Methyl-Donor Micronutrient for Gestating Sows: Effects on Gut Microbiota and Metabolome in Offspring Piglets

This study aimed to investigate the effects of maternal methyl-donor micronutrient supplementation during gestation on gut microbiota and the fecal metabolic profile in offspring piglets. Forty-three Duroc × Erhualian gilts were assigned to two dietary groups during gestation: control diet (CON) and CON diet supplemented with MET (folic acid, methionine, choline, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12). The body weights of offspring piglets were recorded at birth and weaning. Besides this, fresh fecal samples of offspring piglets were collected at 7, 14, and 21 days. The gut microbiota composition, metabolic profile, and short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) profiles in the fecal samples were determined using 16S rDNA sequencing, liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry metabolomics, and gas chromatography methods, respectively. The results showed that maternal methyl-donor micronutrient supplementation increased the microbiota diversity and uniformity in feces of offspring piglets as indicated by increased Shannon and Simpson indices at 7 days, and greater Simpson, ACE, Chao1 and observed species indices at 21 days. Specifically, at the phylum level, the relative abundance of Firmicutes and the Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes ratio were elevated by maternal treatment. At the genus level, the relative abundance of SCFA-producing Dialister, Megasphaera, and Turicibacter, and lactate-producing Sharpea as well as Akkermansia, Weissella, and Pediococcus were increased in the MET group. The metabolic analyses show that maternal methyl-donor micronutrient addition increased the concentrations of individual and total SCFAs of 21-day piglets and increased metabolism mainly involving amino acids, pyrimidine, and purine biosynthesis. Collectively, maternal methyl-donor micronutrient addition altered gut microbiota and the fecal metabolic profile, resulting in an improved weaning weight of offspring piglets.

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Preservation of Human Gut Microbiota Inoculums for In Vitro Fermentations Studies

Fermentation ◽

10.3390/fermentation7010014 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 7 (1) ◽

pp. 14

Author(s):

Nelson Mota de Carvalho ◽

Diana Luazi Oliveira ◽

Mayra Anton Dib Saleh ◽

Manuela Pintado ◽

Ana Raquel Madureira

Keyword(s):

Gut Microbiota ◽

Metabolic Profile ◽

Bacterial Count ◽

Glycerol Solution ◽

Metabolic Profiles ◽

Human Gut ◽

Colonic Fermentation ◽

In Vitro Fermentation ◽

Fecal Samples

The use of fecal inoculums for in vitro fermentation models requires a viable gut microbiota, capable of fermenting the unabsorbed nutrients. Fresh samples from human donors are used; however, the availability of fresh fecal inoculum and its inherent variability is often a problem. This study aimed to optimize a method of preserving pooled human fecal samples for in vitro fermentation studies. Different conditions and times of storage at −20 °C were tested. In vitro fermentation experiments were carried out for both fresh and frozen inoculums, and the metabolic profile compared. In comparison with the fresh, the inoculum frozen in a PBS and 30% glycerol solution, had a significantly lower (p < 0.05) bacterial count (<1 log CFU/mL). However, no significant differences (p < 0.05) were found between the metabolic profiles after 48 h. Hence, a PBS and 30% glycerol solution can be used to maintain the gut microbiota viability during storage at −20 °C for at least 3 months, without interfering with the normal course of colonic fermentation.

