Combination of Metabolomic and Proteomic Analysis Revealed Different Features among Lactobacillus delbrueckii Subspecies bulgaricus and lactis Strains While In Vivo Testing in the Model Organism Caenorhabditis elegans Highlighted Probiotic Properties

Agrimonia procera is a pharmacologically interesting plant which is proposed to protect against various diseases due to its high amount of phytochemicals, e.g., polyphenols. However, in spite of the amount of postulated health benefits, studies concerning the mechanistic effects of Agrimonia procera are limited. Using the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, we were able to show that an ethanol extract of Agrimonia procera herba (eAE) mediates strong antioxidative effects in the nematode: Beside a strong radical-scavenging activity, eAE reduces accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation and protects against paraquat-induced oxidative stress. The extract does not protect against amyloid-β-mediated toxicity, but efficiently increases the life span (up to 12.7%), as well as the resistance to thermal stress (prolongation of survival up to 22%), of this model organism. Using nematodes deficient in the forkhead box O (FoxO)-orthologue DAF-16, we were able to demonstrate that beneficial effects of eAE on stress resistance and life span were mediated via this transcription factor. We showed antioxidative, stress-reducing, and life-prolonging effects of eAE in vivo and were able to demonstrate a molecular mechanism of this extract. These results may be important for identifying further molecular targets of eAE in humans.

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Normal Formation of a Subset of Intestinal Granules in Caenorhabditis elegans Requires ATP-binding Cassette Transporters HAF-4 and HAF-9, Which Are Highly Homologous to Human Lysosomal Peptide Transporter TAP-Like

Molecular Biology of the Cell ◽

10.1091/mbc.e08-09-0912 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 20 (12) ◽

pp. 2979-2990 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

Hiromi Kawai ◽

Takahiro Tanji ◽

Hirohisa Shiraishi ◽

Mitsuo Yamada ◽

Ryoko Iijima ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Caenorhabditis Elegans ◽

Fluorescent Protein ◽

Model Organism ◽

Physiological Role ◽

Peptide Transporter ◽

Atp Binding ◽

Loss Of Function ◽

Specific Expression ◽

Atp Binding Cassette

TAP-like (TAPL; ABCB9) is a half-type ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter that localizes in lysosome and putatively conveys peptides from cytosol to lysosome. However, the physiological role of this transporter remains to be elucidated. Comparison of genome databases reveals that TAPL is conserved in various species from a simple model organism, Caenorhabditis elegans, to mammals. C. elegans possesses homologous TAPL genes: haf-4 and haf-9. In this study, we examined the tissue-specific expression of these two genes and analyzed the phenotypes of the loss-of-function mutants for haf-4 and haf-9 to elucidate the in vivo function of these genes. Both HAF-4 and HAF-9 tagged with green fluorescent protein (GFP) were mainly localized on the membrane of nonacidic but lysosome-associated membrane protein homologue (LMP-1)-positive intestinal granules from larval to adult stage. The mutants for haf-4 and haf-9 exhibited granular defects in late larval and young adult intestinal cells, associated with decreased brood size, prolonged defecation cycle, and slow growth. The intestinal granular phenotype was rescued by the overexpression of the GFP-tagged wild-type protein, but not by the ATP-unbound form of HAF-4. These results demonstrate that two ABC transporters, HAF-4 and HAF-9, are related to intestinal granular formation and some other physiological aspects.

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Caenorhabditis elegans, a Host to Investigate the Probiotic Properties of Beneficial Microorganisms

Frontiers in Nutrition ◽

10.3389/fnut.2020.00135 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 7 ◽

Author(s):

Cyril Poupet ◽

Christophe Chassard ◽

Adrien Nivoliez ◽

Stéphanie Bornes

Keyword(s):

Caenorhabditis Elegans ◽

High Throughput Screening ◽

Large Scale ◽

Molecular Mechanisms ◽

Probiotic Properties ◽

C Elegans ◽

Probiotic Potential ◽

Challenges And Opportunities ◽

Future Challenges

Caenorhabditis elegans, a non-parasitic nematode emerges as a relevant and powerful candidate as an in vivo model for microorganisms-microorganisms and microorganisms-host interactions studies. Experiments have demonstrated the probiotic potential of bacteria since they can provide to the worm a longer lifespan, an increased resistance to pathogens and to oxidative or heat stresses. Probiotics are used to prevent or treat microbiota dysbiosis and associated pathologies but the molecular mechanisms underlying their capacities are still unknown. Beyond safety and healthy aspects of probiotics, C. elegans represents a powerful way to design large-scale studies to explore transkingdom interactions and to solve questioning about the molecular aspect of these interactions. Future challenges and opportunities would be to validate C. elegans as an in vivo tool for high-throughput screening of microorganisms for their potential probiotic use on human health and to enlarge the panels of microorganisms studied as well as the human diseases investigated.

