Relative Abundance Of Fusobacterium Research Articles

Children with eosinophilic esophagitis non-responsive to combination therapy have distinct esophageal transcriptomic and microbiome profile.

A combination of proton-pump inhibitors (PPI) and topical steroids (TS) is used to treat children with eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE). However, a subset of children do not respond to this combination therapy. We aimed to identify the esophageal transcriptional, cell composition, and microbial differences between the non-responders (EoE-PPI-TSnr; n = 7) and responders (EoE-PPI-TSr; n = 7) to the combination therapy for EoE and controls (n = 9) using metatranscriptomics. Differential gene expression analysis was used to identify transcriptional differences, validated using the EoE diagnostic panel (EDP). Deconvolution analysis was performed to identify differences in their cell type composition. Microbiome analysis was conducted from esophageal biopsies RNAseq data, and microbial abundance was correlated with esophageal gene expression. In all, 3164 upregulated and 3154 downregulated genes distinguished EoE-PPI-TSnr from EoE-PPI-TSr. Eosinophilic inflammatory response, cytokine signaling, and collagen formation pathways were significantly upregulated in EoE-PPI-TSnr. There was a 56% overlap in dysregulated genes between EoE-PPI-TSnr and EDP, with a perfect agreement in the directionality of modulation. Eosinophils, dendritic cells (DCs), immature DCs, megakaryocytic-erythroid progenitors, and T helper type 1 cells were significantly higher in EoE-PPI-TSnr. There was no significant difference in microbiome diversity. The relative abundance of Fusobacterium sp. and Acinetobacter sp. notably differed in EoE-PPI-TSnr and correlated with the key pathways. Our results provide critical insights into the molecular, cellular, and microbial factors associated with the lack of response to PPI and TS combination therapy in children with EoE. This study advances our understanding of the pathobiology of EoE while guiding personalized treatment strategies.

Regulating effect of Qifu Yin on intestinal microbiota in mice with memory impairment induced by scopolamine hydrobromide

Ethnopharmacological relevanceQifu Yin (QFY) originates from “Jingyue Quanshu · Volume 51 · New Fang Bazhen · Buzhen” a work by Zhang Jingyue, a distinguished Chinese medical practitioner from the Ming Dynasty. QFY is composed of Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma, Rehmanniae Radix Praeparata, Angelicae Sinensis Radix, Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma, Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma Praeparata Cum Melle, Ziziphi Spinosae Semen, and Polygalae Radix. QFY is frequently employed to address memory loss and cognitive impairment stemming from vascular dementia, Alzheimer's disease (AD), and related conditions. Our findings indicate that QFY can mitigate nerve cell damage. Moreover, the study explores the impact of QFY on the calcium ion pathway and sphingolipid metabolism in mice with myocardial infarction, presenting a novel perspective on QFY's mechanism in ameliorating myocardial infarction through lipidomics. While this research provides an experimental foundation for the clinical application of QFY, a comprehensive and in-depth analysis of its improvement mechanism remains imperative. Aim of the studyTo clarify the regulatory mechanism of QFY on intestinal microecology in mice with memory impairment (MI). Material and methodsThe memory impairment mouse model was established by intraperitoneal injection of scopolamine hydrobromide. Kunming (KM) mice were randomly divided into blank group, Ginkgo tablet group (0.276 g/kg), QFY high, medium and low dose groups (17.2 g/kg, 8.6 g/kg, 4.3 g/kg). The effect on memory ability was evaluated by open field and step-down behavioral experiments. The morphological changes of nerve cells in the hippocampus of mice were observed by pathological method. The contents of superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) in the brain tissue of mice were detected. The expression levels of CREB, Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) and Recombinant Amyloid Precursor Protein (APP) in the hippocampus of mice were determined using immunohistochemistry. The expression of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) and cAMP response element binding protein (CREB) related factors in the serum of mice was analyzed by ELISA. The levels of apoptosis signal-regulating kinase-1 (ASK1) and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) mRNA in the hippocampus were detected by quantitative real-time fluorescence polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). The intestinal feces of mice were collected, and the 16 S rDNA technology was used to detect the changes in intestinal microbiota microecological structure of feces in each group. ResultsBehavioral experiments showed that the high-dose QFY group exhibited a significant increase in exercise time (P<0.05) and a decrease in diagonal time (P<0.05) compared to the model group. The medium-dose group of QFY showed a reduction in diagonal time (P<0.05). Additionally, the latency time significantly increased in the medium and high-dose groups of QFY (P<0.01). The number of errors in the low, medium and high dose groups was significantly decreased (P<0.05, P<0.01, P<0.01). The nerve cells in the CA1 and CA3 regions of QFY-treated mice demonstrated close arrangement and clear structure. Furthermore, the content of SOD significantly increased (P<0.01) and the content of MDA significantly decreased (P<0.05) in the low and high-dose QFY groups. The content of CAT in the medium-dose group significantly increased (P < 0.05). Immunohistochemical analysis showed a significant reduction in the number of APP expression particles in the CA1 and CA3 regions of all QFY groups. Moreover, BDNF expression significantly increased in the medium and high-dose groups, while CREB expression significantly increased in the low and medium-dose groups of QFY within the CA1 and CA3 regions. Serum analysis revealed significant increases in CREB content in the low, medium, and high dose groups of QFY (P<0.01, P<0.05, P<0.05), and decreases in NMDAR content across all QFY dose groups (P<0.01). PCR analysis showed a significant decrease in the contents of ASK1 and JNK in the medium-dose group (P<0.01). Microecological analysis of intestinal microbiota demonstrated a significant restoration trend in the relative abundance of Fusobacteria, Planctomycetes, and Verrucomicrobia (P<0.01 or P<0.05) at the phylum level in the QFY groups. At the genus level, Akkermansia, Paramuribaculum, Herminiimonas, Erysipelatoclostridium and other genera in the QFY groups showed a significant trend of relative abundance restoration (P<0.01 or P<0.05). ConclusionQFY can improve the memory of MI animals induced by scopolamine hydrobromide by restoring the homeostasis of intestinal microbiota and regulating related indexes in serum and brain tissue.

