Stomach Microbiota Research Articles

Seasonal variation in the stomach microbiota of two sympatrically breeding Pygoscelis penguin species at Signy Island, South Orkney Islands.

The gut microbiomes of Antarctic penguins are important for the fitness of the host birds and their chicks. The compositions of microbial communities in Antarctic penguin guts are strongly associated with the birds' diet, physiological adaptation and phylogeny. Whilst seasonal changes in food resources, distribution and population parameters of Antarctic penguins have been well addressed, little research is available on the stability or variability of penguin stomach microbiomes over time. Here, we focused on two Pygoscelis penguin species breeding sympatrically in the maritime Antarctic and analysed their stomach contents to assess whether penguin gut microbiota differed over three austral summer breeding seasons. We used a high-throughput DNA sequencing approach to study bacterial diversity in stomach regurgitates of Adélie (Pygoscelis adeliae) and chinstrap (Pygoscelis antarctica) penguins that have a similar foraging regime on Signy Island (South Orkney Islands). Our data revealed significant differences in bacterial alpha and beta diversity between the study seasons. We also identified bacterial genera that were significantly associated with specific breeding seasons, diet compositions, chick-rearing stages and sampling events. This study provides a baseline for establishing future monitoring of penguin gut microbiomes in a rapidly changing environment.

Investigating the impact of chlorine dioxide in shrimp-rearing water on stomach microbiome, gill transcriptome, and infection-related mortality in shrimp.

This study aimed to assess the effects of chlorine dioxide (ClO2) in water on whiteleg shrimp Penaeus vannamei, evaluating its impact on stomach microbiota, gill transcriptome, and pathogens. ClO2 was added to the aquarium tanks containing the shrimp. The application of ClO2 to rearing water was lethal to shrimp at concentrations above 1.2 ppm. On the other hand, most of the shrimp survived at 1.0 ppm of ClO2. Microbiome analysis showed that ClO2 administration at 1.0 ppm significantly reduced the α-diversity of bacterial community composition in the shrimp stomach, and this condition persisted for at least 7 days. Transcriptome analysis of shrimp gill revealed that ClO2 treatment caused massive change of the gene expression profile including stress response genes. However, after 7 days of the treatment, the gene expression profile was similar to that of shrimp in the untreated control group, suggesting a recovery to the normal state. This 1.0-ppm ClO2 significantly reduced shrimp mortality in artificial challenges with an AHPND-causing Vibrio parahaemolyticus and white spot syndrome virus, which were added to rearing water. The use of ClO2 at appropriate concentrations effectively eliminates a significant portion of the bacteria in the shrimp stomach and pathogens in the water. The results of this study provide fundamental knowledge on the disinfection of pathogens in water using ClO2 and the creation of semi germ-free shrimp, which has significantly decreased microbiome in the stomach.

Dietary Bromelain From Pineapple Extracts Enhanced Growth Performance and Modulated Stomach Microbiota Which Provided Longer‐Term Protection to Penaeus vannamei Against Acute Hepatopancreatic Necrosis Disease (AHPND) Caused by Vibrio parahaemolyticus

The emergence of acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease (AHPND) caused by pathogenic strains of Vibrio parahaemolyticus (VPAHPND) had economically impacted shrimp farmers. There is great interest in using phytogenics as antibiotic alternatives in mitigating bacterial diseases. A 28‐day feeding trial using quadruplicate groups of Penaeus vannamei was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of bromelain (BM), a pineapple extract, on growth, gut microbiota, and resistance to AHPND. Dietary 1% or 2% BM enhanced growth of shrimp, which was significantly (P < 0.05) higher at 2% BM compared to control (0% BM). In the first AHPND challenge, shrimp survival (mean ± SE) fed 1% or 2% BM were 84.8% ± 3.8% and 78.3% ± 2.5%, respectively, and significantly higher compared to the positive control group (69.6% ± 1.8%). Surviving shrimp were then regrouped into triplicates and fed the control diet for 14 days. This wash‐out period was used to determine if prior dietary BM had a longer‐term effect on shrimp health. In the second AHPND challenge, shrimp survival previously fed 1% or 2% BM was 71.1% ± 9.7% and 73.3% ± 3.8%, respectively, and significantly higher compared to the control group (51.1% ± 2.2%). Hepatopancreas showed less damage and harbored significantly lower Vibrio counts in shrimp fed BM‐added diets. Dietary BM modulated the stomach bacterial community and imparted the highest alpha diversity. At the phylum level, Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, and Bacteroidetes were the main groups across treatments but with varying relative abundance. Luteolibacter, Paracoccus, Planctomyces, and Demequina were identified as the main contributors for the diversity differences observed among treatment groups. The relative abundance of Luteolibacter was significantly enriched and Vibrio bacteria significantly lowered in the stomach of the BM‐added groups. It was concluded that dietary BM induced modulation of the stomach microbiota of shrimp, which potentially enhanced its resistance to AHPND‐causing VP.

