Changes In Intestinal Microbiome Research Articles

Cystic fibrosis and fat malabsorption: Pathophysiology of the cystic fibrosis gastrointestinal tract and the impact of highly effective CFTR modulator therapy.

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a progressive, genetic, multi-organ disease affecting the respiratory, digestive, endocrine, and reproductive systems. CF can affect any aspect of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, including the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, colon, pancreas, liver, and gall bladder. GI pathophysiology associated with CF results from CF membrane conductance regulator (CFTR) dysfunction. The majority of people with CF (pwCF) experience exocrine pancreatic insufficiency resulting in malabsorption of nutrients and malnutrition. Additionally, other factors can cause or worsen fat malabsorption, including the potential for short gut syndrome with a history of meconium ileus, hepatobiliary diseases, and disrupted intraluminal factors, such as inadequate bile salts, abnormal pH, intestinal microbiome changes, and small intestinal bacterial overgrowth. Signs and symptoms associated with fat malabsorption, such as abdominal pain, bloating, malodorous flatus, gastroesophageal reflux, nausea, anorexia, steatorrhea, constipation, and distal intestinal obstruction syndrome, are seen in pwCF despite the use of pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy. Given the association of poor nutrition status with lung function decline and increased mortality, aggressive nutrition support is essential in CF care to optimize growth in children and to achieve and maintain a healthy body mass index in adults. The introduction of highly effective CFTR modulator therapy and other advances in CF care have profoundly changed the course of CF management. However, GI symptoms in some pwCF may persist. The use of current knowledge of the pathophysiology of the CF GI tract as well as appropriate, individualized management of GI symptoms continue to be integral components of care for pwCF.

P1219 Changes in gut microbiota of patients with inflammatory bowel disease receiving biologic therapy

Abstract Background Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), comprising the predominant forms Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), is associated with compositional and metabolic changes in the intestinal dysbiosis. The aim of this study is to evaluate the composition in the microbiota of IBD patients who received biologic therapy Methods This is a prospective study recruited 14 patients with IBD received biologic therapy and 13 IBD controls who received conventional treatment . The taxonomic composition of the gut microbiota was determined by 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing of stool samples. The stool samples at baseline, weeks 6 and 48 after biologic therapy initiation were assessed. We also evaluated the level of inflammation and treatment response of biologics by BD activity score (CD patient by Crohn’s disease activity index [CDAI] and in UC patient by Mayo score). Results In CD group, we recruited 7 CD patients receiving biologic therapy (Anti-tumor Necrosis Factor for 4 and anti-integrin for 3) and 6 controls.In UC group, we recruited 7 UC patient receiving biological therapy (Anti-tumor Necrosis Factor for 2 and anti-integrin for 5) and 7 controls. Community α-diversity was lower in patients at baseline of biologics group compare to controls significantly but increase abundance and richness after achieving remission in trend at week 6 and week 48, respectively. In Top 10 taxon bacterial distribution, the Firmicutes were increase its abundances gradually ( relative abundance in biologics W0,W6,W48 and controls were 46.3%, 51.7%,62.0%, and 66.4%, respectively). Conversely, the Bacteroidetes were decrease its abundances ( relative abundance in biologics W0,W6,W48 and controls were18.3%, 18.8%, 10.2% and 6.4%, respectively). Increased F/B ratio significantly after biologics therapy also found in our study. (F/B ratio were 9.4, 12.5,64.0,and 84.3,respectively). Patients in control group had higher abundance of Firmicutes of the phylum.By contrast, Enterobacteriaceae and Bacteroidaceae were significantly more abundant in patients of biologics group at W0 . Conclusion Treatment with biologic therapy induced improvement of community diversity and increased F/B ratio in IBD patients which seemed correlate the level of clinical inflammation. The dysbiosis-representative bacteria, such as Enterobacteriaceae, could induce colonic inflammation,were more abundant in patients who had higher activity of IBD. Further larger prospective studies are needed to determine whether the biologic therapy could induce long-term changes of intestinal microbiome.

Intestinal Microbiome Changes and Clinical Outcomes of Patients with Ulcerative Colitis after Fecal Microbiota Transplantation.

