Bacterial Families Research Articles

Psidium guajava leaves extract alters colonic microbiome composition and reduces intestinal sodium absorption in rats exposed to a high-sodium diet

Abstract Objectives High sodium intake is a major risk factor for hypertension and renal diseases. Previous studies have shown that a suspension of ethanolic extract of Psidium guajava (guava) leaves (PsE) has antihypertensive effects in rats on a high-sodium diet (HSD), but some mechanisms to that remain unexplored. This study explored whether oral PsE treatment affects sodium handling by the intestine and alters the gut microbiome in HSD-fed rats. Methods Male Wistar rats were divided into two groups: standard salt diet (SSD) and HSD (0.9% Na+), from weaning. After 12 weeks, both groups received PsE (200 mg/kg) or a vehicle for an additional 4 weeks. Key findings Sodium excretion was measured using flame photometry, and sodium absorption was assessed by intestinal perfusion technique. The gut microbiome was analysed through 16S ribosomal gene sequencing. HSD increased faecal sodium, further elevated by PsE, which inhibited intestinal sodium absorption in HSD rats. HSD altered the abundance of specific bacterial families, which PsE partially reversed. No changes in alpha diversity were noted among groups. Conclusions These findings suggest that PsE inhibited intestinal sodium handling and that PsE, combined with increased faecal sodium, may reshape the gut microbiome of HSD rats to resemble that of SSD rats.

Metagenomic Analysis of Sediment Bacterial Diversity and Composition in Natural Lakes and Artificial Waterpoints of Tabuk Region in King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Royal Natural Reserve, Saudi Arabia

The Tabuk region is located in the northern part of Saudi Arabia, and it has an area of 117,000 km2 between longitudes 26° N and 29° N and latitudes 34° E and 38° E. King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Royal Natural Reserve (KSRNR) is the largest natural reserve in Saudi Arabia and covers about 130,700 km2. It represents a new tourist attraction area in the Tabuk region. Human activities around the lake may lead to changes in water quality, with subsequent changes in microenvironment components, including microbial diversity. The current study was designed to assess possible changes in bacterial communities of the water sediment at some natural lakes and artificial waterpoints of KSRNR. Water samples were collected from ten different locations within KSRNR: W1, W2, W3 (at the border of the royal reserve); W4, W5, W6, W7 (at the middle); and W8, W9, and W10 (artificial waterpoints). The total DNA of the samples was extracted and subjected to 16S rRNA sequencing and metagenomic analysis; also, the environmental parameters (temperature and humidity) were recorded for all locations. Metagenomic sequencing yielded a total of 24,696 operational taxonomic units (OTUs), which were subsequently annotated to 193 phyla, 215 classes, 445 orders, 947 families, and 3960 genera. At the phylum level, Pseudomonadota dominated the microbial communities across all samples. At the class level, Gammaproteobacteria, Clostridia, Alphaproteobacteria, Bacilli, and Betaproteobacteria were the most prevalent. The dominant families included Enterobacteriaceae, Pseudomonadaceae, Clostridiaceae, Comamonadaceae, and Moraxellaceae. At the genus level, Pseudomonas, Clostridium, Acinetobacter, Paenibacillus, and Acidovorax exhibited the highest relative abundances. The most abundant species were Hungatella xylanolytica, Pseudescherichia vulneris, Pseudorhizobium tarimense, Paenibacillus sp. Yn15, and Enterobacter sp. Sa187. The observed species richness revealed substantial heterogeneity across samples using species richness estimators, Chao1 and ACE, indicating particularly high diversity in samples W3, W5, and W6. Current study results help in recognizing the structure of bacterial communities at the Tubaiq area in relation to their surroundings for planning for environmental protection and future restoration of affected ecosystems. The findings highlight the dominance of various bacterial phyla, classes, families, and genera, with remarkable species richness in some areas. These results underscore the influence of human activities on microbial diversity, as well as the significance of monitoring and conserving the reserve’s natural ecosystems.

Quality traits drive the enrichment of Massilia in the rhizosphere to improve soybean oil content

