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The Science of the Total Environment Mar 2024An abundant body of scientific studies and regulatory guidelines substantiates antimicrobial efficacy of freshwater chlorination ensuring drinking water safety in large...
An abundant body of scientific studies and regulatory guidelines substantiates antimicrobial efficacy of freshwater chlorination ensuring drinking water safety in large populations worldwide. In contrast to the purposeful use of chlorination ensuring antimicrobial safety of drinking water, only a limited body of research has addressed the molecular impact of chlorinated drinking water exposure on the gut microbiota. Here, for the first time, we have examined the differential effects of drinking water regimens stratified by chlorination agent [inorganic (HOCl) versus chloramine (TCIC)] on the C57BL/6J murine fecal microbiota. To this end, we exposed C57BL/6J mice to chlorinated drinking water regimens followed by fecal bacterial microbiota analysis at the end of the three-week feeding period employing 16S rRNA sequencing. α-diversity was strongly reduced when comparing chlorinated versus control drinking water groups and community dissimilarities (β-diversity) were significant between groups even when comparing HOCl and TCIC. We detected significant differences in fecal bacterial composition as a function of drinking water chlorination observable at the phylum and genus levels. Differential abundance analysis of select amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) revealed changes as a function of chlorination exposure [up: Lactobacillus ASV1; Akkermansia muciniphila ASV7; Clostridium ss1 ASV10; down: Ileibacterium valens ASV5; Desulfovibrio ASV11; Lachnospiraceae UCG-006 ASV15]. Given the established complexity of murine and human gastrointestinal microbiota and their role in health and disease, the translational relevance of the chlorination-induced changes documented by us for the first time in the fecal murine microbiota remains to be explored.
Topics: Mice; Humans; Animals; Drinking Water; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Microbiota; Anti-Infective Agents
PubMed: 38199366
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.169933 -
Frontiers in Microbiology 2023Lam. leaf is not only a new food resource in China, but also a traditional medicinal plant. It is commonly used in the folk to alleviate constipation, but its laxative...
Lam. leaf is not only a new food resource in China, but also a traditional medicinal plant. It is commonly used in the folk to alleviate constipation, but its laxative mechanism is not fully understood. Hence we investigated it in loperamide-induced functional constipation (FC) mice. The results showed that MOAE significantly regulated not only gastrointestinal hormones and neurotransmitters in serum but also important gastrointestinal motility factors in the enteric nervous system (ENS)-interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs)-smooth muscle cell (SMC) network. Meanwhile, MOAE attenuated intestinal inflammation, increased cecal short-chain fatty acid levels and colonic antimicrobial peptide expression, and improved the impaired intestinal barrier function in loperamide-induced FC mice. In addition, MOAE also increased fecal water content by inhibiting the mRNA expression of colonic aquaporins ( and ) in FC mice. Interestingly and importantly, MOAE affected the intestinal microbiota by inhibiting some key "constipation-causing" microbiota, such as Bacteroidaceae, Clostridiaceae, , and , and promoting the growth of other important "constipation-curing" microbiota, such as , , and . These important taxa are significantly associated with a variety of indicators of constipation. These findings suggest that MOAE can promote defecation through its rich chemical composition to modulate the ENS-ICCs-SMCs network and the gut microecosystem.
PubMed: 38192287
DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1315402 -
Frontiers in Microbiology 2023In recent years, there has been a growing interest in extending the potential of underground gas storage (UGS) facilities to hydrogen and carbon dioxide storage....
In recent years, there has been a growing interest in extending the potential of underground gas storage (UGS) facilities to hydrogen and carbon dioxide storage. However, this transition to hydrogen storage raises concerns regarding potential microbial reactions, which could convert hydrogen into methane. It is crucial to gain a comprehensive understanding of the microbial communities within any UGS facilities designated for hydrogen storage. In this study, underground water samples and water samples from surface technologies from 7 different UGS objects located in the Vienna Basin were studied using both molecular biology methods and cultivation methods. Results from 16S rRNA sequencing revealed that the proportion of archaea in the groundwater samples ranged from 20 to 58%, with methanogens being the predominant. Some water samples collected from surface technologies contained up to 87% of methanogens. Various species of methanogens were isolated from individual wells, including sp., sp., sp. or sp. We also examined water samples for the presence of sulfate-reducing bacteria known to be involved in microbially induced corrosion and identified species of the genus in the samples. In the second part of our study, we contextualized our data by comparing it to available sequencing data from terrestrial subsurface environments worldwide. This allowed us to discern patterns and correlations between different types of underground samples based on environmental conditions. Our findings reveal presence of methanogens in all analyzed groups of underground samples, which suggests the possibility of unintended microbial hydrogen-to-methane conversion and the associated financial losses. Nevertheless, the prevalence of methanogens in our results also highlights the potential of the UGS environment, which can be effectively leveraged as a bioreactor for the conversion of hydrogen into methane, particularly in the context of Power-to-Methane technology.
