Untangling the Genetic Basis of Fibrolytic Specialization by Lachnospiraceae and Ruminococcaceae in Diverse Gut Communities

The Lachnospiraceae and Ruminococcaceae are two of the most abundant families from the order Clostridiales found in the mammalian gut environment, and have been associated with the maintenance of gut health. While they are both diverse groups, they share a common role as active plant degraders. By comparing the genomes of the Lachnospiraceae and Ruminococcaceae with the Clostridiaceae, a more commonly free-living group, we identify key carbohydrate-active enzymes, sugar transport mechanisms, and metabolic pathways that distinguish these two commensal groups as specialists for the degradation of complex plant material

Strengthening Local Communities programme evaluation: Health Connect project, Bourton-on-the-Water

This document is the final evaluation report for the Health Connect project, delivered as Bourton-on-the-Water’s contribution to the Strengthening Local Communities programme. It details the development of the project model and the delivery of key project activities with attention to the context, rationale, perceived benefits, challenges and learning. The final section summarises progress over the funded period and identifies the themes that distinguish the project

Strengthening Local Communities programme evaluation: Summary and synthesis report

This report sets out the final evaluation of the Strengthening Local Communities programme. It starts with an overview of the evaluation methods. The next sections cover a literature review of community development in theory, research and local context and a summary of the programme. The central part of the document provides the links through to separate evaluation reports on each of the locality projects. The final sections cover, the role of the Action Learning Sets, the allocation of time and activities, and wider aspects of the programme

Strengthening Local Communities programme evaluation: Oakley Community Health and Wellbeing Project

This document sets out the evaluation of the Oakley Community Health and Wellbeing Project, delivered as Cheltenham Borough Council’s project for the Strengthening Local Communities (SLC) programme. It documents the development of the project model and the delivery of key project activities with attention to the context, rationale, perceived benefits, challenges and learning. The final section identifies themes that distinguish the project

Strengthening Local Communities programme evaluation: Kingsholm Community Building Project

This document sets out the evaluation of the Kingsholm Community Building Project, delivered as Gloucester City Council’s project for the Strengthening Local Communities (SLC) programme. It documents the development of the project model and the delivery of key project activities with attention to the context, rationale, perceived benefits, challenges and learning. The final section summarises progress to date and identifies themes that distinguish the project

Strengthening Local Communities programme evaluation: Priors Park Project

This document sets out the final evaluation of the Priors Park Project, delivered as part of Tewkesbury Borough Council’s contribution to the Strengthening Local Communities programme. It documents the development of the project model and the delivery of key project activities with attention to the context, rationale, perceived benefits, challenges and learning. The final section summarises progress up to the second year of the project and identifies themes that distinguish the project

Strengthening Local Communities programme evaluation: Cinderford Health and Wellbeing Project

This section sets out the final evaluation report on the Cinderford Health and Wellbeing Project, delivered as the Forest of Dean’s District Council project for the Strengthening Local Communities programme. It documents the development of the project model and the delivery of key project activities with attention to the context, rationale, perceived benefits, challenges and learning. The final section summarises progress to date and identifies themes that distinguish the project

Strengthening Local Communities programme evaluation: Forest Green project

This document is the final evaluation report for the Forest Green project, delivered as Stroud’s contribution to the Strengthening Local Communities programme. It details the development of the project model and the delivery of key project activities with attention to the context, rationale, perceived benefits, challenges and learning. The final section summarises the project and its outcomes

An In Vitro Model of the Horse Gut Microbiome Enables Identification of Lactate-Utilizing Bacteria That Differentially Respond to Starch Induction

Laminitis is a chronic, crippling disease triggered by the sudden influx of dietary starch. Starch reaches the hindgut resulting in enrichment of lactic acid bacteria, lactate accumulation, and acidification of the gut contents. Bacterial products enter the bloodstream and precipitate systemic inflammation. Hindgut lactate levels are normally low because specific bacterial groups convert lactate to short chain fatty acids. Why this mechanism fails when lactate levels rapidly rise, and why some hindgut communities can recover is unknown. Fecal samples from three adult horses eating identical diets provided bacterial communities for this in vitro study. Triplicate microcosms of fecal slurries were enriched with lactate and/or starch. Metabolic products (short chain fatty acids, headspace gases, and hydrogen sulfide) were measured and microbial community compositions determined using Illumina 16S rRNA sequencing over 12-hour intervals. We report that patterns of change in short chain fatty acid levels and pH in our in vitro system are similar to those seen in in vivo laminitis induction models. Community differences between microcosms with disparate abilities to clear excess lactate suggest profiles conferring resistance of starch-induction conditions. Where lactate levels recover following starch induction conditions, propionate and acetate levels rise correspondingly and taxa related to Megasphaera elsdenii reach levels exceeding 70% relative abundance. In lactate and control cultures, taxa related to Veillonella montpellierensis are enriched as lactate levels fall. Understanding the microbial dynamics underlying lactic acidosis and laminitis will lead to better informed models of health and the development of a probiotic treatment to prevent acidosis

Connecting communities programme evaluation: Small grants fund

This is a report on the evaluation of the Connecting Communities Small Grants Fund, one of five pilot projects developed by Age UK Bristol (AUKB) for the Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Integrated Care System (BNSSG ICS) Ageing Well programme, which ran from April 2022 to March 2023. A total of £60,000 was allocated to distribute in microgrants of up to £2,000 to 38 community groups and activities for older people across all six Locality Partnerships within the BNSSG ICS.The aim of our evaluation was to assess the impact of the Small Grants Fund in empowering local older people to improve their health and wellbeing using a mixed methods approach