BackgroundSoybean seeds are rich in protein and oil. The selection of varieties that produce high-quality seeds has been one of the priorities of soybean breeding programs. However, the influence of improved seed quality on the rhizosphere microbiota and whether the microbiota is involved in determining seed quality are still unclear. Here, we analyzed the structures of the rhizospheric bacterial communities of 100 soybean varieties, including 53 landraces and 47 modern cultivars, and evaluated the interactions between seed quality traits and rhizospheric bacteria.ResultsWe found that rhizospheric bacterial structures differed between landraces and cultivars and that this difference was directly related to their oil content. Seven bacterial families (Sphingomonadaceae, Gemmatimonadaceae, Nocardioidaceae, Xanthobacteraceae, Chitinophagaceae, Oxalobacteraceae, and Streptomycetaceae) were obviously enriched in the rhizospheres of the high-oil cultivars. Among them, Oxalobacteraceae (Massilia) was assembled specifically by the root exudates of high-oil cultivars and was associated with the phenolic acids and flavonoids in plant phenylpropanoid biosynthetic pathways. Furthermore, we showed that Massilia affected auxin signaling or interfered with active oxygen-related metabolism. In addition, Massilia activated glycolysis pathway, thereby promoting seed oil accumulation.ConclusionsThese results provide a solid theoretical basis for the breeding of revolutionary soybean cultivars with desired seed quality and optimal microbiomes and the development of new cultivation strategies for increasing the oil content of seeds.7196FtKvsnPuUrhB77D9vLVideo

Identification of gut microbiome features associated with host metabolic health in a large population-based cohort

The complex relationship between the gut microbiome and host metabolic health has been an emerging research area. Several recent studies have highlighted the potential effects of the microbiome’s diversity, composition and metabolic production capabilities on Body Mass Index (BMI), liver health, glucose homeostasis and Type-2 Diabetes (T2D). The majority of these studies were constrained by relatively small cohorts, mostly focusing on individuals with metabolic disorders, limiting a comprehensive understanding of the microbiome’s role in metabolic health. Leveraging a large-scale, comprehensive cohort of nearly 9000 individuals, measured using Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM), Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scan and liver Ultrasound (US) we examined the functional profile of the gut microbiome, and its relation to 38 metabolic health measures. We identified 145 unique bacterial pathways significantly correlated with metabolic health measures, with 86.9% of these showing significant associations with more than one metabolic health measure. Furthermore, 87,678 unique bacterial gene families were found to be significantly associated with at least one metabolic health measure. Notably, “key” bacterial pathways such as purine ribonucleosides degradation and anaerobic energy metabolism demonstrated multiple robust associations across various metabolic health measures, highlighting their potential roles in regulating metabolic processes. Our results remained largely unchanged after adjustments for nutritional habits and for BMI they were replicated in a geographically independent cohort. These insights pave the way for future research and potentially the development of microbiome-targeted interventions to enhance metabolic health.

Characteristics of the Gut Microbiota Composition of the Arctic Zone Residents in the Far Eastern Region

Background. In many studies over the past decade, scientists have made a connection between the composition of gut microbiota and human health. A number of publications have shown that gut bacteria are involved in many metabolic and physiological processes of the organism. The composition of the gut microbiome is unique for each person and is formed under the influence of various factors associated with both the individual characteristics of the body and the characteristics of the environment. Different regional characteristics make it necessary for the body to adapt to certain conditions, including temperature fluctuations. Living in areas with low temperatures, such as the Arctic zone, dictates the need for increased energy consumption, which affects the composition of the gut microbiome. Methods. In our study, an extensive questionnaire was conducted among the participants, where many questions were included about the dietary preferences of the study participants, which allowed them us to further divide them into groups according to their diets. Stool samples were collected from participants from 3 groups: Arctic native, Arctic newcomer and the control group. The next step was the isolation of bacterial DNA and sequencing the 16S rRNA gene. The analysis of the results of the diversity of the intestinal microbiota was carried out both with and without taking into account the dietary preferences of the participants. Results. As a result of comparing the intestinal microbiota obtained from residents of the Arctic zone with the gut microbiota of residents of other regions with a milder climate, significant differences are found. These differences may be related to limited food resources and a reduction in the variety of food products characteristic of this Arctic region. t was also found that representatives of the bacterial families Christensenellaceae and Muribaculaceae dominated the control group, both with traditional nutrition and with a dairy-free diet in comparison with the Arctic groups. The control group was dominated by representatives of the Prevotellaceae, Enterobacteriaceae and Comamonadaceae families compared to the Arctic group (with a traditional diet). The results also show that the number of representatives of the families Desulfovibrionaceae (with traditional diet) and Enterobacteriaceae (with milk-free diet) is growing in the Arctic group. Conclusions. In the course of this work, bacterial families characteristic of people living in the Arc-tic zone of the Far Eastern region of the Russian Federation were identified. Poor diet, difficult climatic conditions, and problems with logistics and medical care can have a strong impact on the health of this population. The main type of diet for the inhabitants of the Arctic is the traditional type of diet. They consume a large number of low-cost products, obtainget animal protein from poultry and canned food, and also eat a small number of fresh vegetables and fruits. Such a diet is due to the social status of the study participants and the climatic and geographical features of the region (difficulties in agriculture). With such a diet, we observe a decrease in representatives of the Christensenellaceae, Muribaculaceae, Eubacteriaceae, and Prevotellaceae families and an increase in representatives of the Enterobacteriaceae and Desulfovibrionaceae families among Arctic residents. This imbalance in the futuremay cause, this population may to develop various diseases in the future, including chronic diseases such as obesity, intestinal dysbiosis, inflammatory bowel diseases, and type 2 diabetes.

