scholarly journals PET microplastics affect human gut microbiota communities during simulated gastrointestinal digestion, first evidence of plausible polymer biodegradation during human digestion

2022 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alba Tamargo ◽  
Natalia Molinero ◽  
Julián J. Reinosa ◽  
Victor Alcolea-Rodriguez ◽  
Raquel Portela ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gastrointestinal Tract ◽  
Intestinal Bacteria ◽  
Natural Environments ◽  
Gastrointestinal Digestion ◽  
Human Gut ◽  
Physiological Conditions ◽  
Polymer Biodegradation ◽  
Potential Risks ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Critical Investigation

AbstractMicroplastics (MPs) are a widely recognized global problem due to their prevalence in natural environments and the food chain. However, the impact of microplastics on human microbiota and their possible biotransformation in the gastrointestinal tract have not been well reported. To evaluate the potential risks of microplastics at the digestive level, completely passing a single dose of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) through the gastrointestinal tract was simulated by combining a harmonized static model and the dynamic gastrointestinal simgi model, which recreates the different regions of the digestive tract in physiological conditions. PET MPs started several biotransformations in the gastrointestinal tract and, at the colon, appeared to be structurally different from the original particles. We report that the feeding with microplastics alters human microbial colonic community composition and hypothesize that some members of the colonic microbiota could adhere to MPs surface promoting the formation of biofilms. The work presented here indicates that microplastics are indeed capable of digestive-level health effects. Considering this evidence and the increasing exposure to microplastics in consumer foods and beverages, the impact of plastics on the functionality of the gut microbiome and their potential biodegradation through digestion and intestinal bacteria merits critical investigation.

scholarly journals PET Microplastics Affect Human Gut Microbiota Communities During Simulated Gastrointestinal Digestion. First Evidence of Plausible Polymer Biodegradation During Human Digestion

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alba Tamargo ◽  
Natalia Molinero ◽  
Julián J. Reinosa ◽  
Victor Alcolea-Rodríguez ◽  
Raquel Portela ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gastrointestinal Tract ◽  
Intestinal Bacteria ◽  
Natural Environments ◽  
Gastrointestinal Digestion ◽  
Human Gut ◽  
Physiological Conditions ◽  
Polymer Biodegradation ◽  
Potential Risks ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Critical Investigation

Abstract Microplastics are a widely recognized global problem due to their prevalence in natural environments and the food chain. However, the impacts of microplastics on human microbiota and their possible biotransformations during the gastrointestinal tract have not been well reported. To evaluate the potential risks of microplastics at the digestive level, completely passing a single dose of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) through the gastrointestinal tract was simulated by combining a harmonised static model and the dynamic gastrointestinal simgi® model, which recreates the different regions of the digestive tract in physiological conditions. PET MPs started several biotransformations in the gastrointestinal tract and appeared to expose the colon in ways that were structurally different from the original forms. We report that the feeding with microplastics alters human microbial colonic community composition, and hypothesize that some members of the colonic microbiota could adhere to MPs surface promoting the formation of biofilms. The work presented here indicates that microplastics are indeed capable of digestive-level health effects. Considering this evidence and the increasing exposure to microplastics in consumer foods and beverages, the impact of plastics on the functionality of the gut microbiome and their potential biodegradation through digestion and intestinal bacteria merits critical investigation.

scholarly journals Contribution of gut bacteria to the metabolism of cyanidin 3-glucoside in human microbiota-associated rats

2012 ◽  
Vol 109 (8) ◽  
pp. 1433-1441 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Hanske ◽  
Wolfram Engst ◽  
Gunnar Loh ◽  
Silke Sczesny ◽  
Michael Blaut ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Intestinal Bacteria ◽  
Hydroxycinnamic Acid ◽  
Gut Bacteria ◽  
Dihydroxybenzoic Acid ◽  
Human Gut ◽  
Germ Free ◽  
Human Microbiota ◽  
Human Intestinal Bacteria ◽  
The Impact

