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Environmental Science & Technology Dec 2023Chloroform (CF) and dichloromethane (DCM) contaminate groundwater sites around the world but can be cleaned up through bioremediation. Although several strains of can...
Chloroform (CF) and dichloromethane (DCM) contaminate groundwater sites around the world but can be cleaned up through bioremediation. Although several strains of can reduce CF to DCM and multiple Peptococcaceae can ferment DCM, these processes cannot typically happen simultaneously due to CF sensitivity in the known DCM-degraders or electron donor competition. Here, we present a mixed microbial culture that can simultaneously metabolize CF and DCM and create an additional enrichment culture fed only DCM. Through genus-specific quantitative polymerase chain reaction, we find that grows while either CF alone or DCM alone is converted, indicating its involvement in both metabolic steps. Additionally, the culture was maintained for over 1400 days without the addition of an exogenous electron donor, and through electron balance calculations, we show that DCM metabolism would produce sufficient reducing equivalents (likely hydrogen) for CF respiration. Together, these results suggest intraspecies electron transfer could occur to continually reduce CF in the culture. Minimizing the addition of electron donor reduces the cost of bioremediation, and "self-feeding" could prolong bioremediation activity long after donor addition ends. Overall, understanding this mechanism informs strategies for culture maintenance and scale-up and benefits contaminated sites where the culture is employed for remediation worldwide.
Topics: Chloroform; Methylene Chloride; Biodegradation, Environmental; Halogenation; Peptococcaceae
PubMed: 37962431
DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c06686 -
Frontiers in Cellular and Infection... 2023The gut microbiota has been found to be associated with the risk of lung cancer. However, its causal relationship with various types of lung cancer remains unclear.
BACKGROUND
The gut microbiota has been found to be associated with the risk of lung cancer. However, its causal relationship with various types of lung cancer remains unclear.
METHODS
We conducted a Mendelian randomization (MR) study using the largest genome-wide association analysis of gut microbiota data to date from the MiBioGen consortium, with pooled statistics for various types of lung cancer from the Transdisciplinary Research in Cancer of the Lung, the International Lung Cancer Consortium, and FinnGen Consortium R7 release data. Inverse variance weighted, weighted model, MR-Egger regression, and weighted median were adapted to assess the causal relationship between gut microbiota and various types of lung cancer. Sensitivity analysis was used to test for the presence of pleiotropy and heterogeneity in instrumental variables. A reverse MR analysis was performed on these bacteria to determine their potential role in causing lung cancer. A reverse MR analysis was performed on these bacteria to determine their potential role in causing lung cancer. Multivariable Mendelian randomization (MVMR) was conducted to assess the direct causal impact of gut microbiota on the risk of various types of lung cancer.
RESULTS
Using IVW as the primary analytical method, we identified a total of 40 groups of gut microbiota with potential causal associations with various subtypes of lung cancer, of which 10 were associated with lung cancer, 10 with lung adenocarcinoma, 9 with squamous cell lung cancer, and 11 groups of bacteria associated with small cell lung cancer. After performing FDR correction, we further found that there was still a significant causal relationship between Peptococcaceae and lung adenocarcinoma. Sensitivity analyses demonstrated the robustness of these results, with no heterogeneity or pleiotropy found.
CONCLUSIONS
Our results confirm a causal relationship between specific gut microbiota and lung cancer, providing new insights into the role of gut microbiota in mediating the development of lung cancer.
Topics: Humans; Lung Neoplasms; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Genome-Wide Association Study; Mendelian Randomization Analysis; Adenocarcinoma of Lung
PubMed: 37829610
DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1200299 -
Zhongguo Zhen Jiu = Chinese Acupuncture... Oct 2023To observe the effects of moxibustion at "Mingmen" (GV 4) and "Guanyuan" (CV 4) on immune function and intestinal flora in healthy rats, thereby investigating the...
OBJECTIVE
To observe the effects of moxibustion at "Mingmen" (GV 4) and "Guanyuan" (CV 4) on immune function and intestinal flora in healthy rats, thereby investigating the underlying mechanism of moxibustion on immune function.
METHODS
Twenty 8-week-old SD rats were randomly divided into a young blank group and a young moxibustion group, with 10 rats in each group. Similarly, twenty 8-month-old SD rats were randomly divided into a middle-aged blank group and a middle-aged moxibustion group, with 10 rats in each group. The rats in the two moxibustion groups received moxibustion at "Mingmen" (GV 4) and "Guanyuan" (CV 4), 15 min per session, once daily, five times a week, for a total of four months. The rats in the two blank groups were fed under normal conditions. After the intervention, thymus and spleen indexes were calculated; the morphology of thymus and spleen tissues was observed using HE staining; the flow cytometry was used to detect the expression of CD and CD T lymphocytes and the CD/CD ratio was calculated; ELISA was used to measure the serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-10 (IL-10), and interleukin-17 (IL-17); 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing was used to analyze the intestinal flora. Additionally, the correlation between the relative abundance of intestinal flora and serum levels of TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-6, IL-10 and IL-17 was analyzed.