Structural and digestive characters of a heteropolysaccharide fraction from tea (Camellia sinensis L.) flower

Tea (Camellia sinensis L.) flower polysaccharides (TFPS) have various health-promoting functions. In the present work, the structure of a purified TFPS fraction, namely TFPS-1-3p, and its in vitro digestive properties were investigated. The results demonstrated that TFPS-1-3p was a typical heteropolysaccharide consisting of rhamnose (Rha), arabinose (Ara), galactose (Gal) and galacturonic acid (GalA) with a molecular weight of 47.77 kDa. The backbone of TFPS-1-3p contained → 4)-α-d-GalpA(-6-OMe)-(1 → 4)-α-GalpA-(1 → and → 4)-α-d-GalpA(-6-OMe)-(1 → 2,4)-α-l-Rhap-(1 → linkages. The branch linkages in TFPS-1-3p contained → 6)-β-d-Galp-(1→, →3,6)-β-d-Galp-(1→, →5)-α-l-Araf-(1 → and → 3,5)-α-l-Araf-(1 →. Subsequently, TFPS-1-3p could not be degraded under simulated human gastrointestinal conditions but could be of use to human fecal microbes, thereby lowering the pH and increasing the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) of the gut microenvironment and altering the composition of the gut microbiota. The relative abundance of Fusobacterium_mortiferum Megasphaera_elsdenii_DSM_20460, Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron, Bacteroides plebeius and Collinsella aerofaciens increased significantly, potentially contributing to the degradation of TFPS-1-3p.

Cooking-Induced Oxidation and Structural Changes in Chicken Protein: Their Impact on In Vitro Gastrointestinal Digestion and Intestinal Flora Fermentation Characteristics.

Meat digestion and intestinal flora fermentation characteristics are closely related to human dietary health. The present study investigated the effect of different cooking treatments, including boiling, roasting, microwaving, stir-frying, and deep-frying, on the oxidation of chicken protein as well as its structural and digestion characteristics. The results revealed that deep-fried and roasted chicken exhibited a relatively higher degree of protein oxidation, while that of boiled chicken was the lowest (p < 0.05). Both stir-frying and deep-frying led to a greater conversion of the α-helix structure of chicken protein into a β-sheet structure and resulted in lower protein gastrointestinal digestibility (p < 0.05), whereas roasted chicken exhibited moderate digestibility. Further, the impact of residual undigested chicken protein on the intestinal flora fermentation was assessed. During the fermentation process, roasted chicken generated the highest number of new intestinal flora species (49 species), exhibiting the highest Chao 1 index (356.20) and a relatively low Simpson index (0.88). Its relative abundance of Fusobacterium was the highest (33.33%), while the total production of six short-chain fatty acids was the lowest (50.76 mM). Although stir-fried and deep-fried chicken exhibited lower digestibility, their adverse impact on intestinal flora was not greater than that of roasted chicken. Therefore, roasting is the least recommended method for the daily cooking of chicken. The present work provides practical advice for choosing cooking methods for chicken in daily life, which is useful for human dietary health.

