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Frontiers in Cellular and Infection... 2024To investigate the structure, composition, and functions of the gut microbiota in elderly patients with hyperlipidemia.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the structure, composition, and functions of the gut microbiota in elderly patients with hyperlipidemia.
METHODS
Sixteen older patients diagnosed with hyperlipidemia (M group) and 10 healthy, age-matched normal volunteers (N group) were included. These groups were further subdivided by sex into the male normal (NM, n = 5), female normal (NF, n = 5), male hyperlipidemia (MM, n = 8), and female hyperlipidemia (MF, n = 8) subgroups. Stool samples were collected for high-throughput sequencing of 16S rRNA genes. Blood samples were collected for clinical biochemical index testing.
RESULTS
Alpha- and beta-diversity analyses revealed that the structure and composition of the gut microbiota were significantly different between the M and N groups. The relative abundances of , , , , and were significantly decreased, while those of , , and were significantly higher in the M group. There were also significant sex-related differences in microbial structure between the NM and NF groups, and between the MM and MF groups. Through functional prediction with PICRUSt 2, we observed distinct between-group variations in metabolic pathways associated with the gut microbiota and their impact on the functionality of the nervous system. Pearson's correlation coefficient was used as a distance metric to build co-abundance networks. A hypergeometric test was used to detect taxonomies with significant enrichment in specific clusters. We speculated that modules with and as the core microbes play an important ecological role in the intestinal microbiota of the M group. The relative intestinal abundances of and in the M group were positively correlated with serum triglyceride and low-density lipoprotein levels, while the relative abundance of was negatively correlated with the serum lipoprotein a level.
Topics: Humans; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Male; Female; Aged; Hyperlipidemias; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; Feces; Bacteria; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing; Middle Aged; Aged, 80 and over
PubMed: 38812752
DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2024.1333145 -
Cell & Bioscience May 2024Observational studies have reported that gut microbiota composition is associated with metabolic syndrome. However, the causal effect of gut microbiota on metabolic...
BACKGROUND
Observational studies have reported that gut microbiota composition is associated with metabolic syndrome. However, the causal effect of gut microbiota on metabolic syndrome has yet to be confirmed.
METHODS
We performed a bidirectional Mendelian randomization study to investigate the causal effect between gut microbiota and metabolic syndrome in European population. Summary statistics of gut microbiota were from the largest available genome-wide association study meta-analysis (n = 13,266) conducted by the MiBioGen consortium. The summary statistics of outcome were obtained from the most comprehensive genome-wide association studies of metabolic syndrome (n = 291,107). The inverse-variance weighted method was applied as the primary method, and the robustness of the results was assessed by a series of sensitivity analyses.
RESULTS
In the primary causal estimates, Actinobacteria (OR = 0.935, 95% CI = 0.878-0.996, P = 0.037), Bifidobacteriales (OR = 0.928, 95% CI = 0.868-0.992, P = 0.028), Bifidobacteriaceae (OR = 0.928, 95% CI = 0.868-0.992, P = 0.028), Desulfovibrio (OR = 0.920, 95% CI = 0.869-0.975, P = 0.005), and RuminococcaceaeUCG010 (OR = 0.882, 95% CI = 0.803-0.969, P = 0.009) may be associated with a lower risk of metabolic syndrome, while Lachnospiraceae (OR = 1.130, 95% CI = 1.016-1.257, P = 0.025), Veillonellaceae (OR = 1.055, 95% CI = 1.004-1.108, P = 0.034) and Olsenella (OR = 1.046, 95% CI = 1.009-1.085, P = 0.015) may be linked to a higher risk for metabolic syndrome. Reverse MR analysis demonstrated that abundance of RuminococcaceaeUCG010 (OR = 0.938, 95% CI = 0.886-0.994, P = 0.030) may be downregulated by metabolic syndrome. Sensitivity analyses indicated no heterogeneity or horizontal pleiotropy.