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects many people. One of the possible ways to treat UC is fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT). In this study, changes in the intestinal microbiome and clinical outcomes of 20 patients with UC after FMT were estimated. FMT enemas were administrated ten times, once a day, and fecal microbiota from three donors was used for each enema. The clinical outcomes were assessed after eight weeks and then via a patient survey. The 16S rRNA profiles of the gut microbiota were compared between three samplings: samples from 20 patients with UC before and after FMT and samples from 18 healthy volunteers. Clinical remission was achieved in 19 (95%) patients at week 8. Adverse events occurred in five patients, including one non-responder. A significant increase in average biodiversity was shown in samples after FMT compared to samples before FMT, as well as a decrease in the proportion of some potentially pathogenic bacteria. The efficacy of FMT for UC treatment was confirmed; however, the duration of remission varied substantially, possibly due to different characteristics of the initial microbiota of patients. Targeted analysis of a patient's microbiome before FMT could increase the treatment efficacy.

Features of the intestinal microbiome in patients with gluten-sensitive diseases who are on a gluten-free diet

Background. Intestinal dysbiosis is associated with violating both quantitative and qualitative intestinal microbiome (IM) composition. It accompanies different gastrointestinal disorders, including non-celiac gluten sensitivity (NCGS) and celiac disease (CD). A gluten-free diet is the only existing treatment for CD and NCGS. One of the questions of interest is the characteristics of the IM of patients with gluten-related diseases and its relationship with diet therapy. Materials and methods. The study included 25 adults, 14 (56 %) with CD and 11 (44 %) with NCGS; all were on agliadin diet. We determined the faecal content of the Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, and Actinobacteria and the rest bacterial DNA (“other” indicator) using the real-time polymerase chain reaction. Results. The Bacteroidetes content was 28.4 (Q1-Q3 9.195–37.83) % in CD and 24.98 (Q1-Q3 9.615–30.597) % in NCGS patients, p = 0.565. Firmicutes content was 53.47 (Q1-Q3 49.98–56.798) % in CD patients and 53.0 (Q1-Q3 48.12–68.53) % in NCGS, p = 0.763. The Actinobacteria content was 4.8 (Q1-Q3 3.82–6.84) % in CD patients and 5.37 (Q1-Q3 4.09–7.77) % in NCGS, p = 0.572. There was a moderate positive correlation with the diet duration (p = 0.397, p = 0.03). The Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio was 1.996 (Q1-Q3 1.35–6.85) in CD patients and 2.0 (Q1-Q3 1.65–7.58) in NCGS patients, p = 0.681. The content of “other” types of IM was 15.39 (Q1-Q3 7.44–22.33) % in CD patients and 13.78 (Q1-Q3 10.65–15.58) % in NCGS patients, p = 0.936. Conclusions. We found similar intestinal microbiome features in patients with celiac disease and non-celiac gluten sensitivity. The detected intestinal microbiome changes are most likely to be a consequence of dietary features in such patients, namely the side effect of maintaining an agliadin diet.

Hepatobiliary system and intestinal injury in new coronavirus infection (COVID-19): A retrospective study

An important area of effective control of the coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) pandemic is the study of the pathogenic features of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection, including those based on assessing the state of the intestinal microbiota and permeability. To study the clinical features of the new COVID-19 in patients with mild and moderate severity at the stage of hospitalization, to determine the role of hepatobiliary injury, intestinal permeability disorders, and changes in the qualitative and quantitative composition of the microbiota in the development of systemic inflammation in patients with COVID-19. The study was performed in 80 patients with COVID-19, with an average age of 45 years, 19 of whom had mild disease, and 61 had moderate disease severity. The scope of the examination included traditional clinical, laboratory, biochemical, instrumental, and radiation studies, as well as original methods for studying microbiota and intestinal permeability. The clinical course of COVID-19 was studied, and the clinical and biochemical features, manifestations of systemic inflammation, and intestinal microbiome changes in patients with mild and moderate severity were identified. Intestinal permeability characteristics against the background of COVID-19 were evaluated by measuring levels of proinflammatory cytokines, insulin, faecal calprotectin, and zonulin. This study highlights the role of intestinal permeability and microbiota as the main drivers of gastroenterological manifestations and increased COVID-19 severity.

