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Microbiology Spectrum Apr 2024Neuroblastoma (NB) is a type of neuroectodermal tumor that originates from primitive sympathetic ganglion cells. Although many risk factors contributing to the... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
UNLABELLED
Neuroblastoma (NB) is a type of neuroectodermal tumor that originates from primitive sympathetic ganglion cells. Although many risk factors contributing to the occurrence of NB have been reported in recent years, the role of the gut microbiota in its development remains unclear. A bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was conducted to elucidate the causal relationship between the gut microbiota and NB. In the MR analysis, we employed the inverse-variance weighted (IVW) method as the primary criterion for assessing causality, while also utilizing three additional approaches, including MR-Egger, weighted median model, and weighted mode, for comprehensive evaluation. For gut microbiota that were causally associated with NB, a reverse MR was also used to assess the stability of this causal relationship. Finally, we also used external cohorts for validation and performed a meta-analysis of the results. The IVW results indicated a causal relationship between six gut microbiota and NB. Among the six gut microbiota, genus [IVW odds ratio (OR): 2.66, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.09-6.51, value: 0.03] exhibited a detrimental effect against NB. On the other hand, the class (IVW OR: 0.24, 95% CI: 0.07-0.77, value: 0.02), the family (IVW OR: 0.40, 95% CI: 0.17-0.96, value: 0.04), the genus (IVW OR: 0.50, 95% CI: 0.25-0.97, value: 0.04), the genus (IVW OR: 0.39, 95% CI: 0.16-0.92, value: 0.03), and the genus (IVW OR: 0.55, 95% CI: 0.31-0.97, value: 0.04) displayed a protective effect on NB. A reverse MR analysis did not reveal a causality between NB and the six gut microbiota. Meta-analysis showed that genus (meta OR: 0.41, 95% CI: 0.22-0.75, < 0.01) and genus (meta OR: 2.20, 95% CI: 1.01-4.79, < 0.05) were still significant.
IMPORTANCE
Bidirectional Mendelian randomization was used to explore the causality between gut microbiota and neuroblastoma (NB). The results showed that there is a causal relationship between the six gut microbiota and NB, of which two gut microbiota were further confirmed in the meta-analysis. This may provide a new perspective on the prevention and treatment of NB.
Topics: Humans; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Mendelian Randomization Analysis; Neuroblastoma; Risk Factors; Actinobacteria; Bifidobacterium; Clostridiales; Genome-Wide Association Study
PubMed: 38411074
DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.03656-23 -
Anais Brasileiros de Dermatologia 2023Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory disease associated with systemic inflammation and comorbidities. Changes in the composition of the intestinal microbiome are involved...
BACKGROUND
Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory disease associated with systemic inflammation and comorbidities. Changes in the composition of the intestinal microbiome are involved in the pathogenesis of inflammatory diseases and metabolic syndrome. Characterizing the intestinal microbiome of patients with psoriasis may be relevant for the understanding of its clinical course and comorbidity prevention.
OBJECTIVE
To characterize the intestinal microbiome of men with psoriasis compared to omnivore and vegetarian controls (without psoriasis).
METHOD
Cross-sectional study of 42 adult males: 21 omnivores with psoriasis; and controls: 14 omnivores and 7 vegetarian individuals. The characterization of the intestinal microbiome was performed by metagenomic analysis. Serum levels of lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (LPB) and C-reactive protein (CRP) were evaluated.
RESULTS
The groups differed from each other regarding nutritional aspects and microbiome; individuals with psoriasis had a higher consumption of protein and lower consumption of fibers. Levels of LPB, CRP, and the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio were higher in the group with psoriasis than in the vegetarian group (p<0.05). The genera Prevotella, Mogibacterium, Dorea, Bifidobacterium and Coprococcus, differed in the group with psoriasis compared to vegetarians; the genera Mogibacterium, Collinsella and Desulfovibrio differed from omnivores. A microbiome pattern linked to psoriasis (plsPSO) was identified, which was associated with higher LPB levels (rho=0.39; p=0.02), and lower dietary fiber intake (rho=-0.71; p<0.01).
