Relative Abundance Of Beneficial Bacteria Research Articles

Pleurotus pulmonarius polysaccharides inhibit glioma growth through the Hippo signaling pathway and regulate the structure of gut microbiota

Pleurotus pulmonarius (Fr.) is an edible and medicinal fungus. Here, we isolated polysaccharides from P. pulmonarius and evaluated their physicochemical properties, anti-tumor activity, and gut microbiota regulation. Freeze-dried powder of P. pulmonarius fruiting body polysaccharide (PFP) is a heteropolysaccharide, mainly composed of galactose (295.52 μg/mg). PFP significantly inhibited glioma cell survival in vitro and U251 glioma cell tumor growth in nude mice (inhibition rate, 53.70%). PFP inhibited YAP1 and TAZ protein expression levels, upregulated those of MST1 and LAST1, regulated Hippo signaling, stimulated E-cadherin, and downregulated N-cadherin proteins, inhibiting tumor migration. PFP downregulated Bcl-2 protein expression, upregulated that of Cleaved Caspase 3, and induced tumor cell apoptosis. PFP regulated gut microbiota structure in tumor-bearing nude mice and increased the relative abundance of beneficial bacteria. In summary, PFP is a natural, safe, and non-toxic anti-cancer drug, and a potential probiotic. Our data provide theoretical guidance for the treatment of glioma.

Effects of Mactra chinenesis Peptides on Alcohol-Induced Acute Liver Injury and Intestinal Flora in Mice.

Food-borne bioactive peptides have shown promise in preventing and mitigating alcohol-induced liver injury. This study was the first to assess the novel properties of Mactra chinenesis peptides (MCPs) in mitigating acute alcoholic liver injury in mice, and further elucidated the underlying mechanisms associated with this effect. The results showed that MCPs can improve lipid metabolism by modulating the AMPK signaling pathway, decreasing fatty acid synthase activity, and increasing carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1a activity. Meanwhile, MCPs ameliorate inflammation by inhibiting the NF-κB activation, leading to reduced levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-1β). Additionally, a 16S rDNA sequencing analysis revealed that MCPs can restore the balance of gut microbiota and increase the relative abundance of beneficial bacteria. These findings suggest that supplementation of MCPs could attenuate alcohol intake-induced acute liver injury, and, thus, may be utilized as a functional dietary supplement for the successful treatment and prevention of acute liver injury.

The Fermentation Quality, Antioxidant Activity, and Bacterial Community of Mulberry Leaf Silage with Pediococcus, Bacillus, and Wheat Bran

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of different strains and wheat bran on the fermentation quality, antioxidant activity, and bacterial community of mulberry leaf silage. Mulberry leaves were ensiled with Pediococcus acidilactici and Pediococcus pentosaceus (A), Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus licheniformi (DK), and Pediococcus acidilactici, Pediococcus pentosaceus, Bacillus subtilis, and Bacillus licheniformi (AK). Each treatment was supplemented with 10% wheat bran (fresh matter basis), and the strains were added in equal proportions for 7 days. The results indicated that the DK and AK groups exhibited higher dry matter (DM) content compared to the A group (p < 0.05). The A group (37.25 mg/g DM) and AK group (34.47 mg/g DM) demonstrated higher lactic acid content and lower pH (<4.40). Furthermore, the DK group had a significantly higher acetic acid content compared to the AK group (p < 0.05). Additionally, both the A and AK groups exhibited lower levels of ammonia-N content than the DK group (p < 0.05). The number of yeasts, molds, and coliform bacteria were low in mulberry leaf silage. Moreover, the antioxidant activity in the fermentation groups increased, with higher relative abundance of beneficial bacteria, Lactococcus and Lactobacillus, in the AK group. In summary, the AK group was observed to enhance fermentation quality and antioxidant capacity, leading to the establishment of a favorable microbial community composition.

Effect of Transarterial Chemotherapy on the Structure and Function of Gut Microbiota in New Zealand White Rabbits.