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Myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury alters inflammation-associated gut microbiota

10.21203/rs.2.22246/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Cuifang Kuang ◽

Lingqin Su ◽

Manman Qin ◽

Liang Qiu ◽

Jun Yu

Keyword(s):

Myocardial Ischemia ◽

Gut Microbiota ◽

Relative Abundance ◽

Ischemia Reperfusion ◽

Coronary Artery Ligation ◽

Sham Surgery ◽

Surgery Group ◽

Group I ◽

Rdna Sequencing ◽

Myocardial Ischemia Reperfusion

Abstract Background The gut microbiota plays important roles in the development of cardiovascular diseases. However, whether myocardial ischemia–reperfusion (I/R) alters gut microbiota composition and its significance remains unknown. In this work, Sprague–Dawley rats were subjected to left anterior descending coronary artery ligation and reperfusion. The fecal DNA isolated before myocardial ischemia and after reperfusion were analyzed for microbiota changes by high-throughput 16S rDNA sequencing. Results Results showed that compared with the pre-I/R and pre-sham surgery group, I/R and sham surgery significantly increased the relative abundance of the phyla Proteobacteria , and decreased the relative abundance of the phylum Firmicutes . The I/R surgical procedure increased the proportions of phylum Spirochaetes and genus Enterococcus compared to pre-I/R and sham surgery group. Moreover, I/R surgery significantly worsened the infiltration of macrophages into heart tissue compared with sham surgery. Conclusions Taken together, these findings suggested that myocardial I/R altered the gut microbiota profile, which may promote inflammatory cell infiltration in the injured heart.

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Baicalin-Copper Complex Modulates Gut Microbiota, Inflammatory Responses, and Hormone Secretion in DON-Challenged Piglets

Animals ◽

10.3390/ani10091535 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (9) ◽

pp. 1535

Author(s):

Andong Zha ◽

Zhijuan Cui ◽

Ming Qi ◽

Simeng Liao ◽

Jia Yin ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Serum Concentration ◽

Gut Microbiota ◽

Relative Abundance ◽

Copper Complex ◽

Inflammatory Responses ◽

Control Diet ◽

Hormone Secretion ◽

Intestinal Microbes ◽

Group A ◽

Ifn Γ

The present experiment assessed the inflammatory responses, hormone secretion, and gut microbiota of weanling piglets administered baicalin-copper complex (BCU) or deoxynivalenol (DON) supplementation diets. Twenty-eight piglets were randomly assigned to four groups: control diet (Con group), a 4 mg DON/kg diet (DON group), a 5 g BCU/kg diet (BCU group), a 5 g BCU + 4 mg DON/kg diet (DBCU group). After 14 days, the results showed that dietary BCU supplementation remarkably increased the relative abundance of Clostrium bornimense and decreased the relative abundance of Lactobacillus in the DBCU group (p < 0.05). BCU decreased the serum concentration of IgG, IL-2, IFN-γ, and IgA in DON treated piglets (p < 0.05), and promoted the serum concentration of IL-1β, IgG, IL-2, IFN-γ, IgA, IL-6, IgM, and TNFα in normal piglets (p < 0.05). BCU increased the concentrations of serum IGF1, insulin, NPY, GLP-1, and GH, and decreased the concentrations of serum somatostatin in no DON treated piglets (p < 0.05). Dietary BCU supplementation significantly promoted the secretion of somatostatin, and inhibited the secretion of leptin in piglets challenged with DON (p < 0.05). BCU regulated the expression of food intake-related genes in the hypothalamus and pituitary of piglets. Collectively, dietary BCU supplementation alleviated inflammatory responses and regulated the secretion of appetite-regulating hormones and growth-axis hormones in DON challenged piglets, which was closely linked to changes of intestinal microbes.

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Effects of Xylo-Oligosaccharide on the Gut Microbiota of Patients With Ulcerative Colitis in Clinical Remission

Frontiers in Nutrition ◽

10.3389/fnut.2021.778542 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 ◽

Author(s):

Zongwei Li ◽

Zhengpeng Li ◽

Liying Zhu ◽

Ning Dai ◽

Gang Sun ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Ulcerative Colitis ◽

