Study of enteropathogenic bacteria in children with acute diarrhoea aged from 7 to 10 years in Xuzhou, China

Alterations in the Fecal Microbiota Composition in Pediatric Acute Diarrhea: A Cross-Sectional and Comparative Study of Viral and Bacterial Enteritis

Objective

To examine the association between the fecal microbiota of acute diarrhea in children and provide gut microbiota information related the acute diarrhea with rotavirus.

Patients and Methods

Children with acute diarrhea aged 3-60 months were selected for the study. Routine stool examination was performed, and stool samples were collected and stored at -80 °C until further analysis. Fecal microbial DNA was extracted, and DNA concentration and quality were detected. PCR amplification and 16S rDNA high-throughput sequencing analysis using the Illumina MiSeq platform were performed, and intestinal flora was statistically analyzed.

Results

Children with acute diarrhea exhibited gut microbial dysbiosis. Lower microbial diversity and richness were observed in the viral enteritis and bacterial enteritis groups than in the control group. Composition of the microbiota in acute diarrhea differed from that in the control group. The Bacteroidetes/Firmicutes dramatically decreased in the viral enteritis and bacterial enteritis groups. However, the relative abundance of Proteobacteria and Fusobacteria increased, especially in the bacterial enteritis group. In addition, the relative abundance of Actinobacteria had dramatically increased in the viral enteritis group. According to the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes map analysis, the membrane transport dysfunction was caused by rotavirus infection, while the membrane transport dysfunction was more evident in bacterial infection.

Conclusion

Acute diarrhea infections cause fecal microbiota dysbiosis in children. Changes in fecal microflora in children suggest that the regulation of intestinal flora in children with acute diarrhea should be strengthened.

The human oral - nasopharynx microbiome as a risk screening tool for nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a common head and neck cancer with a poor prognosis. There is an urgent need to develop a simple and convenient screening tool for early detection and risk screening of NPC. 139 microbial samples were collected from 40 healthy people and 39 patients with nasopharyngeal biopsy. A total of 40 and 39 oral, eight and 27 nasal cavity, nine and 16 nasopharyngeal microbial samples were collected from the two sets of individuals. A risk screening tool for NPC was established by 16S rDNA sequencing and random forest. Patients with nasopharyngeal biopsy had significantly lower nasal cavity and nasopharynx microbial diversities than healthy people. The beta diversity of the oral microbiome was significantly different between the two groups. The NPC screening tools based on nasopharyngeal and oral microbiomes have 88% and 77.2% accuracies, respectively. The nasopharyngeal biopsy patients had significantly higher Granulicatella abundance in their oral cavity and lower Pseudomonas and Acinetobacter in the nasopharynx than healthy people. This study established microbiome-based non-invasive, simple, no radiation, and low-cost NPC screening tools. Individuals at a high risk of NPC should be advised to seek further examination, which might improve the early detection of NPC and save public health costs.

The Plaque Microbiota Community of Giant Panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) Cubs With Dental Caries

Dental caries severely hinders efficient access to adequate energy in wildlife. Different food supplies will develop characteristic plaque, and the microorganisms of these plaque are closely related to dental health. Here, plaque samples from panda cubs with caries and caries-free were collected for 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing. All sequences clustered into 337 operational taxonomic units (OTUs; 97% identity), representing 268 independent species belonging to 189 genera, 98 families, 51 orders, 24 classes, and 13 phyla. Two groups shared 218 OTUs, indicating the presence of a core plaque microbiome. α diversity analysis showed that the microbial diversity in plaques with caries exceeded that of caries-free. The dominant phyla of plaque microbiota included Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, Fusobacteria, and Actinobacteria. The dominant genera included unclassified Neisseriaceae, Actinobacillus, Lautropia, Neisseria, Porhyromonas, unclassified Pasteurellaceae, Moraxella, Streptococcus, Bergeywlla and Capnocytophaga. β diversity analysis showed that the plaque microbial community structure was different between two groups. Using LEfSe analysis, 19 differentially abundant taxa were identified as potential biomarkers. Finally, function predictions analysis showed All the energy related metabolic pathways on KEGG level 2 were enriched in caries-active group. Consistent with the mainstream caries-causing narrative, our results illuminate the lack of information regarding the oral microflora composition and function within giant panda cubs.

