SCFA Levels Research Articles

Is Butyrate Concentration in the Equine Gastrointestinal Tract Altered During and After Surgery for Treatment of Large Colon Obstruction?

A major cause of morbidity and mortality in horses with large colon obstructive lesions is injury to the colonic mucosal barrier from ischemic injury. Since butyrate has been shown to play a critical role in the maintenance of a healthy mucosal barrier, it may play a role in the recovery process. This study’s objective was to determine whether the differences in butyrate concentrations existed between horses with surgical large colon obstructive lesions and healthy horses both during and after surgery. Eleven horses presenting with surgical colic lesions were enrolled; colonic samples were acquired during surgery, and fecal samples were obtained 36 h later. Colonic and fecal samples were also obtained from control groups. Samples were analyzed for butyrate, acetate, and propionate concentrations. There was no significant difference in butyrate content between surgical colonic or fecal samples and controls; however, an alteration in the proportion of SCFAs in relation to one another was noted. These changes in the individual SCFA levels were not statistically significant. The study findings demonstrated that there were no significant differences in butyrate proportions when comparing samples from horses with surgical colic lesions to healthy control horses.

Lacticaseibacillus paracasei 207-27 alters the microbiota-gut-brain axis to improve wearable device-measured sleep duration in healthy adults: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Objective: Probiotics have been reported to exert beneficial effects on sleep through the gut-brain axis. Therefore, this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial assessed the effects of Lacticaseibacillus paracasei 207-27 supplementation on sleep quality and its safety and potential mechanisms. Method and study design: Healthy adults under mild stress aged 18-35 years consumed low or high doses of L. paracasei 207-27 or a placebo for 28 days. Fecal samples, blood samples, and questionnaires were collected at the baseline and the end of the intervention. Sleep quality was measured using wearable devices and Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) questionnaire. Serum inflammatory markers, corticotropin-releasing hormone, adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), cortisol (COR), γ-aminobutyric acid, and 5-hydroxytryptamine levels were detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The gut microbiota was analyzed using 16S rRNA sequencing and bioinformatics. Short-chain fatty acids levels were detected using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Results: Both the low-dose and high-dose groups exhibited significant improvements in wearable device- measured sleep duration compared to the placebo group. The global scores of PSQI in three groups significantly decreased after intervention without statistical difference between groups. At the phylum level, the low-dose group exhibited a higher relative abundance of Bacteroidota and a lower Firmicutes-to-Bacteroidetes (F/B) ratio. At the genus level, two treatment groups had higher relative abundance of Bacteroides and Megamonas, alongside lower levels of Escherichia-Shigella. Furthermore, the low-dose group exhibited significant increases in acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid, and valeric acid levels, while two treatment groups exhibited a significant decrease in COR levels. Correlation analysis revealed that the increased levels of acetic acid and butyric acid in the low-dose group may be associated with decreased ACTH. Conclusion: L. paracasei 207-27 administration in healthy adults resulted in improvements in gut microbiota community and sleep duration. The mechanisms might involve modulation of the gut microbiota structure to regulate the function of the gut-brain axis, including increases in SCFA levels and decreases in hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activity. The Chinese clinical trial registry number is ChiCTR2300069453 (https://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.html?proj=191193, registered 16 May 2023 - retrospectively registered).

Lycopene attenuates D-galactose-induced memory and behavioral deficits by mediating microbiota-SCFAs-gut-brain axis balance in female CD-1 mice

Aging impairs cognitive function, whereas nutritional intervention can delay aging and age-related diseases. Lycopene (LYC), a naturally occurring carotenoid, posses multiple health-promoting properties, including neuroprotective function. Here, the effects of LYC on memory and behavioral deficits induced by D-galactose (D-gal) treatment and the relative contribution of LYC-derived gut microbiota in these process were investigated. Results demonstrated that LYC showed effective protection on D-gal induced cognitive deficit and neuronal damage. Moreover, LYC treatment has beneficial effects on gut barrier damage, microbiota dysbiosis and levels of SCFAs in D-gal-induced subacute aging mice. Next, fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) experiment was performed and increased SCFAs were observed in mice received stools from D-gal+LYC group when compared with D-gal-FMT group. Thus, we added SCFAs treatment served as a control group in order to evaluated whether the alterations of gut-brain axis could be attributed to LYC-reshaped gut microbiota and SCFAs. Results showed that recipient mice received SCFAs and stools from D-gal+LYC group have similar beneficial effects in improving gut and brain function, demonstrated as: improved intestinal health via elevating antioxidant enzymes contents, increasing the expressions of tight junctions proteins and protecting gut barrier, enhanced mice working memory capacity via alleviating hippocampal neurons impairment, improving synaptic function and enhancing mitochondrial function in the intestinal pseudo-aseptic mice. In conclusion, our results demonstrated that LYC-derived microbiome played a pivotal role in the regulation of cognitive functions during aging and enhanced SCFAs formation might be an important signaling molecule connecting gut microbiome and brain.