RESULTS
Compared with the young blank group, the young moxibustion group exhibited an increase in the cortical area of thymus tissue with tighter lymphocyte arrangement; compared with the middle-aged blank group, the middle-aged moxibustion group showed an increase in thymus index (<0.05) and an increase in the cortical area of thymus tissue. There were no significant differences in spleen index between the 2 moxibustion groups and the 2 blank groups (>0.05). There were no significant differences in the expression of CD, CD, and CD/CD ratio between the 2 moxibustion groups and the corresponding blank groups (>0.05). Compared with the young blank group, the young moxibustion group had elevated IL-6 level (<0.05); compared with the middle-aged blank group, the middle-aged moxibustion group had decreased IL-10 and IL-17 levels (<0.05). Compared with the young blank group, the young moxibustion group exhibited increased Sobs index, Ace index, and Chao index (<0.01, <0.05), as well as increased relative abundance of , , , _RC9_gut_group (<0.05), and decreased relative abundance of (<0.05). Compared with the middle-aged blank group, the middle-aged moxibustion group had increased relative abundance of , , norank_f_ (<0.05), and decreased relative abundance of , , and (<0.05). Correlation analysis revealed that relative abundance of __group and unclassified _f_ was negatively correlated with serum TNF-α level (=-0.39, =0.03; =-0.24, =0.04), while relative abundance of norank_f_norank_o__UCG-014 and was positively correlated with serum TNF-α level (=0.37, =0.04; =0.43, =0.02). The relative abundance of and was negatively correlated with serum IFN-γ level (=-0.40, =0.02; =-0.44, =0.01), while relative abundance of was positively correlated with serum IL-10 level (=0.43, =0.02).
CONCLUSION
Moxibustion could improve immune function in healthy rats, and its mechanism may be related to the regulation of relative abundance of intestinal flora.
Topics: Rats; Animals; Moxibustion; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Interleukin-10; Interleukin-17; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; Interleukin-6; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; Interferon-gamma; Immunity
PubMed: 37802522
DOI: 10.13703/j.0255-2930.20220819-k0001 -
International Immunopharmacology Oct 2023Inflammasome has been reported to play an important role in the pathogenesis and progression of hematologic malignancies. As one of the backbone drugs for treating acute...
BACKGROUND
Inflammasome has been reported to play an important role in the pathogenesis and progression of hematologic malignancies. As one of the backbone drugs for treating acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), the anti-inflammatory effect of mercaptopurine (6-MP) and the impact of gut microbiome changes caused by 6-MP on anti-inflammasome remain unclear.
OBJECTIVE
We aimed to explore the association between 6-MP therapeutic effects and microbiome-involved inflammatory responses in ALL mice models.
STUDY DESIGN
ALL murine model was built by i.v. injecting murine L1210 cells into DBA/2 mice (model group). Two weeks after cell injections, 6-MP was orally administrated for 14 days (6-MP group). Fecal samples of mice were collected at different time points. Cecum short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) concentrations were determined by LC-MS/MS method. Serum cytokines were measured using a cytometric bead array. Gut microbiota composition in mice was explored using 16S rRNA gene sequencing.
RESULTS
The anti-tumor effect of 6-MP was proved in ALL mice models. The levels of pro-inflammatory factors IL-6 and TNFα significantly decreased after the administration of 6-MP. Cecum contents' acetate, propionate, and butyrate levels were negatively correlated with IL-6 (correlation coefficient: acetate, -0.24; propionate, -0.26; butyrate, -0.17) and TNFα (correlation coefficient: acetate, -0.45; propionate, -0.42; butyrate, -0.31) changes. Relative abundance changes of f_Lachnospiraceae.g_ASF356 and f_Peptococcaceae.g_uncultured were in accordance with the changes of butyrate levels and opposite to the changes of pro-inflammatory levels.
CONCLUSION
The anti-inflammatory response of 6-MP influenced by intestinal microbiota and its metabolites SCFAs, especially butyrate, played an essential role in improving ALL progression.
Topics: Mice; Animals; Propionates; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; Mercaptopurine; Interleukin-6; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; Chromatography, Liquid; Mice, Inbred DBA; Tandem Mass Spectrometry; Fatty Acids, Volatile; Microbiota; Butyrates; Acetates; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma
PubMed: 37573688
DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2023.110782 -
Environmental Science & Technology Aug 2023Marine environments contain diverse halogenated organic compounds (HOCs), both anthropogenic and natural, nourishing a group of versatile organohalide-respiring bacteria...
