Maternal supplementation with phytogenic additives influenced the faecal microbiota and reproductive potential in sows

AbstractSows undergo physiological stress during gestation and lactation, potentially leading to enteric dysbiosis and reduced reproductive potential. Phytogenic additives (PFs) may improve performance via their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. This study determined whether the provision of a gestation/lactation diet containing PAs would alter the gastrointestinal microbiota of sows and their piglets, and improve performance. Sows received a commercial diet throughout gestation and lactation (CTR; n = 64), a commercial diet throughout gestation and a diet containing PAs in lactation (CTR-PA; n = 63) or a commercial diet containing PAs in gestation and lactation (PA; n = 90). Sows were weighed and backfat recorded after mating and at entry and exit from the farrowing house and piglets were weighed on days 1 and 21 of life. Faecal samples collected from sows at farrowing house entry and piglets at 21 and 35 d were subjected to 16 S rRNA gene amplicon analysis. The addition of PAs to sow diets resulted in more piglets born (P = 0.03), however, it did not improve the number of liveborn piglets (P = 0.14). There were no differences in sow weight, P2 backfat depth or lactation feed intake observed. PAs had no effect on piglet weight or survival to weaning but did alter the faecal microbiota of sows, and this change was observed in piglets at 21 and 35 d. PA supplementation to sows has the potential to increase litter size, while also potentially influencing gastrointestinal tract health of the sow and piglets reared.

Download Full-text

The Equine Faecal Microbiota Undergoes Step-wise Compositional Changes in Accordance With Increasing Levels of Domestication

10.21203/rs.3.rs-164863/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Katie Bull ◽

Gareth Davies ◽

Timothy Patrick Jenkins ◽

Laura Elizabeth Peachey

Keyword(s):

Adult Female ◽

High Throughput Sequencing ◽

Rrna Gene ◽

Faecal Microbiota ◽

Microbial Composition ◽

Faecal Samples ◽

High Incidence ◽

Life Threatening ◽

Group Variation ◽

The Uk

Abstract BackgroundChanges to the gut microbiota are associated with an increased incidence of disease in many species. This is particularly important during the process of domestication, where captive animals commonly suffer from gastrointestinal (GI) pathology. Horses are a prime example of a species which suffers from a high incidence of (often life-threatening) GI diseases in domesticated environments. We aimed to indentify the gut microbial changes which occur due to domestication in horses by profiling the faecal microbiota of adult female Exmoor ponies under three management conditions, representing increasing levels of domestication.MethodsFaecal samples were collected from 29 adult female Exmoor ponies in the South West of the UK; ponies were categorised as Feral (n=10), Semi-Feral (n=10) and Domesticated (n=9), based on their management conditions; thus controlling for age, gender and random effects between groups. Diet and medication were recorded and faecal samples taken to assess parasite infection. Faecal microbial composition was profiled via high-throughput sequencing of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene.ResultsDownstream biostatistical analysis indicated profound step-wise changes in global microbial community structure in the transition from Feral to Semi-Feral to Domesticated groups. A relatively high abundance of members of the phylum Proteobacteria and Tenericutes were associated with the Domesticated group; and higher levels of Methanobacteria were seen in the Feral group. The Semi-Feral group frequently had intermediate levels of these taxa; however, they also exhibited the greatest ‘within group’ variation in bacterial diversity and parasites burdens. Functional predictions revealed increased amino acid and lipid metabolism in the Domesticated group and increased energy metabolism in the Feral group; supporting a hypothesis that differences in diet was the key driver of gut microbial composition. ConclusionsIf assumed the Feral population has a more natural gut microbial phenotype, akin to that with which horses have evolved, these data can potentially be used to provide microbial signitures of balanced gut homeostasis in horses; which, in turn, will aid prevention of GI disease in domesticated horses.

