GUT MICROBIOTA AND ITS IMPORTANCE FOR HUMAN HEALTH

Background. In recent years, much attention has been paid to the importance and role of the gut microbiota in human health maintaining and its composition violations in various diseases. Aim. The aim of the study was to analyze the up-to-date literature on the intestinal microbiota, its composition, role and functions in maintaining human health, as well as on the factors affecting the composition of the intestinal microbiota. Material and methods. An analytical review of published studies on the intestinal microbiota was conducted. Results and discussion. The development of new metagenomic methods for studying the microbiota has led to a fundamental breakthrough in the advancement of ideas about its role, composition and functions in the human body. Despite significant differences in the composition of the gut microbiota in healthy people, the microbiota of a healthy person remains relatively stable throughout life; its composition is influenced by a number of factors: mode of delivery, age, geographic area of residence, genetic characteristics of the person, consumption of related drugs, diet, and others. Treatment with antibiotics may also lead to pronounced changes in the composition of the intestinal microbiota. Other adverse events of antibiotic therapy may include the development of antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria; resistance may be due to the presence of genes encoding resistance factors to antibacterial drugs. Conclusion. Thus, the gut microbiota plays a tremendous role in maintaining human health and the development of a number of diseases.

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Modulation of Gut Microbiota for the Prevention and Treatment of COVID-19

Journal of Clinical Medicine ◽

10.3390/jcm10132903 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (13) ◽

pp. 2903

Author(s):

Jiezhong Chen ◽

Luis Vitetta

Keyword(s):

Clinical Trials ◽

Trace Elements ◽

Gut Microbiota ◽

Human Health ◽

Intestinal Microbiota ◽

Narrative Review ◽

Bacterial Metabolites ◽

Gut Dysbiosis ◽

Prevention And Treatment

The gut microbiota is well known to exert multiple benefits on human health including protection from disease causing pathobiont microbes. It has been recognized that healthy intestinal microbiota is of great importance in the pathogenesis of COVID-19. Gut dysbiosis caused by various reasons is associated with severe COVID-19. Therefore, the modulation of gut microbiota and supplementation of commensal bacterial metabolites could reduce the severity of COVID-19. Many approaches have been studied to improve gut microbiota in COVID-19 including probiotics, bacterial metabolites, and prebiotics, as well as nutraceuticals and trace elements. So far, 19 clinical trials for testing the efficacy of probiotics and synbiotics in COVID-19 prevention and treatment are ongoing. In this narrative review, we summarize the effects of various approaches on the prevention and treatment of COVID-19 and discuss associated mechanisms.

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Caesarean section and gut microbiota in children

World Nutrition Journal ◽

10.25220/wnj.v04.s2.0002 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (1-2) ◽

pp. 8

Author(s):

Ariani Dewi Widodo ◽

Mohammad Juffrie

Keyword(s):

Gut Microbiota ◽

Intestinal Microbiota ◽

Bacterial Colonization ◽

Composition Studies ◽

Mode Of Delivery ◽

Immune Disorders ◽

Immune Development ◽

Gut Dysbiosis ◽

Colonization Patterns ◽

Regulation Changes

Over the last two decades, the C-section rate has increased worldwide. It is understood that colonization patterns of intestinal microbiota in infant delivery in C-section vary from those that were delivered vaginally. These different microbial pattern and diversity will impact and respond to immune and dysbiosis-related diseases. This article examined the effect of C-section on gut microbiota in children.Recent Findings: Newborns are influenced by various factors, including mode of delivery, feeding, nutrition, hospitalization, antibiotic and host gene. Several studies have shown that infants with C-section have lower Bifidobacterium while others have shown lower abundance of Enterobactericeae and Bacteroides in infants with C-section compared to infants born vaginally. Although the mode of delivery is only one factor that influences infant microbiota composition, studies conclude that reduced microbial exposure during the C-section is important because it can affect dysbiosis several years after birth. Good microbiota is a key source of microbial-driven immune regulation, changes in normal patterns of bacterial colonization can alter the immune development outcome and may predispose to certain immune-related disorders later in life.Summary: The composition and concentrations of intestinal microbiota between vaginally and C-section born infants are significantly different. Among C-section infants, gut microbiota is associated with lower diversity and therefore induces dysbiosis, which can affect immune development and may predispose to some immune disorders, i.e. allergies in particular. Nutritional approach with pre-, probiotics, and/or synbiotics can have a promising effect early in life in preventing gut dysbiosis.

