Influence of the Intestinal Microbiota on Colonization Resistance to Salmonella and the Shedding Pattern of Naturally Exposed Pigs

ABSTRACT Salmonella colonization and infection in production animals such as pigs are a cause for concern from a public health perspective. Variations in susceptibility to natural infection may be influenced by the intestinal microbiota. Using 16S rRNA compositional sequencing, we characterized the fecal microbiome of 15 weaned pigs naturally infected with Salmonella at 18, 33, and 45 days postweaning. Dissimilarities in microbiota composition were analyzed in relation to Salmonella infection status (infected, not infected), serological status, and shedding pattern (nonshedders, single-point shedders, intermittent-persistent shedders). Global microbiota composition was associated with the infection outcome based on serological analysis. Greater richness within the microbiota postweaning was linked to pigs being seronegative at the end of the study at 11 weeks of age. Members of the Clostridia, such as Blautia, Roseburia, and Anaerovibrio, were more abundant and part of the core microbiome in nonshedder pigs. Cellulolytic microbiota (Ruminococcus and Prevotella) were also more abundant in noninfected pigs during the weaning and growing stages. Microbial profiling also revealed that infected pigs had a higher abundance of Lactobacillus and Oscillospira, the latter also being part of the core microbiome of intermittent-persistent shedders. These findings suggest that a lack of microbiome maturation and greater proportions of microorganisms associated with suckling increase susceptibility to infection. In addition, the persistence of Salmonella shedding may be associated with an enrichment of pathobionts such as Anaerobiospirillum. Overall, these results suggest that there may be merit in manipulating certain taxa within the porcine intestinal microbial community to increase disease resistance against Salmonella in pigs. IMPORTANCE Salmonella is a global threat for public health, and pork is one of the main sources of human salmonellosis. However, the complex epidemiology of the infection limits current control strategies aimed at reducing the prevalence of this infection in pigs. The present study analyzes for the first time the impact of the gut microbiota in Salmonella infection in pigs and its shedding pattern in naturally infected growing pigs. Microbiome (16S rRNA amplicon) analysis reveals that maturation of the gut microbiome could be a key consideration with respect to limiting the infection and shedding of Salmonella in pigs. Indeed, seronegative animals had higher richness of the gut microbiota early after weaning, and uninfected pigs had higher abundance of strict anaerobes from the class Clostridia, results which demonstrate that a fast transition from the suckling microbiota to a postweaning microbiota could be crucial with respect to protecting the animals.

Download Full-text

Gut microbiota composition and arterial stiffness measured by pulse wave velocity: case–control study protocol (MIVAS study)

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2020-038933 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (2) ◽

pp. e038933

Author(s):

Rita Salvado ◽

Sandra Santos-Minguez ◽

Cristina Agudo-Conde ◽

Cristina Lugones-Sanchez ◽

Angela Cabo-Laso ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Arterial Stiffness ◽

Gut Microbiota ◽

Pulse Wave Velocity ◽

Wave Velocity ◽

Intestinal Microbiota ◽

Pulse Wave ◽

Case Control Study ◽

Case Control ◽

Microbiota Composition ◽

Control Study

IntroductionIntestinal microbiota is arising as a new element in the physiopathology of cardiovascular diseases. A healthy microbiota includes a balanced representation of bacteria with health promotion functions (symbiotes). The aim of this study is to analyse the relationship between intestinal microbiota composition and arterial stiffness.Methods and analysisAn observational case—control study will be developed. Cases will be defined by the presence of at least one of the following: carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cf-PWV), Cardio-Ankle Vascular Index (CAVI), brachial ankle pulse wave velocity (ba or ba-PWV) above the 90th percentile, for age and sex, of the reference population. Controls will be selected from the same population as cases. The study will be developed in Primary Healthcare Centres. We will select 500 subjects (250 cases and 250 controls), between 45 and 74 years of age. Cases will be selected from a database that combines data from EVA study (Spain) and Guimarães/Vizela study (Portugal). Measurements: cf-PWV will be measured using the SphygmoCor system, CAVI, ba-PWV and Ankle-Brachial Index will be determined using VaSera device. Gut microbiome composition in faecal samples will be determined by 16S ribosomal RNA sequencing. Lifestyle will be assessed by food frequency questionnaire, adherence to the Mediterranean diet and IPAQ (International Physical Activity Questionnaire). Body composition will be evaluated by bioimpedance.Ethics and disseminationThe study has been approved by ‘Committee of ethics of research with medicines of the health area of Salamanca’ on 14 December 2018 (cod. 2018-11-136) and the ’Ethics committee for health of Guimaraes’ (Portugal) on 15 October 2019 (ref: 67/2019). All study participants will sign an informed consent form agreeing to participate in the study, in compliance with the Declaration of Helsinki and the WHO standards for observational studies. The results of this study will allow a better description of gut microbiota in patients with arterial stiffness.Trial registration detailsClinicalTrials.gov, identifier NCT03900338

