scholarly journals Immune system stimulation by the native gut microbiota of honey bees

2017 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 170003 ◽  
Author(s):  
Waldan K. Kwong ◽  
Amanda L. Mancenido ◽  
Nancy A. Moran
Keyword(s):  
Immune System ◽  
Gut Microbiota ◽  
Honey Bee ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Crucial Component ◽  
Host Health ◽  
Gut Symbionts ◽  
Microbial Symbionts ◽  
Insect Innate Immunity

Gut microbial communities can greatly affect host health by modulating the host's immune system. For many important insects, however, the relationship between the gut microbiota and immune function remains poorly understood. Here, we test whether the gut microbial symbionts of the honey bee can induce expression of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), a crucial component of insect innate immunity. We find that bees up-regulate gene expression of the AMPs apidaecin and hymenoptaecin in gut tissue when the microbiota is present. Using targeted proteomics, we detected apidaecin in both the gut lumen and the haemolymph; higher apidaecin concentrations were found in bees harbouring the normal gut microbiota than in bees lacking gut microbiota. In in vitro assays, cultured strains of the microbiota showed variable susceptibility to honey bee AMPs, although many seem to possess elevated resistance compared to Escherichia coli . In some trials, colonization by normal gut symbionts resulted in improved survivorship following injection with E. coli . Our results show that the native, non-pathogenic gut flora induces immune responses in the bee host. Such responses might be a host mechanism to regulate the microbiota, and could potentially benefit host health by priming the immune system against future pathogenic infections.

scholarly journals Higher Variability in Fungi Compared to Bacteria in the Foraging Honey Bee Gut

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leslie E. Decker ◽  
Priscilla A. San Juan ◽  
Magdalena L. Warren ◽  
Cory E. Duckworth ◽  
Cheng Gao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Composition ◽  
Microbial Communities ◽  
Honey Bee ◽  
Honey Bees ◽  
Plant Pathogens ◽  
Distribution Patterns ◽  
Model System ◽  
Pathogen Transmission ◽  
Host Health ◽  
Gut Symbionts

AbstractMicrobial communities in the honey bee gut have emerged as a model system to understand the effects of host-associated microbes on animals and plants. The specific distribution patterns of bacterial associates among honey bee gut regions remains a key finding within the field. The mid- and hindgut of foraging bees house a deterministic set of core species that affect host health. In contrast, the crop, or honey stomach, contains a more diverse set of bacteria that is highly variable in composition among individual bees. Whether this contrast between the two gut regions also applies to fungi, another major group of gut-associated microbes, remains unclear despite their potential influence on host health. In honey bees caught foraging at four sites across the San Francisco Peninsula, we found that fungi were much less distinct in species composition between the crop and the mid- and hindgut than bacteria. Unlike bacteria, fungi were highly variable in composition throughout the gut, and much of this variation was attributable to bee collection site. These patterns suggest that the fungi may be passengers rather than functionally significant gut symbionts. However, many of the fungi we found in the bees have been recognized as plant pathogens. Assuming that some fungi remain viable after passage through the gut, the distribution patterns we report here point to the potential importance of honey bees as vectors of fungal pathogens and suggest a more prominent role of honey bees in plant pathogen transmission than generally thought.Importance (Nontechnical explanation of why the work was undertaken)Along with bacteria, fungi make up a significant portion of animal- and plant-associated microbial communities. However, we have only begun to describe these fungi, much less examine their effects on most animals and plants. The honey bee, Apis mellifera, has emerged as a model system for studying host-associated microbes. Honey bees contain well-characterized bacteria specialized to inhabit different regions of the gut. Fungi also exist in the honey bee gut, but their composition and function remain largely undescribed. Here we show that, unlike bacteria, fungi vary substantially in species composition throughout the honey bee gut, contingent on where the bees are sampled. This observation suggests that fungi may be transient passengers and therefore unimportant as gut symbionts. However, our findings also indicate that honey bees could be major vectors of infectious plant diseases as many of the fungi we found in the honey bee gut are recognized as plant pathogens.

scholarly journals Prebiotics from Seaweeds: An Ocean of Opportunity?

