Changes In Microbial Populations Research Articles

MICROBIAL DIVERSITY OF THE CONTAMINATED SOILS IN KAZAKHSTAN OILFIELDS

Oil and oil products adversely affect both the biodiversity of the microorganisms and the soil function. In oil-contaminated soils, unique bacterial communities develop that are adapted to pollution. In this work, the bacterial structure and diversity of the microbial community have been studied in samples of oil-contaminated soils in Kazakhstan deposits using the Illumina MiSeq sequencer. The results of the study showed that the representatives of the following bacterial phyla dominated in the selected soil samples: Proteobacteria, prevailing in oil-contaminated soils (up to 48%), Actinobacteria (up to 29.33%), Firmicutes (up to 25.74%), Bacteroidetes (up to 33.28 %). The representatives of Planctomycetes, Verrucomicrobia, Chloroflexi (0.76%-4.62%) phyla were found in smaller amounts. All the uncontaminated soils were dominated by Micrococcaceae, Flexibacteraceae, Sphingomonadaceae, Planococcaceae, Flavobacteriaceae families, contaminated ones – by Halomonadaceae, Flavobacteriaceae, Alteromonadaceae, Dietziaceae, Pseudomonadaceae, Bacillaceae, Xanthomonadaceae, Anaerolinaceae, Mycobacteriaceae and Peptococcaceae families. At the genus level, samples of uncontaminated and contaminated soils also demonstrated significant diversity. The dominant bacterial genera in the samples of the uncontaminated soil were Hymenobacter, Arthrobacter, Gillisia. In contaminated soils of three deposits the microorganisms of the Halomonas, Marinobacter, Pseudomonas (mostly in 2KO soil sample), Bellilinea and Mycobacterium (mostly Md sample) genera were spread more widely; and a very large population of the microorganisms of the Halomonas genus was found in the contaminated soil sample from the Atyrau region. A comparison of the taxonomic structure of microbial communities of oil-contaminated soils indicates that the composition of the microbial population changes depending on the degree of oil pollution. Samples of uncontaminated background soils were characterized by higher bacterial diversity than samples of contaminated soils. The microorganisms belonging to the dominant phyla were mostly associated with the decomposition of oil hydrocarbons. The characterization of the bacterial communities living in the contaminated soils and the assessment of their ability to decompose oil can potentially be a guide for bioremediation of contaminated soils.

Changes of root microbial populations of natively grown plants during natural attenuation of V-Ti magnetite tailings.

Mine tailings contain dangerously high levels of toxic metals which pose a constant threat to local ecosystems. Few naturally grown native plants can colonize tailings site and the existence of their root-associated microbial populations is poorly understood. The objective of this study was to give further insights into the interactions between native plants and their microbiota during natural attenuation of abandoned V-Ti magnetite mine tailings. In the present work, we first examined the native plants' potential for phytoremediation using plant/soil analytical methods and then investigated the root microbial communities and their inferred functions using 16S rRNA-based metagenomics. It was found that in V-Ti magnetite mine tailings the two dominant plants Bothriochloa ischaemum and Typha angustifolia were able to increase available nitrogen in the rhizosphere soil by 23.3% and 53.7% respectively. The translocation factors (TF) for both plants indicated that B. ischaemum was able to accumulate Pb (TF=1.212), while T. angustifolia was an accumulator of Mn (TF=2.502). The microbial community structure was more complex in the soil associated with T. angustifolia than with B. ischaemum. The presence of both plants significantly reduced the population of Acinetobacter. Specifically, B. ischaemum enriched Massilia, Opitutus and Hydrogenophaga species while T. angustifolia significantly increased rhizobia species. Multivariate analyses revealed that among all tested soil variables Fe and total organic carbon (TOC) could be the key factors in shaping the microbial structure. The putative functional analysis indicated that soil sample of B. ischaemum was abundant with nitrate/nitrite reduction-related functions while that of T. angustifolia was rich in nitrogen fixing functions. The results indicate that these native plants host a diverse range of soil microbes, whose community structure can be shaped by plant types and soil variables. It is also possible that these plants can be used to improve soil nitrogen content and serve as bioaccumulators for Pb or Mn for phytoremediation purposes.

