Prebiotic supplementation over a cold season and during antibiotic treatment specifically modulates the gut microbiota composition of 3-6 year-old children

Supplementing kindergarten children during a cold season with a prebiotic inulin-type fructans product with shorter and longer fructan chains has been shown to reduce febrile episodes requiring medical attention and to lower the incidence of sinusitis. These beneficial effects may be connected to the specific modulation of children’s gut microbiota. By applying quantitative and qualitative microbiota analysis this study aimed at characterising the gut microbiota composition and at exploring effects of prebiotic intervention on the gut microbiota during a 24-weeks intervention and during antibiotic treatment in healthy children. The study was a randomised, placebo-controlled trial with 258 healthy children aged 3 to 6 years consuming 6 g/day prebiotic inulin-type fructans or maltodextrin. During the course of the study, faecal samples were collected and subject to targeted qPCR analysis and phylogenetic profiling by multiplexed high throughput sequencing of the prokaryotic 16S rRNA gene PCR amplicons. The microbiota composition of the cohort could be clustered into three distinct constellations (enterotypes). Prebiotic intake resulted in a selective modulation of the gut microbiota composition. Relative abundance of Bifidobacterium was significantly higher in the prebiotic group (n=104) compared to control group (n=105) and this effect was found for all three enterotypes. Antibiotic administration decreased the relative abundance of Bifidobacterium in both groups. Nonetheless, children of the prebiotic group receiving antibiotic treatment displayed significantly higher levels of Bifidobacterium than children receiving the placebo control. Prebiotic supplementation induced specific changes in the gut microbiota composition of children aged 3 to 6 years. Moreover, it attenuated antibiotic-induced disturbances in the gut microbiota composition as shown by higher relative abundance of bifidobacteria at the end of the antibiotic treatment in the prebiotic group. With the previously reported benefits on immune function, the study contributes to the evidence on the immune-modulating effects of prebiotics through gut microbiota modifications. The study was registered as NCT03241355 ( https://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT03241355 ).

Download Full-text

The microbiota of farmed mink (Neovison vison) follows a successional development and is affected by early life antibiotic exposure

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-020-77417-z ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Martin Iain Bahl ◽

Anabelle Legarth Honoré ◽

Sanne Tygesen Skønager ◽

Oliver Legarth Honoré ◽

Tove Clausen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gut Microbiota ◽

Early Life ◽

Intramuscular Administration ◽

Control Group ◽

Rrna Gene ◽

Antibiotic Administration ◽

Lactation Period ◽

Microbiota Composition ◽

Gut Microbiota Composition ◽

Successional Development

AbstractOn many mink farms, antibiotics are used extensively during the lactation period to reduce the prevalence and severity of pre-weaning diarrhoea (PWD) in mink kits (also referred to as greasy kit syndrome). Concerns have been raised, that routine treatment of PWD with antibiotics could affect the natural successional development of the gut microbiota, which may have long lasting consequences. Here we investigated the effects of early life antibiotic treatment administered for 1 week (postnatal days 13–20). Two routes of antibiotic administration were compared to a non-treated control group (CTR, n = 24). Routes of administration included indirect treatment, through the milk from dams receiving antibiotics by intramuscular administration (ABX_D, n = 24) and direct treatment by intramuscular administration to the kits (ABX_K, n = 24). A tendency for slightly increased weight at termination (Day 205) was observed in the ABX_K group. The gut microbiota composition was profiled by 16S rRNA gene sequencing at eight time points between Day 7 and Day 205. A clear successional development of the gut microbiota composition was observed and both treatment regimens caused detectable changes in the gut microbiota until at least eight days after treatment ceased. At termination, a significant positive correlation was identified between microbial diversity and animal weight.