Cyanidin 3-glucoside (C3G) is one of the major dietary anthocyanins implicated in the prevention of chronic diseases. To evaluate the impact of human intestinal bacteria on the fate of C3G in the host, we studied the metabolism of C3G in human microbiota-associated (HMA) rats in comparison with germ-free (GF) rats. Urine and faeces of the rats were analysed for C3G and its metabolites within 48 h after the application of 92 μmol C3G/kg body weight. In addition, we tested the microbial C3G conversion in vitro by incubating C3G with human faecal slurries and selected human gut bacteria. The HMA rats excreted with faeces a three times higher percentage of unconjugated C3G products and a two times higher percentage of conjugated C3G products than the GF rats. These differences were mainly due to the increased excretion of 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid, 2,4,6-trihydroxybenzaldehyde and 2,4,6-trihydroxybenzoic acid. Only the urine of HMA rats contained peonidin and 3-hydroxycinnamic acid and the percentage of conjugated C3G products in the urine was decreased compared with the GF rats. Overall, the presence of intestinal microbiota resulted in a 3·7 % recovery of the C3G dose in HMA rats compared with 1·7 % in GF rats. Human intestinal bacteria rapidly degraded C3G in vitro. Most of the C3G products were also found in the absence of bacteria, but at considerably lower levels. The higher concentrations of phenolic acids observed in the presence of intestinal bacteria may contribute to the proposed beneficial health effects of C3G.

scholarly journals Nanoparticles in the Food Industry and Their Impact on Human Gut Microbiome and Diseases

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 1942
Author(s):  
Merry Ghebretatios ◽  
Sabrina Schaly ◽  
Satya Prakash
Keyword(s):  
Gastrointestinal Tract ◽  
Gut Microbiome ◽  
Gastrointestinal Diseases ◽  
Inorganic Nanoparticles ◽  
Unknown Etiology ◽  
Human Gut ◽  
Inflammatory Bowel ◽  
Irritable Bowel ◽  
Induced Changes ◽  
The Impact

The use of inorganic nanoparticles (NPs) has expanded into various industries including food manufacturing, agriculture, cosmetics, and construction. This has allowed NPs access to the human gastrointestinal tract, yet little is known about how they may impact human health. As the gut microbiome continues to be increasingly implicated in various diseases of unknown etiology, researchers have begun studying the potentially toxic effects of these NPs on the gut microbiome. Unfortunately, conflicting results have limited researcher’s ability to evaluate the true impact of NPs on the gut microbiome in relation to health. This review focuses on the impact of five inorganic NPs (silver, iron oxide, zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, and silicon dioxide) on the gut microbiome and gastrointestinal tract with consideration for various methodological differences within the literature. This is important as NP-induced changes to the gut could lead to various gut-related diseases. These include irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), celiac disease, and colorectal cancer. Research in this area is necessary as the use of NPs in various industries continues to grow along with the number of people suffering from chronic gastrointestinal diseases.

scholarly journals BOARD INVITED REVIEW: The pig microbiota and the potential for harnessing the power of the microbiome to improve growth and health1

2019 ◽  
Vol 97 (9) ◽  
pp. 3741-3757 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nirosh D Aluthge ◽  
Dana M Van Sambeek ◽  
Erin E Carney-Hinkle ◽  
Yanshuo S Li ◽  
Samodha C Fernando ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gastrointestinal Tract ◽  
Gut Microbiota ◽  
Therapeutic Potential ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Microbial Colonization ◽  
Critical Importance ◽  
Specific Host ◽  
Microbiome Research ◽  
Health And Disease ◽  
The Impact

Abstract A variety of microorganisms inhabit the gastrointestinal tract of animals including bacteria, archaea, fungi, protozoa, and viruses. Pioneers in gut microbiology have stressed the critical importance of diet:microbe interactions and how these interactions may contribute to health status. As scientists have overcome the limitations of culture-based microbiology, the importance of these interactions has become more clear even to the extent that the gut microbiota has emerged as an important immunologic and metabolic organ. Recent advances in metagenomics and metabolomics have helped scientists to demonstrate that interactions among the diet, the gut microbiota, and the host to have profound effects on animal health and disease. However, although scientists have now accumulated a great deal of data with respect to what organisms comprise the gastrointestinal landscape, there is a need to look more closely at causative effects of the microbiome. The objective of this review is intended to provide: 1) a review of what is currently known with respect to the dynamics of microbial colonization of the porcine gastrointestinal tract; 2) a review of the impact of nutrient:microbe effects on growth and health; 3) examples of the therapeutic potential of prebiotics, probiotics, and synbiotics; and 4) a discussion about what the future holds with respect to microbiome research opportunities and challenges. Taken together, by considering what is currently known in the four aforementioned areas, our overarching goal is to set the stage for narrowing the path towards discovering how the porcine gut microbiota (individually and collectively) may affect specific host phenotypes.

scholarly journals Effect of Freeze Drying and Simulated Gastrointestinal Digestion on Phenolic Metabolites and Antioxidant Property of the Natal Plum (Carissa macrocarpa)