Integrated 16S rDNA sequencing and metabolomics to explore the intestinal changes in children and rats with dental fluorosis

Dental fluorosis (DF) is a widely prevalent disease caused by excessive fluoride with limited awareness of its underlying pathogenesis. Here, a pilot population study was conducted to explore the pathogenesis of DF from the perspective of intestinal microbiome changes, and verified it in animal experiments combining intestinal microbiome and metabolomics. A total of 23 children were recruited in 2017 in China and divided into DF (n = 9) and control (n = 14) groups (DFG and CG, respectively). The SD rat model was established by drinking water containing sodium fluoride (NaF). Gut microbiome profiles of children and rats were analyzed by16S rDNA V3-V4 sequencing, and the intestinal metabolomics analysis of rats was performed by LC-MS methods. The 16 S rDNA sequencing revealed that the gut microbiome composition was significantly perturbed in children in DFG compared to that in CG. Acidobacteria and Thermi were specifically observed in DFG and CG, respectively. Besides, 15 fecal microbiotas were significantly altered at the genus level in DFG. Furthermore, only the expression of annotated genes for pentose and glucuronate interconversion pathway was significant lower in DFG than that in CG (P = 0.04). Notably, in NaF-treated rats, we also observed the changes of some key components of pentose and glucuronate interconversion pathway at the level of microorganisms and metabolites. Our findings suggested that the occurrence of DF is closely related to the alteration of intestinal microorganisms and metabolites annotated in the pentose and glucuronate interconversion pathway.

Psychological stress in inflammatory bowel disease: Psychoneuroimmunological insights into bidirectional gut-brain communications.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), mainly including ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn’s disease (CD), is an autoimmune gastrointestinal disease characterized by chronic inflammation and frequent recurrence. Accumulating evidence has confirmed that chronic psychological stress is considered to trigger IBD deterioration and relapse. Moreover, studies have demonstrated that patients with IBD have a higher risk of developing symptoms of anxiety and depression than healthy individuals. However, the underlying mechanism of the link between psychological stress and IBD remains poorly understood. This review used a psychoneuroimmunology perspective to assess possible neuro-visceral integration, immune modulation, and crucial intestinal microbiome changes in IBD. Furthermore, the bidirectionality of the brain–gut axis was emphasized in the context, indicating that IBD pathophysiology increases the inflammatory response in the central nervous system and further contributes to anxiety- and depression-like behavioral comorbidities. This information will help accurately characterize the link between psychological stress and IBD disease activity. Additionally, the clinical application of functional brain imaging, microbiota-targeted treatment, psychotherapy and antidepressants should be considered during the treatment and diagnosis of IBD with behavioral comorbidities. This review elucidates the significance of more high-quality research combined with large clinical sample sizes and multiple diagnostic methods and psychotherapy, which may help to achieve personalized therapeutic strategies for IBD patients based on stress relief.

Probiotic supplementation and systemic inflammation in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

BackgroundMultiple sclerosis (MS) is a complex inflammatory disease in which demyelination occurs in the central nervous system affecting approximately 2.5 million people worldwide. Intestinal microbiome changes play an important role in the etiology of chronic diseases.ObjectiveThis study aimed to investigate the effect of probiotic supplementation on systemic inflammation in patients with MS.MethodsA 12-week double-blind clinical trial study was designed and seventy patients with MS were randomly divided into two groups receiving probiotics and placebo. Patients in the intervention group received two capsules containing multi-strain probiotics daily and patients in the control group received the same amount of placebo. Factors associated with systemic inflammation were assessed at the beginning and end of the study.ResultsSixty-five patients were included in the final analysis. There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of baseline variables except for the duration of the disease (P > 0.05). At the end of the study, probiotic supplementation compared to the placebo caused a significant reduction in the serum levels of CRP (−0.93 ± 1.62 vs. 0.05 ± 1.74, P = 0.03), TNF-α (−2.09 ± 1.88 vs. 0.48 ± 2.53, P = 0.015) and IFN-γ (−13.18 ± 7.33 vs. −1.93 ± 5.99, P < 0.001). Also, we found a significant increase in the FOXP3 and TGF-β levels in the intervention group (P < 0.05).ConclusionThe results of our study showed that supplementation with probiotics can have beneficial effects on serum levels of some factors associated with systemic inflammation.Clinical trial registration[http://www.irct.ir], identifier [IRCT20181210041 918N1].