Gut Microbiota ◽

Healthy Volunteers ◽

Clinical Remission ◽

Principal Component ◽

Fecal Samples ◽

Linear Discriminant ◽

Wilcoxon Rank Sum Test ◽

Rdna Sequencing

Gut microbiota dysbiosis is closely associated with ulcerative colitis (UC). Prebiotic therapy is a potential approach for UC management especially remission maintaining. Xylo-oligosaccharide (XOS) is an efficient prebiotic with proven health benefits and few side effects. However, the effects of XOS on the gut microbiota of patients with UC have not been investigated previously. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prebiotic effects of XOS on the fecal microbiota of patients with UC in clinical remission using an in vitro fermentation model. Five patients with UC in clinical remission and five healthy volunteers were enrolled in this study. Fresh fecal samples of UC patients were diluted and inoculated in yeast extract, casitone and fatty acid (YCFA) medium alone or with XOS. After fermentation for 48 h, samples were collected for 16S rDNA sequencing to investigate the gut microbiota composition. Differences in the gut microbiota between healthy volunteers and UC patients in clinical remission were detected using original fecal samples. Subsequently, the differences between the YCFA medium alone or with XOS samples were analyzed to illustrate the effects of XOS on the gut microbiota of UC patients. In both principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) and principal component analysis (PCA), the fecal samples of UC patients differed from those of healthy volunteers. Linear discriminant analysis effect size (LEfSe) analysis revealed that the relative abundances of g_Roseburia and g_Lachnospiraceae_ND3007_group were higher in healthy volunteers than in UC patients, while o_Lactobacillales abundance showed the opposite trend (P < 0.05). Wilcoxon rank-sum test bar plot showed that the abundances of g_Eubacterium_halli_group and g_Lachnospiraceae_ND3007_group were higher in the healthy volunteers than in the UC patients (P < 0.05). In addition, in UC patients, the Wilcoxon rank-sum test showed that XOS fermentation promoted the growth of bacterial groups including g_Roseburia, g_Bifidobacterium, and g_Lactobacillus, which is beneficial for recovery of intestinal diseases. These results suggest that XOS can relieve dysbiosis in the feces of UC patients in clinical remission and thus represent a potential prebiotic material for maintaining remission.

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Age-Based Variations in the Gut Microbiome of the Shennongjia (Hubei) Golden Snub-Nosed Monkey (Rhinopithecus roxellana hubeiensis)

BioMed Research International ◽

10.1155/2021/6667715 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 2021 ◽

pp. 1-17

Author(s):

Lijuan Yao ◽

Xiang Li ◽

Zutao Zhou ◽

Deshi Shi ◽

Zili Li ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gut Microbiota ◽

Relative Abundance ◽

Gut Microbiome ◽

Developmental Stages ◽

Rrna Gene ◽

Rhinopithecus Roxellana ◽

Fecal Samples ◽

Group 3 ◽

Group 2 ◽

Diverse Groups

The gut microbiota represents a source of genetic and metabolic diversity of a complex polymicrobial ecosystem within its host. To investigate age-based variations of the gut microbiota among Shennongjia golden snub-nosed monkeys (Rhinopithecus roxellana hubeiensis), we characterized the microbial species in fecal samples from 18 Shennongjia golden snub-nosed monkeys evenly pooled into 3 aged groups (Group 1, 1-3 years; Group 2, 5-8 years; Group 3, above 12 years) in Shennongjia, Hubei Province, China. Genomic DNA was extracted from fecal samples, and the 16S rRNA gene V4 region was sequenced using the Illumina high-throughput MiSeq platform PE250. A total of 28 microbial phyla were identified in the gut microbiome of these monkeys with the ten most abundant phyla (i.e., Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Verrucomicrobia, Spirochaetes, Tenericutes, Proteobacteria, Planctomycetes, Fibrobacteres, Cyanobacteria, and Euryarchaeota). A total of 1,469 (of 16 phyla and 166 genera), 1,381 (of 16 phyla and 157 genera), and 1,931 (of 19 phyla and 190 genera) operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were revealed in Groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively, with Group 3 containing the most diverse groups of OTUs as revealed by the species relative abundance clustering analysis. These results suggest that the gut microbiota in these monkeys maintain a dynamic status, starting from the early developmental stages of life with the species relative abundance increasing with age. This is the first study to comprehensively characterize the gut microbiota and provide valuable information for monitoring the health and nutritional needs of this endangered primate at different ages.

