Characterization Of Microbiota Research Articles

Characterization and comparison of fecal microbiota in horses with pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction and age-matched controls.

Altered gut microbiota has been associated with dopaminergic degenerative diseases in people, but studies on horses with pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID) are lacking. Investigate the effect of PPID on fecal microbiota in horses. Nine horses with PPID and 13 age-matched control horses. Prospective control study. Fecal samples were collected bimonthly. Microbial analysis used 16S rRNA sequencing to determine the relative abundance at genus and phylum levels, assess alpha and beta diversity and identify core microbiota. Horses with PPID had decreased relative abundances of Christensenellaceae R-7 group (median; 95% confidence interval [CI]: PPID, 2.04; 1.82-2.35 vs control, 2.54; 2.37-2.76; P = .02) and NK4A214 group (PPID, 2.21; 2.02-2.56 vs control, 2.62; 2.44-2.85; P = .05), and significant lower abundances of Romboutsia (log2FoldChange = -3.54; P = .04) and Peptococcaceae uncultured (log2FoldChange = -0.89; P = .04) by differential abundance analysis. However, the abundance of Fibrobacter (log2FoldChange = 0.74; P = .04) was significantly higher in the PPID group. A significant effect of PPID on beta diversity was observed (P = .004), whereas alpha diversity varied with months (P = .001). Seven unique genera were identified in horses with PPID and 12 in control horses. The fecal microbial composition is altered in horses with PPID. These findings support the potential role of the microbiota-gut-brain axis in the pathogenesis of PPID.

Gut microbiome composition in patients with liver cirrhosis with and without hepatic encephalopathy: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

The gut microbiome is associated with hepatic encephalopathy (HE), but research results on the gut microbiome characteristics of patients with liver cirrhosis with and without HE are inconsistent. To study the gut microbiota characteristics of patients with liver cirrhosis with and without HE. We searched the PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases using two keywords, HE, and gut microbiome. According to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, suitable literature was screened to extract data on the diversity and composition of the fecal microbiota in patients with liver cirrhosis with and without HE. The data were analyzed using RevMan and STATA. Seventeen studies were included: (1) A meta-analysis of 7 studies revealed that the Shannon index in liver cirrhosis patients with HE was significantly lower than that in patients without HE [-0.20, 95% confidence interval (CI): -0.28 to -0.13, I2 = 20%]; (2) The relative abundances of Lachnospiraceae (-2.73, 95%CI: -4.58 to -0.87, I2 = 38%) and Ruminococcaceae (-2.93, 95%CI: -4.29 to -1.56, I2 = 0%) in liver cirrhosis patients with HE was significantly lower than those in patients without HE; (3) In patients with HE, Enterococcus, Proteobacteria, Enterococcaceae, and Enterobacteriaceae proportions increased, but Ruminococcaceae, Lachnospiraceae, Prevotellaceae, and Bacteroidetes proportions decreased; (4) Differences in the fecal metabolome between liver cirrhosis patients with and without HE were detected; and (5) Differential gut microbiomes may serve as diagnostic and prognostic tools. The gut microbiomes of patients with liver cirrhosis with and without HE differ. Some gut microbiomes may distinguish liver cirrhosis patients with or without HE and determine patient prognosis.

P1342 Characteristics of the gut microbiota of patients with concomitant inflammatory bowel disease and psoriatic arthritis