Foods ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 1420
Author(s):  
Faith Seke ◽  
Vimbainashe E. Manhivi ◽  
Tinotenda Shoko ◽  
Retha M. Slabbert ◽  
Yasmina Sultanbawa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Freeze Drying ◽  
Array Detector ◽  
Gastrointestinal Digestion ◽  
Liquid Chromatograph ◽  
Antioxidant Power ◽  
Intestinal Phase ◽  
Glucosidase Activity ◽  
Freeze Dried ◽  
Small Intestinal ◽  
The Impact

Natal plums (Carissa macrocarpa) are a natural source of bioactive compounds, particularly anthocyanins, and can be consumed as a snack. This study characterized the impact of freeze drying and in vitro gastrointestinal digestion on the phenolic profile, antioxidant capacity, and α-glucosidase activity of the Natal plum (Carissa macrocarpa). The phenolic compounds were quantified using high performance liquid chromatography coupled to a diode-array detector HPLC-DAD and an ultra-performance liquid chromatograph (UPLC) with a Waters Acquity photodiode array detector (PDA) coupled to a Synapt G2 quadrupole time-of-flight (QTOF) mass spectrometer. Cyanidin-3-O-β-sambubioside (Cy-3-Sa) and cyanidin-3-O-glucoside (Cy-3-G) were the dominant anthocyanins in the fresh and freeze-dried Natal plum powder. Freeze drying did not affect the concentrations of both cyanidin compounds compared to the fresh fruit. Both cyanidin compounds, ellagic acid, catechin, epicatechin syringic acid, caffeic acid, luteolin, and quercetin O-glycoside from the ingested freeze-dried Natal plum powder was quite stable in the gastric phase compared to the small intestinal phase. Cyanidin-3-O-β-sambubioside from the ingested Natal plum powder showed bioaccessibility of 32.2% compared to cyanidin-3-O-glucoside (16.3%). The degradation of anthocyanins increased the bioaccessibility of gallic acid, protocatechuic acid, coumaric acid, and ferulic acid significantly, in the small intestinal digesta. The ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), 2,2′-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid (ABTS) activities, and inhibitory effect of α-glucosidase activity decreased in the small intestinal phase. Indigenous fruits or freeze-dried powders with Cy-3-Sa can be a better source of anthocyanin than Cy-3-G due to higher bioaccessibility in the small intestinal phase.

scholarly journals The metabolic profile of Bifidobacterium dentium reflects its status as a human gut commensal

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Melinda A. Engevik ◽  
Heather A. Danhof ◽  
Anne Hall ◽  
Kristen A. Engevik ◽  
Thomas D. Horvath ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gastrointestinal Tract ◽  
Metabolic Pathways ◽  
Glycosyl Hydrolase ◽  
Acid Resistance ◽  
Human Gut ◽  
Nutrient Sources ◽  
Metabolic Plasticity ◽  
Defined Media ◽  
High Viability ◽  
Ph Range

Abstract Background Bifidobacteria are commensal microbes of the mammalian gastrointestinal tract. In this study, we aimed to identify the intestinal colonization mechanisms and key metabolic pathways implemented by Bifidobacterium dentium. Results B. dentium displayed acid resistance, with high viability over a pH range from 4 to 7; findings that correlated to the expression of Na+/H+ antiporters within the B. dentium genome. B. dentium was found to adhere to human MUC2+ mucus and harbor mucin-binding proteins. Using microbial phenotyping microarrays and fully-defined media, we demonstrated that in the absence of glucose, B. dentium could metabolize a variety of nutrient sources. Many of these nutrient sources were plant-based, suggesting that B. dentium can consume dietary substances. In contrast to other bifidobacteria, B. dentium was largely unable to grow on compounds found in human mucus; a finding that was supported by its glycosyl hydrolase (GH) profile. Of the proteins identified in B. dentium by proteomic analysis, a large cohort of proteins were associated with diverse metabolic pathways, indicating metabolic plasticity which supports colonization of the dynamic gastrointestinal environment. Conclusions Taken together, we conclude that B. dentium is well adapted for commensalism in the gastrointestinal tract.

scholarly journals Development of a Rapid Risk and Impact Assessment Tool to Enhance Response to Environmental Emergencies in the Early Stages of a Disaster: A Tool Developed by the European Multiple Environmental Threats Emergency NETwork (EMETNET) Project

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emma-Jane Goode ◽  
Eirian Thomas ◽  
Owen Landeg ◽  
Raquel Duarte-Davidson ◽  
Lisbeth Hall ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Impact Assessment ◽  
Assessment Tool ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Protection Mechanism ◽  
Environmental Threats ◽  
Environmental Disasters ◽  
Early Stages ◽  
Potential Risks ◽  
The Impact