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New insights into intestinal phages

Mucosal Immunology ◽

10.1038/s41385-019-0250-5 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 13 (2) ◽

pp. 205-215 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

R. Sausset ◽

M. A. Petit ◽

V. Gaboriau-Routhiau ◽

M. De Paepe

Keyword(s):

Immune System ◽

Gut Microbiota ◽

Human Health ◽

Community Composition ◽

Intestinal Microbiota ◽

Current Knowledge ◽

Viral Metagenomics ◽

Bacterial Composition ◽

The Impact ◽

Microbiota Structure

AbstractThe intestinal microbiota plays important roles in human health. This last decade, the viral fraction of the intestinal microbiota, composed essentially of phages that infect bacteria, received increasing attention. Numerous novel phage families have been discovered in parallel with the development of viral metagenomics. However, since the discovery of intestinal phages by d’Hérelle in 1917, our understanding of the impact of phages on gut microbiota structure remains scarce. Changes in viral community composition have been observed in several diseases. However, whether these changes reflect a direct involvement of phages in diseases etiology or simply result from modifications in bacterial composition is currently unknown. Here we present an overview of the current knowledge in intestinal phages, their identity, lifestyles, and their possible effects on the gut microbiota. We also gather the main data on phage interactions with the immune system, with a particular emphasis on recent findings.

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THE ROLE OF PHAGE THERAPY IN THE FORMATION OF THE INTESTINAL MICROECOSYSTEM

"Medical & pharmaceutical journal "Pulse" ◽

10.26787/nydha-2686-6838-2020-22-12-183-191 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 183-191

Author(s):

Gladkov S.F. ◽

Perevoshchikova N.K. ◽

Chernykh N.S. ◽

Pichugina Yu.S. ◽

Surkova M.A.

Keyword(s):

Intestinal Microbiota ◽

Allergic Diseases ◽

Evidence Base ◽

Immunological Tolerance ◽

Convincing Evidence ◽

Selective Decontamination ◽

Genetic Characteristics ◽

Treatment And Prevention ◽

Intestinal Infections ◽

The Individual

The current adverse situation associated with the presence of a pandemic of allergic diseases is due to the lack of a scientifically based concept of treatment and prevention. The increased interest of researchers from different countries in the formation of immunological tolerance by modeling the intestinal microbiota is of high importance. Methods of influence on the microbial communities of the child's intestine should be as delicate as possible, taking into account the individual genetic characteristics of the microecosystem and the possibility of anaphylaxis. Until now, probiotic drugs have been widely used to correct dysbiosis, but data is gradually accumulating that there is no convincing evidence base for their use for the treatment and prevention of atopy. The use of bacteriophages is very relevant and one of the promising, actively studied areas of correction of intestinal biocenosis today, which are an alternative to antibiotic and probiotic medications. Selective decontamination of representatives of opportunistic flora, as the main factor in the implementation of the atopic phenotype, makes it possible to preserve and accelerate the formation of a unique and individual composition of the intestinal microbiota of the child, which can form an immunoregulatory balance. More than a century of experience in the use of bacteriophages indicates the safety of their use. Today, bacteriophages are actively used in various fields of practical medicine − obstetrics-gynecology, perinatology, urology, pediatric otorhinolaryngology, in the treatment of purulent-septic and intestinal infections. In some cases, bacteriophages are very effective against antibiotic-resistant pathogens. The active personalized use of bacteriophages in real clinical practice will make it possible to solve a number of serious, long-standing health problems in the Russian Federation and to win a world priority in this direction.

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The Food-gut Human Axis: The Effects of Diet on Gut Microbiota and Metabolome

Current Medicinal Chemistry ◽

10.2174/0929867324666170428103848 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 26 (19) ◽

pp. 3567-3583 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

Maria De Angelis ◽

Gabriella Garruti ◽

Fabio Minervini ◽

Leonilde Bonfrate ◽

Piero Portincasa ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gut Microbiota ◽

Human Health ◽

Dietary Habits ◽

Short Chain Fatty Acids ◽

Human Organism ◽

Immune Functions ◽

Intestinal Microbes ◽

Dietary Components ◽

Dietary Treatments ◽

The Relationship

Gut microbiota, the largest symbiont community hosted in human organism, is emerging as a pivotal player in the relationship between dietary habits and health. Oral and, especially, intestinal microbes metabolize dietary components, affecting human health by producing harmful or beneficial metabolites, which are involved in the incidence and progression of several intestinal related and non-related diseases. Habitual diet (Western, Agrarian and Mediterranean omnivore diets, vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free diets) drives the composition of the gut microbiota and metabolome. Within the dietary components, polymers (mainly fibers, proteins, fat and polyphenols) that are not hydrolyzed by human enzymes seem to be the main leads of the metabolic pathways of gut microbiota, which in turn directly influence the human metabolome. Specific relationships between diet and microbes, microbes and metabolites, microbes and immune functions and microbes and/or their metabolites and some human diseases are being established. Dietary treatments with fibers are the most effective to benefit the metabolome profile, by improving the synthesis of short chain fatty acids and decreasing the level of molecules, such as p-cresyl sulfate, indoxyl sulfate and trimethylamine N-oxide, involved in disease state. Based on the axis diet-microbiota-health, this review aims at describing the most recent knowledge oriented towards a profitable use of diet to provide benefits to human health, both directly and indirectly, through the activity of gut microbiota.

