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Animals : An Open Access Journal From... Dec 2022This study is aimed at the effects of low-protein diets with four amino acids balanced on serum biochemical parameters and colonic microflora of finishing pigs....
This study is aimed at the effects of low-protein diets with four amino acids balanced on serum biochemical parameters and colonic microflora of finishing pigs. Fifty-four healthy (Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire) hybrid barrows with an average body weight of 70.12 ± 4.03 kg were randomly assigned to one of three dietary treatments with three barrows per pen and six pens per treatment. The barrows were fed a normal protein diet (NP), a low-protein diet (LP), and a very low-protein diet (VLP). Compared with the NP diet, reduced dietary protein did not influence serum biochemical parameters (p > 0.05). The valeric acid was significantly increased with the VLP diet (p < 0.05). Compared with the NP diets, the abundance of Terrisporobacter (13.37%) Clostridium_sensu_stricto_1 (23.37%) and Turicibacter (2.57%) increased to 21.04, 33.42 and 13.68% in LP diets and 16.72, 43.71 and 14.61% in VLP diets, while the abundance of Lactobacillus (9.30%) and Streptococcus (25.26%) decreased to 3.57 and 14.50% in LP diets and 1.86 and 4.07% in VLP diets. Turicibacter and Clostridium_sensu_stricto_6 had a powerful negative correlation with the content of valeric acid (p < 0.01), while Peptococcus and Clostridia_UCG-014 had a very solid positive correlation (p < 0.01). In conclusion, reducing dietary protein level can improve colon microbiota composition, especially reducing the abundance of bacteria related to nitrogen metabolism, but has no significant effect on SCFA except valeric acid. In addition, reduction in the dietary protein level by 5.48% had more different flora than that of 2.74% reduction in dietary CP level.
PubMed: 36611619
DOI: 10.3390/ani13010009 -
Food & Function Oct 2023The protective effects of yak milk (YM) against chronic alcoholic liver injury in rats were investigated in this study. Histologic and biochemical analyses demonstrated...
The protective effects of yak milk (YM) against chronic alcoholic liver injury in rats were investigated in this study. Histologic and biochemical analyses demonstrated that YM consumption ameliorates alcohol-induced liver injury by increasing the liver antioxidant enzyme activity and reducing inflammation. Furthermore, microbiome and metabolomic analyses exploring YM's impact on gut microbiota and metabolism found that YM administration regulates gut microbiota composition. Specifically, there was a decrease in the relative abundance of , , and , along with an increase in and . Moreover, Pearson analysis indicated positive correlations between and with ALT and AST levels, while showing a negative correlation with ADH levels. Furthermore, differential metabolite analysis of fecal samples from the YM group identified significant increases in the taurine (2-Aminoethanesulfonic acid), hypotaurine (2-Aminoethanesulfonic Acid) and isethionic acid levels. Finally, KEGG topology analysis highlighted taurine and hypotaurine metabolism as the primary pathways influenced by YM intervention. Therefore, these findings collectively suggest that YM may protect alcohol-exposed rats against liver injury by modulating oxidative stress, inflammatory response, gut microbiota disorder, and metabolic regulation.
Topics: Rats; Cattle; Animals; Milk; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury, Chronic; Liver; Ethanol; Taurine; Antioxidants
PubMed: 37853817
DOI: 10.1039/d3fo03675h -
Frontiers in Microbiology 2024Several studies have pointed to the critical role of gut microbiota (GM) and their metabolites in Hirschsprung disease (HSCR) pathogenesis. However, the detailed causal...
BACKGROUND
Several studies have pointed to the critical role of gut microbiota (GM) and their metabolites in Hirschsprung disease (HSCR) pathogenesis. However, the detailed causal relationship between GM and HSCR remains unknown.
METHODS
In this study, we used two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis to investigate the causal relationship between GM and HSCR, based on the MiBioGen Consortium's genome-wide association study (GWAS) and the GWAS Catalog's HSCR data. Reverse MR analysis was performed subsequently, and the sensitivity analysis, Cochran's Q-test, MR pleiotropy residual sum, outlier (MR-PRESSO), and the MR-Egger intercept were used to analyze heterogeneity or horizontal pleiotropy. 16S rDNA sequencing and targeted mass spectrometry were developed for initial validation.