AbstractEvery year, numerous environmental disasters and emergencies occur across the globe with far-reaching impacts on human health and the environment. The ability to rapidly assess an environmental emergency to mitigate potential risks and impacts is paramount. However, collating the necessary evidence in the early stages of an emergency to conduct a robust risk assessment is a major challenge. This article presents a methodology developed to help assess the risks and impacts during the early stages of such incidents, primarily to support the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism but also the wider global community in the response to environmental emergencies. An online rapid risk and impact assessment tool has also been developed to promote enhanced collaboration between experts who are working remotely, considering the impact of a disaster on the environment and public health in the short, medium, and long terms. The methodology developed can support the appropriate selection of experts and assets to be deployed to affected regions to ensure that potential public health and environmental risks and impacts are mitigated whenever possible. This methodology will aid defensible decision making, communication, planning, and risk management, and presents a harmonized understanding of the associated impacts of an environmental emergency.

scholarly journals The Interactions between Polyphenols and Microorganisms, Especially Gut Microbiota

Antioxidants ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 188
Author(s):  
Małgorzata Makarewicz ◽  
Iwona Drożdż ◽  
Tomasz Tarko ◽  
Aleksandra Duda-Chodak
Keyword(s):  
Intestinal Bacteria ◽  
Research Data ◽  
Bioactive Metabolites ◽  
Human Organism ◽  
Comprehensive Knowledge ◽  
Bidirectional Relationship ◽  
The Matrix ◽  
Intestinal Pathogens ◽  
The Impact

This review presents the comprehensive knowledge about the bidirectional relationship between polyphenols and the gut microbiome. The first part is related to polyphenols’ impacts on various microorganisms, especially bacteria, and their influence on intestinal pathogens. The research data on the mechanisms of polyphenol action were collected together and organized. The impact of various polyphenols groups on intestinal bacteria both on the whole “microbiota” and on particular species, including probiotics, are presented. Moreover, the impact of polyphenols present in food (bound to the matrix) was compared with the purified polyphenols (such as in dietary supplements) as well as polyphenols in the form of derivatives (such as glycosides) with those in the form of aglycones. The second part of the paper discusses in detail the mechanisms (pathways) and the role of bacterial biotransformation of the most important groups of polyphenols, including the production of bioactive metabolites with a significant impact on the human organism (both positive and negative).

scholarly journals From COVID-19 adversity comes opportunity: teaching an online integrative medicine course

2021 ◽  
pp. bmjspcare-2020-002713
Author(s):  
Eran Ben-Arye ◽  
Yael Keshet ◽  
Ariel Schiff ◽  
Catherine Zollman ◽  
Emanuela Portalupi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Integrative Medicine ◽  
Student Attitudes ◽  
Professional Growth ◽  
Academic Community ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Item Questionnaire ◽  
Raising Awareness ◽  
Elective Course ◽  
Potential Risks ◽  
The Impact

BackgroundWe examine the impact of a 5-day online elective course in integrative medicine (IM) taking place during the COVID-19 pandemic, attended by 18 medical students from two faculties of medicine in Israel.MethodsThe course curriculum addressed effectiveness and safety of IM practices highlighting supportive and palliative care, demonstrated the work of integrative physicians (IPs) in designing patient-tailored treatments and taught practical skills in communication regarding IM. Group discussions were conducted via Zoom with 32 physicians, healthcare practitioners and IM practitioners working in integrative academic, community and hospital-based settings, in Israel, Italy, UK and Germany. An 18-item questionnaire examined student attitudes and perceived acquisition of skills for implementing what was learned in clinical practice. Student narratives were analysed using ATLAS.Ti software for systematic coding, identifying barriers and advantages of the online learning methodology.ResultsStudents reported a better understanding of the benefits of IM for specific outcomes (p=0.012) and of potential risks associated with these therapies (p=0.048). They also perceived the acquisition of skills related to the IM-focused history (p=0.006), learnt to identify effectiveness and safety of IM treatments (p=0.001), and internalised the referral to IPs for consultation (p=0.001). Student narratives included reflections on the tools provided during the course for assessing effectiveness and safety, enhancing communication with patients, enriching their patient-centred perspective, raising awareness of available therapeutic options, and personal and professional growth.ConclusionsOnline clinical electives in IM are feasible and can significantly increase students’ awareness and modify attitudes towards acquirement of patient-centred perspectives.

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