The gut microbiota (GM) are closely related to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) occurrence and development. Furthermore, patients with HCC who have received transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) treatment often experience adverse gastrointestinal reactions, which may be related to changes in the GM caused by the chemotherapeutic drugs used in TACE. Therefore, we conducted animal experiments to investigate these changes. We analyzed changes in the GM of New Zealand white rabbits treated with hepatic arterial chemotherapy by measuring the levels of serological and colonic tissue markers. Simultaneously, we evaluated the correlation between the GM and these markers to explore the mechanism by which chemotherapy affects the GM. Following transarterial chemotherapy with epirubicin, the Firmicutes abundance decreased, whereas that of Proteobacteria increased. The relative abundance of beneficial bacteria, such as Muribaculaceae, Enterococcus, Ruminococcus, and Clostridia, decreased in the experimental group compared with those in the control group. However, the relative abundance of harmful bacteria, such as Bacteroides and Escherichia (Shigella), was higher in the experimental group than in the control group. Following chemotherapy, the GM of rabbits showed a dynamic change over time, first aggravating and then subsiding. The changes were most notable on the fourth day after surgery and recovered slightly on the seventh day. The changes in the host's GM before and after arterial chemotherapy are evident. Hepatic arterial chemotherapy induces dysbiosis of the intestinal microbiota, disrupts intestinal barrier function, damages the integrity of the intestinal mucosa, increases intestinal permeability, facilitates excessive passage of harmful substances through the gut-liver axis communication between the liver and intestine, and triggers activation of inflammatory pathways such as LPS-TLR-4-pSTAT3, ultimately leading to an inflammatory response. This study provides a theoretical basis for combining TACE with targeted GM intervention to treat HCC and reduce adverse gastrointestinal reactions.

Fabrication of a straw-based degradable mulch film with magnetically controlled-release glyphosate

To solve three main problems in agriculture (plastic mulch pollution, difficult straw recycling, and low utilization efficiency of pesticides), a multifunctional mulch film (MF) was fabricated. In this study, corn straw was mixed with xanthan gum, glyphosate (Gly), Fe3O4, and MIL-100(Fe) to obtain a MF named as SMFG with magnetically controlled-release Gly. To improve the hydrophobicity and stability of SMFG, the surface was coated by amino silicone oil (ASO) to get SMFG@ASO. SMFG@ASO had well insulation and moisture retention properties close to polyethylene MF. Meanwhile, the weight loss ratio of SMFG@ASO increased with time and could reach 59% underground in 120 d, indicating the good biodegradation behavior of SMFG@ASO. Importantly, pot experiment showed that SMFG@ASO could significantly promote growth of crop and inhibit grass. Besides, earthworm experiment illustrated that SMFG@ASO possessed a high biosafety and could increase the relative abundance of beneficial bacteria (Flavobacterium) from 0.08 to 0.21 and soil quality. Thus, this study provides a new method to prepare a straw-based degradable MF for resolving the problems of plastic pollution and waste of straw resources simultaneously to realize the integration of herbicide and MF.

The proliferation of beneficial bacteria influences the soil C, N, and P cycling in the soybean-maize intercropping system.

Soybean-maize intercropping system can improve the utilization rate of farmland and the sustainability of crop production systems. However, there is a significant gap in understanding the interaction mechanisms between soil carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) cycling functional genes, rhizosphere microorganisms, and nutrient availability. To reveal the key microorganisms associated with soil nutrient utilization and C, N, and P cycling function in the soybean-maize intercropping system, we investigated the changes in soil properties, microbial community structure, and abundance of functional genes for C, N, and P cycling under soybean-maize intercropping and monocropping at different fertility stages in a pot experiment. We found that there was no significant difference in the rhizosphere microbial community between soybean-maize intercropping and monocropping at the seeding stage. As the reproductive period progressed, differences in microbial community structure between intercropping and monocropping gradually became significant, manifesting the advantages of intercropping. During the intercropping process of soybean and maize, the relative abundance of beneficial bacteria in soil rhizosphere significantly increased, particularly Streptomycetaceae and Pseudomonadaceae. Moreover, the abundances of C, N, and P cycling functional genes, such as abfA, mnp, rbcL, pmoA (C cycling), nifH, nirS-3, nosZ-2, amoB (N cycling), phoD, and ppx (P cycling), also increased significantly. Redundancy analysis and correlation analysis showed that Streptomycetaceae and Pseudomonadaceae were significantly correlated with soil properties and C, N, and P cycling functional genes. In brief, soybean and maize intercropping can change the structure of microbial community and promote the proliferation of beneficial bacteria in the soil rhizosphere. The accumulation of these beneficial bacteria increased the abundance of C, N, and P cycling functional genes in soil and enhanced the ability of plants to fully utilize environmental nutrients and promoted growth.