Marine environments contain diverse halogenated organic compounds (HOCs), both anthropogenic and natural, nourishing a group of versatile organohalide-respiring bacteria (OHRB). Here, we identified a novel OHRB (Peptococcaceae DCH) with conserved motifs but phylogenetically diverse reductive dehalogenase catalytic subunit (RdhAs) from marine enrichment culture. Further analyses clearly demonstrate the horizontal gene transfer of s among marine OHRB. Moreover, 2,4,6-trichlorophenol (TCP) was dechlorinated to 2,4-dichlorophenol and terminated at 4-chlorophenol in culture. and were the two dominant genera, and the constructed and verified metabolic pathways clearly demonstrated that the former provided various substrates for other microbes, while the latter drew nutrients, but might provide little benefit to microbial dehalogenation. Furthermore, could readily adapt to TCP, and sporulation-related proteins of were significantly upregulated in TCP-free controls, whereas other microbes (, and ) became more active, providing insights into how HOCs shape microbial communities. Additionally, sulfate could affect the dechlorination of Peptococcaceae DCH, but not debromination. Considering their electron accessibility and energy generation, the results clearly demonstrate that bromophenols are more suitable than chlorophenols for the enrichment of OHRB in marine environments. This study will greatly enhance our understanding of marine OHRB (s), auxiliary microbes, and microbial HOC adaptive mechanisms.
PubMed: 37478352
DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c03738 -
Journal of Ethnopharmacology Jan 2024Buyang Huanwu decoction (BHD), a famous traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula, was first recorded in Qing Dynasty physician Qingren Wang's Yi Lin Gai Cuo. BHD has...
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE
Buyang Huanwu decoction (BHD), a famous traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula, was first recorded in Qing Dynasty physician Qingren Wang's Yi Lin Gai Cuo. BHD has been widely utilized in the treatment of patients with neurological disorders, including Parkinson's disease (PD). However, the underlying mechanism has not been fully elucidated. In particular, little is known about the role of gut microbiota.
AIM OF THE STUDY
We aimed to reveal the alterations and functions of gut microbiota and its correlation with the liver metabolome in the process of improving PD with BHD.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The cecal contents were collected from PD mice treated with or without BHD. 16S rRNA gene sequencing was performed on an Illumina MiSeq-PE250 platform, and the ecological structure, dominant taxa, co-occurrence patterns, and function prediction of the gut microbial community were analyzed by multivariate statistical methods. The correlation between differential microbial communities in the gut and differentially accumulated metabolites in the liver was analyzed using Spearman's correlation analysis.
RESULTS
The abundance of Butyricimonas, Christensenellaceae, Coprococcus, Peptococcaceae, Odoribacteraceae, and Roseburia was altered significantly in the model group, which was by BHD. Ten genera, namely Dorea, unclassified_Lachnospiraceae, Oscillospira, unidentified_Ruminococcaceae, unclassified_Clostridiales, unidentified_Clostridiales, Bacteroides, unclassified_Prevotellaceae, unidentified_Rikenellaceae, and unidentified_S24-7, were identified as key bacterial communities. According to the function prediction of differential genera, the mRNA surveillance pathway might be a target of BHD. Integrated analysis of gut microbiota and the liver metabolome revealed that several gut microbiota genera such as Parabacteroides, Ochrobactrum, Acinetobacter, Clostridium, and Halomonas, were positively or negatively correlated with some nervous system-related metabolites, such as L-carnitine, L-pyroglutamic acid, oleic acid, and taurine.
CONCLUSIONS
Gut microbiota might be a target of BHD in the process of ameliorating PD. Our findings provide novel insight into the mechanisms underlying the effects of BHD on PD and contribute to the development of TCM.
Topics: Mice; Animals; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Parkinson Disease; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; Liver; Metabolome
PubMed: 37423520
DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2023.116893 -
Journal of Electrocardiology 2023Past research based on observations has suggested that the gut microbiome (GM) could play a role in developing arrhythmias and conduction blocks. Nonetheless, the nature...
INTRODUCTION
Past research based on observations has suggested that the gut microbiome (GM) could play a role in developing arrhythmias and conduction blocks. Nonetheless, the nature of this association remains uncertain due to the potential for reverse causation and confounding factors in observational research. The aim of this investigation is to elucidate the causal relationship between GM and the development of arrhythmias as well as conduction blocks.
METHODS
This study collected summary statistics regarding GM, arrhythmias, and conduction blocks. Two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was carried out employing various methods, with inverse variance weighted being the primary approach, followed by weighted median, simple mode, MR-Egger, and MR-PRESSO. Moreover, the MR findings were corroborated through multiple sensitivity analyses.
