A Pectin-Rich, Baobab Fruit Pulp Powder Exerts Prebiotic Potential on the Human Gut Microbiome In Vitro

Increasing insight into the impact of the gut microbiota on human health has sustained the development of novel prebiotic ingredients. This exploratory study evaluated the prebiotic potential of baobab fruit pulp powder, which consists of pectic polysaccharides with unique composition as compared to other dietary sources, given that it is rich in low methoxylated homogalacturonan (HG). After applying dialysis procedures to remove simple sugars from the product (simulating their absorption along the upper gastrointestinal tract), 48 h fecal batch incubations were performed. Baobab fruit pulp powder boosted colonic acidification across three simulated human adult donors due to the significant stimulation of health-related metabolites acetate (+18.4 mM at 48 h), propionate (+5.5 mM at 48 h), and to a lesser extent butyrate (0.9 mM at 48 h). Further, there was a trend of increased lactate levels (+2.7 mM at 6h) and reduced branched chain fatty acid (bCFA) levels (−0.4 mM at 48 h). While Bacteroidetes levels increased for all donors, donor-dependent increases in Bifidobacteria, Lactobacilli, and Firmicutes were observed, stressing the potential interindividual differences in microbial composition modulation upon Baobab fruit pulp powder treatment. Overall, Baobab fruit pulp powder fermentation displayed features of selective utilization by host microorganisms and, thus, has promising prebiotic potential (also in comparison with the ‘gold standard’ prebiotic inulin). Further research will be required to better characterize this prebiotic potential, accounting for the interindividual differences, while aiming to unravel the potential resulting health benefits.

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The impact of long-term dietary pattern of fecal donor on in vitro fecal fermentation properties of inulin

Food & Function ◽

10.1039/c5fo00987a ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 7 (4) ◽

pp. 1805-1813 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Junyi Yang ◽

Devin J. Rose

Keyword(s):

Fatty Acids ◽

Short Chain Fatty Acids ◽

Processed Meats ◽

Branched Chain Fatty Acids ◽

Fiber Plant ◽

Branched Chain ◽

The Impact ◽

Chain Fatty Acids

A diet high in whole grains, dry beans, and certain vegetables that contributed dietary fiber, plant protein, and B vitamins resulted in high short chain fatty acids, while a diet high in diary and processed meats that provided cholesterol and little fiber resulted in high branched chain fatty acids and ammonia during fecal fermentation of inulin.

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The Impact of Environmental Chemicals on the Gut Microbiome

Toxicological Sciences ◽

10.1093/toxsci/kfaa065 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 176 (2) ◽

pp. 253-284 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Karen Chiu ◽

Genoa Warner ◽

Romana A Nowak ◽

Jodi A Flaws ◽

Wenyan Mei

Keyword(s):

Gut Microbiome ◽

Current Knowledge ◽

Environmental Chemicals ◽

Microbial Composition ◽

Multiple Factors ◽

Microbiome Research ◽

Health Related ◽

Exogenous Factors ◽

The Impact ◽

Insight Into

Abstract Since the surge of microbiome research in the last decade, many studies have provided insight into the causes and consequences of changes in the gut microbiota. Among the multiple factors involved in regulating the microbiome, exogenous factors such as diet and environmental chemicals have been shown to alter the gut microbiome significantly. Although diet substantially contributes to changes in the gut microbiome, environmental chemicals are major contaminants in our food and are often overlooked. Herein, we summarize the current knowledge on major classes of environmental chemicals (bisphenols, phthalates, persistent organic pollutants, heavy metals, and pesticides) and their impact on the gut microbiome, which includes alterations in microbial composition, gene expression, function, and health effects in the host. We then discuss health-related implications of gut microbial changes, which include changes in metabolism, immunity, and neurological function.