The HDAC Inhibitor Emodin Blocks Hypertension-Induced Cardiac Hypertrophy: A Mediating Role for the Gut?

Abstract Objectives Evidence suggests that food bioactives impact the epigenome to prevent pathological cardiac hypertrophy. Recently, we showed that emodin, an anthraquinone, attenuated pathological cardiac hypertrophy and histone deacetylase (HDAC) activity. However, we only examined the cardioprotective effects of emodin's parent compound, not of emodin metabolites or of emodin-gut microbiome interactions. The microbiome has emerged as a key player in chronic diseases such as metabolic and cardiac disease. Thus, we hypothesized that emodin could reverse hypertension-induced changes in microbial communities. Methods Normo- and hypertensive (angiotensin ii) C57/BL6 female mice were randomly assigned to receive vehicle (Veh, DMSO: PEG 1:1) or emodin (Emod, 30 mg/kg) for 14 days. Body weight was collected pre- and post-treatment and blood pressure assessed via tail-cuff. At study end, mice were euthanized and assessed for heart weight and fibrosis. In addition, stool samples and cecal content were collected to elucidate changes in microbial populations using 16S rRNA sequencing. Lastly, tissue was lysed and RNA isolated for RNA sequencing. One-way ANOVA with Tukey's post-hoc was performed unless otherwise specified and P < 0.05 considered significant. Results Emodin significantly attenuated cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis in female mice. No significant changes were observed for body weight or systolic blood pressure in response to hypertension or emodin. Lastly, preliminary analysis suggests that hypertension altered the microbiome, with evidence to support that emodin effects gut microbiota. Conclusions Our data demonstrates that emodin attenuates pathological hypertrophy and fibrosis in female mice. Whether this attenuation in cardiac remodeling is driven, in part, by the actions of emodin on the gut the microbiome remains unclear and is currently an active topic of investigation in our lab. Funding Sources This work is supported by the USDA NIFA (Hatch-NEV00767), the Dennis Meiss & Janet Ralston Fund for Nutri-epigenetic Research, the National Institute for General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) of the NIH (P20 GM130459) and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute of the NIH (R15 HL143496) to B.S.F. Core facilities used for Research were supported by NIGMS of the NIH (P20 GM103554).

Vermicomposting of invasive weed Ageratum conyzoids: Assessment of nutrient mineralization, enzymatic activities, and microbial properties

Ageratum conyzoids biomass was vermicomposted with cow dung in 25 (T25), 50 (T50), and 75 (T75) % (v/v) ratios and changes in physicochemical characteristics, enzymatic activities (proteases, dehydrogenases, β-galactosidase and phosphatases), and microbial population (bacterial, fungal, and actinomycetes) was recorded. Vermicomposting caused a decrease in pH, OCtotal (27.3–35.3%), but an increase in Ntotal (59.6–69.9%), Paval (53.8–148.7%), Ktotal (32.2–92.43%), and Catotal (25.5–55.3%). The peaked enzymatic activities were recorded between 5 and 15 d. T50 and T75 showed the highest fold increase in bacteria (2.09-to-2.51), fungi (1.48-to-2.41), actinomycetes (1.52-to-1.79) population. The maximum biomass (883.67–1480 mg), cocoon production (85.33–145.33), and population build-up in earthworm were recorded in setups with a high content of Ageratum. Germination index (>80%) and soil respiration rate suggested the non-toxic impact of vermicomposted Ageratum. Results indicate that Ageratum could be biotransformed into toxic-free manure through vermitechnology.

Treatment of municipal wastewater in AnMBRs with powdered activated carbon addition under psychrophilic temperatures.