Oreochromis niloticus gastrointestinal microbiota affected by the infection with Staphylococcus haemolyticus and Providencia vermicola, two emerging pathogens in fish aquaculture

The rapid intensification of tilapia aquaculture is associated with losses due to emerging pathogens. The gastrointestinal microbiota plays a vital role in the host's health by modulating the immune system and several physiological functions. Recent studies suggest that bacterial pathogens may deleteriously affect the microbiota structure. This study analyzed the effect of challenging tilapia with two emerging bacterial pathogens: Staphylococcus haemolyticus and Providencia vermicola, on the stomach and intestinal microbiota. Immediately after infection, fish started showing disease signs, tilapia infected with S. haemolyticus and P. vermicola registered 40 and 67% survival after seven days, while no mortality was reported in the control group during the trial. Amplicon libraries constructed by amplifying the V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene were analyzed. Proteobacteria was the most dominant phylum in the stomach and intestine of all infection groups. Staphylococcus haemolyticus infection disrupted both stomach and intestine microbiota. For instance, Bacteroidetes abundance increased while Proteobacteria dropped in the stomach of fish infected with S. haemolyticus. Both alpha and beta diversity indexes showed a clear differentiation of this group from the control and P. vermicola-infected fish. The microbiota of the stomach and intestine of this last group was also affected, although the effects were not as severe as in the case of the S. haemolyticus challenge. Results revealed that both emerging pathogens could lead to dysbiosis, affecting the functioning of the tilapia gut microbiota.

Gastrointestinal dysbiosis induced by Nocardia sp. infection in tilapia

Nocardiosis has caused high mortalities among fish cultures; however, the effects of Nocardia infections in the fish gastrointestinal microbiota are unknown. In this research, tilapia was infected with Nocardia sp., to analyze the effect of infection on the gastrointestinal microbiota. Tilapia infected with Nocardia sp. reported a 46 % survival (100 % in non-infected). Moreover, the infection caused severe damage to the stomach microbiota, with a loss of diversity and a significant increase of Proteobacteria (94.8 %), resulting in a negative correlation network between Proteobacteria and other important phyla. Nocardia sp. is an emerging pathogen capable of inducing dysbiosis and causing significant mortalities.

Dietary montmorillonite clay improved Penaeus vannamei survival from acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease and modulated stomach microbiota

Acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease (AHPND) is causing a bacterial pandemic in shrimp farming. AHPND is caused by pathogenic strains of Vibrio parahaemolyticus (VPAHPND) that produces the bacterial toxins, PirA and PirB. Shrimp exposure to AHPND-causing bacteria is hypothesized to be through the oral route, ingested into the gut where the bacteria initially colonized the stomach and then releases the binary toxins to damage the hepatopancreas. In view of changing global regulatory controls on the use of antibiotics, there is much interest in the development of functional aquafeeds. One innovative method to mitigate AHPND is to bind the bacterial toxins by adding adsorbent clay minerals into shrimp feeds. A feeding trial using triplicate groups of Penaeus vannamei post-larvae (PL30) was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of a montmorillonite (MMT) clay [Calibrin®-Z (CL)] on growth, gut health and disease resistance to AHPND. The addition of 0.25% or 0.50% CL did not significantly (P > 0.05) impact growth and feed utilization efficiency compared to control groups fed diets with 0% CL. When challenged with VPAHPND, survival of shrimp fed 0.25% or 0.50% CL were 83.3 ± 5.5% and 93.8 ± 0.1%, respectively, and were significantly higher (P < 0.05) compared to the VPAHPND-challenged positive control group (39.6 ± 10.4%) but not significantly different compared to the unchallenged negative control group (95.8 ± 2.1%). Vibrio and total cultivable bacteria counts in the hepatopancreas of shrimp fed CL-added diets were significantly lower compared to positive control. Hepatopancreas histopathology of infected shrimp fed CL-added diets showed less damage. During AHPND infection, bacterial diversity was depressed but dietary CL tended to restore stomach bacterial richness and α-diversity index. Dietary CL modulated the stomach bacterial community possibly with beneficial impact to shrimp survival. At the phylum level, Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes were the main groups but the relative abundance of Verrucomicrobia, Acidobacteria and Firmicutes was more prevalent in the microbiota of shrimp fed CL-added diets. Bacteria of the genus Pseudoalteromonas, Tenacibaculum, and Marinimicrobium were identified as members of the healthy microbiota and Lysobacter was observed to be relatively enriched in AHPND-infected shrimp. Demequina was identified as a potential biomarker and was significantly enriched in the stomach of the CL-added groups. This is the first report on the effectiveness of dietary clay mineral in AHPND mitigation. At least 0.25% CL is suggested to be included in commercial shrimp feeds to mitigate against production and economic losses from AHPND outbreaks in shrimp farms.

Helicobacter pylori and gastric microbiota homeostasis: progress and prospects.

Helicobacter pylori, a Gram-negative microaerobic bacteria belonging to the phylum Proteobacteria, can colonize in the stomach and duodenum, and cause a series of gastrointestinal diseases such as gastritis, gastric ulcerand even gastric cancer. At present, the high diversity of the microorganisms in the stomach has been confirmed with culture-independent methods;some researchers have also studied the stomach microbiota composition at different stages of H. pylori carcinogenesis. Here, we mainly review the possible role of H. pylori-mediated microbiota changes in the occurrence and development of gastric cancer to provide new ideas for preventing H. pylori infection and regulating microecological imbalance.

Effects of different grains on bacterial diversity and enzyme activity associated with digestion of starch in the foal stomach

BackgroundCompared with the stomach of ruminant cattle, the stomach of horse is small and mainly for chemical digestion, but the microorganisms in the stomach play an important role in maintaining the homeostasis of the internal environment. Due to the complexity of the microbes in the stomach, little is known about the diversity and structure of bacteria in the equine stomach. Grains are the main energy source for plant-eating livestock and energy is derived through enzymatic hydrolysis of grains into glucose or their microbial fermentation into Volatile fatty acids (VFA). However, the mechanism through which these ingested grains are chemically digested as well as the effect of these grains on the stomach remains elusive. This study explored the effects of feeding different grains (corn, oats, and barley) on bacterial diversity, structure, and composition in the foal’s stomach content. Furthermore, the effects of different grains on the vitality of starch digestion-related stomach enzymes were investigated.ResultsNo significant differences were observed (P > 0.05) in the bacterial rarefaction curves of Operational Taxonomic Units (OTUs) and diversity of the stomach microbiota in all foals. This study also revealed the statistical differences for Firmicutes, Cyanobacteria, Actinobacteria, Fibrobacteres, Lactobacillaceae, Streptococcaceae, Unidentified_Clostridiales, Prevotellaceae, Lactobacillus, Streptococcus, Unidentified_Cyanobacteria, Unidentified_Clostridiales, Lactococcus, Sphingomonas, Lactobacillus_hayakitensis, Lactobacillus_equigenerosi, and Clostridium_perfringens. The linear discriminant analysis effect size analysis revealed 9 bacteria at each classification level. The functional analysis of species information by using FAPROTAX software was able to predict 35 functions, and the top 5 functions were chemoheterotrophy, fermentation, animal_parasites_or_symbionts, nitrate_reduction, and aerobic_chemoheterotrophy. The study also revealed statistical differences for pH, glucose concentration, β-amylase, maltase, and amylase.ConclusionsThe different grains had no significant effect on the microbial diversity of the stomach content of the foal. However, the relative bacterial abundances differed significantly in response to different diets. Particularly, oats fed to the foals significantly increased the relative abundance of Firmicutes, Lactobacillaceae, Lactobacillus, and Lactobacillus_hayakitensis. The grain had no significant effect on the pH of the stomach content, glucose concentration, and enzyme viability in the foal.

