Division of labor in honey bee gut microbiota for plant polysaccharide digestion

Bees acquire carbohydrates from nectar and lipids; and amino acids from pollen, which also contains polysaccharides including cellulose, hemicellulose, and pectin. These potential energy sources could be degraded and fermented through microbial enzymatic activity, resulting in short chain fatty acids available to hosts. However, the contributions of individual microbiota members to polysaccharide digestion have remained unclear. Through analysis of bacterial isolate genomes and a metagenome of the honey bee gut microbiota, we identify thatBifidobacteriumandGilliamellaare the principal degraders of hemicellulose and pectin. BothBifidobacteriumandGilliamellashow extensive strain-level diversity in gene repertoires linked to polysaccharide digestion. Strains from honey bees possess more such genes than strains from bumble bees. InBifidobacterium, genes encoding carbohydrate-active enzymes are colocated within loci devoted to polysaccharide utilization, as inBacteroidesfrom the human gut. Carbohydrate-active enzyme-encoding gene expressions are up-regulated in response to particular hemicelluloses both in vitro and in vivo. Metabolomic analyses document that bees experimentally colonized by different strains generate distinctive gut metabolomic profiles, with enrichment for specific monosaccharides, corresponding to predictions from genomic data. The other 3 core gut species clusters (Snodgrassellaand 2Lactobacillusclusters) possess few or no genes for polysaccharide digestion. Together, these findings indicate that strain composition within individual hosts determines the metabolic capabilities and potentially affects host nutrition. Furthermore, the niche specialization revealed by our study may promote overall community stability in the gut microbiomes of bees.

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Anti-Inflammatory Activities of Pentaherbs formula and Its Influence on Gut Microbiota in Allergic Asthma

Molecules ◽

10.3390/molecules23112776 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 23 (11) ◽

pp. 2776 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Miranda Tsang ◽

Sau-Wan Cheng ◽

Jing Zhu ◽

Karam Atli ◽

Ben Chan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gut Microbiota ◽

Allergic Asthma ◽

Herbal Medicines ◽

Oral Intake ◽

Allergic Diseases ◽

Short Chain Fatty Acids ◽

Mice Model ◽

Anti Inflammatory

Allergic asthma is a highly prevalent airway inflammatory disease, which involves the interaction between the immune system, environmental and genetic factors. Co-relation between allergic asthma and gut microbiota upon the change of diet have been widely reported, implicating that oral intake of alternative medicines possess a potential in the management of allergic asthma. Previous clinical, in vivo, and in vitro studies have shown that the Pentaherbs formula (PHF) comprising five traditional Chinese herbal medicines Lonicerae Flos, Menthae Herba, Phellodendri Cortex, Moutan Cortex, and Atractylodis Rhizoma possesses an anti-allergic and anti-inflammatory potential through suppressing various immune effector cells. In the present study, to further investigate the anti-inflammatory activities of PHF in allergic asthma, intragastrical administration of PHF was found to reduce airway hyperresponsiveness, airway wall remodeling and goblet cells hyperplasia in an ovalbumin (OVA)-induced allergic asthma mice model. PHF also significantly suppressed pulmonary eosinophilia and asthma-related cytokines IL-4 and IL-33 in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid. In addition, PHF modulated the splenic regulatory T cells population, up-regulated regulatory interleukin (IL)-10 in serum, altered the microbial community structure and the short chain fatty acids content in the gut of the asthmatic mice. This study sheds light on the anti-inflammatory activities of PHF on allergic asthma. It also provides novel in vivo evidence that herbal medicines can ameliorate symptoms of allergic diseases may potentially prevent the development of subsequent atopic disorder such as allergic asthma through the influence of the gut microbiota.

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Seaweed Components as Potential Modulators of the Gut Microbiota

Marine Drugs ◽

10.3390/md19070358 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 19 (7) ◽

pp. 358

Author(s):

Emer Shannon ◽

Michael Conlon ◽

Maria Hayes

Keyword(s):

