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NPJ Biofilms and Microbiomes Aug 2023Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is associated with gut dysbiosis and can lead to colitis-associated malignancies. Bacteroides uniformis (Bu) regulates animal intestinal...
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is associated with gut dysbiosis and can lead to colitis-associated malignancies. Bacteroides uniformis (Bu) regulates animal intestinal homeostasis; however, the mechanism by which it alleviates colitis in mice remains unknown. We investigated the effects of B. uniformis JCM5828 and its metabolites on female C57BL/6J mice with dextran sulfate sodium salt (DSS) induced colitis. Treatment with Bu considerably alleviated colitis progression and restored the mechanical and immune barrier protein expression. Additionally, Bu increased the abundance of the symbiotic bacteria Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus vaginalis while decreasing that of pathogenic Escherichia-Shigella, and modulated intestinal bile acid metabolism. Bu largely regulated the expression of key regulatory proteins of the NF-κB and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways in colonic tissues and the differentiation of TH17 cells. However, Bu could not directly inhibit TH17 cell differentiation in vitro; it modulated the process in the lamina propria by participating in bile acid metabolism and regulating key metabolites (alpha-muricholic, hyodeoxycholic, and isolithocholic acid), thereby modulating the intestinal immune response. Our findings suggest that Bu or bile acid supplements are potential therapies for colitis and other diseases associated with intestinal barrier dysfunction.
Topics: Female; Mice; Animals; Th17 Cells; Bile Acids and Salts; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Colitis; Microbiota; Cell Differentiation; Dextran Sulfate
PubMed: 37580334
DOI: 10.1038/s41522-023-00420-5 -
The Journal of Infectious Diseases Aug 2023Women's increased risk of HIV acquisition during pregnancy and postpartum may be mediated by changes in vaginal microbiota and/or cytokines.
BACKGROUND
Women's increased risk of HIV acquisition during pregnancy and postpartum may be mediated by changes in vaginal microbiota and/or cytokines.
METHODS
A cohort of 80 Kenyan women who were HIV-1 seronegative contributed 409 vaginal samples at 6 pregnancy time points: periconception, positive pregnancy test result, first trimester, second trimester, third trimester, and postpartum. Concentrations of vaginal bacteria linked with HIV risk and Lactobacillus spp were measured using quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Cytokines were measured by immunoassay.
RESULTS
Based on Tobit regression, later pregnancy time points were associated with lower concentrations of Sneathia spp (P = .01), Eggerthella sp type 1 (P = .002), and Parvimonas sp type 2 (P = .02) and higher concentrations of Lactobacillus iners (P < .001), Lactobacillus crispatus (P < .001), Lactobacillus vaginalis (P < .001), interleukin 6 (P < .001), TNF (P = .004), C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 10 (CXCL10; P < .001), C-C motif ligand 3 (P = .009), C-C motif ligand 4 (P < .001), C-C motif ligand 5 (P = .002), interleukin 1β (P = .02), and interleukin 8 (P = .002). Most cervicovaginal cytokines and vaginal bacteria clustered separately in principal component analysis, except for CXCL10, which did not group with either cytokines or bacteria. The shift toward a Lactobacillus-dominated microbiota during pregnancy mediated the relationship between pregnancy time point and CXCL10.
CONCLUSIONS
Increases in proinflammatory cytokines, but not vaginal bacterial taxa linked with higher HIV risk, could provide an explanation for increased HIV susceptibility during pregnancy and postpartum.
Topics: Pregnancy; Female; Humans; Kenya; Inflammation Mediators; Ligands; Vagina; Bacteria; Postpartum Period; Cytokines; HIV Infections; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S
PubMed: 37207618
DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiad168 -
Journal of Cancer Research and Clinical... Aug 2023Cervical cancer (CC) is caused by a persistent high-risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV) infection. The cervico-vaginal microbiome may influence the development of...
PURPOSE
Cervical cancer (CC) is caused by a persistent high-risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV) infection. The cervico-vaginal microbiome may influence the development of (pre)cancer lesions. Aim of the study was (i) to evaluate the new CC screening program in Germany for the detection of high-grade CC precursor lesions, and (ii) to elucidate the role of the cervico-vaginal microbiome and its potential impact on cervical dysplasia.
METHODS
The microbiome of 310 patients referred to colposcopy was determined by amplicon sequencing and correlated with clinicopathological parameters.
RESULTS
Most patients were referred for colposcopy due to a positive hrHPV result in two consecutive years combined with a normal PAP smear. In 2.1% of these cases, a CIN III lesion was detected. There was a significant positive association between the PAP stage and Lactobacillus vaginalis colonization and between the severity of CC precursor lesions and Ureaplasma parvum.
CONCLUSION
In our cohort, the new cervical cancer screening program resulted in a low rate of additional CIN III detected. It is questionable whether these cases were only identified earlier with additional HPV testing before the appearance of cytological abnormalities, or the new screening program will truly increase the detection rate of CIN III in the long run. Colonization with U. parvum was associated with histological dysplastic lesions. Whether targeted therapy of this pathogen or optimization of the microbiome prevents dysplasia remains speculative.
Topics: Humans; Female; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms; Early Detection of Cancer; Vaginal Smears; Papillomavirus Infections; Papillomaviridae; Uterine Cervical Dysplasia; Mass Screening
PubMed: 36780053
DOI: 10.1007/s00432-023-04599-0 -
Nutrients Oct 2023Infant microbiota shaping strictly influences newborns' well-being and long-term health, and babies born by cesarean-section and formula-fed generally show low microbial...
Infant microbiota shaping strictly influences newborns' well-being and long-term health, and babies born by cesarean-section and formula-fed generally show low microbial gut diversity and are more prone to develop various disorders. The supplementation with beneficial microbes of vaginal origin or derivatives (postbiotics, including heat-inactivated cells) represents a valid strategy to drive the correct gut microbiota shaping. Here, we explored for the first time the bifidogenic activity of a heat-killed vaginal strain ( BC17), in addition to the assessment of its safety. BC17 whole genome was sequenced by Nanopore technology and highlighted the absence of antibiotic resistance genes and virulence factors, indicating the strain safety profile for human health. MIC values confirmed that BC17 is susceptible to widely employed antibiotics. Heat-killed BC17 cells significantly enhanced the planktonic growth of spp. For the first time, stimulating effects were observed also toward biofilm formation of bifidobacteria and their pre-formed biofilms. Conversely, heat-killed BC17 cells exerted antibacterial and anti-biofilms activities against Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogens. Lyophilized heat-killed BC17 cells were formulated in a sunflower oil suspension (10 heat-killed cell/g) intended for infant oral intake. This possessed optimal technological (i.e., re-dispersibility and stability) and functional properties (i.e., bifidogenic activity) that were maintained even after pre-digestion in acidic conditions.
Topics: Pregnancy; Female; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Prebiotics; Probiotics; Lactobacillus; Infant Formula; Anti-Bacterial Agents
PubMed: 37892507
DOI: 10.3390/nu15204433