Effects of Co-Fermented Feed Using Lactobacillus acidophilus, Limosilactobacillus reuteri and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum on Growth, Antioxidant Capacity, Fatty Acids and Gut Microbiota of Largemouth Bass (Micropterus salmoides)

The effects of diets fermented with compound probiotics, namely Lactobacillus acidophilus, Limosilactobacillus reuteri and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum, on the growth performance, physiological and biochemical indexes, fatty acid composition and intestinal health of juvenile largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) were investigated. Three hundred healthy juvenile M. salmoides (5.29 ± 0.02 g) were selected and randomly divided into two groups with triplicates for each. The basic diet was set as the control group (CON), and fermentation of the basic diet with a mixed bacterial solution (1.8 × 109 cfu/mL, L. acidophilus:L. reuteri:L. plantarum = 1:1:1) was set as the fermentation group (FER). Fish were hand fed to satiation for 56 days and two-thirds of the culture water was renewed every 3 days. The results showed that feed intake of fish in the FER group was significantly lowered, thereby increasing feed efficiency (FE) and protein efficiency (PER) (p &lt; 0.05). Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity was significantly decreased, and catalase (CAT) activity was significantly increased in the FER group (p &lt; 0.05). The liver superoxide dismutase activity (SOD) was significantly enhanced, and intestinal trypsin was significantly increased in the FER group (p &lt; 0.05). Being fed with the fermentation diet significantly increased the content of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and the n-3/n-6 PUFAs ratios in the liver (p &lt; 0.05). Intestinal histology showed that villus height and width of the intestine and the number of goblet cells were significantly increased in the FER group (p &lt; 0.05). Those fed with fermentation diets had limited diversity of gut microbiota. Compared to the CON group, the relative abundance of Aeromonas decreased significantly (p &lt; 0.05), while the relative abundance of Fusobacteria, Cetobacteria and Lactobacillusis in FER increased greatly in the gut microbiota of the FER group. In conclusion, fermented feed with the three probiotics effectively improved the feed utilization and antioxidant capacity, promoted digestion and absorption of dietary protein, improved the ability of synthesize DHA and n-3 PUFAs in the liver and reduced the abundance of pathogenic bacteria in the gut. Therefore, the present research provided a new way of co-fermented feed with three probiotics for the aquaculture of M. salmoides.

A comprehensive microbial analysis of pediatric patients with acute appendicitis.

Pathogenesis of pediatric acute appendicitis (AA) is yet to be elucidated. Therefore, we performed a comprehensive microbial analysis of saliva, feces, and appendiceal lumen of AA patients using 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene amplicon sequencing to elucidate the pathogenesis of pediatric AA. This study included 33 AA patients and 17 healthy controls (HCs) aged <15y. Among the AA patients, 18 had simple appendicitis, and 15 had complicated appendicitis. Salivary and fecal samples were obtained from both groups. The contents of the appendiceal lumen were collected from the AA group. All samples were analyzed using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. The relative abundance of Fusobacterium was significantly higher in the saliva of AA patients as compared to that in HCs (P=0.011). Bacteroides, Escherichia, Fusobacterium, Coprobacillus, and Flavonifractor were significantly increased in the feces of AA patients, as compared to that in HCs (P=0.020, 0.010, 0.029, 0.031, and 0.002, respectively). In the appendiceal lumen, Bacteroides, Parvimonas, Fusobacterium, and Alloprevotella were the top bacterial genera with an average relative abundance >5% (16.0%, 9.1%, 7.9%, and 6.0%, respectively). The relative abundance of Fusobacterium was high in the appendiceal lumen of pediatric AA patients. Moreover, the relative abundance of Fusobacterium was significantly higher in the saliva and feces of pediatric AA patients than in those of healthy children. These results suggest that ectopic colonization of oral Fusobacterium in the appendix might play an important role in the pathogenesis of pediatric AA.

Moringa oleifera leaf supplementation relieves oxidative stress and regulates intestinal flora to ameliorate polycystic ovary syndrome in letrozole-induced rats.

This study investigated the effects of supplementation Moringa oleifera leaf (MOL) on relieving oxidative stress, anti-inflammation, changed the relative abundance of multiple intestinal flora and blood biochemical indices during letrozole-induced polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Previous studies have shown that MOL has anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidation, insulin-sensitizing effects. However, whether MOL has beneficial effects on PCOS remains to be elucidated. In the current study, 10-week-old female Sprague-Dawley rats received letrozole to induce PCOS-like rats, and subsequently were treated with a MOL diet. Then, the body weight and estrus cycles were measured regularly in this period. Finally, the ovarian morphology, blood biochemical indices, anti-oxidative, intestinal flora, and anti-inflammation were observed at the end of the experiment. We found that MOL supplementation markedly decreased the body weight, significantly upregulated the expression of Sirt1, FoxO1, PGC-1α, IGF1, and substantially modulated the sex hormone level and improved insulin resistance, which may be associated with the relieves oxidative stress. Moreover, the supplementation of MOL changed the relative abundance of multiple intestinal flora, the relative abundance of Fusobacterium, Prevotella were decreased, and Blautia and Parabacteroides were increased. These results indicate that MOL is potentially a supplementary medication for the management of PCOS.

