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Frontiers in Cellular and Infection... 2024In recent years, a growing body of research has confirmed that the gut microbiota plays a major role in the maintenance of human health and disease. A gut microbiota... (Review)
Review
In recent years, a growing body of research has confirmed that the gut microbiota plays a major role in the maintenance of human health and disease. A gut microbiota imbalance can lead to the development of many diseases, such as pregnancy complications, adverse pregnancy outcomes, polycystic ovary syndrome, endometriosis, and cancer. Short-chain fatty acids are metabolites of specific intestinal bacteria and are crucial for maintaining intestinal homeostasis and regulating metabolism and immunity. Endometriosis is the result of cell proliferation, escape from immune surveillance, and invasive metastasis. There is a strong correlation between the anti-proliferative and anti-inflammatory effects of short-chain fatty acids produced by gut microbes and the development of endometriosis. Given that the mechanism of action of gut microbiota and Short-chain fatty acids in endometriosis remain unclear, this paper aims to provide a comprehensive review of the complex interactions between intestinal flora, short-chain fatty acids and endometriosis. In addition, we explored potential microbial-based treatment strategies for endometriosis, providing new insights into the future development of diagnostic tests and prevention and treatment methods for endometriosis.
Topics: Endometriosis; Humans; Female; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Fatty Acids, Volatile; Animals; Bacteria; Probiotics
PubMed: 38938880
DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2024.1373004 -
Food & Function Jun 2024Gastrointestinal symptoms constitute a frequent complication in postoperative patients with valvular heart disease (VHD), impacting their postoperative recovery....
subsp. LPL-RH improves postoperative gastrointestinal symptoms and nutrition indexes by regulating the gut microbiota in patients with valvular heart disease: a randomized controlled trial.
Gastrointestinal symptoms constitute a frequent complication in postoperative patients with valvular heart disease (VHD), impacting their postoperative recovery. Probiotics contribute to regulating human gut microbiota balance and alleviating postoperative gastrointestinal symptoms. Our objective involved assessing the potential of subsp. LPL-RH to alleviate postoperative gastrointestinal symptoms and expedite patient recovery. Adult patients diagnosed with VHD scheduled for valve surgery were enrolled. 110 patients were randomly divided into two groups and received LPL-RH or a placebo for 14 days. Gastrointestinal symptoms were evaluated using the Gastrointestinal Symptoms Questionnaire. An analysis of the time to recovery of bowel function and various postoperative variables was conducted in both study groups. Variations in the intestinal microbiota were detected 16S rRNA sequencing. The study was completed by 105 participants, with 53 in the probiotic group and 52 in the placebo group. Compared to the placebo group, LPL-RH significantly reduced the total gastrointestinal symptom score after surgery ( = 0.004). Additionally, LPL-RH was found to significantly reduce abdominal pain ( = 0.001), bloating ( = 0.018), and constipation ( = 0.022) symptom scores. Furthermore, LPL-RH dramatically shortened the time to recovery of bowel function ( = 0.017). Moreover, LPL-RH administration significantly enhanced patients' postoperative nutrition indexes (red blood cell counts, hemoglobin level, < 0.05). Microbiome analysis showed that the composition and diversity of the postoperative intestinal microbiota differed between the probiotic and placebo groups. No adverse incidents associated with probiotics were documented, emphasizing their safety. This study initially discovered that oral subsp. LPL-RH can assist in regulating intestinal microbiota balance, alleviating gastrointestinal symptoms, promoting intestinal function recovery, and enhancing nutrition indexes in patients with VHD after surgery. Regulating the intestinal microbiota may represent a potential mechanism for LPL-RH to exert clinical benefits.
PubMed: 38938120
DOI: 10.1039/d4fo01471e -
Animal Bioscience Jun 2024The objective was to investigate growth performance, antioxidant enzyme activity, intestinal morphology, immune cell distribution, short chain fatty acid (SCFA) profile,...
