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Sung CH, Marsilio S, Pilla R, Wu YA, Cavasin JP, Hong MP, Suchodolski JS. Temporal Variability of the Dominant Fecal Microbiota in Healthy Adult Cats. Vet Sci 2024; 11:31. [PMID: 38250937 PMCID: PMC10819787 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci11010031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2023] [Revised: 01/03/2024] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
While shifts in gut microbiota have been studied in diseased states, the temporal variability of the microbiome in cats has not been widely studied. This study investigated the temporal variability of the feline dysbiosis index (DI) and the abundance of core bacterial groups in healthy adult cats. The secondary aim was to evaluate the relationship between the fecal abundance of Clostridium hiranonis and the fecal concentrations of unconjugated bile acids. A total of 142 fecal samples collected from 17 healthy cats were prospectively included: nine cats with weekly collection over 3 weeks (at least four time points), five cats with monthly collection over 2 months (three time points), and three cats with additional collections for up to 10 months. The DI remained stable within the reference intervals over two months for all cats (Friedman test, p > 0.2), and 100% of the DI values (n = 142) collected throughout the study period remained within the RI. While some temporal individual variation was observed for individual taxa, the magnitude was minimal compared to cats with chronic enteropathy and antibiotic exposure. Additionally, the abundance of Clostridium hiranonis was significantly correlated with the percentage of fecal primary bile acids, supporting its role as a bile acid converter in cats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chi-Hsuan Sung
- Gastrointestinal Laboratory, Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA; (C.-H.S.)
| | - Sina Marsilio
- UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Veterinary Medicine and Epidemiology, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Rachel Pilla
- Gastrointestinal Laboratory, Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA; (C.-H.S.)
| | - Yu-An Wu
- Gastrointestinal Laboratory, Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA; (C.-H.S.)
| | - Joao Pedro Cavasin
- Gastrointestinal Laboratory, Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA; (C.-H.S.)
| | - Min-Pyo Hong
- Gastrointestinal Laboratory, Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA; (C.-H.S.)
| | - Jan S. Suchodolski
- Gastrointestinal Laboratory, Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA; (C.-H.S.)
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2
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Dagher SF, Vaishnav A, Stanley CB, Meilleur F, Edwards BFP, Bruno-Bárcena JM. Structural analysis and functional evaluation of the disordered ß-hexosyltransferase region from Hamamotoa (Sporobolomyces) singularis. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2023; 11:1291245. [PMID: 38162180 PMCID: PMC10755861 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2023.1291245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2023] [Accepted: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Hamamotoa (Sporobolomyces) singularis codes for an industrially important membrane bound ß-hexosyltransferase (BHT), (BglA, UniprotKB: Q564N5) that has applications in the production of natural fibers such as galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) and natural sugars found in human milk. When heterologously expressed by Komagataella phaffii GS115, BHT is found both membrane bound and soluble secreted into the culture medium. In silico structural predictions and crystal structures support a glycosylated homodimeric enzyme and the presence of an intrinsically disordered region (IDR) with membrane binding potential within its novel N-terminal region (1-110 amino acids). Additional in silico analysis showed that the IDR may not be essential for stable homodimerization. Thus, we performed progressive deletion analyses targeting segments within the suspected disordered region, to determine the N-terminal disorder region's impact on the ratio of membrane-bound to secreted soluble enzyme and its contribution to enzyme activity. The ratio of the soluble secreted to membrane-bound enzyme shifted from 40% to 53% after the disordered N-terminal region was completely removed, while the specific activity was unaffected. Furthermore, functional analysis of each glycosylation site found within the C-terminal domain revealed reduced total secreted protein activity by 58%-97% in both the presence and absence of the IDR, indicating that glycosylation at all four locations is required by the host for the secretion of active enzyme and independent of the removed disordered N-terminal region. Overall, the data provides evidence that the disordered region only partially influences the secretion and membrane localization of BHT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suzanne F. Dagher
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States
| | - Asmita Vaishnav
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, United States
| | | | - Flora Meilleur
- Neutron Sciences Directorate, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, United States
- Department of Molecular and Structural Biochemistry, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States
| | - Brian F. P. Edwards
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, United States
| | - José M. Bruno-Bárcena
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States
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Nealon NJ, Wood A, Rudinsky AJ, Klein H, Salerno M, Parker VJ, Quimby JM, Howard J, Winston JA. Fecal identification markers impact the feline fecal microbiota. Front Vet Sci 2023; 10:1039931. [PMID: 36846255 PMCID: PMC9946173 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1039931] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2022] [Accepted: 01/02/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Fecal diagnostics are a mainstay of feline medicine, and fecal identification markers help to distinguish individuals in a multi-cat environment. However, the impact of identification markers on the fecal microbiota are unknown. Given the increased interest in using microbiota endpoints to inform diagnosis and treatment, the objective of this study was to examine the effects of orally supplemented glitter and crayon shavings on the feline fecal microbiota (amplicon sequencing of 16S rRNA gene V4 region). Fecal samples were collected daily from six adult cats that were randomized to receive oral supplementation with either glitter or crayon for two weeks, with a two-week washout before receiving the second marker. No adverse effects in response to marker supplementation were seen for any cat, and both markers were readily identifiable in the feces. Microbiota analysis revealed idiosyncratic responses to fecal markers, where changes in community structure in response to glitter or crayon could not be readily discerned. Given these findings, it is not recommended to administered glitter or crayon shavings as a fecal marker when microbiome endpoints are used, however their clinical use with other diagnostics should still be considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nora Jean Nealon
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Comparative Hepatobiliary and Intestinal Research Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States,Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Alexandra Wood
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Comparative Hepatobiliary and Intestinal Research Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Adam J. Rudinsky
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Comparative Hepatobiliary and Intestinal Research Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States,Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Hannah Klein