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The Toothbrush Microbiome: Impact of User Age, Period of Use and Bristle Material on the Microbial Communities of Toothbrushes

Microorganisms ◽

10.3390/microorganisms8091379 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 8 (9) ◽

pp. 1379 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Marc-Kevin Zinn ◽

Laura Schages ◽

Dirk Bockmühl

Keyword(s):

Bacterial Colonization ◽

Low Frequency ◽

Antibiotic Resistance Genes ◽

In Vitro Tests ◽

Bacterial Survival ◽

Microbial Composition ◽

Growth And Survival ◽

Ngs Data ◽

The Impact

Toothbrushes play a central role in oral hygiene and must be considered one of the most common articles of daily use. We analysed the bacterial colonization of used toothbrushes by next generation sequencing (NGS) and by cultivation on different media. Furthermore, we determined the occurrence of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and the impact of different bristle materials on microbial growth and survival. NGS data revealed that Enterobacteriaceae, Micrococcaceae, Actinomycetaceae, and Streptococcaceae comprise major parts of the toothbrush microbiome. The composition of the microbiome differed depending on the period of use or user age. While higher fractions of Actinomycetales, Lactobacillales, and Enterobacterales were found after shorter periods, Micrococcales dominated on both toothbrushes used for more than four weeks and on toothbrushes of older users, while in-vitro tests revealed increasing counts of Micrococcus on all bristle materials as well. Compared to other environments, we found a rather low frequency of ARGs. We determined bacterial counts between 1.42 × 106 and 1.19 × 107 cfu/toothbrush on used toothbrushes and no significant effect of different bristles materials on bacterial survival or growth. Our study illustrates that toothbrushes harbor various microorganisms and that both period of use and user age might affect the microbial composition.

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Prebiotics from Seaweeds: An Ocean of Opportunity?

Marine Drugs ◽

10.3390/md17060327 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 17 (6) ◽

pp. 327 ◽

Cited By ~ 23

Author(s):

Paul Cherry ◽

Supriya Yadav ◽

Conall R. Strain ◽

Philip J. Allsopp ◽

Emeir M. McSorley ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Fatty Acids ◽

Gut Microbiota ◽

Animal Studies ◽

Health Benefit ◽

Microbial Composition ◽

Previous Discussion ◽

Host Health ◽

Health Related

Seaweeds are an underexploited and potentially sustainable crop which offer a rich source of bioactive compounds, including novel complex polysaccharides, polyphenols, fatty acids, and carotenoids. The purported efficacies of these phytochemicals have led to potential functional food and nutraceutical applications which aim to protect against cardiometabolic and inflammatory risk factors associated with non-communicable diseases, such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease, inflammatory bowel disease, and some cancers. Concurrent understanding that perturbations of gut microbial composition and metabolic function manifest throughout health and disease has led to dietary strategies, such as prebiotics, which exploit the diet-host-microbe paradigm to modulate the gut microbiota, such that host health is maintained or improved. The prebiotic definition was recently updated to “a substrate that is selectively utilised by host microorganisms conferring a health benefit”, which, given that previous discussion regarding seaweed prebiotics has focused upon saccharolytic fermentation, an opportunity is presented to explore how non-complex polysaccharide components from seaweeds may be metabolised by host microbial populations to benefit host health. Thus, this review provides an innovative approach to consider how the gut microbiota may utilise seaweed phytochemicals, such as polyphenols, polyunsaturated fatty acids, and carotenoids, and provides an updated discussion regarding the catabolism of seaweed-derived complex polysaccharides with potential prebiotic activity. Additional in vitro screening studies and in vivo animal studies are needed to identify potential prebiotics from seaweeds, alongside untargeted metabolomics to decipher microbial-derived metabolites from seaweeds. Furthermore, controlled human intervention studies with health-related end points to elucidate prebiotic efficacy are required.

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Long term exposure of human gut microbiota with high and low emulsifier sensitivity to soy lecithin in M-SHIME model.

