Gut Microbiome Characteristics in feral and domesticated horses from different geographic locations

Domesticated horses live under different conditions compared with their extinct wild ancestors. While housed, medicated, and kept on a restricted source of feed, the microbiota of domesticated horses is hypothesized to be altered. We assessed the fecal microbiome of 57 domestic and feral horses from different locations on three continents, observing geographical differences. A higher abundance of Eukaryota (p p p p </p

Preterm Delivery: Microbial Dysbiosis, Gut Inflammation and Hyperpermeability

International audiencePreterm birth is one of the main health problems encountered in the neonatal period, especially because it is also the first cause of death in the critical 1st month of life and the second in children under 5 years of age. Not only preterm birth entails short term health risks due to low weight and underdeveloped organs, but also increases the risk of suffering from non-transmissible diseases in the long term. To date, it is known that medical conditions and lifestyle factors could increase the risk of preterm birth, but the molecular mechanisms that control this process remain unclear. Luteolysis, increased inflammation or oxidative stress have been described as possible triggers for preterm birth and, in some cases, the cause of dysbiosis in preterm neonates. Several murine models have been developed to shed light into the mechanistic of preterm birth but, for the most part, are inflammation-based labor induction models and the offspring health readouts are mainly limited to survival and weight. Using a set of SWISS-CD1 mice born prematurely we analyzed inflammation and gut permeability parameters compared with term pups at weaning age. Overall, preterm mice presented higher systemic inflammation and gastrointestinal tract permeability. In this perspective article, we discuss the recent discoveries on preterm birth and the necessity of non-inflammatory murine models to really understand these phenotypes and be able to design strategies to prevent the sequels of this traumatic event in neonates

Microbial-Driven Immunological Memory and Its Potential Role in Microbiome Editing for the Prevention of Colorectal Cancer.

Over the last several years, many advances have been made in understanding the role of bacteria in the pathogenesis of gastrointestinal cancers. Beginning with Helicobacter pylori being recognized as the first bacterial carcinogen and the causative agent of most gastric cancers, more recent studies have examined the role of enteric microbes in colorectal cancer. In the digestive tract, these communities are numerous and have a complex interrelationship with local immune/inflammatory responses that impact the health of the host. As modifying the microbiome in the stomach has decreased the risk of gastric cancer, modifying the distal microbiome may decrease the risk of colorectal cancers. To date, very few studies have considered the notion that mucosal lymphocyte-dependent immune memory may confound attempts to change the microbial components in these communities. The goal of this review is to consider some of the factors impacting host-microbial interactions that affect colorectal cancer and raise questions about how immune memory responses to the local microbial consortium affect any attempt to modify the composition of the intestinal microbiome

A proteomic approach towards understanding the cross-talk between Bacteroides fragilis and Bifidobacterium longum in co-culture

A better understanding of the interactions among intestinal microbes is needed in order to decipher the complex cross-talk that takes place within the human gut. Bacteroides and Bifidobacterium genera are among the most relevant intestinal bacteria and it has been previously reported that co-culture of these two microorganisms affect their survival. Therefore, co-cultures of Bifidobacterium longum NB667 and Bacteriodes fragilis DSMZ2151 were performed with the aim of unravelling the mechanisms involved in their interaction. To this end we applied proteomic (2D-DIGE) analyses and quantified by chromatographic techniques the bacterial metabolites produced during co-incubation. Co-culture stimulated the growth of B. longum retarding that of B. fragilis, with concomitant changes in the production of some proteins and metabolites of both bacteria. The combined culture promoted up-regulation of the bifidobacterial pyruvate kinase and down-regulation of the Bacteroides phoshoenolpyruvate carboxykinase, two enzymes involved in the catabolism of carbohydrates. Moreover, B. fragilis FKBP-type peptidyl-prolyl cis/trans isomerase, a protein with chaperone-like activity, was found to be over-produced in co-culture, suggesting the induction of a stress response in this microorganism. This study provides mechanistic data to deepen our understanding on the interaction between Bacteroides and Bifidobacterium intestinal populations.The accepted manuscript in pdf format is listed with the files at the bottom of this page. The presentation of the authors' names and (or) special characters in the title of the manuscript may differ slightly between what is listed on this page and what is listed in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript; that in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript is what was submitted by the author

