity in bacteria-matrix interactions. Analyses of mutant biofilms revealed positive roles in matrix production, cell cluster formation, and biofilm maturity for three critical Bp virulence factors: Bps, filamentous hemagglutinin, and adenylate cyclase toxin. Adherence assays identified Bps as a new Bp adhesin for primary human airway cells. Taken together, our results demonstrate the multi-factorial nature of the biofilm extracellular matrix and biofilm development process under conditions mimicking the human respiratory tract and highlight the importance of model systems resembling the natural host environment to investigate pathogenesis and potential therapeutic strategies.

Therapeutic Potential of Gut Microbiota and Its Metabolite Short-Chain Fatty Acids in Neonatal Necrotizing Enterocolitis

Short chain fatty acids (SCFAs), the principle end-products produced by the anaerobic gut microbial fermentation of complex carbohydrates (CHO) in the colon perform beneficial roles in metabolic health. Butyrate, acetate and propionate are the main SCFA metabolites, which maintain gut homeostasis and host immune responses, enhance gut barrier integrity and reduce gut inflammation via a range of epigenetic modifications in DNA/histone methylation underlying these effects. The infant gut microbiota composition is characterized by higher abundances of SCFA-producing bacteria. A large number of in vitro/vivo studies have demonstrated the therapeutic implications of SCFA-producing bacteria in infant inflammatory diseases, such as obesity and asthma, but the application of gut microbiota and its metabolite SCFAs to necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), an acute inflammatory necrosis of the distal small intestine/colon affecting premature newborns, is scarce. Indeed, the beneficial health effects attributed to SCFAs and SCFA-producing bacteria in neonatal NEC are still to be understood. Thus, this literature review aims to summarize the available evidence on the therapeutic potential of gut microbiota and its metabolite SCFAs in neonatal NEC using the PubMed/MEDLINE database.

Marine flatworm Acanthozoon sp.-associated bacteria with antibiotic property from the Java Sea

Neglected invertebrates, marine flatworms, have attracted global research interest due to their biological and chemical potential properties. The marine flatworms (Turbellaria), Phylum Platyhelminthes, belong to the Polycladida group. There are about 3000 species of free-living flatworms that make a living by hunting and eating other animals. A marine flatworm Acanthozoon sp. was used in this study due to its abundant presence in the site location. Staphylococcus epidermidis is an opportunistic pathogenic bacterium that was previously considered a harmless skin disease bacterium. This species is now considered to be in the first rank among the causative agents of nosocomial infection, specifically in the form of infections of the urinary tract, respiratory tract, and surgical site wounds. The aims of this study were to explore the biological diversity of marine flatworm-associated bacteria with antipathogenic properties and to detect the presence of polyketide synthase (PKS) and nonribosomal peptide synthetase NRPS gene clusters through a molecular approach. Recent studies have shown that S. epidermidis undergoes functional changes in the pro-inflammatory peptide family so that it has functions in immune evasion and biofilm development. Therefore, the search for new antimicrobial compounds is urgently needed due to the limited choice of antibiotic use. In the preliminary screening by overlay test, 7 out of 17 (41.2%) isolates showed antibacterial activities. These isolates were reselected and their activity confirmed by using plug agar and disk-diffusion methods. The FA02, FA03, FA05, FA07, FA13, FA16, and FA17 isolates demonstrated their inhibitory activities consistently against the causative agent of nosocomial infection S. epidermidis. Based on the morphological and 16S rRNA partial sequencing analysis, these isolates were closely related to the genus Virgibacillus, Brevibacterium, Alcanivorax, and Vibrio. None of these seven antibacterial strains possesses PKS-I and PKS-II, except NRPS genes for Virgibacillus salarius strain FA02, V. salarius strain FA16, and V. salarius strain FA17. The results of this study showed that bacteria associated with marine flatworms have future potential as a source of promising natural products for the development of antibiotics.

Climate change in the Arctic: Testing the poleward expansion of ticks and tick-borne diseases.