OBJECTIVE
The objective was to investigate growth performance, antioxidant enzyme activity, intestinal morphology, immune cell distribution, short chain fatty acid (SCFA) profile, and microbiota in broiler chickens fed a diet containing Lacticaseibacillus paracasei NSMJ15.
METHODS
A total of 120-day-old Ross 308 male broilers were allocated to 2 dietary treatments in a randomized complete block design. A control group was fed a corn-soybean meal control diet, and an NSMJ15-supplemented group was fed a control diet supplemented with 1 g/kg L. paracasei NSMJ15 at the expense of cornstarch. Each dietary treatment had 6 replicates with 10 birds per cage. Growth performance was recorded on day 9. On day 10, one bird representing median body weight was selected to collect serum for antioxidant enzyme activity, jejunal tissue for immune cell isolation and morphometric analysis, and cecal digesta for 16S rRNA gene sequencing and SCFA analysis.
RESULTS
Supplementation of L. paracasei NSMJ15 did not affect growth performance, serum antioxidant enzyme activity, and jejunal histomorphology compared to the control group. In the NSMJ15-supplemented group, the population of CD3+CD4+CD8- T cells increased (p=0.010), while the population of CD3+CD8+TCRγδ+ T cells decreased (p=0.022) compared to the control group. The L. paracasei NSMJ15 supplementation decreased (p=0.022) acetate concentration in the cecal digesta compared to the control group. The 16S rRNA gene sequencing analysis showed that NSMJ15-supplemented group differentially expressed (p<0.05) 10 more amplicon sequence variants compared to control group without affecting alpha and beta diversity indices of the cecal microbiota. Genera Mediterraneibacter and Negativibacillus were positively (p<0.05) correlated with CD4+ T cells, while genera Gemmiger, Coprococcus, Sellimonas, Massilimicrobiota, and Blautia were negatively (p<0.05) correlated with SCFA concentration.
CONCLUSION
The results of the present study suggest dietary L. paracasei NSMJ15 supplementation may increase percentage of CD4+ T cells and decrease acetate concentration in broiler chickens by increasing the differential expression of specific microbial genera.
PubMed: 38938030
DOI: 10.5713/ab.24.0162 -
Animal Bioscience Jun 2024This study aimed to determine the effects of compatibility of Clostridium butyricum and Bacillus subtilis on growth performance, lipid metabolism, antioxidant status and...
Effects of compatibility of Clostridium butyricum and Bacillus subtilis on growth performance, lipid metabolism, antioxidant status and cecal microflora of broilers during the starter phase.
OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to determine the effects of compatibility of Clostridium butyricum and Bacillus subtilis on growth performance, lipid metabolism, antioxidant status and cecal microflora of broilers during the starter phase.
METHODS
A total of 600 1-day-old Ross 308 broilers were randomly divided into two groups with six replicates in each group. Chickens in the control group were fed a basal diet, while chickens in the experimental group were fed a diet supplemented with 2 × 108 CFU/kg of C. butyricum and 1 × 109 CFU/kg of B. subtilis. The experimental period was 21 days.
RESULTS
Addition of C. butyricum and B. subtilis significantly increased (p<0.05) the body weight and liver NADP-malic enzyme (NADP-ME) activity of broilers, enhanced (p<0.05) the average daily gain and average daily feed intake of broilers. However, the addition of C. butyricum and B. subtilis did not significantly affect the concentrations of triglyceride and total cholesterol in the serum, the activities of fatty acid synthase and acetyl-CoA carboxylase in the liver, the total antioxidant capacity, glutathione peroxidase activity and malondialdehyde content in the serum and liver. Besides, microbial analysis revealed that supplementation of C. butyricum and B. subtilis increased (p<0.05) the abundance of Firmicutes such as CHKCI001 and Faecalibacterium, decreased (p<0.05) the abundance of Bacteroidota such as Bacteroides and Alistipes. Spearman correlation analysis confirmed that the above cecal microbiota were closely related to the growth performance of broilers (p<0.05). In addition, simultaneous supplementation of C. butyricum and B. subtilis significant affected (p<0.05) 33 different functional pathways such as lipid metabolism and carbohydrate metabolism. This explains the phenomenon of increased growth performance and liver NADP-ME activity in the probiotics group.
