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Frontiers in Microbiology 2024Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a refractory disease worldwide. Liver injury can be found clinically with UC, and now, it is found that gut dysbiosis is an important...
BACKGROUND
Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a refractory disease worldwide. Liver injury can be found clinically with UC, and now, it is found that gut dysbiosis is an important mechanism in the pathogenesis of UC. has been used as a traditional Chinese medicine and is commonly used clinically for the treatment of UC. The main objective of this study was to investigate the intrinsic mechanisms of in the treatment of UC and its associated liver injuries from the perspective of intestinal flora and related metabolites.
METHODS
Ultra-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry was used to identify the components in the aqueous extract of (AESc). Mice with UC induced by dextran sulfate sodium were used to study the effects of AESc on UC and its associated liver injuries. Furthermore, 16S rRNA gene sequencing and analysis were performed on intestinal contents, and correlation analysis of intestinal flora with short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and organic acids was performed.
RESULTS
A total of 114 compounds were identified in AESc. AESc improved disease activity index scores, liver index, and colon length in mice with UC and had a good protective effect on intestine and liver injuries. Moreover, the administration of AESc regulated gut microbiota dysbiosis and the levels of a few SCFAs and organic acids in mice with UC. In addition, the correlation analysis results showed that the and were the key intestinal flora related to the levels of differential SCFAs and organic acids in mice with UC after AESc intervention.
CONCLUSION
AESc has a good protective effect on UC and UC related liver injuries. Modulation of the intestinal flora and its metabolites (SCFAs and a few organic acids) is an important pathway for AESc in the treatment of UC and also provides a rationale for the clinical use of in the treatment of UC.
PubMed: 38328432
DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1295822 -
Frontiers in Cellular and Infection... 2023Fecal microbiota is essential for host health because it increases digestive effectiveness. The crane species () is considered to be near threatened. The fecal...
Fecal microbiota is essential for host health because it increases digestive effectiveness. The crane species () is considered to be near threatened. The fecal microbial composition of crane is less understood, particularly in the Tibet, China. This study was performed to investigate the differences in fecal microbial composition and diversity of crane in different wintering areas using third-generation single-molecule real-time sequencing technology in the Tibet, China. According to the findings, 20 samples were used to generate 936 bacterial amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) and 1,800 fungal ASVs, only 4 bacterial ASVs and 20 fungal ASVs were shared in four distinct locations. Firmicutes were the dominant bacterial phylum in all samples, and Ascomycota and Basidiomycota were the dominant fungal phylum. At the genus level, was the dominant genus in Linzhi City (LZ), Shannan City (SN), and Lasa City (LS), whereas Megamonas was the dominant genus in Rikaze City (RKZ). and were the dominant fungal genera in SN and RKZ. and were the dominant fungal genera in LZ. and were the dominant fungal genera in LS. And the fecal microbial composition varied between the four groups, as shown by the underweighted pair-group method with arithmetic means and principal coordinates analysis. This study offers a theoretical basis for understanding the fecal microbial composition of crane.
Topics: Gastrointestinal Microbiome; China; Bacteria; Firmicutes; Feces
PubMed: 38317791
DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1302785 -
Food & Function Feb 2024In our previous study, a polyphenol-utilization targeted quinoa product was developed solid-state fermentation with . In this study, we investigated the...
In our previous study, a polyphenol-utilization targeted quinoa product was developed solid-state fermentation with . In this study, we investigated the polyphenol-related novel functions of the fermented product further. Compared with unfermented quinoa, fermented quinoa alleviated the trapping effect of the macromolecules, especially in the colonic fermentation stage, resulting in enhanced polyphenol bioaccessibility. , , , , and might contribute to polyphenol liberation and metabolism in fermented quinoa. Additionally, fermented quinoa polyphenols presented an efficient anti-obesity effect by enhancing hepatic antioxidant enzyme activities, suppressing fatty acid synthesis, accelerating fatty acid oxidation, and improving bile acid synthesis. Moreover, fermented quinoa polyphenol supplementation alleviated gut microbiota disorder induced by a high-fat diet, resulting in a decreased ratio of /, and increased relative abundances of and . The obtained results suggested that the principal anti-obesity effect of fermented quinoa polyphenols might act through the AMPK/PPAR/CPT-1 pathway. In conclusion, solid-state fermentation effectively enhanced the bioaccessibility of quinoa, and the fermented quinoa polyphenols showed considerable anti-obesity effect. Our findings provide new perspectives for the development of dietary polyphenol-based satiety-enhancing functional foods.
Topics: Polyphenols; Chenopodium quinoa; Monascus; Fermentation; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Fatty Acids
PubMed: 38317482
DOI: 10.1039/d3fo04555b -
BMC Psychiatry Jan 2024Major depressive disorder (MDD) is characterized by sadness and anhedonia, but also physical symptoms such as changes in appetite and weight. Gut microbiota has been...
