The Impact of Environmental Chemicals on the Gut Microbiome

Abstract Since the surge of microbiome research in the last decade, many studies have provided insight into the causes and consequences of changes in the gut microbiota. Among the multiple factors involved in regulating the microbiome, exogenous factors such as diet and environmental chemicals have been shown to alter the gut microbiome significantly. Although diet substantially contributes to changes in the gut microbiome, environmental chemicals are major contaminants in our food and are often overlooked. Herein, we summarize the current knowledge on major classes of environmental chemicals (bisphenols, phthalates, persistent organic pollutants, heavy metals, and pesticides) and their impact on the gut microbiome, which includes alterations in microbial composition, gene expression, function, and health effects in the host. We then discuss health-related implications of gut microbial changes, which include changes in metabolism, immunity, and neurological function.

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Effects of Glucosinolate-Derived Isothiocyanates on Fungi: A Comprehensive Review on Direct Effects, Mechanisms, Structure-Activity Relationship Data and Possible Agricultural Applications

Journal of Fungi ◽

10.3390/jof7070539 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 7 (7) ◽

pp. 539

Author(s):

Tamás Plaszkó ◽

Zsolt Szűcs ◽

Gábor Vasas ◽

Sándor Gonda

Keyword(s):

Mycorrhizal Fungi ◽

Current Knowledge ◽

Synergistic Activity ◽

Microbial Composition ◽

Soil Microbial ◽

Structure Activity ◽

Agricultural Applications ◽

Antifungal Action ◽

Insight Into ◽

Soil Microbial Composition

Plants heavily rely on chemical defense systems against a variety of stressors. The glucosinolates in the Brassicaceae and some allies are the core molecules of one of the most researched such pathways. These natural products are enzymatically converted into isothiocyanates (ITCs) and occasionally other defensive volatile organic constituents (VOCs) upon fungal challenge or tissue disruption to protect the host against the stressor. The current review provides a comprehensive insight on the effects of the isothiocyanates on fungi, including, but not limited to mycorrhizal fungi and pathogens of Brassicaceae. In the review, our current knowledge on the following topics are summarized: direct antifungal activity and the proposed mechanisms of antifungal action, QSAR (quantitative structure-activity relationships), synergistic activity of ITCs with other agents, effects of ITCs on soil microbial composition and allelopathic activity. A detailed insight into the possible applications is also provided: the literature of biofumigation studies, inhibition of post-harvest pathogenesis and protection of various products including grains and fruits is also reviewed herein.

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Role of Biological Sex in the Cardiovascular-Gut Microbiome Axis

Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine ◽

10.3389/fcvm.2021.759735 ◽

2022 ◽

Vol 8 ◽

Author(s):

Shuangyue Li ◽

Georgios Kararigas

Keyword(s):

Gut Microbiota ◽

Gut Microbiome ◽

Microbial Composition ◽

Biological Sex ◽

Technological Advances ◽

Host Health ◽

Health And Disease ◽

And Function ◽

Insight Into

There has been a recent, unprecedented interest in the role of gut microbiota in host health and disease. Technological advances have dramatically expanded our knowledge of the gut microbiome. Increasing evidence has indicated a strong link between gut microbiota and the development of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). In the present article, we discuss the contribution of gut microbiota in the development and progression of CVD. We further discuss how the gut microbiome may differ between the sexes and how it may be influenced by sex hormones. We put forward that regulation of microbial composition and function by sex might lead to sex-biased disease susceptibility, thereby offering a mechanistic insight into sex differences in CVD. A better understanding of this could identify novel targets, ultimately contributing to the development of innovative preventive, diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for men and women.

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The gut-microbiota-brain axis in autism: what Drosophila models can offer?

Journal of Neurodevelopmental Disorders ◽

10.1186/s11689-021-09378-x ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Safa Salim ◽

Ayesha Banu ◽

Amira Alwa ◽

Swetha B. M. Gowda ◽

Farhan Mohammad

Keyword(s):

Gut Microbiota ◽

Gut Microbiome ◽

Neurological Disorders ◽

Autism Spectrum ◽

Brain Disorders ◽

Mediated Communication ◽

The Impact ◽

Insight Into ◽

Drosophila Models

AbstractThe idea that alterations in gut-microbiome-brain axis (GUMBA)-mediated communication play a crucial role in human brain disorders like autism remains a topic of intensive research in various labs. Gastrointestinal issues are a common comorbidity in patients with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Although gut microbiome and microbial metabolites have been implicated in the etiology of ASD, the underlying molecular mechanism remains largely unknown. In this review, we have summarized recent findings in human and animal models highlighting the role of the gut-brain axis in ASD. We have discussed genetic and neurobehavioral characteristics of Drosophila as an animal model to study the role of GUMBA in ASD. The utility of Drosophila fruit flies as an amenable genetic tool, combined with axenic and gnotobiotic approaches, and availability of transgenic flies may reveal mechanistic insight into gut-microbiota-brain interactions and the impact of its alteration on behaviors relevant to neurological disorders like ASD.