If drugs with metabolic action affect the intestinal microbiota. Literature review

The article presents the results of studies on humans showing the association between the use of specific drugs and changes in the microbial composition of the intestinal microbiome and its functional profile. It was found that the intestinal microbe directly or indirectly affects metabolism and effectiveness of a large number of drugs, causing variability in their activation, inactivation and toxicity. On the other hand, more than 800 non‑antibiotic drugs have also been shown to have significant effects on dozens of major species of bacteria that colonize the gastrointestinal tract. It is also noted that regardless of the route of administration, some drugs will spend considerable time in the intestine and contact the microbiome (parenterally administered drugs and their metabolites may enter the intestine through bile secretion), so the intestine is an important participant in drug metabolism. Data on the main taxonomic changes of PPI users are presented and it is shown that their severity was associated with higher doses of PPIs and that such changes in the microbiome may potentiate the development of diseases, as they are similar to those that reduce colonization resistance and intestinal infections. Much attention is paid to the presence of the association of intestinal microbiome — sugar‑lowering drugs. The data on the role of the intestinal microbiome as the main target of metformin are presented. In addition, metformin has been shown to increase Akkermansia muciniphila, which is known to be correlated with obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular diseases, and inflammation, and to increase lactobacilli in the upper small intestine, which will undoubtedly contribute to its antidiabetic effect. Metformin has been shown to regulate numerous metabolic pathways by interacting with the intestinal microbiota and partially eliminate dysbacteriosis caused by type 2 diabetes, and changes in the population of microorganisms that multiply with metformin are closely related to its efficacy and tolerability. With regard to other antidiabetic drugs (glitazones, alpha‑glucosidase inhibitors, DPP‑4 inhibitors, glucagon‑like peptide‑1 receptor agonists), it has also been shown that one of their main effects is the elimination of dysbacteriosis by including bacterial nutrient changes. and the length of stay of carbohydrates in the intestine, which also emphasizes their relationship with the intestinal microbiome. It is also noted that lactobacilli have inhibitory activity against DPP‑4 inhibitors. In this aspect, measures aimed at modifying the microbiome and especially probiotics, prebiotics and antibiotics may be of particular interest, as their use can significantly change the pharmacokinetics of drugs. It is noteworthy that the pattern of intestinal microbiome observed during treatment with liraglutide is the complete opposite of what is characteristic of the metabolic syndrome. The article shows that statin intake is also associated with changes in the intestinal microbiome and hypothesizes that the response of low‑density lipoprotein cholesterol to statins may be due to the activity of bacteria containing bile hydrolases. It is also noted that the intestinal microbiota can have a significant effect on the metabolism of psychoactive drugs by modulating intestinal permeability with subsequent effects on their absorption, and on the other hand taking this group of drugs leads to significant changes in intestinal microbiome. As a result, it is concluded that today it is very important and promising to study the interaction of intestinal microbiome and the most widely used drugs for the application of methods of modulation of intestinal microbiome to optimize the effectiveness of treatment of many diseases.&#x0D;

Trust Your Gut: Changes in Intestinal Microbiome Are Associated With Outcomes Following CAR-T Therapy

Trust Your Gut: Changes in Intestinal Microbiome Are Associated With Outcomes Following CAR-T Therapy

Intestinal microbiome changes of Ulomoides dermestoides (Chevrolat, 1878) fed with a film based on thermoplastic cassava starch and polylactic acid

AbstractDegradation of polymers by insects is investigated because these materials are source of pollution. The objective of this study was to determine changes in the intestinal microbiome of Coleoptera Ulomoides dermestoides subjected to three polymeric diets based on oats (1), thermoplastic cassava starch (TPS) (2), and an extruded matrix (3) composed of TPS and polylactic acid (PLA). Insects were identified by sequencing of CO1, while gut microflora from insects was identified using DGGE and DNA sequencing. The intestinal microbiota of insects fed diet 1 was composed by Enterobacter sp., Enterococcus durans, Enterococcus faecalis, Escherichia sp., and Pantoea vagans, diet 2 by Bacillus maritimus, Enterobacter sp. non‐culturable, Enterococcus alcedines, Lactobacillus oeni, Enterococcus faecalis and Escherichia sp., while diet 3 by Enterobacter sp., Enterococcus aquimarinus, Enterococcus casseliflavus, Enterococcus faecalis, Escherichia sp., and Lactobacillus oligofermentans indicating that the mixture of renewable sources present in the polymer such as TPS/PLA has a higher rate of degradation and assimilation and more diversity in the intestinal microbiome of insects than in the monopolymeric diets such as 1 and 2, and it was evidenced that diet changes the microbiome of the digestive tract of U. dermestoides which can be used during biodegradation of polymers.

