-
Microorganisms Nov 2023The health of chicks is closely related to their productivity. Yupingfeng polysaccharide (YPF-P) is a kind of water-soluble polysaccharide extracted from Yupingfeng...
The health of chicks is closely related to their productivity. Yupingfeng polysaccharide (YPF-P) is a kind of water-soluble polysaccharide extracted from Yupingfeng powder; it has high pharmacological activity and can be used as a potential substitute for antibiotics to improve the health of chicks. This study aimed to investigate the effects of YPF-P on immune performance, the duodenum, and the cecal microflora of chicks. All chickens (4224) were randomly distributed into four groups (eight replicas/group, 132 hens/replica). The control group was fed a basal diet (0 g/kg YPF-P), while the experimental groups were fed basal diets supplemented with 1, 2, or 4 g/kg YPF-P. The results showed that YPF-P significantly increased the thymus index ( < 0.05). The content of total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), immunoglobulin A (IgA), and IgG and immunoglobulin M (IgM) was upregulated in the serum by YPF-P ( < 0.05). YPF-P decreased the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) ( < 0.05). Further, 16S rRNA sequencing showed that 2 g/kg YPF-P modulated the predominant duodenum and cecal microbial community structure, which increased the number of , , , , , and . In conclusion, YPF-P ameliorated the growth performance of chicks by regulating serum immune and antioxidant balance, as well as the intestinal microbiota.
PubMed: 38004785
DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11112774 -
Foods (Basel, Switzerland) Nov 2023Three mannan polysaccharides and their oligosaccharides were investigated in terms of physicochemical characteristics and effects on gut microbiota. Oligosaccharides...
Three mannan polysaccharides and their oligosaccharides were investigated in terms of physicochemical characteristics and effects on gut microbiota. Oligosaccharides from guar gum had the fastest fermentation kinetics for SCFAs generation at the initial stage, while the locust bean of both polymers and oligosaccharides demonstrated the lowest SCFAs through the whole fermentation process. In contrast, konjac gum steadily increased SCFAs and reached its maximum level at 24 h fermentation, indicating its fermentation character may be associated with its rheological properties. Compared to their corresponding polysaccharides, all the oligosaccharides demonstrated a faster fermentation kinetics, followed by an enriched abundance of propionate-producing bacterial and a decreased abundance of and . Meanwhile, oligosaccharides reduced the / ratio as well as the abundance of and . The fermentation of konjac substrate significantly promoted the abundance of butyrate-producing bacterial . In contrast, although the fermentation of locust bean and guar gum substrates benefited abundance due to their similar structure and monosaccharides composition, the fermentation of locust bean gum led to greater than the others, which may be associated with its higher mannose composition in the molecules. Interestingly, the partial hydrolysis of the three polysaccharides slightly reduced their prebiotic function.
PubMed: 37959121
DOI: 10.3390/foods12214002 -
Scientific Reports Nov 2023Gastrointestinal symptoms are more prevalent in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) than in typically developing (TD) children. Constipation is a significant... (Clinical Trial)
Clinical Trial
Gastrointestinal symptoms are more prevalent in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) than in typically developing (TD) children. Constipation is a significant gastrointestinal comorbidity of ASD, but the associations among constipated autism spectrum disorder (C-ASD), microbiota and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) are still debated. We enrolled 80 children, divided into the C-ASD group (n = 40) and the TD group (n = 40). In this study, an integrated 16S rRNA gene sequencing and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry-based metabolomics approach was applied to explore the association of the gut microbiota and SCFAs in C-ASD children in China. The community diversity estimated by the Observe, Chao1, and ACE indices was significantly lower in the C-ASD group than in the TD group. We observed that Ruminococcaceae_UCG_002, Erysipelotrichaceae_UCG_003, Phascolarctobacterium, Megamonas, Ruminiclostridium_5, Parabacteroides, Prevotella_2, Fusobacterium, and Prevotella_9 were enriched in the C-ASD group, and Anaerostipes, Lactobacillus, Ruminococcus_gnavus_group, Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group, Ralstonia, Eubacterium_eligens_group, and Ruminococcus_1 were enriched in the TD group. The propionate levels, which were higher in the C-ASD group, were negatively correlated with the abundance of Lactobacillus taxa, but were positively correlated with the severity of ASD symptoms. The random forest model, based on the 16 representative discriminant genera, achieved a high accuracy (AUC = 0.924). In conclusion, we found that C-ASD is related to altered gut microbiota and SCFAs, especially decreased abundance of Lactobacillus and excessive propionate in faeces, which provide new clues to understand C-ASD and biomarkers for the diagnosis and potential strategies for treatment of the disorder. This study was registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ( www.chictr.org.cn ; trial registration number ChiCTR2100052106; date of registration: October 17, 2021).
