Influence Of Gut Microbiome Research Articles

Gut Microbiome and Carotid Artery Intima-Media Thickness: A Narrative Review of the Current Scenario.

Up to the last update, the gut microbiome (GM) had been associated with a different physiologic host process, including those affecting cardiovascular health. The carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) is an indicator of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular risk. The GM influence on atherosclerosis progression has garnered growing attention in recent years but the consensus in subclinical atherosclerosis remains elusive. The aim of this narrative review is to investigate the connection between the GM and carotid IMT, encompassing mechanisms like the microbiome impact on metabolite production, and systemic inflammation, and its effects on endothelial function. The literature analysis revealed that the GM appears to exert an influence on carotid IMT development, likely through mechanisms involving metabolites' production, systemic inflammation, and endothelial function modulation. Additional research, however, is needed to finely elucidate the relationship between the GM and atherosclerosis. Specifically, more extensive studies are required to pinpoint individuals at the highest risk of developing atherosclerosis based on their GM composition. This will facilitate the enhancement and optimization of cardiovascular disease prevention strategies and enable the treatments' customization for each patient. Further investigations are required to refine patient outcomes in the context of probiotics and other interventions aimed at improving microbiome composition and function.

The microbiota: a key regulator of health, productivity, and reproductive success in mammals.

The microbiota, intensely intertwined with mammalian physiology, significantly impacts health, productivity, and reproductive functions. The normal microbiota interacts with the host through the following key mechanisms: acting as a protective barrier against pathogens, maintain mucosal barrier integrity, assisting in nutrient metabolism, and modulating of the immune response. Therefore, supporting growth and development of host, and providing protection against pathogens and toxic substances. The microbiota significantly influences brain development and behavior, as demonstrated by comprehensive findings from controlled laboratory experiments and human clinical studies. The prospects suggested that gut microbiome influence neurodevelopmental processes, modulate stress responses, and affect cognitive function through the gut-brain axis. Microbiota in the gastrointestinal tract of farm animals break down and ferment the ingested feed into nutrients, utilize to produce meat and milk. Among the beneficial by-products of gut microbiota, short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) are particularly noteworthy for their substantial role in disease prevention and the promotion of various productive aspects in mammals. The microbiota plays a pivotal role in the reproductive hormonal systems of mammals, boosting reproductive performance in both sexes and fostering the maternal-infant connection, thereby becoming a crucial factor in sustaining mammalian existence. The microbiota is a critical factor influencing reproductive success and production traits in mammals. A well-balanced microbiome improves nutrient absorption and metabolic efficiency, leading to better growth rates, increased milk production, and enhanced overall health. Additionally, it regulates key reproductive hormones like estrogen and progesterone, which are essential for successful conception and pregnancy. Understanding the role of gut microbiota offers valuable insights for optimizing breeding and improving production outcomes, contributing to advancements in agriculture and veterinary medicine. This study emphasizes the critical ecological roles of mammalian microbiota, highlighting their essential contributions to health, productivity, and reproductive success. By integrating human and veterinary perspectives, it demonstrates how microbial communities enhance immune function, metabolic processes, and hormonal regulation across species, offering insights that benefit both clinical and agricultural advancements.

Exploring the Gut Microbiome's Influence on Colorectal Cancer Development and Management: A Review of Current Knowledge and Future Directions