Download Full-text

Dietary resistant and butyrylated starches have different effects on the faecal bacterial flora of azoxymethane-treated rats

British Journal Of Nutrition ◽

10.1017/s0007114510005349 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 105 (10) ◽

pp. 1480-1485 ◽

Cited By ~ 21

Author(s):

Guy C. J. Abell ◽

Claus T. Christophersen ◽

Alexandra L. McOrist ◽

Julie M. Clarke

Keyword(s):

Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis ◽

Bacterial Flora ◽

Epidemiological Studies ◽

Rrna Gene ◽

Maize Starch ◽

Faecal Microbiota ◽

Faecal Samples ◽

Gradient Gel Electrophoresis ◽

High Amylose ◽

Bowel Health

Epidemiological studies have suggested that dietary fibre lowers the risk of colorectal cancer, which may be due to increased butyrate production from colonic fermentation of a type of fibre, resistant starch (RS). The present study investigated the effects of dietary RS and butyrylated RS on the faecal microbiota of rats treated with azoxymethane. A total of four groups of nine rats were fed diets containing either standard maize starch (low-amylose maize starch (LAMS), low RS), LAMS with 3 % tributyrin (LAMST), cooked 10 % high-amylose maize starch (HAMS, high RS) or cooked 10 % butyrylated HAMS (HAMSB). Faecal samples were examined by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) of PCR-amplified 16S rRNA gene fragments. Multivariate analysis demonstrated no differences between faecal microbiota before treatment but revealed differences in DGGE patterns between diet groups, with the exception of the two low-RS groups (LAMS and LAMST). Subsequent analysis identified eleven DGGE bands contributing significantly to the differentiation between diets. These phylotypes belonged to Clostridiales (five),Lactobacillus(one) and Bacteroidetes (five) lineages. Rats fed HAMS had increased concentration of propionate in their distal colonic digesta and developed faecal populations containingRuminococcus bromii-like bacteria. HAMSB increased propionate and butyrate concentrations in distal colonic digesta and was associated with the appearance of two non-butyrate-producing bacteria,Lactobacillus gasseriandParabacteroides distasonis.In conclusion, supplementation with specific dietary RS leads to changes in faecal microbiota profiles that may be associated with improved bowel health.

Download Full-text

Maternal influences on oral and faecal microbiota maturation in neonatal calves in beef and dairy production systems

10.21203/rs.3.rs-23697/v2 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Matthew Barden ◽

Peter Richards-Rios ◽

Erika Ganda ◽

Luca Lenzi ◽

Richard Eccles ◽

...

Keyword(s):

High Throughput Sequencing ◽

Production Systems ◽

Farming System ◽

Dairy Calves ◽

Rrna Gene ◽

Oral Microbiota ◽

Faecal Microbiota ◽

Gastrointestinal Microbiota ◽

Dairy Animals ◽

Neonatal Calves

Abstract Background: The dam is considered an important source of microbes for the calf; consequently, the development of calf microbiota may vary with farming system due to differences between the contact the calf has with the dam. The objective of this study was to characterise the early changes in the composition of oral and faecal microbiota in beef and dairy calves (N = 10) using high-throughput sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene. The microbiota of calves was compared to selected anatomical niches on their dams which were likely to contribute to the vertical transfer of microbes. Results: A total of 14,125 amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) were identified and taxonomically assigned. The oral microbiota of calves and their dams were composed of more similar microbes after the first four weeks of life than immediately after calving. The faecal microbiota of four-week old calves was composed of microbes which were more similar to those found in the oral microbiota of calves and adult cows than the faecal microbiota of adult cows. Specific ASVs were identified in the oral microbiota of four-week old calves that were also present in cow niches at calving, whereas very few ASVs were present in the calf faecal microbiota at four-weeks of age were present in any adult cow niche at calving. These results were observed in both beef and dairy calves. Conclusions: We did not observe any marked differences in the maturation of the oral and faecal microbiota between beef or dairy calves, despite dairy calves having very limited contact with their dam. This suggests the development of gastrointestinal microbiota in calves may not be affected by continued vertical transmission of microbes from the dam. Although the calf faecal microbiota changed over the first four-weeks of life, it was composed of microbes which were phylogenetically closer to those in the oral microbiota of calves and adult cows than the faeces of adult cows. There was little evidence of persistent microbial seeding of the calf faeces from anatomical niches on the cow at calving in either beef or dairy animals.

Download Full-text

Lactulose drives a reversible reduction and qualitative modulation of the faecal microbiota diversity in healthy dogs

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-019-50090-7 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Marisa da Fonseca Ferreira ◽

Silke Salavati Schmitz ◽

Jeffrey Joseph Schoenebeck ◽

Dylan Neil Clements ◽

Susan Mary Campbell ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Hepatic Encephalopathy ◽

