Dietary Recombinant Phycoerythrin Modulates the Gut Microbiota of H22 Tumor-Bearing Mice

Normal intestinal flora is widely involved in many functions of the host: nutritional metabolism; maintenance of intestinal microecological balance; regulation of intestinal endocrine function and nerve signal transduction; promotion of intestinal immune system development and maturation; inhibition of pathogenic bacteria growth and colonization, reduction of its invasion to intestinal mucosa, and so on. In recent years, more and more studies have shown that intestinal flora is closely related to the occurrence, development, and treatment of various tumors. It is indicated that recombinant phycoerythrin (RPE) has significant anti-tumor and immunomodulatory effects. However, little is known about the mechanism of the effect of oral (or intragastric) administration of RPE on gut microbiota in tumor-bearing animals. In this study, using high-throughput 16S rDNA sequencing, we examined the response of gut microbiota in H22-bearing mice to dietary RPE supplementation. The results showed that the abundance of beneficial bacteria in the mice intestinal flora decreased and that of the detrimental flora increased after inoculation with tumor cells (H22); following treatment with dietary RPE, the abundance of beneficial bacteria in the intestinal flora significantly increased and that of detrimental bacteria decreased. In this study, for the first time, it was demonstrated that dietary RPE could modulate the gut microbiota of the H22 bearing mice by increasing the abundance of beneficial bacteria and decreasing that of detrimental bacteria among intestinal bacteria, providing evidence for the mechanism by which bioactive proteins affect intestinal nutrition and disease resistance in animals.

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Ginger Alleviates DSS-Induced Ulcerative Colitis Severity by Improving the Diversity and Function of Gut Microbiota

Frontiers in Pharmacology ◽

10.3389/fphar.2021.632569 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Shanshan Guo ◽

Wenye Geng ◽

Shan Chen ◽

Li Wang ◽

Xuli Rong ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Ulcerative Colitis ◽

Gut Microbiota ◽

Pathogenic Bacteria ◽

Intestinal Flora ◽

Experimental Models ◽

Intestinal Microbiome ◽

Control Group ◽

Therapeutic Effects ◽

Sequencing Analysis ◽

And Function

The effects of ginger on gastrointestinal disorders such as ulcerative colitis have been widely investigated using experimental models; however, the mechanisms underlying its therapeutic actions are still unknown. In this study, we investigated the correlation between the therapeutic effects of ginger and the regulation of the gut microbiota. We used dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) to induce colitis and found that ginger alleviated colitis-associated pathological changes and decreased the mRNA expression levels of interleukin-6 and inducible nitric oxide synthase in mice. 16s rRNA sequencing analysis of the feces samples showed that mice with colitis had an intestinal flora imbalance with lower species diversity and richness. At the phylum level, a higher abundance of pathogenic bacteria, Proteobacteria and firmicutes, were observed; at the genus level, most samples in the model group showed an increase in Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group. The overall analysis illustrated an increase in the relative abundance of Lactobacillus_murinus, Lachnospiraceae_bacterium_615, and Ruminiclostridium_sp._KB18. These increased pathogenic bacteria in model mice were decreased when treated with ginger. DSS-treated mice showed a lower abundance of Muribaculaceae, and ginger corrected this disorder. The bacterial community structure of the ginger group analyzed with Alpha and Beta indices was similar to that of the control group. The results also illustrated that altered intestinal microbiomes affected physiological functions and adjusted key metabolic pathways in mice. In conclusion, this research presented that ginger reduced DSS-induced colitis severity and positively regulated the intestinal microbiome. Based on the series of data in this study, we hypothesize that ginger can improve diseases by restoring the diversity and functions of the gut microbiota.