Download Full-text

Tiansi Liquid Modulates Gut Microbiota Composition and Tryptophan–Kynurenine Metabolism in Rats with Hydrocortisone-Induced Depression

Molecules ◽

10.3390/molecules23112832 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 23 (11) ◽

pp. 2832 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Dan Cheng ◽

Hongsheng Chang ◽

Suya Ma ◽

Jian Guo ◽

Gaimei She ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gut Microbiota ◽

Relative Abundance ◽

High Performance ◽

Negative Relationship ◽

Treated Group ◽

Control Group ◽

Microbiota Composition ◽

Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine ◽

Underlying Mechanisms ◽

Gut Microbiota Composition

Tiansi Liquid is a traditional Chinese herbal medicine used to treat depression; however, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we examined the effect of Tiansi Liquid in a rat model of hydrocortisone-induced depression using behavioral testing, 16S rRNA high-throughput pyrosequencing and high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry-based metabolomics of the tryptophan (TRP)–kynurenine (KYN) pathway. Tiansi Liquid significantly improved the sucrose preference and exploratory behavior of the depressive rats. The richness of intestinal mucosa samples from the model (depressive) group tended to be higher than that from the control group, while the richness was higher in the Tiansi Liquid-treated group than in the model group. Tiansi Liquid increased the relative abundance of some microbiota (Ruminococcaceae, Lactococcus, Lactobacillus, Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group). Metabolomics showed that Tiansi Liquid reduced the levels of tryptophan 2,3 dioxygenase, indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase, quinoline and the KYN/TRP ratio, while increasing kynurenic acid and 5-HT levels. Correlation analysis revealed a negative relationship between the relative abundance of the Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group and quinoline content. Collectively, these findings suggest that Tiansi Liquid ameliorates depressive symptoms in rats by modulating the gut microbiota composition and metabolites in the TRP–KYN pathway.

Download Full-text

Gut microbiota profile of Indonesian stunted children and children with normal nutritional status

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0245399 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 16 (1) ◽

pp. e0245399

Author(s):

Ingrid S. Surono ◽

Dian Widiyanti ◽

Pratiwi D. Kusumo ◽

Koen Venema

Keyword(s):

Fatty Acids ◽

Nutritional Status ◽

Gut Microbiota ◽

Relative Abundance ◽

Rrna Gene ◽

Microbiota Composition ◽

Normal Children ◽

Abundant Genus ◽

Gut Microbiota Composition ◽

Chain Fatty Acids

The gut microbiota has been shown to play a role in energy metabolism of the host. Dysbiosis of the gut microbiota may predispose to obesity on the one hand, and stunting on the other. The aim of the study was to study the difference in gut microbiota composition of stunted Indonesian children and children of normal nutritional status between 3 and 5 years. Fecal samples and anthropometric measurements, in addition to economic and hygiene status were collected from 78 stunted children and 53 children with normal nutritional status in two regions in Banten and West Java provinces: Pandeglang and Sumedang, respectively. The gut microbiota composition was determined by sequencing amplicons of the V3-V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene. The composition was correlated to nutritional status and anthropometric parameters. Macronutrient intake was on average lower in stunted children, while energy-loss in the form of short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) and branched-chain fatty acids (BCFA) appeared to be higher in stunted children. In stunted children, at the phylum level the relative abundance of Bacteroidetes (44.4%) was significantly lower than in normal children (51.3%; p-value 2.55*10−4), while Firmicutes was significantly higher (45.7% vs. 39.8%; p-value 5.89*10−4). At the genus level, overall Prevotella 9 was the most abundant genus (average of 27%), and it was significantly lower in stunted children than in normal children (23.5% vs. 30.5%, respectively; q-value 0.059). Thirteen other genera were significantly different between stunted and normal children (q-value < 0.1), some of which were at low relative abundance and present in only a few children. Prevotella 9 positively correlated with height (in line with its higher relative abundance in normal children) and weight. In conclusion, Prevotella 9, which was the most abundant genus in the children, was significantly lower in stunted children. The abundance of Prevotella has been correlated with dietary fibre intake, which was lower in these stunted children. Since fibres are fermented by the gut microbiota into SCFA, and these SCFA are a source of energy for the host, increasing the proportion of Prevotella in stunted children may be of benefit. Whether this would prevent the occurrence of stunting or even has the potential to revert it, remains to be seen in follow up research.