IntroductionColorectal cancer (CRC) is a significant global health concern, ranking as the third most commonly diagnosed cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, with over 1.9 million new cases and nearly 935,000 deaths annually. The rise in CRC incidence is attributed to various lifestyle changes, including dietary shifts, sedentary behavior, and increased obesity rates. These factors underscore the urgent need for new preventive strategies targeting the underlying mechanisms of CRC development. PurposeThis review evaluates the intricate relationship between the gut microbiome and CRC, aiming to enhance our understanding of how microbial diversity and composition contribute to CRC pathogenesis. State of Knowledge Studies reveal a correlation between the onset and progression of CRC and changes in microbial diversity and specific taxa. In CRC patients, the presence of Fusobacterium nucleatum is linked to inflammation and poor prognosis, while Bacteroides fragilis is associated with promoting colitis and carcinogenesis. The Human Microbiome Project's findings reveal that unique microbial communities can impact inflammation and tumor growth. Meta-analyses underline the crucial role of microbial diversity, influenced by diet and health status, in cancer prevention and progression, particularly in CRC. ConclusionsUnderstanding the interactions between the microbiome, diet, and host health is crucial for developing targeted treatment strategies and precision diagnostics for CRC. Insights from microbiome research could significantly improve patient outcomes in CRC management. Further high-quality studies are essential to fully elucidate the therapeutic potential of the microbiome in CRC treatment.

Immune mRNA Expression and Fecal Microbiome Composition Change Induced by Djulis (Chenopodium formosanum Koidz.) Supplementation in Aged Mice: A Pilot Study.

Background and Objectives: The aging process has always been associated with a higher susceptibility to chronic inflammatory lung diseases. Several studies have demonstrated the gut microbiome's influence on the lungs through cross-talk or the gut-lungs axis maintaining nutrient-rich microenvironments. Taiwan djulis (Chenopodium formosanum Koidz.) provides antioxidant and anti-inflammatory characteristics that could modulate the gut microbiome. This could induce the gut-lung axis through microbial cross-talk, thus favoring the modulation of lung inflammation. Materials and Methods: Here, we investigate the immune mRNA expression in the spleen, fecal microbiome composition, and hyperplasia of the bronchial epithelium in aged 2-year-old BALB/c mice after 60 days of supplementation of djulis. Results: The pro-inflammatory cytokines IFN-γ, TNF-α, and IL-1β, T; cells CD4 and CD8; and TLRs TLR3, TLR4, TLR5, TLR7, TLR8, and TLR9 were reduced in their mRNA expression levels, while the anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-2, IL-4, and IL-10 were highly expressed in the C. formosanum-treated group. Interestingly, the fecal microbiome composition analysis indicated higher diversity in the C. formosanum-treated group and the presence of butyrate-producing bacteria that are beneficial in the gut microbiome. The histopathology showed reduced hyperplasia of the bronchial epithelium based on the degree of lesions. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that Taiwan djulis can modulate the gut microbiome, leading to microbial cross-talk; reducing the mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, T cells, and TLRs; and increasing anti-inflammatory cytokines in the spleen, as cytokines migrate in the lungs, preventing lung inflammation damage in aged mice or the gut-lung axis. Thus, Taiwan djulis could be considered a beneficial dietary component for the older adult population. The major limitation includes a lack of protein validation of cytokines and TLRs and quantification of the T cell population in the spleen as a marker of the gut-lung axis.

Study of the Gut Microbiome in Patients with Psoriatic Arthritis.

Gut dysbiosis may play a role in immune-mediated diseases, such as psoriasis. There is a growing interest in understanding microbiome influence, with speculations around the importance of an altered gut microbiome linked to the progression to psoriatic arthritis in psoriasis. The objective of this study is to study the gut microbiome in patients with severe psoriatic disease with or without psoriatic arthritis. V3/V4 16S rRNA gene sequencing and bioinformatics analyses were performed with the total DNA extracted from the stool samples of 30 patients with psoriatic disease, 15 of whom had documented psoriatic arthritis. We found differences in gut microbiome composition in psoriatic arthritis patients when looking for relative and especially differential abundances. Bacteroidaceae family (P = .02), Bacteroides genus (P=.02), and Bacteroides uniformis (P=.03) were more abundant in psoriatic arthritis patients on differential abundance, adjusted for each taxonomic level. However, the present study did not show significant differences in alpha or beta diversity. This study shows different patterns of gut microbiome composition in patients with psoriatic arthritis, with significant overexpression of the Bacteroides genus. This reinforces the microbiome as a field of interest in psoriasis. Nevertheless, it should be noted that some previously described findings related to lower diversity and different clustering between groups could not be demonstrated, probably due to the small number of patients. Additionally, it remains difficult to understand the magnitude of the gut microbiome influence. Is dysbiosis a cause or consequence of the disease? However, the microbiome deserves our attention, especially since it brings different opportunities for intervention through diet, prebiotics and probiotics, pretreatment analysis, prognosis, and even microbiome modulation and transplantation.