Topics: Child; Humans; Autism Spectrum Disorder; Constipation; East Asian People; Fatty Acids, Volatile; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Lactobacillales; Propionates; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; Veillonellaceae
PubMed: 37925571
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-46566-2 -
NPJ Biofilms and Microbiomes Nov 2023Accumulated evidence supports the beneficial role of inulin in alleviating metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) by modulating gut microbiota....
Accumulated evidence supports the beneficial role of inulin in alleviating metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) by modulating gut microbiota. However, the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. Here we used high-fat diet (HFD)-induced laying hen model of MAFLD to investigate the effect of inulin on ameliorating MAFLD and found that the inulin-enriched Megamonas genus was inversely correlated with hepatic steatosis-related parameters. Oral administration of a newly isolated commensal bacterium by culturomics, M. funiformis CML154, to HFD-fed hens and mice ameliorated MAFLD, changed liver gene expression profiles, and increased intestinal propionate concentration. Further evidence demonstrated that the anti-MAFLD effect of M. funiformis CML154 is attributed to propionate-mediated activation of the APN-AMPK-PPARα signaling pathway, thereby inhibiting fatty acid de novo synthesis and promoting β-oxidation. These findings establish the causal relationships among inulin, M. funiformis, and MAFLD, and suggest that M. funiformis CML154 is a probiotic candidate for preventative or therapeutic intervention of MAFLD.
Topics: Animals; Female; Mice; Propionates; Inulin; Chickens; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
PubMed: 37925493
DOI: 10.1038/s41522-023-00451-y -
Animals : An Open Access Journal From... Oct 2023The gut-liver axis represents a current topic in human medicine. Extensive research investigates the gut microbiome (GM) modifications in relation to various kinds of...
The gut-liver axis represents a current topic in human medicine. Extensive research investigates the gut microbiome (GM) modifications in relation to various kinds of chronic hepatobiliary diseases (CHD), with many mechanisms and therapeutical implications recognized. Those aspects in veterinary medicine are still quite unexplored. The aim of the present study was to evaluate GM in dogs diagnosed with CD. Comparison among CHD dogs were made considering some clinical and biochemical variables (lipemia and alanine-aminotransferase activities), presence of cholestasis or endocrine disorders, diet). Sixty-five dogs were prospectively enrolled with clinical and hematobiochemical evaluation and 16S-RNA GM sequencing assessed. Dogs that received antibiotics and/or pre/pro/symbiotics administration were excluded. Deeper GM alteration was observed between dogs with or without ultrasonographic and biochemical cholestatic CHD. Cholestasis was associated with a decrease in several bacterial taxa, including , , , , , and higher levels of and . Thus, the alteration in bile flow and composition, typical of cholestasis, may directly affect the local intestinal microbial environment. For the management of dogs with CHD and especially cholestatic CHD, clinicians should be aware that gut-liver interaction may lead to dysbiosis.
PubMed: 37893898
DOI: 10.3390/ani13203174 -
Microbiome Oct 2023Like its human counterpart, canine atopic dermatitis (cAD) is a chronic relapsing condition; thus, most cAD-affected dogs will require lifelong treatment to maintain an...
BACKGROUND
Like its human counterpart, canine atopic dermatitis (cAD) is a chronic relapsing condition; thus, most cAD-affected dogs will require lifelong treatment to maintain an acceptable quality of life. A potential intervention is modulation of the composition of gut microbiota, and in fact, probiotic treatment has been proposed and tried in human atopic dermatitis (AD) patients. Since dogs are currently receiving intensive medical care, this will be the same option for dogs, while evidence of gut dysbiosis in cAD is still missing, although skin microbial profiling in cAD has been conducted in several studies. Therefore, we conducted a comprehensive analysis of both gut and skin microbiota in cAD in one specific cAD-predisposed breed, Shiba Inu. Additionally, we evaluated the impact of commonly used medical management on cAD (Janus kinase; JAK inhibitor, oclacitinib) on the gut and skin microbiota. Furthermore, we genotyped the Shiba Inu dogs according to the mitochondrial DNA haplogroup and assessed its association with the composition of the gut microbiota.