The performance of anaerobic membrane bioreactors (AnMBRs) at psychrophilic temperatures commonly observed in temperate climates (10-24°C) was assessed. A unique aspect of the research was operation at controlled SRT with regular membrane cleaning. COD removal and permeate VFA concentrations were similar at 15 and 24°C and deteriorated at 10°C. As temperature decreased, the COD mass flow to methane decreased and COD mass flows in the permeate and waste sludge increased. At 24°C, rapid membrane TMP increases were not observed while at 15 and 10°C rapid increases occurred at 11.7±0.46 and 7.6±0.45days, respectively, indicating a greater fouling propensity of the mixed liquor at lower temperatures. When the temperature was reduced from 15°C to 10°C in a transient test, CH4 production was reduced and VFA concentrations increased. A 2-3 SRT lag in the responses suggested that the delayed response was due to long-term changes in microbial population. The permeate VFA content in a PAC-dosed reactor was lower than that without PAC dosing, and PAC addition increased the time to rapid TMP development to 11.3±0.46days from 7.4±0.49days. The primary benefit of PAC addition at low temperatures is enhanced membrane performance. PRACTITIONER POINTS: AnMBRs can produce high-quality effluents at temperatures of 15°C Membrane fouling increases as temperature decreases Bioreactor performance was sustained for 2-3 SRTs after temperature decrease PAC addition reduced the permeate VFA concentrations Membrane fouling at 10°C was reduced through PAC addition.

The structure of microbial populations in Nelore GIT reveals inter-dependency of methanogens in feces and rumen

BackgroundThe success of different species of ruminants in the colonization of a diverse range of environments is due to their ability to digest and absorb nutrients from cellulose, a complex polysaccharide found in leaves and grass. Ruminants rely on a complex and diverse microbial community, or microbiota, in a unique compartment known as the rumen to break down this polysaccharide. Changes in microbial populations of the rumen can affect the host’s development, health, and productivity. However, accessing the rumen is stressful for the animal. Therefore, the development and use of alternative sampling methods are needed if this technique is to be routinely used in cattle breeding. To this end, we tested if the fecal microbiome could be used as a proxy for the rumen microbiome due to its accessibility. We investigated the taxonomic composition, diversity and inter-relations of two different GIT compartments, rumen and feces, of 26 Nelore (Bos indicus) bulls, using Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) metabarcoding of bacteria, archaea and ciliate protozoa.ResultsWe identified 4265 Amplicon Sequence Variants (ASVs) from bacteria, 571 from archaea, and 107 from protozoa, of which 143 (96 bacteria and 47 archaea) were found common between both microbiomes. The most prominent bacterial phyla identified were Bacteroidetes (41.48%) and Firmicutes (56.86%) in the ruminal and fecal microbiomes, respectively, with Prevotella and Ruminococcaceae UCG-005 the most relatively abundant genera identified in each microbiome. The most abundant archaeal phylum identified was Euryarchaeota, of which Methanobrevibacter gottschalkii, a methanogen, was the prevalent archaeal species identified in both microbiomes. Protozoa were found exclusively identified in the rumen with Bozasella/Triplumaria being the most frequent genus identified. Co-occurrence among ruminal and fecal ASVs reinforces the relationship of microorganisms within a biological niche. Furthermore, the co-occurrence of shared archaeal ASVs between microbiomes indicates a dependency of the predominant fecal methanogen population on the rumen population.ConclusionsCo-occurring microorganisms were identified within the rumen and fecal microbiomes, which revealed a strong association and inter-dependency between bacterial, archaeal and protozoan populations of the same microbiome. The archaeal ASVs identified as co-occurring between GIT compartments corresponded to the methanogenic genera Methanobrevibacter and Methanosphaera and represented 26.34% of the overall archaeal sequencesdiversity in the rumen and 42.73% in feces. Considering that these archaeal ASVs corresponded to a significant part of the overall diversity of both microbiomes, which is much higher if one includes the interactions of these co-occurring with other rumen archaea ASVs, we suggest that fecal methanogens could be used as a proxy of ruminal methanogens.

Evaluation of Microbiological Quality of Agricultural Water and Effect of Water Source and Holding Temperature on the Stability of Indicator Organisms' Levels by Seven U.S. Environmental Protection Agency–Approved Methods