CONCLUSIONS
Our Mendelian randomization study provided causal relationship between specific gut microbiota and metabolic syndrome, which might provide new insights into the potential pathogenic mechanisms of gut microbiota in metabolic syndrome and the assignment of effective therapeutic strategies.
PubMed: 38807189
DOI: 10.1186/s13578-024-01232-6 -
Frontiers in Veterinary Science 2024are globally distributed, marine parasitic nematodes that can cause human health problems, including symptoms such as vomiting, acute diarrhea, and allergic reactions....
BACKGROUND
are globally distributed, marine parasitic nematodes that can cause human health problems, including symptoms such as vomiting, acute diarrhea, and allergic reactions. As parasitic nematodes that primarily affect the patient's digestive tract, intestinal helminths can interact directly with the host microbiota through physical contact, chemicals, or nutrient competition. It is widely accepted that the host microbiota plays a crucial role in the regulation of immunity.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Nematodes collected from the abdominal cavity of marine fish were identified by molecular biology and live worms were artificially infected in rats. Infection was determined by indirect ELISA based on rat serum and worm extraction. Feces were collected for 16S rDNA-based analysis of microbiota diversity.
RESULTS
Molecular biology identification based on ITS sequences identified the collected nematodes as . The success of the artificial infection was determined by indirect ELISA based on serum and worm extraction from artificially infected rats. Microbiota diversity analysis showed that a total of 773 ASVs were generated, and PCoA showed that the infected group was differentiated from the control group. The control group contained five characterized genera ( NK3B31 group, , 1, , ) and the infected group contained nine characterized genera (, , , , , , , , ). Based on the Wilcoxon test, four processes were found to be significant: bacterial secretion system, bacterial invasion of epithelial cells, bacterial chemotaxis, and ABC transporters.
CONCLUSION
This study is the first to analyze the diversity of the intestinal microbiota of rats infected with and to determine the damage and regulation of metabolism and immunity caused by the infection in the rat gut. The findings provide a basis for further research on host-helminth-microbe correlationships.
PubMed: 38784661
DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2024.1403920 -
BMC Microbiology May 2024Mangrove sediment microbes are increasingly attracting scientific attention due to their demonstrated capacity for diverse bioremediation activities, encompassing a wide...
BACKGROUND
Mangrove sediment microbes are increasingly attracting scientific attention due to their demonstrated capacity for diverse bioremediation activities, encompassing a wide range of environmental contaminants.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The microbial communities of five Avicennia marina mangrove sediment samples collected from Al Rayyis White Head, Red Sea (KSA), were characterized using Illumina amplicon sequencing of the 16S rRNA genes.
RESULTS
Our study investigated the microbial composition and potential for organohalide bioremediation in five mangrove sediments from the Red Sea. While Proteobacteria dominated four microbiomes, Bacteroidetes dominated the fifth. Given the environmental concerns surrounding organohalides, their bioremediation is crucial. Encouragingly, we identified phylogenetically diverse organohalide-respiring bacteria (OHRB) across all samples, including Dehalogenimonas, Dehalococcoides, Anaeromyxobacter, Desulfuromonas, Geobacter, Desulfomonile, Desulfovibrio, Shewanella and Desulfitobacterium. These bacteria are known for their ability to dechlorinate organohalides through reductive dehalogenation. PICRUSt analysis further supported this potential, predicting the presence of functional biomarkers for organohalide respiration (OHR), including reductive dehalogenases targeting tetrachloroethene (PCE) and 3-chloro-4-hydroxyphenylacetate in most sediments. Enrichment cultures studies confirmed this prediction, demonstrating PCE dechlorination by the resident microbial community. PICRUSt also revealed a dominance of anaerobic metabolic processes, suggesting the microbiome's adaptation to the oxygen-limited environment of the sediments.
