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Journal of Animal Science and... Oct 2023Global warming leading to heat stress (HS) is becoming a major challenge for broiler production. This study aimed to explore the protective effects of seaweed...
BACKGROUND
Global warming leading to heat stress (HS) is becoming a major challenge for broiler production. This study aimed to explore the protective effects of seaweed (Enteromorpha prolifera) polysaccharides (EPS) on the intestinal barrier function, microbial ecology, and performance of broilers under HS. A total of 144 yellow-feathered broilers (male, 56 days old) with 682.59 ± 7.38 g were randomly assigned to 3 groups: 1) TN (thermal neutral zone, 23.6 ± 1.8 °C), 2) HS (heat stress, 33.2 ± 1.5 °C for 10 h/d), and 3) HSE (HS + 0.1% EPS). Each group contained 6 replicates with 8 broilers per replicate. The study was conducted for 4 weeks; feed intake and body weights were measured at the end of weeks 2 and 4. At the end of the feeding trial, small intestine samples were collected for histomorphology, antioxidant, secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA) content, apoptosis, gene and protein expression analysis; cecal contents were also collected for microbiota analysis based on 16S rDNA sequencing.
RESULTS
Dietary EPS promoted the average daily gain (ADG) of broilers during 3-4 weeks of HS (P < 0.05). At the end of HS on broilers, the activity of total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD), glutathione S-transferase (GST), and the content of sIgA in jejunum were improved by EPS supplementation (P < 0.05). Besides, dietary EPS reduced the epithelial cell apoptosis of jejunum and ileum in heat-stressed broilers (P < 0.05). Addition of EPS in HS group broilers' diet upregulated the relative mRNA expression of Occludin, ZO-1, γ-GCLc and IL-10 of the jejunum (P < 0.05), whereas downregulated the relative mRNA expression of NF-κB p65, TNF-α and IL-1β of the jejunum (P < 0.05). Dietary EPS increased the protein expression of Occludin and ZO-1, whereas it reduced the protein expression of NF-κB p65 and MLCK (P < 0.01) and tended to decrease the protein expression of TNF-α (P = 0.094) in heat-stressed broilers. Furthermore, the proportions of Bacteroides and Oscillospira among the three groups were positively associated with jejunal apoptosis and pro-inflammatory cytokine expression (P < 0.05) and negatively correlated with jejunal Occludin level (P < 0.05). However, the proportions of Lactobacillus, Barnesiella, Subdoligranulum, Megasphaera, Collinsella, and Blautia among the three groups were positively related to ADG (P < 0.05).
CONCLUSIONS
EPS can be used as a feed additive in yellow-feathered broilers. It effectively improves growth performance and alleviates HS-induced intestinal injury by relieving inflammatory damage and improving the tight junction proteins expression. These beneficial effects may be related to inhibiting NF-κB/MLCK signaling pathway activation and regulation of cecal microbiota.
PubMed: 37814279
DOI: 10.1186/s40104-023-00932-2 -
Computational and Structural... 2023The cervicovaginal microbiome (CVM) is a dynamic continuous microenvironment that can be clustered in microbial community state types (CSTs) and is associated with...
The cervicovaginal microbiome (CVM) is a dynamic continuous microenvironment that can be clustered in microbial community state types (CSTs) and is associated with women's cervical health. -depleted communities particularly associate with an increased susceptibility for persistence of high-risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV) infections and progression of disease, but the long-term ecological dynamics of CSTs after hrHPV infection diagnosis remain poorly understood. To determine such dynamics, we examined the CVM of our longitudinal cohort of 141 women diagnosed with hrHPV infection at baseline with collected cervical smears at two timepoints six-months apart. Here we describe that the long-term microbiome dissimilarity has a positive correlation with microbial diversity at both visits and that women with high abundance and dominance for at baseline exhibit more similar microbiome composition at second visit than women with -depleted communities at baseline. We further show that the species and associate with CST changes between both visits. Lastly, we also observe that is associated with the stability of -depleted communities while is associated with the instability of -dominated communities. Our data suggest dynamic patterns of cervicovaginal CSTs during hrHPV infection, which could be potentially used to develop microbiome-based therapies against infection progression towards disease.
PubMed: 37731597
DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2023.09.011 -
Microbiology Spectrum Sep 2023Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is the most frequent nosocomial infection in critically ill-ventilated patients. Oropharyngeal and lung microbiota have been...
Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is the most frequent nosocomial infection in critically ill-ventilated patients. Oropharyngeal and lung microbiota have been demonstrated to be associated with VAP occurrence, but the involvement of gut microbiota has not been investigated so far. Therefore, the aim of this study is to compare the composition of the gut microbiota between patients who subsequently develop VAP and those who do not. A rectal swab was performed at admission of every consecutive patient into the intensive care unit (ICU) from October 2019 to March 2020. After DNA extraction, V3-V4 and internal transcribed spacer 2 regions deep-sequencing was performed on MiSeq sequencer (Illumina) and data were analyzed using Divisive Amplicon Denoising Algorithm 2 (DADA2) pipeline. Among 255 patients screened, 42 (16%) patients with invasive mechanical ventilation for more than 48 h were included, 18 (43%) with definite VAP and 24 without (57%). Patients who later developed VAP had similar gut bacteriobiota and mycobiota α-diversities compared to those who did not develop VAP. However, gut mycobiota was dissimilar (β-diversity) between these two groups. The presence of was associated with the absence of VAP occurrence, whereas the presence of the fungal genus sp. was associated with the occurrence of VAP. The composition of the gut microbiota, but not α-diversity, differs between critically ill patients who subsequently develop VAP and those who do not. This study encourages large multicenter cohort studies investigating the role of gut-lung axis and oropharyngeal colonization in the development of VAP in ICU patients. Trial registration number: NCT04131569, date of registration: 18 October 2019. IMPORTANCE The composition of the gut microbiota, but not α-diversity, differs between critically ill patients who subsequently develop ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) and those who do not. Investigating gut microbiota composition could help to tailor probiotics to provide protection against VAP.
PubMed: 37713505
DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00641-23 -
Microbiome Sep 2023Cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL) is a cerebral small vessel disease that carries mutations in NOTCH3....
BACKGROUND
Cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL) is a cerebral small vessel disease that carries mutations in NOTCH3. The clinical manifestations are influenced by genetic and environmental factors that may include gut microbiome.
RESULTS
We investigated the fecal metagenome, fecal metabolome, serum metabolome, neurotransmitters, and cytokines in a cohort of 24 CADASIL patients with 28 healthy household controls. The integrated-omics study showed CADASIL patients harbored an altered microbiota composition and functions. The abundance of bacterial coenzyme A, thiamin, and flavin-synthesizing pathways was depleted in patients. Neurotransmitter balance, represented by the glutamate/GABA (4-aminobutanoate) ratio, was disrupted in patients, which was consistent with the increased abundance of two major GABA-consuming bacteria, Megasphaera elsdenii and Eubacterium siraeum. Essential inflammatory cytokines were significantly elevated in patients, accompanied by an increased abundance of bacterial virulence gene homologs. The abundance of patient-enriched Fusobacterium varium positively correlated with the levels of IL-1β and IL-6. Random forest classification based on gut microbial species, serum cytokines, and neurotransmitters showed high predictivity for CADASIL with AUC = 0.89. Targeted culturomics and mechanisms study further showed that patient-derived F. varium infection caused systemic inflammation and behavior disorder in Notch3 mice potentially via induction of caspase-8-dependent noncanonical inflammasome activation in macrophages.
CONCLUSION
These findings suggested the potential linkage among the brain-gut-microbe axis in CADASIL. Video Abstract.
Topics: Animals; Mice; CADASIL; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Mental Disorders; Cytokines; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid
PubMed: 37684694
DOI: 10.1186/s40168-023-01638-3 -
Journal of Dairy Science Dec 2023The objective of this study was to improve understandings of the rumen microbial ecosystem during ruminal acidosis and responses to feed additives to improve prudent use...