Abstract Background Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA) are immune-mediated diseases (IMDs) that have been independently related to shifts in the gut microbiota. In this pilot study, we analyzed whether, in patients in whom both IMIDs coexist, the composition and function of the gut microbiota is different from when only one of the two IMDs exists. Methods Transversal observational study performed at a Spanish tertiary hospital. Ten patients with concomitant IBD and PsA (group A) were included. Two age, gender and disease duration matched control groups were also created, one with IBD-only patients (group B, n=20), and another with PsA-only patients (group C, n=20). Demographic and clinical characteristics were recorded. Stool samples were collected and the variable region V3–V4 of the bacterial 16S rRNA genes present in the feces was PCR-amplified and the resulting amplicons were sequenced on an Illumina NovaSeq 6000 instrument. Short chain fatty acids (SCFA) were analyzed by gas chromatography from the supernatants of the homogenized feces. Dietary assessment was registered by an online food frequency questionnaire specifically designed for intestinal disturbances; foods were transformed into nutrients and dietary compounds. For statistical analysis, ANOVA was used to compare the three groups (when the ANOVA was significant [p<0.05], Bonferroni's test was used for post-hoc comparisons). Results Globally, the microbiota of the different study groups did not show major rearrangements, with alpha diversity not showing statistically significant differences between them. However, beta diversity analyses indicated that the microbiotas of groups C and B were statistically different, with group A occupying an intermediate position. A linear discriminant analysis of the effect size showed that group A was enriched in certain microorganisms such as Akkermansia, while group C was enriched in Bacteroides (Figure 1). The quantification of the fecal levels of SCFA showed no statistical significant differences between the three groups. Moreover, no significant differences were observed regarding energy and nutrient intake between the assessed groups. Conclusion Our results suggest the existence of different gut microbiota profiles in subjects suffering from PsA or IDB, while patients with both conditions have an intermediate composition. These differences do not see to result from different dietary habits, since no differences in nutrient or energy intake between the groups were observed.

P0117 Exploring the role and mechanism of leukotriene D4 in fistulizing Crohn's disease based on multi-omics research

Abstract Background Alterations in the gut microbiota and its metabolites are involved in the pathogenesis of Crohn's disease (CD). In a study targeting patients with different phenotypes of CD, we investigated the characteristics of the gut microbiota and metabolites between Crohn's disease with fistula and Crohn's disease without fistula. Methods We divided the research subjects into three groups, including 11 CD patients with fistulas, 9 CD patients without fistulas, and 5 healthy individuals (control group). Stool samples from patients were collected and sequenced. The fecal microflora was analyzed by 16S ribosomal RNA gene amplification sequence, and the metabolites were quantified by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Bioinformatics analysis was employed to explore the microbial and metabolite characteristics of CD fistulas. Then, we further verified through mouse experiments and cell experiments. Results Compared with healthy controls, CD patients mainly showed a reduction in the Firmicutes phylum and an increase in the Proteobacteria phylum. The reduction of these short-chain fatty acid-producing bacteria and the increase in harmful bacteria are likely important factors leading to CD. Compared with non-fistula patients, the beneficial bacteria such as the genus Romboutsia in fistula patients were significantly reduced. In addition, we also found structural disruption and functional dysregulation of microorganisms in fistula patients. Metabolomics analysis indicated that the increase in pro-inflammatory metabolites such as leukotriene D4 is a specific change in fistula. Spearman correlation analysis showed that the reduction of beneficial bacteria was significantly negatively correlated with the increase in leukotriene D4, suggesting that the reduction of beneficial bacteria may lead to an increase in leukotriene D4 and thus promote the formation of fistulas. In vitro experiments further demonstrated that leukotriene D4 can delay the healing of fistula in mice. Cell experiments also proved that leukotriene D4 can reduce the expression of E-cadherin and upregulate the expression of EMT-related genes (snail, vimentin). Transcriptome analysis revealed that leukotriene D4 may lead to the formation of fistulas by activating the AGE-RAGE signaling pathway in diabetic complications. Conclusion In CD patients, the reduction of beneficial bacteria may promote the upregulation of leukotriene D4, thus promoting the formation of fistula.

P0419 Impact of psychopathology and gut-microbiota on disease progression in Ulcerative Colitis: a five-year follow-up study