Dietary ethylenediamine dihydroiodide mitigated Escherichia coli O78-induced immune and intestinal damage of ducks via suppression of NF-κB signal

This study investigated the effect of Ethylenediamine dihydroiodide (EDDI) on growth performance, immune function and intestinal health of meat ducks challenged with Avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC). A total of 360 one-day-old Cherry Valley ducks with similar body weight were randomly allocated to 6 treatments (6 floor cages, 10 birds/cage). A 3 × 2 factor design was used with 3 dietary iodine levels (0, 8, 16 mg/kg in the form EDDI and whether APEC was challenged or not at 7-day-old ducks. The feeding period lasted for 20 d. The results showed that the addition of EDDI reduced APEC-induced decrease of the 20-d weight loss of meat ducks (P < 0.05), and alleviated the inflammatory response of liver tissue induced by APEC challenge in meat ducks. In terms of immune function, EDDI supplementation reduced the immune organ index and increased the immune cell count of meat ducks, reduced the level of endotoxins in the serum of meat ducks (P < 0.05), as well as inhibited the expression levels of liver and spleen inflammatory factors and TLR signaling pathway related genes induced by APEC (P < 0.05). In terms of intestinal health, EDDI inhibited APEC-induced decreases in ZO-3 genes expression and increases in IL-1β and TNF-α expression, increased relative abundance of beneficial bacteria in the cecum and content of metabolites. Pearson correlation analysis showed that there was a significant correlation between liver inflammatory factors and TLR4 signaling pathway genes, and there might be a significant correlation between intestinal microbial flora and other physiological indexes of meat ducks, which indicated that EDDI could reduce the damage to immune function and intestinal health caused by APEC challenge through regulating the structure of intestinal flora. Collectively, our findings suggest that the EDDI can promote growth performance, improve immune function and the intestinal barrier in APEC-challenged meat ducks, which may be related to the suppression of NF-κB signal.

Investigation of the therapeutic effect of Hedan tablets on high-fat diet-induced obesity in rats by GC-MS technology and 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing.

Obesity is a persistent metabolic condition resulting from the excessive accumulation or abnormal distribution of body fat. This study aimed to establish an experimental rat model of obesity. The efficacy of treating obesity with Hedan tablets (HDT) was assessed by monitoring changes in weight, blood lipid levels, analyzing inflammatory factors, evaluating organ indices, and observing liver tissue pathology. Furthermore, we utilized 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing technology to explore changes in intestinal flora. In addition, GC-MS was used to measure fecal short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) content. The onset of obesity led to a significant decrease in the relative abundance of beneficial bacteria. Conversely, the administration of HDT demonstrated a substantial ability to increase the relative abundance of beneficial bacteria. Obesity resulted in a noteworthy reduction in total SCFAs, a trend significantly reversed in the HDT group. Through correlation analysis, it was determined that HDT mitigated the inflammatory response and improved blood lipid levels by augmenting the abundance of Lactobacillus, Limosilactobacillus, Ruminococcus, and Enterococcus. These particular intestinal flora were identified as regulators of SCFA metabolism, thereby ameliorating metabolic abnormalities associated with obesity. Moreover, HDT intervention elevated the overall fecal concentration of SCFAs, thereby improving metabolic disorders induced by obesity. The anti-obesity effects of HDT are likely attributable to their capacity to influence the composition of intestinal flora and boost SCFA levels in the intestine.

In vitro fermentation characteristics of polysaccharides from coix seed and its effects on the gut microbiota

Coix seed polysaccharides had received increasing attention due to their diverse biological activities. In this study, a homogeneous polysaccharide (CSPW) was extracted and purified from coix seed. Furthermore, the saliva-gastrointestinal digestion and fecal fermentation behavior of CSPW were simulated in vitro. The results showed that CSPW was mainly composed of glucose. It cannot be degraded by the simulated salivary and intestinal digestive system, but can be degraded by the simulated gastric digestive system. After fermentation for 24 h, CSPW promoted the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), with acetic acid, propionic acid and n-butyric acid being the main metabolites. In addition, CSPW could significantly regulate the composition and microbial diversity of gut microbiota by increasing the relative abundance of beneficial bacteria, such as Limosilicactobacillus, Bifidobacterium and Collinsella. Finally, further analysis of functional prediction revealed that amino acid metabolism, nucleotide metabolism and carbohydrate metabolism were the most important pathways for CSPW to promote health. In summary, our findings suggested that CSPW could potentially be used as a good source of prebiotics because it can be used by gut microbiota to produce SCFAs and regulate the gut microbiota.