CONCLUSION
This study provided insights into the bacterial community composition of five mangrove sediments from the Red Sea. Notably, diverse OHRB were detected across all samples, which possess the metabolic potential for organohalide bioremediation through reductive dehalogenation pathways. Furthermore, PICRUSt analysis predicted the presence of functional biomarkers for OHR in most sediments, suggesting potential intrinsic OHR activity by the enclosed microbial community.
Topics: Geologic Sediments; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; Biodegradation, Environmental; Phylogeny; Microbiota; Bacteria; Indian Ocean; Metagenomics; DNA, Bacterial; Wetlands; Metagenome
PubMed: 38778276
DOI: 10.1186/s12866-024-03291-8 -
Frontiers in Microbiology 2024Cryopreservation of semen can give full play to the reproductive advantages of male animals. However, in actual production, due to the poor frost resistance of sheep...
INTRODUCTION
Cryopreservation of semen can give full play to the reproductive advantages of male animals. However, in actual production, due to the poor frost resistance of sheep semen and the low conception rate, the promotion of sheep frozen semen is greatly hindered. Therefore, it is urgent to improve the frost resistance of semen to improve the quality of frozen semen. At present, most studies on improving the quality of frozen semen are based on the improvement of semen dilutions, and few studies on improving the freezing resistance of ram semen by feeding functional amino acids.
METHODS
Therefore, 24 Turpan black rams were divided into high antifreeze group (HF) and a low antifreeze group (LF) Each of these groups was further randomly divided into control and experimental subgroups. The control subgroup was fed a basal diet, while the experimental subgroup received an additional 12 g/d of -Cit supplementation based on the control group for a duration of 90 days.
RESULTS
The results showed that Following -Cit supplementation, the experimental group demonstrated significantly elevated sperm density and VSL (Velocity of straight line), T-AOC, GSH-Px, and NO levels in fresh semen compared to the control group ( < 0.01). After thawing, the experimental group exhibited significantly higher levels of T-AOC, GSH-Px, and NO compared to the control group ( < 0.01). Additionally, the HFT group, after thawing frozen semen, displayed significantly higher HK1 protein expression compared to the control group. The number of spermatogonia, spermatocytes, and sperm cells in the HFT group was significantly higher than that in the HFC group. Moreover, 16S rRNA sequence analysis showed that , and were significantly enriched in the rumen of the HFT group, while was significantly enriched in the HFC group. In the duodenum, , and were significantly enriched in the HFT group, whereas and were significantly enriched in the HFC group.
DISCUSSION
Under the conditions employed in this study, -Cit supplementation was found to enhance the intestinal flora composition in rams, thereby improving semen quality, enhancing the antifreeze performance of semen, and promoting the development of testicular spermatogenic cells.
PubMed: 38756735
DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1396796 -
Animal Bioscience May 2024This study investigated the impact of Aspergillus niger lysing polysaccharide monooxygenase (AnLPMO) on in vitro rumen microbial fermentation of rice straw.
OBJECTIVE
This study investigated the impact of Aspergillus niger lysing polysaccharide monooxygenase (AnLPMO) on in vitro rumen microbial fermentation of rice straw.
METHODS
AnLPMO was heterologously expressed in Escherichia coli. Fourier transform infrared spectrometry and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analyzed the surface structure of rice straw after AnLPMO treatment. Two in vitro experiments, coupled with 16S high-throughput sequencing and qRT-PCR techniques, assessed the influence of AnLPMO on rumen microbial fermentation of rice straw.