Bifidobacterium breve IPLA20005 affects “in vitro” the expression of hly and LuxS genes, related to the virulence of Listeria monocytogenes Lm23

Mechanistic features about the interaction and inhibition of the food borne pathogen Listeria monocytogenes by members of the genus Bifidobacterium still remain unclear. In the present work we tried to shed light into the influence that co-cultivation of L. monocytogenes with Bifidobacterium breve may exert on both microorganisms and on the pathogen virulence. Production of acetate and lactate was measured by gas chromatography and HPLC respectively, bacterial counts were obtained by plate count, gene expression was determined by RT-qPCR and the hemolytic activity was analyzed against goat erythrocytes. We found a slight but significantly lower final counts of Listeria and Bifidobacterium (PThe accepted manuscript in pdf format is listed with the files at the bottom of this page. The presentation of the authors' names and (or) special characters in the title of the manuscript may differ slightly between what is listed on this page and what is listed in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript; that in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript is what was submitted by the author

Faecalibacterium : a bacterial genus with promising human health applications

In humans, many diseases are associated with alterations in gut microbiota, namely increases or decreases in the abundance of specific bacterial groups. One example is the genus Faecalibacterium. Numerous studies have underscored that low levels of Faecalibacterium are correlated with inflammatory conditions, with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in the forefront. Its representation is also diminished in the case of several diseases, including colorectal cancer (CRC), dermatitis, and depression. Additionally, the relative presence of this genus is considered to reflect, at least in part, intestinal health status because Faecalibacterium is frequently present at reduced levels in individuals with gastrointestinal diseases or disorders. In this review, we first thoroughly describe updates to the taxonomy of Faecalibacterium, which has transformed a single-species taxon to a multispecies taxon over the last decade. We then explore the links discovered between Faecalibacterium abundance and various diseases since the first IBD-focused studies were published. Next, we examine current available strategies for modulating Faecalibacterium levels in the gut. Finally, we summarize the mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects that have been attributed to this genus. Together, epidemiological and experimental data strongly support the use of Faecalibacterium as a next-generation probiotic (NGP) or live biotherapeutic product (LBP)

Additional file 1: Figure S1. of Bacteroides fragilis metabolises exopolysaccharides produced by bifidobacteria

Thin layer chromatography of the digestion of glycogen and EPS E44 and R1 fractions with enzymes α-amylase, pullulanase, and with a mixture of α-amylase and pullulanase. (PPTX 522 kb

Additional file 2: Figure S2. of Bacteroides fragilis metabolises exopolysaccharides produced by bifidobacteria

Size exclusion chromatography (SEC-MALS) analysis of the EPS E44 (A) and EPS R1 (B) fractions purified from the cell biomass of Bifidobacterium longum E44 and Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis R1, respectively. Refractive index detector (blue line) for detection and quantification of EPS peaks, PDA detector (green line) set at 280 nm to identify the presence of proteins, and the multiangle laser light scattering (MALS) for molar mass distribution of the EPS fractions (red line). (PPTX 758 kb

Gut Microbiome Characteristics in feral and domesticated horses from different geographic locations

Domesticated horses live under different conditions compared with their extinct wild ancestors. While housed, medicated and kept on a restricted source of feed, the microbiota of domesticated horses is hypothesized to be altered. We assessed the fecal microbiome of 57 domestic and feral horses from different locations on three continents, observing geographical differences. A higher abundance of eukaryota (p < 0.05) and viruses (p < 0.05) and lower of archaea (p < 0.05) were found in feral animals when compared with domestic ones. The abundance of genes coding for microbe-produced enzymes involved in the metabolism of carbohydrates was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in feral animals regardless of the geographic origin. Differences in the fecal resistomes between both groups of animals were also noted. The domestic/captive horse microbiomes were enriched in genes conferring resistance to tetracycline, likely reflecting the use of this antibiotic in the management of these animals. Our data showed an impoverishment of the fecal microbiome in domestic horses with diet, antibiotic exposure and hygiene being likely drivers. The results offer a view of the intestinal microbiome of horses and the impact of domestication or captivity, which may uncover novel targets for modulating the microbiome of horses to enhance animal health and well-being