Investigating the Impact of Varied Dietary Protein Levels on Litopenaeus vannamei: An Exploration of the Intestinal Microbiota and Transcriptome Responses

This study explored the effects of dietary protein levels on Litopenaeus vannamei with its intestinal microbiota and transcriptome responses. Previous studies on the effects of dietary protein levels on L. vannamei have focused on growth performance, antioxidant indices, and digestive enzyme activity, but few studies have been conducted at the microbiological and molecular levels. In this study, five isolipid experimental diets with protein levels of 32% (P32), 36% (P36), 40% (P40), 44% (P44), and 48% (P48) were used in an L. vannamei (0.63 ± 0.02 g) feeding trial for 56 days. At the end of the feeding trial, the growth performance, immunity, intestinal health, and transcriptional responses of L. vannamei were determined. This study demonstrated that higher protein levels (P44) led to superior weight gain and growth rates for L. vannamei, with lower feed conversion ratios (FCR) observed in the P48 and P44 groups compared to the P32 and P36 groups (p ≤ 0.05). The P44 and P48 groups also showed a notably higher protein efficiency ratio (PER) compared to others (p ≤ 0.05), and there was no significant difference between them. Upon Vibrio parahaemolyticus infection, the P48 group exhibited a significantly lower survival rate (SR) within 48 h, while during 72 h of white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) infection, the P44 group had a notably higher survival rate than the P32 group (p ≤ 0.05). Digestive enzyme activity and antioxidant levels in L. vannamei initially increased and then decreased as protein levels increased, usually peaking in the P40 or P44 groups. Lower dietary protein levels significantly reduced the relative abundance of beneficial bacteria and increased the relative abundance of pathogenic bacteria in the intestines of L. vannamei. Transcriptome sequencing analysis revealed that most differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were up-regulated and then down-regulated as dietary protein levels increased. Furthermore, KEGG pathway enrichment analysis indicated that several immune and metabolic pathways, including metabolic pathways, glutathione metabolism, cytochrome P450, and lysosome and pancreatic secretion, were significantly enriched. In summary, the optimal feed protein level for L. vannamei shrimp was 40–44%. Inappropriate feed protein levels reduced antioxidant levels and digestive enzyme activity and promoted pathogen settlement, deceasing factors in various metabolic pathways that respond to microorganisms through transcriptional regulation. This could lead to stunted growth in L. vannamei and compromise their immune function.

Lactobacillus paracasei JY062 Alleviates Glucolipid Metabolism Disorders via the Adipoinsular Axis and Gut Microbiota.

Glycolipid metabolic disorders (GLMD) refer to a series of metabolic disorders caused by abnormal processes of glucose and lipid synthesis, decomposition, and absorption in the body, leading to glucose and lipid excess, insulin resistance, and obesity. Probiotic intervention is a new strategy to alleviate metabolic syndrome. Lactobacillus paracasei JY062 (L. paracasei JY062) was separated from the Tibet-fermented dairy products. The results demonstrated a strong ability to relieve blood glucose disorders, blood lipid disorders, and tissue damage. The LPH group had the best effect, significantly decreasing the total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), leptin, insulin, and free fatty acid (FFA) concentrations and increasing the high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, adiponectin, and GLP-1 level compared to HFD-group mice. L. paracasei JY062 could activate the APN-AMPK pathway, increased AdipoQ, AMPK GLUT-4, and PGC-1α mRNA expression and decreased SREBP-1c, ACC, and FAS mRNA expression. L. paracasei JY062 intervention decreased the relative abundance of harmful bacteria, increased the relative abundance of beneficial bacteria, and restored the imbalance of gut microbiota homeostasis caused by a high-glucose-fat diet. L. paracasei JY062 alleviated glucolipid metabolism disorders via the adipoinsular axis and gut microbiota. This study provided a theoretical basis for probiotics to ameliorate glucolipid metabolism disorders by regulating the adipoinsular axis.