Abstract Background Psychological distress and gut dysbiosis are key factors in patients with IBD. This study aimed to assess whether specific psychopathological and gut microbiota features could predict adverse outcomes in patients with UC. Methods In this prospective longitudinal cohort study, we enrolled 35 adult patients with UC. At baseline, patients completed a psychometric evaluation and provided a stool sample for gut microbiota analysis. For the purposes of this study, only trait-focused scales (MMPI-2, TAS-20, CD-RISC, STAI-Y2) were considered, while state-focused assessments were excluded. Five years later we reconstructed each patient’s clinical history, focusing on adverse outcomes including failure of biological therapy, UC-related hospitalizations, and UC-related surgeries. Results Patients with failure of biological therapy exhibited increased levels of Proteobacteria (p = 0.006), Fusobacteria (p = 0.042), Enterobacteriaceae (p = 0.025), and Trabulsiella (p = 0.011), while Firmicutes were found to be less abundant (p = 0.036). UC-related hospitalized patients presented lower levels of Rikenellaceae (p = 0.011), Ruminococcaceae (p = 0.004), Faecalibacterium (p = 0.004), Lachnospira (p = 0.005), Methanobrevibacter (p = 0.036) and Phascolarctobacterium (p = 0.011), compared to non-hospitalized patients. Considering the psychometric scales, UC-related hospitalized patients had higher scores on the Sc clinical scale (p = 0.032) and higher scores on the OBS (p = 0.044) and HEA (p = 0.026) content scales. Acidaminococcus (p = 0.023) and Bilophila (p = 0.045) were significantly more abundant in patients that underwent UC-related surgery compared to patients who do not. A PCA analysis, specifically conducted on the phyla, revealed differences only between patients who experienced at least one biological failure and those without therapy failure (PERMANOVA: F = 24.2, p = 0.049, explained variance = 48.89%). Other PCA analyses did not show significant differences between the various groups. At the binary logistic regression, Fusobacteria was negatively correlated with the failure of three or more biologics (OR = 0.000; B = -10,584.860, p = 0.028). Hy and Pd were positively correlated with the failure of three or more biologics (OR = 2.167; B = 0.773, p = 0.044) and 2.639 (B = 0.971, p = 0.024). Conversely, Pa and Pt were negatively correlated with multifailure, associated with odds ratios of OR = 0.622, B = -0.476, p = 0.041 and OR = 0.152, B = -1.886, p = 0.021 respectively. Conclusion Psychopathological features related to obsessiveness, health concerns, and somatization, along with specific microbiota characteristics (a lower abundance of SCFA-producing bacteria), may act as predictive factors for UC-related adverse outcomes.

P1317 Oral microbiota is linked to the propensity for mucosal healing: A prospective oral-gut-stool microbiome analysis in IBD

Abstract Background The oral cavity is the second most complex human microbial niche and is the conduit through which initial gut microbial colonisation occurs during early life. While the gut microbiome is implicated in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), the role of the oral microbiome remains underexplored. We aimed to characterise the oral-gut microbiome in IBD and its association with disease activity and complete mucosal healing (CMH), a key prognostic marker for long-term remission. Methods All patients with Crohn’s disease (CD) and Ulcerative Colitis (UC) were prospectively recruited via www.musicstudy.uk. We conducted a 3-stage experimental approach. (1) We profiled the oral microbiota in IBD vs healthy controls (HC) (CD = 34, UC = 24 and HC = 25). (2) We carried out trans-anatomical oral-ileal-stool microbial source tracking1 within the same patients at a single time-point (CD = 23; inflamed vs. non-inflamed mucosal samples), alongside longitudinal oral-stool sampling (CD = 32, UC = 17). (3) Our machine learning (ML) modelling integrated stool microbiota taxonomic profiles (CD = 53, UC = 11; sampled at 0, 3, and 6 months) with ~80 clinical variables to classify CMH using random forest, AdaBoost, XGBoost, logistic regression, and neural networks. Results 16S rRNA sequencing revealed significant divergence between IBD and HC oral microbiota (PCoA, Bray-Curtis; PERMANOVA, p=0.003). Active disease also differed from remission (PCoA, Bray-Curtis; PERMANOVA, p=0.01). Higher oral Veillonella abundances were associated with IBD; bacteria commonly enriched in the IBD gut. We determined within patient oral microbiota abundances in gut samples and found no difference between inflamed ileal mucosa compared to non-inflamed (p=0.52). Patients who did not achieve CMH exhibited significantly higher oral microbiota abundances in stool compared to those with CMH (β = 0.046, p=0.022, linear mixed-effects model). Oral microbiota abundances in stool correlated with clinical markers of disease activity, calprotectin (r = 0.23, p=0.009) and albumin (r = –0.28, p=0.002; Benjamini-Hochberg adjusted). ML models integrating stool microbiota taxonomic profiles and clinical variables outperformed clinical markers alone in predicting CMH (AUC: 0.79 vs. 0.55), indicating that the inclusion of stool microbiota features could be valuable in predicting CMH in the clinical setting. Conclusion Our data show distinct oral microbiota taxonomic profiles in IBD and active disease, with higher oral microbiota abundances in stool associated with lack of CMH. These findings highlight the oral microbiome as a potential upstream regulator of microbial-immune crosstalk from the site of IBD-inflammation.