CONCLUSION
The compatibility of C. butyricum and B. subtilis could improve the growth of broilers during the starter phase by changing the cecal microflora.
PubMed: 38938023
DOI: 10.5713/ab.24.0132 -
Journal of Microbiology and... Jun 2024Branched-chain hydroxy acids (BCHAs), produced by lactic acid bacteria, have recently been suggested as bioactive compounds contributing to the systemic metabolism and...
Branched-chain hydroxy acids (BCHAs), produced by lactic acid bacteria, have recently been suggested as bioactive compounds contributing to the systemic metabolism and modulation of the gut microbiome. However, the relationship between BCHAs and gut microbiome remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the effects of BCHAs on the growth of seven different families in the gut microbiota. Based on in vitro screening, both 2-hydroxyisovaleric acid (HIVA) and 2-hydroxyisocaproic acid (HICA) stimulated the growth of and , with HIVA showing a significant growth promotion. Additionally, we observed not only the growth promotion of probiotic strains but also growth inhibition of pathogenic in a dosedependent manner. The production of HIVA and HICA varied depending on the family of the gut microbiota and was relatively high in case of and . Furthermore, HIVA and HICA production by each strain positively correlated with their growth variation. These results demonstrated gut microbiota-derived BCHAs as active metabolites that have bacterial growth modulatory effects. We suggest that BCHAs can be utilized as active metabolites, potentially contributing to the treatment of diseases associated with gut dysbiosis.
Topics: Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Hydroxy Acids; Probiotics; Caproates; Bacteria; Lactobacillaceae; Humans; Pentanoic Acids
PubMed: 38938006
DOI: 10.4014/jmb.2404.04009 -
Molecular Nutrition & Food Research Jun 2024While probiotics-based therapies have exhibited potential in alleviating alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD), the specific role of postbiotics derived from...
SCOPE
While probiotics-based therapies have exhibited potential in alleviating alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD), the specific role of postbiotics derived from Lactobacillus reuteri (L. reuteri) in ALD remains elusive. This study aims to investigate the impact of postbiotics on ameliorating alcohol-induced hepatic steatosis and the underlying mechanisms.
METHODS AND RESULTS
Using network pharmacology, the study elucidates the targets and pathways impacted by postbiotics from L. reuteri, identifying the farnesoid X receptor (FXR) as a promising target for postbiotics against ALD, and lipid metabolism and alcoholism act as crucial pathways associated with postbiotics-targeting ALD. Furthermore, the study conducts histological and biochemical analyses coupled with LC/MS to evaluate the protective effects and mechanisms of postbiotics against ALD. Postbiotics may modulate bile acid metabolism in vivo by regulating FXR signaling, activating the FXR/FGF15 pathway, and influencing the enterohepatic circulation of bile acids (BAs). Subsequently, postbiotics regulate hepatic FXR activated by BAs and modulate the expression of FXR-mediated protein, including short regulatory partner (SHP) and sterol regulatory element binding protein-1c (SREBP-1c), thereby ameliorating hepatic steatosis in mice with ALD.
CONCLUSION
Postbiotics effectively alleviate ethanol-induced hepatic steatosis by regulating the FXR/SHP/SREBP-1c axis, as rigorously validated in both in vivo and in vitro.
PubMed: 38937862
DOI: 10.1002/mnfr.202300927 -
The Science of the Total Environment Jun 2024Nano-plastics (NPs) have emerged as prevalent contaminants in aquatic ecosystems, gaining significant research interest. Nonetheless, limited research has addressed the...