The objective of this study was to improve understandings of the rumen microbial ecosystem during ruminal acidosis and responses to feed additives to improve prudent use strategies for ruminal acidosis control. Rumen bacterial and archaeal community composition (BCC) and its associations with rumen fermentation measures were examined in Holstein heifers fed feed additives and challenged with starch and fructose. Heifers (n = 40) were randomly allocated to 5 treatment groups: (1) control (no additives); (2) virginiamycin (VM; 200 mg/d); (3) monensin (MT; 200 mg/d) + tylosin (110 mg/d); (4) monensin (MLY; 220 mg/d) + live yeast (5.0 × 10 cfu/d); (5) sodium bicarbonate (BUF; 200 g/d) + magnesium oxide (30 g/d). Heifers were fed twice daily a 62% forage:38% concentrate total mixed ration at 1.25% of body weight (BW) dry matter (DM)/d for a 20-d adaptation period with their additive(s). Fructose (0.1% of BW/d) was added to the ration for the last 10 d of adaptation. On d 21 heifers were challenged once with a ration consisting of 1.0% of BW DM wheat and 0.2% of BW fructose plus their additive(s). A rumen sample was collected from each heifer via stomach tube weekly (d 0, 7, 14) and 5 times over a 3.6 h period at 5, 65, 115, 165, and 215 min after consumption of the challenge ration (d 21) and analyzed for pH, and ammonia, d- and l-lactate, volatile fatty acids (VFA), and histamine concentrations and total bacteria and archaea. The 16S rRNA gene spanning the V4 region was PCR amplified and sequenced. Alpha and β diversity and associations of relative abundances of taxa with rumen fermentation measures were evaluated. Rumen BCC shifted among treatment groups in the adaptation period and across the challenge sampling period, indicating the feed additives had different modes of action. The monensin-containing treatment groups, MT and MLY often had similar relative abundances of rumen bacterial phyla and families. The MLY treatment group was characterized in the challenge period by increased relative abundances of the lactate utilizing genera Anaerovibrio and Megasphaera. The MLY treatment group also had increased diversity of ruminal bacteria which may provide resilience to changes in substrates. The control and BUF treatment groups were most similar in BCC. A redundancy analysis showed the MLY treatment group differed from all other treatment groups and concentrations of histamine and valerate in the rumen were associated with the most variation in the microbiota, 5.3% and 4.8%, respectively. It was evident from the taxa common to all treatment groups that cattle have a core microbiota. Functional redundancy of rumen bacteria which was reflected in the greater sensitivity for the rumen BCC than rumen fermentation measures likely provide resilience to changes in substrate. This functional redundancy of microbes in cattle suggests that there is no single optimal ruminal microbial population and no universally superior feed additive(s). In summary, differences in modes of action suggest the potential for more targeted and improved prudent use of feed additives with no single feed additive(s) providing an optimal BCC in all heifers.
Topics: Animals; Cattle; Female; Acidosis; Animal Feed; Archaea; Bacteria; Diet; Fermentation; Fructose; Histamine; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Lactates; Monensin; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; Rumen; Saccharomyces cerevisiae; Starch
PubMed: 37678787
DOI: 10.3168/jds.2023-23486 -
Frontiers in Microbiology 2023Gut microbiota plays an important role in colorectal cancer (CRC) pathogenesis through microbes and their metabolites, while oral pathogens are the major components of...
OBJECTIVE
Gut microbiota plays an important role in colorectal cancer (CRC) pathogenesis through microbes and their metabolites, while oral pathogens are the major components of CRC-associated microbes. Multiple studies have identified gut and fecal microbiome-derived biomarkers for precursors lesions of CRC detection. However, few studies have used salivary samples to predict colorectal polyps. Therefore, in order to find new noninvasive colorectal polyp biomarkers, we searched into the differences in fecal and salivary microbiota between patients with colorectal polyps and healthy controls.
METHODS
In this case-control study, we collected salivary and fecal samples from 33 patients with colorectal polyps (CP) and 22 healthy controls (HC) between May 2021 and November 2022. All samples were sequenced using full-length 16S rRNA sequencing and compared with the Nucleotide Sequence Database. The salivary and fecal microbiota signature of colorectal polyps was established by alpha and beta diversity, Linear discriminant analysis Effect Size (LEfSe) and random forest model analysis. In addition, the possibility of microbiota in identifying colorectal polyps was assessed by Receiver Operating Characteristic Curve (ROC).
RESULTS
In comparison to the HC group, the CP group's microbial diversity increased in saliva and decreased in feces ( < 0.05), but there was no significantly difference in microbiota richness ( > 0.05). The principal coordinate analysis revealed significant differences in β-diversity of salivary and fecal microbiota between the CP and HC groups. Moreover, LEfSe analysis at the species level identified and as the major contributors to the salivary microbiota, and and to the fecal microbiota of patients with polyps. Salivary and fecal bacterial biomarkers showed Area Under ROC Curve of 0.8167 and 0.8051, respectively, which determined the potential of diagnostic markers in distinguishing patients with colorectal polyps from controls, and it increased to 0.8217 when salivary and fecal biomarkers were combined.