RESULTS
Among them, for atrial fibrillation and flutter (AF), phylum_Actinobacteria and genus_RuminococcaceaeUCG004 demonstrated a negative correlation, while order_Pasteurellales, family_Pasteurellaceae, and genus_Turicibacter were associated with an increased risk. In the case of paroxysmal tachycardia (PT), genus_Holdemania and genus_Roseburia were found to reduce risk. For atrioventricular block (AVB), order_Bifidobacteriales, family_Bifidobacteriaceae, and genus_Alistipes exhibited a negative correlation, whereas genus_CandidatusSoleaferrea showed a positive correlation. Concerning the left bundle-branch block (LBBB), family_Peptococcaceae appeared to decrease the risk, while genus_Flavonifractor was linked to an increased risk. Lastly, no causative GM was identified in the right bundle-branch block (RBBB) context.
CONCLUSION
We have uncovered potential causal links between some GM, arrhythmias, and conduction blocks. This insight may aid in designing microbiome-based interventions for these conditions and their risk factors in future trials. Additionally, it could facilitate the discovery of novel biomarkers for targeted prevention strategies.
Topics: Humans; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Mendelian Randomization Analysis; Electrocardiography; Bundle-Branch Block; Atrial Fibrillation
PubMed: 37422943
DOI: 10.1016/j.jelectrocard.2023.06.006 -
Canadian Journal of Microbiology Sep 2023Anaerobic microorganisms in Canada Natural Upgrading Limited (CNUL) fluid fine tailings (FFT) are sustained by residual solvent hydrocarbons. Although FFT are...
Anaerobic microorganisms in Canada Natural Upgrading Limited (CNUL) fluid fine tailings (FFT) are sustained by residual solvent hydrocarbons. Although FFT are methanogenic in nature, sulfate-reducing microorganisms represent a significant portion of FFT bacterial community. In this study, we examined biodegradation of three -alkanes (2-methylbutane, 2-methylpentane, and 3-methylpentane), representing major -alkanes in paraffinic solvent, in CNUL FFT under sulfate-reducing conditions. During ∼1100 days of incubation, only 2-methylpentane was degraded partially, whereas 2-methylbutane and 3-methylpentane were not degraded. During active degradation of 2-methylpentane, the bacterial community was dominated by Anaerolineaceae followed by Syntrophaceae, Peptococcaceae, Desulfobacteraceae, and Desulfobulbaceae. The archaeal community was co-dominated by acetoclastic (Methanosaetaceae) and hydrogenotrophic (Methanobacteriaceae) methanogens. This study underlines the limited capability of the microbial community indigenous to CNUL FFT in degrading recalcitrant -alkanes under sulfate-reducing conditions.
Topics: Alkanes; Methane; Sulfates; Oil and Gas Fields; Petroleum; Euryarchaeota; Solvents; Biodegradation, Environmental
PubMed: 37235883
DOI: 10.1139/cjm-2023-0022 -
Human Genetics Aug 2023It is unclear whether gut microbiota (GM) affects the risk of optic neuritis (ON) through the "gut-brain" axis and the "gut-retina" axis. To examine the causal...
BACKGROUND
It is unclear whether gut microbiota (GM) affects the risk of optic neuritis (ON) through the "gut-brain" axis and the "gut-retina" axis. To examine the causal relationship between GM and ON, we conducted Mendelian randomization (MR) study.
METHODS
Up to 18,340 samples of 24 population-based cohorts were included in genome-wide association study (GWAS) of 196 GM taxa. ON outcomes were selected from the FinnGen GWAS (951 ON cases and 307,092 controls). In addition, the GWAS based on UK Biobank (UKB) (105 ON cases and 456,243 controls) was used for further exploration. Inverse variance weighted (IVW) was carried out to estimate their effects on ON risk and the MR assumptions were evaluated in sensitivity analyses.
RESULTS
Among the 196 GM taxa, the IVW results confirmed that Family -Peptococcaceae (P = 2.17 × 10), Genus- Hungatella (P = 4.57 × 10) and genus-Eubacterium_rectale_group (P = 0.02) were correlated with the risk of ON based on Finngen GWAS. Based on data from UKB, Genus- Eubacterium_hallii_group (P = 1.50 × 10) and Genus- Ruminococcaceae_UCG_002 (P = 0.02) were correlated with the risk of ON. At the phylum, class and order levels, no GM taxa were causally related to ON (P > 0.05). Heterogeneity (P > 0.05) and pleiotropy (P > 0.05) analysis confirmed the robustness of the MR results.
CONCLUSION
Our MR findings support the causal effect of specific GM taxa on ON. GM may affect the risk of ON through the "gut-brain" axis and the "gut-retina" axis. However, further research is needed to confirm the relevant mechanism of the relationship between GM and ON.
Topics: Humans; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Mendelian Randomization Analysis; Genome-Wide Association Study; Causality; Optic Neuritis
PubMed: 36576600
DOI: 10.1007/s00439-022-02514-0