The effects of livestock grazing on physicochemical properties and bacterial communities of perlite-rich soil.

Livestock grazing has been proposed as a cost-effective way to reclaim post-mining lands. It can enhance soil fertility and biodiversity, but its impacts on soil quality and microbial communities vary across soil types. Moreover, waste from grazing raises concerns about pathogens that could pose risks to animal and human health. This study investigated the effects of grazing on post-mining perlite-rich soil in central Thailand. A comparative analysis of soil physicochemical properties and bacterial diversity was conducted between grazed and ungrazed sites. Bacterial diversity was assessed using 16S amplicon sequencing. The perlite-rich soil was found to be sandy, acidic, and to have low nutritional content. Grazing significantly improved the soil texture and nutrient content, suggesting its potential as a cost-effective reclamation strategy. The 16S metagenomic sequencing analysis revealed that microbial communities were impacted by livestock grazing. Specifically, shifts in the dominant bacterial phyla were identified, with increases in Firmicutes and Chloroflexi and a decrease in Actinobacteria. Concerns about increased levels of pathogenic Enterobacteriaceae due to grazing were not substantiated in perlite-rich soil. These bacteria were consistently found at low levels in all soil samples, regardless of livestock grazing. This study also identified a diverse population of Streptomycetaceae, including previously uncharacterized strains/species. This finding could be valuable given that this bacterial family is known for producing antibiotics and other secondary metabolites. However, grazing adversely impacted the abundance and diversity of Streptomycetaceae in this specific soil type. In line with previous research, this study demonstrated that the response of soil microbial communities to grazing varies significantly depending on the soil type, with unique responses appearing to be associated with perlite-rich soil. This emphasizes the importance of soil-specific research in understanding how grazing affects microbial communities. Future research should focus on optimizing grazing practices for perlite-rich soil and characterizing the Streptomycetaceae community for potential antibiotic and secondary metabolite discovery. The obtained findings should ultimately contribute to sustainable post-mining reclamation through livestock grazing and the preservation of valuable microbial resources.

Bioaccumulation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and microbiota dynamics across developmental stages of the Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus exposed to urban pollutants

Aedes albopictus mosquitoes face numerous anthropic stressors in urban areas. These xenobiotics not only impact mosquito physiology but also shape the composition of their microbiota, which play important roles in host physiological traits. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are ubiquitous environmental pollutants known to alter mosquito metabolism, but no studies have yet investigated their impact on microbiota. Using a bespoke indoor mesocosm tailored for Ae. albopictus mosquitoes, we investigated the dynamics of bacterial communities in both mosquitoes and their larval breeding sites following chronic exposure to a cocktail of PAHs consisting of benzo[a]pyrene, benz[a]anthracene, chrysene and benzo[b]fluoranthene. Our findings showed that PAHs have a stage-specific effect on mosquito microbiota, with a higher impact in larvae than in adults, contributing to 12.5 % and 4.5 % of the PAHs-induced variations, respectively. The presence of PAHs in the treated mesocosm led to the enrichment of bacterial families and genera known for their ability to catabolize PAHs, such as Comamonadaceae and Raoultella (increasing from 19 % to 30 % and from 1.2 % to 5.6 %, respectively). Conversely, prevalent taxa found in mosquito microbiota like Wolbachia and Cedecea exhibited a reduction (decreasing from 4 % to 0.8 % and from 12.8 % to 6.4 %, respectively). This reduction could be attributed to the competitive advantage gained by PAH-degrading taxa, or it could reflect a direct sensitivity to PAH exposure. Overall, this indicates a shift in microbiota composition favoring bacteria that can thrive in a PAH-contaminated environment. PAHs persisted in the water of breeding sites only the first 45 days of the experiment. Benzo[a]pyrene and benzo[b]fluoranthene were more susceptible to bioaccumulation in larval tissues over time. Overall, this study enhances our understanding of the impact of pollution on mosquitoes and could facilitate future research on the importance of symbiosis in urban-dwelling insect disease vectors. Given the recent advancements in the generation of axenic (microbe-free) and gnotobiotic (mosquitoes with a defined or specific microbiota) mosquitoes, further studies are needed to explore how changes in microbiota composition could influence mosquito responses to pollution, particularly in relation to host fitness, immunity, and vector competence.