CONCLUSION
The composition and diversity of the salivary and fecal microbiota were significantly different in colorectal polyp patients compared to healthy controls, with an increased abundance of harmful bacteria and a decreased abundance of beneficial bacteria. A promising non-invasive tool for the detection of colorectal polyps can be provided by potential biomarkers based on the microbiota of the saliva and feces.
PubMed: 37655344
DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1182346 -
Environmental Science and Ecotechnology Jan 2024Microbial electrosynthesis (MES) is a promising carbon utilization technology, but the low-value products (i.e., acetate or methane) and the high electric power demand...
Microbial electrosynthesis (MES) is a promising carbon utilization technology, but the low-value products (i.e., acetate or methane) and the high electric power demand hinder its industrial adoption. In this study, electrically efficient MES cells with a low ohmic resistance of 15.7 mΩ m were operated galvanostatically in fed-batch mode, alternating periods of high CO and H availability. This promoted acetic acid and ethanol production, ultimately triggering selective (78% on a carbon basis) butyric acid production via chain elongation. An average production rate of 14.5 g m d was obtained at an applied current of 1.0 or 1.5 mA cm, being sp. the key chain elongating player. Inoculating a second cell with the catholyte containing the enriched community resulted in butyric acid production at the same rate as the previous cell, but the lag phase was reduced by 82%. Furthermore, interrupting the CO feeding and setting a constant pH of 1.7-1.8 atm in the cathode compartment triggered solventogenic butanol production at a pH below 4.8. The efficient cell design resulted in average cell voltages of 2.6-2.8 V and a remarkably low electric energy requirement of 34.6 kWh kg of butyric acid produced, despite coulombic efficiencies being restricted to 45% due to the cross-over of O and H through the membrane. In conclusion, this study revealed the optimal operating conditions to achieve energy-efficient butyric acid production from CO and suggested a strategy to further upgrade it to valuable butanol.
PubMed: 37635954
DOI: 10.1016/j.ese.2023.100303 -
International Journal of Molecular... Aug 2023Imbalance of the immune system caused by alterations of the gut microbiome is considered to be a critical factor in the pathogenesis of infant eczema, but the exact role...
Imbalance of the immune system caused by alterations of the gut microbiome is considered to be a critical factor in the pathogenesis of infant eczema, but the exact role of the gut microbiome in adult atopic dermatitis (AD) patients remains to be clarified. To investigate the differences of the gut microbiome between adult AD patients and healthy individuals, stool samples of 234 adults, containing 104 AD patients and 130 healthy subjects, were collected for 16S rRNA gene amplicon. Altered structure and metabolic dysfunctions of the gut microbiome were identified in adult AD patients. Our results illustrated that the adult AD patients were more likely to have allergies, particularly non-food allergies. In addition, the gut microbiome composition of the AD and normal groups were considerably different. Moreover, and was enriched in the normal group, whereas , , , , , , , and dominated in the AD group. Additionally, purine nucleotide degradation pathways were significantly enriched in the AD group, and the enrichment of proteinogenic amino acid biosynthesis pathways was found in the normal group. This study provides insights into new therapeutic strategies targeting the gut microbiome for AD and evidence for the involvement of the gut-skin axis in AD patients.
Topics: Infant; Humans; Adult; Dermatitis, Atopic; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; East Asian People; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; Hypersensitivity; Clostridiaceae; Lactobacillales
PubMed: 37629036
DOI: 10.3390/ijms241612856 -
Research Square Aug 2023Tuberculosis (TB) infection is known to lead to the unbalance of the gut microbiota and act synergistically on the decline of the host immune response, when untreated....
BACKGROUND
Tuberculosis (TB) infection is known to lead to the unbalance of the gut microbiota and act synergistically on the decline of the host immune response, when untreated. Moreover, previous work has found a correlation between dysbiosis in the gut microbiota composition and the use of antibiotics. However, there is a need for an in-depth understanding of the metabolic and immune consequences of antibiotic-related microbiome alterations during first-line TB treatment.