Characteristics of lower respiratory microbiota in children’s refractory Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia pre- and post-COVID-19 era

Characteristics of lower respiratory microbiota in children’s refractory Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia pre- and post-COVID-19 era

Characterization of gut microbiota on gender and age groups bias in Thai patients with autism spectrum disorder

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by social communication and interaction problems. The prevalence of ASD is increasing globally, with a higher ratio of males to females. Gastrointestinal symptoms are common in individuals with ASD, and gut microbiota has been implicated in the disorder’s development. This study aimed to investigate the gut microbiota alteration in Thai individuals with ASD compared to healthy controls using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The influence of gender and age on gut microbiota composition and function was also examined. A total of 65 ASD individuals and 30 neurotypical (NT) individuals were included in the analysis. The results revealed notable differences in gut microbiota composition between the ASD and NT groups, with variations observed in microbial richness and the presence of enriched microbial taxa. These differences were influenced by both gender and age. Fusobacteriota, Fusobacteriaceae, and Fusobacterium were found to be enriched in individuals with ASD. Furthermore, the study identified gender-related taxa, such as Bacteroides plebeius, enriched in ASD females. Age-related taxa, including Veillonella, known to be associated with poor oral hygiene, were also observed in ASD children. The analysis of differentially abundant pathways highlighted the enrichment of various metabolic pathways in individuals with ASD, including those related to endocrine-disrupting chemicals. These findings underscore the importance of considering gender and age when studying gut microbiota in ASD. They provide valuable insights into the potential role of gut microbiota dysbiosis in ASD pathogenesis and highlight the influence of environmental factors.

Characteristics of functional constipation and analysis of intestinal microbiota in children aged 0–4 in Zunyi region

BackgroundFunctional constipation (FC) significantly impacts children’s health. This study investigates the prevalence and microbiota characteristics of FC in children aged 0–4 years in Zunyi area.MethodsFrom October to December 2023, 2039 children aged 0–4 years in Zunyi were selected using stratified sampling and cross-sectional survey methods. A questionnaire based on Rome IV diagnostic criteria was used. Twenty-nine children with FC were randomly selected as the functional constipation group (FCG), and 26 healthy children, matched for age, sex, and area, were selected as the control group (CG).ResultsA total of 2051 questionnaires were collected, with 2039 valid responses. Among them, 151 children had FC, resulting in a prevalence rate of 7.4%. The prevalence rates in boys and girls were 6.6% and 8.5%, respectively, with no significant gender difference (P > 0.05). Alpha diversity analysis revealed higher richness and diversity of intestinal flora in the FCG compared to the CG. At the phylum level, Actinobacteria, Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, and Bacteroidetes were dominant in both groups. The FCG showed a higher relative abundance of Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, and Proteobacteria compared to the CG (P < 0.05).ConclusionsThe prevalence of FC in children aged 0–4 years in Zunyi is 7.4%. Disease characteristics vary with age and living environment but are unrelated to gender. The gut microbiota of children with FC shows significant alterations, with higher diversity and specific phyla abundance.

A preliminary evaluation of a fast, low-cost, and high-throughput nucleic acid extraction method for bacterial microbiota profiling in low-microbial biomass samples

The respiratory tract is colonized with low-density microbial communities, which have been shown to impact human respiratory health through microbiota–host interactions. However, a lack of fast and cost-effective nucleic acid extraction method for low-microbial biomass samples hinders investigation of respiratory microbiota. Here, we performed a pilot study to assess the suitability of the NAxtra nucleic acid extraction protocol for profiling bacterial microbiota in respiratory samples. A small number of nasopharyngeal aspirate (n = 8), nasal swab (n = 8), and saliva samples (n = 8) were collected, nucleic acids were isolated using the NAxtra protocol, and 16 S rRNA gene sequencing was performed to characterize bacterial microbiota, which were compared to the same sample types from previous studies using other protocols. The bacterial composition in nasal and saliva samples were consistent with previous reports. Saliva microbiota was significantly richer than nasal microbiota and varied less among individual samples than nasal microbiota. Bacterial composition in nasal samples was distinct from nasopharyngeal aspirates, but closer to saliva samples. A sequencing depth of 50,000 reads/sample was sufficient for microbiota profiling in low biomass respiratory samples. Our pilot study indicates the potential of the NAxtra protocol for bacterial microbiota characterization of low-microbial biomass samples and supports a more comprehensive study to fully evaluate the value of the NAxtra protocol in microbiota research and clinical diagnostics of respiratory pathogens.