Gut-Brain Axis: Role of Microbiome, Metabolomics, Hormones, and Stress in Mental Health Disorders.

The influence of gut microbiome, metabolites, omics, hormones, and stress on general and mental health is increasingly being recognized. Ancient cultures recognized the importance of diet and gut health on the overall health of an individual. Western science and modern scientific methods are beginning to unravel the foundations and mechanisms behind some of the ancient beliefs and customs. The gut microbiome, an organ itself, is now thought to influence almost all other organs, ranging from the brain to the reproductive systems. Gut microbiome, metabolites, hormones, and biological sex also influence a myriad of health conditions that range from mental health disorders, obesity, gastrointestinal disorders, and cardiovascular diseases to reproductive health. Here, we review the history and current understanding of the gut-brain axis bidirectional talk in various mental health disorders with special emphasis on anxiety and depressive disorders, whose prevalence has increased by over 50% in the past three decades with COVID-19 pandemic being the biggest risk factor in the last few years. The vagal nerve is an important contributor to this bidirectional talk, but other pathways also contribute, and most remain understudied. Probiotics containing Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium species seem to have the most impact on improvement in mental health symptoms, but the challenge appears to be maintaining sustained levels, especially since neither Lactobacillus nor Bifidobacterium can permanently colonize the gut. Ancient endogenous retroviral DNA in the human genome is also linked to several psychiatric disorders, including depression. These discoveries reveal the complex and intricately intertwined nature of gut health with mental health disorders.

Maternal gut Bifidobacterium breve modifies fetal brain metabolism in germ-free mice

BackgroundRecent advances have significantly expanded our understanding of the gut microbiome's influence on host physiology and metabolism. However, the specific role of certain microorganisms in gestational health and fetal development remains underexplored. ObjectiveThis study investigates the impact of Bifidobacterium breve UCC2003 on fetal brain metabolism when colonized in the maternal gut during pregnancy. MethodsGerm-free pregnant mice were colonized with or without B. breve UCC2003 during pregnancy. The metabolic profiles of fetal brains were analyzed, focusing on the presence of key metabolites and the expression of critical metabolic and cellular pathways. ResultsMaternal colonization with B. breve resulted in significant metabolic changes in the fetal brain. Specifically, ten metabolites, including citrate, 3-hydroxyisobutyrate, and carnitine, were reduced in the fetal brain. These alterations were accompanied by increased abundance of transporters involved in glucose and branched-chain amino acid uptake. Furthermore, supplementation with this bacterium was associated with elevated expression of critical metabolic pathways such as PI3K-AKT, AMPK, STAT5, and Wnt-β-catenin signaling, including its receptor Frizzled-7. Additionally, there was stabilization of HIF-2 protein and modifications in genes and proteins related to cellular growth, axogenesis, and mitochondrial function. ConclusionsThe presence of maternal B. breve during pregnancy plays a crucial role in modulating fetal brain metabolism and growth. These findings suggest that Bifidobacterium could modify fetal brain development, potentially offering new avenues for enhancing gestational health and fetal development through microbiota-targeted interventions.

Longitudinal gut microbial signals are associated with weight loss: insights from a digital therapeutics program.