STUDY LIMITATIONS
Only adult men were evaluated.
CONCLUSION
A difference was identified in the intestinal microbiome of adult men with psoriasis when compared to healthy omnivores and vegetarian controls. The identified microbiome pattern was correlated with dietary fiber intake and serum levels of LPB.
Topics: Male; Humans; Adult; Diet; Diet, Vegetarian; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Cross-Sectional Studies; Brazil; Vegetarians; Dietary Fiber; Psoriasis
PubMed: 37156688
DOI: 10.1016/j.abd.2022.08.008 -
Frontiers in Microbiology 2023Prokaryotic communities play important roles in sewer sediment ecosystems, but the community composition, functional potential, and assembly mechanisms of sewer sediment...
Prokaryotic communities play important roles in sewer sediment ecosystems, but the community composition, functional potential, and assembly mechanisms of sewer sediment prokaryotic communities are still poorly understood. Here, we studied the sediment prokaryotic communities in different urban functional areas (multifunctional, commercial, and residential areas) through 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. Our results suggested that the compositions of prokaryotic communities varied significantly among functional areas. , , and involved in the sulfur cycle and some hydrolytic fermentation bacteria were enriched in multifunctional area, while and , which were related to methane metabolism were significantly discriminant taxa in the commercial area. Physicochemical properties were closely related to overall community changes ( < 0.001), especially the nutrient levels of sediments (i.e., total nitrogen and total phosphorus) and sediment pH. Network analysis revealed that the prokaryotic community network of the residential area sediment was more complex than the other functional areas, suggesting higher stability of the prokaryotic community in the residential area. Stochastic processes dominated the construction of the prokaryotic community. These results expand our understanding of the characteristics of prokaryotic communities in sewer sediment, providing a new perspective for studying sewer sediment prokaryotic community structure.
PubMed: 38173681
DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1327523 -
Journal of Pharmaceutical Analysis Feb 2024The gut microbiota plays a pivotal role in the immunomodulatory and protumorigenic microenvironment of colorectal cancer (CRC). However, the effect of ginsenoside Rk3...
The gut microbiota plays a pivotal role in the immunomodulatory and protumorigenic microenvironment of colorectal cancer (CRC). However, the effect of ginsenoside Rk3 (Rk3) on CRC and gut microbiota remains unclear. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to explore the potential effect of Rk3 on CRC from the perspective of gut microbiota and immune regulation. Our results reveal that treatment with Rk3 significantly suppresses the formation of colon tumors, repairs intestinal barrier damage, and regulates the gut microbiota imbalance caused by CRC, including enrichment of probiotics such as and , and clearance of pathogenic . Subsequent metabolomics data demonstrate that Rk3 can modulate the metabolism of amino acids and bile acids, particularly by upregulating glutamine, which has the potential to regulate the immune response. Furthermore, we elucidate the regulatory effects of Rk3 on chemokines and inflammatory factors associated with group 3 innate lymphoid cells (ILC3s) and T helper 17 (Th17) signaling pathways, which inhibits the hyperactivation of the Janus kinase-signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (JAK-STAT3) signaling pathway. These results indicate that Rk3 modulates gut microbiota, regulates ILC3s immune response, and inhibits the JAK-STAT3 signaling pathway to suppress the development of colon tumors. More importantly, the results of fecal microbiota transplantation suggest that the inhibitory effect of Rk3 on colon tumors and its regulation of ILC3 immune responses are mediated by the gut microbiota. In summary, these findings emphasize that Rk3 can be utilized as a regulator of the gut microbiota for the prevention and treatment of CRC.
PubMed: 38464791
DOI: 10.1016/j.jpha.2023.09.010 -
Characterization of the Bottlenecks and Pathways for Inhibitor Dissociation from [NiFe] Hydrogenase.Journal of Chemical Information and... May 2024[NiFe] hydrogenases can act as efficient catalysts for hydrogen oxidation and biofuel production. However, some [NiFe] hydrogenases are inhibited by gas molecules...