Metagenomic profiling of cecal microbiota and antibiotic resistome in rodents

The rodent gut microbiota is a known reservoir of antimicrobial resistance, yet the distribution of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) within rodent cecal microbial communities and the specific bacterial species harboring these ARGs remain largely underexplored. This study employed high-throughput sequencing of 122 samples from five distinct rodent species to comprehensively profile the diversity and distribution of ARGs and to identify the bacterial hosts of these genes. A gene catalog of the rodent cecal microbiome was constructed, comprising 22,757,369 non-redundant genes. Analysis of the microbial composition and diversity revealed that Bacillota and Bacteroidota were the dominant bacterial phyla across different rodent species, with significant variations in species composition among the rodents. In total, 3703 putative antimicrobial resistance protein-coding genes were identified, corresponding to 392 unique ARG types classified into 32 resistance classes. The most enriched ARGs in the rodent cecal microbiome were associated with multidrug resistance, followed by glycopeptide and elfamycin antibiotics. Procrustes analysis demonstrated a correlation between the structure of the microbial community and the resistome. Metagenomic assembly-based host tracking indicated that most ARG-carrying contigs originated from the bacterial family Oscillospiraceae. Additionally, 130 ARGs showed significant correlations with mobile genetic elements. These findings provide new insights into the cecal microbiota and the prevalence of ARGs across five rodent species. Future research on a wider range of wild rodent species carrying ARGs will further elucidate the mechanisms underlying the transmission of antimicrobial resistance.

The Association between Gut Microbiota and Serum Biomarkers in Children with Atopic Dermatitis.

Background. Currently, it is known that the gut microbiota plays an important role in the functioning of the immune system, and a rebalancing of the bacterial community can arouse complex immune reactions and lead to immune-mediated responses in an organism, in particular, the development of atopic dermatitis (AD). Cytokines and chemokines are regulators of the innate and adaptive immune response and represent the most important biomarkers of the immune system. It is known that changes in cytokine profiles are a hallmark of many diseases, including atopy. However, it remains unclear how the bacterial imbalance disrupts the function of the immune response in AD. Objectives. We attempted to determine the role of gut bacteria in modulating cytokine pathways and their role in atopic inflammation. Methods. We sequenced the 16S rRNA gene from 50 stool samples of children aged 3-12 years who had confirmed atopic dermatitis, and 50 samples from healthy children to serve as a control group. To evaluate the immune status, we conducted a multiplex immunofluorescence assay and measured the levels of 41 cytokines and chemokines in the serum of all participants. Results. To find out whether changes in the composition of the gut microbiota were significantly associated with changes in the level of inflammatory cytokines, a correlation was calculated between each pair of bacterial family and cytokine. In the AD group, 191 correlations were significant (Spearman's correlation coefficient, p ≤ 0.05), 85 of which were positive and 106 which were negative. Conclusions. It has been demonstrated that intestinal dysbiosis is associated with alterations in cytokine profiles, specifically an increase in proinflammatory cytokine concentrations. This may indicate a systemic impact of these conditions, leading to an imbalance in the immune system's response to the Th2 type. As a result, atopic conditions may develop. Additionally, a correlation between known AD biomarkers (IL-5, IL-8, IL-13, CCL22, IFN-γ, TNF-α) and alterations in the abundance of bacterial families (Pasteurellaceae, Barnesiellaceae, Eubacteriaceae) was observed.

Comparative metagenomic study unveils new insights on bacterial communities in two pine-feeding Ips beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae).

Climate change has recently boosted the severity and frequency of pine bark beetle attacks. The bacterial community associated with these beetles acts as "hidden players," enhancing their ability to infest and thrive on defense-rich pine trees. There is limited understanding of the environmental acquisition of these hidden players and their life stage-specific association with different pine-feeding bark beetles. There is inadequate knowledge on novel bacterial introduction to pine trees after the beetle infestation. Hence, we conducted the first comparative bacterial metabarcoding study revealing the bacterial communities in the pine trees before and after beetle feeding and in different life stages of two dominant pine-feeding bark beetles, namely Ips sexdentatus and Ips acuminatus. We also evaluated the bacterial association between wild and lab-bred beetles to measure the deviation due to inhabiting a controlled environment. Significant differences in bacterial amplicon sequence variance (ASVs) abundance existed among different life stages within and between the pine beetles. However, Pseudomonas, Serratia, Pseudoxanthomonas, Taibaiella, and Acinetobacter served as core bacteria. Interestingly, I. sexdentatus larvae correspond to significantly higher bacterial diversity and community richness and evenness compared to other developmental stages, while I. acuminatus adults displayed higher bacterial richness with no significant variation in the diversity and evenness between the life stages. Both wild and lab-bred I. sexdentatus beetles showed a prevalence of the bacterial family Pseudomonadaceae. In addition, wild I. sexdentatus showed dominance of Yersiniaceae, whereas Erwiniaceae was abundant in lab-bred beetles. Alternatively, Acidobacteriaceae, Corynebacteriaceae, and Microbacteriaceae were highly abundant bacterial families in lab-bred, whereas Chitinophagaceae and Microbacteriaceae were highly abundant in wild I. accuminatus. We validated the relative abundances of selected bacterial taxa estimated by metagenomic sequencing with quantitative PCR. Our study sheds new insights into bacterial associations in pine beetles under the influence of various drivers such as environment, host, and life stages. We documented that lab-breeding considerably influences beetle bacterial community assembly. Furthermore, beetle feeding alters bacteriome at the microhabitat level. Nevertheless, our study revisited pine-feeding bark beetle symbiosis under the influence of different drivers and revealed intriguing insight into bacterial community assembly, facilitating future functional studies.