The gut microbiome's influence on weight management has gained significant interest for its potential to support better obesity therapeutics. Patient stratification leading to personalized nutritional intervention has shown benefits over one-size-fit-all diets. However, the efficacy and impact on the gut's microbiome of personalizing weight loss diets based on individual factors remains under-investigated. This study assessed the impact of Digbi Health's personalized dietary and lifestyle program on weight loss and the gut microbiome end-points in 103 individuals. Participants' weight loss patterns and gut microbiome profiles were analyzed from baseline to follow-up samples. Specific microbial genera, functional pathways, and communities associated with BMI changes and the program's effectiveness were identified. 80% of participants achieved weight loss. Analysis of the gut microbiome identified genera and functional pathways associated with a reduction in BMI, including Akkermansia, Christensenella, Oscillospiraceae, Alistipes, and Sutterella, short-chain fatty acid production, and degradation of simple sugars like arabinose, sucrose, and melibiose. Network analysis identified a microbiome community associated with BMI, which includes multiple taxa known for associations with BMI and obesity. The personalized dietary and lifestyle program positively impacted the gut microbiome and demonstrated significant associations between gut microbial changes and weight loss. These findings support the use of the gut microbiome as an endpoint in weight loss interventions, highlighting potential microbiome biomarkers for further research.

Does the gut microbiome influence disc health and disease? The interplay between dysbiosis, pathobionts, and disc inflammation: a pilot study

BACKGROUND CONTEXTGut microbiome alterations resulting in inflammatory responses have been implicated in many distant effects on different organs. However, its influence on disc health is still not fully investigated. PURPOSEOur objective was to document the gut biome in healthy volunteers and patients with disc degeneration and to understand the role of gut dysbiosis on human disc health. STUDY DESIGNExperimental case-control study. PATIENT SAMPLEWe included 40 patients with disc degeneration (DG) and 20 healthy volunteers (HV). HV comprised of age groups 30 to 60 years with no known record of back pain and no clinical comorbidities, with normal MRI. Diseased group (DG) were patients in the same age group undergoing surgery for disc disease (disc herniation-25; discogenic stenosis-15) and without instability (with Modic-20; and non-Modic-20). OUTCOME MEASURESN/A. METHODSWe analyzed 16S V3-V4 rDNA gut metagenome from 20 healthy volunteers (HV) and compared the top signature genera from 40 patients with disc degeneration (DG) across Modic and non-Modic groups. Norgen Stool DNA Kit was used for DNA extraction from ∼200 mg of each faecal sample collected using the Norgen Stool Collection Kit.16S V3-V4 rDNA amplicons were generated with universal bacterial primers 341F and 806R and amplified with Q5 High-Fidelity DNA Polymerase. Libraries were sequenced with 250×2 PE to an average of 0.1 million raw reads per sample (Illumina Novaseq 6000). Demultiplexed raw data was assessed with FastQC, and adapter trimmed reads >Q30 reads were processed in the QIME2 pipeline.Serum C-reactive protein (CRP) was measured by the immunoturbimetry method and Fatty acid-binding protein 5 (FABP5) was measured in albumin-globulin-depleted plasma through global proteome analysis. RESULTSWe observed significant gut dysbiosis between HV and DG and also between the Modic and non-Modic groups. In the Modic group, commensals Bifidobacterium and Ruminococcus were significantly depleted, while pathobionts Streptococcus, Prevotella, and Butryvibrio were enriched. Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio was decreased in DG (Modic-0.62, non-Modic-0.43) compared to HV (0.70). Bacteria-producing beneficial short-chain fatty acids were also depleted in DG. Elevated serum CRP and increased FABP5 were observed in DG. CONCLUSIONThe study revealed gut dysbiosis, an altered Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio, reduced SCFA-producing bacteria, and increased systemic and local inflammation in association with disc disease, especially in Modic changes. The findings have considerable importance for our understanding and prevention of disc degeneration.

Natural Compounds for Bone Remodeling: A Computational and Experimental Approach Targeting Bone Metabolism-Related Proteins.

Osteoporosis, characterized by reduced bone density and increased fracture risk, affects over 200 million people worldwide, predominantly older adults and postmenopausal women. The disruption of the balance between bone-forming osteoblasts and bone-resorbing osteoclasts underlies osteoporosis pathophysiology. Standard treatment includes lifestyle modifications, calcium and vitamin D supplementation and specific drugs that either inhibit osteoclasts or stimulate osteoblasts. However, these treatments have limitations, including side effects and compliance issues. Natural products have emerged as potential osteoporosis therapeutics, but their mechanisms of action remain poorly understood. In this study, we investigate the efficacy of natural compounds in modulating molecular targets relevant to osteoporosis, focusing on the Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase (MAPK) pathway and the gut microbiome's influence on bone homeostasis. Using an in silico and in vitro methodology, we have identified quercetin as a promising candidate in modulating MAPK activity, offering a potential therapeutic perspective for osteoporosis treatment.

