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Wang W, Zhang S, Gao T, Li L. In-situ treatment of gaseous benzene in fixed-bed biofilter with polyurethane foam: Functional population response and benzene transformation pathway. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2024; 405:130926. [PMID: 38824970 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2024.130926] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2024] [Revised: 05/14/2024] [Accepted: 05/31/2024] [Indexed: 06/04/2024]
Abstract
Volatile organic compounds emitted from landfills posed adverse effect on health. In this study, gaseous benzene was biologically treated using an in-situ biofilter without air pump. Its performance was investigated and the removal efficiency of benzene reached over 90 %. The decrease in the average benzene concentration was consistent with first-order reaction kinetics. Mycolicibacterium dominated the bacterial consortium (41-57 %) throughout the degradation. Annotation of genes by metagenomic analysis helped to deduce the degradation pathways (benzene degradation, catechol ortho-cleavage and meta-cleavage) and to reveal the contribution of different species to the degradation process. In total, 21 kinds of key genes and 13 enzymes were involved in the three modules of benzene transformation. Mycolicibacter icosiumassiliensis and Sphingobium sp. SCG-1 carried multiple functional genes critically involved in benzene biodegradation. These findings provide technical and theoretical support for the in-situ bioremediation of benzene-contaminated soil and waste gas reduction in landfills.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenwen Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Aquatic Chemistry, Research Center for Eco- Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Shuyan Zhang
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Tong Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Aquatic Chemistry, Research Center for Eco- Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Lin Li
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Aquatic Chemistry, Research Center for Eco- Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; National Engineering Laboratory for VOCs Pollution Control Material & Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 101408, China.
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Chu R, Wang Y, Kong J, Pan T, Yang Y, He J. Lipid nanoparticles as the drug carrier for targeted therapy of hepatic disorders. J Mater Chem B 2024; 12:4759-4784. [PMID: 38682294 DOI: 10.1039/d3tb02766j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/01/2024]
Abstract
The liver, a complex and vital organ in the human body, is susceptible to various diseases, including metabolic disorders, acute hepatitis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. In recent decades, these diseases have significantly contributed to global morbidity and mortality. Currently, liver transplantation remains the most effective treatment for hepatic disorders. Nucleic acid therapeutics offer a selective approach to disease treatment through diverse mechanisms, enabling the regulation of relevant genes and providing a novel therapeutic avenue for hepatic disorders. It is expected that nucleic acid drugs will emerge as the third generation of pharmaceuticals, succeeding small molecule drugs and antibody drugs. Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) represent a crucial technology in the field of drug delivery and constitute a significant advancement in gene therapies. Nucleic acids encapsulated in LNPs are shielded from the degradation of enzymes and effectively delivered to cells, where they are released and regulate specific genes. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the structure, composition, and applications of LNPs in the treatment of hepatic disorders and offers insights into prospects and challenges in the future development of LNPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Runxuan Chu
- National Advanced Medical Engineering Research Center, China State Institute of Pharmaceutical Industry, 285 Gebaini Road, Shanghai 201203, P. R. China.
| | - Yi Wang
- Department of Chemistry, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon Tung, Hong Kong SAR, P. R. China.
| | - Jianglong Kong
- Department of Chemistry, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon Tung, Hong Kong SAR, P. R. China.
| | - Ting Pan
- National Advanced Medical Engineering Research Center, China State Institute of Pharmaceutical Industry, 285 Gebaini Road, Shanghai 201203, P. R. China.
- Department of Pharmaceutics School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, P. R. China
| | - Yani Yang
- National Advanced Medical Engineering Research Center, China State Institute of Pharmaceutical Industry, 285 Gebaini Road, Shanghai 201203, P. R. China.
| | - Jun He
- National Advanced Medical Engineering Research Center, China State Institute of Pharmaceutical Industry, 285 Gebaini Road, Shanghai 201203, P. R. China.