Phage communities in household-related biofilms correlate with bacterial hosts

The average American spends 93% of their time in built environments, almost 70% of that is in their place of residence. Human health and well-being are intrinsically tied to the quality of our personal environments and the microbiomes that populate them. Conversely, the built environment microbiome is seeded, formed, and re-shaped by occupant behavior, cleaning, personal hygiene and food choices, as well as geographic location and variability in infrastructure. Here, we focus on the presence of viruses in household biofilms, specifically in showerheads and on toothbrushes. Bacteriophage, viruses that infect bacteria with high host specificity, have been shown to drive microbial community structure and function through host infection and horizontal gene transfer in environmental systems. Due to the dynamic environment, with extreme temperature changes, periods of wetting/drying and exposure to hygiene/cleaning products, in addition to low biomass and transient nature of indoor microbiomes, we hypothesize that phage host infection in these unique built environments are different from environmental biofilm interactions. We approach the hypothesis using metagenomics, querying 34 toothbrush and 92 showerhead metagenomes. Representative of biofilms in the built environment, these interfaces demonstrate distinct levels of occupant interaction. We identified 22 complete, 232 high quality, and 362 medium quality viral OTUs. Viral community richness correlated with bacterial richness but not Shannon or Simpson indices. Of quality viral OTUs with sufficient coverage (614), 532 were connected with 32 bacterial families, of which only Sphingomonadaceae, Burkholderiaceae, and Caulobacteraceae are found in both toothbrushes and showerheads. Low average nucleotide identity to reference sequences and a high proportion of open reading frames annotated as hypothetical or unknown indicate that these environments harbor many novel and uncharacterized phage. The results of this study reveal the paucity of information available on bacteriophage in indoor environments and indicate a need for more virus-focused methods for DNA extraction and specific sequencing aimed at understanding viral impact on the microbiome in the built environment.

Prescribed fire regimes influence responses of fungal and bacterial communities on new litter substrates in a brackish tidal marsh.

Processes modifying newly deposited litter substrates should affect fine fuels in fire-managed tidal marsh ecosystems. Differences in chemical composition and dynamics of litter should arise from fire histories that generate pyrodiverse plant communities, tropical cyclones that deposit wrack as litter, tidal inundation that introduces and alters sediments and microbes, and interactions among these different processes. The resulting diversity and dynamics of available litter compounds should affect microbial (fungal and bacterial) communities and their roles in litter substrate dynamics and ecosystem responses over time. We experimentally examined effects of differences in litter types produced by different fire regimes and litter loads (simulating wrack deposition) on microbial community composition and changes over time. We established replicated plots at similar elevations within frequent tidal-inundation zones of a coastal brackish Louisiana marsh. Plots were located within blocks with different prescribed fire regimes. We deployed different measured loads of new sterilized litter collected from zones in which plots were established, then re-measured litter masses at subsequent collection times. We used DNA sequencing to characterize microbial communities, indicator families, and inferred ecosystem functions in litter subsamples. Differences in fire regimes had large, similar effects on fungal and bacterial indicator families and community compositions and were associated with alternate trajectories of community development over time. Both microbial and plant community compositional patterns were associated with fire regimes, but in dissimilar ways. Differences in litter loads introduced differences in sediment accumulation associated with tidal inundation that may have affected microbial communities. Our study further suggests that fire regimes and tropical cyclones, in the context of frequent tidal inundation, may interactively generate substrate heterogeneities and alter microbial community composition, potentially modifying fine fuels and hence subsequent fires. Understanding microbial community compositional and functional responses to fire regimes and tropical cyclones should be useful in management of coastal marsh ecosystems.

BPIFA1 alleviates allergic rhinitis by regulating the NF-κB signaling pathway and Treg/Th17 balance.