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A fast and reliable method for monitoring genomic instability in the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans

Archives of Toxicology ◽

10.1007/s00204-021-03144-7 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Merle Marie Nicolai ◽

Barbara Witt ◽

Andrea Hartwig ◽

Tanja Schwerdtle ◽

Julia Bornhorst

Keyword(s):

Caenorhabditis Elegans ◽

Animal Experiments ◽

Model Organism ◽

Animal Testing ◽

C Elegans ◽

Testing Strategies ◽

Genotoxic Agents ◽

Genotoxicity Testing

AbstractThe identification of genotoxic agents and their potential for genotoxic alterations in an organism is crucial for risk assessment and approval procedures of the chemical and pharmaceutical industry. Classically, testing strategies for DNA or chromosomal damage focus on in vitro and in vivo (mainly rodent) investigations. In cell culture systems, the alkaline unwinding (AU) assay is one of the well-established methods for detecting the percentage of double-stranded DNA (dsDNA). By establishing a reliable lysis protocol, and further optimization of the AU assay for the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans), we provided a new tool for genotoxicity testing in the niche between in vitro and rodent experiments. The method is intended to complement existing testing strategies by a multicellular organism, which allows higher predictability of genotoxic potential compared to in vitro cell line or bacterial investigations, before utilizing in vivo (rodent) investigations. This also allows working within the 3R concept (reduction, refinement, and replacement of animal experiments), by reducing and possibly replacing animal testing. Validation with known genotoxic agents (bleomycin (BLM) and tert-butyl hydroperoxide (tBOOH)) proved the method to be meaningful, reproducible, and feasible for high-throughput genotoxicity testing, and especially preliminary screening.

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Detecting changes in the Caenorhabditis elegans intestinal environment using an engineered bacterial biosensor

10.1101/717215 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Jack W. Rutter ◽

Tanel Ozdemir ◽

Leonor M. Quintaneiro ◽

Geraint Thomas ◽

Filipe Cabreiro ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Caenorhabditis Elegans ◽

Rational Design ◽

Model Organism ◽

Bacterial Biosensor ◽

Intestinal Environment ◽

C Elegans ◽

Ideal Candidate ◽

Diagnostic Applications

AbstractCaenorhabditis elegans has become a key model organism within biology. In particular, the transparent gut, rapid growing time and ability to create a defined gut microbiota make it an ideal candidate organism for understanding and engineering the host microbiota. Here we present the development of an experimental model which can be used to characterise whole-cell bacterial biosensors in vivo. A dual-plasmid sensor system responding to isopropyl β-D-1-thiogalactopyranoside was developed and fully characterised in vitro. Subsequently, we show the sensor was capable of detecting and reporting on changes in the intestinal environment of C. elegans after introducing exogenous inducer into the environment. The protocols presented here may be used for aiding the rational design of engineered bacterial circuits, primarily for diagnostic applications. In addition, the model system may serve to reduce the use of current animal models and aid in the exploration of complex questions within general nematode and host-microbe biology.

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Probiotic properties of Lactobacillus strains from traditional fermented yogurt in Xinjiang

E3S Web of Conferences ◽

10.1051/e3sconf/201913101121 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 131 ◽

pp. 01121

Author(s):

Ruokun Yi ◽

Fang Tan ◽

Xin Zhao

Keyword(s):

Cell Surface ◽

Bile Salt ◽

Cell Surface Hydrophobicity ◽

Reference Value ◽

Surface Hydrophobicity ◽

Lactobacillus Delbrueckii ◽

Probiotic Properties ◽

Artificial Gastric Juice ◽

Scavenging Rates

In this study, 3 Lactobacillus strains isolated from 5 kinds of traditional fermented yogurt in Xinjiang were identified as Lactobacillus plantarum (LP1, LP2), and Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. Bulgaricus (LD). Probiotic properties of Lactobacillus strains have been evaluated by testing the tolerance to artificial gastric juice and bile salt, cell surface hydrophobicity, hydroxyl radicals and DPPH free radicals scavenging rates. As the results, LP1 showed better tolerance to acid, cell surface hydrophobicity and antioxidant ability, LP2 showed better tolerance to bile salt comparing with the other two LAB strains. LP1 showed the best probiotic properties in general. These results provide reference value for the probiotic research in vivo and the development of new functional probiotic products in the future.