Extracellular polysaccharides from Sporidiobolus pararoseus alleviates rheumatoid through ameliorating gut barrier function and gut microbiota

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is becoming a prevalent autoimmune disease affecting people worldwide, necessitating the exploration of novel therapeutic approaches due to the associated adverse effects of conventional therapeutic drugs. Sporidiobolus pararoseus polysaccharide (SPP) has been shown to exhibit significant immune stimulation and antioxidant activities. In this study, we constructed a mouse model of type II collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) to investigate the effects and potential mechanisms of SPP intervention on RA. Results showed that SPP intervention alleviated the degree of ankle swelling, joint histopathologic changes, joint pathological score and the expression of serum-associated inflammatory mediators (such as IL-1β and IL-6). 16S rRNA sequencing results indicated that SPP intervention significantly remodeled the intestinal microbiota composition. In particular, SPP intervention significantly increased the relative abundance of beneficial bacteria (Parabacteroides, Bacteroides and Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group) with the potential to degrade fungal polysaccharides or produce short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). The production of SCFAs (especially acetic acid, propionic acid and butyric acid) indeed increased significantly. These SCFAs played an important role in maintaining intestinal barrier function and regulating immune homeostasis, which helped reduce inflammatory responses and alleviate the symptoms of RA.

Dendrobium officinale leaf polysaccharide has a dual effect of alleviating the syndromes of immunosuppressed mice and modulating immune system of normal mice

This study aimed to explore the immunomodulatory activity of Dendrobium officinale leaf polysaccharide (DOLP) in both immunosuppressed and normal mice. The data showed that DOLP significantly reversed thymic and splenic damage in immunosuppressed mice, regulated their peripheral blood cells (PLT, etc.), immune-related cytokines (TNF-α, INF-γ and IL-6) and immunoglobulins (IgA, IgG and IgM) production, and increased the relative abundance of beneficial bacteria (Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, etc.) while decreased that of pathogenic bacteria (Desulfovibrio, etc.). In normal mice, DOLP significantly increased immune-related cytokines (TNF-α, INF-γ, and IL-6), gut microbiota diversity, and the relative abundance of beneficial bacteria (unclassified_f_Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group, etc.). The results indicated that DOLP could exert immune modulating effects both on immunosuppressed mice and normal mice by modulating immune parameters and gut microbiota. These findings provide new insights into the immune-modulating effects of DOLP and a solid basis for the thorough utilization of DOLP.

Isoquercitrin alleviates lipopolysaccharide-induced intestinal mucosal barrier damage in mice by regulating TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway and intestinal flora.

Intestinal mucosal barrier damage is closely associated with the development of several intestinal inflammatory diseases. Isoquercitrin (IQ) is a natural flavonoid compound derived from plants, which exhibits high antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity with minimal side effects in humans. Therefore, it shows great potential for preventing and treating intestinal mucosal barrier damage. This study aims to investigate the ameliorative effect and mechanism of IQ on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced intestinal mucosal barrier damage in mice. The mice were treated with IQ for 7 days and then injected with LPS to induce intestinal mucosal barrier damage. The results revealed that IQ treatment alleviated LPS-induced intestinal mucosal barrier damage in mice, which can be evidenced by the improvements in intestinal morphology and the promotion of expression in intestinal tight junctions (ZO-1, Claudin-1, and Occludin), as well as MUC2 mucin. IQ also attenuated intestinal inflammatory responses by inhibiting the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway and reducing the expression and plasma levels of IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α. Furthermore, IQ significantly increased the relative abundance of beneficial bacteria, including Dubosiella, Akkermansia muciniphila and Faecalibaculum rodentium, while suppressing the growth of harmful bacteria such as Mucispirillum schaedleri in the intestinal flora of mice. Consequently, IQ can alleviate the LPS-induced intestinal mucosal barrier damage in mice by inhibiting the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway and modulating the intestinal flora.

Effects of Different Proportions of Organic Fertilizer in Place of Chemical Fertilizer on Microbial Diversity and Community Structure of Pineapple Rhizosphere Soil