Download Full-text

Differences in Manifestations and Gut Microbiota Composition Between Patients With Different Henoch-Schonlein Purpura Phenotypes

Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology ◽

10.3389/fcimb.2021.641997 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 ◽

Author(s):

Yuanzhen Zhang ◽

Guizhi Xia ◽

Xiaojing Nie ◽

Yugui Zeng ◽

Yi Chen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gut Microbiota ◽

Complement C3 ◽

Control Group ◽

Healthy Children ◽

Microbiota Composition ◽

Henoch Schonlein Purpura ◽

Abdominal Symptoms ◽

Schonlein Purpura ◽

Gut Microbiota Composition ◽

Henoch Schönlein Purpura

BackgroundGut microbiota plays an important role in the pathogenesis of immune-mediated diseases. However, the complex pathogenesis of Henoch-Schonlein Purpura (HSP) remains elusive. This study aimed to characterize the gut microbiota in HSP patients and explore the potential association between gut microbiota composition and phenotypic changes in HSP.Methods16SrRNA gene sequencing and bioinformatic analyses were performed using total DNA extracted from the fecal microbiota of 34 children with HSP, including 18 primary cases, 16 recurrent cases, and 23 healthy children.ResultsThe diversity indexes showed significant differences in the microbial community among the primary HSP groups, the recurrent HSP group and healthy controls. The abundance of Escherichia-Shigella in the recurrent HSP group was significantly higher than that in the primary HSP group, and the constructed ROC curve had an AUC value of 0.750. According to the Spearman correlation analysis, the abundance of Bacteroides was positively associated with the serum IgG level in children with HSP, while the abundance of Lachnoclostridium was negatively correlated with the complement component 3 (C3). The diversity indexes of gut microbiota in the HSP group with abdominal symptoms were higher than those in the HSP group without GI involvement, and also higher than those in the healthy control group. In the HSP group with GI involvement, the abundance of Faecalibacterium was decreased, while the abundance of Streptococcus and Fusobacteria was increased, compared to the HSP group without GI involvement.ConclusionsThe gut microbiota of children with HSP was different from that of healthy children. The genus Escherichia-Shigella has a diagnostic value for HSP recurrence. Bacteroides and Lachnoclostridium may affect IgG and complement C3 levels in children with HSP. Abdominal symptoms in HSP children were related to gut microbiota (Streptococcus and butyric acid-producing bacteria).

Download Full-text

The Bacterial Gut Microbiota of Adult Patients Infected, Colonized or Noncolonized by Clostridioides difficile

Microorganisms ◽

10.3390/microorganisms8050677 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 8 (5) ◽

pp. 677 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Monique J. T. Crobach ◽

Quinten R. Ducarmon ◽

Elisabeth M. Terveer ◽

Celine Harmanus ◽

Ingrid M. J. G. Sanders ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gut Microbiota ◽

Relative Abundance ◽

Amplicon Sequencing ◽

Rrna Gene ◽

Microbiota Composition ◽

Clostridioides Difficile ◽

Bacterial Microbiota ◽

Differential Abundance Analysis ◽

Gut Microbiota Composition ◽

Eubacterium Hallii

Gut microbiota composition in patients with Clostridioides difficile colonization is not well investigated. We aimed to identify bacterial signatures associated with resistance and susceptibility to C. difficile colonization (CDC) and infection (CDI). Therefore, gut microbiota composition from patients with CDC (n = 41), with CDI (n = 41), and without CDC (controls, n = 43) was determined through 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. Bacterial diversity was decreased in CDC and CDI patients (p < 0.01). Overall microbiota composition was significantly different between control, CDC, and CDI patients (p = 0.001). Relative abundance of Clostridioides (most likely C. difficile) increased stepwise from controls to CDC and CDI patients. In addition, differential abundance analysis revealed that CDI patients’ gut microbiota was characterized by significantly higher relative abundance of Bacteroides and Veillonella than CDC patients and controls. Control patients had significantly higher Eubacterium hallii and Fusicatenibacter abundance than colonized patients. Network analysis indicated that Fusicatenibacter was negatively associated with Clostridioides in CDI patients, while Veillonella was positively associated with Clostridioides in CDC patients. Bacterial microbiota diversity decreased in both CDC and CDI patients, but harbored a distinct microbiota. Eubacterium hallii and Fusicatenibacter may indicate resistance against C. difficile colonization and subsequent infection, while Veillonella may indicate susceptibility to colonization and infection by C. difficile.