Marine Drugs ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 17 (6) ◽  
pp. 327 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul Cherry ◽  
Supriya Yadav ◽  
Conall R. Strain ◽  
Philip J. Allsopp ◽  
Emeir M. McSorley ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fatty Acids ◽  
Gut Microbiota ◽  
Animal Studies ◽  
Health Benefit ◽  
Microbial Composition ◽  
Previous Discussion ◽  
Host Health ◽  
Health Related

Seaweeds are an underexploited and potentially sustainable crop which offer a rich source of bioactive compounds, including novel complex polysaccharides, polyphenols, fatty acids, and carotenoids. The purported efficacies of these phytochemicals have led to potential functional food and nutraceutical applications which aim to protect against cardiometabolic and inflammatory risk factors associated with non-communicable diseases, such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease, inflammatory bowel disease, and some cancers. Concurrent understanding that perturbations of gut microbial composition and metabolic function manifest throughout health and disease has led to dietary strategies, such as prebiotics, which exploit the diet-host-microbe paradigm to modulate the gut microbiota, such that host health is maintained or improved. The prebiotic definition was recently updated to “a substrate that is selectively utilised by host microorganisms conferring a health benefit”, which, given that previous discussion regarding seaweed prebiotics has focused upon saccharolytic fermentation, an opportunity is presented to explore how non-complex polysaccharide components from seaweeds may be metabolised by host microbial populations to benefit host health. Thus, this review provides an innovative approach to consider how the gut microbiota may utilise seaweed phytochemicals, such as polyphenols, polyunsaturated fatty acids, and carotenoids, and provides an updated discussion regarding the catabolism of seaweed-derived complex polysaccharides with potential prebiotic activity. Additional in vitro screening studies and in vivo animal studies are needed to identify potential prebiotics from seaweeds, alongside untargeted metabolomics to decipher microbial-derived metabolites from seaweeds. Furthermore, controlled human intervention studies with health-related end points to elucidate prebiotic efficacy are required.

scholarly journals Intestinal Microbiota as Modulators of the Immune System and Neuroimmune System: Impact on the Host Health and Homeostasis

2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlos Magno da Costa Maranduba ◽  
Sandra Bertelli Ribeiro De Castro ◽  
Gustavo Torres de Souza ◽  
Cristiano Rossato ◽  
Francisco Carlos da Guia ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Sclerosis ◽  
Ulcerative Colitis ◽  
Immune System ◽  
Gut Microbiota ◽  
Intestinal Microbiota ◽  
Present Review ◽  
Present Moment ◽  
Depression And Anxiety ◽  
Neuroimmune System ◽  
Host Health

Many immune-based intestinal disorders, such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease, as well as other illnesses, may have the intestines as an initial cause or aggravator in the development of diseases, even apparently not correlating directly to the intestine. Diabetes, obesity, multiple sclerosis, depression, and anxiety are examples of other illnesses discussed in the literature. In parallel, importance of the gut microbiota in intestinal homeostasis and immunologic conflict between tolerance towards commensal microorganisms and combat of pathogens is well known. Recent researches show that the immune system, when altered by the gut microbiota, influences the state in which these diseases are presented in the patient directly and indirectly. At the present moment, a considerable number of investigations about this subject have been performed and published. However, due to difficulties on correlating information, several speculations and hypotheses are generated. Thus, the present review aims at bringing together how these interactions work—gut microbiota, immune system, and their influence in the neuroimmune system.

scholarly journals The effect of sun-dried raisins (Vitis vinifera L.) on the in vitro composition of the gut microbiota

2016 ◽  
Vol 7 (9) ◽  
pp. 4048-4060 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giuseppina Mandalari ◽  
Simona Chessa ◽  
Carlo Bisignano ◽  
Luisa Chan ◽  
Arianna Carughi
Keyword(s):  
Gut Microbiota ◽  
Vitis Vinifera ◽  
Vitis Vinifera L ◽  
Human Gut ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Human Gut Microbiota ◽  
Host Health

Modulation of the human gut microbiota has proven to have beneficial effects on host health. Sun-dried raisins exhibited prebiotic potential.