Download Full-text

Antibiotics at birth and later antibiotic courses: effects on gut microbiota

Pediatric Research ◽

10.1038/s41390-021-01494-7 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Sofia Ainonen ◽

Mysore V Tejesvi ◽

Md. Rayhan Mahmud ◽

Niko Paalanne ◽

Tytti Pokka ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gut Microbiota ◽

Control Group ◽

List Type ◽

Antibiotic Exposure ◽

Microbiota Composition ◽

Long Term Effects ◽

The Impact ◽

Antibiotic Courses ◽

Gut Microbiota Composition

Abstract Background Intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis (IAP) is widely used, but the evidence of the long-term effects on the gut microbiota and subsequent health of children is limited. Here, we compared the impacts of perinatal antibiotic exposure and later courses of antibiotic courses on gut microbiota. Methods This was a prospective, controlled cohort study among 100 vaginally delivered infants with different perinatal antibiotic exposures: control (27), IAP (27), postnatal antibiotics (24), and IAP and postnatal antibiotics (22). At 1 year of age, we performed next-generation sequencing of the bacterial 16S ribosomal RNA gene of fecal samples. Results Exposure to the perinatal antibiotics had a clear impact on the gut microbiota. The abundance of the Bacteroidetes phylum was significantly higher in the control group, whereas the relative abundance of Escherichia coli was significantly lower in the control group. The impact of the perinatal antibiotics on the gut microbiota composition was greater than exposure to later courses of antibiotics (28% of participants). Conclusions Perinatal antibiotic exposure had a marked impact on the gut microbiota at the age of 1 year. The timing of the antibiotic exposure appears to be the critical factor for the changes observed in the gut microbiota. Impact Infants are commonly exposed to IAP and postnatal antibiotics, and later to courses of antibiotics during the first year of life. Perinatal antibiotics have been associated with an altered gut microbiota during the first months of life, whereas the evidence regarding the long-term impact is more limited. Perinatal antibiotic exposure had a marked impact on the infant’s gut microbiota at 1 year of age. Impact of the perinatal antibiotics on the gut microbiota composition was greater than that of the later courses of antibiotics at the age of 1 year.

Download Full-text

Particle Radiation Side-Effects: Intestinal Microbiota Composition Shapes Interferon-γ-Induced Osteo-Immunogenicity

Radiation Research ◽

10.1667/rade-21-00068.1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Irene Maier ◽

Paul M Ruegger ◽

Julia Deutschmann ◽

Thomas H. Helbich ◽

Peter Pietschmann ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Bone Marrow ◽