Electroacupuncture Promotes the Generation of Intestinal Treg Cells After Ischemic Stroke by Foxp3 Acetylation Regulation.

Electroacupuncture (EA) has been shown to ameliorate brain injury and protect against intestinal injury after ischemic stroke. These protective effects are closely associated with the enhancement of regulatory T (Treg) cell numbers and function in the intestine, as well as the inhibition of intestinal γδ T cell production and their migration to the brain. This study aimed to elucidate the potential mechanism by which EA regulates intestinal Treg cell differentiation after stroke. Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into three groups: the sham group, the middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) group, and the MCAO plus EA (MEA) group. The MCAO model was generated by occluding the middle cerebral artery. EA was applied to Baihui (GV20) acupoint once daily. Samples were collected 3days after reperfusion. Our results showed that EA reduced the inflammatory response in the brain and intestine after ischemic stroke. EA treatment increased the percentage of Treg cells in the small intestine of rats. EA increased the levels of SCFAs, while also inhibiting histone deacetylase activity (HDAC). Additionally, acetylated Foxp3 protein in the small intestine was increased after EA treatment. These results suggest that EA at GV20 alleviates brain and intestinal inflammatory injury in stroke rats, potentially through the enhancement of SCFA-mediated Foxp3 acetylation in Treg cells.

Dynamic high-pressure microfluidization assisted with galactooligosaccharide-modified whey protein isolate: Investigating its effect on relieving intestinal barrier damage

The study aimed to investigating the mechanisms of relieved intestinal barrier damage by dynamic high-pressure microfluidization assisted with galactooligosaccharide- glycated whey protein isolate. The modifications changed the multi-structure, and the modified whey protein isolate could promote the proliferation of IEC-6 cells and contributed to the restoration of LPS-induced occludin damage in IEC-6 cells. Also, it could repair cyclophosphamide-induced ileal villus rupture and crypt destruction in BALB/c mice, significantly altered the abundance of dominant bacteria, which were associated with propionic acid, butyric acid, isovaleric acid, and valeric acid. Ileum transcriptomics revealed that the modified whey protein isolate significantly regulate of the levels of Cstad, Cyp11a1, and Hs6st2 genes, relating to the increase of propionic acid, isovaleric acid, and valeric acid. In conclusion, galactooligosaccharide- modified whey protein isolate could regulate the level of Cstad, Cyp11a1 and Hs6st2 genes by altering the gut microbial structure and the level of SCFAs, thereby repairing the intestinal barrier.

The mechanism by which intestinal flora metabolites regulate ILC2s transformation and intestinal immunity through the metabolite-sensitive receptor Ffar2.