Nano-plastics (NPs) have emerged as prevalent contaminants in aquatic ecosystems, gaining significant research interest. Nonetheless, limited research has addressed the toxicity mechanisms associated with PS-NPs (polystyrene nanoplastics) of varying particle sizes. In this investigation, genotoxicity, growth patterns, hepatopancreatic damage, and intestinal flora alterations in freshwater shrimp Neocaridina palmata (Shen 1948), subjected to 35 days PS-NPs exposure (two size PS-NPs: 75 nm and 200 nm were used for this experiment, and five concentrations were set: 0 mg/L, 0.5 mg/L, 2.5 mg/L, 5 mg/L, and 10 mg/L concentrations PS-NP concentrations were examined using RNA sequencing, histopathological analyses, enzyme activity assessments, and 16S rRNA sequencing. Noteworthy variations in differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified across groups exposed to different PS-NPs sizes. We observed that PS-NPs predominantly instigated cellular component-related processes and induced apoptosis and oxidative stress across tissues via the mitochondrial pathway. Although the 200 nm-PS-NPs are stronger than the 75 nm-PS-NPs in terms of fluorescence intensity, 75 nm-PS-NPs are more likely to promote apoptosis than 200 nm-PS-NPs. PS-NPs impeded standard energy provision in N. palmata, potentially contributing to decreased body length and weight. Moreover, PS-NPs inflicted damage on intestinal epithelial and hepatopancreatic tissues and significantly modified intestinal microbial community structures. Specifically, PS-NPs-induced intestinal damage was marked by a decline in some probiotics (notably Lactobacilli) and a surge in pathogenic bacteria. Moreover, supplementing N. palmata with Lactobacilli appeared ameliorate oxidative stress and strengthen energy metabolism. Our findings provided valuable insights into crustacean toxicity mechanisms when subjected to PS-NPs and the potential risks that different PS-NPs sizes posed to terrestrial ecosystems.
PubMed: 38936730
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.174267 -
Probiotics and Antimicrobial Proteins Jun 2024As the population ages, cognitive decline becomes more common. Strategies targeting the gut-brain axis using probiotics are emerging to achieve improvements in...
Cognitive and Emotional Effect of a Multi-species Probiotic Containing Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Bifidobacterium lactis in Healthy Older Adults: A Double-Blind Randomized Placebo-Controlled Crossover Trial.
As the population ages, cognitive decline becomes more common. Strategies targeting the gut-brain axis using probiotics are emerging to achieve improvements in neuropsychiatric and neurological disorders. However, the beneficial role of probiotics on brain function in healthy older adults remains unclear. Our aim was to evaluate a multi-species probiotic formulation as a therapeutic approach to reduce emotional and cognitive decline associated with aging in healthy adults. A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled crossover trial was conducted. The study involved a 10-week intervention where participants consumed the assigned probiotic product daily, followed by a 4-week washout period before the second condition started. Cognitive function was assessed using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and the Psychological Experiments Construction Language Test Battery. At the emotional level, the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) were used. Thirty-three participants, recruited between July 2020 and April 2022, ingested a multispecies probiotic (Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Bifidobacterium lactis). After the intervention, noticeable enhancements were observed in cognitive function (mean difference 1.90, 95% CI 1.09 to 2.70, p < 0.005), memory (mean difference 4.60, 95% CI 2.91 to 6.29, p < 0.005) by MMSE and digit task, and depressive symptoms (mean difference 4.09, 95% CI 1.70 to 6.48, p < 0.005) by BDI. Furthermore, there were significant improvements observed in planning and problem-solving skills, selective attention, cognitive flexibility, impulsivity, and inhibitory ability. Probiotics administration improved cognitive and emotional function in older adults. Limited research supports this, requiring more scientific evidence for probiotics as an effective therapy for cognitive decline. This study has been prospectively registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04828421; 2020/July/17).