Bile acid dysmetabolism in inflammatory bowel diseases

Aim: To summarize the state-of-the-art data on the molecular mechanisms of bile acid (BA) synthesis and absorption, their impaired absorption and receptor-dependent signaling, as well as on the effects of the gut microbiota on BA metabolism in inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD).&#x0D; Key messages: BA malabsorption is one of the relevant mechanisms in the development of diarrhea in IBD. It may occur due to various disorders of the ileum, such as terminal ileitis, ileocolitis or ileocecal resection in Crohn's disease and ileoanal reservoir in ulcerative colitis. Molecular mechanisms of BA malabsorption in IBD are related to a defect in the BA uptake by the apical sodium dependent bile acid transporter (ASBT), as well as to a decrease in the expression of pregnane X receptor (PXR) and farnesoid X receptor (FXR), whose activation by glucocorticoids results in an increase in the BA reabsorption in the ileum and a decrease in hologenic diarrhea. The metabolic profile of luminal BA in IBD is characterized by an increased content of conjugated and 3-OH-sulfated BA and reduced levels of secondary BA. The decrease in the relative abundance of the Lachnospiraceae and Oscillospiraceae spp. in IBD patients leads to a decrease in the efficiency of microbial biotransformation of BA. Changes in the BA metabolic profile in IBD affect the gut microbiota, and impaired interaction with the FXR, PXR, G protein-coupled bile acid receptor (GPBAR1), retinoid-related orphan receptors (RORs) and vitamin D receptor (VDR) results in a pro-inflammatory response and increased intestinal permeability, bacterial translocation, and IBD progression. BA metabolism in IBD-associated primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC-IBD) is characterized by a significant decrease in the luminal BA pool, and the microbiota composition is remarkable for an increase in the relative abundance of Fusobacterium and Ruminococcus spp., and a decrease in Veillonella, Dorea, Blautia, Lachnospira and Roseburia.&#x0D; Conclusion: Disordered synergistic interplay of BA with intestinal microbiota results in disruption of the ligand-receptor interaction and BA metabolic transformation, which contributes to the activation of the immune system, formation of a vicious circle of chronic inflammation and IBD progression. Further studies into mutual influence of the gut microbiota, BA metabolism and receptor signaling may promote the development of new methods for the diagnosis and treatment of IBD.

Effect of summer acupoint application treatment (SAAT) on gut microbiota in healthy Asian adults: A randomized controlled trial.

Acupoint application has served as an important complementary and adjunctive therapy in China. The purpose of this study is to explore the impact of summer acupoint application treatment (SAAT) on the abundance and biological structure of gut microbiota in healthy Asian adults. Based on the CONSORT guidelines, 72 healthy adults were included in this study, randomly divided into 2 groups, receiving either traditional (acupoint application within known relevant meridians, Group A) or sham (treated with placebo prepared by mixing the equal amount of starch and water, Group B) SAAT. SAAT stickers include extracts from Rhizoma Corydalis, Sinapis alba, Euphorbia kansui, Asari Herba, and the treatment group received 3 sessions of SAAT for 24 months, administered to BL13 (Feishu), BL17 (Geshu), BL20 (Pishu), and BL23 (Shenshu) acupoints. Fecal microbial analyses via ribosomal ribonucleic acid (rRNA) sequencing were performed on donor stool samples before and after 2 years of SAAT or placebo treatment to analyze the abundances, diversity, and structure of gut microbiota. No significant baseline differences were present between groups. At the phylum level, the baseline relative abundance of Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, and Fusobacteria was identified in fecal samples collected from each group. After treatment, the relative abundance of Firmicutes was significantly increased in both groups (P < .05). Notably, a significant decrease in the relative abundance of Fusobacteria was observed in the SAAT treatment group (P < .001), while the abundance of Bacteroidetes was decreased significantly in the placebo group (P < .05). At the genus level, the relative abundance of Faecalibacterium and Subdoligranulum species in the 2 groups were all significantly increased (P < .05). In addition, a significant reduction in the relative abundance of Blautia, Bacteroides, and Dorea in Group A (P < .05) and Eubacterium hallii group and Anaerostipes (P < .05) in Group B was observed after treatment. Our findings indicated SAAT substantially influenced the bacterial community structure in the gut microbiota of healthy Asian adults, which might serve as potential therapeutic targets for related diseases, and provided a foundation for future studies aimed at elucidating the microbial mechanisms underlying SAAT for the treatment of various conditions such as obesity, insulin resistance, irritable bowel syndrome.