Download Full-text

The effect of toxic pyridine-alkaloid secondary metabolites on the sunbird gut microbiome

npj Biofilms and Microbiomes ◽

10.1038/s41522-020-00161-9 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 6 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Mohanraj Gunasekaran ◽

Maya Lalzar ◽

Yehonatan Sharaby ◽

Ido Izhaki ◽

Malka Halpern

Keyword(s):

Secondary Metabolites ◽

Gut Microbiota ◽

Gut Microbiome ◽

Amplicon Sequencing ◽

Control Group ◽

Rrna Gene ◽

Microbiota Composition ◽

Degrading Bacteria ◽

And Control ◽

Gut Microbiota Composition

AbstractSunbirds feed on tobacco tree nectar which contains toxic nicotine and anabasine secondary metabolites. Our aim was to understand the effect of nicotine and anabasine on the gut microbiota composition of sunbirds. Sixteen captive sunbirds were randomly assigned to two diets: artificial nectar either with (treatment) or without (control) added nicotine and anabasine. Excreta were collected at 0, 2, 4 and 7 weeks of treatment and samples were processed for bacterial culture and high-throughput amplicon sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene. The gut microbiome diversity of the treated and control birds changed differently along the seven-week experiment. While the diversity decreased in the control group along the first three samplings (0, 2 and 4 weeks), it increased in the treatment group. The microbiota composition analyses demonstrated that a diet with nicotine and anabasine, significantly changed the birds’ gut microbiota composition compared to the control birds. The abundance of nicotine- and anabasine- degrading bacteria in the excreta of the treated birds, was significantly higher after four and seven weeks compared to the control group. Furthermore, analysis of culturable isolates, including Lactococcus, showed that sunbirds’ gut-associated bacteria were capable of degrading nicotine and anabasine, consistent with their hypothesised role as detoxifying and nutritional symbionts.

Download Full-text

Sub-Chronic Difenoconazole Exposure Induced Gut Microbiota Dysbiosis in Mice

Toxics ◽

10.3390/toxics10010034 ◽

2022 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

pp. 34

Author(s):

Zhiwei Bao ◽

Weitao Wang ◽

Xiaofang Wang ◽

Mingrong Qian ◽

Yuanxiang Jin

Keyword(s):