Dietary selenium regulates the diversity and stability of microbial communities in stomach and intestine of rabbitfish (Siganus oramin)

The stability of gastrointestinal ecosystem and microbial interactions herein are critical to host health, but how to regulate gut microbiota and maintain its stability remains unclear. Macroalgae used as fish feed has economic and environmental advantages, and an extra addition of selenium (Se) may further replenish the necessary micronutrient for fish. Recent studies suggested that dietary Se could enhance fish health by regulating Se-associated enzymes. However, the effects of dietary Se on the microbial diversity and stability in fish stomach and intestine are poorly understood. Rabbitfish (Siganus oramin) fed with different contents of dietary Se enriched in macroalgae were used to investigate the effects of Se on the fish growth and gastrointestinal microbial communities. We found that the low dietary Se (∼2.51 μg/(g·dw)) could significantly enhance the growth of rabbitfish and maintain gastrointestinal ecological stability. The microbial ecological networks indicated that the low dietary Se altered the potential interactions within microbial community and increased the number of potential keystones to maintain the stability. Moreover, low dietary Se improved the microbial diversity, enhanced probiotics but reduced pathogenic bacteria in the gastrointestinal ecosystem. We also found that the microbiota in stomach was more diverse and stable than that of intestinal microbiota under the enriched Se diets. This study reveals the effects of dietary Se on fish growth and the underlying mechanism maintaining network stability in gastrointestinal ecosystem, which also broadens our understanding of dietary regulation of gastrointestinal microbiota.

Elephant grass supplementation in the feed of fattening pigs affects growth performance, carcass characteristics, blood profiles and intestinal microorganisms

To investigate the effects of the dietary inclusion of elephant grass on the growth performance, blood profiles, carcass characteristics, ileum and stomach microbiota of fattening pigs, pigs were fed one of seven diets including a basal diet (Control), and six treatments, where the basal diet was supplemented with 10%, 15% or 20% of elephant grass, Cenchrus purpureus cv. Guiminyin (CpGui10, CpGui15, CpGui20) or cv. Purple (CpP10, CpP15, CpP20). Results showed that supplementation of 20% CpGui in the diet significantly increased (P &amp;lt; 0.05) average daily gain (ADG) and gain to feed (G/F) ratio by the end of the experiment. Additionally, pigs fed the CpGui20 diet showed higher (0.01 &amp;lt; P &amp;lt; 0.05) slaughter weight and tended to have increased loin-eye area and lean meat percentage, and, decreased backfat thickness compared with control pigs. Furthermore, 16S ribosomal DNA gene amplicon profiling showed that the inclusion of elephant grass in the diet was associated with modulation of the ileum and stomach microbiota composition at the order level. Relative abundance of the Lactobacillales order in the ileum and stomach increased with different proportions of elephant grass, while that of Enterobacteriales decreased. In conclusion, these results indicate that at up to 20% inclusion in the diet of pigs, elephant grass can promote enhanced growth performance and carcass characteristics, and, modulate the ileum and stomach microbiota composition of the pigs.

Microbiota and the Immune System-Actors in the Gastric Cancer Story.