Establishment of a Standard Tongue Coating Collection Method for Microbiome Studies.

Objective: Recently, researchers have been focusing on characterizing the tongue coating microbiome from patients with digestive tract disease. However, to the best of our knowledge, the tongue coating collection methods have not been standardized until now. This article focuses on bridging this gap by exploring and validating the conditions suitable for the collection of tongue coating samples. Methods: One hundred forty-one healthy subjects were involved in the standardization of the tongue coating collection method. We conducted our standardization experiment by comparing different sampling tools, different preservation solutions, different scraping times, and different storage days with preservation at room temperature. The tongue coating samples from 59 normal individuals were analyzed using 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene-sequencing technology. The assessment of the quality of extracted DNA was used to verify our established method. We separated the 59 subjects into two groups (aged and younger), and the sequencing results were used to explore the age-related changes in microbiome. Results: Sterile oral swab B is suitable for the collection of tongue coating samples. To obtain a sufficient amount of DNA from a tongue coating sample, we recommend 30 times of tongue coating scraping. Normal saline, phosphate-buffered saline, and commercial preservation solution are all suitable for short-term sample storage (<1 hour). The commercial long-term preservation solution, which stores samples at room temperature (0 hour to 7 days) and can provide for fast commercial transportation, ensures the integrity of the sample DNA as well as the stability of the DNA quality. By using the established method, extracted DNA from all the 59 normal individuals' tongue coating samples passed an appropriate quality bar for microbiome studies. The average value of OD 260/280 is 1.72 ± 0.10; the average total DNA amount is 334.92 ng (±183.81 ng). The bacterial diversity of the tongue coating is increased and the bacterial community composition changes greatly in the NC group (aged normal subjects). Fusobacteriota is found as the dominant bacteria phyla in aged normal subjects with the 16S rRNA gene-sequencing technology. At the genus level, the relative abundance of Fusobacterium, Haemophilus, and Leptotrichia are significantly higher in aged individuals (all p < 0.05), and Neisseria, Streptococcus, and Porphyromonas are significantly higher in younger individuals (all p < 0.05). Conclusion: A participant-friendly tongue coating collection method for microbiome analyses can be established with good reliability and reproducibility. By taking advantage of our established method and 16S rRNA gene sequencing, significant differences were found in diversity and composition of tongue coating microbiota between aged and younger individuals, which contributes to a better understanding of the age-related composition of tongue coating microbiota.

Urine and fecal microbiota in a canine model of bladder cancer and comparison of canine and human urine microbiota

Urothelial carcinoma (UC) is the tenth most diagnosed cancer in humans worldwide. Dogs are a robust model for invasive UC as tumor development and progression is similar in humans and dogs. Recent studies in humans have revealed alterations in urine microbiota in individuals with UC; however, microbial alterations in dogs with UC have not been evaluated. The objective of this pilot study was to compare the urine and fecal microbiota of dogs with UC and matched healthy controls. DNA was extracted from urine and fecal samples followed by 16S rRNA sequencing and analyses using QIIME2 and R. Dogs with UC had significantly decreased microbial diversity (Kruskal–Wallis; Shannon, p = 0.048) and altered microbial composition (PERMANOVA: Unweighted UniFrac, p = 0.011) in urine, but not fecal samples. The relative abundance of Fusobacterium was also increased, although not significantly, in urine and fecal samples of dogs with UC. A comparison of canine and human urine microbiota further revealed similarities in dominant microbial taxa across both host species. This study supports the value of dogs as a model for studies on bladder cancer and urine microbiota, and it provides a foundation for future work exploring host-microbe dynamics in UC carcinogenesis, prognosis, and treatment.

Network Analysis of Gut Microbiota Including Fusobacterium and Oral Origin Bacteria and Their Distribution on Tumor Surface, Normal Mucosa, and in Feces in Patients with Colorectal Cancer