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Guden RM, Haegeman A, Ruttink T, Moens T, Derycke S. Nematodes alter the taxonomic and functional profiles of benthic bacterial communities: A metatranscriptomic approach. Mol Ecol 2024; 33:e17331. [PMID: 38533629 DOI: 10.1111/mec.17331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2023] [Revised: 02/25/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024]
Abstract
Marine sediments cover 70% of the Earth's surface, and harbour diverse bacterial communities critical for marine biogeochemical processes, which affect climate change, biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. Nematodes, the most abundant and species-rich metazoan organisms in marine sediments, in turn, affect benthic bacterial communities and bacterial-mediated ecological processes, but the underlying mechanisms by which they affect biogeochemical cycles remain poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate using a metatranscriptomic approach that nematodes alter the taxonomic and functional profiles of benthic bacterial communities. We found particularly strong stimulation of nitrogen-fixing and methane-oxidizing bacteria in the presence of nematodes, as well as increased functional activity associated with methane metabolism and degradation of various carbon compounds. This study provides empirical evidence that the presence of nematodes results in taxonomic and functional shifts in active bacterial communities, indicating that nematodes may play an important role in benthic ecosystem processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodgee Mae Guden
- Marine Biology Unit, Department of Biology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Annelies Haegeman
- Plant Sciences Unit, Flanders Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (ILVO), Melle, Belgium
| | - Tom Ruttink
- Plant Sciences Unit, Flanders Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (ILVO), Melle, Belgium
| | - Tom Moens
- Marine Biology Unit, Department of Biology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Sofie Derycke
- Marine Biology Unit, Department of Biology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Aquatic Environment and Quality, Flanders Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (ILVO), Oostende, Belgium
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Sun Z, Liu Y, Hou A, Han A, Yan C, Sun J. Transcriptome and gut microbiota analyses reveal a possible mechanism underlying rifampin-mediated interruption of the larval development of chironomid Propsilocerus akamusi (Diptera: Chironomidae). ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2023; 264:115467. [PMID: 37716071 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2023.115467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2023] [Revised: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 09/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/18/2023]
Abstract
Chironomids, the most abundant insect group found in freshwater habitats, are known to be pollution tolerate and serve as important bioindicators of contaminant stress. Gut microbiota has recently been shown to potentially provide a number of beneficial services to insect hosts. However, the antibiotic-mediated interruption of chironomid gut microbial community and its subsequent influence on host body are still unclear. In the present study, the effects of rifampin on chironomid larvae were investigated at both transcriptome and microbiome level to assess the relationship between gut bacteria and associated genes. Our data indicated that the rifampin-induced imbalance of gut ecosystem could inhibit the development of chironomid larvae via decreasing the body weight, body length and larval eclosion rate during 96-h treatment. Both the community structure and taxonomic composition were significantly altered due to the invasion of rifampin in digestive tracts. The relative abundance of phylum Deferribacterota and Bacteroidota were dramatically increased with rifampin exposure. A set of genes involved in amino acid synthesis as well as xenobiotic metabolism pathways were greatly changed and proved to have tight correlation with certain genus. Bacterial genus Tyzzerella was positively correlated with detoxifying PaCYP6GF1 and PaCYP9HL1 genes. This study provides a reference for understanding the environmental risks of antibiotic and aims to accelerate new biological insights into the effects of antibiotic on the fitness of chironomids and into the microbe mediated-regulatory mechanism of aquatic insects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zeyang Sun
- College of Life Sciences, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Conservation and Utilization of Animal Diversity, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin, China
| | - Yue Liu
- College of Life Sciences, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Conservation and Utilization of Animal Diversity, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin, China
| | - Aoran Hou
- College of Life Sciences, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Conservation and Utilization of Animal Diversity, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin, China
| | - Anqi Han
- College of Life Sciences, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Conservation and Utilization of Animal Diversity, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin, China
| | - Chuncai Yan
- College of Life Sciences, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Conservation and Utilization of Animal Diversity, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin, China.
| | - Jinsheng Sun
- College of Life Sciences, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Conservation and Utilization of Animal Diversity, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin, China.