Establishment and maturation of gut microbiota in White King pigeon squabs: role of pigeon milk.

Pigeons are significant economic animals in China; however, research regarding the establishment and influencing factors of gut microbiota in squabs remains limited. Understanding how the gut microbiota develops in pigeons, particularly in relation to pigeon milk, is importance in pigeon production. This study aims to elucidate the establishment characteristics of the gut microbiota in White King pigeon squabs and explore the role of pigeon milk in this process. This study employed 16S rRNA sequencing technology to investigate the dynamics of microbial composition in feces and pigeon milk at various growth stages of White King pigeon. Functional prediction analysis was performed to assess the metabolic pathways involved, and correlation analysis was used to explore the relationships between microbial communities in different sample types. The findings revealed a diverse microbiome present in the meconium of newborn pigeons, with a microbial composition that significantly differed from that of other feces groups. In contrast, the microbial composition of feces (FN) from pigeons aged 7 to 21 days exhibited less variability. At the phylum level, the predominant microbial taxa identified in the feces of FN were Firmicutes, Actinobacteriota, and Proteobacteria. At the genus level, the main dominant bacterial groups included Lactobacillus, Limosilactobacillus, and Turicibacter. Functional prediction analysis indicated that the gut microbiota of pigeons primarily participate in metabolic pathways related to carbohydrates, amino acids, lipids, cofactors, and vitamins. Furthermore, the dominant bacteria found in pigeon milk (MN) were identified as probiotics, including Limosilactobacillus, Ligilactobacillus, Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, and Aeriscardovia, which collectively accounted for over 90% of the total abundance. Correlation analysis of the abundance of shared microbes revealed that the association between meconium and feces at the other stages was extremely low. In contrast, the correlation between colostrum and feces at the post-feeding stage were found to be the highest. This study indicates that prenatal colonization occurs in White King pigeons. Notably, within the first week after birth, the gut microbial composition of young pigeons becomes stable. Furthermore, the colostrum serves as the most significant driver for the establishment of intestinal microbiota in squab post-birth. The findings of this study suggest that microorganisms can be added to artificial pigeon milk based on the predominant microbial composition of colostrum. This approach could facilitate the establishment of gut microbiota in young pigeons, thereby promoting their growth and development and providing production benefits.

Characteristics and Clinical Significance of Gut Microbiota in Patients With Epstein-Barr Virus-Associated Liver Dysfunction.

Infectious mononucleosis (IM) is mainly triggered by Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection. There are few studies on the role of the gut microbiota in IM and EBV-associated liver dysfunction. The aim of this study was to investigate the characteristics of the gut microbiota in the EBV-associated liver dysfunction and to evaluate the relationship between the severity of gut microbiota dysbiosis and cytokine levels. A case-control study was performed. Individuals meeting the inclusion and exclusion criteria for EBV-induced IM were enrolled and their fecal and blood samples were collected. The V3-V4 region of the 16s rDNA gene of fecal microbiota was sequenced; bioinformatics analysis including α-diversity, β-diversity, and linear discriminant analysis (LDA) effect size (LEfSe) was performed; and the correlation between bacteria and clinical indices was analysed. A total of 48 participants completed fecal and blood tests, including 18 IM, 11 EBV-associated liver dysfunction, 12 healthy children and 7 EBV-negative liver dysfunction. The α-diversity and β-diversity of the gut microbiota in the EBV-associated liver dysfunction was more than that in IM. The abundance of Granulicatella, Enterococcus, Atopobium and Acinetobacter increased, while the abundance of Prevotella, Sutterella, Collinsella, Desulfovibrio decreased in the EBV-associated liver dysfunction compared with the IM. The abundance of Enterococcus, Atopobium and Acinetobacter correlated positively with the levels of IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α and CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes%. Gut microbiota of EBV-associated liver dysfunction was significantly disturbed and associated with systemic immune response.