Introduction: Fusobacterium and several bacteria are reported to be associated with colorectal cancer (CRC). However, their relationship and whether they cause CRC or are just adapted to the cancerous environment is not known. We approached this subject by investigating the correlation and distribution of the bacteria throughout the colon in patients with CRC and elucidated the relationship between microbiota and CRC. Methods: Twenty-five patients with CRC who underwent colonoscopy for endoscopic submucosal dissection or surgery were prospectively enrolled. Fecal samples were taken before bowel preparation, and mucosal samples were collected from three sites (tumor surface, tumor-adjacent mucosa, and cecum) during colonoscopy using a cytology brush. The microbiota was identified and analyzed by sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene of the V3–V4 region. We evaluated the correlation between the bacteria based on network analysis and the distribution of Fusobacterium in the colon. Results: A network consisting of many bacteria was found in all sites; especially, oral origin bacteria including Fusobacterium formed a positively correlated network on tumor surface. Streptococcus showed a significantly higher relative abundance on tumor surface than in feces. The relative abundance of Fusobacterium had significant positive correlations between tumor surface and feces, tumor-adjacent mucosa, and cecum. Conclusion: In patients with CRC, many bacteria were correlated with each other, and Fusobacterium and oral origin bacteria formed a positively correlated network on tumor surface. Fusobacterium was equally distributed on tumor surface and throughout the lumen and mucus in the colon. In the colon where Fusobacterium is widely distributed, Fusobacterium would adhere to the tumor surface and be correlated with oral origin bacteria to make a microenvironment that is favorable for CRC.

Acute exposure to microplastics induces metabolic disturbances and gut dysbiosis in adult zebrafish (Danio rerio)

There is limited knowledge of the ecotoxicological impacts of MPs at the environmentally relevant concentration on freshwater animals, even though numerous studies have demonstrated the toxic effects of MPs on living organisms. In this study, zebrafish (Danio rerio) was used as a model organism to investigate the ecotoxicological effects of acute exposure of virgin MPs on changes in metabolome and gut microbiota. High-throughput untargeted metabolomics using liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) provided comprehensive insights into the metabolic responses of zebrafish exposed to PE (polyethylene) and PES (polyester) MPs. Statistical analysis of metabolomics data indicated that 39 and 27 metabolites, such as lysophosphatidylcholine, phosphocholine, phosphatidylserine, triglyceride, glycosphingolipid, psychosine, 8-amino-7-oxononanoate, cholesterol fatty acid ester, phosphatidylinositol, n-Triacontanol, were significantly altered in PE- and PES-exposed zebrafish, respectively. Furthermore, the enrichment pathway analysis unveiled the synthesis of the structural and functional lipids, signaling molecules, fatty alcohol metabolism, and amino acid metabolism, which was considerably perturbated in MPs-exposed zebrafish. In addition, high-throughput DNA sequencing was conducted to examine changes in gut microbiota in the MPs-treated zebrafish. The MPs exposure increased in the relative abundance of Fusobacteria and Proteobacteria, while the relative abundance of Firmicutes declined in MPs-treated zebrafish. Also, microbial diversity and linear discriminant analyses indicated microbiota dysbiosis, metabolomic dysregulation, and oxidative stress. Taken together, the acute exposure of MPs at environmentally relevant concentrations could disrupt the metabolic interaction via the microbiota-gut-liver-brain relationship, implying gastrointestinal and neurological/immune disorders in zebrafish.

Portulaca oleracea polysaccharides reduce serum lipid levels in aging rats by modulating intestinal microbiota and metabolites

Metabolic diseases characterized by dyslipidemia are common health problems for elderly populations. Dietary fiber intake is inversely associated with the risk of dyslipidemia. This study investigated the effects of Portulaca oleracea polysaccharide (POP) on the intestinal microbiota and its metabolites in aging rats using 16S rRNA sequencing and metabolomics techniques. Our results showed that POPs reduced the ratio of Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes (F/B), relative abundance of Fusobacteria, and levels of triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and gamma-glutamyl transferase (γ-GT) in the serum of aging rats. POP supplementation also reduced 5beta-cholestane-3alpha,7alpha,12alpha,25-tetrol, and vaccenic acid concentrations in lipids and lipoid-like molecules, while soyasapogenol E and monoacylglycerol (MG) (24:0/0:0/0:0) levels increased. This study demonstrated that POP’s beneficial effects on lipid levels in aging rats might be partially attributable to the modification of gut microbiota and related metabolites.

Xylitol-Containing Chewing Gum Reduces Cariogenic and Periodontopathic Bacteria in Dental Plaque—Microbiome Investigation