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Jiang L, Han D, Hao Y, Song Z, Sun Z, Dai Z. Linking serotonin homeostasis to gut function: Nutrition, gut microbiota and beyond. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr 2023:1-20. [PMID: 36861222 DOI: 10.1080/10408398.2023.2183935] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/03/2023]
Abstract
Serotonin (5-HT) produced by enterochromaffin (EC) cells in the digestive tract is crucial for maintaining gut function and homeostasis. Nutritional and non-nutritional stimuli in the gut lumen can modulate the ability of EC cells to produce 5-HT in a temporal- and spatial-specific manner that toning gut physiology and immune response. Of particular interest, the interactions between dietary factors and the gut microbiota exert distinct impacts on gut 5-HT homeostasis and signaling in metabolism and the gut immune response. However, the underlying mechanisms need to be unraveled. This review aims to summarize and discuss the importance of gut 5-HT homeostasis and its regulation in maintaining gut metabolism and immune function in health and disease with special emphasis on different types of nutrients, dietary supplements, processing, and gut microbiota. Cutting-edge discoveries in this area will provide the basis for the development of new nutritional and pharmaceutical strategies for the prevention and treatment of serotonin homeostasis-related gut and systematic disorders and diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lili Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Dandan Han
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Youling Hao
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Zhuan Song
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Zhiyuan Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Zhaolai Dai
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, P. R. China
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Salam LB, Obayori OS. Functional characterization of the ABC transporters and transposable elements of an uncultured Paracoccus sp. recovered from a hydrocarbon-polluted soil metagenome. Folia Microbiol (Praha) 2022; 68:299-314. [PMID: 36329216 DOI: 10.1007/s12223-022-01012-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2022] [Accepted: 10/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Environmental microorganisms usually exhibit a high level of genomic plasticity and metabolic versatility that allow them to be well-adapted to diverse environmental challenges. This study used shotgun metagenomics to decipher the functional and metabolic attributes of an uncultured Paracoccus recovered from a polluted soil metagenome and determine whether the detected attributes are influenced by the nature of the polluted soil. Functional and metabolic attributes of the uncultured Paracoccus were elucidated via functional annotation of the open reading frames (ORFs) of its contig. Functional tools deployed for the analysis include KEGG, KEGG KofamKOALA, Clusters of Orthologous Groups of proteins (COG), Comprehensive Antibiotic Resistance Database (CARD), and the Antibiotic Resistance Gene-ANNOTation (ARG-ANNOT V6) for antibiotic resistance genes, TnCentral for transposable element, Transporter Classification Database (TCDB) for transporter genes, and FunRich for gene enrichment analysis. Analyses revealed the preponderance of ABC transporter genes responsible for the transport of oligosaccharides (malK, msmX, msmK, lacK, smoK, aglK, togA, thuK, treV, msiK), monosaccharides (glcV, malK, rbsC, rbsA, araG, ytfR, mglA), amino acids (thiQ, ynjD, thiZ, glnQ, gluA, gltL, peb1C, artP, aotP, bgtA, artQ, artR), and several others. Also detected are transporter genes for inorganic/organic nutrients like phosphate/phosphonate, nitrate/nitrite/cyanate, sulfate/sulfonate, bicarbonate, and heavy metals such as nickel/cobalt, molybdate/tungstate, and iron, among others. Antibiotic resistance genes that mediate efflux, inactivation, and target protection were detected, while transposable elements carrying resistance phenotypes for antibiotics and heavy metals were also annotated. The findings from this study have established the resilience, adaptability, and survivability of the uncultured Paracoccus in the hydrocarbon-polluted soil.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lateef Babatunde Salam
- Department of Biological Sciences, Microbiology Unit, Elizade University, Ilara-Mokin, Ondo State, Nigeria.