The objective of this article was to investigate how the metabolites produced by the intestinal flora regulate the transformation of ILC2s and intestinal immunity via the receptor Ffar2, which is sensitive to metabolites. Forty male C57BL/6 mice with wild-type characteristics (6-7 weeks in age) and 20 FFAR2-/- mice were acquired from The Jackson Laboratory. The mice were kept in a controlled environment without any disease-causing agents, with the help of air conditioning and a 12-hour cycle of light and darkness. Throughout the experiment, every mouse was provided with unrestricted availability of both food and water. All protocols were performed following the Regulations of Animal Welfare and the recommendations for Animal Testing. According to the research protocol, the mice were categorized into three groups, each consisting of 20 mice. FFAR2-/- mice in the FFAR2-/- group were reared in conventional environments. Male C57BL/6 mice with wild-type characteristics were reared in conventional conditions in the wild-type group. In the group where wild-type mice were inhibited with Ffar2, a total of 20 mice with the wild-type phenotype were chosen to receive intraperitoneal injection of an FFAR2 antagonist at a dosage of 5 mg/kg per day for a continuous period of 3 weeks. qRT-PCR was used to detect the expression of FFAR2 mRNA in the mucosal tissue of the mouse colon. High-throughput sequencing was used to conduct an examination of metabolites in the intestinal tract of mice. Flow cytometry was used to test the quantity of ILC2s. ELISA was used to measure the levels of IL-5 and IL-13 in cellular mouse intestinal mucosal tissues. Flow cytometry was used to detect the quantity of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. CCL20 and CCL25 expression was analyzed by Western blotting. The level of FFAR2 mRNA expression was higher in the wild-type group than the FFAR2-/- group (P < 0.05), while it was lower in the wild-type + Ffar2 inhibition group than the wild-type group (P < 0.05). No variations were observed in the composition of metabolites and levels of major SCFAs in the gut microbiota of mice across all groups (P > 0.05). The quantity of CRTH2+ and ST2+ cells in the wild-type category exceeded that in the FFAR2-/- category (P < 0.05), whereas the quantity of CRTH2+ and ST2+ cells in the wild-type + Ffar2 inhibition category was lower than that in the wild-type category (P < 0.05). The concentrations of IL-5 and IL-13 were higher in the wild-type group compared with the FFAR2-/- group (P < 0.05), while the wild-type + Ffar2 inhibition group exhibited lower levels of IL-5 and IL-13 than the wild-type group (P < 0.05). The count of CD4+ T cells and CD8+ T cells in the wild-type group showed an increase in comparison to the FFAR2-/- group (P < 0.05), whereas the count of CD4+ T cells and CD8+ T cells in the wild-type + Ffar2 inhibition group exhibited a decrease in comparison to the wild-type group (P < 0.05). The levels of protein expression for CCL20 and CCL25 were higher in the wild-type group compared with the FFAR2-/- group (P < 0.05), whereas the wild-type + Ffar2 inhibition group exhibited lower protein expression of CCL20 and CCL25 than the wild-type group (P < 0.05). Ffar2 has a significant regulatory function in the conversion of ILC2s, consequently impacting the immune response in the intestines. Ffar2, a crucial receptor for metabolites produced by the intestinal flora, plays a vital function in controlling the conversion of ILC2s and the overall immune response in the intestines.

Heat-killed Bifidobacterium longum BBMN68 and inulin protect against high-fat diet-induced obesity by modulating gut microbiota.

Obesity, a pervasive global epidemic, has heightened susceptibility to chronic ailments and diminished the overall life expectancy on a global scale. Probiotics and inulin (IN) have been documented to mitigate obesity by exerting an influence on the composition of the gut microbiota. Whether heat-killed Bifidobacterium longum BBMN68 (MN68) and IN have an anti-obesity effect remains to be investigated. In this study, Wistar rats were fed a high-fat diet (HFD), and orally administered heat-killed MN68 (2 × 1011 CFU/kg) and/or inulin (0.25 kg/kg) for 12 weeks. Histological analysis, serology analysis and 16S rRNA gene sequencing were performed. Heat-killed MN68 + IN treatment showed an enhanced effect on preventing weight gain, diminishing fat accumulation, and regulating lipid metabolism, compared to either heat-killed MN68 treatment or inulin treatment. Gut microbiota results showed that heat-killed MN68 + IN treatment significantly increased the relative abundance of Bacteroidota, Oscillospira, Intestinimonas, Christensenella, and Candidatus_Stoquefichus, and reduced the relative abundance of Enterococcus. Furthermore, heat-killed MN68 + IN significantly increased the SCFA levels, which were correlated with changes in the gut microbiota. This research provides support for the application of heat-killed MN68 and IN in the treatment of obesity, and highlights the combination of heat-killed BBMN68 and IN as functional food ingredients.

Improvement of intestinal microbial structure in patients with cerebral infarction through invitro fermentation of anthocyanins from Lycium ruthenicum Murray.

Anthocyanins in Lycium ruthenicum Murray can be degraded into metabolites by intestinal microorganisms and have a wide range of biological functions. However, there are limited studies on the effect of anthocyanins on the intestinal flora structure in patients with cerebral infarction. To explore the new probiotic effects of ACN, the gut microbiota present in fecal samples obtained from healthy volunteers and patients with acute cerebral infarction underwent invitro fermentation analysis. The invitro fermentation product of ACN with L. ruthenicum Murray can significantly increase the diversity of the gut flora in patients with cerebral infarction. It can also promote beneficial bacteria (e.g., Bifidobacterium) in the guts of patients with acute cerebral infarction (e.g. Bifidobacterium, Allisonella, and Prevotell), reduce the growth of potentially harmful bacteria (Dialister, Megamonas, and Clostridium), and increase the levels of SCFAs. This investigation demonstrated the capability of ACN invitro fermentation to improve the gut microbiota structure in patients with cerebral infarction. This, in turn, furnishes new theoretical underpinnings for its potential development as a functional food component.