Effects of Lacidophilin Tablets, Yogurt, and Bifid Triple Viable Capsules on the Gut Microbiota of Mice with Antibiotic-Associated Diarrhea

Antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD) is a common morbidity caused by antibiotic use and is characterized by the dysbiosis of the gut microbiota. Several clinical trials have shown that probiotics can prevent AAD. This study aimed at investigating the effects of Lacidophilin tablets (LB), yogurt (YG), and bifid triple viable capsules (BT) on the gut microbiota of mice with AAD. Mice with diarrhea were randomly allocated to treatment groups or the control group and were treated with either LB, YG, BT, or vehicle control. The body weight, diarrhea scores, cecum index, and cecal length were determined. Fecal samples of all mice were analyzed using 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing. The results showed that LB, YG, and BT significantly decreased the diarrhea scores and inhibited increases in the cecum index and cecal length induced by AAD. In addition, they significantly changed the composition and richness of the gut microbiota. Specifically, they increased the abundance of the phylum Firmicutes and decreased the abundance of the phyla Bacteroidetes and the family Bacteroidaceae. Treatment with LB and YG also decreased the abundance of the phylum Proteobacteria and only LB could mediate the reduced levels of Lactobacillaceae in AAD mice. At the genus level, YG and BT treatment decreased the abundance of Bacteroides or Parasutterella. To our surprise, only LB treatment dramatically increased the abundance of Lactobacillus and decreased that of potential pathogens, such as Bacteroides, Parabacteroides, and Parasutterella, to almost normal values. Our findings indicate that LB, YG, and BT ameliorated diarrhea by regulating the composition and structure of the gut microbiota and that LB plays an important role in regulating the gut microbiota.

The Clinical Potential of Oral Microbiota as a Screening Tool for Oral Squamous Cell Carcinomas

Introduction

The oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is detrimental to patients’ physical and mental health. The prognosis of OSCC depends on the early diagnosis of OSCC in large populations.

Objectives

Here, the present study aimed to develop an early diagnostic model based on the relationship between OSCC and oral microbiota.

Methods

Overall, 164 samples were collected from 47 OSCC patients and 48 healthy individuals as controls, including saliva, subgingival plaque, the tumor surface, the control side (healthy mucosa), and tumor tissue. Based on 16S rDNA sequencing, data from all the five sites, and salivary samples only, two machine learning models were developed to diagnose OSCC.

Results

The average diagnostic accuracy rates of five sites and saliva were 98.17% and 95.70%, respectively. Cross-validations showed estimated external prediction accuracies of 96.67% and 93.58%, respectively. The false-negative rate was 0%. Besides, it was shown that OSCC could be diagnosed on any one of the five sites. In this model, Actinobacteria, Fusobacterium, Moraxella, Bacillus, and Veillonella species exhibited strong correlations with OSCC.

Conclusion

This study provided a noninvasive and inexpensive way to diagnose malignancy based on oral microbiota without radiation. Applying machine learning methods in microbiota data to diagnose OSCC constitutes an example of a microbial assistant diagnostic model for other malignancies.

The Impact of Age and Pathogens Type on the Gut Microbiota in Infants with Diarrhea in Dalian, China

Objective

Diarrhea in infants is a serious gastrointestinal dysfunction characterized by vomiting and watery bowel movements. Without proper treatment, infants will develop a dangerous electrolyte imbalance. Diarrhea is accompanied by intestinal dysbiosis. This study compared the gut microbiota between healthy infants and diarrheic infants. It also investigated the effects of age and pathogen type on the gut microbiota of infants with diarrhea, providing data for the proper treatment for diarrhea in infants.

Materials and Methods

DNA was collected from the fecal samples of 42 Chinese infants with diarrhea and 37 healthy infants. The healthy infants and infants with diarrhea were divided into four age groups: 0-120, 120-180, 180-270, and 270-365 days. Using PCR and 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing, the diarrhea-causing pathogens in these infants were identified and then categorized into four groups: Salmonella infection, Staphylococcus aureus infection, combined Salmonella and Staphylococcus aureus infection, and others (neither Salmonella nor Staphylococcus aureus).

Results

The species diversity of gut microbiota in diarrheic infants was significantly reduced compared with that in healthy infants. Infants with diarrhea had a lower abundance of Lactobacillus spp. and Bacillus spp. (P < 0.001) and a significant richness of Klebsiella spp. and Enterobacter spp. (P < 0.001). Similar gut microbiota patterns were found in diarrheic infants in all four age groups. However, different pathogenic infections have significant effects on the gut microbiota of diarrheic infants. For instance, the relative abundance of Klebsiella spp. and Streptococcus spp. was significantly increased (P < 0.001) in infants infected with Staphylococcus aureus; meanwhile, the richness of bacteria such as Enterobacter spp. was significantly increased in the Salmonella infection group (P < 0.001).