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Wu S, Liu M, Chen H, Song Q, Wu Z, Dai Z. Tryptophan regulates bile and nitrogen metabolism in two pig gut lactobacilli species in vitro based on metabolomics study. Amino Acids 2022; 54:1421-1435. [PMID: 35838843 DOI: 10.1007/s00726-022-03179-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2022] [Accepted: 06/06/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Research has demonstrated that tryptophan (Trp) regulated the composition and metabolism of the gut microbiota. However, the detailed mode of action of Trp on the metabolism of intestinal commensal lactobacilli has not been well characterized. This study aimed to compare the effects of Trp concentration (0.2, 0.4, 0.6 mmol/L) in the media on the metabolism of Lactobacillus amylovorus and Limosilactobacillus mucosae isolated from the small intestine of piglets in vitro by high-performance liquid chromatography and metabolomics study. Results showed that increased Trp concentration increased (P < 0.05) net utilization of lysine, methionine, tryptophan, asparagine/aspartate, glutamine/glutamate, however, increased net production of glycine and taurine in Lac. amylovorus. In contrast, increased Trp concentration decreased (P < 0.05) net utilization of leucine, phenylalanine, and serine and increased (P < 0.05) net utilization of arginine and net production of ornithine and glycine in Lim. mucosae. Targeted metabolomics analysis showed that increased Trp concentration promoted (P < 0.05) the production of indole-3-lactic acid and 3-indoleacetic acid in the two lactobacilli strains. Increased concentration of Trp increased (P < 0.01) glycochenodeoxycholic acid metabolism in Lim. mucosae and glycocholic acid and taurocholic acid metabolism in Lac. amylovorus. Untargeted metabolomics analysis showed that metabolic pathways related to phenylalanine and tryptophan metabolism, and nicotinate and nicotinamide metabolism were regulated by Trp in Lim. mucosae. These findings will help develop new biomarkers and dietary strategies to maintain the functionality of the gut microbiota aiming at improving the nutrition and health of both humans and animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shizhe Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Moyan Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Hui Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Qingqing Song
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Zhenlong Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Zhaolai Dai
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China.
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Liu Y, Tian X, Daniel RC, Okeugo B, Armbrister SA, Luo M, Taylor CM, Wu G, Rhoads JM. Impact of probiotic Limosilactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 on amino acid metabolism in the healthy newborn mouse. Amino Acids 2022; 54:1383-1401. [PMID: 35536363 DOI: 10.1007/s00726-022-03165-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2021] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
We studied the effect of feeding a single probiotic Limosilactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 (LR 17938) on the luminal and plasma levels of amino acids and their derivatives in the suckling newborn mouse, using gas chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography. We found that LR 17938 increased the relative abundance of many amino acids and their derivatives in stool, while it simultaneously significantly reduced the plasma levels of three amino acids (serine, citrulline, and taurine). Many peptides and dipeptides were increased in stool and plasma, notably gamma-glutamyl derivatives of amino acids, following ingestion of the LR 17938. Gamma-glutamyl transformation of amino acids facilitates their absorption. LR 17938 significantly upregulated N-acetylated amino acids, the levels of which could be useful biomarkers in plasma and warrant further investigation. Specific fecal microbiota were associated with higher levels of fecal amino acids and their derivatives. Changes in luminal and circulating levels of amino acid derivatives, polyamines, and tryptophan metabolites may be mechanistically related to probiotic efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuying Liu
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Pediatrics, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, 6431 Fannin Street, MSB 3.140A, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
| | - Xiangjun Tian
- Department of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Rhea C Daniel
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Pediatrics, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, 6431 Fannin Street, MSB 3.140A, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Beanna Okeugo
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Pediatrics, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, 6431 Fannin Street, MSB 3.140A, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Shabba A Armbrister
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Pediatrics, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, 6431 Fannin Street, MSB 3.140A, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Meng Luo
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Louisiana State University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Christopher M Taylor