PubMed: 38188570
DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1293506 -
MSystems Feb 2024Ruminal microbiota is gradually established after birth, while microbiota maturation could be highly diverse because of varied solid dietary accessibility. However, how...
Ruminal microbiota is gradually established after birth, while microbiota maturation could be highly diverse because of varied solid dietary accessibility. However, how the ruminal microbiota accreted from postnatal hay diets alters rumen epithelial development, and how this affects animal health remains largely unknown. Here, neonatal lambs were introduced to starchy corn-soybean starter or corn-soybean starter + alfalfa hay (AH) to investigate the influences of early life ruminal microbiome on rumen epithelial development using integrated 16s rRNA sequencing-metagenome-transcriptome approaches. The results showed that AH introduction elevated average daily weight gain, rumen weight and volume, rumen epithelial papillae length, and rumen muscle layer thickness. Meanwhile, the relative abundance of fibrolytic bacteria ( R-7 group, UCG-001, and ), acetate producer ( and and propionate producer was increased in the rumen content by AH supplementation ( < 0.05). Moreover, AH introduction decreased the relative abundance of total CAZymes, CBM, and GH and increased the abundance of KO genes related to volatile fatty acid (VFA) generation in the rumen content. AH lambs had a higher relative abundance of , , and ( < 0.05), while a lower relative abundance of , , , , , and ( < 0.05) in the rumen epithelial samples. Furthermore, these alterations in ruminal microbial structure and function resulted in ruminal epithelial cell proliferation and development pathways activation. In summary, AH introduction benefited ruminal fiber degradation and VFA generation bacteria colonization and promoted ruminal epithelial development. These findings provide new insights into ruminal microbial-host interactions in the early life.IMPORTANCEWhile it is established that a fiber-rich diet promotes rumen development in lambs, further research is needed to investigate the precise response of rumen microbiota and epithelium to high-quality alfalfa hay. Here, we observed that the inclusion of alfalfa hay led to a discernible alteration in the developmental trajectory of the rumen. Notably, there was a favorable shift in the rumen's volume, morphology, and the development of rumen papillae. Furthermore, ruminal microbial structure and function resulted in ruminal epithelial cell proliferation and development pathways activation, collectively provide compelling evidence supporting the capacity of alfalfa hay to enhance rumen development and health through ruminal micrbiota-host crosstalks. Our findings elucidate the functional response of the rumen to alfalfa hay introduction, providing new insights into strategies for promoting healthy development of the rumen in young ruminants.
Topics: Sheep; Animals; Medicago sativa; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; Rumen; Animal Feed; Fatty Acids, Volatile; Sheep, Domestic; Ruminants; Microbiota; Weight Gain
PubMed: 38179946
DOI: 10.1128/msystems.01034-23 -
BMC Microbiology Jan 2024Reliable species identification of cultured isolates is essential in clinical bacteriology. We established a new study algorithm named NOVA - Novel Organism Verification...
Novel Organism Verification and Analysis (NOVA) study: identification of 35 clinical isolates representing potentially novel bacterial taxa using a pipeline based on whole genome sequencing.
BACKGROUND
Reliable species identification of cultured isolates is essential in clinical bacteriology. We established a new study algorithm named NOVA - Novel Organism Verification and Analysis to systematically analyze bacterial isolates that cannot be characterized by conventional identification procedures MALDI-TOF MS and partial 16 S rRNA gene sequencing using Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS).
RESULTS
We identified a total of 35 bacterial strains that represent potentially novel species. Corynebacterium sp. (n = 6) and Schaalia sp. (n = 5) were the predominant genera. Two strains each were identified within the genera Anaerococcus, Clostridium, Desulfovibrio, and Peptoniphilus, and one new species was detected within Citrobacter, Dermabacter, Helcococcus, Lancefieldella, Neisseria, Ochrobactrum (Brucella), Paenibacillus, Pantoea, Porphyromonas, Pseudoclavibacter, Pseudomonas, Psychrobacter, Pusillimonas, Rothia, Sneathia, and Tessaracoccus. Twenty-seven of 35 strains were isolated from deep tissue specimens or blood cultures. Seven out of 35 isolated strains identified were clinically relevant. In addition, 26 bacterial strains that could only be identified at the species level using WGS analysis, were mainly organisms that have been identified/classified very recently.