RESULTS
In the forward MR analysis, inverse-variance weighted (IVW) estimates suggested that Eggerthella (OR: 2.66, 95%CI: 1.23-5.74, = 0.01) was a risk factor for HSCR, while Peptococcus (OR: 0.37, 95%CI: 0.18-0.73, = 0.004), Ruminococcus2 (OR: 0.32, 95%CI: 0.11-0.91, = 0.03), Clostridiaceae1 (OR: 0.22, 95%CI: 0.06-0.78, = 0.02), Mollicutes RF9 (OR: 0.27, 95%CI: 0.09-0.8, = 0.02), Ruminococcaceae (OR: 0.16, 95%CI: 0.04-0.66, = 0.01), and Paraprevotella (OR: 0.45, 95%CI: 0.21-0.98, = 0.04) were protective factors for HSCR, which had no heterogeneity or horizontal pleiotropy. However, reverse MR analysis showed that HSCR (OR: 1.02, 95%CI: 1-1.03, = 0.049) is the risk factor for Eggerthella. Furthermore, some of the above microbiota and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) were altered in HSCR, showing a correlation.
CONCLUSION
Our analysis established the relationship between specific GM and HSCR, identifying specific bacteria as protective or risk factors. Significant microbiota and SCFAs were altered in HSCR, underlining the importance of further study and providing new insights into the pathogenesis and treatment.
PubMed: 38516012
DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1366181 -
Frontiers in Nutrition 2021This study aimed to evaluate the effects of dietary Thw. (LST) powder supplementation on growth performance, blood metabolites, antioxidant status, intestinal...
This study aimed to evaluate the effects of dietary Thw. (LST) powder supplementation on growth performance, blood metabolites, antioxidant status, intestinal morphology, and cecal microbiome in broiler chickens. A total of 400 1-day-old male Guangxi partridge broilers (initial body weight: 42.52 ± 0.06 g) were randomly allotted to 4 dietary treatments: LST0 group (a basal diet), LST1 group (a basal diet with 1% LST powder), LST2 group (a basal diet with 2% LST powder), LST4 group (a basal diet with 4% LST powder), 10 replicates for each treatment, and 10 broilers in each treatment group. Results indicated that the average daily feed intake of broilers during 22-42 days and the average daily gain of chickens during 1-42 days significantly increased by dietary supplementation of LST powder ( < 0.01), while the feed conversion ratio during the overall periods was decreased by dietary supplementation of LST powder ( < 0.01). Except for the levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) in liver ( > 0.05), the levels of SOD, catalase (CAT) and GSH-Px in serum, liver, and breast muscle were significantly increased in the LST supplemented groups ( < 0.05), while the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in serum, liver, and breast muscle were significantly decreased in the LST supplemented groups ( < 0.05). Furthermore, the levels of triglyceride (TG) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) were significantly decreased by the addition of dietary LST powder ( < 0.01), while the levels of HDL-C, Ca, Fe, Mg, and P were linearly increased by the addition of dietary LST powder ( < 0.01). With respect to the gut morphometric, crypt depth was significantly decreased by LST supplementation ( < 0.05), while villus height and the ratio of villus height to crypt depth were notably increased by LST supplementation ( < 0.05). Sequencing of 16S ribosomal RNA (16S rRNA) from the cecal contents of broilers revealed that the composition of the chicken gut microbiota was altered by LST supplementation. The α-diversity of microbiota in broilers was increased ( < 0.05) in the LST1 group, but was decreased ( < 0.05) in the LST2 and LST4 groups compared with the LST0 group. The differential genera enriched in the LST1 group, such as , were closely related to the increased growth performance, antioxidant status, intestinal morphology, Ca, Mg, and reduced blood lipid in the treated broilers.
PubMed: 35096929
DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2021.775223 -
Journal of Microbiology (Seoul, Korea) Nov 2022Backfat thickness (BF) is an important indicator of fat deposition capacity and lean meat rate in pigs and is very important in porcine genetics and breeding. Intestinal...
Backfat thickness (BF) is an important indicator of fat deposition capacity and lean meat rate in pigs and is very important in porcine genetics and breeding. Intestinal microbiota plays a key role in nutrient digestion and utilization with a profound impact on fat deposition of livestock animals. To investigate the relationship between the pig gut microbiome and BF, 20 low-BF (L-BF) and 20 high-BF (H-BF) pigs were selected as two groups from Yunong Black pigs in the present study. Fecal samples from pigs were analyzed for microbial diversity, composition, and predicted functionality using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The results showed that there were significant differences in microbial β diversity between the two groups. LEfSe analysis revealed a number of bacterial features being differentially enriched in either L-BF or H-BF pigs. Spearman correlation analysis identified the abundance of Oscillospira, Peptococcus, and Bulleidia were significantly positive correlations with BF (P < 0.05), while Sutterella and Bifidobacterium were significantly negatively correlated with BF (P < 0.05). Importantly, the bacteria significantly positively correlated with BF mainly belong to Clostridium, which can ferment host-indigestible plant polysaccharides into short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) and promote fat synthesis and deposition. Predictive functional analysis indicated that the pathway abundance of cell motility and glycan biosynthesis were significantly widespread in the microbiota of the H-BF group. The results of this study will be useful for the development of microbial biomarkers for predicting and improving porcine BF, as well as for the investigation of targets for dietary strategies.