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Louisiana State University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Guoyao Wu
- Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - J Marc Rhoads
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Pediatrics, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, 6431 Fannin Street, MSB 3.140A, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
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Nutrition and Metabolism: Foundations for Animal Growth, Development, Reproduction, and Health. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2021; 1354:1-24. [PMID: 34807434 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-85686-1_1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Consumption of high-quality animal protein plays an important role in improving human nutrition, growth, development, and health. With an exponential growth of the global population, demands for animal-sourced protein are expected to increase by 60% between 2021 and 2050. In addition to the production of food protein and fiber (wool), animals are useful models for biomedical research to prevent and treat human diseases and serve as bioreactors to produce therapeutic proteins. For a high efficiency to transform low-quality feedstuffs and forages into high-quality protein and highly bioavailable essential minerals in diets of humans, farm animals have dietary requirements for energy, amino acids, lipids, carbohydrates, minerals, vitamins, and water in their life cycles. All nutrients interact with each other to influence the growth, development, and health of mammals, birds, fish, and crustaceans, and adequate nutrition is crucial for preventing and treating their metabolic disorders (including metabolic diseases) and infectious diseases. At the organ level, the small intestine is not only the terminal site for nutrient digestion and absorption, but also intimately interacts with a diverse community of intestinal antigens and bacteria to influence gut and whole-body health. Understanding the species and metabolism of intestinal microbes, as well as their interactions with the intestinal immune systems and the host intestinal epithelium can help to mitigate antimicrobial resistance and develop prebiotic and probiotic alternatives to in-feed antibiotics in animal production. As abundant sources of amino acids, bioactive peptides, energy, and highly bioavailable minerals and vitamins, animal by-product feedstuffs are effective for improving the growth, development, health, feed efficiency, and survival of livestock and poultry, as well as companion and aquatic animals. The new knowledge covered in this and related volumes of Adv Exp Med Biol is essential to ensure sufficient provision of animal protein for humans, while helping reduce greenhouse gas emissions, minimize the urinary and fecal excretion of nitrogenous and other wastes to the environment, and sustain animal agriculture (including aquaculture).
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Bergen WG. Pigs (Sus Scrofa) in Biomedical Research. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2021; 1354:335-343. [PMID: 34807450 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-85686-1_17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Much of biomedical oriented research is conducted with animal models. Over the years, rodents (primarily rats and mice) have emerged as the preferred species for basic biochemistry, cell biology, physiology and nutrition studies. In the past, dogs have been used for the evaluation of dietary protein quality and other aspects of animal nitrogen metabolism and physiology, cardiovascular and endocrine research. At an increasing rate, pigs have also been used as a model species in biomedical research. Pigs are readily available in various mature sizes and genotypic/phenotypic traits, and there are many anatomic, nutritional and physiologic similarities between human beings and pigs. Many notable reviews summarizing the role of pigs in biomedical studies have already been published and these are cited below. The present review focuses on characteristics that make pigs an excellent biomedical animal model in particular in obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular research. To procure an animal model for obesity, irrespective of species used, these animals must be fed a dense caloric diet (high fat) to achieve an experimental working model within a reasonable period. This review also focuses on a putative role of gastrointestinal microbiota in obesity as obese animals exhibit a shift in the distribution of gastrointestinal microbial phyla from lean animals. But to date such results have not pinpointed a treatable cause for obesity. Sometimes, the choice of sampling sites for microbial assessment in many reports can be questioned as the microbial content and phyla distribution in easily collected fecal samples may differ from those obtained directly from the small intestine and upper colon. While pigs are still utilized in many countries for medical surgery practice, this has been discontinued in US medical schools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Werner G Bergen
- Department of Animal Sciences, Auburn University, AL, Auburn, 210 Upchurch Hall, 36854, USA.
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