Helminth-Induced Human Gastrointestinal Dysbiosis: a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Reveals Insights into Altered Taxon Diversity and Microbial Gradient Collapse

The gut microbiome has established importance in regulating many aspects of human health, including nutrition and immunity. While many internal and environmental factors are known to influence the microbiome, less is known about the effects of intestinal helminth parasites (worms), which together affect one-sixth of the world's population.

Antibiotics and the Nervous System—Which Face of Antibiotic Therapy Is Real, Dr. Jekyll (Neurotoxicity) or Mr. Hyde (Neuroprotection)?

Antibiotics as antibacterial drugs have saved many lives, but have also become a victim of their own success. Their widespread abuse reduces their anti-infective effectiveness and causes the development of bacterial resistance. Moreover, irrational antibiotic therapy contributes to gastrointestinal dysbiosis, that increases the risk of the development of many diseases, including neurological and psychiatric. One of the potential options for restoring homeostasis is the use of oral antibiotics that are poorly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract (e.g., rifaximin alfa). Thus, antibiotic therapy may exert neurological or psychiatric adverse drug reactions which are often considered to be overlooked and undervalued issues. Drug-induced neurotoxicity is mostly observed after beta-lactams and quinolones. Penicillin may produce a wide range of neurological dysfunctions, including encephalopathy, behavioral changes, myoclonus or seizures. Their pathomechanism results from the disturbances of gamma-aminobutyric acid-GABA transmission (due to the molecular similarities between the structure of the β-lactam ring and GABA molecule) and impairment of the functioning of benzodiazepine receptors (BZD). However, on the other hand, antibiotics have also been studied for their neuroprotective properties in the treatment of neurodegenerative and neuroinflammatory processes (e.g., Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s diseases). Antibiotics may, therefore, become promising elements of multi-targeted therapy for these entities.

Faecal biomarkers in type 1 diabetes with and without diabetic nephropathy

Gastrointestinal dysbiosis is common among persons with type 1 diabetes (T1D), but its potential impact on diabetic nephropathy (DN) remains obscure. We examined whether faecal biomarkers, previously associated with low-grade gastrointestinal inflammation, differ between healthy controls and T1D subjects with and without DN. Faecal samples were analyzed for levels of calprotectin, intestinal alkaline phosphatase (IAP), short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) and immunoglobulins in subjects with T1D (n = 159) and healthy controls (NDC; n = 50). The subjects with T1D were stratified based on albuminuria: normoalbuminuria (< 30 mg/g; n = 49), microalbuminuria (30–299 mg/g; n = 50) and macroalbuminuria (≥ 300 mg/g; n = 60). aecal calprotectin, IAP and immunoglobulin levels did not differ between the T1D albuminuria groups. However, when subjects were stratified based on faecal calprotectin cut-off level (50 µg/g), macroalbuminuric T1D subjects exceeded the threshold more frequently than NDC (p = 0.02). Concentrations of faecal propionate and butyrate were lower in T1D subjects compared with NDC (p = 0.04 and p = 0.03, respectively). Among T1D subjects, levels of branched SCFA (BCFA) correlated positively with current albuminuria level (isobutyrate, p = 0.03; isovalerate, p = 0.005). In our study cohort, fatty acid metabolism seemed to be altered among T1D subjects and those with albuminuria compared to NDC. This may reflect gastrointestinal imbalances associated with T1D and renal complications.

Therapeutic and Industrial Applications of Curdlan With Overview on Its Recent Patents

Curdlan is an exopolysaccharide, which is composed of glucose linked with β-(1,3)-glycosidic bond and is produced by bacteria, such as Alcaligenes spp., Agrobacterium spp., Paenibacillus spp., Rhizobium spp., Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Candida spp., and fungal sources like Aureobasidium pullulan, Poria cocos, etc. Curdlan has been utilized in the food and pharmaceutical industries for its prebiotic, viscosifying, and water-holding properties for decades. Recently, the usefulness of curdlan has been further explored by the pharmaceutical industry for its potential therapeutic applications. Curdlan has exhibited immunoregulatory and antitumor activity in preclinical settings. It was observed that curdlan can prevent the proliferation of malarial merozoites in vivo; therefore, it may be considered as a promising therapy for the treatment of end-stage malaria. In addition, curdlan has demonstrated potent antiviral effects against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and Aedes aegypti virus. It has been suggested that the virucidal properties of curdlans should be extended further for other deadly viruses, such as severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), and the current severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19). The prebiotic property of curdlan would confer beneficial effects on the host by promoting the growth of healthy microbiota in the gut and consequently help to reduce gastrointestinal disorders. Therefore, curdlan can be employed in the manufacture of prebiotics for the management of various gastrointestinal dysbiosis problems. Studies on the mechanism of action of curdlan-induced suppression in microbial and tumor cells at the cellular and molecular levels would not only enhance our understanding regarding the therapeutic effectiveness of curdlan but also help in the discovery of new drugs and dietary supplements. The primary focus of this review is to highlight the therapeutic interventions of curdlan as an anticancer, anti-malaria, antiviral, and antibacterial agent in humans. In addition, our review provides the latest information about the chemistry and biosynthesis of curdlan and its applications for making novel dairy products, functional foods, and nutraceuticals and also details about the recent patents of curdlan and its derivatives.