RESULTS
Staphylococcus was the most predominant bacterial genus observed in the skin; Escherichia/Shigella and Clostridium sensu stricto were highly abundant in the gut of cAD-affected dogs. In the gut microbiota, Fusobacteria and Megamonas were highly abundant in healthy dogs but significantly reduced in cAD-affected dogs. The abundance of these bacterial taxa was positively correlated with the effect of the treatment and state of the disease. Oclacitinib treatment on cAD-affected dogs shifted the composition of microbiota towards that in healthy dogs, and the latter brought it much closer to healthy microbiota, particularly in the gut. Additionally, even within the same dog breed, the mtDNA haplogroup varied, and there was an association between the mtDNA haplogroup and microbial composition in the gut and skin.
CONCLUSIONS
Dysbiosis of both the skin and the gut was observed in cAD in Shiba Inu dogs. Our findings provide a basis for the potential treatment of cAD by manipulating the gut microbiota as well as the skin microbiota. Video Abstract.
Topics: Dogs; Humans; Animals; Dermatitis, Atopic; Dysbiosis; Quality of Life; Microbiota; Bacteria; DNA, Mitochondrial
PubMed: 37864204
DOI: 10.1186/s40168-023-01671-2 -
Food Science and Biotechnology Dec 2023Three different fruit juices were prepared, and their effects on modulation of human fecal microbiota were elucidated through an anaerobic fermentation in vitro....
UNLABELLED
Three different fruit juices were prepared, and their effects on modulation of human fecal microbiota were elucidated through an anaerobic fermentation in vitro. Results indicated that the introduction of inoculatedly-fermented fruit juice promoted short-chain fatty acids productivity. Fecal microbiota analysis demonstrated up-regulations for abundances of , , , and , and down-regulations for numbers of , , , and . Correlation analysis confirmed relationships among sample components, short-chain fatty acids productivity, and microbial abundances, suggesting that sugars and organic acids stimulated growth of and suppressed proliferation of , thus uncovering the underlying mechanism for the better ability of inoculatedly-fermented fruit juice to regulate microbiota structure. Besides, clusters of orthologous groups of proteins analysis indicated that metabolite biosynthesis, energy metabolism, homeostasis maintenance and other physiological functions were ameliorated.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10068-023-01308-y.
PubMed: 37860745
DOI: 10.1007/s10068-023-01308-y -
Frontiers in Cellular and Infection... 2023Probiotic supplements, by definition, provide a benefit to the host, but few studies have investigated the effect of probiotic supplements in healthy adult populations. (Clinical Trial)
Clinical Trial
BACKGROUND
Probiotic supplements, by definition, provide a benefit to the host, but few studies have investigated the effect of probiotic supplements in healthy adult populations.
PURPOSE
The present, single arm, open label clinical trial, evaluated compositional and functional changes in the fecal microbiome of healthy adults after supplementation with a 14-strain probiotic.
METHODS
We analysed the effect of a 14-strain probiotic blend ( NCIMB 30223, NCIMB 30179, NCIMB 30180, NCIMB 30181, NCIMB 30182, NCIMB 30184, subsp. NCIMB 30186, NCIMB 30185, NCIMB 30187, NCIMB 30188, NCIMB 30224, NCIMB 30225, s subsp. NCIMB 30222, and NCIMB 30189), on the faecal microbiota of healthy young adults (n=41) in a single arm study. The adults consumed 4 capsules daily of the 14 strain blend(8 billion colony forming units/day) for 8 weeks. Compositional and functional changes in faecal microbiota before and after supplementation were assessed using shotgun metagenomic sequencing. Fasting breath analysis, faecal biochemistry and bowel habits were also assessed.
