A New Picornavirus Isolated from Bank Voles (Clethrionomys glareolus)

AbstractA previously unknown picornavirus was isolated from bank voles (Clethrionomys glareolus). Electron microscopy images and sequence data of the prototype isolate, named Ljungan virus, showed that it is a picornavirus. The amino acid sequences of predicted Ljungan virus capsid proteins VP2 and VP3 were closely related to the human pathogen echovirus 22 (approximately 70% similarity). A partial 5′ noncoding region sequence of Ljungan virus showed the highest degree of relatedness to cardioviruses. Two additional isolates were serologically and molecularly related to the prototype

Sputum Microbiome Composition in Patients with Squamous Cell Lung Carcinoma

Background: Recent findings indicate that the host microbiome can have a significant impact on the development of lung cancer by inducing an inflammatory response, causing dysbiosis, and generating genome damage. The aim of this study was to search for bacterial communities specifically associated with squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC). Methods: In this study, the taxonomic composition of the sputum microbiome of 40 men with untreated LUSC was compared with that of 40 healthy controls. Next-Generation sequencing of bacterial 16S rRNA genes was used to determine the taxonomic composition of the respiratory microbiome. Results: There were no differences in alpha diversity between the LUSC and control groups. Meanwhile, differences in the structure of bacterial communities (β diversity) among patients and controls differed significantly in sputum samples (pseudo-F = 1.53; p = 0.005). Genera of Streptococcus, Bacillus, Gemella, and Haemophilus were found to be significantly enriched in patients with LUSC compared to the control subjects, while 19 bacterial genera were significantly reduced, indicating a decrease in beta diversity in the microbiome of patients with LUSC. Conclusions: Among other candidates, Streptococcus (Streptococcus agalactiae) emerges as the most likely LUSC biomarker, but more research is needed to confirm this assumption

Altered composition in the gut microbiota at phylum levels in stressed groups of HT and LT rat strains.

HT–high threshold, low-excitable rats; LT–low threshold, high-excitable rats; 0, 7, 24 –days after the end of stress exposure in experimental groups.</p

Differences in the relative abundance of some bacterial genera in the gut microbiome of the HT and LT rat strains.

HT–high threshold, low-excitable intact rats; LT–low threshold, high-excitable intact rats; n = 18 in each group; the graphs represent the mean and SEM **p<0.01 *p<0.05, unpaired t-test.</p

HT and LT Shannon-Chao1 indexes.

The gut-brain axis is a critical communication system influencing the interactions between the gastrointestinal tract (GI) and the central nervous system (CNS). The gut microbiota plays a significant role in this axis, affecting the development and function of the nervous system. Stress-induced psychopathologies, such as depression and anxiety, have been linked to the gut microbiota, but underlying mechanisms and genetic susceptibility remain unclear. In this study, we examined stress-induced changes in the gut microbiome composition in two rat strains with different levels of nervous system excitability: high threshold (HT strain) and low threshold (LT strain). Rats were exposed to long-term emotional and painful stress using the Hecht protocol, and fecal samples were collected at multiple time points before and after stress exposure. Using 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing, we assessed the qualitative and quantitative changes in the gut microbiota. Our results revealed distinct microbial diversity between the two rat strains, with the HT strain displaying higher diversity compared to the LT strain. Notably, under prolonged stress, the HT strain showed an increase in relative abundance of microorganisms from the genera Faecalibacterium and Prevotella in fecal samples. Additionally, both strains exhibited a decrease in Lactobacillus abundance following stress exposure. Our findings provide valuable insights into the impact of hereditary nervous system excitability on the gut microbiome composition under stress conditions. Understanding the gut-brain interactions in response to stress may open new avenues for comprehending stress-related psychopathologies and developing potential therapeutic interventions targeted at the gut microbiota. However, further research is needed to elucidate the exact mechanisms underlying these changes and their implications for stress-induced disorders. Overall, this study contributes to the growing body of knowledge on the gut-brain axis and its significance in stress-related neurobiology.</div

Interstrain differences in the volage threshold in LT and HT rat strains.

HT—animals with high excitability threshold (n = 32), LT–animals with low excitability threshold (n = 34); the graphs represent the mean and SEM; **** p< .0001 (unpaired t-test).</p

HT and LT excitability thresholds.

The gut-brain axis is a critical communication system influencing the interactions between the gastrointestinal tract (GI) and the central nervous system (CNS). The gut microbiota plays a significant role in this axis, affecting the development and function of the nervous system. Stress-induced psychopathologies, such as depression and anxiety, have been linked to the gut microbiota, but underlying mechanisms and genetic susceptibility remain unclear. In this study, we examined stress-induced changes in the gut microbiome composition in two rat strains with different levels of nervous system excitability: high threshold (HT strain) and low threshold (LT strain). Rats were exposed to long-term emotional and painful stress using the Hecht protocol, and fecal samples were collected at multiple time points before and after stress exposure. Using 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing, we assessed the qualitative and quantitative changes in the gut microbiota. Our results revealed distinct microbial diversity between the two rat strains, with the HT strain displaying higher diversity compared to the LT strain. Notably, under prolonged stress, the HT strain showed an increase in relative abundance of microorganisms from the genera Faecalibacterium and Prevotella in fecal samples. Additionally, both strains exhibited a decrease in Lactobacillus abundance following stress exposure. Our findings provide valuable insights into the impact of hereditary nervous system excitability on the gut microbiome composition under stress conditions. Understanding the gut-brain interactions in response to stress may open new avenues for comprehending stress-related psychopathologies and developing potential therapeutic interventions targeted at the gut microbiota. However, further research is needed to elucidate the exact mechanisms underlying these changes and their implications for stress-induced disorders. Overall, this study contributes to the growing body of knowledge on the gut-brain axis and its significance in stress-related neurobiology.</div

Alpha diversity indices in control and experimental groups of HT and LT rats after stress.

The horizontal axis shows the animals of the control groups (n = 18 in HT strain and n = 18 in LT strain) and the experimental groups (n = 6 in each group) at the different time points after the end of stress. HT–high threshold, low-excitable rats; LT–low threshold, high-excitable rats; the graphs represent the mean and SEM; one-dimensional variance analysis with repeated measurements (ANOVA), using the Greenhouse-Geisser correction method; case/control—unpaired t-test p > 0,05.</p

Differences in alpha diversity indices in control groups of HT and LT rat strains.

The horizontal axis on panel A shows the animals of the control groups at the corresponding time after the end of stress in the experimental groups. The horizontal axis on panel B shows the intact animals of the consolidated control. HT–high threshold, low-excitable rats; LT–low threshold, high-excitable rats; the graphs represent the mean and SEM; ** p < 0,01, in A–paired t-test, in B—unpaired t-test.</p

HT and LT relative abundance of microbiota (genius level).

HT and LT relative abundance of microbiota (genius level).</p