Allergic rhinitis (AR) is an allergic condition characterized by inflammation of the nasal mucosa. Bacterial permeability-increasing family member A1 (BPIFA1) exhibits anti-inflammatory properties; however, its impact on AR remains unclear. Aim of this study is to investigate the expression and function of BPIFA1 in AR and its influence on inflammation and immune regulation in a mouse model of AR induced by ovalbumin (OVA). The expression of BPIFA1 was analyzed using quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry (IHC). Morphological assessments of nasal mucosal tissues were conducted. Levels of inflammatory mediators in nasal lavage fluid (NALF) and serum were quantified using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits. Protein expressions of BPIFA1, phosphorylated and total p65 (p-p65/p65), and IκBα were evaluated through Western blot analysis. The total cell counts, including epithelial cells, eosinophils, and lymphocytes in NALF, were determined using a hemocytometer. A mouse model of AR was established by OVA management. BPIFA1 expression was found to be reduced in the nasal mucosa tissues of patients with AR, suggesting a potential role in the disease's progression. We successfully developed a mouse model of AR, where BPIFA1 was similarly downregulated, indicating its possible involvement in modulating the NF-κB signaling pathway. Overexpression of BPIFA1 in this model attenuated inflammation and allergic responses by inhibiting the NF-κB pathway. Additionally, overexpression of BPIFA1 promoted the differentiation of regulatory T cells (Treg) and inhibited the differentiation of T helper 17 cells (Th17) in the NALF of AR mice, further demonstrating its regulatory impact on immune responses. The study confirmed that BPIFA1 upregulation reduced the levels of inflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-6, decreased infiltration of inflammatory cells, and modulated antigen-specific immunoglobulin levels and histamine in serum. BPIFA1 mitigated both inflammatory and allergic responses in AR mice induced by OVA through the modulation of the NF-κB signaling pathway and the balance between regulatory T cells (Treg) and T helper 17 cells (Th17). These findings suggest that BPIFA1 could serve as a novel biomarker and therapeutic target for AR, offering potential for the development of targeted treatments to improve patient outcomes.

Therapeutic Effects of Intermittent Fasting Combined with SLBZS and Prebiotics on STZ-HFD-Induced Type 2 Diabetic Mice.

This study aims to assess the therapeutic potential of combining Shen-Ling-Bai-Zhu-San (SLBZS) or prebiotics with intermittent fasting (IF) in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) mice and to investigate the synergistic effects and underlying mechanisms. Type 2 diabetic mouse models were induced using high-fat diet (HFD) and streptozotocin (STZ), followed by IF treatment. Mice were then grouped for combined therapy with different doses of SLBZS and prebiotics. Fasting blood glucose (FBG) levels, body weight variations, and oral glucose tolerance tests were assessed to elucidate metabolic alterations. The hepatic and renal parameters were evaluated to determine systemic changes in T2DM mice, while the insulin levels were quantified by ELISA to assess glucose homeostasis. Gut microbiota alterations were examined via 16S rRNA sequencing. Alterations of the genes in relevant signaling pathways were analyzed using RT-qPCR. IF improved FBG, body weight, insulin levels, and other diabetes indicators. Combined IF with SLBZS or prebiotics yielded similar effects. Furthermore, it ameliorated dyslipidemia and mitigated hepatic and renal parameters in T2DM mice. Pancreatic tissue histopathology showed islet cell restoration post-intervention. IF therapy reduced the abnormally elevated GSK-3β gene expression and increased the abnormally reduced GLUT2 genes. Further analysis indicated that the combination of IF with prebiotics and high doses of SLBZS upregulated the expression of the INSR and IRS1 genes. Gut microbiota analysis revealed restored diversity and structure, with notable changes in specific bacterial families. At the family level, the contents of Akkermansiaceae and Bifidobacteriaceae were restored. Phylogenetic investigation of communities by reconstruction of unobserved states (PICRUSt2) analysis suggested metabolic pathway alterations. IF improved type 2 diabetic symptoms, with combined SLBZS and prebiotics showing similar effects. IF with high concentration of SLBZS and prebiotics doses upregulated the INSR and IRS1 genes and had superior effects on gut microbiota compared to IF alone.

Higher Microbial Abundance and Diversity in Bronchus-Associated Lymphoid Tissue (BALT) Lymphomas than in Non-Cancerous Lung Tissues.