Gut Microbiota ◽

Large Scale ◽

Current Knowledge ◽

Ex Vivo ◽

Short Chain Fatty Acids ◽

In Vivo Studies ◽

Therapeutic Effects ◽

Oral Bioaccessibility

Macroalgae, or seaweeds, are a rich source of components which may exert beneficial effects on the mammalian gut microbiota through the enhancement of bacterial diversity and abundance. An imbalance of gut bacteria has been linked to the development of disorders such as inflammatory bowel disease, immunodeficiency, hypertension, type-2-diabetes, obesity, and cancer. This review outlines current knowledge from in vitro and in vivo studies concerning the potential therapeutic application of seaweed-derived polysaccharides, polyphenols and peptides to modulate the gut microbiota through diet. Polysaccharides such as fucoidan, laminarin, alginate, ulvan and porphyran are unique to seaweeds. Several studies have shown their potential to act as prebiotics and to positively modulate the gut microbiota. Prebiotics enhance bacterial populations and often their production of short chain fatty acids, which are the energy source for gastrointestinal epithelial cells, provide protection against pathogens, influence immunomodulation, and induce apoptosis of colon cancer cells. The oral bioaccessibility and bioavailability of seaweed components is also discussed, including the advantages and limitations of static and dynamic in vitro gastrointestinal models versus ex vivo and in vivo methods. Seaweed bioactives show potential for use in prevention and, in some instances, treatment of human disease. However, it is also necessary to confirm these potential, therapeutic effects in large-scale clinical trials. Where possible, we have cited information concerning these trials.

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Campylobacter jejuniBumSR directs a response to butyrate via sensor phosphatase activity to impact transcription and colonization

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences ◽

10.1073/pnas.1922719117 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 117 (21) ◽

pp. 11715-11726 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Kyle N. Goodman ◽

Matthew J. Powers ◽

Alexander A. Crofts ◽

M. Stephen Trent ◽

David R. Hendrixson

Keyword(s):

Signal Transduction ◽

Target Genes ◽

Diarrheal Disease ◽

Response Regulator ◽

Short Chain Fatty Acids ◽

Signal Transduction System ◽

Genes Encoding ◽

In Vivo Growth

Campylobacter jejunimonitors intestinal metabolites produced by the host and microbiota to initiate intestinal colonization of avian and animal hosts for commensalism and infection of humans for diarrheal disease. We previously discovered thatC. jejunihas the capacity to spatially discern different intestinal regions by sensing lactate and the short-chain fatty acids acetate and butyrate and then alter transcription of colonization factors appropriately for in vivo growth. In this study, we identified theC. jejunibutyrate-modulated regulon and discovered that the BumSR two-component signal transduction system (TCS) directs a response to butyrate by identifying mutants in a genetic screen defective for butyrate-modulated transcription. The BumSR TCS, which is important for infection of humans and optimal colonization of avian hosts, senses butyrate likely by indirect means to alter transcription of genes encoding important colonization determinants. Unlike many canonical TCSs, the predicted cytoplasmic sensor kinase BumS lacked in vitro autokinase activity, which would normally lead to phosphorylation of the cognate BumR response regulator. Instead, BumS has likely evolved mutations to naturally function as a phosphatase whose activity is influenced by exogenous butyrate to control the level of endogenous phosphorylation of BumR and its ability to alter transcription of target genes. To our knowledge, the BumSR TCS is the only bacterial signal transduction system identified so far that mediates responses to the microbiota-generated intestinal metabolite butyrate, an important factor for host intestinal health and homeostasis. Our findings suggest that butyrate sensing by this system is vital forC. jejunicolonization of multiple hosts.

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Bioinformatic, Genetic, and Biochemical Evidence that Some Glycoside Hydrolase Family 42 β-Galactosidases Are Arabinogalactan Type I Oligomer Hydrolases

Applied and Environmental Microbiology ◽

10.1128/aem.01306-06 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 72 (12) ◽

pp. 7730-7738 ◽

Cited By ~ 34

Author(s):

Stephanie Shipkowski ◽

Jean E. Brenchley

Keyword(s):