RESULTS
In healthy adult participants, no significant changes to the overall alpha- or beta-diversity was observed after 8 weeks of multi-strain probiotic supplementation. However, in a simplified model that considered only time and individual differences, significant decreases (p < 0.05) in family and abundance and a significant increase (p < 0.05) in genus abundance were observed. At a functional level, there were significant changes in functional gene abundance related to several functional pathways, including phenylalanine metabolism, O-antigen nucleotide sugar biosynthesis, bacterial chemotaxis, and flagellar assembly. No significant changes in stool form or frequency, fecal biochemistry, or methane and hydrogen breath tests were observed.
CONCLUSION
In healthy young adults, overall alpha- and beta-diversity did not change in response to probiotic intake even though modest compositional changes at the family and genus level were observed. However, at functional level, results identified changes in gene abundance for several functional pathways.
Topics: Humans; Young Adult; Dietary Supplements; Feces; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus; Probiotics
PubMed: 37841999
DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1240267 -
Nutrients Oct 2023In view of the limited evidence showing anti-obesity effects of synbiotics via modulation of the gut microbiota in humans, a randomized clinical trial was performed.... (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
In view of the limited evidence showing anti-obesity effects of synbiotics via modulation of the gut microbiota in humans, a randomized clinical trial was performed. Assessment of the metabolic syndrome traits and profiling of the fecal gut microbiota using 16S rRNA gene sequencing in overweight and obese Hong Kong Chinese individuals before and after dietary intervention with an 8-week increased consumption of fruits and vegetables and/or synbiotic supplementation was conducted. The selected synbiotic contained two probiotics ( NCFM and HN019) and a prebiotic (polydextrose). Fifty-five overweight or obese individuals were randomized and divided into a synbiotic group (SG; n = 19), a dietary intervention group (DG; n = 18), and a group receiving combined interventions (DSG; n = 18). DSG showed the greatest weight loss effects and number of significant differences in clinical parameters compared to its baseline values-notably, decreases in fasting glucose, insulin, HOMA-IR, and triglycerides and an increase in HDL-cholesterol. DSG lowered abundance, which was positively associated with BMI, body fat mass, and trunk fat mass. The results suggested that increasing dietary fiber consumption from fruits and vegetables combined with synbiotic supplementation is more effective than either approach alone in tackling obesity.
Topics: Humans; Double-Blind Method; East Asian People; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Hong Kong; Metabolic Syndrome; Obesity; Overweight; Probiotics; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; Synbiotics; Dietary Fiber
PubMed: 37836532
DOI: 10.3390/nu15194248 -
AMB Express Oct 2023Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) is a prevalent, intricate, and intractable form of neuropathic pain. The available evidence indicates that alterations in the gut microbiota...
Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) is a prevalent, intricate, and intractable form of neuropathic pain. The available evidence indicates that alterations in the gut microbiota are significant environmental determinants in the development of chronic neuropathic pain. Nevertheless, the correlation between the gut microbiota and PHN remains elusive. A cross-sectional study was performed on a cohort of 27 patients diagnosed with PHN and 27 matched healthy controls. Fecal samples were collected and subjected to microbiota analysis using 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing. Comparable levels of bacterial richness and diversity were observed in the gut microbiota of PHN patients and healthy controls. A significant difference was observed in 37 genera between the two groups. Furthermore, the LEfSe method revealed that the abundance levels of Escherichia-Shigella, Streptococcus, Ligilactobacillus, and Clostridia_UCG-014_unclassified were elevated in PHN patients, while Eubacterium_hallii_group, Butyricicoccus, Tyzzerella, Dorea, Parasutterella, Romboutsia, Megamonas, and Agathobacter genera were reduced in comparison to healthy controls. Significantly, the discriminant model utilizing the predominant microbiota exhibited efficacy in distinguishing PHN patients from healthy controls, with an area under the curve value of 0.824. Moreover, Spearman correlation analysis demonstrated noteworthy correlations between various gut microbiota and clinical symptoms, including disease course, anxiety state, sleep quality, heat pain, pain intensity, and itching intensity. Gut microbiota dysbiosis exists in PHN patients, microbiome differences could be used to distinguish PHN patients from normal healthy individuals with high sensitivity and specificity, and altered gut microbiota are related to clinical manifestations, suggesting potentially novel prevention and therapeutic directions of PHN.
PubMed: 37803181
DOI: 10.1186/s13568-023-01614-y