It is well known that the majority of the extranodal marginal zone lymphomas of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissues (MALT lymphomas) are associated with microbiota, e.g., gastric MALT lymphoma with Helicobacter pylori. In general, they are very sensitive to low-dose radiotherapy and chemotherapeutic agents. The microbiota profile is not clearly elucidated in bronchus-associated lymphoid tissue (BALT) lymphoma, a rare type of MALT lymphoma in the lung. Thus, this study aimed to clarify the intratumor microbiome in BALT lymphoma using the third-generation NGS method. DNAs were extracted from 12 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tumor tissues obtained from BALT lymphoma patients diagnosed between 1990 and 2016. 16S rRNA gene was amplified by polymerase chain reaction. Amplicons were sequenced using a Nanopore platform. Next-generation sequencing analysis was performed to assess microbial profiles. For comparison, FFPE specimens from nine non-cancerous lung tissues were also analyzed. Specific bacterial families including Burkholderiaceae, Bacillaceae, and Microbacteriaceae were associated with BALT lymphoma by a linear discriminant analysis effect size approach. Although the number of specimens was limited, BALT lymphomas exhibited significantly higher microbial abundance and diversity with distinct microbial composition patterns and correlation networks than non-cancerous lung tissues. This study provides the first insight into intratumor microbiome in BALT lymphoma using the third-generation NGS method. A distinct microbial composition suggests the presence of a unique tumor microenvironment of BALT lymphoma.

Unveiling the Gut Microbiota of Pig-Tailed Macaque (Macaca nemestrina) in Selected Habitats in Malaysia.

The gut microbiota plays an important role in primates, which may be associated with their habitat. In Malaysia, pig-tailed macaques (Macaca nemestrina) live in different habitat environments and have traditionally been used for coconut plucking for more than a century. There is currently no information regarding the gut microbiota of this macaque in Malaysia. To address this oversight, this study employed a fecal metabarcoding approach to determine the gut microbiota composition of pig-tailed macaques and establish how these microbial communities correspond with the macaque external environments of residential area, forest edge, and fragmented forest. To determine this connection, 300 paired-end sequences of 16S rRNA were amplified and sequenced using the MiSeq platform. In the pig-tailed macaque fecal samples, we identified 17 phyla, 40 orders, 52 families, 101 genera, and 139 species of bacteria. The most prevalent bacterial families in the gut of pig-tailed macaques were Firmicutes (6.31%) and Proteobacteria (0.69%). Our analysis did not identify a significant difference between the type of environmental habitat and the gut microbiota composition of these macaques. There was great variation in the population richness and bacterial community structure. The abundance of Firmicutes and Proteobacteria helps this macaque digest food more easily while maintaining a healthy gut microbiota diversity. Exploring the gut microbiota provides an initial effort to support pig-tailed macaque conservation in the future.

Baicalein ameliorates SEB-induced acute respiratory distress syndrome in a microbiota-dependent manner

BackgroundAcute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is characterized by sudden and extensive pulmonary inflammation, with a mortality rate of approximately 40 %. Presently, there is no effective treatment to prevent or reverse its severe consequences. Baicalein (BAI) is a natural vicinal trihydroxyflavone and has been identified as the core quality marker of Scutellariae baicalensis for its effect on lung inflammation. However, its oral bioavailability is limited. The majority of studies that investigate BAI's in vivo mechanisms use injection techniques. Currently, there is no clear understanding of the mechanisms by which low-bioavailable BAI functions orally. PurposeThis study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of BAI in ARDS mice and its underlying mechanisms. Study design and methodsBehavioral experiments, histological analysis, immunofluorescence staining, flow cytometry of immune cells, qRT-PCR, and ELISA analysis were performed to evaluate the efficiency of BAI in ARDS mice. Lung tissues transcriptomic-based analyses were performed to detect the differentially expressed genes and biological pathways. Fecal samples were subjected to microbial 16S rRNA analysis and untargeted metabolomics analysis in order to identify the specific flora and metabolites associated with BAI. Furthermore, antibiotic cocktail treatment and fecal microbiota transplantation were used to elucidate the gut microbiota-mediated effects on ARDS. ResultsIn our study, we first find that oral administration of BAI effectively mitigates staphylococcal enterotoxin B-induced ARDS. BAI can alleviate gut dysbiosis and regulate the Toll-like signaling pathway and amino acid metabolism. The protective effects of BAI against ARDS are gut microbiota dependent. Modulation of gut microbiota increases the production of short-chain fatty acids and enhances lung barrier function, which is consistent with the therapeutic interventions with BAI. Notably, BAI greatly enriches the abundance of Prevotellaceae, a butyrate-producing bacterial family, exhibiting a positive correlation with key differentially expressed genes in the TLR4/MyD88 signaling cascades. ConclusionBAI emerges as a potential prebiotic agent to attenuate ARDS, and targeting specific microbial species may offer an innovative therapeutic approach to investigate other flavonoids with limited bioavailability.

Characterization of the vaginal microbiota ininfertile women with repeated implantation failure.