Gut Microbiota ◽

Relative Abundance ◽

Periodic Acid ◽

Alpha Diversity ◽

High Volume ◽

Control Group ◽

Microbiota Composition ◽

Periodic Acid Schiff ◽

Gut Microbiota Dysbiosis ◽

Gut Microbiota Composition

Difenoconazole (DIF) is a widely separated triazole fungicide in many countries. The excessive usage of DIF increases the high volume of residues in agriculture production and water bodies. Some previous studies demonstrated the toxic effects of DIF on non-target animals, however, there were still some gaps in the knowledge of the potential hazards of DIF to mammals and human health. Herein, 7-week-old male mice were exposed to 30 and 100 mg/kg/day DIF for 14 and 56 days. We observed that 56 days of DIF exposure decreased the colonic mucus expression of alcin blue-periodic acid-schiff (AB-PAS) stain and the immunochemical stain of muc2 protein. The transcript levels of mucin protein (muc1, muc2 and muc3) decreased significantly in the gut of mice followed 56 days of 100 mg/kg/day DIF exposure. In addition, the gut microbiota composition was also affected after 14 or 56 days of DIF exposure. Although the mucus expression after 14 days of DIF exposure only decreased slightly, the gut microbiota composition compared with the control group was changed significantly. Moreover, the DIF-30 and DIF-100 caused respectively different changes on the gut microbiota. The relative abundance of Bacteroidetes decreased significantly after 14 days and 56 days of DIF exposure. After 14 days of DIF exposure, there were 35 and 18 differential genera in the DIF-30 and DIF-100 group, respectively. There were 25 and 32 differential genera in the DIF-30 and DIF-100 group after 56 days of exposure, respectively. Meanwhile, the alpha diversity indexes, including observed species, Shannon, Simpson, Chao1 and ACE, in gut microbiota decreased significantly after 56 days of DIF exposure. Interestingly, the relative abundance of Akkermansia increased significantly after 56 days of 100 mg/kg/d DIF exposure. Although Akkermansia was considered as one probiotic, the phenomenon of dramatic Akkermansia increase with the decrease in gut microbiota diversity needed further discussion. These results provided some new insights on how DIF exposure impacts the mucus barrier and induces gut microbiota dysbiosis.

Download Full-text

Anti-predation Defense Traits of Daphnia are Associated With the Gut Microbiota Composition Shaped by Fish Kairomone

10.21203/rs.3.rs-757585/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Qi Liu ◽

Siddiq Akbar ◽

Zihao Ding ◽

Qiming Zhou ◽

Lei Gu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Life History ◽

Gut Microbiota ◽

Relative Abundance ◽

Life History Traits ◽

Induced Defense ◽

Control Group ◽

Microbiota Composition ◽

Fish Kairomone ◽

Α Diversity ◽

Gut Microbiota Composition

Abstract Background: Gut microbiota plays an important role in host physiology and fitness. The gut microbiota can promote host health by influencing life history traits, especially in arthropods. However, it is not clear whether the performance of host defense traits in response to predator pressure in natural food webs is related to their gut microbiota composition. In this study, we used Daphnia magna as a model organism to investigate the relationship of D. magna life history traits and gut microbiota alterations under predator kairomone based on 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing.Result: We showed that the microbiota composition of D. magna was significantly affected by their predator risk and development stage. The relative abundance of Comamonadaceae (mainly Limnohabitans sp.) significantly decreased in the presence of predator kairomone. Furthermore, the presence of predator kairomone significantly reduced the α diversity of gut microbiota in D. magna with the increase of instar. Among them, the OTUs belonged to Epsilonbacteraeota and Firmicutes in the presence of predator kairomone were significantly higher than those in the control group. The results of functional predictions showed that predation pressure promote the metabolic function of gut microbiota, such as metabolism of energy, cofactors, and vitamins. By analyzing the correlation between the induced defense traits of D. magna and the relative abundance of bacteria, we found that the increased abundance of Comamonadaceae, Moraxellaceae, and Flavobacteriaceae were linearly correlated with the partial defense traits of D. magna. Specifically speaking, body size was positively correlated with an increased abundance of Comamonadaceae, whereas spine length was negatively correlated with an increased abundance of Comamonadaceae but was positively correlated with increased Flavobacteriaceae abundance. Conclusions: Our results suggested that predation risk can affect the composition of the gut microbiota in D. magna, which may indirectly induce the production of defensive traits in D. magna. The results of this study revealed an important role of gut microbiota in the development of defensive traits of Daphnia in response to fish predators. The correlation between microbial abundance and defense traits is of great significance for further understanding the effect of host-microbiota interaction on individual anti-predation defense.