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Evaluation of Tannin Extracts, Leonardite and Tributyrin Supplementation on Diarrhoea Incidence and Gut Microbiota of Weaned Piglets

Animals ◽

10.3390/ani11061693 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (6) ◽

pp. 1693

Author(s):

Matteo Dell’Anno ◽

Serena Reggi ◽

Valentina Caprarulo ◽

Monika Hejna ◽

Carlo Angelo Sgoifo Rossi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gut Microbiota ◽

Metabolic Profile ◽

Control Diet ◽

Treated Group ◽

Weaned Piglets ◽

Group 14 ◽

Large White ◽

Ctrl Group ◽

Faecal Samples ◽

Individual Body

The effects of the dietary administration of a combination of Quebracho and Chestnut tannins, leonardite and tributyrin were evaluated in weaned piglets. A total of 168 weaned piglets (Landrace × Large White) were randomly allotted to two experimental groups (6 pens/group, 14 piglets/pen). Animals were fed a basal control diet (CTRL) and a treatment diet (MIX) supplemented with 0.75% tannin extracts, 0.25% leonardite and 0.20% tributyrin for 28 days. Individual body weight and feed intake were recorded weekly. Diarrhoea incidence was recorded by a faecal scoring scale (0–3; considering diarrhoea ≥ 2). At 0 and 28 days, faecal samples were obtained from four piglets/pen for microbiological and chemical analyses of faecal microbiota, which were then assessed by V3-V4 region amplification sequencing. At 28 days, blood from two piglets/pen was sampled to evaluate the serum metabolic profile. After 28 days, a reduction in diarrhoea incidence was observed in the MIX compared to CTRL group (p < 0.05). In addition, compared to CTRL, MIX showed a higher lactobacilli:coliform ratio and increased Prevotella and Fibrobacter genera presence (p < 0.01). The serum metabolic profile showed a decreased level of low-density lipoproteins in the treated group (p < 0.05). In conclusion, a combination of tannin extract, leonardite and tributyrin could decrease diarrhoea incidence and modulate the gut microbiota.

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Both Gut Microbiota and Differentially Expressed Proteins Are Relevant to the Development of Obesity

BioMed Research International ◽

10.1155/2020/5376108 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 2020 ◽

pp. 1-11

Author(s):

Yuchuan Li ◽

Qiuxia Liu ◽

Chunting Peng ◽

Bing Ruan

Keyword(s):

Gut Microbiota ◽

Relative Abundance ◽

Peripheral Blood ◽

Bacterial Communities ◽

Alpha Diversity ◽

Differentially Expressed ◽

Standard Diet ◽

Differentially Expressed Proteins ◽

Fecal Samples ◽

Linear Discriminant

Although the role of the gut microbiota in obesity has recently received considerable attention, the exact mechanism is unclear. This study was aimed at investigating the profiles of bacterial communities in fecal samples and differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) in the peripheral blood in mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD) and standard diet (SD) and at providing new insights into the pathogenesis of obesity. The profiles of bacterial communities in fecal samples and DEPs in the peripheral blood were characterized in mice fed HFD and SD, respectively. The levels of 3 DEPs increased in HFD mice. The alpha diversity was significantly lower after 4 and 12 weeks in HFD mice. The beta diversity was higher after 4, 8, and 12 weeks in HFD mice. A total of 16 gut bacterial clades were significantly different with the linear discriminant analysis (LDA) score higher than 4 over time. The relative abundance levels of Proteobacteria and Deferribacteres were higher, while those of Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes were lower in HFD mice at the phylum level. The relative abundance of Desulfovibrionaceae and Rikenellaceae increased in HFD mice at the family level. The relative abundance of the Bacteroidetes_S24-7_group and Lachnospiraceae was lower in HFD mice. The gut microbiota had a significant correlation with serum lipid indexes and expression of DEPs at the phylum and family levels. The changes in the gut microbiota of HFD mice and their associations with the levels of inflammatory proteins could be one of the major etiological mechanisms underlying obesity.