BACKGROUND
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is characterized by sadness and anhedonia, but also physical symptoms such as changes in appetite and weight. Gut microbiota has been hypothesized to be involved in MDD through gut-brain axis signaling. Moreover, antidepressants display antibacterial properties in the gastrointestinal tract. The aim of this study was to compare the gut microbiota and systemic inflammatory profile of young patients with MDD before and after initiation of antidepressant treatment and/or psychotherapy in comparison with a non-depressed control group (nonMDD).
METHODS
Fecal and blood samples were collected at baseline and at follow-up after four and twelve weeks, respectively. Patients started treatment immediately after collection of the baseline samples. The gut microbiota was characterized by 16 S rRNA gene sequencing targeting the hypervariable V4 region. Plasma levels of 49 unique immune markers were assessed using Mesoscale.
RESULTS
In total, 27 MDD patients and 32 nonMDD controls were included in the study. The gut microbiota in the baseline samples of MDD versus nonMDD participants did not differ regarding α- or β-diversity. However, there was a higher relative abundance of the genera Ruminococcus gnavus group, and a lower relative abundance of the genera Desulfovibrio, Tyzzerella, Megamonas, Olsenella, Gordonibacter, Allisonella and Rothia in the MDD group compared to the nonMDD group. In the MDD group, there was an increase in the genera Rothia, Desulfovibrio, Gordinobacteer and Lactobacillus, while genera belonging to the Firmicutes phylum were found depleted at twelve weeks follow-up compared to baseline. In the MDD group, IL-7, IL-8 and IL-17b levels were elevated compared to the nonMDD group at baseline. Furthermore, MDI score in the MDD group was found to correlate with Bray-Curtis dissimilarity at baseline, and several inflammatory markers at both baseline and after initiation of antidepressant treatment.
CONCLUSION
Several bacterial taxa differed between the MDD group and the nonMDD group at baseline and changed in relative abundance during antidepressant treatment and/or psychotherapy. The MDD group was furthermore found to have a pro-inflammatory profile compared to the nonMDD group at baseline. Further studies are required to investigate the gut microbiota and pro-inflammatory profile of patients with MDD.
Topics: Humans; Depressive Disorder, Major; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Antidepressive Agents; Cognition; Psychotherapy
PubMed: 38297265
DOI: 10.1186/s12888-024-05547-z -
Food Chemistry: X Mar 2024Apple peel is a typical lignocellulosic food by-product rich in functional components. In this work, apple peel was solid-state fermented with e with an aim to modulate...
Apple peel is a typical lignocellulosic food by-product rich in functional components. In this work, apple peel was solid-state fermented with e with an aim to modulate its composition and bioactivity. The results showed that e fermentation substantially tailored the composition, improved the antioxidant activity and prebiotic potential of apple peel. Upon the fermentation, 1) free phenolics increased and antioxidant activity improved; 2) the pectin substances degraded significantly, along with a decrease in soluble dietary fiber while an increase in insoluble dietary fiber; 3) the fermentability increased as indicated by the increase in total acid production. The gut microbiota was shaped with more health-promoting potentials, such as higher abundances of , , and -9 as well as lower abundances of and . This work is conducive to the modification of apple peel as a potential ingredient in food formulations.
PubMed: 38292687
DOI: 10.1016/j.fochx.2024.101134 -
NPJ Biofilms and Microbiomes Jan 2024
PubMed: 38287023
DOI: 10.1038/s41522-024-00480-1 -
Biochemical Genetics Jan 2024Asthma is a multifactorial disease with phenotypes and several clinical and pathophysiological characteristics. Besides innate and adaptive immune responses, the gut...
Asthma is a multifactorial disease with phenotypes and several clinical and pathophysiological characteristics. Besides innate and adaptive immune responses, the gut microbiome generates Treg cells, mediating the allergic response to environmental factors and exposure to allergens. Because of the complexity of asthma, microbiome analysis and other precision medicine methods are now widely regarded as essential elements of efficient disease therapy. An in-silico pipeline enables the comparative taxonomic profiling of 16S rRNA metagenomic profiles of 20 asthmatic patients and 15 healthy controls utilizing QIIME2. Further, PICRUSt supports downstream gene enrichment and pathway analysis, inferring the enriched pathways in a diseased state. A significant abundance of the phylum Proteobacteria, Sutterella, and Megamonas is identified in asthma patients and a diminished genus Akkermansia. Nasal samples reveal a high relative abundance of Mycoplasma in the nasal samples. Further, differential functional profiling identifies the metabolic pathways related to cofactors and amino acids, secondary metabolism, and signaling pathways. These findings support that a combination of bacterial communities is involved in mediating the responses involved in chronic respiratory conditions like asthma by exerting their influence on various metabolic pathways.
PubMed: 38285123
DOI: 10.1007/s10528-023-10635-y -
Veterinary Sciences Jan 2024Fecal microbiota transplants (FMTs) have been successful at treating digestive and skin conditions in dogs. The degree to which the microbiome is impacted by FMT in a...