Effect of dietary pattern on pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus and its clinical significance.

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a common obstetric disease among pregnant women. This study aimed to explore the effect of dietary pattern management to reduce the incidence of GDM. Here, we, retrospectively, analyzed the influence of dietary patterns on the occurrence of GDM and the correlation between dietary patterns and intestinal microbiome distribution and inflammation in pregnant women. Moreover, patients were assigned to the dietary pattern management group and the nondietary pattern management group, and the effects of dietary patterns on the intestinal microbiome distribution and inflammatory factors were investigated. We found that the intestinal microbiome was changed in GDM patients compared with the healthy controls. The relative abundance of probiotics Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium significantly decreased in patients with GDM. Moreover, compared with the control group, the expression levels of interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α were significantly increased. Furthermore, dietary pattern management led to intestinal microbiome changes in patients with GDM. In conclusion, dietary pattern management could alleviate GDM via affecting the intestinal microbiome as well as inflammatory conditions in patients.

New Horizon on Gut Microbiome and Cancers: Recent Information on Pathogenesis and Treatment

An increasing number of studies have suggested that gut microbiota is closely related to tumor pathogenesis and their treatments. Among cancers, there have been many reports concerning gut microbiome and colon cancer (CRC), where microbial dysbiosis with depressing the population of “benign microbes” and increasing “harmful microbes” can lead to chronic enterocolitis and cancer development with progression. In addition, gut dysbiosis may change the metabolism of bile acids promoting CRC, which would offer a potential preventive therapeutic change in CRC by regulating gut microbiome and bile acid metabolism. Recently, SARS-CoV-2 impacts the gut microbiota, and the effects will have on CRC carcinogenesis. Obesity is estimated as an important factor that increases the risk of CRC. There has been accumulating evidence that the modulation of the gut microbiota composition by probiotics, prebiotics, and diets protects patients with CRC. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) as the third leading cause of worldwide cancer mortality. Development of HCC in cirrhotic patients is related to changes in intestinal microbiome, including an escalation of dysbiosis and reduced bacterial richness. The species richness of fecal microbiota of hepatitis B-HCC patients was much high. The alterations of fecal microbiome may affect the process of <i>Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori)</i>-related progression of gastric lesion. Patients with gastric cancer have distinct microbiome in the stomach with lower biodiversity. Some bacteria from gastric microbiome are potentially carcinogenic as they are changed in gastric cancer. Patients with pancreas cancer and cholangiocarcinoma have also been related to gut dysbiosis. Other malignancies outside the gut like breast cancer (BC) might be related to gut microbiome as they might affect through metabolic, neural, and endocrine signal and immune function in the occurrence and progression of BC. Finally, cancer cachexia might be also associated with gut dysbiosis as it is closely related to bile acids (BA) metabolism regulation. The effects and side effects by variable cancer therapies such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy and also immunotherapy may be reconsidered from gut microbiome.

Effects of Betaine Supplementation to Broiler Diets Under Heat Stress

Betaine is an osmoregulatory substance obtained from some natural plant materials such as sugar beet, regulating intracellular biochemical events by attracting water. Due to this important function of betaine in water balance, it may play an important role in maintaining the body water balance of birds under heat stress. On the other hand, since betaine is a good methyl donor, some essential nutrients such as methionine and choline can be saved in the diet, or they can serve as complementary substances in the deficiency of these nutrients. Previous studies have shown that the addition of betaine can make significant contributions to the nutrition of broiler chickens in heat stress situations. The effects that may occur, especially when the body needs methyl groups, may be more pronounced. Dietary betaine supplementation increases live weight gain and breast muscle efficiency, improves feed efficiency and reduces fat content in broilers. The osmoregulatory function of betaine, immune system disorders, low immune strength, reducing respiratory alkalosis, oxidative stress and intestinal microbiome changes caused by heat stress. In this study, some evaluations were made in terms of the use of betaine in broiler diets to meet the performance and physiological needs of animals.

A Multi-Factorial Observational Study on Sequential Fecal Microbiota Transplant in Patients with Medically Refractory Clostridioides difficile Infection.

Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is highly effective in recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI); increasing evidence supports FMT in severe or fulminant Clostridioides difficile infection (SFCDI). However, the multifactorial mechanisms that underpin the efficacy of FMT are not fully understood. Systems biology approaches using high-throughput technologies may help with mechanistic dissection of host-microbial interactions. Here, we have undertaken a deep phenomics study on four adults receiving sequential FMT for SFCDI, in which we performed a longitudinal, integrative analysis of multiple host factors and intestinal microbiome changes. Stool samples were profiled for changes in gut microbiota and metabolites and blood samples for alterations in targeted epigenomic, metabonomic, glycomic, immune proteomic, immunophenotyping, immune functional assays, and T-cell receptor (TCR) repertoires, respectively. We characterised temporal trajectories in gut microbial and host immunometabolic data sets in three responders and one non-responder to sequential FMT. A total of 562 features were used for analysis, of which 78 features were identified, which differed between the responders and the non-responder. The observed dynamic phenotypic changes may potentially suggest immunosenescent signals in the non-responder and may help to underpin the mechanisms accompanying successful FMT, although our study is limited by a small sample size and significant heterogeneity in patient baseline characteristics. Our multi-omics integrative longitudinal analytical approach extends the knowledge regarding mechanisms of efficacy of FMT and highlights preliminary novel signatures, which should be validated in larger studies.

Biodiversity of the intestinal microbiota of black tiger prawn, Penaeus monodon, increases with age and is only transiently impacted by major ingredient replacement in the diet

Substitution of aquaculture feed ingredients to reduce reliance on capture fisheries may affect gut microbiome and resilience to environmental stress. To investigate replacement protein sources in feeds for black tiger prawn, Penaeus monodon, three isonitrogenous, isoenergetic diets were tested in a randomised blind trial using fisheries by-product meal, cattle and poultry by-product meal and soybean meal as the major protein. Juvenile P. monodon (1.46 ± 0.28 g, 24 per tank, 4 tanks per treatment) were acclimatised on reference diet for 2 weeks, weighed, then fed experimental diets for two weeks. Elevated temperature, pH and salinity was applied for a further two weeks. Feed conversion ratio was significantly higher in animals fed soybean meal-based diet (F (2,9) = 21.7, p < 0.001). To determine any effect of diet on intestinal microbiome the V6-V8 region of the 16s rRNA gene was sequenced on arrival from the farm, at the end of acclimatisation, 24 h after starting test feeds, after 2 weeks on test feeds and after stress period. We found no significant effect of diet on alpha diversity of the midgut microbiota, and no correlation between stress resilience, diet and gut microbiome diversity. However, time had a significant impact on beta diversity throughout the experiment across all three diets (p < 0.001), with the most abundant genera on arrival from the farm being from the genera Photobacterium and Vibrio while the relative abundance of members of the Rhodobacteraceae, Pseudoalteromonadaceae, Mycoplasmataceae and Flavobacteriaceae increased throughout the trial and were also found in the seawater supply. Changing only the protein in the diet is not sufficient to impact gut microbiome, even when animal growth and feed conversion is severely compromised by the diet. We found that time/age is the major driver of intestinal microbiome changes in P. monodon, with diversity increasing as the animal ages.

Age and the aging process significantly alter the small bowel microbiome.

Gut microbial diversity decreases with aging, but existing studies have used stool samples, which do not represent the entire gut. We analyzed the duodenal microbiome in 251 subjects aged 18-35 (n= 32), 36-50 (n= 41), 51-65 (n= 96), and 66-80 (n= 82). Decreased duodenal microbial diversity in older subjects is associated with combinations of chronological age, number of concomitant diseases, and number of medications used, and also correlated with increasing coliform numbers (p< 0.0001). Relative abundance (RA) of phylum Proteobacteria increases in older subjects, with increased RA of family Enterobacteriaceae and coliform genera Escherichia and Klebsiella, and is associated with alterations in the RA of other duodenal microbial taxa and decreased microbial diversity. Increased RA of specific genera are associated with chronological age only (Escherichia, Lactobacillus, and Enterococcus), number of medications only (Klebsiella), or number of concomitant diseases only (Clostridium and Bilophila). These findings indicate the small intestinal microbiome changes significantly with age and the aging process.

Markers of Intestinal Permeability Are Rapidly Improved by Alcohol Withdrawal in Patients with Alcohol-Related Liver Disease.