Maternal pre- and postnatal stress and maternal and infant gut microbiota features.

Maternal stress can have short and long term adverse (mental) health effects for the mother and her child. Previous evidence suggests that the gut microbiota may be a potential mediator and moderator for the effects of stress via various pathways. This study explored the maternal microbiota trajectory during pregnancy as well as the association between pre- and postnatal maternal stress and features of the maternal and infant gut microbiota during and after pregnancy. In line with previous research, we hypothesized that maternal stress would be positively related to maternal and infant microbiota volatility and that infants of highly stressed mothers would show a relative increase in Proteobacteria and a relative decrease in Bifidobacterium. We collected maternal stool samples at 18 and 32 weeks of pregnancy and 8 months postpartum. Infant stools samples were obtained at 2, 6 and 12 weeks and 8 months postpartum. All samples were analyzed using shotgun metagenome sequencing. We also collected several measures of maternal stress (self-reported depression, anxiety, and stress, and hair cortisol and cortisone), most at the same time points as the microbiota samples. Our data indicated that the maternal microbiota does not undergo drastic changes from the second to the third trimester of pregnancy but that the postpartum microbiota differs significantly from the prenatal microbiota. Furthermore, we identified associations between several stress measures and maternal and infant gut microbiota features at different time points including positive and negative associations with alpha diversity, beta diversity and individual microbial phyla and species relative abundances. Also, the maternal stress composite score, the perceived stress score and the log-ratio of hair cortisol and cortisone were all positively associated with infant microbiota volatility. Our study provides evidence that maternal prenatal and postnatal stress is related to both the maternal and the infant microbiota. Collectively, this and previous studies indicate that maternal stress does not uniformly associate with most gut microbial features. Instead, the associations are highly time point specific. Regarding infant microbiota volatility, we have consistently found a positive association between stress and infant microbiota volatility. This warrants future research investigating this link in more depth.

Isolation and characterization of the midgut microbiota of Aedes albopictus to identify suitable candidates for paratransgenesis.

Aedes albopictus is a widely recognized carrier of various pathogens. Its resilient characteristics enable it to easily spread across diverse climates. The microbiota in the midgut of mosquitoes plays a crucial role in the interactions between the host and pathogens and can either enhance or reduce the ability of the insect to transmit diseases. Hence, determining the microorganisms present in the mosquito's digestive system could be a promising approach to developing an effective method of controlling them. Hence, the aim of this study was to investigate the microbial compositions in the midguts of Ae. albopictus mosquitoes collected from the fields of Sistan and Baluchestan Province. The midguts of 60 female mosquitoes were dissected, and their related bacteria were determined using the culture-dependent method. Different colonies were differentiated using the biochemical tests followed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The isolated bacteria were identified as belonging to the Asaia, Delftia, Serratia, Aeromonas, Paracoccus, and Planomicrobium genera based on biochemical and molecular analysis. The findings obtained in this study were largely consistent with earlier studies conducted on mosquitoes gathered from different regions throughout the world. Overall, the findings could enhance our understanding of the microbial diversity in Ae. albopictus and aid in the identification of a potent and widespread bacterium for the development of a paratransgenesis tool to combat Aedes-borne infectious diseases.

Characterization and comparison of gut microbiota in patients with acute pancreatitis by metagenomics and culturomics

Characterization and comparison of gut microbiota in patients with acute pancreatitis by metagenomics and culturomics

Progesterone Regulates Gut Microbiota Mediating Bone Marrow MSCs Injury in ITP Patients during Pregnancy.