The Food Safety Modernization Act Produce Safety Rule requires covered produce growers to monitor the quality of their agricultural water on a regular basis by some U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-approved methods recognized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. In this study, we evaluated the changes in the population of indicator organisms in surface water up to 6 months, and the effects of water source and holding temperature on the survival of indicator organisms by seven EPA-approved methods (five methods for Escherichia coli and two methods for Enterococcus). The levels of E. coli and Enterococcus in the surface water were variable with sampling month, ranging from 1.61 ± 0.04 to 2.68 ± 0.15 log most probable number (MPN)/100 mL and from undetectable level to 1.19 ± 0.29 log MPN/100 mL, respectively. At 25°C (holding temperature), there were significant reductions (P < 0.05) in E. coli and Enterococcus populations in surface water after 48 and 24 h, respectively, whereas at 4°C, no significant changes in the bacterial populations were observed up to 48 h. Methods 1603, 1604, 1103.1, 10029, and Colilert showed a comparable sensitivity in quantifying E. coli, whereas method 1600 and Enterolert showed a variable sensitivity with the type of water. The results indicated that regular monitoring of agricultural water is essential to examine whether the microbial quality of water is appropriate for its intended use. Water samples should be maintained at 4°C to minimize the changes in microbial populations between sampling and testing. The comparison of the sensitivity of EPA methods for quantifying indicator organisms could provide growers with useful information for choosing the method for their water quality analysis.

Changes in Soil and Plant Microbial Community Populations Following Administration of Manure Containing Oxytetracycline or Monensin

Changes in Soil and Plant Microbial Community Populations Following Administration of Manure Containing Oxytetracycline or Monensin

Microbial population interaction with natural soil cover for soil management

Soil composition plays a crucial role in balancing and maintaining our terrestrial ecosystem, which is home to various plants, microorganisms and abiotic components. Some techniques and methods have been applied to restore soil composition and protection from the harsh environment. One of the methods is to use natural soil cover (NSC). NSC may improve fertility and maintain soil integrity by promoting microbial population. Prepared NSC composition were varied, with basic build material of coconut coir (CC) 64% w/w, empty fruit bunch (EFB) 32% w/w and banana fibres for sowing. Additional components were fertilizer and biochar 2% w/w of NSC. Physicochemical and biological characteristics were determined before and during the applications of the NSC. Near-surface microbial population changes were evaluated to assess the interactions with NSC. The pH of soils underneath all NSC showed an increasing trend within 1.27 to 1.96 from the initial pH as well as an increase in the organic matter within 1 to 2% w/w. Increased soil pH has promoted the growth of gram-positive cocci, bacilli and black spores fungal in the soil samples. NSC application has shown to promote the evolution of microbial population in retaining moisture, soil fertility and soil integrity in avoiding erosion.

Effects of subchronic exposure of mercuric chloride on intestinal histology and microbiota in the cecum of chicken.

This study aimed to investigate the influences of mercuric chloride (HgCl2, 250 ppm, drink water) on the growth performance, cecal morphology and microbiota of chickens (n = 60) after 30, 60, and 90 days of exposure. A control group of sixty chickens received water free of HgCl2. Our results suggested that mercury exposure reduced the body weight and changed the cecal morphology of chickens after the 90-day treatment. Furthermore, sequence analysis of 16 S rRNA gene revealed that the diversity and composition of cecal microbiota in chickens differed between the control and exposure group. At the phylum level, Proteobacteria and Tenericutes phyla both significantly increased in mercury exposure groups on day 30 while only Tenericutes phyla significantly increased on day 60. At the genus level, we observed that the change in microbial populations are most dramatic on day 30. Besides, compared with the control group, the genus Prevotellaceae_UCG-001 significantly increased in exposure group on day 30 but showed no significant difference on day 60, whereas there was a significant decrease on day 90. PICRUSt analysis revealed potential metabolic changes, such as Bacterial invasion of epithelial cells and Metabolism of xenobiotics, associated with mercury exposure in chickens. Taken together, the data show that subchronic exposure to mercury not only affected the growth and development but also caused the dysbiosis of gut microbiota, which may further induced metabolic disorders in chickens.

Development, Characterization, and Bioactivity of Non-Dairy Kefir-Like Fermented Beverage Based on Flaxseed Oil Cake.

Flaxseed oil cake (FOC) was evaluated as a potential substrate for the production of a novel kefir-like fermented beverage. Three variants containing 5%, 10%, and 15% (w/w) of FOC were inoculated with kefir grains and incubated at 25 °C for 24 h. After processing, beverages were stored in refrigerated conditions (6 °C) for 21 days. Changes in microbial population, pH, acidity, levels of proteins, polyphenolics, flavonoids, ascorbic acid, and reducing sugars were estimated. Additionally, viscosity, firmness, color, and antioxidant properties were determined. Results showed that lactic acid bacteria as well as yeast were capable of growing well in the FOC without any supplementation. During refrigerated storage, the viability of the microorganisms were over the recommended minimum level for kefir products. As a result of fermentation, the beverages showed excellent antioxidant activity. Because of the functional characteristics conferred to the FOC beverages, the use of kefir grains showed adequate potential for the industrial application. Therefore, this beverages could be used as a new, non-dairy vehicle for beneficial microflora consumption, especially by vegans and lactose-intolerant consumers.