16S Rrna Gene Sequencing ◽

Large Animal Model ◽

Rrna Gene ◽

Large Animal ◽

Faecal Microbiota ◽

Operational Taxonomic Units ◽

Faecal Samples ◽

Rrna Gene Sequencing ◽

Privately Owned

Abstract Hepatic encephalopathy is a frequent and debilitating complication of liver disorders. Lactulose is an established and reasonably effective treatment, yet with incompletely understood mechanisms of action. The aims of this study were to examine how the faecal microbiota composition changed before, during and after lactulose treatment in a large animal model. Healthy, privately owned dogs (n = 18) completed a prospective cohort study. Faecal samples were collected weekly, while the subjects were either on their usual diet (week 1), or a standardised diet (weeks 2–9), with added oral lactulose in weeks 6–7. DNA extraction and 16S rRNA gene sequencing were undertaken. Faecal samples from week 7 had a significantly lower microbiota richness/diversity, based on observed operational taxonomic units, Shannon/Chao1 indexes and Pielou’s Evenness. Beta diversity based on UniFrac distances was significantly different in week 7 compared to weeks 1, 5 and 9. At the phylum level, week 7 was associated with a significant increase of Firmicutes and Actinobacteria, and a decrease of Bacteroidetes and Fusobacteria, when compared to weeks 5 and 9. In summary, we have shown that lactulose induces a reversible qualitative and quantitative change of the faecal microbiota, which may explain its clinical efficacy in the management of hepatic encephalopathy.

Download Full-text

Maternal influences on oral and faecal microbiota maturation in neonatal calves in beef and dairy production systems

10.21203/rs.3.rs-23697/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Matthew Barden ◽

Peter Richards-Rios ◽

Erika Ganda ◽

Luca Lenzi ◽

Richard Eccles ◽

...

Keyword(s):

High Throughput Sequencing ◽

Post Partum ◽

Farming System ◽

Dairy Calves ◽

Rrna Gene ◽

Oral Microbiota ◽

Faecal Microbiota ◽

Gastrointestinal Microbiota ◽

Early Maturation ◽

Neonatal Calves

Abstract Background: The gastrointestinal microbiota of neonatal calves changes rapidly during the first weeks of life. The dam is considered an important source of microbes for the calf; consequently, the development of calf microbiota may vary with farming system due to differences between the contact the calf has with the dam. The objective of this study was to characterise the early maturation of oral and faecal microbiota in beef and dairy calves using high-throughput sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene. The microbiota of calves was compared to selected anatomical niches on their dams which were likely to contribute to the vertical transfer of microbes. Results: A total of 14,125 amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) were identified and taxonomically assigned. The oral microbiota of calves and their dams became more similar over the first four weeks of life. The faecal microbiota of four-week old calves was most similar to the oral microbiota of calves and adult cows but there was little similarity between the faecal microbiota of calves and cows. ASVs were identified in the oral microbiota of four-week old calves that were also at present cow niches at calving. Very few ASVs were present in the calf faecal microbiota at four-weeks of age that were present in any adult cow niche at calving. These results were observed in both beef and dairy calves. Conclusions: We did not observe any marked differences in the maturation of the oral and faecal microbiota between beef or dairy calves, despite dairy calves having very limited contact with their dam. This suggests the development of gastrointestinal microbiota in calves is not affected by continued vertical transmission of microbes from the dam. The oral microbiota of calves matured more quickly than the faecal microbiota and by four-weeks of age it was similar to the oral microbiota of adult cows. Although the calf faecal microbiota changed over the first four-weeks of life, it bore little resemblance to the faeces of adult cows. Any maternal influence on these changes presumably occurred immediately post-partum as there were few differences between the trends observed in beef and dairy calves.

Download Full-text

Maternal influences on oral and faecal microbiota maturation in neonatal calves in beef and dairy production systems

Animal Microbiome ◽

10.1186/s42523-020-00049-1 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 2 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Matthew Barden ◽

Peter Richards-Rios ◽

Erika Ganda ◽

Luca Lenzi ◽

Richard Eccles ◽

...