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Caenorhabditis elegans: A Useful Model for Studying Metabolic Disorders in Which Oxidative Stress Is a Contributing Factor

Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity ◽

10.1155/2014/705253 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 2014 ◽

pp. 1-9 ◽

Cited By ~ 20

Author(s):

Elizabeth Moreno-Arriola ◽

Noemí Cárdenas-Rodríguez ◽

Elvia Coballase-Urrutia ◽

José Pedraza-Chaverri ◽

Liliana Carmona-Aparicio ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Oxidative Stress ◽

Caenorhabditis Elegans ◽

Metabolic Disorders ◽

Molecular Mechanisms ◽

Second Messengers ◽

Model Organism ◽

Human Diseases ◽

C Elegans ◽

Molecular Bases

Caenorhabditis elegansis a powerful model organism that is invaluable for experimental research because it can be used to recapitulate most human diseases at either the metabolic or genomic levelin vivo. This organism contains many key components related to metabolic and oxidative stress networks that could conceivably allow us to increase and integrate information to understand the causes and mechanisms of complex diseases. Oxidative stress is an etiological factor that influences numerous human diseases, including diabetes.C. elegansdisplays remarkably similar molecular bases and cellular pathways to those of mammals. Defects in the insulin/insulin-like growth factor-1 signaling pathway or increased ROS levels induce the conserved phase II detoxification response via the SKN-1 pathway to fight against oxidative stress. However, it is noteworthy that, aside from the detrimental effects of ROS, they have been proposed as second messengers that trigger the mitohormetic response to attenuate the adverse effects of oxidative stress. Herein, we briefly describe the importance ofC. elegansas an experimental model system for studying metabolic disorders related to oxidative stress and the molecular mechanisms that underlie their pathophysiology.

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Caenorhabditis elegans: A promising contrivance to study neurotoxicity and oxidative stress

Research Journal of Biotechnology ◽

10.25303/1610rjbt198206 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 16 (10) ◽

pp. 198-206

Author(s):

Kiran Singh ◽

Shweta Yadav

Keyword(s):

Oxidative Stress ◽

Caenorhabditis Elegans ◽

Genetic Manipulation ◽

Model Organism ◽

Mechanisms Of Toxicity ◽

C Elegans ◽

Toxicological Studies ◽

And Oxidative Stress

Owing to ubiquitous distribution, high abundances and ecological relevance, Caenorhabditis elegans has strong potential interest as barometer of environment and human health. Ecotoxicological methods are used to evaluate the effect of various anthropogenic contaminants on the ecosystems that circumscribe both in-vivo and in-vitro toxicities to explore the pathways and mechanisms of toxicity and to set precise toxicity thresholds. The interest in C. elegans, as a model organism in toxicological studies, has increased over the past few decades. The enticement of C. elegans comes from the ease of metabolically active digestive, sensory, endocrine, neuromuscular, reproductive systems and genetic manipulation along with the ability to ﬂuorescently label neuronal subtypes. The study reviews the competence of Caenorhabditis elegans as a potential model organism in various toxicity assays specifically neurotoxicity and oxidative stress.

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Bark Extract of the Amazonian Tree Endopleura uchi (Humiriaceae) Extends Lifespan and Enhances Stress Resistance in Caenorhabditis elegans

Molecules ◽

10.3390/molecules24050915 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 24 (5) ◽

pp. 915 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Herbenya Peixoto ◽

Mariana Roxo ◽

Emerson Silva ◽

Karla Valente ◽

Markus Braun ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Caenorhabditis Elegans ◽

Stress Resistance ◽

Model Organism ◽

Water Extract ◽

Stem Bark ◽

Bark Extract ◽

Amazon Forest ◽

Age Related

Endopleura uchi (Huber) Cuatrec (Humiriaceae), known as uxi or uxi-amarelo in Brazil, is an endemic tree of the Amazon forest. In traditional medicine, its stem bark is used to treat a variety of health disorders, including cancer, diabetes, arthritis, uterine inflammation, and gynecological infections. According to HPLC analysis, the main constituent of the bark extract is the polyphenol bergenin. In the current study, we demonstrate by in vitro and in vivo experiments the antioxidant potential of a water extract from the stem bark of E. uchi. When tested in the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans, the extract enhanced stress resistance via the DAF-16/FOXO pathway. Additionally, the extract promoted an increase in the lifespan of the worms independent from caloric restriction. It also attenuated the age-related muscle function decline and formation of polyQ40 plaques, as a model for Huntington’s disease. Thus, these data support anti-aging and anti-oxidant properties of E. uchi, which has not yet been described. More studies are needed to assess the real benefits of E. uchi bark for human health and its toxicological profile.

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