RESULTS
AnLPMO exhibited peak activity at 40 °C and pH 6.5, with a preference for rice straw xylan hydrolysis, followed by Avicel. AnLPMO application led to the fractional removal of cellulose and hemicelluloses and a notable reduction in the levels of carbon elements and C-C groups present on the surface of rice straw. Compared to the control (no AnLPMO), supplementing AnLPMO at 1.1 U-2.0 U significantly enhanced in vitro digestibility of dry matter (IVDMD, P < 0.01), total gas production (P < 0.01), and concentrations of total volatile fatty acids (VFA, P < 0.01), acetate (P < 0.01), and ammonia-N (P < 0.01). Particularly, the 1.4 U AnLPMO group showed a 14.8% increase in IVDMD. In the second experiment, compared to deactivated AnLPMO (1.4 U), supplementing bioactive AnLPMO at 1.4 U increased IVDMD (P = 0.01), total gas production (P = 0.04), and concentrations of total VFA (P < 0.01), propionate (P < 0.01), and ammonia-N (P < 0.01), with a limited 9.6% increase in IVDMD. Supplementing AnLPMO stimulated the growth of ruminal bacterial taxa facilitating fiber degradation, including Proteobacteria, Spirochaetes, Succinivibrio, Rikenellaceae_RC9_Gut_Group, Prevotelaceae_UCG-003, Desulfovibrio, Fibrobacter succinogenes, Ruminococcus albus, R. flavefaciens, Prevotella bryantii, P. ruminicola, and Treponema bryantii.
CONCLUSION
These findings highlight AnLPMO's potential as a feed additive for improving rice straw utilization in ruminant production.
PubMed: 38754847
DOI: 10.5713/ab.24.0026 -
Frontiers in Microbiology 2024In this study, we examined the therapeutic effects of Yinhuapinggan granules (YHPGs) in influenza-infected mice. We also examined how YHPGs affect the composition of the...
OBJECTIVE
In this study, we examined the therapeutic effects of Yinhuapinggan granules (YHPGs) in influenza-infected mice. We also examined how YHPGs affect the composition of the intestinal flora and associated metabolites.
METHODS
We used the nasal drip method to administer the influenza A virus (IAV) H1N1 to ICR mice. Following successful model construction, the mice were injected with 0.9% sterile saline and low (5.5 g/kg), medium (11 g/kg), and high (22 g/kg) doses of YHPGs. The pathological changes in the lungs and intestines were evaluated by gavage for 5 consecutive days. Detection of sIgA, IL-6, TNF-α, INF-γ, and TGF-β cytokine levels in serum by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction and Western blot were used to measure the mRNA and protein expression of the tight junction proteins claudin-1, occludin, and zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) in the colon. To assess the influence of YHPGs on the intestinal microbiota, feces were obtained from the mice for 16s rRNA sequencing, and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) were measured in the feces.
RESULTS
By reducing the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and increasing the relative expression of claudin-1, occludin, and ZO-1 in colon tissues, YHPGs had a protective effect in tissues from the lungs and colon. When YHPGs were administered to mice with IAV infection, the relative abundance of , , , , , and increased, whereas the relative abundance of decreased.
CONCLUSION
The therapeutic mechanism of YHPGs against IAV infection in mice may be underpinned by modulation of the structural composition of colonic bacteria and regulation of SCFA production.
PubMed: 38741735
DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1394304 -
Pharmacological Research Jun 2024In recent years several experimental observations demonstrated that the gut microbiome plays a role in regulating positively or negatively metabolic homeostasis....
In recent years several experimental observations demonstrated that the gut microbiome plays a role in regulating positively or negatively metabolic homeostasis. Indole-3-propionic acid (IPA), a Tryptophan catabolic product mainly produced by C. Sporogenes, has been recently shown to exert either favorable or unfavorable effects in the context of metabolic and cardiovascular diseases. We performed a study to delineate clinical and multiomics characteristics of human subjects characterized by low and high IPA levels. Subjects with low IPA blood levels showed insulin resistance, overweight, low-grade inflammation, and features of metabolic syndrome compared to those with high IPA. Metabolomics analysis revealed that IPA was negatively correlated with leucine, isoleucine, and valine metabolism. Transcriptomics analysis in colon tissue revealed the enrichment of several signaling, regulatory, and metabolic processes. Metagenomics revealed several OTU of ruminococcus, alistipes, blautia, butyrivibrio and akkermansia were significantly enriched in IPA group while in IPA group Escherichia-Shigella, megasphera, and Desulfovibrio genus were more abundant. Next, we tested the hypothesis that treatment with IPA in a mouse model may recapitulate the observations of human subjects, at least in part. We found that a short treatment with IPA (4 days at 20/mg/kg) improved glucose tolerance and Akt phosphorylation in the skeletal muscle level, while regulating blood BCAA levels and gene expression in colon tissue, all consistent with results observed in human subjects stratified for IPA levels. Our results suggest that treatment with IPA may be considered a potential strategy to improve insulin resistance in subjects with dysbiosis.