scholarly journals The Food Contaminant Deoxynivalenol Exacerbates the Genotoxicity of Gut Microbiota

mBio ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Delphine Payros ◽  
Ulrich Dobrindt ◽  
Patricia Martin ◽  
Thomas Secher ◽  
Ana Paula F. L. Bracarense ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dna Damage ◽  
Gut Microbiota ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Colorectal Cancers ◽  
Staple Food ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
Food Contaminants ◽  
Cereal Products ◽  
E Coli

ABSTRACT An increasing number of human beings from developed countries are colonized by Escherichia coli strains producing colibactin, a genotoxin suspected to be associated with the development of colorectal cancers. Deoxynivalenol (DON) is the most prevalent mycotoxin that contaminates staple food—especially cereal products—in Europe and North America. This study investigates the effect of the food contaminant DON on the genotoxicity of the E. coli strains producing colibactin. In vitro, intestinal epithelial cells were coexposed to DON and E. coli producing colibactin. In vivo, newborn rats colonized at birth with E. coli producing colibactin were fed a DON-contaminated diet. Intestinal DNA damage was estimated by the phosphorylation of histone H2AX. DON exacerbates the genotoxicity of the E. coli producing colibactin in a time- and dose-dependent manner in vitro. Although DON had no effect on the composition of the gut microbiota, and especially on the number of E. coli, a significant increase in DNA damage was observed in intestinal epithelial cells of animals colonized by E. coli strains producing colibactin and coexposed to DON compared to animals colonized with E. coli strains unable to produce colibactin or animals exposed only to DON. In conclusion, our data demonstrate that the genotoxicity of E. coli strains producing colibactin, increasingly present in the microbiota of asymptomatic human beings, is modulated by the presence of DON in the diet. This raises questions about the synergism between food contaminants and gut microbiota with regard to intestinal carcinogenesis. IMPORTANCE An increasing number of human beings from developed countries are colonized by Escherichia coli strains producing colibactin, a genotoxin suspected to be associated with the development of colorectal cancers. Deoxynivalenol (DON) is the most prevalent mycotoxin that contaminates staple food—especially cereal products—in Europe and North America. Our in vitro and in vivo results demonstrate that the intestinal DNA damage induced by colibactin-producing E. coli strains was exacerbated by the presence of DON in the diet. This raises questions about the synergism between food contaminants and gut microbiota with regard to intestinal carcinogenesis. IMPORTANCE An increasing number of human beings from developed countries are colonized by Escherichia coli strains producing colibactin, a genotoxin suspected to be associated with the development of colorectal cancers. Deoxynivalenol (DON) is the most prevalent mycotoxin that contaminates staple food—especially cereal products—in Europe and North America. Our in vitro and in vivo results demonstrate that the intestinal DNA damage induced by colibactin-producing E. coli strains was exacerbated by the presence of DON in the diet. This raises questions about the synergism between food contaminants and gut microbiota with regard to intestinal carcinogenesis.

scholarly journals P076 Role of gut microbiota in mediating the effects of thiopurines

2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S173-S174
Author(s):  
M Franzin ◽  
M Lucafò ◽  
C Lagatolla ◽  
G Stocco ◽  
G Decorti
Keyword(s):  
Gut Microbiota ◽  
Growth Phase ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Jurkat Cells ◽  
Uv Spectrophotometry ◽  
Bacterial Strains ◽  
Cytotoxic Effects ◽  
E Coli