Climate change is most strongly felt in the polar regions of the world, with significant impacts on the species that live there. The arrival of parasites and pathogens from more temperate areas may become a significant problem for these populations, but current observations of parasite presence often lack a historical reference of prior absence. Observations in the high Arctic of the seabird tick Ixodes uriae suggested that this species expanded poleward in the last two decades in relation to climate change. As this tick can have a direct impact on the breeding success of its seabird hosts and vectors several pathogens, including Lyme disease spirochaetes, understanding its invasion dynamics is essential for predicting its impact on polar seabird populations. Here, we use population genetic data and host serology to test the hypothesis that I. uriae recently expanded into Svalbard. Both black-legged kittiwakes (Rissa tridactyla) and thick-billed murres (Uria lomvia) were sampled for ticks and blood in Kongsfjorden, Spitsbergen. Ticks were genotyped using microsatellite markers and population genetic analyses were performed using data from 14 reference populations from across the tick's northern distribution. In contrast to predictions, the Spitsbergen population showed high genetic diversity and significant differentiation from reference populations, suggesting long-term isolation. Host serology also demonstrated a high exposure rate to Lyme disease spirochaetes (Bbsl). Targeted PCR and sequencing confirmed the presence of Borrelia garinii in a Spitsbergen tick, demonstrating the presence of Lyme disease bacteria in the high Arctic for the first time. Taken together, results contradict the notion that I. uriae has recently expanded into the high Arctic. Rather, this tick has likely been present for some time, maintaining relatively high population sizes and an endemic transmission cycle of Bbsl. Close future observations of population infestation/infection rates will now be necessary to relate epidemiological changes to ongoing climate modifications.

Bacteriophages and the Microbiome in Dermatology: The Role of the Phageome and a Potential Therapeutic Strategy.

Bacteriophages, also known as phages, are viruses that selectively target and infect bacteria. In addition to bacterial dysbiosis, dermatologic conditions such as acne, psoriasis, and atopic dermatitis are characterized by a relative reduction in the abundance of phages and the overgrowth of the corresponding bacteria. Phages often exhibit high specificity for their targeted bacteria, making phage-replacement therapy a promising therapeutic strategy for the control of pathogenic bacteria in dermatologic disease. Novel therapeutic strategies regulating pathogenic bacteria are especially necessary in light of growing antibiotic resistance. In this review, we aimed to review the medical literature assessing phage dysbiosis and therapeutic trials in dermatology. Ultimately, studies have depicted promising results for the treatment of acne, psoriasis, and atopic dermatitis but are limited by low sample sizes and the omission of control groups in some trials. Additional work is necessary to validate the efficacy depicted in proof-of-concept trials and to further determine optimal treatment vehicles, administration mechanisms, and dosing schedules. This review provides the necessary framework for the assessment of phage efficacy in future trials.

DOP48 Key Anti-Inflammatory Faecalibacterium prausnitzii is Heterogeneous and Diverse in the East and West and in Health and Crohn’s disease. The ENIGMA study.

Abstract Background There is insufficient knowledge about the key characteristics of the pathogenic and protective bacteria in inflammatory bowel disease. The ENIGMA study aimed to identify the phylogenetic and functional characteristics of Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, considered a protective “anti-inflammatory” bacterium, in both health and Crohn’s disease in populations in the West (high Crohn’s incidence) and Hong Kong (rapidly increasing Crohn’s incidence). Methods Total DNA was extracted from tissue (right colon and terminal ileum) and stool collected from case-control cohorts in Hong Kong (n=51; 30 Crohn’s, 21 controls) and Australia (n=49; 29 Crohn’s, 20 controls). In parallel, the colonic mucosa-associated microbiota (MAM) for each subject was cultured from anaerobically preserved tissue. Shotgun metagenomic sequencing was used to characterise the stool and colonic MAM, augmented with 16S rRNA gene profiling and F. prausnitzii qPCR. The HUMANn3 and/or QIIME2 packages were used for the taxonomic and/or functional characterisation of the datasets. Metagenome-assembled genomes (MAG) were also produced from colonic MAM datasets using the MetaWRAP pipeline, and taxonomy deduced using the Genome Taxonomy Database-Tool kit (GTDB-tk). Results F. prausnitzii was detected in all case-control cohorts from Hong Kong and Australia. However, the prevalence was greater for the colonic MAM cultures of the Australian subjects, which provided 24/32 high-quality Faecalibacterium-affiliated MAG. No less than 6 different species-level lineages were predicted by GTDB-tk, and a similar phylogeny predicted using the gene encoding immunomodulatory peptides (mam). Functional features for the MAG from Crohn’s disease and control subjects were compared, and genes involved with histidine, riboflavin, purine and pyrimidine metabolism, pentose phosphate pathway, and oxidoreductases were enriched in the control subject MAG. In contrast, MAG derived from Crohn’s disease subjects possessed more functions putatively assigned to antibiotic resistance mechanisms and other protective functions. Differences were also observed in the carbohydrate-active enzyme profiles of the MAG recovered from Crohn’s disease and control subjects. Conclusion The populations of F. prausnitzii recovered from the colonic mucosa associated microbiota are both diverse and vary between Crohn’s disease and control subjects in both countries. The differences include metabolic and physiological characteristics. Therapeutic modification of F. prausnitzii needs to consider phylogenetic and functional characteristics. The ENIGMA study is supported by a grant from the Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust

Identifying the core microbiome of the sea star Pisaster ochraceus in the context of sea star wasting disease.

Sea stars are keystone species and their mass die-offs due to sea star wasting disease (SSWD) impact marine communities and have fueled recent interest in the microbiome of sea stars. We assessed the host specificity of the microbiome associated with three body regions of the sea star Pisaster ochraceus using 16S rRNA gene amplicon surveys of the bacterial communities living on and in Pisaster, their environment, and sympatric marine hosts across three populations in British Columbia, Canada. Overall, the bacterial communities on Pisaster are distinct from their environment and differ by both body region and geography. We identified core bacteria specifically associated with Pisaster across populations and nearly absent in other hosts and the environment. We then investigated the distribution of these core bacteria on SSWD-affected Pisaster from one BC site and by reanalyzing a study of SSWD on Pisaster from California. We find no differences in the distribution of core bacteria in early disease at either site and two core taxa differ in relative abundance in advanced disease in California. Using phylogenetic analyses, we find that most core bacteria have close relatives on other sea stars and marine animals, suggesting these clades have evolutionary adaptions to an animal-associated lifestyle.

The FGF/FGFR system in the microglial neuroinflammation with Borrelia burgdorferi: likely intersectionality with other neurological conditions

BackgroundLyme neuroborreliosis, caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi affects both the central and peripheral nervous systems (CNS, PNS). The CNS manifestations, especially at later stages, can mimic/cause many other neurological conditions including psychiatric disorders, dementia, and others, with a likely neuroinflammatory basis. The pathogenic mechanisms associated with Lyme neuroborreliosis, however, are not fully understood.MethodsIn this study, using cultures of primary rhesus microglia, we explored the roles of several fibroblast growth factor receptors (FGFRs) and fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) in neuroinflammation associated with live B. burgdorferi exposure. FGFR specific siRNA and inhibitors, custom antibody arrays, ELISAs, immunofluorescence and microscopy were used to comprehensively analyze the roles of these molecules in microglial neuroinflammation due to B. burgdorferi.ResultsFGFR1-3 expressions were upregulated in microglia in response to B. burgdorferi. Inhibition of FGFR 1, 2 and 3 signaling using siRNA and three different inhibitors showed that FGFR signaling is proinflammatory in response to the Lyme disease bacterium. FGFR1 activation also contributed to non-viable B. burgdorferi mediated neuroinflammation. Analysis of the B. burgdorferi conditioned microglial medium by a custom antibody array showed that several FGFs are induced by the live bacterium including FGF6, FGF10 and FGF12, which in turn induce IL-6 and/or CXCL8, indicating a proinflammatory nature. To our knowledge, this is also the first-ever described role for FGF6 and FGF12 in CNS neuroinflammation. FGF23 upregulation, in addition, was observed in response to the Lyme disease bacterium. B. burgdorferi exposure also downregulated many FGFs including FGF 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 16, 20 and 21. Some of the upregulated FGFs have been implicated in major depressive disorder (MDD) or dementia development, while the downregulated ones have been demonstrated to have protective roles in epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, spinal cord injury, blood–brain barrier stability, and others.ConclusionsIn this study we show that FGFRs and FGFs are novel inducers of inflammatory mediators in Lyme neuroborreliosis. It is likely that an unresolved, long-term (neuro)-Lyme infection can contribute to the development of other neurologic conditions in susceptible individuals either by augmenting pathogenic FGFs or by suppressing ameliorative FGFs or both.