Simple SummaryStomach cancer is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers in the world. Although the number of new cases is decreasing year by year, the death rate for this type of cancer is still high. The heterogeneous course and the lack of symptoms in the early stages of the disease mean that the diagnosis is made late, which translates into a worse prognosis for such patients. That is why it is so important to analyze potential risk factors that may increase the risk of developing gastric cancer and to search for new effective methods of treatment. These requirements are met by the analysis of the composition of the gastric microbiota and its relationship with the immune system, which is a key element in the human anti-cancer fight. This publication was created to systematize the current knowledge on the impact of dysbiosis of human microbiota on the development and progression of gastric cancer. Particular emphasis was placed on taking into account the role of the immune system in this process. Gastric cancer remains one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers in the world, with a relatively high mortality rate. Due to the heterogeneous course of the disease, its diagnosis and treatment are limited and difficult, and it is associated with a reduced prognosis for patients. That is why it is so important to understand the mechanisms underlying the development and progression of this cancer, with particular emphasis on the role of risk factors. According to the literature data, risk factors include: changes in the composition of the stomach and intestinal microbiota (microbiological dysbiosis and the participation of Helicobacter pylori), improper diet, environmental and genetic factors, and disorders of the body’s immune homeostasis. Therefore, the aim of this review is to systematize the knowledge on the influence of human microbiota dysbiosis on the development and progression of gastric cancer, with particular emphasis on the role of the immune system in this process.

Rhein Inhibits PI3K/Akt/mTOR Signaling Pathway to Show Efficacy in an Ulcerative Colitis Mice Model

Rhein Inhibits PI3K/Akt/mTOR Signaling Pathway to Show Efficacy in an Ulcerative Colitis Mice Model

Infection with white spot syndrome virus affects the microbiota in the stomachs and intestines of kuruma shrimp

Maintaining eubiosis of the gastrointestinal (GI) microbiota is essential for animal health. White spot syndrome virus (WSSV) is the most lethal viral pathogen because it causes extremely high mortality in shrimp farming. However, it remains poorly understood how WSSV infection affects the microbiota in different regions of the GI tract of shrimp. In the present study, we established an experimental model of kuruma shrimp (Marsupenaeus japonicus) infection with WSSV and then investigated the effects of WSSV infection on the microbiota in the cardiac stomach, pyloric stomach, and intestines using metataxonomics. We identified 34 phyla and 576 genera of bacteria collectively. At the phylum level, Proteobacteria and Firmicutes were the most abundant in all the three GI segments. The WSSV infection decreased microbial diversity to a different extent in the stomachs and in a time-dependent manner. The infection with WSSV affected the microbiota composition in the two stomachs, but not the intestines. Firmicutes increased significantly, while Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Cyanobacteria decreased in the two stomachs of the WSSV-infected shrimp. At the genus level, Trichococcus and Vibrio increased, but Bradyrhizobium and Roseburia decreased in the cardiac stomach of the WSSV-infected shrimp. Trichococcus and Photobacterium increased in the pyloric stomach. Although Vibrio showed a slight downward trend, Aliivibrio (formerly Vibrio) increased in the pyloric stomach. Thiothrix, Fusibacter, and Shewanella decreased in the pyloric stomach, but no significant differences in these genera were detected in the cardiac stomach. Analysis of the predicted functions of the GI microbiota indicated that the WSSV infection resulted in losses of some microbiota functions. The new information from this study may help better understand the bacteria-virus interaction in the GI tract of shrimp and other crustacean species, and inform pathogen prevention/control and sustainable aquaculture production.

Interrelation: gastric microbiota - acid-dependent diseases, and more….

The relationship between gastric microbiota and acid-dependent diseases is currently not fully studied. The study is based on a review of the literature to analyze and reflect the available data on the interaction of gastric microbiota and acid-dependent diseases, as well as brain-gut diseases. The survey was performed by analyzing data from Medscape, PubMed, Elsevier. The articles analyzed are in English, Romanian, Russian, published in the last 10 years. Data on the composition (landscape) of the gastric microbiota and their influence on acid-dependent diseases and digestive diseases in general were reflected. The research reflected that in addition to Helicobacter pylori infection, the landscape of the gastric microbiota in the acid stomach (with low pH) is not sterile and includes other types such as: Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Fusobacteria. At the same time, current methods document a bacterial load of 1010-1012 CFU/mL in the colon, which is much higher than in the stomach, where it reaches 102-104 CFU/mL. H. pylori influences the diversification of the non-H.pylori gastric microbiota; Decreased diversification increases the risk of carcinogenesis. The aspects of the role of H. pylori in functional dyspepsia, named after the Maastricht Consensus V - H. pylori dyspepsia, were also demonstrated. The taxonomic profiles (Philum-level, Genus-level) of the gastric microbiota require the study of the interrelationships with acid-dependent diseases, as well as the feedback. The study shows that the stomach is not a sterile organ and in addition to H. pylori there are 5 other types of gastric microbiota, which are interrelated with acid-dependent diseases and digestive disorders and vice versa. This issue requires a comprehensive approach.