Changes in intestinal microbiome and barrier function are critical in the development of alcohol-related liver disease (ALD). Here, we determined the effects of a one-week alcohol withdrawal on parameters of intestinal barrier function in heavy drinkers with ALD in comparison to healthy non-drinkers (controls). In serum samples of 17 controls (m = 10/f = 7) and 37 age-matched ALD patients (m = 26/f = 11) undergoing a one-week alcohol withdrawal, markers of liver health and intestinal barrier function were assessed. Liver damage, e.g., fibrosis and hepatic steatosis, were assessed using FibroScan. Before alcohol withdrawal, markers of liver damage, lipopolysaccharide binding protein (LBP) and overall TLR4/TLR2 ligands in serum were significantly higher in ALD patients than in controls, whereas intestinal fatty acid binding protein (I-FABP) and zonulin protein concentrations in serum were lower. All parameters, with the exception of LBP, were significantly improved after alcohol withdrawal; however, not to the level of controls. Our data suggest that one-week of abstinence improves markers of intestinal barrier function and liver health in ALD patients.

Administration of \u03b2-lactam antibiotics and delivery method correlate with intestinal abundances of Bifidobacteria and Bacteroides in early infancy, in Japan

The intestinal microbiome changes dynamically in early infancy. Colonisation by Bifidobacterium and Bacteroides and development of intestinal immunity is interconnected. We performed a prospective observational cohort study to determine the influence of antibiotics taken by the mother immediately before delivery on the intestinal microbiome of 130 healthy Japanese infants. Faecal samples (383) were collected at 1, 3, and 6 months and analysed using next-generation sequencing. Cefazolin was administered before caesarean sections, whereas ampicillin was administered in cases with premature rupture of the membranes and in Group B Streptococcus-positive cases. Bifidobacterium and Bacteroides were dominant (60–70% mean combined occupancy) at all ages. A low abundance of Bifidobacterium was observed in infants exposed to antibiotics at delivery and at 1 and 3 months, with no difference between delivery methods. A lower abundance of Bacteroides was observed after caesarean section than vaginal delivery, irrespective of antibiotic exposure. Additionally, occupancy by Bifidobacterium at 1 and 3 months and by Bacteroides at 3 months differed between infants with and without siblings. All these differences disappeared at 6 months. Infants exposed to intrapartum antibiotics displayed altered Bifidobacterium abundance, whereas abundance of Bacteroides was largely associated with the delivery method. Existence of siblings also significantly influenced the microbiota composition of infants.

Effect of IRT5 probiotics on dry eye in the experimental dry eye mouse model.

ObjectiveTo investigate the clinical effects of IRT5 probiotics in the environmental dry eye model.MethodsEight week old male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into two groups; control group (n = 16) received oral gavage of 300 μL phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) alone once daily, IRT5 group (n = 9) received oral gavage of 1 x 109 CFU IRT5 probiotics powder in 300 μL PBS once daily, both groups for 11 to 12 days. Simultaneously, all mice underwent dry eye induction. Tear secretion, corneal staining and conjunctival goblet cell density were evaluated. Quantative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for inflammation-related markers was performed. 16S ribosomal RNA of fecal microbiome was analyzed and compositional difference, alpha and beta diversities were assessed.ResultsThere was no difference in NEI score but significant increase in tear secretion was observed in IRT5 group (p < 0.001). There was no significant difference in goblet cell density between groups. Quantative RT-PCR of cornea and conjunctiva revealed increased TNF-α expression in IRT5 group (p < 0.001) whereas other markers did not significantly differ from control. IRT5 group had significantly increased species diversity by Shannon index (p = 0.041). Beta diversity of genus by UniFrac principle coordinates analysis showed significant distance between groups (p = 0.001). Compositional differences between groups were observed and some were significantly associated with tear secretion. Multivariate linear regression analysis revealed Christensenellaceae (p = 0.009), Lactobacillus Helveticus group (p = 0.002) and PAC001797_s (p = 0.011) to strongly influence tear secretion.ConclusionIn experimental dry eye model, IRT5 probiotics treatment partially improves experimental dry eye by increasing tear secretion which was associated with and influenced by the change in intestinal microbiome. Also, intestinal microbiome may affect the lacrimal gland through a different mechanism other than regulating inflammation.