Topics: Humans; Male; Animals; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Female; Middle Aged; Insulin Resistance; Indoles; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Metabolomics; Mice; Adult; Metabolic Syndrome; Comorbidity; Muscle, Skeletal; Multiomics
PubMed: 38734193
DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2024.107207 -
Animals : An Open Access Journal From... Apr 2024This study investigated the efficacy of a composite probiotics composed of , , and in alleviating oxidative stress in weaned piglets and pregnant sows. Evaluations of...
This study investigated the efficacy of a composite probiotics composed of , , and in alleviating oxidative stress in weaned piglets and pregnant sows. Evaluations of growth, oxidative stress, inflammation, intestinal barrier, and fecal microbiota were conducted. Results showed that the composite probiotic significantly promoted average daily gain in piglets ( < 0.05). It effectively attenuated inflammatory responses ( < 0.05) and oxidative stress ( < 0.05) while enhancing intestinal barrier function in piglets ( < 0.01). Fecal microbiota analysis revealed an increase in the abundance of beneficial bacteria such as , , , , and in piglet feces and , , , and in sow feces, with a decrease in harmful bacteria such as and in sow feces upon probiotic supplementation. Correlation analysis indicated significant negative associations of with inflammation and oxidative stress in piglet feces, while and showed significant positive associations. In sow feces, , , , and exhibited significant negative associations, while showed a significant positive association. Therefore, the composite probiotic alleviated oxidative stress in weaned piglets and pregnant sows by modulating fecal microbiota composition.
PubMed: 38731362
DOI: 10.3390/ani14091359 -
Characterization of the Bottlenecks and Pathways for Inhibitor Dissociation from [NiFe] Hydrogenase.Journal of Chemical Information and... May 2024[NiFe] hydrogenases can act as efficient catalysts for hydrogen oxidation and biofuel production. However, some [NiFe] hydrogenases are inhibited by gas molecules...
[NiFe] hydrogenases can act as efficient catalysts for hydrogen oxidation and biofuel production. However, some [NiFe] hydrogenases are inhibited by gas molecules present in the environment, such as O and CO. One strategy to engineer [NiFe] hydrogenases and achieve O- and CO-tolerant enzymes is by introducing point mutations to block the access of inhibitors to the catalytic site. In this work, we characterized the unbinding pathways of CO in the complex with the wild-type and 10 different mutants of [NiFe] hydrogenase from using τ-random accelerated molecular dynamics (τRAMD) to enhance the sampling of unbinding events. The ranking provided by the relative residence times computed with τRAMD is in agreement with experiments. Extensive data analysis of the simulations revealed that from the two bottlenecks proposed in previous studies for the transit of gas molecules (residues 74 and 122 and residues 74 and 476), only one of them (residues 74 and 122) effectively modulates diffusion and residence times for CO. We also computed pathway probabilities for the unbinding of CO, O, and H from the wild-type [NiFe] hydrogenase, and we observed that while the most probable pathways are the same, the secondary pathways are different. We propose that introducing mutations to block the most probable paths, in combination with mutations to open the main secondary path used by H, can be a feasible strategy to achieve CO and O resistance in the [NiFe] hydrogenase from .
Topics: Hydrogenase; Molecular Dynamics Simulation; Carbon Monoxide; Desulfovibrio; Enzyme Inhibitors; Mutation; Oxygen; Protein Conformation
PubMed: 38728115
DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.4c00187