Cholesterol-Lowering Effect of Polysaccharides from Cyclocarya paliurus In Vitro and in Hypercholesterolemia Mice.

In this study, a new component of Cyclocarya paliurus polysaccharides (CPP20) was precipitated by the gradient ethanol method, and the protective effect of CPP20 on hypercholesterolemia mice was investigated. In vitro, CPP20 had the ability to bind bile salts and inhibit cholesterol micelle solubility, and it could effectively clear free radicals (DPPH•, •OH, and ABTS+). In vivo, CPP20 effectively alleviated hypercholesterolemia and liver damage in mice. After CPP20 intervention, the activity of antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT, and GSH-Px) and the level of HDL-C in liver and serum were increased, and the activity of aminotransferase (ALT and AST) and the level of MDA, TC, TG, LDL-C, and TBA were decreased. Molecular experiments showed that CPP20 reduced cholesterol by regulating the mRNA expression of antioxidation-related genes (SOD, GSH-Px, and CAT) and genes related to the cholesterol metabolism (CYP7A1, CYP27A1, SREBP-2, HMGCR, and FXR) in liver. In addition, CPP20 alleviated intestinal microbiota disturbances in mice with hypercholesterolemia and increased levels of SCFAs. Therefore, CPP20 alleviates hypercholesterolemia by alleviating oxidative damage, maintaining cholesterol homeostasis, and regulating gut microbiota.

Investigation of Rhizopus oligosporus Metabolites in Fermented Wheat Bran and Its Bio Function in Alleviating Colitis in Mice Model.

Wheat bran (WB) is a low-value by-product of the wheat milling industry. Solid-state fermentation with Rhizopus oligosporus is performed to improve WB's nutritional quality (RH). Twenty-five mice (11-week-old C57BL/6N male mice) were divided into three groups. The first group was fed a control diet (n = 8), the second group a 10% WB-supplemented diet (n = 8), and the last group had a 10% RH-supplemented diet (n = 9). The diet treatment was administered for 4 days before dextran sodium sulfate (DSS, 3% in drinking water) was administered for 9 days. RH supplementation prevented bodyweight loss and reduced the disease activity index in mice. An increase in the level of SCFAs in mouse intestines was detected post-RH supplementation, suggesting that SCFAs might have contributed to its anti-colitis effect. Metabolome analysis was conducted to explore other bioactive compounds in RH. R. oligosporus fermentation significantly increased the amounts of ergothioneine, arginine, branched-chain amino acids, and adenosine in wheat bran. All of these compounds are known to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory capacities. These bioactive compounds might also have contributed to the RH's ability to ameliorate DSS-induced colitis.

Beneficial effects of Dendrobium officinale National Herbal Drink on metabolic immune crosstalk via regulate SCFAs-Th17/Treg