Small Intestine ◽

Side Effects ◽

Gut Microbiota ◽

Intestinal Microbiota ◽

Interferon Γ ◽

Microbiota Composition ◽

Particle Radiation ◽

Bacterial Indicator ◽

Radiation Induced

Microbiota can both negatively and positively impact radiation-induced bone loss. Our prior research showed that compared to mice with conventional gut microbiota (CM), mice with restricted gut microbiota (RM) reduced inflammatory tumor necrosis factor (TNF) in bone marrow, interleukin (IL)-17 in blood, and chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 20 (CCL20) in bone marrow under anti-IL-17 treatment. We showed that Muribaculum intestinale was more abundant in intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) from the small intestine of female RM mice and positively associated with augmented skeletal bone structure. Female C57BL/6J pun RM mice, which were injected with anti-IL-17 antibody one day before exposure to 1.5 Gy 28Si ions of 850 MeV/u, showed high trabecular numbers in tibiae at 6 weeks postirradiation. Irradiated CM mice were investigated for lower interferon-γ and IL-17 levels in the small intestine than RM mice. IL-17 blockage resulted in bacterial indicator phylotypes being different between both microbiota groups before and after irradiation. Analysis of the fecal bacteria were performed in relation to bone quality and body weight, showing reduced tibia cortical thickness in irradiated CM mice (–15%) vs. irradiated RM mice (–9.2%). Correlation analyses identified relationships among trabecular bone parameters (TRI-BV/TV, Tb.N, Tb.Th, Tb.Sp) and Bacteroides massiliensis, Muribaculum sp. and Prevotella denticola. Turicibacter sp. was found directly correlated with trabecular separation in anti-IL-17 treated mice, whereas an unidentified Bacteroidetes correlated with trabecular thickness in anti-IL-17 neutralized and radiation-exposed mice. We demonstrated radiation-induced osteolytic damage to correlate with bacterial indicator phylotypes of the intestinal microbiota composition, and these relationships were determined from the previously discovered dose-dependent particle radiation effects on cell proliferation in bone tissue. New translational approaches were designed to investigate dynamic changes of gut microbiota in correlation with conditions of treatment and disease as well as mechanisms of systemic side-effects in radiotherapy.

Download Full-text

Effects of Rich in Β-Glucans Edible Mushrooms on Aging Gut Microbiota Characteristics: An In Vitro Study

Molecules ◽

10.3390/molecules25122806 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 25 (12) ◽

pp. 2806 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Evdokia K. Mitsou ◽

Georgia Saxami ◽

Emmanuela Stamoulou ◽

Evangelia Kerezoudi ◽

Eirini Terzi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gut Microbiota ◽

Wheat Straw ◽

In Vitro Study ◽

Short Chain Fatty Acids ◽

Edible Mushrooms ◽

Elderly Subjects ◽

Microbiota Composition ◽

The Impact ◽

Gut Microbiota Composition

Alterations of gut microbiota are evident during the aging process. Prebiotics may restore the gut microbial balance, with β-glucans emerging as prebiotic candidates. This study aimed to investigate the impact of edible mushrooms rich in β-glucans on the gut microbiota composition and metabolites by using in vitro static batch culture fermentations and fecal inocula from elderly donors (n = 8). Pleurotus ostreatus, P. eryngii, Hericium erinaceus and Cyclocybe cylindracea mushrooms derived from various substrates were examined. Gut microbiota composition (quantitative PCR (qPCR)) and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs; gas chromatography (GC)) were determined during the 24-h fermentation. P. eryngii induced a strong lactogenic effect, while P. ostreatus and C. cylindracea induced a significant bifidogenic effect (p for all <0.05). Furthermore, P. eryngii produced on wheat straw and the prebiotic inulin had comparable Prebiotic Indexes, while P. eryngii produced on wheat straw/grape marc significantly increased the levels of tested butyrate producers. P. ostreatus, P. eryngii and C. cylindracea had similar trends in SCFA profile; H. erinaceus mushrooms were more diverse, especially in the production of propionate, butyrate and branched SCFAs. In conclusion, mushrooms rich in β-glucans may exert beneficial in vitro effects in gut microbiota and/or SCFAs production in elderly subjects.