METHODS
In a longitudinal cohort study, which included TB-infected cohorts and healthy individuals (control group), we studied the anti-TB-related changes in the gut microbiota composition and related functional consequences. Sputum, whole blood and stool samples were collected from participants at four time-points including before (Month-0), during (Month-2), at the end of drug treatment (Month-6) and 9 months after treatment (Month-15). Controls were sampled at inclusion and Month-6. We analyzed the microbiota composition and microbial functional pathways with shotgun metagenomics, analyzed the blood metabolomics using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and measured the levels of metabolites and cytokines with cytometric bead array.
RESULTS
We found that the gut microbiota of patients infected with TB was different from that of the healthy controls. The gut microbiota became similar to healthy controls after treatment but was still significantly different after 6 months treatment and at the follow up 9 months after treatment. Our data also showed disturbance in the plasma metabolites such as tryptophan and tricarboxylic acids components of patients during TB treatment. Levels of IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, and IFN-γ decreased during treatment and levels were maintained after treatment completion, while IL-17A known to have a strong link with the gut microbiota was highly expressed during treatment period and longer than the 9-month post treatment completion. We found that some fatty acids were negatively correlated with the abundance of taxa. For example, , and HIMB5 species were negatively correlated (rho = -0.6) with the quinolinate production.
CONCLUSION
Changes in the composition and function of gut microbiota was observed in TB patients before and after treatment compared to healthy controls. The differences persisted at nine months after treatment completion. Alterations in some bacterial taxa were correlated to the changes in metabolite levels in peripheral blood, thus the altered microbial community might lead to changes in immune status that influence the disease outcome and future resistance to infections.
PubMed: 37609282
DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-3232670/v1 -
Sexual Medicine Aug 2023The loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP) to treat cervical dysplasia (CD) is known to alter the cervical microbiota, the community of bacteria that play a...
BACKGROUND
The loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP) to treat cervical dysplasia (CD) is known to alter the cervical microbiota, the community of bacteria that play a central role in female genital health. Perturbations to the microbiota of the female urogenital tract (FUT), including the urethra, vagina, and cervix, have been linked with symptoms of sexual dysfunction (SD), though correlations among LEEP, the microenvironment, and SD have not yet been described.
AIMS
To characterize the FUT microbiota before and after LEEP and investigate possible associations with SD.
METHODS
Females undergoing LEEP for CD were recruited to participate in the study. Urinary samples and vaginal and cervical swabs were collected immediately before and 3 months after treatment. Bacterial communities were characterized by 16S rRNA next-generation sequencing. Self-report surveys assessing demographics, medical history, and sexual function were completed at the same intervals.
OUTCOMES
Microbiota taxonomy and Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) scores.
RESULTS
Alpha diversity revealed a significant decrease in species richness in the FUT microbiota post-LEEP. Beta diversity demonstrated significant differences among the cervical, urinary, and vaginal microenvironments pre- and post-LEEP. spp were the dominant microbial genus in the cervical microenvironment pre- and post-LEEP. Although the vaginal and urinary microenvironments were characterized by pre-LEEP, they were colonized by post-LEEP. Following LEEP, some participants experienced a significant increase in proinflammatory bacteria, including the genera , , , , and Others experienced significant decreases in inflammatory and protective bacteria post-LEEP, including , , , and Overall there were no significant changes in pre- and post-LEEP FSFI scores. However, post-LEEP FSFI scores were seemingly associated with changes in inflammatory bacteria in some participants.
CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS
There is an overall reduction in FUT microbiota dysbiosis post-LEEP. However, we show variability as some participants experienced persistent dysbiosis of FUT microbiota and elevated FSFI scores, suggesting that therapies to treat dysbiosis of FUT microbiota may reduce FSFI scores, thereby improving SD symptoms.
STRENGTHS AND LIMITATIONS
We demonstrate novel associations among urogenital sites, microbiota changes, LEEP, and SD. The small sample size and inability of species classification are limitations.
CONCLUSION
Diverse inflammatory microbiota characterizes CD in the FUT, and LEEP mostly returns microenvironments to a healthy state. However, some participants have persistent inflammatory bacteria post-LEEP, suggesting a non-uniform healing response. This study provides an impetus for future longitudinal studies to monitor and restore FUT microenvironments post-LEEP, aimed at mitigating postoperative SD symptoms.
PubMed: 37588087
DOI: 10.1093/sexmed/qfad039