Dietary fibre enrichment of supplemental feed modulates the development of the intestinal tract in suckling piglets

BackgroundCommercial pre-weaning diets are formulated to be highly digestible and nutrient-dense and contain low levels of dietary fibre. In contrast, pigs in a natural setting are manipulating fibre-rich plant material from a young age. Moreover, dietary fibre affects gastrointestinal tract (GIT) development and health in older pigs. We hypothesised that supplemental diets that contain vegetal fibres are accelerating GIT development in suckling piglets in terms of size and functionality. From d 2 of life, sow-suckled piglets had access to a low fibre diet (CON), a diet with a fermentable long-chain arabinoxylan (lc-AXOS), a diet with a largely non-fermentable purified cellulose (CELL), or a diet containing both fibres. During the initial 2 weeks, the control diet was a high-density milk replacer, followed by a dry and highly digestible creep meal. Upon weaning at 25 d, 15 piglets from each treatment group, identified as eaters and originating from six or seven litters, were sacrificed for post-mortem examination of GIT morphology, small intestinal permeability and metabolic profile of the digesta. The microbiota composition of the mid-colon was evaluated in a sub-set of ten piglets.ResultsNo major statistical interactions between the fibre sources were observed. Piglets consumed the fibre-containing milk supplements and creep diets well. Stomach size and small intestinal permeability was not affected. Large intestinal fill was increased with lc-AXOS only, while relative large intestinal weight was increased with both fibre sources (P < 0.050). Also, CELL decreased ileal pH and tended to increase ileal DM content compared to CON (P < 0.050). Moreover, the concentration of volatile fatty acids was increased in the caecum (P < 0.100) and mid-colon (P < 0.050) by addition of CELL. lc-AXOS only stimulated caecal propionate (P < 0.050). The microbiota composition showed a high individual variation and limited dietary impact. Nonetheless, CELL induced minor shifts in specific genera, with notable reductions of Escherichia-Shigella.ConclusionsAdding dietary fibres to the supplemental diet of suckling piglets altered large intestinal morphology but not small intestinal permeability. Moreover, dietary fibre showed effects on fermentation and modest changes of microbial populations in the hindgut, with more prominent effects from the low-fermentable cellulose.

Reduction of Bioaerosols Emitted from a Swine Confinement Building by a Percolating Biofilter During a 10-Month Period

The release of pathogens into the air from swine confinement buildings are mitigated through preventative measures, such as outgoing air filtration, to reduce the risk of spread to nearby barns and communities. The present study aims to characterize the effectiveness of a percolating biofilter developed by the Research and Development Institute for the Agri-environment (IRDA) to capture airborne contaminants, such as bacteria and viruses emitted from a swine finishing room. Over a 10-month period (summer, fall, and winter), air was sampled upwind and downwind of the biofilter using two wet walled cyclonic samplers. Culture-dependent and molecular biology analyses were used to track changes in microbial concentrations and populations both captured and emitted by the percolating biofilter. Results revealed a minor reduction (median reduction efficiency 14.4%) in culturable bacteria. There was a decrease in total bacteria (qPCR) (75.0%) and other qPCR targeted organisms: archaea (42.1%), coliphages (25.6%), Enterococcus (76.1%), and Escherichia coli (40.9%). The community analyses showed similar bacterial diversity in the air upwind and downwind of the biofilter although more Proteobacteria were present downwind of the unit, likely attributable to the Proteobacteria-rich nutritive solution. Evidence is provided for bioaerosols reduction by a percolating biofilter treating air from a swine fattening-finishing room.