CONCLUSION
Our new algorithm proved to be a powerful tool for detection and identification of novel bacterial organisms. Publicly available clinical and genomic data may help to better understand their clinical and ecological role. Our identification of 35 novel strains, 7 of which appear to be clinically relevant, shows the wide range of undescribed pathogens yet to define.
Topics: Bacteria; Whole Genome Sequencing; Corynebacterium; Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; Bacterial Typing Techniques
PubMed: 38178003
DOI: 10.1186/s12866-023-03163-7 -
Frontiers in Microbiology 2023Prokaryotic communities play important roles in sewer sediment ecosystems, but the community composition, functional potential, and assembly mechanisms of sewer sediment...
Prokaryotic communities play important roles in sewer sediment ecosystems, but the community composition, functional potential, and assembly mechanisms of sewer sediment prokaryotic communities are still poorly understood. Here, we studied the sediment prokaryotic communities in different urban functional areas (multifunctional, commercial, and residential areas) through 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. Our results suggested that the compositions of prokaryotic communities varied significantly among functional areas. , , and involved in the sulfur cycle and some hydrolytic fermentation bacteria were enriched in multifunctional area, while and , which were related to methane metabolism were significantly discriminant taxa in the commercial area. Physicochemical properties were closely related to overall community changes ( < 0.001), especially the nutrient levels of sediments (i.e., total nitrogen and total phosphorus) and sediment pH. Network analysis revealed that the prokaryotic community network of the residential area sediment was more complex than the other functional areas, suggesting higher stability of the prokaryotic community in the residential area. Stochastic processes dominated the construction of the prokaryotic community. These results expand our understanding of the characteristics of prokaryotic communities in sewer sediment, providing a new perspective for studying sewer sediment prokaryotic community structure.
PubMed: 38173681
DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1327523 -
Microbiome Jan 2024The overgrowth of Desulfovibrio, an inflammation promoting flagellated bacteria, has been found in ulcerative colitis (UC) patients. However, the molecular mechanism in...
BACKGROUND
The overgrowth of Desulfovibrio, an inflammation promoting flagellated bacteria, has been found in ulcerative colitis (UC) patients. However, the molecular mechanism in promoting colitis remains unestablished.
METHODS
The relative abundance Desulfovibrio vulgaris (D. vulgaris) in stool samples of UC patients was detected. Mice were treated with dextran sulfate sodium to induce colitis with or without administration of D. vulgaris or D. vulgaris flagellin (DVF), and the severity of colitis and the leucine-rich repeat containing 19 (LRRC19) signaling were assessed. The interaction between DVF and LRRC19 was identified by surface plasmon resonance and intestinal organoid culture. Lrrc19 and Tlr5 mice were used to investigate the indispensable role of LRRC19. Finally, the blockade of DVF-LRRC19 interaction was selected through virtual screening and the efficacy in colitis was assessed.
RESULTS
D. vulgaris was enriched in fecal samples of UC patients and was correlated with the disease severity. D. vulgaris or DVF treatment significantly exacerbated colitis in germ-free mice and conventional mice. Mechanistically, DVF could interact with LRRC19 (rather than TLR5) in colitis mice and organoids, and then induce the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Lrrc19 knockdown blunted the severity of colitis. Furthermore, typhaneoside, a blockade of binding interfaces, blocked DVF-LRRC19 interaction and dramatically ameliorated DVF-induced colitis.
CONCLUSIONS
D. vulgaris could promote colitis through DVF-LRRC19 interaction. Targeting DVF-LRRC19 interaction might be a new therapeutic strategy for UC therapy. Video Abstract.
Topics: Humans; Mice; Animals; Toll-Like Receptor 5; Desulfovibrio vulgaris; Colitis; Colitis, Ulcerative; Inflammation; Dextran Sulfate; Disease Models, Animal; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Colon; Receptors, Cell Surface
PubMed: 38172943
DOI: 10.1186/s40168-023-01722-8 -
Frontiers in Veterinary Science 2023This study aimed to evaluate the effects of Chinese herbal mixtures (CHMs) on productive performance, egg quality, immune status, anti-apoptosis ability, caecal...