Abstract Background A general consensus exists that patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) present compositional changes in the gut microbiota (dysbiosis), including an increase in the abundance of Enterobacteriaceae. Thiopurine drugs are commonly used in the maintenance of remission in IBD. In this context, the purpose of the project is to explore the role of candidate bacterial strains in mediating the effects of thiopurines in vitro. Methods Azathioprine (AZA), mercaptopurine (MP) and thioguanine (TG) (400 µM) were incubated in minimal salts medium (M9) in presence or not of E. coli, S. enterica and K. pneumoniae and of their growth phase broths (GPB) for 4 h at 37°C. The viability of NALM6 (B cells) and JURKAT (T cells) exposed to serial dilution of drugs (ranging from 0.2 to 15 μM of AZA, from 0.3 to 20 μM of MP, from 0.08 to 5 μM of TG) previously incubated or not with bacteria and with their GPB was determined by the MTT assay. Absorbance peaks of thiopurines were analysed by UV spectrophotometry. Statistical significance was assessed by two-way ANOVA and Bonferroni’s post-test for MTT tests and by one-way ANOVA for UV spectra. Results In NALM6 cells, the cytotoxic effects of 15 μM of AZA, 2.5 μM of MP and 1.25 μM of TG decreased significantly (p < 0.001) after incubation with K. pneumoniae (respectively 45 ± 2.9%; 34 ± 2.5%% and 21 ± 0.6%) and its GPB (respectively 41 ± 7.7%; 41 ± 5.1% and 27 ± 3.5%) compared with the drugs not previously exposed (respectively 76 ± 2.3%; 69 ± 1.7% and 43 ± 3.8%). In JURKAT cells, the cytotoxic effects of 15 μM of AZA, 2.5 μM of MP and 1.25 μM of TG decreased significantly (p < 0.001) after incubation with K. pneumoniae (respectively 46 ± 2.8%; 38 ± 1.29% and 19 ± 3.3%) and its GPB (respectively 49 ± 9.4%; 38 ± 1.5% and 26 ± 1.5%) in comparison with the drugs not exposed (respectively 75 ± 4.0%; 50 ± 3.5% and 54 ± 4.0%). E. coli and S. enterica did not affect the cytotoxicity of the thiopurines. UV analysis evidenced a reduction of absorbance peaks of AZA (21 ± 0.05%), MP (32 ± 0.015%) and TG (30 ± 0.03%) after incubation with K. pneumoniae but not with its growth phase broth (GPB). Conclusion The activity of thiopurines decreased after incubation with both K. pneumoniae and its GPB. UV analysis suggested that the lower cytotoxicity of thiopurines exposed to the bacterial strain is due to the reduction of the concentration of the drugs exposed to K. pneumoniae. Moreover, the reduction of drug availability after the exposure to GPB could be explained with a possible interaction between thiopurines and capsular polysaccharides released by the bacteria.

In Vitro Modulation of E. coli Community Behavior and Human Innate Immune System by Lantibiotic Nisin

2012 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 171-183 ◽  
Author(s):  
Deovrat N. Begde ◽  
Sunita B. Bundale ◽  
Mashitha V. Pise ◽  
Jaishree A. Rudra ◽  
Nandita A. Nashikkar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Immune System ◽  
Innate Immune System ◽  
Innate Immune ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Community Behavior

scholarly journals Novel approaches for analysing gut microbes and dietary polyphenols: challenges and opportunities

Microbiology ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 156 (11) ◽  
pp. 3224-3231 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. A. Kemperman ◽  
S. Bolca ◽  
L. C. Roger ◽  
E. E. Vaughan
Keyword(s):  
Gut Microbiota ◽  
Health Effects ◽  
Fruit And Vegetables ◽  
Human Gut ◽  
Microbial Composition ◽  
Dietary Polyphenols ◽  
Host Health ◽  
The Impact

Polyphenols, ubiquitously present in the food we consume, may modify the gut microbial composition and/or activity, and moreover, may be converted by the colonic microbiota to bioactive compounds that influence host health. The polyphenol content of fruit and vegetables and derived products is implicated in some of the health benefits bestowed on eating fruit and vegetables. Elucidating the mechanisms behind polyphenol metabolism is an important step in understanding their health effects. Yet, this is no trivial assignment due to the diversity encountered in both polyphenols and the gut microbial composition, which is further confounded by the interactions with the host. Only a limited number of studies have investigated the impact of dietary polyphenols on the complex human gut microbiota and these were mainly focused on single polyphenol molecules and selected bacterial populations. Our knowledge of gut microbial genes and pathways for polyphenol bioconversion and interactions is poor. Application of specific in vitro or in vivo models mimicking the human gut environment is required to analyse these diverse interactions. A particular benefit can now be gained from next-generation analytical tools such as metagenomics and metatranscriptomics allowing a wider, more holistic approach to the analysis of polyphenol metabolism. Understanding the polyphenol–gut microbiota interactions and gut microbial bioconversion capacity will facilitate studies on bioavailability of polyphenols in the host, provide more insight into the health effects of polyphenols and potentially open avenues for modulation of polyphenol bioactivity for host health.