Bacterial and eukaryotic communities in pond water of whiteleg shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei and the bacterial communities of their stomach and midgut

Although microorganisms in pond water and shrimp gut have been thought to be important factors in shrimp health, knowledge of the microbiota surrounding the shrimp is limited. In this study, we analyzed bacterial and eukaryotic microbiota in the pond water of whiteleg shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei, and bacterial compositions in the stomach and midgut of shrimp that are reared in the ponds. Microorganisms were collected at three sites in each of two ponds using filter membranes for 7 consecutive days. Amplicons of 16S rDNA and 18S rDNA were generated. Shrimp were also collected from the ponds on the same days and 16S rDNA was amplified from their stomachs and midguts and analyzed. Results showed that the bacterial communities in the surface water were distributed uniformly and were relatively stable, and the differences between the ponds were small. However, a principal coordinate analysis indicated significant differences in the composition of bacteria in the water of each pond and the microbiota shifted continuously during the sampling period. The eukaryotic plankton in the water changed dynamically and consecutively including the alternations of the dominant families in 1 to 2 days. The bacterial compositions of the digestive tracts, especially the stomach, clearly differed between the two ponds. Also, a bacterium, classified as Candidatus Bacilloplasma in class Mollicutes which was found in the stomachs might be a novel lineage of Mollicutes. Analysis of the combination of bacterial and eukaryotic microbiota, and not only the intestine (midgut) but also the stomach microbiota would be useful to understand microbiome in shrimp aquaculture.

Brief Hydromorphone Exposure During Pregnancy Sufficient to Induce Maternal and Neonatal Microbial Dysbiosis.

Prenatal opioid exposure is associated with significantly adverse medical, developmental, and behavioral outcomes in offspring, though the underlying mechanisms driving these impairments are still unclear. Accumulating evidence implicates gut microbial dysbiosis as a potential modulator of these adverse effects. However, how opioid exposure during pregnancy alters the maternal and neonatal microbiome remain to be elucidated. Here, we utilize a murine model of brief hydromorphone exposure during pregnancy (gestation day 11-13; i.p.; 10mg/kg) to examine its impact on the maternal and neonatal microbiome. Fecal samples were collected at various timepoints in dams (4days post hydromorphone exposure, birth, and weaning) and offspring (2, 3, and 5weeks) to interrogate longitudinal changes in the microbiome. Stomach contents at 2weeks were also collected as a surrogate for breastmilk and microbial analysis was performed using 16S rRNA sequencing. Alongside alterations in the maternal gut microbial composition, offspring gut microbiota exhibited distinct communities at 2 and 3weeks. Furthermore, functional profiling of microbial communities revealed significant differences in microbial community-level phenotypes gram-negative, gram-positive, and potentially pathogenic in maternal and/or neonatal hydromorphone exposed groups compared with controls. We also observed differences in stomach microbiota in opioid-exposed vs non-exposed offspring, which suggests breast milk may also play a role in shaping the development of the neonatal gut microbiota. Together, we provide evidence of maternal and neonatal microbial dysbiosis provoked even with brief hydromorphone exposure during pregnancy.