The role of Gram-negative bacteria in equine ocular infectious diseases

The role of Gram-negative bacteria in equine ocular infectious diseases

Isolation, identification and antibiotic susceptibility of gram-negative anaerobic bacteria in oral cavity

Gram-negative bacteria include more than 20 genera. The most commonly isolated genera are: Bacteriodes spp., Porphiromonas spp., Fusobacterium spp. and Prevotella spp. The following genera were isolated somewhat less frequently: Tanerella spp., Leptotricha spp., Veilonella spp.,Wollinela spp., Selenomonas spp. and Treponema spp. Anaerobic bacteria have an anaerobic type of metabolism and therefore their incubation is significantly longer and more demanding than aerobic bacteria. The genera Prevotella spp., Porphyromonas spp. and Fusobacterium spp. are part of the resident flora of the oral cavity and in unfavorable conditions cause periodontal diseases, and sometimes dentogenic infections and systemic diseases, such as Alzheimer?s disease, cardiovascular diseases, metabolic diseases and inflammatory bowel diseases. The three most important steps for the successful diagnosis of anaerobic bacteria are: proper sampling with avoiding sample contamination, rapid transport of samples to the microbiological laboratory and proper handling of samples. A combination of beta-lactam with the addition of beta-lactamase inhibitors, metronidazole, clindamycin and moxifloxacin is used for treatment for infections caused by anaerobic Gram-negative bacteria. It is important to note that antibiotics should be used only with a clear indication and to choose the right antibiotic in the optimal dose. The aim of this review is to point out the role of Gram-negative anaerobic bacteria in periodontal diseases, and its isolation, identification and antibiotic susceptibility.

Formulation and Antibacterial Activity of Transparent Solid Soap Combination of Secang Ethanolic Extract and Clove Bud Oil Against Skin Disease Bacteria

Secang wood ethanolic extract and clove bud oil have antibacterial properties against Staphylococcus aureus, Propionibacterium acnes, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The formulation of both in transparent bath soap is additional protection for the body. This study formulated soaps and determined their antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Propionibacterium acnes, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Soap was made using the hot process and the antibacterial activity was tested using the agar diffusion. The soap formulas F0 (as the base), F1 (3% clove bud oil), and F2 (a combination of 3% clove bud oil and 0.5% sappan wood ethanolic extract) have good appearance and quality including pH, foam stability, free alkali, unsaponifiable fat, and mineral oil content. The water content in the soap is >15%. The inhibitory diameter values of the soap (F0, F1, and F2) against S. aureus, P. acnes, and P. aeruginosa were in the moderate to strong category. Based on the contact time test of 90 seconds, F0 cannot kill bacteria; F1 can kill Staphylococcus aureus Propionibacterium acnes, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa; F2 killed Staphylococcus aureus in 90 seconds and Propionibacterium acnes, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa in 60 seconds.
 Keywords: soap, clove bud oil, secang, antibacterial

A Study on The Level of Farmer Knowledge, Attitude and Practices on The Litopenaeus Vannamei Disease in Pond Culture

Litopenaeus Vannamei is a high-value commodity shrimp species in the aquaculture sector, especially Asia. Unfortunately, disease attack is a problem that emerges from shrimp aquaculture to gain high profit. Among the common disease that usually infects L. Vannamei are white spot disease (WSD) and Fusarium bacteria which causes black gill disease. This problem arises from farmers' lack of knowledge about shrimp disease, low management attitude and poor aquaculture management practices. Therefore, this research objective is to investigate a farmer's level of knowledge, attitude, and practices on the Litopenaeus Vannamei shrimp disease. The research method used in this study is a quantitative method (questionnaire survey) using a google form and the questionnaire was distributed online. The respondents were chosen from the L. Vannamei farmers (50 respondents) in Kota Bharu, Kelantan. The survey was open for one month between 15th November and 15th December 2021. The data was analysed using IBM SPPS software version 24.0 to obtain the frequency, percentage and descriptive analysis to analyse the level of knowledge, attitude and practices of L. Vannamei farmers on the shrimp disease in pond culture. This study showed that the level of knowledge, attitude, and practices of L. Vannamei farmers on the shrimp disease in pond culture is high, as can be seen by the good attitude in L. Vannamei management and having good aquaculture management practices. In conclusion, the high level of knowledge, attitude and practices of L. Vannamei farmers helps to motivate farmers to apply good management on shrimp cultivation to prevent the disease and increase the production of high-quality seeds.