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Microbiome analysis reveals gut microbiota alteration of early-weaned Yimeng black goats with the effect of milk replacer and age

Microbial Cell Factories ◽

10.1186/s12934-021-01568-5 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 20 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Aoyun Li ◽

Yan Yang ◽

Songkang Qin ◽

Shenjin Lv ◽

Taihua Jin ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gut Microbiota ◽

Relative Abundance ◽

Pathogenic Bacteria ◽

Alpha Diversity ◽

Milk Replacer ◽

Beneficial Bacteria ◽

Microbial Distribution ◽

Microbial Development ◽

Ameliorative Effect ◽

Effect Of Age

Abstract Background Colonization of intestinal microbiota in ruminant during the early life is important to host health, metabolism and immunity. Accumulating evidence revealed the ameliorative effect of milk replacer administration in the gut microbial development of early-weaned ruminants. Yimeng black goats (YBGs) inhabiting Shandong, China show a complex intestinal microbial ecosystem, but studies of their gut microbiota are still insufficient to report. Here, this study was performed to investigate how the gut microbiota develops in weaned YBGs with the effect of age and milk replacer. Results Results indicated that both age and milk replacer were important factors to change the gut microbiota of YBGs. Although the alpha diversity of gut microbiota did not change with the age of YBGs, the taxonomic compositions significantly changed. The relative abundance of some beneficial bacteria such as Lachnospiraceae, Ruminococcaceae, Ruminiclostridium, Eubacterium and Barnesiella significantly decreased and subsequently increase with age, which contributes to maintain the stability of intestinal environment and realize the diversity of intestinal functions. The relative abundance of Porphyromonas, Brevundimonas, Flavobacterium, Stenotrophomonas, Propionibacterium, Acinetobacter, Enterococcus and Clostridium belong to pathogenic bacteria in milk replacer-treated YBGs was significantly decreased. Additionally, some beneficial bacteria such as Ruminococcus, Ruminococcaceae, Christensenellaceae and Ruminiclostridium also display a trend of decreasing first followed by gradually increasing. Conclusions This study first revealed the gut bacterial community alterations in YBGs with the effect of age and milk replacer. This study also characterized the gut microbial distribution in YBGs with different ages and provided better insight into microbial population structure and diversity of YBGs. Moreover, milk replacer may serve as a good applicant for improving gut microbial development in early-weaned YBGs.

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Probiotics Regulate Gut Microbiota: An Effective Method to Improve Immunity

Molecules ◽

10.3390/molecules26196076 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 26 (19) ◽

pp. 6076

Author(s):

Xinzhou Wang ◽

Peng Zhang ◽

Xin Zhang

Keyword(s):

Gut Microbiota ◽

Pathogenic Bacteria ◽

Intestinal Flora ◽

Life Quality ◽

Protective Layer ◽

Host Immune System ◽

Close Relationship ◽

Human Immunity ◽

The Relationship ◽

Gut Microbiota Composition

Probiotics are beneficial active microorganisms that colonize the human intestines and change the composition of the flora in particular parts of the host. Recently, the use of probiotics to regulate intestinal flora to improve host immunity has received widespread attention. Recent evidence has shown that probiotics play significant roles in gut microbiota composition, which can inhibit the colonization of pathogenic bacteria in the intestine, help the host build a healthy intestinal mucosa protective layer, and enhance the host immune system. Based on the close relationship between the gut microbiota and human immunity, it has become an extremely effective way to improve human immunity by regulating the gut microbiome with probiotics. In this review, we discussed the influence of probiotics on the gut microbiota and human immunity, and the relationship between immunity, probiotics, gut microbiota, and life quality. We further emphasized the regulation of gut microflora through probiotics, thereby enhancing human immunity and improving people’s lives.

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Alisol B 23-Acetate Ameliorates Azoxymethane/Dextran Sodium Sulfate-Induced Male Murine Colitis-Associated Colorectal Cancer via Modulating the Composition of Gut Microbiota and Improving Intestinal Barrier

Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology ◽

10.3389/fcimb.2021.640225 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 ◽

Author(s):

Huai-Chang Zhu ◽

Xiao-Kang Jia ◽

Yong Fan ◽

Shao-Hua Xu ◽

Xiao-Yan Li ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gut Microbiota ◽