[NiFe] hydrogenases can act as efficient catalysts for hydrogen oxidation and biofuel production. However, some [NiFe] hydrogenases are inhibited by gas molecules present in the environment, such as O and CO. One strategy to engineer [NiFe] hydrogenases and achieve O- and CO-tolerant enzymes is by introducing point mutations to block the access of inhibitors to the catalytic site. In this work, we characterized the unbinding pathways of CO in the complex with the wild-type and 10 different mutants of [NiFe] hydrogenase from using τ-random accelerated molecular dynamics (τRAMD) to enhance the sampling of unbinding events. The ranking provided by the relative residence times computed with τRAMD is in agreement with experiments. Extensive data analysis of the simulations revealed that from the two bottlenecks proposed in previous studies for the transit of gas molecules (residues 74 and 122 and residues 74 and 476), only one of them (residues 74 and 122) effectively modulates diffusion and residence times for CO. We also computed pathway probabilities for the unbinding of CO, O, and H from the wild-type [NiFe] hydrogenase, and we observed that while the most probable pathways are the same, the secondary pathways are different. We propose that introducing mutations to block the most probable paths, in combination with mutations to open the main secondary path used by H, can be a feasible strategy to achieve CO and O resistance in the [NiFe] hydrogenase from .
Topics: Hydrogenase; Molecular Dynamics Simulation; Carbon Monoxide; Desulfovibrio; Enzyme Inhibitors; Mutation; Oxygen; Protein Conformation
PubMed: 38728115
DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.4c00187 -
Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety Sep 2023Numerous antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and virulence factors (VFs) found in animal manure pose significant risks to human health. However, the effects of graphene...
Numerous antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and virulence factors (VFs) found in animal manure pose significant risks to human health. However, the effects of graphene sodium selenite (GSSe), a novel chemical nano-Selenium, and biological nano-Selenium (BNSSe), a new bioaugmentation nano-Se, on bacterial Se metabolism, chemotaxis, ARGs, and VFs in animal manure remain unknown. In this study, we investigated the effects of GSSe and BNSSe on ARGs and VFs expression in broiler manure using high-throughput sequencing. Results showed that BNSSe reduced Se pressure during anaerobic fermentation by inhibiting bacterial selenocompound metabolism pathways, thereby lowering manure Selenium pollution. Additionally, the expression levels of ARGs and VFs were lower in the BNSSe group compared to the Sodium Selenite and GSSe groups, as BNSSe inhibited bacterial chemotaxis pathways. Co-occurrence network analysis identified ARGs and VFs within the following phyla Bacteroidetes (genera Butyricimonas, Odoribacter, Paraprevotella, and Rikenella), Firmicutes (genera Lactobacillus, Candidatus_Borkfalkia, Merdimonas, Oscillibacter, Intestinimonas, and Megamonas), and Proteobacteria (genera Desulfovibrio). The expression and abundance of ARGs and VFs genes were found to be associated with ARGs-VFs coexistence. Moreover, BNSSe disruption of bacterial selenocompound metabolism and chemotaxis pathways resulted in less frequent transfer of ARGs and VFs. These findings indicate that BNSSe can reduce ARGs and VFs expression in animal manure by suppressing bacterial selenocompound metabolism and chemotaxis pathways.
Topics: Humans; Animals; Selenium; Manure; Genes, Bacterial; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Chemotaxis; Sodium Selenite; Chickens; Bacteria; Drug Resistance, Microbial; Bacteroidetes; Firmicutes
PubMed: 37499390
DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2023.115277 -
Immunity, Inflammation and Disease Nov 2023Cystic echinococcosis (CE), a zoonotic parasitic disease caused by Echinococcus granulosus, remains a public health and socioeconomic issue worldwide, making its...