The development of gut-liver axis metabolic immune crosstalk is intimately associated with intestinal barrier disorder, intestinal SCFAs-Th17/Treg immunological imbalance, and disorders of the gut microbiota. Prior research has discovered that Dendrobium officinale National Herbal Drink (NHD), a traditional Chinese medicine drink with enhanced immunity, may enhance the immunological response in animals with impaired immune systems brought on by cyclophosphamide by repairing intestinal barrier function and controlling turbulence in the gut microbiota. However, whether NHD can further improve the gut-liver axis metabolic immune crosstalk and its related mechanisms need to be systematically studied. The purpose of this study is to clarify the function and mechanism of NHD in enhancing the gut-liver axis metabolic immunological crosstalk brought on by excessive alcohol intake. In this work, we set up a mouse model to analyze the metabolic and immunological crosstalk involving the gut-liver axis across 7 weeks of continuous, excessive drinking. At the same time, high and low doses (20,10 ml/kg) of NHD were given by gavage. The effect of NHD on improving the metabolism of gut-liver axis was evaluated by blood lipid, liver lipid deposition, liver function and intestinal pathophysiology. By measuring serum immunological indices, intestinal barrier, and intestinal immune barrier, the impact of NHD on enhancing immune and intestinal barrier function was assessed. Furthermore, immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, 16S rRNA, Western blot, q-PCR and other methods were used to detect gut microbiota, SCFAs-GPR41/43 pathway, intestinal Th17/Treg immune cells and PPAR-α-NPC1L1/SREBP1 pathway to elucidate the mechanism by which NHD enhances the gut-liver axis' metabolic immune crosstalk. Our study demonstrated that NHD has the potential to improve the pathophysiological damage caused by gut-liver axis in model mice. NHD also ameliorated the disorder of lipid metabolism. In addition, it regulated the levels of peripheral blood T cell immunity and serum immune factors. And NHD can restore intestinal mechanical and immune barrier damage. NHD has a favorable impact on the quantity of beneficial bacteria, including uncultured_bacterium_g__norank_f__muribaculacea and uncultured_bacterium_g__Turicibacter. Additionally, it raised the model mice's levels of SCFAs (n-butyric acid, isovaleric acid, etc.). This resulted in the promotion of intestinal GPR41/43-ERK1/2 expression and the reshaping of intestinal CD4+T cell Th17/Treg homeostasis. As a consequence, colon IL-22 and IL-10 levels increased, while colon IL-17A levels decreased. Lastly, NHD raised the amount of intestinal IAP/LPS, regulated the development of PPAR-α-NPC1L1/SREBP1 pathway in gut-liver axis, and improve lipid metabolism disorder. Our study found that NHD can improve the gut-liver axis metabolic immune crosstalk in model mice caused by excessive drinking. The mechanism might be connected to how NHD controls gut microbiota disorders in model mice, the activation of intestinal SCFAs-GPR41/43 pathway, the remodeling of Th17/Treg immune homeostasis of intestinal CD4+T cells, the improvement of IAP/LPS abnormality, and further mediating the PPAR-α-NPC1L1/SREBP1 pathway of lipid metabolism in gut-liver axis.

Pediococcus pentosaceus MIANGUAN2 Alleviates Influenza Virus Infection by Modulating Gut Microbiota and Enhancing Short-Chain Fatty Acid Production.

Influenza, a severe respiratory disease caused by the influenza virus, has long been a prominent threat to human health. An increasing number of studies have demonstrated that oral administration with probiotics may increase the immune response to lung infection via the gut-lung axis leading to the alleviation of the pulmonary disease. In this study, we evaluated the effects of oral administration of Pediococcus pentosaceus MIANGUAN2 (MIANGUAN2) on influenza infection in a mouse model. Our results showed that oral administration of MIANGUAN2 significantly improved weight loss, lung index, and lung pathology, and decreased lung viral load of influenza-infected mice. Additionally, MIANGUAN2-treated mice showed significantly lower levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, IFN-γ, and IL-12p70 and higher production of IL-4 in the lung. In accordance with this, the transcriptome analysis of the lung indicated that MIANGUAN2-treated mice had reduced expression of inflammation markers, such as TNF, apoptosis, and the NF-Kappa B pathway. Furthermore, the administration of MIANGUAN2 restored the SCFAs profiles through regulating the gut microbiota. SCFA-producing bacteria, such as p_Firmicutes, f_Lachnospiraceae, and f_Ruminococcaceae, were enriched in the MIANGUAN2-treated group compared with PBS-treated group. Consistently, the concentrations of SCFAs in the MIANGUAN2 group were significantly higher than those in the PBS-treated group. In addition, the concentrations of SCFAs were positively correlated with SCFA-producing bacteria, such as Ruminococcus, while being negatively correlated with the virial titers and proinflammatory cytokines. In conclusion, this animal study suggests that Pediococcus pentosaceus MIANGUAN2 may alleviate the influenza infection by altering the gut microbiota composition and increasing the levels of gut microbiota-derived SCFAs.

WS04.03 Associations between nutrient intake, SCFA levels and the faecal microbiota in adults with cystic fibrosis: preliminary analysis

WS04.03 Associations between nutrient intake, SCFA levels and the faecal microbiota in adults with cystic fibrosis: preliminary analysis

