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Animals : An Open Access Journal From... Nov 2020The gut microbiota in sows is important for the health of the host, and potential benefits may also be transferred to piglets during pregnancy. Therefore, systematic...
The gut microbiota in sows is important for the health of the host, and potential benefits may also be transferred to piglets during pregnancy. Therefore, systematic studies investigating the changes in the gut microbiota of sows are needed to elucidate the microbial compositions and functions. This study was conducted at 12 time points to investigate the temporal variations in gut microbiota on Days 27, 46, 64, 81, 100, and 113 during gestation (G) and Days 3, 5, 7, 10, 14, and 21 during lactation (L). Results suggested that the gut microbiota changed across the perinatal period with microbial function and abundance varying between the prenatal and postnatal periods. The alpha diversity was higher in the postnatal period than in the prenatal period. Thirty-eight genera were distributed between the two periods with , , , and r being enriched in the prenatal period while , , , , , , , were enriched in the postnatal period. Analysis done at the different time points of the prenatal period suggested that Days 27 and 113 had more microbial biomarkers than other days. , , and were enriched on the 27th day, while bacteria belonging to the and were enriched on the 113th day. On the other hand, , , , and unclassified were enriched three days after delivery. Predicted microbial KO functions were also more enriched on Day 27 of the gestation period and Day 3 of the lactation period. Random forest, a machine learning method, was used to identify the top five important genera of , , , , and , while the most important function was arginine and proline metabolism. These systematic results provide important information for the gut microbiota of sows.
PubMed: 33266170
DOI: 10.3390/ani10122254 -
Frontiers in Microbiology 2022A red yeast isolated from orange and grape soil and identified by the 26S rDNA sequence analysis revealed that it was and named TZR. Its biomass and carotenoid...
A red yeast isolated from orange and grape soil and identified by the 26S rDNA sequence analysis revealed that it was and named TZR. Its biomass and carotenoid production reached a maximum when using the fermentation medium with pH 6.0, containing 5% glucose, 1% peptone, and 1.5% yeast powder. TZR was resistant to 55°C for 15 min, 0.2% pig bile salts for 4 h, and artificial gastric and intestinal fluids. A total of thirty 28-day weaned pigs were divided into three groups, and the piglets were fed a basal diet (CON), a basal diet and orally administered 1 ml 1.0 × 10 CFU/ml DSM 2361 three times (), or a basal diet and orally administered 1 ml 1.0 × 10 CFU/mL TZR three times daily () for 4 weeks. Compared with the piglets in the CON group, those in the or group reported an increased average daily weight gain and average daily feed intake ( < 0.05) and a decreased feed/gain ( < 0.05). The diarrhea rate of piglets in the group was lower than that in the CON and groups ( < 0.05). Compared with that in the CON and groups, the group reported an increased ileum villus height ( < 0.05), serum concentration of total antioxidant content, total superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase and pepsin and lipase activities in the intestinal content, while it reported a decreased serum concentration of malondialdehyde and pH of the intestinal tract ( < 0.05). The relative abundances of and of caecum in the group were lower than those in the CON and group ( < 0.05). The relative abundances of , and of caecum in the group were higher than those in the CON and group ( < 0.05). TZR can produce carotenoids and adapts to the animal's gastrointestinal environment. Oral TZR improved growth performance, enhanced antioxidant capacity, strengthened gastrointestinal digestion, and maintained the intestinal microbiological balance of piglets.
PubMed: 35903473
DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.922136 -
Frontiers in Bioengineering and... 2021Dairy manure (DM) is an abundant agricultural residue that is largely composed of lignocellulosic biomass. The aim of this study was to investigate if carbon derived...
Dairy manure (DM) is an abundant agricultural residue that is largely composed of lignocellulosic biomass. The aim of this study was to investigate if carbon derived from DM fibers can be recovered as medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs), which are mixed culture fermentation products of economic interest. DM fibers were subjected to combinations of physical, enzymatic, chemical, and thermochemical pretreatments to evaluate the possibility of producing carbohydrate-rich hydrolysates suitable for microbial fermentation by mixed cultures. Among the pretreatments tested, decrystalization dilute acid pretreatment (DCDA) produced the highest concentrations of glucose and xylose, and was selected for further experiments. Bioreactors fed DCDA hydrolysate were operated. Acetic acid and butyric acid comprised the majority of end products during operation of the bioreactors. MCFAs were transiently produced at a maximum concentration of 0.17 mg COD/mg COD. Analyses of the microbial communities in the bioreactors suggest that lactic acid bacteria, , and were involved in MCFA and C4 production during DCDA hydrolysate metabolism.