Download Full-text

Considerations for the design and conduct of human gut microbiota intervention studies relating to foods

European Journal of Nutrition ◽

10.1007/s00394-020-02232-1 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 59 (8) ◽

pp. 3347-3368

Author(s):

J. R. Swann ◽

M. Rajilic-Stojanovic ◽

A. Salonen ◽

O. Sakwinska ◽

C. Gill ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gut Microbiota ◽

Intestinal Microbiota ◽

Intervention Studies ◽

Health Claims ◽

Host Responses ◽

Human Gut ◽

Eligibility Criteria ◽

Functional Changes ◽

Human Gut Microbiota ◽

The Impact

AbstractWith the growing appreciation for the influence of the intestinal microbiota on human health, there is increasing motivation to design and refine interventions to promote favorable shifts in the microbiota and their interactions with the host. Technological advances have improved our understanding and ability to measure this indigenous population and the impact of such interventions. However, the rapid growth and evolution of the field, as well as the diversity of methods used, parameters measured and populations studied, make it difficult to interpret the significance of the findings and translate their outcomes to the wider population. This can prevent comparisons across studies and hinder the drawing of appropriate conclusions. This review outlines considerations to facilitate the design, implementation and interpretation of human gut microbiota intervention studies relating to foods based upon our current understanding of the intestinal microbiota, its functionality and interactions with the human host. This includes parameters associated with study design, eligibility criteria, statistical considerations, characterization of products and the measurement of compliance. Methodologies and markers to assess compositional and functional changes in the microbiota, following interventions are discussed in addition to approaches to assess changes in microbiota–host interactions and host responses. Last, EU legislative aspects in relation to foods and health claims are presented. While it is appreciated that the field of gastrointestinal microbiology is rapidly evolving, such guidance will assist in the design and interpretation of human gut microbiota interventional studies relating to foods.

Download Full-text

Impact of a Model Used to Simulate Chronic Socio-Environmental Stressors Encountered during Spaceflight on Murine Intestinal Microbiota

International Journal of Molecular Sciences ◽

10.3390/ijms21217863 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 21 (21) ◽

pp. 7863

Author(s):

Corentine Alauzet ◽

Lisiane Cunat ◽

Maxime Wack ◽

Laurence Lanfumey ◽

Christine Legrand-Frossi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gut Microbiota ◽

Intestinal Microbiota ◽

Space Mission ◽

Psychosocial Stressors ◽

Mild Stress ◽

Protective Properties ◽

Β Diversity ◽

Intestinal Dysbiosis ◽

The Impact

During deep-space travels, crewmembers face various physical and psychosocial stressors that could alter gut microbiota composition. Since it is well known that intestinal dysbiosis is involved in the onset or exacerbation of several disorders, the aim of this study was to evaluate changes in intestinal microbiota in a murine model used to mimic chronic psychosocial stressors encountered during a long-term space mission. We demonstrate that 3 weeks of exposure to this model (called CUMS for Chronic Unpredictable Mild Stress) induce significant change in intracaecal β-diversity characterized by an important increase of the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio. These alterations are associated with a decrease of Porphyromonadaceae, particularly of the genus Barnesiella, a major member of gut microbiota in mice and humans where it is described as having protective properties. These results raise the question of the impact of stress-induced decrease of beneficial taxa, support recent data deduced from in-flight experimentations and other ground-based models, and emphasize the critical need for further studies exploring the impact of spaceflight on intestinal microbiota in order to propose strategies to countermeasure spaceflight-associated dysbiosis and its consequences on health.

Download Full-text

PSI-10 Establishing a foundation to harvest the potential of the microbiome in poultry production

Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.1093/jas/skz258.594 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 97 (Supplement_3) ◽

pp. 293-294

Author(s):

Camila S Marcolla ◽

Benjamin Willing

Keyword(s):