This study aimed to evaluate the effects of Chinese herbal mixtures (CHMs) on productive performance, egg quality, immune status, anti-apoptosis ability, caecal microbiota, and offspring meconial microbiota in hens. A total of 168 thirty-week-old Wenchang breeder hens were randomly divided into two groups, with each group comprising six replicate pens of fourteen hens. The groups were fed a basal diet (CON group) and a basal diet with 1,000 mg/kg CHMs (CHMs group) for 10 weeks. Our results showed that dietary supplementation with CHMs increased the laying rate, average egg weight, hatch of fertile, and offspring chicks' weight while concurrently reducing the feed conversion ratio (FCR) and embryo mortality ( < 0.05). The addition of CHMs resulted in significant improvements in various egg quality parameters, including eggshell strength, albumen height, haugh unit, and the content of docosatetraenoic acid (C20:4n-6) in egg yolk ( < 0.05). The supplementation of CHMs had a greater concentration of IgA and IgG while decreasing the content of IL-6 in serum compared with the CON group ( < 0.05). Addition of CHMs to the diet increased the expression of Bcl-2 and IL-4 in liver and ovary, decreased the expression of IL-1β, Bax, and Caspase-8 in jejunum and ovary, and decreased the expression of NF-κB in liver, jejunum, and ovary ( < 0.05). Moreover, dietary CHMs reduced the abundance of in caecal microbiota as well as decreased the abundance of and in the offspring meconial microbiota ( < 0.05). In conclusion, the CHMs could improve productive parameters by enhancing immune status, anti-apoptosis capacity, and modulating the caecal microbiota of Wenchang breeder hens, as well as maintaining the intestinal health of the offspring chicks.
PubMed: 38162476
DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1320469 -
Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy =... Jan 2024This study aimed to evaluate the preventive effect of Bi Xie Fen Qing Yin (BXFQY) decoction on hyperuricemic nephropathy (HN). Using an HN mouse model induced by oral...
This study aimed to evaluate the preventive effect of Bi Xie Fen Qing Yin (BXFQY) decoction on hyperuricemic nephropathy (HN). Using an HN mouse model induced by oral gavage of potassium oxonate and adenine, we found that BXFQY significantly reduced plasma uric acid levels and improved renal function. Further study shows that BXFQY suppressed the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome and decreased the mRNA expressions of pro-inflammatory and fibrosis-associated factors in renal tissues of HN mice. Also, BXFQY prevented the damage to intestinal tissues of HN mice, indicative of suppressed colonic inflammation and increased gut barrier integrity. By 16 S rDNA sequencing, BXFQY significantly improved gut microbiota dysbiosis of HN mice. On the one hand, BXFQY down-regulated the abundance of some harmful bacteria, like Desulfovibrionaceae, Enterobacter, Helicobacter, and Desulfovibrio. On the other hand, BXFQY up-regulated the contents of several beneficial microbes, such as Ruminococcaceae, Clostridium sensu stricto 1, and Streptococcus. Using gas or liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/LC-MS) analysis, BXFQY reversed the changes in intestinal bacterial metabolites of HN mice, including indole and BAs. The depletion of intestinal flora from HN or HN plus BXFQY mice confirmed the significance of gut microbiota in BXFQY-initiated treatment of HN. In conclusion, BXFQY can alleviate renal inflammation and fibrosis of HN mice by modulating gut microbiota and intestinal metabolites. This study provides new insight into the underlying mechanism of BXFQY against HN.
Topics: Mice; Animals; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Uric Acid; Adenine; Hyperuricemia; Inflammation; Fibrosis
PubMed: 38147734
DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.116022 -
Microorganisms Nov 2023During weaning, piglets experience various stressor events that disrupt their gut microbiota and immune balance, decrease growth parameters, and increase mortality...
During weaning, piglets experience various stressor events that disrupt their gut microbiota and immune balance, decrease growth parameters, and increase mortality rates. In this study, we assessed the efficacy of CACC616 as a probiotic supplement. We characterized this strain and evaluated its effect on improving growth performance, modulating gut microbiota composition, and reducing noxious odor components in weaned piglets compared to a non-supplementary diet (control). During the 26-day period, 40 crossbred weaned piglets were randomly assigned to pens with 20 animals each in two groups: control and treatment groups with CACC616. On day 26, the treatment group exhibited a lower feed conversion ratio (FCR) and a significant alteration in gut microbial composition, correlating with improved growth parameters and gut health ( < 0.05). The treatment group also exhibited significantly reduced digestibility- and intestinal-environment-related noxious odor components ( < 0.05). The CACC616 strain effectively reduced pathogenic genera numbers, including , , and spp., with the treatment group exhibiting lower fecal calprotectin levels than the control group ( < 0.05). Overall, this study revealed that the functional probiotic CACC616 contributes to enhanced FCR and effectively modulates weaned piglets' inflammation and intestinal microbiota.
PubMed: 38138034
DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11122890