Digestive Dysbiosis in Systemic Scleroderma: a Review

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a rare autoimmune disease characterized by widespread microvasculopathy, inflammation, and fibrosis of the skin and internal organs. The involvement of the gastrointestinal tract is associated with a wide variety of symptoms and affects circa 90% of patients during the course of the disease. The gastrointestinal microbiota contains trillions of microbial cells and has been found to contribute to both local and systemic homeostasis. In both health and disease, a dynamic interrelationship between gut microbiome activity and the host immune system has been identified. Gastrointestinal dysbiosis has been described as having an important role in obesity, diabetes mellitus, liver disease, cardiovascular and neuropsychiatric disorders, neoplasia, as well as autoimmunity. Recent scientific data indicates a notable role of dysbiosis in the pathogenesis of SSc-related digestive involvement together with various other clinical manifestations. The present review aims to summarize the recent findings regarding digestive dysbiosis as well as the relationship between gastrointestinal microbiota and certain features of SSc.

Lactobacillus reuteri in Its Biofilm State Improves Protection from Experimental Necrotizing Enterocolitis

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a devastating disease predominately found in premature infants that is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Despite decades of research, medical management with broad spectrum antibiotics and bowel rest has remained relatively unchanged, with no significant improvement in patient outcomes. The etiology of NEC is multi-factorial; however, gastrointestinal dysbiosis plays a prominent role in a neonate’s vulnerability to and development of NEC. Probiotics have recently emerged as a new avenue for NEC therapy. However, current delivery methods are associated with potential limitations, including the need for at least daily administration in order to obtain any improvement in outcomes. We present a novel formulation of enterally delivered probiotics that addresses the current limitations. A single enteral dose of Lactobacillus reuteri delivered in a biofilm formulation increases probiotic survival in acidic gastric conditions, increases probiotic adherence to gastrointestinal epithelial cells, and reduces the incidence, severity, and neurocognitive sequelae of NEC in experimental models.

Exploring Mucin as Adjunct to Phage Therapy

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.

EVALUATION OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THERAPEUTIC AND PREVENTIVE MEASURES OF DYSBIOSIS IN DENTAL PRACTICE

Увеличивающаяся тенденция нуждаемости пациентов использования несъемных, съемных зубных протезов, ортодонтических и челюстно-лицевых апппаратов, наблюдающаяся в последние годы, сопряжена с многими проблемами. Использующиеся в практике ортопедической стоматологии зубные протезы и аппараты оказывают побочное действие на слизистую оболочку полости рта (механическое, химико-токсическое, сенсибилизирующее), что приводит к нарушению биоценоза, чрезмерному росту патогенных микроорганизмов и увеличению числа дрожжевых колоний. Установлено также, что при использовании адгезивных препаратов для улучшения фиксации съемных протезов статистически достоверно увеличивается число дрожжевых колоний при количественном посеве по сравнению с контрольной группой пациентов. Еще более сложная ситуация наблюдается у пациентов, уже имеющих хроническое нарушение соотношения нормальной и условно - патогенной микробиоты и нуждающихся в протезировании съемными пластиночными протезами. Эти пациенты, как правило, имеют неудовлетворительную гигиену полости рта и тяжелую сопутствующую патологию, чаще всего сахарный диабет или дисбактериоз ЖКТ. В настоящее время получены убедительные данные о важной роли иммунных нарушений в патогенезе развития кандидоинфекции и антифунгальной резистентности. В частности, дисфункции клеточного звена иммунной системы, что способствует хроническому, рецидивирующему и зачастую торпидному к терапии течению заболевания. Это, в свою очередь, требует выполнения научных исследований в направлении коррекции состояния микрофлоры ротовой полости пользующихся ортопедическими конструкциями. Данная обзорная работа посвящена актуальным на сегодняшний день вопросам применения пре-, пробиотических культур и синбиотиков в комплексном лечении больных с дисбиотическим изменением полости рта, пользующихся ортодонтическими конструкциями, лечебно-диагностическими аппаратами. Целью работы стал всесторонний анализ проблемы целесообразности и эффективности использования вышеназванных средств с точки зрения этиопатогенеза дисбиоза в полости рта The increasing trend of patients ' need to use non-removable, removable dentures, orthodontic and maxillofacial devices, observed in recent years, is associated with many problems. Dental prostheses and devices used in the practice of orthopedic dentistry have a side effect on the oral mucosa (mechanical, chemical-toxic, sensitizing), which leads to a violation of the biocenosis, excessive growth of pathogenic microorganisms and an increase in the number of yeast colonies. It was also found that the use of adhesive preparations to improve the fixation of removable prostheses statistically significantly increases the number of yeast colonies during quantitative seeding compared to the control group of patients. An even more difficult situation is observed in patients who already have a chronic violation of the relationship between normal and opportunistic microbiota and need prosthetics with removable plate prostheses. These patients usually have poor oral hygiene and severe comorbidities, most often diabetes mellitus or gastrointestinal dysbiosis. Currently, there is strong evidence of the important role of immune disorders in the pathogenesis of Candida infection and antifungal resistance. In particular, dysfunction of the cellular link of the immune system, which contributes to the chronic, recurrent and often torpid to therapy course of the disease. This, in turn, requires scientific research in the direction of correlation of the state of the oral microflora using orthopedic structures. This review is devoted to current issues of the use of pre - probiotic cultures and synbiotics in the complex treatment of patients with dysbiotic changes in the oral cavity, using orthodontic structures, medical and diagnostic devices. The aim of the work was a comprehensive analysis of the problem of expediency and effectiveness of the use of the above-mentioned means, from the point of view of the eiopathogenesis of dysbiosis in the oral cavity