The gastric microbiota in patients with Crohn\u2019s disease; a preliminary study

The gastric microbiota in Crohn’s disease (CD) has not been studied. The purpose of the study was to evaluate differences of stomach microbiota between CD patients and controls. DNA was extracted from gastric mucosal and fluid samples, from 24 CD patients and 19 controls. 16S rRNA gene sequencing identified 1511 operational taxonomic units (OTUs), of which 239 passed the low abundance and low variance filters. All but one CD patients were HP negative. Fifteen bacterial phyla were identified in at least one mucosal or fluid site. Of these, Bacteroidota and Firmicutes accounted for 70% of all phyla. Proteobacteria, Actinobacteriota, and Fusobacteriota combined accounted for 27%. There was significant difference in the relative abundance of Bacteroidota, Proteobacteria, Fusobacteriota, and Campilobacterota between CD patients and controls only in gastric corpus samples. In gastric liquid, there was a significant difference only in Actinobacteriota. Pairwise comparison identified 67 differentially abundant OTUs in at least one site. Of these, 13 were present in more than one comparison, and four differentiating OTUs (Neisseriaceae, Neisseria, Absconditabacteriales, and Microbacteriaceae) were identified at all tested sites. The results reveal significant changes in gastric microbial profiles (beta diversity, phylum, and individual taxa levels) between H. pylori-negative CD patients and controls.

Lactococcus lactis and Resveratrol Decrease Body Weight and Increase Benefic Gastrointestinal Microbiota in Mice.

The microbiome is now known for its important role in whole-body homeostasis. A dysbiosis of the normal microbiota is correlated with metabolic disorders. In this sense, the search for compounds able to modulate the microbiome is needed. Resveratrol, a natural compound found in grapes seems to be a promising candidate. In this study, our motivation was to evaluate the effects of the association between Resveratrol and Lactococcus lactis, a probiotic, on the composition of the gastrointestinal microbiota and body weight of mice. Twenty female mice were divided into 4 groups: (1) standard diet, (2) standard diet plus Lactococcus lactis, (3) standard diet plus resveratrol, and (4) standard diet plus Lactococcus lactis and resveratrol. At the end of the treatment period, samples of blood, mucus, stomach, and small and large intestines were collected for analysis. Total levels of Immunoglobulin A and Immunoglobulin E, Lac+ and Lac- bacteria and Lactobacillus were measured. The main results indicate that the association between resveratrol and probiotics was able to decrease mice body weight, as compared to the other groups, in addition to decrease the number of Lac- bacteria and increasing the number of Lac+ bacteria. The levels of secretory IgA were also decreased, compared to the animals treated with only probiotics or resveratrol. We observed potential synergism between Resveratrol and Lactococcus lactis mainly in modulating the stomach and intestinal microbiota.

Helicobacter pylori infection has a detrimental impact on the efficacy of cancer immunotherapies

ObjectiveIn this study, we determined whether Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection dampens the efficacy of cancer immunotherapies.DesignUsing mouse models, we evaluated whether immune checkpoint inhibitors or vaccine-based immunotherapies are effective...

Apostichopus japonicus Oligopeptide Induced Heterogeneity in the Gastrointestinal Tract Microbiota and Alleviated Hyperuricemia in a Microbiota-Dependent Manner.

This study aims to investigate the protective effect of Apostichopus japonicus oligopeptide (AJOP) on hyperuricemia, demonstrate the modulation of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) microbiota, and clarify the underlying microbiota-dependent mechanism. Hyperuricemic mice treated with AJOP and subjected to corresponding fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) are used to observe the beneficial effects of AJOP and microbiota. Gene transcriptions are measured using quantitative real-time PCR. The GIT (stomach, colon, cecum, and feces) microbiota is analyzed by 16S rDNA sequencing and the short-chain fatty acids are detected using GC-MS. Dietary administration of AJOP significantly alleviates hyperuricemia, regulates uric acid metabolism, inhibites the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome and NF-κB-related signaling pathway, and restores m6A methylation levels. In addition, substantial heterogeneity is observed in GIT microbiota. Furthermore, FMT effectively alleviates hyperuricemia in mice by selectively regulating the corresponding pathways associated with AJOP treatment, indicating that the mechanism underlying the protective effects of AJOP is partly microbiota-dependent. This study demonstrates that AJOP exerts a protective effect on hyperuricemic mice by regulating uric acid metabolism, resulting in substantial heterogeneity among the GIT microbiota, thus mediating the beneficial effects in a microbiota-dependent manner.