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High animal protein diet and gut microbiota in human health

Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition ◽

10.1080/10408398.2021.1898336 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-13

Author(s):

Jie Cai ◽

Zhongxu Chen ◽

Wei Wu ◽

Qinlu Lin ◽

Ying Liang

Keyword(s):

Gut Microbiota ◽

Human Health ◽

Animal Protein ◽

Protein Diet ◽

High Animal

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Guild-based analysis for understanding gut microbiome in human health and diseases

Genome Medicine ◽

10.1186/s13073-021-00840-y ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Guojun Wu ◽

Naisi Zhao ◽

Chenhong Zhang ◽

Yan Y. Lam ◽

Liping Zhao

Keyword(s):

Gut Microbiota ◽

Human Health ◽

Gut Microbiome ◽

Association Studies ◽

Causative Role ◽

Disease Phenotypes ◽

Genetic Complexity ◽

Causative Agents ◽

Specific Health

AbstractTo demonstrate the causative role of gut microbiome in human health and diseases, we first need to identify, via next-generation sequencing, potentially important functional members associated with specific health outcomes and disease phenotypes. However, due to the strain-level genetic complexity of the gut microbiota, microbiome datasets are highly dimensional and highly sparse in nature, making it challenging to identify putative causative agents of a particular disease phenotype. Members of an ecosystem seldomly live independently from each other. Instead, they develop local interactions and form inter-member organizations to influence the ecosystem’s higher-level patterns and functions. In the ecological study of macro-organisms, members are defined as belonging to the same “guild” if they exploit the same class of resources in a similar way or work together as a coherent functional group. Translating the concept of “guild” to the study of gut microbiota, we redefine guild as a group of bacteria that show consistent co-abundant behavior and likely to work together to contribute to the same ecological function. In this opinion article, we discuss how to use guilds as the aggregation unit to reduce dimensionality and sparsity in microbiome-wide association studies for identifying candidate gut bacteria that may causatively contribute to human health and diseases.

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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

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A Crosstalk between Diet, Microbiome and microRNA in Epigenetic Regulation of Colorectal Cancer

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu13072428 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (7) ◽

pp. 2428

Author(s):

Małgorzata Guz ◽

Witold Jeleniewicz ◽

Anna Malm ◽

Izabela Korona-Glowniak

Keyword(s):

Colorectal Cancer ◽

Gastrointestinal Tract ◽

Gut Microbiota ◽

Intestinal Microbiota ◽

Current Knowledge ◽

Vital Role ◽

Disease States ◽

Health And Disease ◽

Dietary Components ◽

Non Coding Rnas

A still growing interest between human nutrition in relation to health and disease states can be observed. Dietary components shape the composition of microbiota colonizing our gastrointestinal tract which play a vital role in maintaining human health. There is a strong evidence that diet, gut microbiota and their metabolites significantly influence our epigenome, particularly through the modulation of microRNAs. These group of small non-coding RNAs maintain cellular homeostasis, however any changes leading to impaired expression of miRNAs contribute to the development of different pathologies, including neoplastic diseases. Imbalance of intestinal microbiota due to diet is primary associated with the development of colorectal cancer as well as other types of cancers. In the present work we summarize current knowledge with particular emphasis on diet-microbiota-miRNAs axis and its relation to the development of colorectal cancer.

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Factors Affecting Arsenic Methylation in Contaminated Italian Areas

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph17145226 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 17 (14) ◽

pp. 5226

Author(s):

Elisa Bustaffa ◽

Francesca Gorini ◽

Fabrizio Bianchi ◽

Fabrizio Minichilli

Keyword(s):

Dietary Habits ◽

Public Health Issue ◽

Contaminated Water ◽

Metabolic Capacity ◽

Genetic Characteristics ◽

Arsenic Metabolism ◽

Factors Affecting ◽

Arsenic Methylation ◽

Methylation Capacity ◽

Critical Public Health

Chronic arsenic (As) exposure is a critical public health issue. The As metabolism can be influenced by many factors. The objective of this study is to verify if these factors influence As metabolism in four Italian areas affected by As pollution. Descriptive analyses were conducted on 271 subjects aged 20–49 in order to assess the effect of each factor considered on As methylation. Percentages of metabolites of As in urine, primary and secondary methylation indexes were calculated as indicators for metabolic capacity. The results indicate that women have a better methylation capacity (MC) than men, and drinking As-contaminated water from public aqueducts is associated with poorer MC, especially in areas with natural As pollution. In areas with anthropogenic As pollution occupational exposure is associated with a higher MC while smoking with a poorer MC. Dietary habits and genetic characteristics are probably implicated in As metabolism. BMI, alcohol consumption and polymorphism of the AS3MT gene seem not to influence As MC. Arsenic metabolism may be affected by various factors and in order to achieve a comprehensive risk assessment of As-associated disease, it is crucial to understand how these factors contribute to differences in As metabolism.

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