10.1101/2021.12.16.472798 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Lisa Miclotte ◽

Ellen De Paepe ◽

Qiqiong Li ◽

Andreja Rajkovic ◽

John Van Camp ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gut Microbiota ◽

Day Treatment ◽

Treatment Phase ◽

Microbial Composition ◽

Soy Lecithin ◽

Potential Health ◽

And Function ◽

The Impact

In the context of the potential health hazards related to food processing, dietary emulsifiers have been shown to alter the structure and function of the gut microbial community, both in vivo and in vitro. In mouse models, these emulsifier exposed gut microbiota were shown to contribute to gut inflammation. Several knowledge gaps remain to be addressed though. As such, the impact from a longer timeframe of exposure on the gut microbiota is not known and interindividual variability in microbiome response needs to be measured. To answer these research questions, in this study the faecal microbiota from two individuals, previously selected for high and low emulsifier sensitivity, were exposed to two concentrations of soy lecithin during a 7 day treatment phase in the dynamic mucosal simulator of the human intestinal microbial ecosystem (M-SHIME). The results showed mild effects from soy lecithin on the composition and functionality of these microbial communities, which depended on the original microbial composition. The effects also mostly levelled off after 3 days of exposure. The emulsifier sensitivity for which the microbiota were selected, was preserved. Some potentially concerning effects were also registered: butyrate levels, positively correlating with Faecalibacterium abundance, were lowered by soy lecithin. Also the abundance of the beneficial Bifidobacterium genus was lowered, while the abundance of the notorious unclassified Enterobacteriaceae was increased. Within the family of the unclassified Lachnospiraceae, several genera were either suppressed or stimulated. The effects that these microbial alterations would have on a living host is not yet certain, especially given the fact that large fractions of soy lecithins constituents can be absorbed. Nevertheless, choline and phosphatidylcholine, both primary and absorbable constituents of soy lecithin, have recently been linked to cardiovascular disease via the generation of TMA by the gut microbiota. Further studies that validate our findings and link them to potential health outcomes are thus justified.

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Dynamic simulations of microbial communities under perturbations: opportunities for microbiome engineering

10.21203/rs.2.24431/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Beatriz García-Jiménez ◽

Jorge Carrasco ◽

Joaquín Medina ◽

Mark D Wilkinson

Keyword(s):

Microbial Communities ◽

Biological Knowledge ◽

Sample Collection ◽

Biomedical Knowledge ◽

Microbial Composition ◽

Dynamic Simulations ◽

Soil Microbial ◽

Types Of Information ◽

The Impact

Abstract Background : There are few large longitudinal microbiome studies, and fewer that include controlled, well-annotated perturbations between sampling-points. Thus, there are few opportunities to employ data-driven computational analyses of perturbed microbial communities over time. Results : Our novel computational system simulates the dynamics of microbial communities under perturbations using genome-scale metabolic models (GEMs). Perturbations include modifications to a) the nutrients available in the medium, allowing modelling of prebiotics; and/or b) the microorganisms present in the community to model, for example, probiotics or pathogen infection. These simulations generate the quantity and types of information required by MDPbiome, an AI system which builds predictive models suggesting the perturbation(s) required to engineer microbial communities to a desired state. We call this novel combination of technologies "MDPbiomeGEM"'. We demonstrate, in a Crohn’s disease microbiome, that MDPbiomeGEM correctly models the influence of both prebiotic fiber and a probiotic, resulting in a recommendation to consume inulin to recover from dysbiosis, consistent with prior biomedical knowledge. When used to model the soil microbiome's ability to degrade the herbicide Atrazine, differing recommendations arise depending on the highly variable state of the initial soil microbial composition, highlighting the relevance of both phosphate and microbes (i.e. Halobacillus sp. and H.stevensii ) in a directed microbiome engineering strategy, consistent with previously published observations. Conclusions : MDPbiomeGEM generates large volumes of longitudinal data of complex microbial communities experiencing perturbations. Machine learning on these data reveal patterns consistent with existing biological knowledge, supporting the validity of the approach. MDPbiomeGEM could save research resources by optimizing sample collection in metagenomics studies through identification of "informative" scenarios/time-points, or by predicting optimal in-vitro culture formulations for generating performant synthetic microbial communities. Finally, MDPbiomeGEM outputs include detailed information about the metabolic state of the community, which can be used to further interpret the impact of perturbations, and potentially could be used to predict novel metabolic biomarkers of a microbiome's state.