Microbial Community ◽

Gut Microbiota ◽

Community Composition ◽

Relative Abundance ◽

Microbial Community Composition ◽

Alpha Diversity ◽

Poultry Production ◽

Microbiota Composition ◽

Microbial Composition ◽

The Impact

Abstract This study aimed to characterize poultry microbiota composition in commercial farms using 16S rRNA sequencing. Animals raised in sanitized environments have lower survival rates when facing pathogenic challenges compared to animals naturally exposed to commensal organisms. We hypothesized that intensive rearing practices inadvertently impair chicken exposure to microbes and the establishment of a balanced gut microbiota. We compared gut microbiota composition of broilers (n = 78) and layers (n = 20) from different systems, including commercial intensive farms with and without in-feed antibiotics, organic free-range farms, backyard-raised chickens and chickens in an experimental farm. Microbial community composition of conventionally raised broilers was significantly different from antibiotic-free broilers (P = 0.012), from broilers raised outdoors (P = 0.048) and in an experimental farm (P = 0.006) (Fig1). Significant community composition differences were observed between antibiotic-fed and antibiotic-free chickens (Fig2). Antibiotic-free chickens presented higher alpha-diversity, higher relative abundance of Deferribacteres, Fusobacteria, Bacteroidetes and Actinobacteria, and lower relative abundance of Firmicutes, Clostridiales and Enterobacteriales than antibiotic-fed chickens (P < 0.001) (Fig3). Microbial community composition significantly changed as birds aged. In experimental farm, microbial community composition was significant different for 7, 21 and 35 day old broilers (P < 0.001), and alpha diversity increased from 7 to 21d (P < 0.024), but not from 21 to 35d; whereas, in organic systems, increases in alpha-diversity were observed from 7d to 21d, and from 21d to 35d (P < 0.05). Broilers and layers raised together showed no differences in microbiota composition and alpha diversity (P > 0.8). It is concluded that production practices consistently impact microbial composition, and that antibiotics significantly reduces microbial diversity. We are now exploring the impact of differential colonization in a controlled setting, to determine the impact of the microbes associated with extensively raised chickens. This study will support future research and the development of methods to isolate and introduce beneficial microbes to commercial systems.

Download Full-text

Four-Week Fermented Dairy Beverage Consumption Impacts Gut Microbiota and Improves Relational Memory

Current Developments in Nutrition ◽

10.1093/cdn/nzaa057_010 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (Supplement_2) ◽

pp. 1194-1194

Author(s):

Corinne Cannavale ◽

Annemarie Krug ◽

Hannah Holscher ◽

Naiman Khan

Keyword(s):

Gut Microbiota ◽

Healthy Adults ◽

Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽

Relational Memory ◽

Microbiota Composition ◽

Depression And Anxiety ◽

Symptoms Of Depression ◽

Fermented Dairy ◽

The Impact ◽

Lactobacillus Spp

Abstract Objectives Converging evidence suggests probiotic supplementation can reduce cognitive and metabolic concerns for persons with gastrointestinal disorders. However, in healthy populations the impact of probiotics on these outcomes is lacking. Thus, we aimed to determine whether symptoms of depression and anxiety, memory function, cortisol concentrations, and gut microbiota composition are altered by consumption of a fermented dairy beverage containing probiotic microorganisms in healthy adults. Methods Adults (25–45 yrs, N = 26) free of physician diagnosed gastrointestinal and mental illness were enrolled in a single-blind, randomized crossover trial. Participants completed testing prior to and after 4-week consumption, with a 2–4 week washout between treatments of kefir, a dairy-based fermented beverage containing 25–30 billion colony forming units of live and active kefir cultures (including 3 Bifidobacterium spp., 6 Lactobacillus spp., Streptococcus Diacetylacti., Luconostoc Cremoris, and Staccharomyces Florentinus) or isocaloric, non-fermented dairy-based control beverage. Hippocampal-dependent relational memory was assessed using a spatial reconstruction task. Symptoms of depression and anxiety were assessed using the depression anxiety and stress subscale (DASS). Pooled 24-hour urine samples were analyzed using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to determine urinary-free cortisol (UFC) concentrations. Fecal microbiota composition was assessed using 16 s rDNA sequencing. Results Post-test logistic regression analysis revealed an increase in the number of participants with Lactobacillus spp. present (b = 3.00, P < 0.01) after consumption of kefir. Two-by-two repeated measure ANOVA displayed that the treatment improved performance on two metrics of relational memory (F[1, 25] = 4.54, P = 0.043, F[1, 25] = 5.50, P = 0.027). UFC and DASS scores were not significantly changed by either arm of the intervention. Conclusions These results reveal that kefir consumption increases the presence of probiotic microorganisms in the gut and improves relational memory in healthy adults. The impact of fermented dairy beverages containing probiotic microorganisms in healthy populations should be studied at a larger scale to better elucidate these outcomes. Funding Sources USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture.

Download Full-text