The Profound Influence of Gut Microbiome and Extracellular Vesicles on Animal Health and Disease.

The animal gut microbiota, comprising a diverse array of microorganisms, plays a pivotal role in shaping host health and physiology. This review explores the intricate dynamics of the gut microbiome in animals, focusing on its composition, function, and impact on host-microbe interactions. The composition of the intestinal microbiota in animals is influenced by the host ecology, including factors such as temperature, pH, oxygen levels, and nutrient availability, as well as genetic makeup, diet, habitat, stressors, and husbandry practices. Dysbiosis can lead to various gastrointestinal and immune-related issues in animals, impacting overall health and productivity. Extracellular vesicles (EVs), particularly exosomes derived from gut microbiota, play a crucial role in intercellular communication, influencing host health by transporting bioactive molecules across barriers like the intestinal and brain barriers. Dysregulation of the gut-brain axis has implications for various disorders in animals, highlighting the potential role of microbiota-derived EVs in disease progression. Therapeutic approaches to modulate gut microbiota, such as probiotics, prebiotics, microbial transplants, and phage therapy, offer promising strategies for enhancing animal health and performance. Studies investigating the effects of phage therapy on gut microbiota composition have shown promising results, with potential implications for improving animal health and food safety in poultry production systems. Understanding the complex interactions between host ecology, gut microbiota, and EVs provides valuable insights into the mechanisms underlying host-microbe interactions and their impact on animal health and productivity. Further research in this field is essential for developing effective therapeutic interventions and management strategies to promote gut health and overall well-being in animals.

Influence of gut microbiome on metabolic diseases: a new perspective based on microgravity.

Microgravity, characterized by gravity levels of 10-3-10-6g, has been found to significantly impair various physiological systems in astronauts, including cardiovascular function, bone density, and metabolism. With the recent surge in human spaceflight, understanding the impact of microgravity on biological health has become paramount. A comprehensive literature search was performed using the PubMed database to identify relevant publications pertaining to the interplay between gut microbiome, microgravity, space environment, and metabolic diseases. This comprehensive review primarily focuses on the progress made in investigating the gut microbiome and its association with metabolic diseases under microgravity conditions. Microgravity induces notable alterations in the composition, diversity, and functionality of the gut microbiome. These changes hold direct implications for metabolic disorders such as cardiovascular disease (CVD), bone metabolism disorders, energy metabolism dysregulation, liver dysfunction, and complications during pregnancy. This novel perspective is crucial for preparing for deep space exploration and interstellar migration, where understanding the complex interplay between the gut microbiome and metabolic health becomes indispensable.

Oral streptococci S. anginosus and S. mitis induce distinct morphological, inflammatory, and metabolic signatures in macrophages.