Download Full-text

Diet Rather than Genetic Status Shapes the Gut Microbiota in Two Congeneric Snakes

10.21203/rs.3.rs-1199811/v1 ◽

2022 ◽

Author(s):

Yan-Fu Qu ◽

Yan-Qing Wu ◽

Yi-Jin Jiang ◽

Xiang Ji

Keyword(s):

Gut Microbiota ◽

Relative Abundance ◽

Alpha Diversity ◽

Microbial Colonization ◽

Rrna Gene ◽

Microbiota Composition ◽

Genetic Contribution ◽

Wide Range ◽

Gravid Females ◽

Gut Microbiota Composition

Abstract Background: Various external and internal factors affect the gut microbiota of animals. The colonization and proliferation of gut microbes have been studied in a diverse array of animal taxa but remain poorly known in snakes. Here, we used the 16S rRNA gene sequencing technology on the Roach 454 platform to analyze the gut microbiota composition using fecal samples collected from three snake groups [gravid females, newly hatched (preprandial) hatchlings and postprandial hatchlings] of two congeneric colubrid snake species (Elaphe carinata and E. taeniura) that are sympatric across a wide range in mainland China. We tested two hypotheses. First, the gut microbiota should not differ between the two species at hatching if the maternal or genetic contribution has no role in affecting post-hatching gut microbial colonization. Second, differences in the gut microbiota between newly hatched (preprandial) and postprandial hatchlings should not exist in both species if the dietary contribution has no role in affecting post-hatching gut microbial colonization.Results: The top three dominant phyla were Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, and Proteobacteria in both species. None of the measured alpha diversity indexes differed among the three snake groups or between the two species. The relative abundance of the gut microbiota differed among the three snake groups and between the two species, and so did the relative abundances of the functions associated with the metabolism, cellular processes and environmental information processing. Evidence from gravid females and hatchlings showed that the gut microbiota composition was similar between the two species. The metabolism held the overwhelming predominance of functional categories at the top level in both species.Conclusion: Only the relative abundance of the gut microbiota differed between the two species, and the gut microbiota composition changed rapidly in postprandial hatchlings and differed among the three snakes groups in both species. From these findings, we may conclude that the dietary rather than the maternal or genetic contribution affects gut microbial colonization in snakes.

Download Full-text

Gut Microbiome and Metabolome Profiles Associated with High-Fat Diet in Mice

Metabolites ◽

10.3390/metabo11080482 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (8) ◽

pp. 482

Author(s):

Jae-Kwon Jo ◽

Seung-Ho Seo ◽

Seong-Eun Park ◽

Hyun-Woo Kim ◽

Eun-Ju Kim ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gut Microbiota ◽

Relative Abundance ◽

High Fat Diet ◽

Amplicon Sequencing ◽

Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry ◽

Control Group ◽

Rrna Gene ◽

High Fat ◽

Underlying Mechanisms ◽

Insight Into

Obesity can be caused by microbes producing metabolites; it is thus important to determine the correlation between gut microbes and metabolites. This study aimed to identify gut microbiota-metabolomic signatures that change with a high-fat diet and understand the underlying mechanisms. To investigate the profiles of the gut microbiota and metabolites that changed after a 60% fat diet for 8 weeks, 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS)-based metabolomic analyses were performed. Mice belonging to the HFD group showed a significant decrease in the relative abundance of Bacteroidetes but an increase in the relative abundance of Firmicutes compared to the control group. The relative abundance of Firmicutes, such as Lactococcus, Blautia, Lachnoclostridium, Oscillibacter, Ruminiclostridium, Harryflintia, Lactobacillus, Oscillospira, and Erysipelatoclostridium, was significantly higher in the HFD group than in the control group. The increased relative abundance of Firmicutes in the HFD group was positively correlated with fecal ribose, hypoxanthine, fructose, glycolic acid, ornithine, serum inositol, tyrosine, and glycine. Metabolic pathways affected by a high fat diet on serum were involved in aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis, glycine, serine and threonine metabolism, cysteine and methionine metabolism, glyoxylate and dicarboxylate metabolism, and phenylalanine, tyrosine, and trypto-phan biosynthesis. This study provides insight into the dysbiosis of gut microbiota and metabolites altered by HFD and may help to understand the mechanisms underlying obesity mediated by gut microbiota.

Download Full-text