Conclusion

The microbiota in infants with diarrhea has changed significantly, characterized by decreased species diversity and abundance of beneficial bacteria and significant increase in the proportion of conditional pathogens. Meanwhile, the gut microbiota of infants with diarrhea at different ages was similar, but different pathogenic infections affect the gut microbiota characteristics. Therefore, early identification of changes in gut microbiota in infants with diarrhea and the adoption of appropriate pathogen type-specific interventions may effectively alleviate the disease and reduce adverse reactions.

Berberine for diarrhea in children and adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Diarrhea is a ubiquitous digestive system disease, leading to loss of fluid and electrolytes, and may be life-threatening, especially in children and adults who are immunosuppressed or malnourished. Berberine has a broad-spectrum antibiotic activity and is very widely used to treat diarrhea in China. No systematic review has been carried out to evaluate the evidence presented in clinical trials. The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness and safety of berberine in diarrhea treatment among children and adults.

METHODS

Seven databases and two clinical trial registries were searched on 1 September 2019. Randomized controlled trials were included, where participants were diagnosed (first diagnosed) as having diarrhea according to clear diagnostic criteria. Berberine alone or in combination with Western medication as intervention were included. Subgroup analyses were conducted based on children or adults, acute or persistent diarrhea, infectious or noninfectious and treatment courses. Primary outcomes were clinical cure rate and duration of diarrhea. The GRADE tool was used to assess the quality of evidence.

RESULTS

A total of 38 randomized controlled trials were included involving 3948 participants (including 27 trials on 2702 children) were included. Compared with antibiotics, berberine plus antibiotics showed better results in both adults and in children in general, especially when given for 7 days or 3 days in acute infectious diarrhea of children. Compared with the control groups, using berberine alone or in combination with montmorillonite, probiotics, and vitamin B increased the clinical cure rate of diarrhea. The use of berberine alone or berberine combined with montmorillonite reduced the duration of hospitalization. Using berberine had significantly better laboratory indicators (isoenzyme, inflammatory factors, myocardial enzyme, and fecal trait) and fewer systemic symptoms than the no berberine groups. Overall, 22 of 27 trials on children used berberine as an enema. No deaths and serious adverse events were reported. The quality of evidence of included trials was moderate to low or very low. The impact of different dosages, frequencies and treatment durations on the outcomes was not evaluated due to insufficient number of trials.

CONCLUSION

This review demonstrated that berberine was generally effective in improving clinical cure rates and shortening the duration of diarrhea compared with control groups. No severe adverse event was reported. However, there is still a lack of high-quality evidence for evaluating the efficacy and safety of berberine.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

PROSPERO CRD42020151001 (available from http://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/).

Antibiotic-induced dysbiosis of the rat oral and gut microbiota and resistance to Salmonella

OBJECTIVES

Antibiotics play a great role in the treatment of infectious diseases, but meantime, they cause great disturbances to host microbiota. Studies on different antibiotic-induced changes in host microbiota are relatively scarce. This study aimed to investigate the changes in oral and gut microbiota and possible alterations of gut resistance to Salmonella induced by the administration of antibiotics.

METHODS

The experiment was conducted by administering antibiotics to rats and detecting oral and gut microbiota by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. In second part, after treating with antibiotics or Lactobacillus rhamnosus the rats were infected by Salmonella Typhimurium and the pathogen burden in the gut was counted by colony forming unit assay.

RESULTS

The gut microbiota underwent dramatic changes after both vancomycin and ampicillin treatment. The alpha diversity sharply decreased, and the microbiota composition showed a significant difference. However, the gut microbiota recovered within four weeks after stopping antibiotics administration, although this recovery was incomplete. Oral microbiota did not show significant alterations in both alpha and beta diversities. The number of pathogens in the gut in the control group was significantly lower than that in the antibiotic-treated group but only lasted for the first 4 days after infection.

CONCLUSIONS

Antibiotics cause dramatic alterations in the number and diversity of gut microbiota but not oral microbiota. These changes in the gut microbiota could incompletely recover four weeks later. When infected with pathogens after antibiotic administration, the rats show a decrease in colonization resistance in the gut for the first four days after infection.