Keyword(s):

High Throughput Sequencing ◽

Production Systems ◽

Farming System ◽

Dairy Calves ◽

Rrna Gene ◽

Oral Microbiota ◽

Faecal Microbiota ◽

Gastrointestinal Microbiota ◽

Dairy Animals ◽

Neonatal Calves

Abstract Background The dam is considered an important source of microbes for the calf; consequently, the development of calf microbiota may vary with farming system due to differences between the contact the calf has with the dam. The objective of this study was to characterise the early changes in the composition of oral and faecal microbiota in beef and dairy calves (N = 10) using high-throughput sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene. The microbiota of calves was compared to selected anatomical niches on their dams which were likely to contribute to the vertical transfer of microbes. Results A total of 14,125 amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) were identified and taxonomically assigned. The oral microbiota of calves and their dams were composed of more similar microbes after the first 4 weeks of life than immediately after calving. The faecal microbiota of four-week old calves was composed of microbes which were more similar to those found in the oral microbiota of calves and adult cows than the faecal microbiota of adult cows. Specific ASVs were identified in the oral microbiota of four-week old calves that were also present in cow niches at calving, whereas very few ASVs were present in the calf faecal microbiota at four-weeks of age were present in any adult cow niche at calving. These results were observed in both beef and dairy calves. Conclusions We did not observe any marked differences in the maturation of the oral and faecal microbiota between beef or dairy calves, despite dairy calves having very limited contact with their dam. This suggests the development of gastrointestinal microbiota in calves may not be affected by continued vertical transmission of microbes from the dam. Although the calf faecal microbiota changed over the first four-weeks of life, it was composed of microbes which were phylogenetically closer to those in the oral microbiota of calves and adult cows than the faeces of adult cows. There was little evidence of persistent microbial seeding of the calf faeces from anatomical niches on the cow at calving in either beef or dairy animals.

Download Full-text

Effects of steam-flaked grains on foals’ growth and faecal microbiota

BMC Veterinary Research ◽

10.1186/s12917-021-02994-8 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 17 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Xiao Bin Li ◽

Xin Xin Huang ◽

Chang Jiang Zang ◽

Chen Ma ◽

Kai Xu Chen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Body Weight ◽

Growth Performance ◽

Relative Abundance ◽

Alpha Diversity ◽

The Body ◽

Rrna Gene ◽

Faecal Microbiota ◽

Microbial Composition ◽

Faecal Samples ◽

Health And Development

Abstract Background There is little objective information concerning the effect of steam-flaked grains on foal’s growth performance and faecal microbiota. To determine the effects of steam-flaked grains on foal’s growth performance and faecal microbiota, faecal samples were collection from 18 foals which had been fed either corn, oat or barley diets over the 60 days of the experiment. Body weight and conformation measurements were collected. Next-generation sequencing of the V3 + V4 region of the 16 S rRNA gene was used to assess the microbial composition of faeces. Alpha diversity, Venn graph, Relative abundance and beta diversity are presented. Results There was a significantly higher larger increase in the body weight of those foals fed barley compared to either corn or oats. There were also significant changes in the Alpha diversity of the gut microbiota. The Shannon and Simpson indices were significantly higher in the barley fed group than those fed corn or oats. The Chao1 index was significantly higher in the oat fed group than the corn or barley fed groups. There were significant changes in the relative abundance of bacteria in the microbiota in terms of phylum, family and genus. The histogram of LDA value distribution showed that the 12 statistically different biomarkers of the bacteria were present. Tax4Fun function annotation clustering heat map showed that functional information was detected from 26 species of bacteria in faecal samples from the foals. Conclusions Differences by starch sources were found in overall growth of the foals and in the faecal microbiota if either supplementary corn, oat or barley was fed. Further studies are required to determine the potential impact of the changes in the microbiota on the health and development of foals fed cereal starch of different sources.

Download Full-text

Novel Streptomyces sp. reported in 2018: A meta-analysis

Anti-Infective Agents ◽

10.2174/2211352518666200423083354 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 18 ◽

Author(s):

Sagar Aryal ◽

Laxmi Neupane ◽

Rameshwar Adhikari ◽

Balmukunda Regmi ◽

Niranjan Koirala ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Sequence Similarity ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Antimicrobial Properties ◽

Data Entry ◽

Flow Diagram ◽

Rrna Gene ◽

Research Papers ◽

Biosynthesis Gene Cluster ◽

Streptomyces Species ◽

Sugar Fermentation

: Streptomyces species are very well known for the production of antimicrobials and enzymes. The objective of this review is to search for the novel Streptomyces isolated in 2018 along with their characteristics and possible antimicrobial properties. The literature search was done according to the PRISMA flow diagram where 28 research papers were eligible for the review. Data entry and analyses were performed using IBM SPSS Statistics version 25 while phylogenetic tree was constructed using Geneious Prime Software. The data on general characteristics, biochemical as well as sugar fermentation tests, 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity and DNA-DNA hybridization relatedness were extracted from the research papers and summarized in tables and figures. The biosynthesis gene cluster (BGC) was identified using ‘antibiotics and secondary metabolite analysis shell-antiSMASH’ which showed the possibility of production of new antibiotics, antifungal and antitumor substances from the 28 novel Streptomyces isolated in 2018 which would contribute to the global effort to fight against growing multidrug-resistance.