Oral streptococci, key players in oral biofilm formation, are implicated in oral dysbiosis and various clinical conditions, including dental caries, gingivitis, periodontal disease, and oral cancer. Specifically, Streptococcus anginosus is associated with esophageal, gastric, and pharyngeal cancers, while Streptococcus mitis is linked to oral cancer. However, no study has investigated the mechanistic links between these Streptococcus species and cancer-related inflammatory responses. As an initial step, we probed the innate immune response triggered by S. anginosus and S. mitis in RAW264.7 macrophages. These bacteria exerted time- and dose-dependent effects on macrophage morphology without affecting cell viability. Compared with untreated macrophages, macrophages infected with S. anginosus exhibited a robust proinflammatory response characterized by significantly increased levels of inflammatory cytokines and mediators, including TNF, IL-6, IL-1β, NOS2, and COX2, accompanied by enhanced NF-κB activation. In contrast, S. mitis-infected macrophages failed to elicit a robust inflammatory response. Seahorse Xfe96 analysis revealed an increased extracellular acidification rate in macrophages infected with S. anginosus compared with S. mitis. At the 24-h time point, the presence of S. anginosus led to reduced extracellular itaconate, while S. mitis triggered increased itaconate levels, highlighting distinct metabolic profiles in macrophages during infection in contrast to aconitate decarboxylase expression observed at the 6-h time point. This initial investigation highlights how S. anginosus and S. mitis, two Gram-positive bacteria from the same genus, can prompt distinct immune responses and metabolic shifts in macrophages during infection.IMPORTANCEThe surge in head and neck cancer cases among individuals devoid of typical risk factors such as Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) infection and tobacco and alcohol use sparks an argumentative discussion around the emerging role of oral microbiota as a novel risk factor in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). While substantial research has dissected the gut microbiome's influence on physiology, the oral microbiome, notably oral streptococci, has been underappreciated during mucosal immunopathogenesis. Streptococcus anginosus, a viridans streptococci group, has been linked to abscess formation and an elevated presence in esophageal cancer and OSCC. The current study aims to probe the innate immune response to S. anginosus compared with the early colonizer Streptococcus mitis as an important first step toward understanding the impact of distinct oral Streptococcus species on the host immune response, which is an understudied determinant of OSCC development and progression.

Unveiling the Power of Gut Microbiome in Predicting Neoadjuvant Immunochemotherapy Responses in Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

The role of the gut microbiome in enhancing the efficacy of anticancer treatments like chemotherapy and radiotherapy is well acknowledged. However, there is limited empirical evidence on its predictive capabilities for neoadjuvant immunochemotherapy (NICT) responses in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Our study fills this gap by comprehensively analyzing the gut microbiome's influence on NICT outcomes. We analyzed 16S rRNA gene sequences from 136 fecal samples from 68 ESCC patients before and after NICT, along with 19 samples from healthy controls. After NICT, marked microbiome composition changes were noted, including a decrease in ESCC-associated pathogens and an increase in beneficial microbes such as Limosilactobacillus, Lacticaseibacillus, and Staphylococcus. Baseline microbiota profiles effectively differentiated responders from nonresponders, with responders showing higher levels of short-chain fatty acid (SCFA)-producing bacteria such as Faecalibacterium, Eubacterium_eligens_group, Anaerostipes, and Odoribacter, and nonresponders showing increases in Veillonella, Campylobacter, Atopobium, and Trichococcus. We then divided our patient cohort into training and test sets at a 4:1 ratio and utilized the XGBoost-RFE algorithm to identify 7 key microbial biomarkers-Faecalibacterium, Subdoligranulum, Veillonella, Hungatella, Odoribacter, Butyricicoccus, and HT002. A predictive model was developed using LightGBM, which achieved an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 86.8% [95% confidence interval (CI), 73.8% to 99.4%] in the training set, 76.8% (95% CI, 41.2% to 99.7%) in the validation set, and 76.5% (95% CI, 50.4% to 100%) in the testing set. Our findings underscore the gut microbiome as a novel source of biomarkers for predicting NICT responses in ESCC, highlighting its potential to enhance personalized treatment strategies and advance the integration of microbiome profiling into clinical practice for modulating cancer treatment responses.

The gut microbiome and primary open angle glaucoma: Evidence for a 'gut-glaucoma' axis?

Glaucoma presents an epidemiological burden as the leading cause of irreversible blindness globally and the most common cause of preventable blindness. While elevated intraocular pressure is the strongest modifiable risk factor, the exact mechanisms of retinal ganglion cell damage leading to progressive vision loss are not entirely understood. Studies of other neurodegenerative diseases show a potential for human gut microbiome dysbiosis to play a pathogenic role. An investigation into whether the microbiome, a potential modifiable risk factor, has significance in glaucoma enables exploration of prophylactic or additive treatments. Elevated population levels of specific bacterial species have been noted in glaucoma patients, particularly Prevotellaceae, Enterobacteriaceae and Escherichia coli, while Megomonas is speculated to be protective. Evidence also points to systemic neuro-inflammation and disruption of autoimmune processes as a result of imbalances in both human and animal models, where heat shock proteins may contribute to pathogenesis. Further research into the influence of gut microbiome on pathogenesis offers a chance to minimise irreversible vision loss in glaucoma.