Glycoside Hydrolase ◽

Glycoside Hydrolases ◽

Glycoside Hydrolase Family ◽

Type I ◽

Plant Polysaccharide ◽

E Coli ◽

Genes Encoding ◽

Layer Chromatography

ABSTRACT Glycoside hydrolases are organized into glycoside hydrolase families (GHFs) and within this larger group, the β-galactosidases are members of four families: 1, 2, 35, and 42. Most genes encoding GHF 42 enzymes are from prokaryotes unlikely to encounter lactose, suggesting a different substrate for these enzymes. In search of this substrate, we analyzed genes neighboring GHF 42 genes in databases and detected an arrangement implying that these enzymes might hydrolyze oligosaccharides released by GHF 53 enzymes from arabinogalactan type I, a pectic plant polysaccharide. Because Bacillus subtilis has adjacent GHF 42 and GHF 53 genes, we used it to test the hypothesis that a GHF 42 enzyme (LacA) could act on the oligosaccharides released by a GHF 53 enzyme (GalA) from galactan. We cloned these genes, plus a second GHF 42 gene from B. subtilis, yesZ, into Escherichia coli and demonstrated that cells expressing LacA with GalA gained the ability to use galactan as a carbon source. We constructed B. subtilis mutants and showed that the increased β-galactosidase activity generated in response to the addition of galactan was eliminated by inactivating lacA or galA but unaffected by the inactivation of yesZ. As further demonstration, we overexpressed the LacA and GalA proteins in E. coli and demonstrated that these enzymes degrade galactan in vitro as assayed by thin-layer chromatography. Our work provides the first in vivo evidence for a function of some GHF 42 β-galactosidases. Similar functions for other β-galactosidases in both GHFs 2 and 42 are suggested by genomic data.

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Insights into the Role of the Microbiota and of Short-Chain Fatty Acids in Rubinstein–Taybi Syndrome

International Journal of Molecular Sciences ◽

10.3390/ijms22073621 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 22 (7) ◽

pp. 3621

Author(s):

Elisabetta Di Fede ◽

Emerenziana Ottaviano ◽

Paolo Grazioli ◽

Camilla Ceccarani ◽

Antonio Galeone ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gut Microbiota ◽

Neurodevelopmental Disorder ◽

Short Chain Fatty Acids ◽

Therapeutic Interventions ◽

Short Chain ◽

Patient Specific ◽

Microbiota Composition ◽

In Vivo Models

The short-chain fatty acid butyrate, produced by the gut microbiota, acts as a potent histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor. We assessed possible ameliorative effects of butyrate, relative to other HDAC inhibitors, in in vitro and in vivo models of Rubinstein–Taybi syndrome (RSTS), a severe neurodevelopmental disorder caused by variants in the genes encoding the histone acetyltransferases CBP and p300. In RSTS cell lines, butyrate led to the patient-specific rescue of acetylation defects at subtoxic concentrations. Remarkably, we observed that the commensal gut microbiota composition in a cohort of RSTS patients is significantly depleted in butyrate-producing bacteria compared to healthy siblings. We demonstrate that the effects of butyrate and the differences in microbiota composition are conserved in a Drosophila melanogaster mutant for CBP, enabling future dissection of the gut–host interactions in an in vivo RSTS model. This study sheds light on microbiota composition in a chromatinopathy, paving the way for novel therapeutic interventions.

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Lactobacillus ruminis Alleviates DSS-Induced Colitis by Inflammatory Cytokines and Gut Microbiota Modulation

Foods ◽

10.3390/foods10061349 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (6) ◽

pp. 1349

Author(s):

Bo Yang ◽

Mingjie Li ◽

Shuo Wang ◽

R. Paul Ross ◽

Catherine Stanton ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gut Microbiota ◽

Inflammatory Cytokines ◽

Short Chain Fatty Acids ◽

Colon Tissue ◽

Tnf Α ◽

Lactobacillus Ruminis ◽

Immune Response In Vitro ◽

Pro Inflammatory Cytokines

Lactobacillus ruminis can stimulate the immune response in vitro, but previous studies were only carried out in vitro and the anti-inflammatory effects of L. ruminis needs more in vivo evidences. In this study, the immune regulation and potential mechanisms of L. ruminis was investigated in DSS-induced colitis mice. L. ruminis FXJWS27L3 and L. ruminis FXJSW17L1 relieved the symptoms of colitis, including inhibition of colon shortening and colon tissue damage. L. ruminis FXJWS27L3 significantly reduced the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-17, while L. ruminis FXJSW17L1 significantly increased short chain fatty acids in mice feces. Moreover, L. ruminis FXJWS27L3 and L. ruminis FXJSW17L1 treatments significantly increased the gut microbiota diversity and balance the intestine microbiota profiles, which improved the imbalance of intestine microbiota composition to a certain extent. The results showed that L. ruminis can alleviate DSS-induced colitis, which possibly was related to promoting the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, up-regulating SCFAs and restoring the imbalance of gut microbiota.