Changes in Microbiological and Physicochemical Quality of Dried Persimmons (Diospyros kaki Thunb.) Stored at Various Temperatures

This study was conducted to investigate the microbiological, physicochemical, and visual quality of dried persimmons (Diospyros kaki Thunb. cv. Cheongdo-Bansi) during storage at various temperatures in order to determine the shelf-life. Two commercial dried persimmon samples were evaluated for changes in weight, moisture content, color, texture (hardness and gumminess), and microbial populations during storage at different temperatures (−20, 5, 12, and 25°C) for 70 days. Overall, dried persimmon-2 showed lower levels of total mesophilic bacteria, Escherichia coli, coliforms, yeasts, and molds than dried persimmon-1. Among the physicochemical qualities, significant differences were observed in color parameters such as L∗, a∗, and b∗ of the dried persimmons. However, no significant differences in weight, moisture content, and texture were observed in dried persimmons during storage for 70 days. Thus, changes in visual appearance and color index such as chroma value and browning index can be used as indicators for determining the shelf-life of dried persimmons.

Effect of Quercetin on Non-shivering Thermogenesis and Intestinal Microbial Populations (P06-037-19)

ObjectivesActivation of non-shivering thermogenesis in adipose tissues and alteration in intestinal microbiome have been linked with improved obese condition. With emerging evidences of dietary compounds to prevent obesity, the objective of this study was to examine whether quercetin activates non-shivering thermogenesis in adipose tissues and influences intestinal microbiome, which eventually improves obese condition. MethodsFour-week-old C57BL/6 male mice were fed either a low-fat diet (LFD) or a high-fat diet (HFD) with or without 1% quercetin (Q) for 16 weeks. On the completion of the feeding study, brown adipose tissue (BAT), white adipose tissue (WAT), and cecum were collected. Total RNA was extracted from BAT and WAT, and then cDNA was synthesized. The expression of genes that are involved in the regulation of non-shivering thermogenesis such as uncoupling protein 1 (ucp1), cell death-inducing DFFA-like effector A (cidea), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (pparγ), pparγ-coactivator 1 alpha (pgc1α), fibroblast growth factor 21 (fgf21), positive regulatory domain containing 16 (prdm16), and T-box protein 1 (tbx1) were determined by a real-time PCR. The expression of the proteins such as UCP1 and AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) was assessed by western blot analysis. Microbial populations in cecum were analyzed via the Illumnia MiSeq sequencing platform and QIIME (Quantitative Insights Into Microbial Ecology) Software. ResultsMice fed HFDQ showed reduced body weight and retroperitoneal (R) WAT weight compared to mice fed HFD. Quercetin supplementation increased the expression of ucp1, prdm16, pgc1α, cidea, and tbx1 genes in BAT and RWAT of mice fed HFD. The expression of UCP1 protein and phosphorylation of AMPK were increased. However, browning effect was not observed in other WATs. Mice fed LFDQ and HFDQ exhibited higher relative abundance of Bacteroidetes than mice fed LFD and HFD whereas the relative abundance of Firmicutes was decreased. ConclusionsQuercetin may be a potential dietary compound that increases energy metabolism by activating BAT and attracting beige adipocytes in RWAT. In addition, quercetin-induced energy metabolism may have a correlation with changes of microbial populations in intestine. Funding SourcesThe work was supported by USDA.

Dietary Modulation of Intestinal Microbiota: Future Opportunities in Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis and Multiple Sclerosis.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease that affects the functioning of the central nervous system (CNS). Recent studies on MS and its animal model, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), have shown that the composition and abundance of microbes in the intestinal microbiota are an environmental risk factor for the development of MS and EAE. Changes in certain microbial populations in the gastrointestinal tract can cause MS in humans, but MS inflammation can be reduced or even prevented by introducing other commensal microbes that produce beneficial metabolites. Other risk factors for MS include the presence of an altered gut physiology and the interaction between the intestinal microbiota and the immune system. Metabolites including short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), such as butyrate, are the primary signaling molecules produced by the intestinal microbiota that interact with the host immune system, suggesting an association between MS pathophysiology and gut microbiota. In addition, several host microRNAs present in the gut have been found to interact with the intestinal microbial community, these interactions may indirectly affect the neurological system. Increasing evidence has shown that regulation of the intestinal microbiota is an important approach for reducing MS inflammation. Thus, here we review the use of diet to alter the gut microbiota and its application in the treatment and prevention of MS.