PubMed: 38935259
DOI: 10.1007/s12602-024-10315-2 -
Biological Trace Element Research Jun 2024Current trends are promoting youth, beauty, health, and fitness. Individuals often seek out remedies, such as medicines or dietary supplements (DS), to achieve these...
Current trends are promoting youth, beauty, health, and fitness. Individuals often seek out remedies, such as medicines or dietary supplements (DS), to achieve these goals. However, highly processed foods, chronic stress, and environmental pollution contribute to the development of civilization diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the mercury (Hg) content in medicines and DS that are available in Poland. A total of 139 preparations were tested (75 drugs, 64 DS). The medicines contained preparations belonging to antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal; analgesic, antipyretic, and anti-inflammatory; heart and blood vessel disease preventatives; respiratory tract infections treatment; diuretics; aiding digestion; supplements; antidiarrhoeals; anti-allergics; anti-rheumatics; antibiotics; and others. The tested dietary supplements had an effect on the following: improve the condition of skin, hair, and nails; vitamins; minerals; probiotics; weight loss; special for women; and others. The Hg content of the samples was determined using atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS). The Hg content of all the preparations varied widely (0.1-57.4 µg/kg), with a median Hg concentration of 1.2 µg/kg. The median Hg concentration for medicines was 0.8 µg/kg, prescription medicines having higher Hg concentrations (0.9 µg/kg) than over-the-counter (OTC) drugs (0.5 µg/kg). For DS, the Hg content was found to be higher than for drugs, at 2.0 µg/kg. The herbal preparations showed the highest Hg content among the individual DS groups (3.4 µg/kg). The Hg concentrations in the tested drug and DS samples did not exceed acceptable standards. However, if multiple pharmaceutical preparations are taken simultaneously over a long period of time, and there is existing environmental exposure, there is a possibility of Hg concentration accumulation and adverse health effects.
PubMed: 38935258
DOI: 10.1007/s12011-024-04269-3 -
Current Microbiology Jun 2024Clostridium perfringens is one of the critical causative agents causing diarrhea in piglets, with significant economic losses to the pig industry. Under normal gut...
Clostridium perfringens is one of the critical causative agents causing diarrhea in piglets, with significant economic losses to the pig industry. Under normal gut microbiota homeostasis and well-managed barns, diarrhea caused by C. perfringens could be controlled. Some reports show that probiotics, such as Bacillus subtilis, are beneficial in preventing necrotic enteritis (NE) in chickens, but few reports on piglets. Clostridium perfringens was found in the piglets' diarrhea with intestinal microbiota dysbiosis in our survey. Bacillus subtilis G2B9-Q, which was isolated from the feces of healthy pigs, was found to have anti-Clostridium activity after screening. Clostridium perfringens was used to challenge mice by intraperitoneal injection for modeling to evaluate the anti-infective activity of cell-free supernatant (CFS) of B. subtilis G2B9-Q and different concentrations of B. subtilis G2B9-Q by oral administration. The results showed that G2B9-Q can mitigate intestinal lesions caused by C. perfringens infection, reduce inflammatory reactions, and modulate intestinal microbiota. The CFS of G2B9-Q can alleviate the pathological damage of intestinal tissues caused by C. perfringens infection, reduce the concentration of TNF-α and IL-10 in the sera of mice, as well as the relative expression levels of alpha toxin (CPA), perfringolysin O (PFO) toxin, IL-10, IL-22, and TNF-α in the jejunum and colon tissues, and alleviate the changes in gut microbiota structure caused by C. perfringens infection, which showed better therapeutic effects and indicated that the metabolites of G2B9-Q are essential mediators for their beneficial effects. Therefore, the CFS of G2B9-Q could potentially replace antibiotics in treating C. perfringens infection.
Topics: Animals; Clostridium Infections; Bacillus subtilis; Clostridium perfringens; Mice; Probiotics; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Intestines; Swine; Diarrhea; Feces; Disease Models, Animal
PubMed: 38935166
DOI: 10.1007/s00284-024-03669-x