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Effects of Protein Restriction and Subsequent Realimentation on Body Composition, Gut Microbiota and Metabolite Profiles in Weaned Piglets

Animals ◽

10.3390/ani11030686 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (3) ◽

pp. 686

Author(s):

Lei Hou ◽

Li Wang ◽

Yueqin Qiu ◽

YunXia Xiong ◽

Hao Xiao ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Body Composition ◽

Fatty Acid ◽

Gut Microbiota ◽

Relative Abundance ◽

Protein Restriction ◽

The Body ◽

Fatty Acid Esters ◽

Weaned Piglets ◽

Microbial Composition ◽

Metabolite Profiles

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of protein restriction and subsequent protein realimentation on the body composition, gut microbiota and metabolite profiles of piglets. Fifty weaned piglets were randomly assigned to two treatments: a normal protein (NP) group (20% crude protein (CP)) or a low protein (LP) group (16% CP) with five animals per pen and five pens per group. Treatment diets were fed for 14 d during the protein restriction phase, and then all pigs were fed the same nursery diets with a normal CP level (19% CP) during the protein realimentation phase until they reached an average target body weight (BW) of 25 ± 0.15 kg. At day 14 and the end of the experiment, one piglet close to the average BW of each pen was slaughtered to determine body composition, microbial composition and microbial metabolites. Results showed that there was no difference (p > 0.05) in the experimental days to reach target BW between the LP and NP groups. The average daily gain (ADG) and gain:feed ratio (G:F) during the protein restriction phase as well as BW at day 14, were significantly decreased (p < 0.05) in the LP group compared with the NP group. However, there were no significant differences (p > 0.05) during the protein realimentation phase and the overall experiment. Similarly, piglets in the LP group showed a significantly decreased body protein content (p < 0.05) at day 14, but not (p > 0.05) at the end of the experiment. The relative abundance of Parabacteroides, Butyricicoccus, Olsenella, Succinivibrio and Pseudoramibacter were significantly increased (p < 0.05), while the relative abundance of Alloprevotella and Faecalicoccus were significantly decreased (p < 0.05) in the LP group at day 14. At the end of the experiment, the piglets in the LP group showed a higher (p < 0.05) colonic relative abundances of Parabacteroides, unidentified Christensenellaceae and Caproiciproducens, and a lower (p < 0.05) relative abundance of unidentified Prevotellaceae, Haemophilus, Marvinbryantia, Faecalibaculum, Neisseria and Dubosiella than those in the NP group. Metabolomics analyses indicated that tryptophan metabolism and vitamin metabolism were enriched in the LP group at day 14, and glycerophospholipid metabolism and fatty acid esters of hydroxy fatty acid metabolism were enriched at the end of the experiment. Moreover, Spearman’s correlation analysis demonstrated that the microbial composition was highly correlated with changes in colonic metabolites. Collectively, these results indicated that protein restriction and subsequent realimentation lead to compensatory growth and compensatory protein deposition in piglets and contribute to animal intestinal health by altering the gut microbiota and its metabolites.