OBJECTIVE
Cystic echinococcosis (CE), a zoonotic parasitic disease caused by Echinococcus granulosus, remains a public health and socioeconomic issue worldwide, making its prevention and treatment of vital importance. The aim of this study was to investigate changes in the intestinal microbiota of mice immunized with three peptide vaccines based on the recombinant antigen of E. granulosus, P29 (rEg.P29), with the hope of providing more valuable information for the development of vaccines against CE.
METHODS
Three peptide vaccines, rEg.P29 , rEg.P29 , and rEg.P29 , were prepared based on rEg.P29, and a subcutaneous immunization model was established. The intestinal floras of mice in the different immunization groups were analyzed by 16 S rRNA gene sequencing.
RESULTS
The intestinal microbiota analysis at both immunization time points revealed that Firmicutes, Bacteroidota, and Verrucomicrobiota were the predominant flora at the phylum level, while at the genus level, Akkermansia, unclassified_Muribaculaceae, Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group, and uncultured_rumen bacterium were the dominant genera. Some probiotics in the intestines of mice were significantly increased after immunization with the peptide vaccines, such as Lactobacillus_taiwanensis, Lactobacillus_reuteri, Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group, Bacteroides_acidifaciens, and so forth. Meanwhile, some harmful or conditionally pathogenic bacteria were decreased, such as Turicibacter sanguinis, Desulfovibrio_fairfieldensis, Clostridium_sp, and so forth, most of which are associated with inflammatory or infectious diseases. Kyoto Encyclopaedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analysis revealed that the differential flora were enriched in multiple metabolic pathways, primarily biological systems, human diseases, metabolism, cellular processes, and environmental information processing.
CONCLUSION
In this study, we comprehensively analyzed and compared changes in the intestinal microbiota of mice immunized with three peptide vaccines as well as their related metabolic pathways, providing a theoretical background for the development of novel vaccines against E. granulosus.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Mice; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Epitopes; Echinococcosis; Echinococcus granulosus; Zoonoses; Recombinant Proteins; Vaccines, Subunit; Peptides
PubMed: 38018604
DOI: 10.1002/iid3.1082 -
Cardiovascular Research May 2024Probiotics with high bile salt hydrolase (BSH) activity have shown to promote cardiovascular health. However, their mechanism(s) of action remain poorly understood....
AIMS
Probiotics with high bile salt hydrolase (BSH) activity have shown to promote cardiovascular health. However, their mechanism(s) of action remain poorly understood. Here, we performed a pilot exploratory study to investigate effects of a 4-week intervention with escalating doses of a BSH-active formula containing Lactiplantibacillus plantarum strains KABP011, KABP012, and KABP013 on bile acid (BA), lipid profile, and lipoprotein function.
METHODS AND RESULTS
Healthy overweight individuals were included in this study. The probiotic intake was associated with a progressive decrease of conjugated BAs in serum, due to the reduction of tauro- and glyco-conjugated forms. Plasma levels of fibroblast growth factor-19 were significantly reduced and correlated with BA changes. The probiotic induced significant changes in serum lipids, with reduction in non-HDL cholesterol (non-HDLc) and LDL cholesterol (LDLc) levels. The largest decrease was evidenced in the subgroup with higher baseline LDLc levels (LDLc > 130 mg/dL). Fasting levels of circulating apolipoprotein(Apo) B100 and ApoB48 were significantly reduced. Importantly, the decrease in non-HDLc levels was associated with a significant reduction in small LDL particles. Functional testing indicated that LDL particles had a significantly lower susceptibility to oxidation, while HDL particles gained antioxidant capacity after the probiotic intake. The microbiota profile in faeces collected at the end of the study was enriched with members of class Desulfovibrio, a taurine-consuming bacteria, likely because of the increase in free taurine in the gut due to the BSH activity of the probiotic.
CONCLUSION
The intervention with L. plantarum strains induces beneficial effects on BA signature and lipoprotein profile. It reduces ApoB and small LDL levels and LDL susceptibility to oxidation and increases HDL antioxidant capacity. These metabolic profile changes suggest increased protection against atherosclerotic disease.