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Role of the gut microbiota in airway immunity and host defense against respiratory infections

Biological Chemistry ◽

10.1515/hsz-2021-0281 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 0 (0) ◽

Author(s):

Maike Willers ◽

Dorothee Viemann

Keyword(s):

Gut Microbiota ◽

Host Defense ◽

Gut Microbiome ◽

Respiratory Infections ◽

Current Knowledge ◽

Viral Pathogens ◽

Commensal Microbiota ◽

Enhanced Resistance ◽

The Impact

Abstract Colonization of the intestine with commensal bacteria is known to play a major role in the maintenance of human health. An altered gut microbiome is associated with various ensuing diseases including respiratory diseases. Here, we summarize current knowledge on the impact of the gut microbiota on airway immunity with a focus on consequences for the host defense against respiratory infections. Specific gut commensal microbiota compositions and functions are depicted that mediate protection against respiratory infections with bacterial and viral pathogens. Lastly, we highlight factors that have imprinting effects on the establishment of the gut microbiota early in life and are potentially relevant in the context of respiratory infections. Deepening our understanding of these relationships will allow to exploit the knowledge on how gut microbiome maturation needs to be modulated to ensure lifelong enhanced resistance towards respiratory infections.

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Computational Modeling of the Human Microbiome

Microorganisms ◽

10.3390/microorganisms8020197 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 8 (2) ◽

pp. 197

Author(s):

Shomeek Chowdhury ◽

Stephen S. Fong

Keyword(s):

Computational Modeling ◽

Human Health ◽

Large Scale ◽

Human Microbiome ◽

Human Microbiome Project ◽

Microbial Composition ◽

Site Specific ◽

Microbiome Research ◽

High Level ◽

The Impact

The impact of microorganisms on human health has long been acknowledged and studied, but recent advances in research methodologies have enabled a new systems-level perspective on the collections of microorganisms associated with humans, the human microbiome. Large-scale collaborative efforts such as the NIH Human Microbiome Project have sought to kick-start research on the human microbiome by providing foundational information on microbial composition based upon specific sites across the human body. Here, we focus on the four main anatomical sites of the human microbiome: gut, oral, skin, and vaginal, and provide information on site-specific background, experimental data, and computational modeling. Each of the site-specific microbiomes has unique organisms and phenomena associated with them; there are also high-level commonalities. By providing an overview of different human microbiome sites, we hope to provide a perspective where detailed, site-specific research is needed to understand causal phenomena that impact human health, but there is equally a need for more generalized methodology improvements that would benefit all human microbiome research.

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Metabolomics and microbial composition increase insight into the impact of dietary differences in cirrhosis

Liver International ◽

10.1111/liv.14256 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 40 (2) ◽

pp. 416-427 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

I. Jane Cox ◽

Ramazan Idilman ◽

Andrew Fagan ◽

Dilara Turan ◽

Lola Ajayi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Microbial Composition ◽

The Impact ◽

Insight Into

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Microbiability of meat quality and carcass composition traits in swine

10.21203/rs.3.rs-22906/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Piush Khanal ◽

Christian Maltecca ◽

Clint Schwab ◽

Justin Fix ◽

Francesco Tiezzi

Keyword(s):

Meat Quality ◽

Gut Microbiome ◽

Complex Traits ◽

Carcass Composition ◽

Intestinal Microbiome ◽

Quality Traits ◽

Microbial Composition ◽

Meat Quality Traits ◽

Genomic Heritability ◽

The Impact

Abstract BackgroundSwine gut microbiome constitutes a portion of the whole genome and has potential to affect different phenotypes. More recently, research is more directed towards association of gut microbiome and different traits in swine. However, the contribution of microbial composition to the phenotypic variation of meat quality and carcass composition traits in pigs has not been explored yet. The objectives of this study are to estimate the microbiabilities for different meat quality and carcass composition traits; to investigate the impact of intestinal microbiome on heritability estimates; to estimate the correlation between microbial diversity and meat quality and carcass composition traits; and to estimate the microbial correlation between the meat quality and carcass composition traits in a commercial swine population.ResultsThe contribution of the microbiome to carcass composition and meat quality traits was prominent although it varied over time, increasing from weaning to off test for most traits. Microbiability estimates of carcass composition traits were greater than that of meat quality traits. Among all of the traits analyzed, belly weight had higher microbiability estimate (0.29 ± 0.04). Adding microbiome information did not affect the estimates of genomic heritability of meat quality traits but affected the estimates of carcass composition traits. Fat depth had greater decrease (10%) in genomic heritability. High microbial correlations were found among several traits. This suggested that genomic correlation was partially contributed by genetic similarity of microbiome composition.ConclusionsResults indicate that better understanding of microbial composition could aid the improvement of complex traits, particularly the carcass composition traits in swine by inclusion of microbiome information in the genetic evaluation process.