Pathogenic Bacteria ◽

Tissue Injury ◽

Activity Index ◽

Intestinal Flora ◽

Intestinal Barrier ◽

Body Weight Loss ◽

Gastrointestinal Diseases ◽

The Body ◽

Alismatis Rhizoma

Hunting for natural compounds that can modulate the structure of the intestinal flora is a new hotspot for colitis‐associated cancer (CAC) prevention or treatment. Alisol B 23-acetate (AB23A) is a natural tetracyclic triterpenoid found in Alismatis rhizoma which is well known for dietary herb. Alismatis rhizoma is often used clinically to treat gastrointestinal diseases in China. In this study, we investigated the potential prevention of AB23A in male mouse models of azoxymethane (AOM) and dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced CAC. AB23A intervention alleviated the body weight loss, disease activity index, colon tumor load, tissue injury, and inflammatory cytokine changes in CAC mice. AB23A intervention leads to remarkable reductions in the activation of TLR, NF-κB and MAPK. AB23A significantly decreased the phosphorylation of p38, ERK, and JNK and up-regulated mucin-2 and the expression of tight junction proteins. The gut microbiota of AB23A-interfered mice was characterized with high microbial diversity, the reduced expansion of pathogenic bacteria, such as Klebsiella, Citrobacter, and Akkermansia, and the increased growth of bacteria including Bacteroides, Lactobacillus, and Alloprevotella. These data reveal that AB23A has the potential to be used to treat CAC in the future.

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Effects of Andrographolide on Mouse Intestinal Microflora Based on High-Throughput Sequence Analysis

Frontiers in Veterinary Science ◽

10.3389/fvets.2021.702885 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 ◽

Author(s):

Haigang Wu ◽

Xian Wu ◽

Li Huang ◽

Chongmei Ruan ◽

Jinni Liu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Microbial Community ◽

Gut Microbiota ◽

High Throughput ◽

High Throughput Sequencing ◽

Bacterial Resistance ◽

Microbial Community Composition ◽

Intestinal Flora ◽

Sequencing Analysis ◽

Beneficial Bacteria ◽

Intestinal Microbes

The intestinal flora is a micro-ecosystem that is closely linked to the overall health of the host. We examined the diversity and abundance of intestinal microorganisms in mice following the administration of andrographolide, a component of the Chinese medical herb Andrographis paniculata. Administration of andrographolide produces multiple beneficial effects including anti-inflammatory, antiviral and antibacterial effects but whether it directly influences the gut microbiota is not known. This study investigated whether the oral administration of andrographolide influences the intestinal microbiota and was compared with amoxicillin treatment as a positive control and water only as a negative control. We examined 21 cecal samples and conducted a high-throughput sequencing analysis based on V3-V4 variable region of the 16S rDNA genes. We found that the diversity and abundance of mouse gut microbiota decreased in direct proportion with the amoxicillin dose whereas andrographolide administration did not affect intestinal microbial community structure. The composition of intestinal microbes following andrographolide treatment was dominated by the Firmicutes while Bacteroidetes dominated the amoxicillin treatment group compared with the negative controls. Specifically, the f__Lachnospiraceae_ Unclassified, Lachnospiraceae_ NK4A136_group and Ruminococcaceae_ UCG-014 were enriched with andrographolide administration while Bacteroides, Klebsiella and Escherichia-Shigella significantly increased in the amoxicillin test groups. Amoxicillin administration altered the microbial community composition and structure by increasing the proportion of pathogenic to beneficial bacteria whereas andrographolide administration led to increases in the proportions and abundance of beneficial bacteria. This study provides a theoretical basis for finding alternatives to antibiotics to decrease bacterial resistance and restore intestinal floral imbalances.

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Alcohol or Gut Microbiota: Who Is the Guilty?