Topics: Swine; Animals; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; Feces; Microbiota; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Bacteria
PubMed: 36085403
DOI: 10.1007/s12275-022-2218-5 -
Postepy Dermatologii I Alergologii Feb 2022Quantitative and qualitative changes in the microbiome of the skin affect the emergence and course of allergic diseases, in particular, of acute urticaria.
INTRODUCTION
Quantitative and qualitative changes in the microbiome of the skin affect the emergence and course of allergic diseases, in particular, of acute urticaria.
AIM
To investigate the taxonomic composition of the skin microbiota in children with acute urticaria and to study its effect on the course of the disease.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
In total, 75 children with diagnosed acute urticaria at the age of 7--14 years were examined. The average age of children was 10.83 ±0.95, of which 44 (58.7%) were boys, and 31 (41.3%) were girls. The control group consisted of 30 virtually healthy children of the appropriate age, of whom 16 (53.3%) were boys, and 13 (46.7%) were girls.
RESULTS
Regardless of the severity of the disease, the examined children suffering from acute urticaria had sensitization in history with a significant prevalence of food sensitization ( < 0.05). The occurrence of a severe episode of acute urticaria is associated with allergens of drug origin in 52.6% of cases and the action of unidentified triggers in 47.4% of cases. In children with acute urticaria, , bacteria of the genus , and dominated on a non-affected skin area, while for the affected skin area, the , bacteria of the genus , and were denoted as dominating.
CONCLUSIONS
High frequency of detection on affected and non- affected skin areas in children with acute urticaria is a predictor of the disease severity.
PubMed: 35369637
DOI: 10.5114/ada.2022.113808 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) May 2022The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of quercetin on inflammatory response and intestinal microflora in broiler chicken jejuna. A total of 120 broiler...
The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of quercetin on inflammatory response and intestinal microflora in broiler chicken jejuna. A total of 120 broiler chickens were allocated into 3 groups: saline-challenged broilers fed a basal diet (CTR group), lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-challenged broilers fed a basal diet (L group) and LPS-challenged broilers fed a basal diet supplemented with 200 mg/kg quercetin (LQ group). Our results showed that LPS significantly increased expression of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-8, interferon (IFN)-γ, toll-like receptor (TLR)-4, and diamine oxidase activity (DAO), and decreased expression of zona occludens-1 ZO-1, Occludin and Bcl-2 in the jejunum, while dietary quercetin prevented the adverse effects of LPS injection. LPS injection significantly decreased the number of , and at the phylum level when compared to the CTR group. Additionally, at genus level, compared with the CTR group, the abundance of , , , , , and in L group was significantly decreased, while dietary quercetin restored the numbers of these bacteria. In conclusion, our results demonstrated that dietary quercetin could alleviate inflammatory responses of broiler chickens accompanied by modulating jejunum microflora.
Topics: Animal Feed; Animals; Chickens; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Inflammation; Lipopolysaccharides; Quercetin
PubMed: 35630745
DOI: 10.3390/molecules27103269 -
Progress in Neuro-psychopharmacology &... Dec 2023Previous studies have reported a variety of gut microbiota alterations in patients with schizophrenia. However, none of these studies has investigated gut microbiota in...
BACKGROUND
Previous studies have reported a variety of gut microbiota alterations in patients with schizophrenia. However, none of these studies has investigated gut microbiota in patients with the deficit subtype of schizophrenia (D-SCZ) that can be characterized by primary and enduring negative symptoms. Therefore, in this study we aimed to profile gut microbiota of individuals with D-SCZ, compared to those with non-deficit schizophrenia (ND-SCZ) and healthy controls (HCs).
METHODS
A total of 115 outpatients (44 individuals with D-SCZ and 71 individuals with ND-SCZ) during remission of positive and disorganization symptoms as well as 120 HCs were enrolled. Gut microbiota was analyzed using the 16 rRNA amplicon sequencing. Additionally, the levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), glucose and lipid metabolism markers were determined in the peripheral blood samples.
RESULTS
Altogether 14 genera showed differential abundance in patients with D-SCZ compared to ND-SCZ and HCs, including Candidatus Soleaferrea, Eubacterium, Fusobacterium, Lachnospiraceae UCG-002, Lachnospiraceae UCG-004, Lachnospiraceae UCG-010, Libanicoccus, Limosilactobacillus, Mogibacterium, Peptococcus, Prevotella, Prevotellaceae NK3B31 group, Rikenellaceae RC9 gut group, and Slackia after adjustment for potential confounding factors. Observed alterations were significantly associated with cognitive performance in both groups of patients. Moreover, several significant correlations of differentially abundant genera with the levels of CRP, lipid profile parameters, glucose and insulin were found across all subgroups of participants.