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Probiotics maintain the gut microbiome homeostasis during Indian Antarctic expedition by ship

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-97890-4 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Ashish Kumar Srivastava ◽

Vishwajeet Rohil ◽

Brij Bhushan ◽

Malleswara Rao Eslavath ◽

Harshita Gupta ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Placebo Group ◽

Gut Microbiota ◽

Gut Microbiome ◽

Glycoside Hydrolases ◽

Gut Health ◽

Microbial Composition ◽

Carbohydrate Binding Modules ◽

Antarctic Expedition ◽

Probiotic Intervention ◽

The Impact

AbstractShip voyage to Antarctica is a stressful journey for expedition members. The response of human gut microbiota to ship voyage and a feasible approach to maintain gut health, is still unexplored. The present findings describe a 24-day long longitudinal study involving 19 members from 38th Indian Antarctic Expedition, to investigate the impact of ship voyage and effect of probiotic intervention on gut microbiota. Fecal samples collected on day 0 as baseline and at the end of ship voyage (day 24), were analyzed using whole genome shotgun sequencing. Probiotic intervention reduced the sea sickness by 10% compared to 44% in placebo group. The gut microbiome in placebo group members on day 0 and day 24, indicated significant alteration compared to a marginal change in the microbial composition in probiotic group. Functional analysis revealed significant alterations in carbohydrate and amino acid metabolism. Carbohydrate-active enzymes analysis represented functional genes involved in glycoside hydrolases, glycosyltransferases and carbohydrate binding modules, for maintaining gut microbiome homeostasis. Suggesting thereby the possible mechanism of probiotic in stabilizing and restoring gut microflora during stressful ship journey. The present study is first of its kind, providing a feasible approach for protecting gut health during Antarctic expedition involving ship voyage.

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Bifidobacterium infantis Metabolizes 2′Fucosyllactose-Derived and Free Fucose Through a Common Catabolic Pathway Resulting in 1,2-Propanediol Secretion

Frontiers in Nutrition ◽

10.3389/fnut.2020.583397 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 7 ◽

Author(s):

Liv R. Dedon ◽

Ezgi Özcan ◽

Asha Rani ◽

David A. Sela

Keyword(s):

Gut Microbiome ◽

Bifidobacterium Longum ◽

Underlying Mechanism ◽

Catabolic Pathway ◽

Oligosaccharide Structure ◽

Infant Gut Microbiome ◽

Microbe Interactions ◽

The Impact ◽

Insight Into

Human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) enrich beneficial bifidobacteria in the infant gut microbiome which produce molecules that impact development and physiology. 2′fucosyllactose (2′FL) is a highly abundant fucosylated HMO which is utilized by Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis, despite limited scientific understanding of the underlying mechanism. Moreover, there is not a current consensus on whether free fucose could be metabolized when not incorporated in a larger oligosaccharide structure. Based on metabolic and genomic analyses, we hypothesize that B. infantis catabolizes both free fucose and fucosyl oligosaccharide residues to produce 1,2-propanediol (1,2-PD). Accordingly, systems-level approaches including transcriptomics and proteomics support this metabolic path. Co-fermentation of fucose and limiting lactose or glucose was found to promote significantly higher biomass and 1,2-PD concentrations than individual substrates, suggesting a synergistic effect. In addition, and during growth on 2′FL, B. infantis achieves significantly higher biomass corresponding to increased 1,2-PD. These findings support a singular fucose catabolic pathway in B. infantis that is active on both free and HMO-derived fucose and intimately linked with central metabolism. The impact of fucose and 2′FL metabolism on B. infantis physiology provides insight into the role of fucosylated HMOs in influencing host- and microbe-microbe interactions within the infant gut microbiome.

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The role of the gut microbiome in graft fibrosis after pediatric liver transplantation

Human Genetics ◽

10.1007/s00439-020-02221-8 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Tian Qin ◽

Jingyuan Fu ◽

Henkjan J. Verkade

Keyword(s):

Liver Transplantation ◽

Gut Microbiome ◽

Current Knowledge ◽

Solid Organ Transplantation ◽

Short Chain Fatty Acids ◽

Solid Organ ◽

Microbial Composition ◽

Term Survival ◽

End Stage

Abstract Liver transplantation (LT) is a life-saving option for children with end-stage liver disease. However, about 50% of patients develop graft fibrosis in 1 year after LT, with normal liver function. Graft fibrosis may progress to cirrhosis, resulting in graft dysfunction and ultimately the need for re-transplantation. Previous studies have identified various risk factors for the post-LT fibrogenesis, however, to date, neither of the factors seems to fully explain the cause of graft fibrosis. Recently, evidence has accumulated on the important role of the gut microbiome in outcomes after solid organ transplantation. As an altered microbiome is present in pediatric patients with end-stage liver diseases, we hypothesize that the persisting alterations in microbial composition or function contribute to the development of graft fibrosis, for example by bacteria translocation due to increased intestinal permeability, imbalanced bile acids metabolism, and/or decreased production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). Subsequently, an immune response can be activated in the graft, together with the stimulation of fibrogenesis. Here we review current knowledge about the potential mechanisms by which alterations in microbial composition or function may lead to graft fibrosis in pediatric LT and we provide prospective views on the efficacy of gut microbiome manipulation as a therapeutic target to alleviate the graft fibrosis and to improve long-term survival after LT.

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