International Journal of Molecular Sciences ◽

10.3390/ijms20184568 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 20 (18) ◽

pp. 4568 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

Marica Meroni ◽

Miriam Longo ◽

Paola Dongiovanni

Keyword(s):

Gut Microbiota ◽

Pathogenic Bacteria ◽

Intestinal Flora ◽

Intestinal Barrier ◽

Taxonomic Composition ◽

Mucosal Inflammation ◽

Ethanol Abuse ◽

Advanced Stages ◽

Global Health Care ◽

Hepatic Injuries

Alcoholic liver disease (ALD), a disorder caused by excessive alcohol intake represents a global health care burden. ALD encompasses a broad spectrum of hepatic injuries including asymptomatic steatosis, alcoholic steatohepatitis (ASH), fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The susceptibility of alcoholic patients to develop ALD is highly variable and its progression to more advanced stages is strongly influenced by several hits (i.e., amount and duration of alcohol abuse). Among them, the intestinal microbiota and its metabolites have been recently identified as paramount in ALD pathophysiology. Ethanol abuse triggers qualitative and quantitative modifications in intestinal flora taxonomic composition, mucosal inflammation, and intestinal barrier derangement. Intestinal hypermeability results in the translocation of viable pathogenic bacteria, Gram-negative microbial products, and pro-inflammatory luminal metabolites into the bloodstream, further corroborating the alcohol-induced liver damage. Thus, the premise of this review is to discuss the beneficial effect of gut microbiota modulation as a novel therapeutic approach in ALD management.

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Effect of Gut Microbiotas Diversity During 32-39 Weeks of Gestation on Postpartum Depression

10.21203/rs.3.rs-91665/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Xiaoyan Zhang ◽

Qiangsheng Gan ◽

Hongling Yang ◽

Weitao Ye ◽

Xueqin Zhao ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Postpartum Depression ◽

Gut Microbiota ◽

Pregnant Women ◽

Pathogenic Bacteria ◽

Intestinal Flora ◽

Control Group ◽

Control Groups ◽

Mainland Chinese ◽

Pregnancy And Postpartum ◽

And Control

Abstract Background: Patients with major depression are accompanied by intestinal flora flocculation; however, the relationship between the composition of gut microbiota in pregnancy and postpartum depression (PPD) has not been established. In this study we determined the effect of the gut microbiota in pregnant women during 32-39 weeks of gestation on PPD.Methods: Participants (n = 74) were enrolled between 2016–2017 from the Guangzhou Women and Children’s Medical Centre (GWCMC). Stool samples were collected during 32-39 weeks of gestation, and the relative abundance of fecal microbiota was characterized by 16S rRNA sequencing. The parturients completed the mainland Chinese version of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) 42 days postpartum to detect PPD. The linear discriminant analysis (LDA) effect size (LEfSe) method was used to identify bacterial population differences between the PPD and control groups.Results: The top three bacteria phyla in the PPD and control groups were Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, and Actinobacteria. Compared with healthy pregnant women, the alpha diversity index of the PPD group was lower. Beta diversity analysis was performed by PCoA showing that no significant differences in bacterial community structures between the two groups (R2 = 0.013, P = 0.549). The composition of gut microbiota during 32-39 weeks of gestation of the two groups was different. At the genera level, Acinetobacter, Plesiomonas, Enterococcus, Olsenella, Alloscardovia, and Anaerotruncus were increased in the PPD group, while Lactococcus, Adlercreutzia, Clostridium, Coprococcus, and unclassified-Clostridiales were decreased. At the species level, hypermegale, uli, casseliflavus, and hathewayi were increased in the PPD group, and celatum was increased in the control group.Conclusions: During 32-39 weeks of gestation, a reduction in diversity of gut microbiota and anti-inflammatory bacteria, and an increase in opportunistic pathogenic bacteria are more likely to cause PPD.

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Biotransformation of Timosaponin BII into Seven Characteristic Metabolites by the Gut Microbiota

Molecules ◽

10.3390/molecules26133861 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 26 (13) ◽

pp. 3861

Author(s):