A Gestational Pectin Diet Could Improve the Health of Multiparous Sows by Modulating the Gut Microbiota and Cytokine Level during Late Pregnancy.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of the dietary fiber pectin on the gut microbiota and health of parturient sows. A total of 30 parity 5-7, multiparous gestation sows (Large White × Landrace) were randomly assigned to two treatment groups after mating: Con (control, basic diet) and Pec (pectin, 3%). The sows received the two diets during gestation, and all sows were fed the same standard basic diet during lactation. The results of β-diversity showed that the composition of the gut microbiota was different in the Con and Pec groups. Compared with the sows in the Con group, the Pec sows showed a higher abundance of the gut bacteria Clostridium and Romboutsia and a lower abundance of harmful bacteria (Micrococcaceae, Coriobacteriaceae, Dorea, Actinomyces). On the other hand, the SCFA plasma concentration was increased in the Pec group, while pro-inflammatory cytokine (IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α) concentrations were decreased. In conclusion, the soluble dietary fiber pectin could improve the reproductive performance and health of sows by increasing the abundance of some commensal bacteria enhancing the metabolite SCFA levels and reducing the pro-inflammatory cytokine plasma levels.

Prebiotic characteristics of degraded polysaccharides from Acanthopanax senticosus polysaccharide on broilers gut microbiota based on in vitro digestion and fecal fermentation

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of low molecular weight Acanthopanax polysaccharides on simulated digestion, probiotics, and intestinal flora of broilers in vitro. The experiments were carried out by H2O2-Vc degradation of Acanthopanax polysaccharides, in vitro simulated digestion to evaluate the digestive performance of polysaccharides with different molecular weights, in vitro probiotic evaluation of the probiotic effect of polysaccharides on lactobacilli and bifidobacteria, in vitro anaerobic fermentation and high-throughput sequencing of 16S rRNA genes to study the impact of Acanthopanax polysaccharides on the intestinal flora of broilers, and the effect of Acanthopanax polysaccharides on the short-chain fatty acids of intestines were determined by GC-MS method. The results showed that the molecular weight of Acanthopanax polysaccharide (ASPS) was 9,543 Da, and the molecular weights of polysaccharides ASPS-1 and ASPS-2 were reduced to 4,288 Da and 3,822 Da after degradation, and the particle sizes, PDIs, and viscosities were also significantly decreased. ASPS-1 has anti-digestive properties and better in vitro probiotic properties. The addition of ASPS-1 regulates the structure of intestinal microorganisms by regulating fecalibacterium to produce short-chain fatty acids, promoting the colonization of beneficial bacteria such as fecalibacterium, paraprevotella and diminishing the prevalence of detrimental bacteria such as Fusobacteria. Interestingly the ASPS-1 group found higher levels of Paraprevotella, which degraded trypsin in the gut, reducing inflammation, acted as a gut protector, and was influential in increasing the levels of acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid, isobutyric acid, valeric acid, and total SCFAs in the fermented feces. Therefore, the degraded ASPS-1 can better regulate the structure of intestinal flora and promote the production of SCFAs, creating possibilities for its use as a potential prebiotic, which is conducive to the intestinal health of poultry.

Short-term supplementation with uncoated and encapsulated Enterococcus faecium affected growth performance, gut microbiome and intestinal barrier integrity in broiler chickens

Enterococcus faecium (E. faecium) is an alternative to antibiotics, while the probiotic effect of short-term application in mature broiler chickens remains unclear. In the current study, 48 Arbor Acres male broilers were chosen to investigate the effects of E. faecium on growth performance, the gut microbiome and intestinal health during the finishing period. Forty-eight birds were randomly allocated to 4 treatment groups that were fed a corn-soybean meal basal diet (Con), a basal diet supplemented with 1 g/kg amoxicillin (ABX), 5×106 CFU/g encapsulated E. faecium (cEF), or 5×106 CFU/g uncoated E. faecium (EF) from d 33 to 42. The results showed that 10 d of antibiotic treatment decreased the growth performance of the broilers (P < 0.05). The feed conversion ratio of the cEF and EF groups were lower than that of the Con group by 0.13 and 0.07, respectively (P > 0.05). The abundance of viable ileal and cecal E. faecium in the cEF group was greater than that in the EF group (P < 0.05), and both groups were markedly greater than those in the Con and ABX groups (P < 0.05). The ABX treatment decreased the Shannon and Chao1 indices of the cecal microbiota, while the dietary E. faecium treatment resulted in significant differences in the β diversity of the ileal and cecal microbiota (P < 0.05). Mantel correlation revealed that the ileal microbiota at the genus level was significantly correlated with the growth performance of broilers, with Lactobacillus, Bacillus and Escherichia-Shigella showing positive and strong correlations (P < 0.05). In the ileum, the crypt depth was lower in the cEF group than in the Con group, but the villi height-to-crypt depth ratio was greater in the cEF group than in the other groups (P = 0.037). However, the expression of the ZO-2 and Occludin genes was downregulated in the E. faecium-fed birds (P < 0.05). In the cecum, the acetate, butyrate and total SCFA levels were greater in the EF group (P < 0.05), while the propionate, isobutyrate and isovalerate levels were lower in the ABX group (P < 0.05). In summary, 10 d of dietary supplementation with E. faecium markedly increased colonization in mature broilers and potentially improved growth performance by modulating the ileal microbiota. Encapsulation techniques could enable a slow release of E. faecium in the intestine, thereby reducing the negative impacts of rapid expansion of E. faecium on the intestinal epithelium.