BackgroundDental caries and periodontal disease remain the most prevalent oral health problems in the world. Chewing xylitol gum may help reduce the risk of caries and periodontitis for dental health benefits. However, little evidence has shown healthy food estimation by sequencing 16S rDNA in oral microbial communities. This study investigated the clinical effect of xylitol chewing gum on dental plaque accumulation and microbiota composition using the PacBio full-length sequencing platform in 24 young adults (N = 24). The participants were randomly assigned to xylitol chewing gum and control (no chewing gum) groups. Participants in the chewing gum group chewed ten pieces of gum (a total of 6.2 g xylitol/day). Dental plaque from all teeth was collected for weighing, measuring the pH value, and analysis of microbial communities at the beginning (baseline, M0) and end of the 2-week (effect, M1) study period.ResultsThe results suggested a 20% reduction in dental plaque accumulation (p < 0.05) among participants chewing xylitol gum for 2 weeks, and the relative abundance of Firmicutes (a type of pathogenic bacteria associated with caries) decreased by 10.26% (p < 0.05) and that of Bacteroidetes and Actinobacteria (two types of pathogenic bacteria associated with periodontitis) decreased by 6.32% (p < 0.001) and 1.66% (p < 0.05), respectively. Moreover, the relative abundance of Fusobacteria was increased by 9.24% (p < 0.001), which has been proven to have a higher proportion in dental plaque of healthy adults. However, the dental plaque pH value stayed in a healthy range for the two groups.ConclusionIn conclusion, chewing xylitol gum would benefit cariogenic and periodontal bacterial reduction in the oral cavity, which could help to prevent the diseases related to these bacteria.

Effects of Saccharomyces cerevisiae var. boulardii on growth, incidence of diarrhea, serum immunoglobulins, and rectal microbiota of suckling dairy calves

The present study was carried out to elucidate the growth, incidence of diarrhea, serum immunoglobulins, and rectal microbiota of dairy calves as they were supplemented with live Saccharomyces cerevisiae var. boulardii (S. cerevisiae var. boulardii). A total of 48 newborn Holstein dairy calves were selected as experimental animal. The calves were divided into four experimental groups based on the concentration of S. cerevisiae var. boulardii as feed supplement. The rate of feed supplement for the four groups were 0, 1, 3, and 5 g/day/calf of live S. cerevisiae var. boulardii, respectively. All animals of 0 were considered as control group. The study was continued for 42 days. Samples of blood and rectal contents were collected on d 21 and 42. The results showed that supplementation of S. cerevisiae var. boulardii improved the body weight, average daily gain, total feed intake, and feed conversion ratio during the first 21 d of life (P<0.05) of the experimental calves. Serum concentration of IgA, IgM, and IgG increased by 3 g/day and 5 g/day of treatments during the first 21 d of life (P<0.05). Moreover, supplementation with S. cerevisiae var. boulardii increased fecal score (3 and 5 g/day groups) and reduced the incidence of diarrhea (1, 3, and 5 g/day groups) during the first 21 d after birth (P<0.05). Both on d 21 and 42 of life, rectal samples were predominated by Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Fusobacteria, Proteobacteria, and Actinobacteria. Additionally, dietary supplementation with S. cerevisiae var. boulardii increased the relative abundance of genera Lactobacillus, Paracoccus, Blautia, and Eubacterium_oxidoreducens_group. However, compared to control, the relative abundance of Fusobacterium on d 21, was reduced (P<0.05). These findings indicated S. cerevisiae var. boulardii supplementation reduced the incidence of diarrhea, while improving serum immunoglobulins concentrations and modulating rectal microbiota in young dairy calves. Furthermore, we recommend that 3 g/day/calf S. cerevisiae var. boulardii supplemented feed be administered to dairy calves during their first 21 d of life.

The Regional Specificity of Mucosa-Associated Microbiota in Patients with Distal Colorectal Cancer

Background/Aims: Recent studies have demonstrated that the populations of several microbes are significantly increased in fecal samples from patients with colorectal cancer (CRC), suggesting their involvement in the development of CRC. The aim of this study was to identify microbes which are increased in distal CRCs and to identify the specific location of microbes increased in mucosal tissue around the tumor. Methods: Tissue specimens were collected from surgical resections of 28 distal CRCs. Five samples were collected from each specimen (location A: tumor, B: adjacent normal mucosa, C: normal mucosa 1 cm proximal to the tumor, D: normal mucosa 3 cm proximally, and E: normal mucosa 6 cm proximally). The microbiota in the sample were analyzed using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing and the relative abundance (RA) of microbiota compared among the 5 locations. Results: At the genus level, the RA of Fusobacterium and Streptococcus at location A was the highest among the 5 locations, significantly different from that in location E. The dominant species of each genus was Fusobacterium nucleatum and Streptococcus anginosus. The RAs of these species gradually decreased from locations B to E with a statistically significant difference in F. nucleatum. The genus Peptostreptococcus also showed a similar trend, and the RA of Peptostreptococcus stomatis in location A was significantly associated with depth of tumor invasion and tumor size. Conclusion: Although the clinical relevance is not clear yet, these results suggest that F. nucleatum, S. anginosus, and P. stomatis can spread to the adjacent normal tissues and may change the surrounding microenvironment to support the progression of CRC.