CONCLUSION
Findings from the present study indicate that individuals with D-SCZ show a distinct profile of gut microbiota alterations that is associated with cognitive performance, metabolic parameters and subclinical inflammation.
Topics: Humans; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Schizophrenia; Case-Control Studies; Glucose; Clostridiales
PubMed: 37473955
DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2023.110834 -
ACS Chemical Neuroscience Mar 2024Alteration of gut microbiota and microbial metabolites such as short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) coexisted with stress-generated brain disorders, including depression....
Alteration of gut microbiota and microbial metabolites such as short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) coexisted with stress-generated brain disorders, including depression. Herein, we investigated the effect of SCFAs in a treatment-resistant depression (TRD) model of rat. Rats were exposed to chronic-unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) and repeated adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) injections to generate a TRD-like phenotype. The cecal contents of these animals were engrafted into healthy-recipient rats and allowed to colonize for 4 weeks (TRD-FMT group). Blood, brain, colon, fecal, and cecal samples were collected for molecular studies. Rats exposed to CUMS + ACTH showed TRD-like phenotypes in sucrose-preference (SPT), forced swim (FST), and elevated plus maze (EPM) tests. The TRD-FMT group also exhibited anxiety- and depression-like behaviors. Administration of SCFAs (acetate, propionate, and butyrate at 67.5, 25, and 40 mM, respectively) for 7 days exerted robust antidepressant and antianxiety effects by restoring the levels of SCFAs in plasma and fecal samples, and proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-α and IL-6), serotonin, GABA, norepinephrine, and dopamine in the hippocampus and/or frontal cortex of TRD and TRD-FMT animals. SCFAs treatment elevated the expression of free-fatty acid receptors 2/3, BDNF, doublecortin, and zonula-occludens, and reduced the elevated plasma levels of kynurenine and quinolinic acid and increased mucus-producing goblet cells in TRD and TRD-FMT animals. In 16S sequencing results, decreased microbial diversity in TRD rats corresponds with differences in the genus of , , , , , , _UCG-014, _UCG-002, , , and . SCFAs may impart beneficial effects via modulation of tryptophan metabolism, inflammation, neurotransmitters, and microbiota-gut-brain axis in TRD rats.
Topics: Rats; Animals; Depression; Anxiety; Fatty Acids, Volatile; Phenotype; Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; Dietary Supplements; Stress, Psychological
PubMed: 38382546
DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.3c00727 -
PloS One 2020Pharyngeal gonorrhoea is a common sexually transmitted infection among 'men having sex with other men' (MSM). Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) pharyngeal infections are...
Pharyngeal gonorrhoea is a common sexually transmitted infection among 'men having sex with other men' (MSM). Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) pharyngeal infections are usually characterized by the absence of symptoms, acting as an important reservoir for their further spread. To the best of our knowledge, no information about the composition of the pharyngeal microbiome during an ongoing NG infection is currently available. Therefore, in this study, we characterized the pharyngeal bacterial community profiles associated with NG infection in a well-selected cohort of HIV-negative MSM reporting unsafe oral intercourse. A total of 70 pharyngeal swabs were considered, comparing non-infected subjects (n = 45) versus patients with pharyngeal gonorrhoea (n = 25) whose microbiota composition was analyzed from pharyngeal swabs through sequencing of hypervariable V3-V4 regions of the 16S rRNA gene. The pharyngeal microbiome of all subjects was dominated by Prevotellaceae, Veillonellaceae and Streptococcaceae families. Patients with pharyngeal gonorrhoea harboured a pharyngeal microbiome quite similar to negative subjects. Nevertheless, when looking to less-represented bacterial species (relative abundance approximately 1% or less), an imbalance between aerobe and anaerobe microorganisms was observed in NG-infected patients. In particular, the pharyngeal microbiome of NG-positive individuals was richer in several anaerobes (e.g. Treponema, Parvimonas, Peptococcus, Catonella, Filifactor) and poorer in various aerobe genera (i.e. Pseudomonas, Escherichia), compared to non-infected controls. No significant differences were noticed in the distribution of commensal Neisseria species of the oropharynx between NG-positive and negative subjects. Metabolic variations induced by changes in the microbiome abundance were assessed by a functional prediction of the bacterial metabolic pathways: a more abundant involvement of D-glutamine and D-glutamate metabolism, carbohydrate metabolism, as well as a greater activation of the energy metabolism was observed in patients with pharyngeal gonorrhoea compared to non-infected individuals. Information about the bacterial composition of the pharyngeal microbiome in case of gonorrhoea could shed light on the pathogenesis of the infection and open new perspectives for the prevention and control of this condition.
Topics: Cohort Studies; Gonorrhea; Humans; Italy; Male; Microbiota; Pharyngeal Diseases; Pharynx; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; Sexual and Gender Minorities; Unsafe Sex
PubMed: 31945133
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0227985