Fecal microbiota transplants (FMTs) have been successful at treating digestive and skin conditions in dogs. The degree to which the microbiome is impacted by FMT in a cohort of dogs has not been thoroughly investigated. Using 16S rRNA gene sequencing, we document the changes in the microbiome of fifty-four dogs that took capsules of lyophilized fecal material for their chronic diarrhea, vomiting, or constipation. We found that the relative abundances of five bacterial genera (, , , , and ) were higher after FMT than before FMT. Fecal microbiome alpha- and beta-diversity were correlated with kibble and raw food consumption, and prior antibiotic use. On average, 18% of the stool donor's bacterial amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) engrafted in the FMT recipient, with certain bacterial taxa like spp., spp., and spp. engrafting more frequently than others. Lastly, analyses indicated that the degree of overlap between the donor bacteria and the community of microbes already established in the FMT recipient likely impacts engraftment. Collectively, our work provides further insight into the microbiome and engraftment dynamics of dogs before and after taking oral FMTs.
PubMed: 38275924
DOI: 10.3390/vetsci11010042 -
Frontiers in Microbiology 2023While dysbiosis within the intestinal ecosystem has been associated with functional constipation (FC), the mechanisms underlying the interactions between FC and the...
While dysbiosis within the intestinal ecosystem has been associated with functional constipation (FC), the mechanisms underlying the interactions between FC and the microbiome remain poorly elucidated. Recent investigations suggested that host microRNAs (miRNAs) can modulate bacterial growth and influence the composition of the gut microbiome. To explore the connection between gut microbiota and fecal miRNAs in FC patients, we initially employed 16S rRNA sequencing to assess the gut microbial landscape in 30 FC patients and 30 healthy controls (HCs). The α-diversity within the FC group exhibited some alterations, and the β-diversity significantly differed, signifying distinctive variations in gut microbiota composition between FC patients and HCs. Subsequently, we identified 44 differentially expressed (DE) miRNAs in feces from FC patients and HCs. Through correlation analysis between DE miRNAs and FC-associated microbiota, we detected an interaction involving nine DE miRNAs (, , , , , , , , and ) with seven bacterial genera (, , , , , and ), as evidenced by a co-occurrence network. Further, a comprehensive panel of seven diagnostic biomarkers (, , , , , , and ) demonstrated robust discriminatory capacity in predicting FC status when integrated into a random forest model (AUC = 0.832, 95% CI: 65.73-98.88). Microbiomes correlating with DE miRNAs exhibited enrichment in distinct predicted metabolic categories. Moreover, miRNAs correlated with FC-associated bacteria were found to be enriched in signaling pathways linked to colonic contractility, including Axon guidance, PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, MAPK signaling pathway, and Hippo signaling pathway. Our study offers a comprehensive insight into the global relationship between microbiota and fecal miRNAs in the context of FC, presenting potential targets for further experimental validation and therapeutic interventions.
PubMed: 38274754
DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1323877 -
Gut Pathogens Jan 2024Pakistan is a multi-ethnic society where there is a disparity between dietary habits, genetic composition, and environmental exposures. The microbial ecology of healthy...
BACKGROUND
Pakistan is a multi-ethnic society where there is a disparity between dietary habits, genetic composition, and environmental exposures. The microbial ecology of healthy Pakistani gut in the context of anthropometric, sociodemographic, and dietary patterns holds interest by virtue of it being one of the most populous countries, and also being a Lower Middle Income Country (LMIC).
METHODS
16S rRNA profiling of healthy gut microbiome of normo-weight healthy Pakistani individuals from different regions of residence is performed with additional meta-data collected through filled questionnaires. The current health status is then linked to dietary patterns through [Formula: see text] test of independence and Generalized Linear Latent Variable Model (GLLVM) where distribution of individual microbes is regressed against all recorded sources of variability. To identify the core microbiome signature, a dynamic approach is used that considers into account species occupancy as well as consistency across assumed grouping of samples including organization by gender and province of residence. Fitting neutral modeling then revealed core microbiome that is selected by the environment.
RESULTS
A strong determinant of disparity is by province of residence. It is also established that the male microbiome is better adapted to the local niche than the female microbiome, and that there is microbial taxonomic and functional diversity in different ethnicities, dietary patterns and lifestyle habits. Some microbial genera, such as, Megamonas, Porphyromonas, Haemophilus, Klebsiella and Finegoldia showed significant associations with consumption of pickle, fresh fruits, rice, and cheese. Our analyses suggest current health status being associated with the diet, sleeping patterns, employment status, and the medical history.
CONCLUSIONS
This study provides a snapshot of the healthy core Pakistani gut microbiome by focusing on the most populous provinces and ethnic groups residing in predominantly urban areas. The study serves a reference dataset for exploring variations in disease status and designing personalized dietary and lifestyle interventions to promote gut health, particularly in LMICs settings.
PubMed: 38254227
DOI: 10.1186/s13099-024-00596-x