Gut Check on Air Pollution: Effects of Biodiesel Ultrafine Particles on Gut Microbial Metabolism

Emerging evidence has highlighted the need for scientists, physicians, and policy-makers to understand the adverse health effect of air pollution substances, such as ultrafine to overall human health, through their complicated modulation of human gut microbiota. Therefore, this study will focus on deciphering the interactive modulating effects of gastrointestinal (GI) UFPs exposure to gut microbial composition and functions, then eventually to enable systematic evaluation of the impact of UFPs to host health. Due to the increasing importance of biodiesel to our society, and the vastly lacking information to their health effect, the UFPs generated from combustion of both petrodiesel (B0) and petrodiesel/biodiesel blend (80:20 v/v, B20) in a representative light-duty diesel engine were used in this study. An in vivo murine model with both male and female groups was applied for investigating gut microbial population and diversity changes during frequent UFP exposure. Multi-omics approaches, including targeted and untargeted metabolomics, and microbiome analysis were applied for evaluating the UFP-induced gut microbial population and functional changes. We discovered that the concentration and relative abundance of bacterial metabolites from the host gut were depended on the percentage biodiesel in the fuel blends (B0 vs. B20). Correlation analysis was conducted to obtain the relationship between UFPs composition and gut microbial metabolic profiles. Bacterial cellular oxidative stress and their metabolic signatures, such as the decreased concentration of nucleotides and lipids and increased concentrations of carbohydrate, energy and vitamin metabolites are examined via metabolomics approaches. Furthermore, the altered metabolites are correlated to microbial composition changes. Graphic abstract This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2019 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.

Changes in Oral Microbial Population through Dental Scaling and Dental Polishing

Changes in Oral Microbial Population through Dental Scaling and Dental Polishing

Microbial Population Changes in Decaying Ascophyllum nodosum Result in Macroalgal-Polysaccharide-Degrading Bacteria with Potential Applicability in Enzyme-Assisted Extraction Technologies.

Seaweeds are of significant interest in the food, pharmaceutical, and agricultural industries as they contain several commercially relevant bioactive compounds. Current extraction methods for macroalgal-derived metabolites are, however, problematic due to the complexity of the algal cell wall which hinders extraction efficiencies. The use of advanced extraction methods, such as enzyme-assisted extraction (EAE), which involve the application of commercial algal cell wall degrading enzymes to hydrolyze the cell wall carbohydrate network, are becoming more popular. Ascophyllum nodosum samples were collected from the Irish coast and incubated in artificial seawater for six weeks at three different temperatures (18 °C, 25 °C, and 30 °C) to induce decay. Microbial communities associated with the intact and decaying macroalga were examined using Illumina sequencing and culture-dependent approaches, including the novel ichip device. The bacterial populations associated with the seaweed were observed to change markedly upon decay. Over 800 bacterial isolates cultured from the macroalga were screened for the production of algal cell wall polysaccharidases and a range of species which displayed multiple hydrolytic enzyme activities were identified. Extracts from these enzyme-active bacterial isolates were then used in EAE of phenolics from Fucus vesiculosus and were shown to be more efficient than commercial enzyme preparations in their extraction efficiencies.

Dynamics of Soil Microbial Population and Enzymes Activities under Distillery Spentwash Irrigation

Spentwash is a rich source of organic matter and nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium and sulphur. The effect of different levels and methods of spentwash application on soil enzymatic activity was examined through a field experiment. The field experiment was conducted using Sesame VRI (Sv) 2 as a test crop at Research and Development Farm, The Sakthi Sugars Pvt. Ltd., Appakkudal, Erode District. The experiment was formulated with six treatments with four replications, laid out in Randomised Block design. As per the treatment schedule the calculated quantity of biomethanated distillery spentwash for pre-sown application was uniformly applied to the plots before sowing viz., 25, 50, 75,100% along with recommended dose of NP for four treatments viz., 100%, 75%, 50%, 25% and Recommended dose NPK was treated as one treatment (control).The soil samples were collected at 30 days intervals and analysed for the changes in soil microbial population and enzyme activities. The results of the study showed that the microbial population and enzymatic activities of the soil were substantially increased throughout the crop growth period due to biomethanated distillery spentwash application.