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Community Metabolic Interactions, Vitamin Production and Prebiotic Potential of Medicinal Herbs Used for Immunomodulation

Frontiers in Genetics ◽

10.3389/fgene.2021.584197 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Christine T. Peterson ◽

Stanislav N. Iablokov ◽

Sasha Uchitel ◽

Deepak Chopra ◽

Josue Perez-Santiago ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gut Microbiota ◽

Immune Function ◽

Immune Cell ◽

Health Benefits ◽

Cell Types ◽

Short Chain Fatty Acids ◽

Medicinal Herbs ◽

Vitamin Production

Historically, the health benefits and immunomodulatory potential of medicinal herbs have been considered an intrinsic quality of the herb itself. We have hypothesized that the health benefits of medicinal herbs may be partially due to their prebiotic potential that alter gut microbiota leading to changes in short chain fatty acids and vitamin production or biotransformation of herb encoded molecules and secondary metabolites. Accumulating studies emphasize the relationship between the gut microbiota and host immune function. While largely unknown, these interactions are mediated by secreted microbial products that activate or repress a variety of immune cell types. Here we evaluated the effect of immunomodulatory, medicinal Ayurvedic herbs on gut microbiota in vitro using 16S rRNA sequencing to assess changes in community composition and functional potential. All immunomodulatory herbs displayed substantial prebiotic potential, targeting unique taxonomic groups. Application of genome reconstruction and analysis of biosynthetic capacity of herb selected communities suggests that many of the 11 herbs tested altered the community metabolism as the result of differential glycan harvest and sugar utilization and secreted products including multiple vitamins, butyrate, and propionate that may impact host physiology and immune function. Taken together, these results provide a useful framework for the further evaluation of these immunomodulatory herbs in vivo to maintain immune homeostasis or achieve desired regulation of immune components in the context of disease.

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Antidiabetic Function of Lactobacillus fermentum MF423-Fermented Rice Bran and Its Effect on Gut Microbiota Structure in Type 2 Diabetic Mice

Frontiers in Microbiology ◽

10.3389/fmicb.2021.682290 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Xiaojuan Ai ◽

Cuiling Wu ◽

Tingting Yin ◽

Olena Zhur ◽

Congling Liu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gut Microbiota ◽

Rice Bran ◽

High Throughput Sequencing ◽

Short Chain Fatty Acids ◽

Lactobacillus Fermentum ◽

Fermentation Products ◽

Type 2 Diabetic

Rice bran is an industrial byproduct that exerts several bioactivities despite its limited bioavailability. In this study, rice bran fermented with Lactobacillus fermentum MF423 (FLRB) had enhanced antidiabetic effects both in vitro and in vivo. FLRB could increase glucose consumption and decrease lipid accumulation in insulin resistant HepG2 cells. Eight weeks of FLRB treatment significantly reduced the levels of blood glucose and lipids and elevated antioxidant activity in type 2 diabetic mellitus (T2DM) mice. H&E staining revealed alleviation of overt lesions in the livers of FLRB-treated mice. Moreover, high-throughput sequencing showed notable variation in the composition of gut microbiota in FLRB-treated mice, especially for short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs)-producing bacteria such as Dubosiella and Lactobacillus. In conclusion, our results suggested that rice bran fermentation products can modulate the intestinal microbiota and improve T2DM-related biochemical abnormalities, so they can be applied as potential probiotics or dietary supplements.

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Potential Modulatory Microbiome Therapies for Prevention or Treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases

Pharmaceuticals ◽

10.3390/ph14060506 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 14 (6) ◽

pp. 506

Author(s):

Daan V. Bunt ◽

Adriaan J. Minnaard ◽

Sahar El Aidy

Keyword(s):

Inflammatory Bowel Disease ◽

Fatty Acids ◽

Gut Microbiota ◽

Short Chain Fatty Acids ◽

In Vivo Models ◽

Gut Homeostasis ◽

Bowel Diseases ◽

Inflammatory Bowel

A disturbed interaction between the gut microbiota and the mucosal immune system plays a pivotal role in the development of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Various compounds that are produced by the gut microbiota, from its metabolism of diverse dietary sources, have been found to possess anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative properties in in vitro and in vivo models relevant to IBD. These gut microbiota-derived metabolites may have similar, or more potent gut homeostasis-promoting effects compared to the widely-studied short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). Available data suggest that mainly members of the Firmicutes are responsible for producing metabolites with the aforementioned effects, a phylum that is generally underrepresented in the microbiota of IBD patients. Further efforts aiming at characterizing such metabolites and examining their properties may help to develop novel modulatory microbiome therapies to treat or prevent IBD.

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