PubMed: 34414173
DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2021.724304 -
Journal of Crohn's & Colitis Jul 2023Crohn's disease [CD] is a major subtype of inflammatory bowel diseases [IBD] with increasing incidence and prevalence. Results of studies using available small and large...
BACKGROUND AND AIMS
Crohn's disease [CD] is a major subtype of inflammatory bowel diseases [IBD] with increasing incidence and prevalence. Results of studies using available small and large animal models are often poorly translatable to patients, and few CD models show small intestinal pathology. Due to its similarities to humans, the pig has emerged as a highly suitable translational disease model, particularly for testing novel nutritional and technological interventions. Our goal was to develop a physiologically relevant porcine CD model to facilitate translation of findings and interventions towards the clinic.
METHODS
We generated pigs bearing a 93-bp deletion of the adenosine-uracil-rich element [ARE] and a constitutive-decay element within the 3' untranslated region of the TNF gene. Comparative analysis of physiological, molecular, histological and microbial characteristics was performed between wild-type, TNFΔARE/+ and TNFΔARE/ΔARE animals. Alterations in the microbiome were compared to the TNFΔARE mouse model and IBD patients.
RESULTS
TNF ΔARE pigs recapitulate major characteristics of human CD, including ulcerative transmural ileocolitis, increased abundance of proinflammatory cytokines, immune cell infiltration and dysbiotic microbial communities. 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing revealed enrichment in members belonging to Megasphaera, Campylobacter, Desulfovibrio, Alistipes and Lachnoclostridum in faecal or mucosa-associated bacteria compared to wild-type littermates. Principal components analysis clustering with a subset of TNFΔARE/+ mice and human IBD patients suggests microbial similarity based on disease severity.
CONCLUSIONS
We demonstrate that the TNFΔARE pig resembles a CD-like ileocolitis pathophenotype recapitulating human disease. The ability to conduct long-term studies and test novel surgical procedures and dietary interventions in a physiologically relevant model will benefit future translational IBD research studies.
Topics: Humans; Animals; Mice; Swine; Crohn Disease; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; Ileitis; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases
PubMed: 36821422
DOI: 10.1093/ecco-jcc/jjad034 -
Frontiers in Microbiology 2022The detection dogs are well-known for their excellent capabilities to sense different kinds of smells, which can play an important role in completing various searching...
The detection dogs are well-known for their excellent capabilities to sense different kinds of smells, which can play an important role in completing various searching and rescuing missions. The recent studies have demonstrated that the excellent olfactory function of detection dogs might be related with the gut microbes the bidirectional communications between the gastrointestinal tract and the brain. In this study, the gut microbial communities of three types of breeds of detection dogs (Springer Spaniel, Labrador Retriever, and German Shepherd) were studied and compared. The results revealed that the richness and the diversity of gut microbiome German Shepherd dogs were significantly higher than the Labrador Retriever dogs and the Springer Spaniel dogs. At the phylum level, the most predominant gut microbial communities of the detection dogs were comprised of Fusobacteriota, Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, Campilobacterota, and Actinobacteriota. At the genus level the most predominant gut microbial communities were comprised of , and . However, the gut microbial communities of the three dogs group were also obviously different. The mean relative abundance of , and presented significant differences in the three groups. According to the portraits and characteristics of the gut microbiome in young detection dogs, multiple kinds of nutritional interventions could be applied to manipulate the gut microbiota, with the aim of improving the health states and the olfactory performances.
PubMed: 35516435
DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.872230 -
Microorganisms Jan 2024The Gram-negative, strictly anaerobic bacterium was first isolated from the rumen in 1953 and is common in the mammalian gastrointestinal tract. Its ability to use... (Review)
Review
The Gram-negative, strictly anaerobic bacterium was first isolated from the rumen in 1953 and is common in the mammalian gastrointestinal tract. Its ability to use either lactate or glucose as its major energy sources for growth has been well documented, although it can also ferment amino acids into ammonia and branched-chain fatty acids, which are growth factors for other bacteria. The ruminal abundance of usually increases in animals fed grain-based diets due to its ability to use lactate (the product of rapid ruminal sugar fermentation), especially at a low ruminal pH (<5.5). has been proposed as a potential dietary probiotic to prevent ruminal acidosis in feedlot cattle and high-producing dairy cows. However, this bacterium has also been associated with milk fat depression (MFD) in dairy cows, although proving a causative role has remained elusive. This review summarizes the unique physiology of this intriguing bacterium and its functional role in the ruminal community as well as its role in the health and productivity of the host animal. In addition to its effects in the rumen, the ability of to produce C-C carboxylic acids-potential precursors for industrial fuel and chemical production-is examined.