Sea Buckthorn Polysaccharide Ameliorates Colitis.

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is characterized by chronic inflammation and ulceration of the intestinal inner lining, resulting in various symptoms. Sea buckthorn berries contain a bioactive compound known as sea buckthorn polysaccharide (SBP). However, the precise mechanisms underlying the impact of SBP on UC remain unclear. In this study, we investigated the effects of pretreatment with SBP on colitis induced by DSS. Our findings demonstrate that SBP pretreatment effectively reduces inflammation, oxidative stress, and intestinal barrier damage associated with colitis. To further elucidate the role of SBP-modulated gut microbiota in UC, we performed fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) on DSS-treated mice. The microbiota from SBP-treated mice exhibits notable anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, improves colonic barrier integrity, and increases the abundance of beneficial bacteria, as well as enhancing SCFA production. Collectively, these results strongly indicate that SBP-mediated amelioration of colitis is attributed to its impact on the gut microbiota, particularly through the promotion of SCFA-producing bacteria and subsequent elevation of SCFA levels. This study provides compelling evidence supporting the efficacy of pre-emptive SBP supplementation in alleviating colitis symptoms by modulating the gut microbiota, thereby offering novel insights into the potential of SBP as a regulator of the gut microbiota for colitis relief.

Low molecular weight chitosan from Pleurotus ostreatus waste and its prebiotic potential

The booming mushroom industry envisages economic merits, and massive unutilized waste production (∼ 20 %) creates an opportunity for valorization. Chitosan, a bioactive polysaccharide, has drawn immense attention for its invaluable therapeutic potential. Thus, the present study was conducted to extract chitosan from mushroom waste (MCH) for its prebiotic potential. The structural characterization of MCH was carried out using NMR, FTIR, and XRD. The CP/MAS-13CNMR spectrum of MCH appeared at δ 57.67 (C2), 61.19 (C6), 75.39 (C3/C5), 83.53 (C4), 105.13 (C1), 23.69 (CH3), and 174.19 (C = O) ppm. The FTIR showed characteristic peaks at 3361 cm−1, 1582 cm−1, and 1262 cm−1 attributed to –NH stretching, amide II, and amide III bands of MCH. XRD interpretation of MCH exhibited a single strong reflection at 2θ =20.19, which may correspond to the “form-II” polymorph. The extracted MCH (∼ 47 kDa) exhibited varying degrees of deacetylation from 79 to 84 %. The prebiotic activity score of 0.73 to 0.82 was observed for MCH (1 %) when supplemented with probiotic strains (Lactobacillus casei, L. helveticus, L. plantarum, and L. rhamnosus). MCH enhanced the growth of Lactobacillus strains and SCFA's levels, particularly in L. rhamnosus. The MCH also inhibited the growth of pathogenic strains (MIC of 0.125 and 0.25 mg/mL against E. coli and S. aureus, respectively) and enhanced the adhesion efficiency of probiotics (3 to 8 % at 1 % MCH supplementation). L. rhamnosus efficiency was higher against pathogens in the presence of MCH, as indicated by anti-adhesion assays. These findings suggested that extracted polysaccharides from mushroom waste can be used as a prebiotic for ameliorating intestinal dysbiosis.

Short-chain fatty acids in schizophrenia: are they affected by a depressive state?