With the development of sustainable agriculture, the application of organic fertilizers to crops instead of chemical fertilizers has become an inevitable trend. However, little is known about the proportion of organic fertilizers replacing chemical fertilizers and how it affects the underlying microbial mechanisms of continuous pineapple soil. In this study, we used the Illumina Miseq high-throughput sequencing platform to study the rhizosphere soil of continuously cropped pineapples to study the diversity and community structure of pineapple rhizosphere microorganisms. The results showed that, with 97% similarity, the number of OTUs of all samples obtained using hierarchical clustering analysis is 3645. Both conventional fertilization (CF) and optimal fertilization (YF) increased the relative abundance of Proteobacteria, Actinomycetes, and Sclericutes, and decreased the relative abundance of Acidobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Blastomonas, and Verrucobacteria. The replacement of organic fertilizers increased the relative abundance of Bacteroidetes, among which the relative abundance of chlorocurvus treated with the replacement of organic fertilizers of 80% was the highest. Different fertilization methods also changed the diversity and abundance of bacteria in the soil of the pineapple rhizosphere; the diversity of the species was E &gt; D &gt; C &gt; CK &gt; B &gt; YF &gt; CF. Based on the analysis of the PCoA and NMDS of soil bacterial communities, treatment E was similar to treatment D, treatment CK was similar to treatment YF, and treatment C and treatment D had little structural difference. On the basis of an analysis of the composition and function of the flora, it can be found that different fertilization methods have significant differences in the bacterial groups of the rhizosphere bacterial community of pineapple soil. The relative abundance of beneficial bacteria was increased. When organic fertilizer replaces chemical fertilizer, it promotes the role of bacteria related to the carbon cycle in the rhizosphere.

Grafting chlorogenic acid enhanced the antioxidant activity of curdlan oligosaccharides and modulated gut microbiota

In this study, the effects of grafting chlorogenic acid (CA) on the antioxidant and probiotic activities of curdlan oligosaccharides (CDOS) were investigated. CDOS with degrees of polymerization of 3–6 was first obtained by degradation of curdlan with hydrogen peroxide and then grafted with CA using a free radical-mediated method under an ultrasonication-assisted Fenton system. The thermal stability and antioxidant ability of CDOS were enhanced after grafting with CA. In vitro fermentation, supplementation of CDOS-CA stimulated the proliferation of Prevotella and Faecalibacterium while inhibiting the growth of harmful microbiota. Notably, the concentration of total short-chain fatty acids and the relative abundance of beneficial bacteria markedly increased after fermentation of CDOS-CA, indicating that CA grafting could improve the probiotic activity of CDOS. Overall, the covalent binding of CDOS and CA could enhance the antioxidant and probiotic activities of CDOS, suggesting potential improvements in gastrointestinal and colonic health.

Effects of dietary sodium acetate on growth, intestinal microbiota composition, and ammonia tolerance of juvenile yellow catfish Pelteobagrus fulvidraco

Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), such as acetates, play a role in modifying metabolic disorders and regulating the homeostasis of the organism. In this study, the impact of dietary sodium acetate (SA) on growth, intestinal microbiota composition, and ammonia tolerance of yellow catfish. During a 56-day study, four groups of yellow catfish weighing an average of 2.72 ± 0.11 g were provided with diets containing varying proportions of SA. The diets included 0%, 0.1%, 0.2%, and 0.4% SA. Each batch consisted of three replicates, with each replicate containing 40 fish. The results indicated that dietary supplemented with 0.2% SA had significantly higher weight gain and specific growth rates than those in 0% and 0.1% groups. The feed efficiency ratio in 0% groups was significantly the highest. Dietary SA can significantly increase the activities of intestinal lipase, amylase, and pepsin, and the contents of liver total protein, immunoglobulin M, and 50% hemolytic complement, while decreasing the contents of liver triglyceride, glucose, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1, and interleukin-8, and the activities of liver superoxide dismutase, and catalase. In addition, dietary SA significantly increased the relative abundance of beneficial bacteria (Achromobacter) and production of butyrate, meanwhile decreasing the harmful bacterial (Rhodobacter) abundance. After the challenge, cumulative mortality in fish fed 0% SA diets was higher than in fish fed 0.1–0.5% SA diets after 96 h ammonia stress. Correlation analysis showed that the SA induced the enhancement of the metabolic efficiency of carbohydrates, amino acids, and lipids were also associated with the increased relative abundance of Achromobacter. In general, SA can function as a beneficial additive for enhancing growth, intestinal health, and ammonia tolerance in yellow catfish.

Investigation the nutritional properties of Auricularia auricula pulp fermented with Lactobacillus strains and their effects on gut microbiota.