Topics: Probiotics; Humans; Bile Acids and Salts; Male; Female; Pilot Projects; Middle Aged; Adult; Biomarkers; Cholesterol; Lactobacillus plantarum; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Time Factors; Apolipoprotein B-100; Amidohydrolases; Apolipoprotein B-48; Treatment Outcome; Cholesterol, LDL; Fibroblast Growth Factors
PubMed: 38525555
DOI: 10.1093/cvr/cvae061 -
Poultry Science Dec 2023This experiment was conducted to explore the interactions between enzyme preparations and trace element sources on growth performance and intestinal health of broilers...
This experiment was conducted to explore the interactions between enzyme preparations and trace element sources on growth performance and intestinal health of broilers chicks. A total of 480 one-day-old healthy male yellow-feather broilers with similar weight were randomly arranged in a 2 × 2 factorial design with 2 kinds of compound trace element sources (inorganic [I] and organic [O] trace element supplemented with 80, 8, 60, 40, 0.15 mg/kg of Fe, Cu, Mn, Zn, and Se, respectively) and 2 levels of enzyme preparations (0 and 200 mg/kg). The 4 groups named I, O, IE, and OE with 6 replicates and 20 birds per replicate. The trail lasted for 28 days. Results showed that the average weight (ABW), average daily gain (ADG) of broilers in IE and OE groups significantly increased while the F/G significantly decreased as compared with group I and O (P < 0.05). Enzyme preparation supplementation, regardless of the trace element sources, significantly increased the duodenal and jejunal endogenous enzyme (e.g., Try and AACT) activity, and improved the morphology and jejunal barrier function evidenced by the increased villus height and MUC-2 mRNA expression (P < 0.05). Sequencing data manifested that enzyme preparations favorably modulated the cecal microflora by increasing bacterial diversity and abundance of short-chain fatty acid (SCFA)-producing bacteria (e.g., Anaerostipes, Anaerofusis, and Pygmaioactor), while decreasing the abundance of harmful bacteria (e.g., Desulfovibrio). Factorial analysis indicated that there were no interactions between enzyme preparation and trace element sources on growth performance and intestinal health of broiler chicks. In conclusion, dietary supplementation with enzyme preparations, regardless of the trace element sources, could enhance endogenous enzyme activity, improve intestinal morphology and barrier functions, and favorably modulate the cecal microflora, thereby improving the intestinal health and growth performance of broiler chicks.
Topics: Animals; Male; Trace Elements; Chickens; Dietary Supplements; Intestines; Intestinal Mucosa; Diet; Animal Feed
PubMed: 37922857
DOI: 10.1016/j.psj.2023.103124 -
Scientific Reports Jul 2023Mediation by sulphate-reducing bacteria (SRB) is responsible for pyrite (FeS) formation. The origin of the Dachang tin polymetallic ore field is related to the...
Mediation by sulphate-reducing bacteria (SRB) is responsible for pyrite (FeS) formation. The origin of the Dachang tin polymetallic ore field is related to the mineralisation of submarine hydrothermal vent sediments. Here, we investigated SRB in these ores via morphological, chemical, and isotopic analyses. Polarised and scanning electron microscopy indicated that trace SRB fossils in the metal sulphide ore were present in the form of tubular, beaded, and coccoidal bodies comprising FeS and were enclosed within a pyrrhotite (FeS) matrix in the vicinity of micro-hydrothermal vents. The carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and oxygen (O) contents in the FeS synthesised by SRB were high, and a clear biological Raman signal was detected. No such signals were discerned in the peripheral FeS. This co-occurrence of FeS, FeS, and the remains of bacteria (probably chemoautotrophic bacteria) was interpreted as the coprecipitation process of SRB-mediated FeS formation, which has, to the best of our knowledge, not been reported before. Our study also illustrates that combined energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and isotopic analysis can be used as a novel methodology to document microbial-mediated processes of mineral deposition in submarine hydrothermal vent ecology on geological time scales.
Topics: Tin; China; Sulfides; Bacteria; Desulfovibrio; Sulfates
PubMed: 37468706
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-38827-x