IntroductionShort-chain fatty acids (SCFA) are bacterial metabolites that, within microbiome-gut-brain axis, make a promising research line on etiopathology of mental diseases like schizophrenia (SZ) and major depression disorder. Besides, depressive symptoms are frequent clinical features of SZ.Objectives-Describe fecal SCFA concentrations in SZ patients.-Analyze differences in SCFA depending on:-Depression.- Clinical severity, antipsychotics and antidepressants, comorbidities (pro-inflammatory state/obesity/metabolic syndrome [MetS]), lifestyle. MethodsCross-sectional study of 67 outpatients [mean age=43.52±12.42, range=22-67; males=40 (59.7%)] with diagnosis (DSM-5) of SZ recruited from their mental health clinics in Oviedo (Spain). -Assessment:-Fecal SCFA (gas chromatography;μg/mL).-Plasmatic C-reactive protein (CPR;mg/dL).-PANSS, Calgary Depression (CDS), International Physical Activity (IPAQ), Mediterranean Diet Adherence (MEDAS).-Toxic habits (alcohol use/smoking/cannabis).-Chlorpromazine equivalent doses (CPZ-ED), use of antidepressants.-MetS (ATP-III), body mass index (BMI; kg/cm2).-Statistics: Spearman correlation, U Mann-Whitney, ANCOVA. Results14 patients showed clinical depression (CDS≥5). There were no differences in age or sex between groups. 36 patients (53.7%) showed systemic low-grade inflammation (CPR≥0.3mg/dL) and 32 (30.8%) MetS.Table 1 shows fecal SCFA levels by depressive state. Means (SD) are ahown. Table 1CDS≤4CDS≥5TotalU Mann-Whitney (p-value)Acetate21.449(12.823)12.911(7.189)19.665(12.328)221.000(0.021)Propanoate9.170(6.819)6.848(6.036)8.685(6.687)268.500(0.114)Butyrate8.529(6.436)7.875(8.232)8.392(6.787)320.000(0.432)Total SCFA39.148(23.770)31.415(24.526)36.742(23.549)250.000(0.062)Correlations were found in Age with Butyrate (r=-0.248,p=0.043) and weekly alcohol units with Propanoate (r=0.250,p=0.041) plus trend to significance with Butyrate (r=0.232,p=0.059). It also showed a trend towards statistical relation for CPZ-ED with Propanoate (r=-0.253,p=0.039) and Total SCFA (r=-0.253,p=0.039). We found no correlation in SCFA with MetS, CGI, PANSS-N, BMI, IPAQ, MEDAS and other toxic habits.ANCOVA was performed to Acetate and Total SCFA using depression state as independent variable and Age and CPZ-ED as covariates. There was a trend towards statistical significance for Acetate (F=3.937,p=0.052,η2=0.059) whereas Total SCFA showed no difference (F=1.350,p=2.250,η2=0.021).Conclusions There seems to be lower levels of fecal Acetate in SZ patients with depressive symptoms, considering age and antipsychotic intake. In our sample there was no relation between SFCA and clinical severity, lifestyle, comorbidities or antidepressant use.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared

Lactobacillus rhamnosus alters intestinal IgA levels and IgA–microbiota interactions in healthy mice in a strain-specific manner

Immunoglobulin A (IgA), a mucosal immune antibody, exhibits different degrees of affinity to intestinal bacteria and performs a diverse range of immune functions. IgA secretion is closely related to microbial stimulation. The stimulation pathways and effects of pathogenic intestinal bacteria and probiotics are reported to be different. However, it is unclear whether the mode of action between probiotics, gut microbiota, and IgA in healthy hosts varies depending on strain differences. In this study, six different strains of Lactobacillus rhamnosus from humans were used to investigate the differences in their effects on IgA levels and the gut microbiota affinitive to IgA in the intestines of healthy mice. It was found that six strains of L. rhamnosus exerted different effects on IgA levels and IgA-coated bacteria in the intestines of healthy mice. Short-term administration of L. rhamnosus CCFM1228, 28L2 and W6L1 improved the secretion of intestinal IgA and the IgA index values for Escherichia–Shigella, Pseudomonas, and other potential pathogens. However, for other species in the intestinal, L. rhamnosus strains showed different trends in their regulatory effects. L. rhamnosus CCFM1228 decreased the affinity of IgA for Enterococcus and increased the IgA index values for Alistipes and Alloprevotella. But L. rhamnosus 66L1 and W6L1 significantly increased the affinity of IgA for Pseudomona. However, this change was not significantly correlated with caecal SCFA levels or colonic inflammatory factors. Finally, only L. rhamnosus 66L1, CCFM1228, and W6L1, which enhanced 1 week faecal IgA concentration, promoted the transcription level of ACIDA. This study helps to provide new insights into the effect of L. rhamnosus on the intestinal IgA level and IgA–microbiota interactions in the gut of healthy hosts, thus supporting the individualized selection of probiotics for immune intervention.