Immune thrombocytopenia during pregnancy (PITP) is the most common cause of platelet reduction in early and mid-pregnancy. However, the pathogenesis of PITP is still unclear. To determine the characteristics of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) in PITP patients and to explore the associations between metabolites, the gut microbiota, and BM-MSCs in PITP. The characteristics of BM-MSCs were detected through in vitro and in vivo experiments. Non-targeted metabolomics was used to screen metabolites. The features of the gut microbiota were analyzed by 16S rDNA sequencing. PITP and a fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) mouse model were established to explore the associations between metabolites, the gut microbiota, and BM-MSCs. BM-MSCs from PITP patients had significant senescence and apoptosis, as well as impaired immunoregulatory function. Metabolomic analysis indicated that progesterone was the most significant specific metabolite in PITP patients. In vivo studies showed that progesterone mediated the MSCs injury. Further analysis of the gut microbiota and FMT experiments revealed that progesterone mediated BM-MSCs injury by regulating the the composition of the gut microbiota in the PITP. RNA-seq analysis of BM-MSCs from FMT mice revealed abnormal expression of genes related to cell aging and the NOD-like receptor signaling pathway. In conclusion, BM-MSCs in the PITP were significantly impaired, which was associated with increased progesterone and changes in the gut microbiota regulated by progesterone. Intervening with the gut microbiota may become a new treatment for PITP.

Investigating the causal relationship between skin microbiota and hypertrophic scar using bidirectional mendelian randomization.

Hypertrophic scar (HS) is acknowledged as a pathological fibro-proliferative disease of the dermis, resulting from excessive connective tissue growth. HS significantly impacts patient quality of life due to both social and functional issues. Despite various treatments, therapeutic effectiveness remains limited, necessitating further exploration of underlying factors and mechanisms. The current study was designed to determine the causal relationship between skin microbiota and HS employing a bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR) approach. We utilized genome-wide association study (GWAS) data from the PopGen cohort and the FinnGen database. Independent single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) linked to the skin microbiota were identified as instrumental variables (IVs) chosen for the two-sample MR analysis. Key analytical approaches included inverse variance weighting (IVW), MR-Egger, simple median, simple mode, and weighted mode, with MR-Egger intercept test and Cochrane's Q test used to detect potential horizontal pleiotropy and heterogeneity. The two-sample MR analysis identified significant causal relationships between specific skin microbiota features and HS. Notably, Enhydrobacter, Micrococcus, and Acinetobacter on moist skin exhibited protective effects against HS, whereas Finegoldia and Lactobacillales on dry skin were linked to an increased risk of HS. Sensitivity analyses verified the strength of these results, revealing no notable horizontal pleiotropy or heterogeneity. Our research reveals a unidirectional causal relationship between certain skin microbiota and HS, suggesting that modulation of skin microbiota could be a novel therapeutic approach for HS management. These results emphasize the significance of considering skin microbiota in the pathogenesis and treatment of HS.

Oral microbiota as a biomarker for predicting the risk of malignancy in indeterminate pulmonary nodules: a prospective multicenter study.

Determining the benign or malignant status of indeterminate pulmonary nodules (IPN) with intermediate malignancy risk is a significant clinical challenge. Oral microbiota-lung cancer interactions have qualified oral microbiota as a promising non-invasive predictive biomarker in IPN. Prospectively collected saliva, throat swabs, and tongue coating samples from 1040 IPN patients and 70 healthy controls across three hospitals. Following up, the IPNs were diagnosed as benign (BPN) or malignant pulmonary nodules (MPN). Through 16S rRNA sequencing, bioinformatics analysis, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), and seven machine learning algorithms (support vector machine, logistic regression, naïve bayes, multi-layer perceptron, random forest, gradient-boosting decision tree, and LightGBM), we revealed the oral microbiota characteristics at different stages of HC-BPN-MPN, identified the sample types with the highest predictive potential, constructed and evaluated the optimal MPN prediction model for predictive efficacy, and determined microbial biomarkers. Additionally, based on the SHAP algorithm interpretation of the ML model's output, we have developed a visualized IPN risk prediction system on the web. Saliva, tongue coating, and throat swab microbiotas exhibit site-specific characteristics, with saliva microbiota being the optimal sample type for disease prediction. The saliva-LightGBM model demonstrated the best predictive performance (AUC=0.887, 95%CI: 0.865-0.918), and identified Actinomyces, Rothia, Streptococcus, Prevotella, Porphyromonas, and Veillonella as biomarkers for predicting MPN. FISH was used to confirm the presence of a microbiota within tumors, and external data from a lung cancer cohort, along with three non-IPN disease cohorts, were employed to validate the specificity of the microbial biomarkers. Notably, coabundance analysis of the ecological network revealed that microbial biomarkers exhibit richer interspecies connections within the MPN, which may contribute to the pathogenesis of MPN. This study presents a new predictive strategy for the clinic to determine MPNs from BPNs, which aids in the surgical decision-making for IPN.