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Synbiotic Effect of Bifidobacterium lactis CNCM I-3446 and Bovine Milk-Derived Oligosaccharides on Infant Gut Microbiota

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu12082268 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (8) ◽

pp. 2268 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Benoît Marsaux ◽

Pieter Van den Abbeele ◽

Jonas Ghyselinck ◽

Guénolée Prioult ◽

Massimo Marzorati ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gut Microbiota ◽

Bovine Milk ◽

Lactate Production ◽

Activity Level ◽

Microbial Composition ◽

Depth Study ◽

Novel Strategy ◽

Ph Decrease ◽

The Impact

Background: This study evaluated the impact of Bifidobacterium animalis ssp. lactis CNCM I-3446, Bovine Milk-derived OligoSaccharides (BMOS) and their combination on infant gut microbiota in vitro. In addition, a novel strategy consisting of preculturing B. lactis with BMOS to further enhance their potential synbiotic effects was assessed. Method: Short-term fecal batch fermentations (48 h) were used to assess the microbial composition and activity modulated by BMOS alone, B. lactis grown on BMOS or dextrose alone, or their combinations on different three-month-old infant microbiota. Results: BMOS alone significantly induced acetate and lactate production (leading to pH decrease) and stimulated bifidobacterial growth in 10 donors. A further in-depth study on two different donors proved B. lactis ability to colonize the infant microbiota, regardless of the competitiveness of the environment. BMOS further enhanced this engraftment, suggesting a strong synbiotic effect. This was also observed at the microbiota activity level, especially in a donor containing low initial levels of bifidobacteria. In this donor, preculturing B. lactis with BMOS strengthened further the early modulation of microbiota activity observed after 6 h. Conclusion: This study demonstrated the strong synbiotic effect of BMOS and B. lactis on the infant gut microbiota, and suggests a strategy to improve its effectiveness in an otherwise low-Bifidobacterium microbiota.

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Novel approaches for analysing gut microbes and dietary polyphenols: challenges and opportunities

Microbiology ◽

10.1099/mic.0.042127-0 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 156 (11) ◽

pp. 3224-3231 ◽

Cited By ~ 122

Author(s):

R. A. Kemperman ◽

S. Bolca ◽

L. C. Roger ◽

E. E. Vaughan

Keyword(s):

Gut Microbiota ◽

Health Effects ◽

Fruit And Vegetables ◽

Human Gut ◽

Microbial Composition ◽

Dietary Polyphenols ◽

Host Health ◽

The Impact

Polyphenols, ubiquitously present in the food we consume, may modify the gut microbial composition and/or activity, and moreover, may be converted by the colonic microbiota to bioactive compounds that influence host health. The polyphenol content of fruit and vegetables and derived products is implicated in some of the health benefits bestowed on eating fruit and vegetables. Elucidating the mechanisms behind polyphenol metabolism is an important step in understanding their health effects. Yet, this is no trivial assignment due to the diversity encountered in both polyphenols and the gut microbial composition, which is further confounded by the interactions with the host. Only a limited number of studies have investigated the impact of dietary polyphenols on the complex human gut microbiota and these were mainly focused on single polyphenol molecules and selected bacterial populations. Our knowledge of gut microbial genes and pathways for polyphenol bioconversion and interactions is poor. Application of specific in vitro or in vivo models mimicking the human gut environment is required to analyse these diverse interactions. A particular benefit can now be gained from next-generation analytical tools such as metagenomics and metatranscriptomics allowing a wider, more holistic approach to the analysis of polyphenol metabolism. Understanding the polyphenol–gut microbiota interactions and gut microbial bioconversion capacity will facilitate studies on bioavailability of polyphenols in the host, provide more insight into the health effects of polyphenols and potentially open avenues for modulation of polyphenol bioactivity for host health.

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The microbiota structure in the cecum of laying hens contributes to dissimilar H2S production

BMC Genomics ◽

10.1186/s12864-019-6115-1 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 20 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Chun-Bo Huang ◽