Immunotherapy and Dietary Selection

Compromised immune function and immune environment in cancer patients create a situation where the immune system is unable to effectively detect and eliminate cancer cells. This allows tumors to grow and evade immune surveillance, leading to disease progression. Understanding these immune-related challenges is crucial for developing effective cancer treatments, such as immunotherapies, that aim to boost the immune response against cancer. Except for the conventional treatments, dietary interventions have been found to help patients by potentially improving their immune function by nutritional support, immune system boost, gut microbiome influence, etc. Also, it’s indispensable to notice that dietary interventions should be personalized, taking into account the specific needs, preferences, and tolerances of each cancer patient. This review aims to emphasize the importance of applying well modified and proper dietary in improving anti-cancer immunity of cancer patients.

Influence of gut microbiome on health and development of penaeid shrimps

Influence of gut microbiome on health and development of penaeid shrimps

Gut microbiome on immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy and consequent immune-related colitis: a review.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors have dramatically revolutionized the therapeutic landscape for patients with advanced malignancies. Recently, convincing evidence has shown meaningful influence of gut microbiome on human immune system. With the complex link between gut microbiome, host immunity and cancer, the variations in the gut microbiota may influence the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors. Indeed, some bacterial species have been reported to be predictive for cancer outcome in patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors. Although immune checkpoint inhibitors are currently proven to be an effective anti-tumor treatment, they can induce a distinct form of toxicity, termed immune-related adverse events. Immune-related colitis is one of the common toxicities from immune checkpoint inhibitors, and it might preclude the cancer therapy in severe or refractory cases. The manipulation of gut microbiome by fecal microbiota transplantation or probiotics administration has been suggested as one of the methods to enhance anti-tumor effects and decrease the risk of immune-related colitis. Here we review the role of gut microbiome on immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy and consequent immune-related colitis to provide a new insight for better anti-cancer therapy.

Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of the Tumor Stroma in Colorectal Cancer: Insights into Disease Progression and Therapeutic Targets.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a major health burden worldwide and is the third most common type of cancer. The early detection and diagnosis of CRC is critical to improve patient outcomes. This review explores the intricate interplay between the tumor microenvironment, stromal interactions, and the progression and metastasis of colorectal cancer. The review begins by assessing the gut microbiome's influence on CRC development, emphasizing its association with gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT). The role of the Wnt signaling pathway in CRC tumor stroma is scrutinized, elucidating its impact on disease progression. Tumor budding, its effect on tumor stroma, and the implications for patient prognosis are investigated. The review also identifies conserved oncogenic signatures (COS) within CRC stroma and explores their potential as therapeutic targets. Lastly, the seed and soil hypothesis is employed to contextualize metastasis, accentuating the significance of both tumor cells and the surrounding stroma in metastatic propensity. This review highlights the intricate interdependence between CRC cells and their microenvironment, providing valuable insights into prospective therapeutic approaches targeting tumor-stroma interactions.

ECR Spotlight – Kyle Emerson

ECR Spotlight is a series of interviews with early-career authors from a selection of papers published in Journal of Experimental Biology and aims to promote not only the diversity of early-career researchers (ECRs) working in experimental biology during our centenary year but also the huge variety of animals and physiological systems that are essential for the ‘comparative’ approach. Kyle Emerson is an author on ‘Temperature and the microbial environment alter brain morphology in a larval amphibian’, published in JEB. Kyle is a PhD student in the lab of Dr Sarah Woodley at Duquesne University, USA, investigating how manipulations of the gut microbiome influence neurodevelopment and fitness in larval amphibian models.