Download Full-text

Conventional myelosuppressive chemotherapy for non-haematological malignancy disrupts the intestinal microbiome

BMC Cancer ◽

10.1186/s12885-021-08296-4 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Lito E. Papanicolas ◽

Sarah K. Sims ◽

Steven L. Taylor ◽

Sophie J. Miller ◽

Christos S. Karapetis ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gut Microbiota ◽

Relative Abundance ◽

Haematological Malignancy ◽

Amplicon Sequencing ◽

Intestinal Microbiome ◽

Rrna Gene ◽

Conventional Chemotherapy ◽

Myelosuppressive Chemotherapy ◽

Gram Positive Bacteria ◽

Faecal Samples

Abstract Background The gut microbiota influences many aspects of host physiology, including immune regulation, and is predictive of outcomes in cancer patients. However, whether conventional myelosuppressive chemotherapy affects the gut microbiota in humans with non-haematological malignancy, independent of antibiotic exposure, is unknown. Methods Faecal samples from 19 participants with non-haematological malignancy, who were receiving conventional chemotherapy regimens but not antibiotics, were examined prior to chemotherapy, 7–12 days after chemotherapy, and at the end of the first cycle of treatment. Gut microbiota diversity and composition was determined by 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. Results Compared to pre-chemotherapy samples, samples collected 7–12 days following chemotherapy exhibited increased richness (mean 120 observed species ± SD 38 vs 134 ± 40; p = 0.007) and diversity (Shannon diversity: mean 6.4 ± 0.43 vs 6.6 ± 0.41; p = 0.02). Composition was significantly altered, with a significant decrease in the relative abundance of gram-positive bacteria in the phylum Firmicutes (pre-chemotherapy median relative abundance [IQR] 0.78 [0.11] vs 0.75 [0.11]; p = 0.003), and an increase in the relative abundance of gram-negative bacteria (Bacteroidetes: median [IQR] 0.16 [0.13] vs 0.21 [0.13]; p = 0.01 and Proteobacteria: 0.015 [0.018] vs 0.03 [0.03]; p = 0.02). Differences in microbiota characteristics from baseline were no longer significant at the end of the chemotherapy cycle. Conclusions Conventional chemotherapy results in significant changes in gut microbiota characteristics during the period of predicted myelosuppression post-chemotherapy. Further study is indicated to link microbiome changes during chemotherapy to clinical outcomes.

Download Full-text

Isolation and Characterization of Lactic Acid Bacteria and Yeasts from Typical Bulgarian Sourdoughs

Microorganisms ◽

10.3390/microorganisms9071346 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (7) ◽

pp. 1346

Author(s):

Mariana Petkova ◽

Petya Stefanova ◽

Velitchka Gotcheva ◽

Angel Angelov

Keyword(s):

Lactic Acid ◽

Sequence Analysis ◽

Lactic Acid Bacteria ◽

Antimicrobial Properties ◽

Matter Content ◽

Starter Cultures ◽

Rrna Gene ◽

Dry Matter Content ◽

Isolation And Characterization ◽

Selection Of

Traditional sourdoughs in Bulgaria were almost extinct during the centralized food production system. However, a rapidly developing trend of sourdough revival in the country is setting the demand for increased production and use of commercial starter cultures. The selection of strains for such cultures is based on geographical specificity and beneficial technological properties. In this connection, the aim of this study was to isolate, identify and characterize lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and yeasts from typical Bulgarian sourdoughs for the selection of strains for commercial sourdough starter cultures. Twelve samples of typical Bulgarian sourdoughs were collected from different geographical locations. All samples were analyzed for pH, total titratable acidity and dry matter content. Enumeration of LAB and yeast was also carried out. Molecular identification by 16S rDNA sequence analysis was performed for 167 LAB isolates, and 106 yeast strains were identified by ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 rRNA gene partial sequence analysis. The LAB strains were characterized according to their amylolytic and proteolytic activity and acidification capacity, and 11 strains were selected for further testing of their antimicrobial properties. The strains with the most pronounced antibacterial and antifungal activity are listed as recommended candidates for the development of starter cultures for sourdoughs or other food products.

Download Full-text