Treatment strategies in different phenotypic forms of bacterial vaginosis

BACKGROUND: Bacterial vaginosis represents the most prevalent non-inflammatory syndrome affecting the lower genital tract in women. It is associated with significant complications in obstetric and gynecological practice. At present, the only recommended treatment regimens for bacterial vaginosis include antibiotics (metronidazole and clindamycin), which have been observed to have only short-term effects. Recurrence of bacterial vaginosis occurs in 50–80% of cases within a year of completing treatment. This may be attributed to the distinctive characteristics of the vaginal microbiome and the fact that following antibiotic treatment, beneficial strains of Lactobacillus spp., such as L. crispatus, are unable to recolonize the vagina. In the absence of an efficacious and long-term treatment, clinicians and scientists are investigating alternative approaches to the management and prevention of this syndrome. This has led to a rapid evolution in the understanding of the etiology of bacterial vaginosis and of the best patient care. Current research in this field is focused on the use of antiseptics, probiotics, prebiotics, transplantation of the vaginal microbiome, pH modulation and biofilm disruption as potential treatments for bacterial vaginosis. AIM: The objective is to identify the species of vaginal Lactobacillus and the genotypes of Gardnerella vaginalis in women before treatment of bacterial vaginosis and after administration of a one-step antibacterial regimen in comparison to a two-step therapy with suppositories containing at least 10⁷ live Lactobacillus acidophilus or a lactic acid-glycogen complex. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A prospective, comparative, randomized study was conducted in 90 women aged 18 to 45 years old diagnosed with bacterial vaginosis based on the molecular genetic characteristics of the vaginal microbiota. The patients were randomized to one of three groups, with 30 subjects in each. Group 1 received only antibiotic therapy, Group 2 received antibiotic therapy concomitantly with a suppository containing ≥107 live Lactobacillus acidophilus, and Group 3 received antibiotic therapy concomitantly with lactic acid and glycogen. Clinical and laboratory efficacy of the treatment was assessed at the end of Week 4. RESULTS: The results showed that four weeks after treatment, all study groups experienced favorable changes in the symptoms and signs, normalization of vaginal pH, and improvements in molecular genetic testing. These effects were more pronounced in Group 2 patients. CONCLUSION: The combination of antibiotic therapy with lactic acid and glycogen demonstrated high clinical efficacy and good tolerability. However, further studies are needed to assess the long-term results of this treatment approach.

Lithium Coupled with C6-Carboxyl Improves the Efficacy of Oligoguluronate in DSS-Induced Ulcerative Colitis in C57BL/6J Mice.

Oligoguluronate lithium (OGLi) was prepared for the purpose of enhancing the anti-ulcerative colitis (UC) activities of OG, in which lithium (Li+) is coupled with the C6-carboxyl of G residue. The therapeutic effects of OGLi on dextran sulfate (DSS)-induced UC mice were investigated, and oligoguluronate sodium (OGNa) and lithium carbonate (LC) were used as contrasts. The effects of OGLi, OGNa and LC on the treatment of UC mice were studied by monitoring body weight change and evaluating colon length, the disease activity index (DAI), histopathological examination and gut microbiota regulation. The results showed that compared with OGNa and LC, OGLi significantly reduced the clinical symptoms and histopathological changes associated with UC in the acute model. It was worth noting that OGLi significantly changed the gut microbiota characteristics of the DSS-treated mice and corrected the typical dysbacteriosis of DSS-induced UC. This intervention resulted in increasing the abundance of norank_f_Muribaculaceae and Ileibacterium spp. while reducing the levels of Escherichia-Shigella spp. and Romboutsia spp. The OGLi could significantly increase the diversity of intestinal microorganisms in the short term. All of these discoveries demonstrate that lithium collaboratively enhances the anti-UC efficacy of OG, which will help to create OG-based drugs for the treatment of UC.