PEMBUATAN KOMPOSTER MENGGUNAKAN SAMPAH ORGANIK DENGAN AKTIVATOR EM4

Garbage becomes a problem, when waste is perceived as useless material, creates bad smells, is harmful to the environment, causes pollution to the surrounding environment, invites disease bacteria, kills marine life, spoils the view, and many other negative perceptions. One strategy for dealing with waste is to teach children at SMP Negeri 2 Wagir, Sukodadi Village, Wagir District, Malang Regency about turning waste into useful things, namely by making a simple composter using used bottles that function as a means of converting organic waste (leaves and paper) into solid and liquid fertilizers. This service activity focuses on organic waste that can be turned into compost (solid fertilizer and liquid fertilizer). The skill of making compost is actually simple, but it must be taught because it turns out that not many children know about it, let alone practice it in everyday life. The purpose of this activity is to study the method and process of making compost by means of anaerobic fermentation with the help of EM4 bioactivator as decomposing bacteria and brown sugar for bacterial food, and to determine optimal operating conditions in order to obtain maximum compost both qualitatively and quantitatively. The method in this activity goes through 5 stages, namely the first stage is presentation of the material, the second stage is the practice of making a simple composter using used bottles, the third stage is making composter liquid consisting of EM4 bioactivator, sugar and water, the fourth stage is mixing organic waste with composter liquid , the fifth stage is forcing the trash into the bottle. The results of the activities that have been carried out are training in making compost as a result of processing organic waste. Based on the activities that have been carried out, students are able to practice environmentally friendly waste management both at school and in everyday life.

Do we need to change our perspective about gut biomarkers? A public data mining approach to identify differentially abundant bacteria in intestinal inflammatory diseases.

The gut microbiome is involved in multiple processes that influence host physiology, and therefore, disruptions in microbiome homeostasis have been linked to diseases or secondary infections. Given the importance of the microbiome and the communities of microorganisms that compose it (microbiota), the term biomarkers were coined, which are bacteria correlated with disease states, diets, and the lifestyle of the host. However, a large field in the study of intestinal biomarkers remains unexplored because the bacterial communities associated with a given disease state have not been exactly defined yet. Here, we analyzed public data of studies focused on describing the intestinal microbiota of patients with some intestinal inflammatory diseases together with their respective controls. With these analyses, we aimed to identify differentially abundant bacteria between the subjects with the disease and their controls. We found that frequently reported bacteria such as Fusobacterium, Streptococcus, and Escherichia/Shigella were differentially abundant between the groups, with a higher abundance mostly in patients with the disease in contrast with their controls. On the other hand, we also identified potentially beneficial bacteria such as Faecalibacterium and Phascolarctobacterium, with a higher abundance in control patients. Our results of the differentially abundant bacteria contrast with what was already reported in previous studies on certain inflammatory diseases, but we highlight the importance of considering more comprehensive approaches to redefine or expand the definition of biomarkers. For instance, the intra-taxa diversity within a bacterial community must be considered, as well as environmental and genetic factors of the host, and even consider a functional validation of these biomarkers through in vivo and in vitro approaches. With the above, these key bacterial communities in the intestinal microbiota may have potential as next-generation probiotics or may be functional for the design of specific therapies in certain intestinal diseases.

Targeting keystone species helps restore the dysbiosis of butyrate-producing bacteria in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

The dysbiosis of the gut microbiome is one of the pathogenic factors of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)and also affects the treatment and intervention of NAFLD. Among gut microbiomes, keystone species that regulate the integrity and stability of an ecological community have become the potential intervention targets for NAFLD. Here, we collected stool samples from 22 patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), 25 obese patients, and 16 healthy individuals from New York for 16S rRNA gene sequencing. An algorithm was implemented to identify keystone species based on causal inference theories and dynamic intervention simulation. External validation was performed in an independent cohort from California. Eight keystone species in the gut of NAFLD, represented by Porphyromonas loveana, Alistipes indistinctus, and Dialister pneumosintes, were identified, which could efficiently restore the microbial composition of the NAFLD toward a normal gut microbiome with 92.3% recovery. These keystone species regulate intestinal amino acidmetabolism and acid-base environment to promote the growth of the butyrate-producing Lachnospiraceae and Ruminococcaceae species that are significantly reduced in NAFLD patients. Our findings demonstrate the importance of keystone species in restoring the microbial composition toward a normal gut microbiome, suggesting a novel potential microbial treatment for NAFLD.