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Study on the Characteristics of Gut Microbiota in Chronic Hepatitis B Patients With Damp Heat Syndrome and Liver Depression and Spleen Deficiency Syndrome

10.21203/rs.3.rs-65426/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Kaiping Jiang ◽

Qunfang Jiang ◽

Xiaoai Mo ◽

Jianhong Li ◽

Hongtao Hu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gut Microbiota ◽

16S Rdna ◽

Relative Abundance ◽

High Throughput Sequencing ◽

Deficiency Syndrome ◽

Spleen Deficiency ◽

Rdna Sequencing ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Heat Syndrome ◽

Spleen Deficiency Syndrome

Abstract Background: To explore the potential biological characteristics of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) syndromes in CHB patients is of great significance to improve the level of TCM treatment.This study was designed to explore the characteristics of gut microbiota in CHB patients with two most common TCM Syndromes.Methods: According to the diagnostic criteria of Western medicine, TCM and screening exclusion criteria, 65 cases of CHB patients with damp heat syndrome and 28 cases of CHB patients with liver depression and spleen deficiency syndrome were finally included in the study. All the basic information was gathered and the fresh fecal samples were collected for 16S rDNA sequencing. 16S rDNA of gut microbiota was sequenced using Illumina hiseq 2500 high-throughput sequencing platform.Based on the optimized sequence, OTU clustering analysis and taxonomic annotation were carried out. Results: The difference in relative abundance of gut microbiota was significant between damp heat syndrome and liver depression and spleen deficiency syndrome in CHB patients. Cyanobacteria was only found in damp heat syndrome.The relative abundance of Erysipelotrichia and Subdoligranulum were higher in liver depression and spleen deficiency syndrome,while the relative abundance of Rhodospirillales, Alphaproteobacteria,and Lachnospira were higher in the damp heat syndrome.LEfSe analysis showed that Lachnospira,Olsenella and Subdoligranulum had significant difference in species among the two TCM syndromes.Conclusions: The different characteristics of gut microbiota in the two TCM syndromes of CHB patients may play an important role in syndrome formation of TCM,which provides a new field of vision for the accurate diagnosis and treatment of TCM.

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Potential use of ground brown rice for weanling pigs

Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.1093/jas/skab267 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Jeong Jae Lee ◽

Sheena Kim ◽

Jin Ho Cho ◽

Hyunjin Kyoung ◽

Seonmin Lee ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gut Microbiota ◽

Growth Performance ◽

Microbial Communities ◽

Relative Abundance ◽

Immune Status ◽

Block Design ◽

Control Diet ◽

Brown Rice ◽

Weanling Pigs ◽

Significant Difference

Abstract The current study was to assess the effects of substituting corn with ground brown rice (GBR) on growth performance, immune status, and gut microbiota in weanling pigs. Seventy-two weanling pigs [28-day-old with 6.78 ± 0.94 kg body weight (BW)] were randomly allotted to 2 dietary treatments with 6 pens and 6 pigs (3 barrows and gilts) per pen with in a randomized complete block design. The control pigs were fed a typical diet for weanling pigs based on corn and soybean meal diet (control diet: CON), and the other pigs were fed a diet formulated by replacing corn with GBR for 35 days. Growth performance, immune status, and gut microbiota of weanling pigs were measured. The substitution of corn with GBR did not affect growth performance or diarrhea frequency. Additionally, there were no differences in white blood cell number, hematocrit, cortisol, C-reactive protein, serum TNF-α levels between pigs fed CON or GBR for the first 2 weeks after weaning. However, weanling pigs fed GBR had lower (P < 0.05) serum TGF-β1 level than those fed CON. Furthermore, weanling pigs fed GBR had increased (P < 0.05) relative abundance of phylum Firmicutes and genus Lactobacillus and Streptococcus and decreased (P < 0.05) relative abundance of phylum Bacteroidetes and genus Clostridium and Prevotella in the gut microbiota compared with those fed CON. In conclusion, there was no significant difference in growth performance when corn was replaced with GBR in diets for weanling pigs. Furthermore, the substitution of corn with GBR in weaning diet modulated immune status and gut microbiota of pigs by increasing beneficial microbial communities and reducing harmful microbial communities. Overall, GBR-based diet is a potentially alternative to corn-based diet without negative effects on growth performance, immune status and gut microbiota changes of weanling pigs.

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