Comparison of Gut Microbiota of 96 Healthy Dogs by Individual Traits: Breed, Age, and Body Condition Score.

Simple SummaryThe gut microbial ecosystem is affected by various factors such as lifestyle, environment, and disease. Although gut microbiota is closely related to host health, an understanding of the gut microbiota of dogs is still lacking. Therefore, we investigated gut microbial composition in healthy dogs and divided them into groups according to their breed, age, or body condition score. From our results, age is the most crucial factor driving the gut microbial community of dogs compared to breed and body condition score (especially Fusobacterium perfoetens, which was much more abundant in the older group). We have revealed that even in healthy dogs without any diseases, there are differences in gut microbiota depending on individual traits. These results can be used as a basis for improving the quality of life by managing dogs’ gut microbiota.Since dogs are part of many peoples’ lives, research and industry related to their health and longevity are becoming a rising topic. Although gut microbiota (GM) is a key contributor to host health, limited information is available for canines. Therefore, this study characterized GM according to individual signatures (e.g., breed, age, and body condition score—BCS) of dogs living in the same environment. Fresh fecal samples from 96 healthy dogs were analyzed by sequencing the V3-V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene. The major microbial phyla were Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Fusobacteria, Proteobacteria, and Actinobacteria. In the comparison by breeds, relative abundance of Fusobacterium was significantly differed. Interestingly, Fusobacterium perfoetens abundance was positively correlated with age (p = 0.018), being significantly more enriched in the 6–10-year-old group (14.3%) than in the 0.5–1-year-old group (7.2%). Moreover, despite the healthy appearance of dogs in all age (0.5–10 years) and BCS (3–6) groups, the gut microbial environment may be disadvantageous in older dogs or in dogs with an abnormal BCS. These findings broaden our understanding of gut microbial ecology according to individual characteristics of dogs and may be used as a reference for providing customized-care to companion animals.

Establishment of Gut Microbiome During Early Life and Its Relationship With Growth in Endangered Crested Ibis (Nipponia nippon).

Gut microbiota during early life could influence host fitness in vertebrates. Studies on how gut microbiota colonize the gut in birds using frequent sampling during early developmental stages and how shifts in microbiota diversity influence host growth are lacking. Here, we examine the microbiome profiles of 151 fecal samples from 14 young crested ibis (Nipponia nippon), an endangered bird species, collected longitudinally across 13 time points during the early stages of development and investigated their correlation with host growth. Gut diversity showed a non-linear change during development, which involved multiple colonization and extinction events, mainly associated with Proteobacteria and Firmicutes. Gut microbiota in young crested ibis became more similar with increasing age. In addition, gut microbiota exhibited a strong temporal structure and two specific developmental stages; the beginning of the latter stage coincided with the introduction of fresh loach, with a considerable increase in the relative abundance of Fusobacteria and several Firmicutes, which may be involved in lipid metabolism. Crested ibis chick growth rate was negatively correlated with gut microbiota diversity and negatively associated with the abundance of Halomonadaceae, Streptococci, Corynebacteriaceae, and Dietziaceae. Our findings highlight the importance of frequent sampling when studying microbiome development during early stages of development of vertebrates. The role of microbial diversity in host growth during the early stages of development of birds warrants further investigations.

Impact of the dietary inclusion of dried food residues on the apparent nutrient digestibility and the intestinal microbiota of dogs

ABSTRACT The use of food residues for animal nutrition might imply ecological and economic advantages; however, their effects as a potential ingredient have not yet been evaluated in dogs. In the present study, four diets with 0, 5, 10 and 15% dried food residues (DFR), derived from hotel catering, were fed to 10 healthy adult dogs. At the end of each three-week feeding period, faeces and blood were collected. The apparent nutrient digestibility was calculated by the dietary inclusion of titanium dioxide as an inert marker. The results demonstrated that the apparent crude protein digestibility and ether extract digestibility decreased with increasing amounts of DFR in the diets (p < 0.05). In addition, an increase of the faecal concentrations of acetic acid, propionic acid, n-butyric acid and total short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) was observed (p < 0.05). Faecal ammonium and lactate concentrations, as well as plasma phenol and indole concentrations, were not linearly affected by the dietary inclusion of DFR. The relative abundance of Fusobacteria in the faeces of the dogs decreased, and the relative abundance of Actinobacteria and Bacteroidetes increased with increasing amounts of DFR in the diets (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the DFR seemed to be intensively fermented by the intestinal microbiota of the dogs, as indicated by the increased faecal SCFA concentrations and the shifts in the composition of the faecal microbiota. Dietary inclusion levels of up to 5% can be recommended based on our results, as the observed lower apparent crude protein and ether extract digestibility might limit the use of food residues for dogs at higher amounts.