Research on oral microbiota of monozygotic twins with discordant caries experience - in vitro and in vivo study

Oral microbiome is potentially correlated with many diseases, such as dental caries, periodontitis, oral cancer and some systemic diseases. Twin model, as an effective method for studying human microbiota, is widely used in research of relationship between oral microbiota and dental caries. However, there were few researches focusing on caries discordant twins. In this study, in vitro assays were conducted combined with 16S rRNA sequencing analysis on oral microbiota sampled from twins who presented discordant caries experience and mice model was developed as well. Results showed that oral microbiota from caries-active twin possessed higher metabolic activity and produced more lactic production. 16S rRNA sequencing analysis showed that more than 80% of family taxa could be transferred into gnotobiotic-mice. Key caries-associated genera were significantly different between twins and the same difference in genus level could be found in mice as well (p < 0.05). This study suggested that oral microbiota of twins could be distinguished from each other despite the similarities in genetic make-up, living environment, and lifestyle. The difference in microbiota was applied to develop a mice model which may facilitate the investigation of core microbiota of dental caries.

Bacterial diarrhea in hospitalized children: Pathogen distribution and drug resistance

AIM

To study the pathogen distribution and drug resistance in hospitalized children with bacterial diarrhea to guide the selection of appropriate antimicrobial drug regimen for the clinical treatment of bacterial diarrhea in children.

METHODS

A total of 1107 children with bacterial diarrhea treated at our hospital from May 2012 to October 2017 were retrospectively analyzed. According to the clinical data of all children (including medical records, laboratory examination results, fecal pathogen detection results, and drug susceptibility test results), the distribution and composition of pathogenic bacteria, clinical symptoms, the drug resistance of main pathogenic bacteria, therapeutic effects, and prognosis were analyzed.

RESULTS

In feces from 1107 children with bacterial diarrhea, 206 strains of pathogenic bacteria were isolated, including 39 cases of Gram-positive bacteria (such as Staphylococcus aureus) and 167 cases of Gram-negative bacteria (such as shigella, pathogenic Escherichia coli, and salmonella). The detection rate of pathogenic bacteria in the feces was the highest in children aged < 1 year, and the detection rate decreased with the increase of age. Pathogenic bacteria were detected throughout the year, especially in summer. There was a statistically significant difference (P < 0.05) in clinical symptoms (such as fever, abdominal pain, defecation, and rehydration) between bacterial diarrhea caused by Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. The rate of resistance of main Gram-positive bacteria to antimicrobial drugs moxifloxacin, vancomycin, and linezolid was less than 30%, and the rate of resistance of Gram-negative bacteria to antibiotics ceftazidime, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, meropenem, and imipenem was less than 30%. The cure rate of bacterial diarrhea was 96.48% (1068/1107) after one week of treatment with antibiotics and selective antibacterial agents.

CONCLUSION

The pathogen distribution in children with bacterial diarrhea is complex, and clinicians should select antimicrobial drugs with a resistance rate less than 30% based on drug susceptibility test results.

Anti-Bacteria and Microecosystem-Regulating Effects of Dental Implant Coated with Dimethylaminododecyl Methacrylate

The effects of dimethylaminododecyl methacrylate (DMADDM) modified titanium implants on bacterial activity and microbial ecosystem of saliva-derived biofilm were investigated for the first time. Titanium discs were coated with DMADDM solutions at mass fractions of 0 mg/mL (control), 1, 5 and 10 mg/mL, respectively. Biomass accumulation and metabolic activity of biofilms were tested using crystal violet assay and MTT (3-(4,5-Dimethyl-thiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay. 16S rRNA gene sequencing was performed to measure the microbial community. Live/dead staining and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used to value the structure of biofilm. The results showed that the higher mass fraction of DMADDM the coating solution had, the significantly lower the values of metabolic activity and accumulated biofilms got, as well as fewer live cells and less extracellular matrix. Moreover, 5 mg/mL of DMADDM was the most effective concentration, as well as 10 mg/mL. In microecosystem-regulation, the DMADDM modified titanium implant decreased the relative abundance of Neisseria and Actinomyces and increased the relative abundance of Lactobacillus, a probiotic for peri-implant diseases. In conclusion, via inhibiting growth and regulating microecosystem of biofilm, this novel titanium implant coating with DMADDM was promising in preventing peri-implant disease in an ‘ecological manner’.