Lei Xiao ◽

Si-Cheng Xing ◽

Jing-Yuan Chen ◽

Yi-Wen Yang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Amino Acid ◽

Laying Hens ◽

Gas Production ◽

Microbial Structure ◽

Host Genotype ◽

Microbial Composition ◽

Carbohydrate Utilization ◽

The Impact ◽

Odor Production

Abstract Background Host genotype plays a crucial role in microbial composition of laying hens, which may lead to dissimilar odor gas production. The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship among layer breed, microbial structure and odor production. Results Thirty Hy-Line Gray and thirty Lohmann Pink laying hens were used in this study to determine the impact of cecal microbial structure on odor production of laying hens. The hens were managed under the same husbandry and dietary regimes. Results of in vivo experiments showed a lower hydrogen sulfide (H2S) production from Hy-Line hens and a lower concentration of soluble sulfide (S2−) but a higher concentration of butyrate in the cecal content of the Hy-Line hens compared to Lohmann Pink hens (P < 0.05), which was consistent with the in vitro experiments (P < 0.05). However, ammonia (NH3) production was not different between genotypes (P > 0.05). Significant microbial structural differences existed between the two breed groups. The relative abundance of some butyrate producers (including Butyricicoccus, Butyricimonas and Roseburia) and sulfate-reducing bacteria (including Mailhella and Lawsonia) were found to be significantly correlated with odor production and were shown to be different in the 16S rRNA and PCR data between two breed groups. Furthermore, some bacterial metabolism pathways associated with energy extraction and carbohydrate utilization (oxidative phosphorylation, pyruvate metabolism, energy metabolism, two component system and secretion system) were overrepresented in the Hy-Line hens, while several amino acid metabolism-associated pathways (amino acid related enzymes, arginine and proline metabolism, and alanine-aspartate and glutamate metabolism) were more prevalent in the Lohmann hens. Conclusion The results of this study suggest that genotype of laying hens influence cecal microbiota, which in turn modulates their odor production. Our study provides references for breeding and enteric manipulation for defined microbiota to reduce odor gas emission.

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Prebiotic Supplementation ofIn VitroFecal Fermentations Inhibits Proteolysis by Gut Bacteria, and Host Diet Shapes Gut Bacterial Metabolism and Response to Intervention

Applied and Environmental Microbiology ◽

10.1128/aem.02749-18 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 85 (9) ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Xuedan Wang ◽

Glenn R. Gibson ◽

Adele Costabile ◽

Manuela Sailer ◽

Stephan Theis ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Fatty Acids ◽

Dietary Protein ◽

Gut Bacteria ◽

Ammonia Production ◽

Protein Sources ◽

Branched Chain Fatty Acids ◽

Branched Chain ◽

The Impact ◽

Chain Fatty Acids

ABSTRACTMetabolism of protein by gut bacteria is potentially detrimental due to the production of toxic metabolites, such as ammonia, amines,p-cresol, and indole. The consumption of prebiotic carbohydrates results in specific changes in the composition and/or activity of the microbiota that may confer benefits to host well-being and health. Here, we have studied the impact of prebiotics on proteolysis within the gutin vitro. Anaerobic stirred batch cultures were inoculated with feces from omnivores (n = 3) and vegetarians (n = 3) and four protein sources (casein, meat, mycoprotein, and soy protein) with and without supplementation by an oligofructose-enriched inulin. Bacterial counts and concentrations of short-chain fatty acids (SCFA), ammonia, phenol, indole, andp-cresol were monitored during fermentation. Addition of the fructan prebiotic Synergy1 increased levels of bifidobacteria (P = 0.000019 and 0.000013 for omnivores and vegetarians, respectively). Branched-chain fatty acids (BCFA) were significantly lower in fermenters with vegetarians’ feces (P = 0.004), reduced further by prebiotic treatment. Ammonia production was lower with Synergy1. Bacterial adaptation to different dietary protein sources was observed through different patterns of ammonia production between vegetarians and omnivores. In volunteer samples with high baseline levels of phenol, indole,p-cresol, and skatole, Synergy1 fermentation led to a reduction of these compounds.IMPORTANCEDietary protein intake is high in Western populations, which could result in potentially harmful metabolites in the gut from proteolysis. In anin vitrofermentation model, the addition of prebiotics reduced the negative consequences of high protein levels. Supplementation with a prebiotic resulted in a reduction of proteolytic metabolites in the model. A difference was seen in protein fermentation between omnivore and vegetarian gut microbiotas: bacteria from vegetarian donors grew more on soy and Quorn than on meat and casein, with reduced ammonia production. Bacteria from vegetarian donors produced less branched-chain fatty acids (BCFA).

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