PubMed: 38276203
DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12010219 -
Frontiers in Microbiology 2023Understanding the relationships between social stress and the gastrointestinal microbiota, and how they influence host health and performance is expected to have many...
Understanding the relationships between social stress and the gastrointestinal microbiota, and how they influence host health and performance is expected to have many scientific and commercial implementations in different species, including identification and improvement of challenges to animal welfare and health. In particular, the study of the stress impact on the gastrointestinal microbiota of pigs may be of interest as a model for human health. A porcine stress model based on repeated regrouping and reduced space allowance during the last 4 weeks of the finishing period was developed to identify stress-induced changes in the gut microbiome composition. The application of the porcine stress model resulted in a significant increase in salivary cortisol concentration over the course of the trial and decreased growth performance and appetite. The applied social stress resulted in 32 bacteria being either enriched (13) or depleted (19) in the intestine and feces. Fecal samples showed a greater number of microbial genera influenced by stress than caecum or colon samples. Our trial revealed that the opportunistic pathogens and were enriched in colonic and fecal samples from stressed pigs. Additionally, genera such as , , , , , and were found to be enriched in response to social stress. In contrast, the genera , , , , , , and were depleted. These depleted bacteria are of great interest because they synthesize metabolites [e.g., short-chain fatty acids (SCFA), in particular, butyrate] showing beneficial health benefits due to inhibitory effects on pathogenic bacteria in different animal species. Of particular interest are and , as their depletion was identified in a human study to be associated with inferior quality of life and depression. We also revealed that some pigs were more susceptible to pathogens as indicated by large enrichments of opportunistic pathogens of and . Generally, our results provide further evidence for the microbiota-gut-brain axis as indicated by an increase in cortisol concentration due to social stress regulated by the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, and a change in microbiota composition, particularly of bacteria known to be associated with pathogenicity and mental health diseases.
PubMed: 38029169
DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1197371 -
Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy May 2021COVID-19 remains a serious emerging global health problem, and little is known about the role of oropharynx commensal microbes in infection susceptibility and severity....
COVID-19 remains a serious emerging global health problem, and little is known about the role of oropharynx commensal microbes in infection susceptibility and severity. Here, we present the oropharyngeal microbiota characteristics identified by shotgun metagenomic sequencing analyses of oropharynx swab specimens from 31 COVID-19 patients, 29 influenza B patients, and 28 healthy controls. Our results revealed a distinct oropharyngeal microbiota composition in the COVID-19 patients, characterized by enrichment of opportunistic pathogens such as Veillonella and Megasphaera and depletion of Pseudopropionibacterium, Rothia, and Streptococcus. Based on the relative abundance of the oropharyngeal microbiome, we built a microbial classifier to distinguish COVID-19 patients from flu patients and healthy controls with an AUC of 0.889, in which Veillonella was identified as the most prominent biomarker for COVID-19 group. Several members of the genus Veillonella, especially Veillonella parvula which was highly enriched in the oropharynx of our COVID-19 patients, were also overrepresented in the BALF of COVID-19 patients, indicating that the oral cavity acts as a natural reservoir for pathogens to induce co-infections in the lungs of COVID-19 patients. We also found the increased ratios of Klebsiella sp., Acinetobacter sp., and Serratia sp. were correlated with both disease severity and elevated systemic inflammation markers (neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio, NLR), suggesting that these oropharynx microbiota alterations may impact COVID-19 severity by influencing the inflammatory response. Moreover, the oropharyngeal microbiome of COVID-19 patients exhibited a significant enrichment in amino acid metabolism and xenobiotic biodegradation and metabolism. In addition, all 26 drug classes of antimicrobial resistance genes were detected in the COVID-19 group, and were significantly enriched in critical cases. In conclusion, we found that oropharyngeal microbiota alterations and functional differences were associated with COVID-19 severity.