scholarly journals Honeybee microbiome is stabilized in the presence of propolis

2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (5) ◽  
pp. 20200003 ◽  
Author(s):  
Perot Saelao ◽  
Renata S. Borba ◽  
Vincent Ricigliano ◽  
Marla Spivak ◽  
Michael Simone-Finstrom
Keyword(s):  
Community Structure ◽  
Microbial Community ◽  
Gut Microbiota ◽  
Significant Role ◽  
Microbial Community Structure ◽  
Microbial Community Composition ◽  
Taxonomic Diversity ◽  
Honeybee Colony ◽  
Gut Symbionts ◽  
Microbial Symbionts

Honeybees have developed many unique mechanisms to help ensure the proper maintenance of homeostasis within the hive. One method includes the collection of chemically complex plant resins combined with wax to form propolis, which is deposited throughout the hive. Propolis is believed to play a significant role in reducing disease load in the colony due to its antimicrobial and antiseptic properties. However, little is known about how propolis may interact with bee-associated microbial symbionts, and if propolis alters microbial community structure. In this study, we found that propolis appears to maintain a stable microbial community composition and reduce the overall taxonomic diversity of the honeybee microbiome. Several key members of the gut microbiota were significantly altered in the absence of propolis, suggesting that it may play an important role in maintaining favourable abundance and composition of gut symbionts. Overall, these findings suggest that propolis may help to maintain honeybee colony microbial health by limiting changes to the overall microbial community.

scholarly journals Analysis of the intestinal microbiota in COVID-19 patients and its correlation with the inflammatory factor IL-18 and SARS-CoV-2-specific IgA

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wanyin Tao ◽  
Shu Zhu ◽  
Guorong Zhang ◽  
Xiaofang Wang ◽  
Meng Guo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Immune System ◽  
Gastrointestinal Tract ◽  
Gut Microbiota ◽  
Disease Severity ◽  
Specific Cell ◽  
Host Immune System ◽  
Inflammatory Factor ◽  
Cytokine Storm

The current global COVID-19 pandemic is caused by beta coronavirus Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), which already infected over 10 million and caused 500 thousand deaths by June 2020. Overproduction of cytokines triggered by COVID-19 infection, known as "cytokine storm", is a highly risk factor associated with disease severity. However, how COVID-19 infection induce cytokine storm is still largely unknown. Accumulating in vitro and in vivo evidence suggests that gut is also susceptible to COVID19 infection: Human intestinal organoids, an in vitro model which mimic the specific cell type and spatial structure of the intestine, were susceptible to SARS-CoV2 infection; A significant fraction of patients reported gut symptoms; Viral RNA may persist for more than 30 days and infectious virus could be isolated in fecal samples. The gastrointestinal tract is the primary site of interaction between the host immune system with symbiotic and pathogenic microorganisms. The bacteria resident in our gastrointestinal tract, known as gut microbiota, is important to maintain the homeostasis of our immune system. While imbalance of gut microbiota, or dysbiosis, is associated with multiple inflammation diseases5. It's possible that SARS-CoV-2 infection may lead to alternation of gut microbiota thus worsen the host symptom. IL-18 is a proinflammatory cytokine produced multiple enteric cells, including intestinal epithelial cells (IECs), immune cells as well as enteric nervous system, and was shown to increase in the serum of COVID-19 patients. Immunoglobin A (IgA) is mainly produced in the mucosal surfaces, in humans 40-60mg kg-1 day-1 than all other immunoglobulin isotypes combined, and at least 80% of all plasma cells are located in the intestinal lamina propria. Recent study showed that SARS-CoV-2 specific IgA in the serum is positively correlate with the disease severity in COVID-19 patients11. Here we investigated the alterations of microbiota in COVID-19 patients, and its correlation with inflammatory factor IL-18 and SARS-CoV2 specific IgA.

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