Auricularia auricula is rich in bioactive components, and microbial fermentation can further dramatically increase its content and bioavailability. However, there are few studies on the relationship between fermented A. auricula pulp (FAAP) and gut microbiota. In this study, standard strains Lactobacillus plantarum 21801 and 21805 purchased from the China Center of Industrial Culture Collection were used to ferment A. auricula pulp at a ratio of 2:1, with an inoculum of 5%, a fermentation temperature of 31 °C, and a fermentation time of 22 h. The nutritional properties, aroma, and color of FAAP and their effects on the body characteristics of mice and the structure and abundance of gut microbiota are discussed. The results showed that, compared with A. auricula pulp, FAAP significantly increased the nutritional properties while maintaining favorable sensory quality and flavor profiles. Among them, the content of total polyphenols and total flavonoids reached 22.04 μg mL-1 and 20.56 μg mL-1 respectively, and the 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid free-radical scavenging rate increased to 73.21%. The consumption of FAAP had no negative effects on weight or liver and kidney function in mice and dramatically enhanced the antioxidant capacity in the liver and serum. The production of short-chain fatty acids in the gut was promoted, the relative abundance of beneficial bacteria (Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, norank_f__Muribaculaceae and unclassified_f__Lachnospiraceae) increased, and the growth of some pathogenic bacteria (Helicobacter, Mucispirillum, and Alloprevotella) was inhibited. These findings demonstrate that FAAP is rich in nutrients and has unique functional properties that promote host health and regulate the gut microbiota. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

Fraxetin ameliorates symptoms of dextran sulphate sodium-induced colitis in mice

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is one of the primary inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) and causes a serious threat to human public health around the world. Currently, there are no proven safe and effective treatment options to treat UC. Fraxetin (Fxt) is a widely recognized antioxidant and anti-inflammatory legume derived from ash bark. In the present study, we investigated the protective effect and mechanism of Fxt on UC. Our results showed that Fxt significantly attenuated the body weight, colon length reduction, tissue damage, and disease activity index induced by dextran sodium sulphate (DSS). Moreover, the DSS-induced activation of the NF-κB pathway and NLRP3 inflammasomes was inhibited, and the inflammatory response was reduced. Fxt restored gut barrier function by increasing the number of goblet cells and the levels of tight junction proteins (ZO-1 and occludin). In addition, Fxt can alter the intestinal microbiota by enhancing the diversity of the microbiota, increasing the relative abundance of beneficial bacteria and inhibiting the growth of harmful bacteria. These results revealed that Fxt alleviates DSS-induced colitis by modulating the inflammatory response, enhancing epithelial barrier integrity and regulating the gut microbiota. This study may provide a scientific basis for the potential therapeutic effect of Fxt in the prevention of colitis and other related diseases.

Improving gut functions and egg nutrition with stevia residue in laying hens

This study aimed to investigate the effect of stevia residue (STER) on the production performance, egg quality and nutrition, antioxidant ability, immune responses, gut morphology and microbiota of laying hens during the peak laying period. A total of 270 Yikoujingfen NO. 8 laying hens (35 wk of age) were randomly divided into 5 treatments. The control group fed a basal diet and groups supplemented with 2, 4, 6, and 8% STER. The results showed that STER significantly increased egg production, the content of amino acids (alanine, proline, valine, ornithine, asparagine, aspartic acid, and cysteine) in egg whites, and decreased the yolk color (P < 0.05). Additionally, STER significantly increased acetate, HOMOγ linolenic acid and cis-13, 16-docosadienoic acid levels in egg yolk (P < 0.05). IL-2, IL-4, and IL-10 levels in serum significantly increased by STER (P < 0.05), while IL-1β significantly decreased (P < 0.05). STER also increased total antioxidant activity (T-AOC) in the liver and estradiol level in the oviduct (P < 0.05), but decreased the cortisol level in the oviduct (P < 0.05). For the intestinal morphology, the jejunal villus height and crypt-to-villus (V:C) significantly increased by STER (P < 0.05). STER increased the relative abundance of Actinobacteriota (P < 0.05), while deceased Proteobacteria, Desulfobacterota, and Synergistota (P < 0.05). In conclusion, STER improved egg production, quality and nutrition, improved the immune responses, antioxidant capabilities, estrogen level, gut morphology, and increased the relative abundance of beneficial bacteria while decreased the harmful bacteria. Among all treatments, 4 and 6% STER supplementation yielded the most favorable results in terms of enhancing production performance, egg nutrition, gut health, and immune capabilities in laying hens.