Although the relationship between vaginal microorganisms and fertility has been well established, only few studies have investigated vaginal microorganisms in women undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF). Our aim was to study the differences in vaginal microbiota between infertile women with repeated implantation failure (RIF) and those who achieved clinical pregnancy in their first frozen embryo transfer cycle. We compared the vaginal microbiota of patients with a history of RIF (n = 37) with that of the control group (n = 43). Following DNA extraction, metagenomic sequencing was employed for the analysis of alpha and beta diversities, distinctions in bacterial species, and the functional annotation of microbial genes. Furthermore, disparities between the two groups were revealed. Alpha diversity analysis revealed that the Shannon index was higher in the RIF group (P < 0.05). There were differences in the beta diversity between groups (P = 0.16). At the bacterial family level, the relative abundance of Actinomycetaceae (P = 0.013) and Ruminococcaceae (P = 0.013) were significantly higher in the RIF group. At the genus level, the abundances of Actinomyces (P = 0.028) and Subdoligranulum (P = 0.013) weresignificantly higher in the RIF group. At the species level, the abundances of Prevotella timonensis (P = 0.028), Lactobacillus jensenii (P = 0.049), and Subdoligranulum (P = 0.013) were significantly higher in the RIF group. Significant differences in family, genus, species, alpha and beta diversity were observed in the vaginal microbiota between groups. Notably, among these findings, the Subdoligranulum genus emerged as the most prominent correlating factor.

The bacterial and yeast microbiota in livestock forages in Hungary

BackgroundAlong bacteria, yeasts are common in forages and forage fermentations as spoilage microbes or as additives, yet few studies exist with species-level data on these fungi’s occurrence in feedstuff. Active dry yeast and other yeast-based products are also common feed additives in animal husbandry. Here, we aimed to characterize both fermented and non-fermented milking cow feedstuff samples from Hungary to assess their microbial diversity in the first such study from Central Europe.ResultsWe applied long-read bacterial metabarcoding to 10 fermented and 25 non-fermented types of samples to assess bacterial communities and their characteristics, surveyed culturable mold and yeast abundance, and identified culturable yeast species. Fermented forages showed the abundance of Aerococcaceae, Bacillaceae, Brucellaceae, Lactobacillaceae, Staphylococcaceae, and Thermoactinomycetaceae, non-fermented ones had Cyanothecaceae, Enterobacteriaceae, Erwiniaceae, Gomontiellaceae, Oxalobacteraceae, Rhodobiaceae, Rickettsiaceae, and Staphylococcaceae. Abundances of bacterial families showed mostly weak correlation with yeast CFU numbers, only Microcoleaceae (positive) and Enterococcaceae and Alcaligenaceae (negative correlation) showed moderate correlation. We identified 14 yeast species, most commonly Diutina rugosa, Pichia fermentans, P. kudriavzevii, and Wickerhahomyces anomalus. We recorded S. cerevisiae isolates only from animal feed mixes with added active dry yeast, while the species was completely absent from fermented forages. The S. cerevisiae isolates showed high genetic uniformity.ConclusionOur results show that both fermented and non-fermented forages harbor diverse bacterial microbiota, with higher alpha diversity in the latter. The bacterial microbiome had an overall weak correlation with yeast abundance, but yeasts were present in the majority of the samples, including four new records for forages as a habitat for yeasts. Yeasts in forages mostly represented common species including opportunistic pathogens, along with a single strain of Saccharomyces used as a feed mix additive.

Identification of putative coral pathogens in endangered Caribbean staghorn coral using machine learning.

Coral diseases contribute to the rapid decline in coral reefs worldwide, and yet coral bacterial pathogens have proved difficult to identify because 16S rRNA gene surveys typically identify tens to hundreds of disease-associate bacteria as putative pathogens. An example is white band disease (WBD), which has killed up to 95% of the now-endangered Caribbean Acropora corals since 1979, yet the pathogen is still unknown. The 16S rRNA gene surveys have identified hundreds of WBD-associated bacterial amplicon sequencing variants (ASVs) from at least nine bacterial families with little consensus across studies. We conducted a multi-year, multi-site 16S rRNA gene sequencing comparison of 269 healthy and 143 WBD-infected Acropora cervicornis and used machine learning modelling to accurately predict disease outcomes and identify the top ASVs contributing to disease. Our ensemble ML models accurately predicted disease with greater than 97% accuracy and identified 19 disease-associated ASVs and five healthy-associated ASVs that were consistently differentially abundant across sampling periods. Using a tank-based transmission experiment, we tested whether the 19 disease-associated ASVs met the assumption of a pathogen and identified two pathogenic candidate ASVs-ASV25 Cysteiniphilum litorale and ASV8 Vibrio sp. to target for future isolation, cultivation, and confirmation of Henle-Koch's postulate via transmission assays.