Guo-Ming Dong ◽

Hang Yu ◽

Li-Bin Pan ◽

Shu-Rong Ma ◽

Hui Xu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gut Microbiota ◽

Rat Liver ◽

Pharmacological Activity ◽

Liver Homogenate ◽

Intestinal Flora ◽

Important Indicator ◽

Metabolic Characteristics ◽

Metabolic Behavior ◽

First Time ◽

Rat Liver Microsome

Timosaponin BII is one of the most abundant Anemarrhena saponins and is in a phase II clinical trial for the treatment of dementia. However, the pharmacological activity of timosaponin BII does not match its low bioavailability. In this study, we aimed to determine the effects of gut microbiota on timosaponin BII metabolism. We found that intestinal flora had a strong metabolic effect on timosaponin BII by HPLC-MS/MS. At the same time, seven potential metabolites (M1-M7) produced by rat intestinal flora were identified using HPLC/MS-Q-TOF. Among them, three structures identified are reported in gut microbiota for the first time. A comparison of rat liver homogenate and a rat liver microsome incubation system revealed that the metabolic behavior of timosaponin BII was unique to the gut microbiota system. Finally, a quantitative method for the three representative metabolites was established by HPLC-MS/MS, and the temporal relationship among the metabolites was initially clarified. In summary, it is suggested that the metabolic characteristics of gut microbiota may be an important indicator of the pharmacological activity of timosaponin BII, which can be applied to guide its application and clinical use in the future.

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The change of gut microbiota in MDD patients under SSRIs treatment

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-94481-1 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Yang Shen ◽

Xiao Yang ◽

Gaofei Li ◽

Jiayu Gao ◽

Ying Liang

Keyword(s):

Gut Microbiota ◽

Maximum Dose ◽

Antidepressant Treatment ◽

Intestinal Flora ◽

Alpha Diversity ◽

The Other ◽

Control Group ◽

Depressed Patients ◽

Metabolic Functions

AbstractThe alterations in the gut microbiota have been reported to be correlated with the development of depression. The purpose of this study was to investigate the changes of intestinal microbiota in depressed patients after antidepressant treatment. We recruited 30 MDD patients (MDD group) and 30 healthy controls (control group). The MDD group received individualized treatment with escitalopram at a maximum dose of 20 mg/day. After depressive symptoms improved to a HAMD scale score > 50%, a fecal sample was collected again and used as the follow-up group. The differences of gut microbiota between patients and controls, the characteristics of gut microbiota under treatment and the potential differences in metabolic functions were thus investigated. The Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio was significantly different within three groups, and the ratio of follow-up group was significantly lower than those of the other two groups. Alpha diversity was significantly higher in MDD group than those of the other groups, and the alpha diversity was not significantly different between control and follow-up groups. The beta diversity of some patients resembled participants in the control group. The metabolic function of gut microbiota after treatment was still different from that of the control group. This study suggests that the intestinal flora of depressed patients has a tendency to return to normal under escitalopram treatment.

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Exploring Mucin as Adjunct to Phage Therapy

Microorganisms ◽

10.3390/microorganisms9030509 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (3) ◽

pp. 509

Author(s):

Amanda Carroll-Portillo ◽

Henry C. Lin

Keyword(s):

Pathogenic Bacteria ◽

Structural Changes ◽

Phage Therapy ◽

Bacterial Species ◽

Gi Tract ◽

Beneficial Bacteria ◽

Phage Cocktail ◽

Small Intestinal ◽

Gastrointestinal Dysbiosis

Conventional phage therapy using bacteriophages (phages) for specific targeting of pathogenic bacteria is not always useful as a therapeutic for gastrointestinal (GI) dysfunction. Complex dysbiotic GI disorders such as small intestinal bowel overgrowth (SIBO), ulcerative colitis (UC), or Crohn’s disease (CD) are even more difficult to treat as these conditions have shifts in multiple populations of bacteria within the microbiome. Such community-level structural changes in the gut microbiota may require an alternative to conventional phage therapy such as fecal virome transfer or a phage cocktail capable of targeting multiple bacterial species. Additionally, manipulation of the GI microenvironment may enhance beneficial bacteria–phage interactions during treatment. Mucin, produced along the entire length of the GI tract to protect the underlying mucosa, is a prominent contributor to the GI microenvironment and may facilitate bacteria–phage interactions in multiple ways, potentially serving as an adjunct during phage therapy. In this review, we will describe what is known about the role of mucin within the GI tract and how its facilitation of bacteria–phage interactions should be considered in any effort directed at optimizing effectiveness of a phage therapy for gastrointestinal dysbiosis.

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