Topics: Adult; Bacteria; COVID-19; Female; Humans; Male; Metagenomics; Microbiota; Middle Aged; Oropharynx; SARS-CoV-2
PubMed: 33986253
DOI: 10.1038/s41392-021-00614-3 -
Animal Nutrition (Zhongguo Xu Mu Shou... Mar 2021This review aims to give an overview of the efficacy of yeast supplementation on growth performance, rumen pH, rumen microbiota, and their relationship to meat and milk... (Review)
Review
This review aims to give an overview of the efficacy of yeast supplementation on growth performance, rumen pH, rumen microbiota, and their relationship to meat and milk quality in ruminants. The practice of feeding high grain diets to ruminants in an effort to increase growth rate and weight gain usually results in excess deposition of saturated fatty acids in animal products and increased incidence of rumen acidosis. The supplementation of yeast at the right dose and viability level could counteract the acidotic effects of these high grain diets in the rumen and positively modify the fatty acid composition of animal products. Yeast exerts its actions by competing with lactate-producing ( and ) bacteria for available sugar and encouraging the growth of lactate-utilising bacteria (). is known to convert lactate into butyrate and propionate leading to a decrease in the accumulation of lactate thereby resulting in higher rumen pH. Interestingly, this creates a conducive environment for the proliferation of vaccenic acid-producing bacteria () and ciliate protozoa, both of which have been reported to increase the ruminal concentration of -11 and -9, -11-conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) at a pH range between 5.6 and 6.3. The addition of yeast into the diet of ruminants has also been reported to positively modify rumen biohydrogenation pathway to synthesise more of the beneficial biohydrogenation intermediates ( 11 and 9, 11). This implies that more dietary sources of linoleic acid, linolenic acid, and oleic acid along with beneficial biohydrogenation intermediates (-9, -11-CLA, and -11) would escape complete biohydrogenation in the rumen to be absorbed into milk and meat. However, further studies are required to substantiate our claim. Therefore, techniques like transcriptomics should be employed to identify the mRNA transcript expression levels of genes like stearoyl-CoA desaturase fatty acid synthase, and elongase of very long chain fatty acids 6 in the muscle. Different strains of yeast need to be tested at different doses and viability levels on the fatty acid profile of animal products as well as its vaccenic acid and rumenic acid composition.
PubMed: 33997329
DOI: 10.1016/j.aninu.2020.10.005 -
PloS One 2022The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of essential oils plus dry herbs (PHYTO) and encapsulated sodium butyrate (BUT) supplementation compared with...
The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of essential oils plus dry herbs (PHYTO) and encapsulated sodium butyrate (BUT) supplementation compared with enramycin (ENR), as a growth promoter, on the performance, diarrhoea control and intestinal microbiota in lightly weaned piglets. Two hundred weaned piglets, 20 days old, 4.69 ± 0.56 kg, were submitted during the nursery phase (20 to 69 days of age) to four treatments: control (CTR)-without any additive supplementation; ENR (with 8 ppm of enramycin throughout), BUT (with 2000 ppm between 20 to 34 d, 1500 ppm between 34 to 48 d and 1000 ppm between 48 to 69 d), and PHYTO (150 ppm between 20 to 48 d). At 62 days old, forty piglets (10 replicates per treatment) were slaughtered to perform bacterial identification through 16S rRNA (V3-V4) sequencing of the caecal content. During the second phase of the trial (34 to 48 days), the BUT group showed higher DWG (P = 0.023) and BW (P = 0.039) than the CTR group, and all groups that received additives had better FCR than the CTR group (P = 0.001). In the last phase of the trial (48 to 69 days), the ENR group presented a better FCR (P = 0.054) than the CRT and other groups. In the total period (20 to 69 days), ENR and BUT showed better FCR (P = 0.006) than CRT. Diarrhoea incident data showed differences (P<0.05), favouring the BUT treatment compared to the CTR. Only the Megasphaeraceae and Streptococcaceae families showed differences (p<0.05) in relative abundance between CTR and PHYTO and between CTR and BUT, respectively. Differential abundances of the Megasphaera and Streptococcus genera were observed between CTR and PHYTO and CTR and BUT. Phytogenics and encapsulated sodium butyrate are able and effective for modulating the specific caecal microbiota, improving performance and controlling diarrhoea occurrence.
Topics: Animals; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Butyric Acid; Diarrhea; Diet; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; Swine
PubMed: 36548241
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0279197