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Comparative Hepatobiliary and Intestinal Research Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States,Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Matthew Salerno
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Comparative Hepatobiliary and Intestinal Research Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States,Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Valerie J. Parker
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Comparative Hepatobiliary and Intestinal Research Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States,Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Jessica M. Quimby
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - James Howard
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Comparative Hepatobiliary and Intestinal Research Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States,Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Jenessa A. Winston
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Comparative Hepatobiliary and Intestinal Research Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States,Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States,*Correspondence: Jenessa A. Winston ✉
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Stavroulaki EM, Suchodolski JS, Xenoulis PG. Effects of antimicrobials on the gastrointestinal microbiota of dogs and cats. Vet J 2023; 291:105929. [PMID: 36427604 DOI: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2022.105929] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2021] [Revised: 11/12/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Among several environmental factors, exposure to antimicrobials has been in the spotlight as a cause of profound and long-term disturbance of the intestinal microbiota. Antimicrobial-induced dysbiosis is a general term and includes decreases in microbial richness and diversity, loss of beneficial bacterial groups, blooms of intestinal pathogens and alterations in the metabolic functions and end-products of the microbiota. Mounting evidence from human and experimental animal studies suggest an association between antimicrobial-induced dysbiosis and susceptibility to gastrointestinal, metabolic, endocrine, immune and neuropsychiatric diseases. These associations are commonly stronger after early life exposure to antimicrobials, a period during which maturation of the microbiota and immune system take place in parallel. In addition, these associations commonly become stronger as the number of antimicrobial courses increases. The repeatability of these findings among different studies as well as the presence of a dose-dependent relationship between antimicrobial exposure and disease development collectively require careful consideration of the need for antimicrobial use. There are limited studies are available in dogs and cats regarding the long-term effects of antimicrobials on the microbiota and subsequent susceptibility to diseases. This review discusses the effects of antimicrobials on the gastrointestinal microbiota and the most important associations between antimicrobial-induced dysbiosis and diseases in humans, dogs, and cats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evangelia M Stavroulaki
- Clinic of Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Thessaly, Karditsa 43131, Greece.
| | - Jan S Suchodolski
- Gastrointestinal Laboratory, Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station 77845, TX, USA
| | - Panagiotis G Xenoulis
- Clinic of Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Thessaly, Karditsa 43131, Greece; Gastrointestinal Laboratory, Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station 77845, TX, USA
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5
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Gookin JL, Strong SJ, Bruno-Bárcena JM, Stauffer SH, Williams S, Wassack E, Azcarate-Peril MA, Estrada M, Seguin A, Balzer J, Davidson G. Randomized placebo-controlled trial of feline-origin Enterococcus hirae probiotic effects on preventative health and fecal microbiota composition of fostered shelter kittens. Front Vet Sci 2022; 9:923792. [PMID: 36467638 PMCID: PMC9714445 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2022.923792] [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: 04/19/2022] [Accepted: 11/02/2022] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Diarrhea is the second most common cause of mortality in shelter kittens. Studies examining prevention strategies in this population are lacking. Probiotics are of particular interest but studies in cats are largely limited to healthy adults or those with induced disease. Only one study in domestic cats describes the use of host-derived bacteria as a probiotic. We previously identified Enterococcus hirae as a dominant species colonizing the small intestinal mucosa in healthy shelter kittens. Oral administration of a probiotic formulation of kitten-origin E. hirae (strain 1002-2) mitigated the increase in intestinal permeability and fecal water loss resulting from experimental enteropathogenic E. coli infection in purpose-bred kittens. Based on these findings, we hypothesized that administration of kitten-origin E. hirae to weaned fostered shelter kittens could provide a measurable preventative health benefit. METHODS We conducted a randomized, placebo-controlled, blinded clinical trial to determine the impact of a freeze-dried E. hirae probiotic on body weight gain, incidence of diarrhea, carriage of potential diarrheal pathogens, and composition of the intestinal microbiota in weaned fostered shelter kittens. RESULTS One-hundred thirty kittens completed the study. Fifty-eight kittens received the probiotic and 72 received the placebo. There were no significant differences in age, weight upon initiation of the study, number of days in the study, average daily gain in body weight, or weight at completion of the study. Kittens treated with E. hirae were 3.4 times less likely to develop diarrhea compared to kittens treated with placebo (odds ratio = 0.294, 95% CI 0.109-0.792, p = 0.022). A significant impact of E. hirae was not observed on the presence or abundance of 30 different bacterial, viral, protozoal, fungal, algal, and parasitic agents in feces examined by qPCR. With exception to a decrease in Megamonas, administration of the E. hirae probiotic did not alter the predominant bacterial phyla present in feces based on 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. DISCUSSION Decreased incidence of diarrhea associated with preventative administration of E. hirae to foster kittens supports a rationale for use of E. hirae for disease prevention in this young population at high risk for intestinal disease though additional studies are warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jody L Gookin
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Comparative Medicine Institute, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States
| | - Sandra J Strong
- Department of Environmental Services, Wake County Animal Center, Raleigh, NC, United States
- Orange County Animal Services, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - José M Bruno-Bárcena
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States
| | - Stephen H Stauffer
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Comparative Medicine Institute, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States
| | - Shelby Williams
- Veterinary Hospital Pharmacy, College of Veterinary Medicine and Comparative Medicine Institute, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States
- University of Wisconsin Veterinary Care, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Erica Wassack
- Veterinary Hospital Pharmacy, College of Veterinary Medicine and Comparative Medicine Institute, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS, United States
| | - M Andrea Azcarate-Peril
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, and UNC Microbiome Core, Department of Medicine, Center for Gastrointestinal Biology and Disease, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Marko Estrada
- IDEXX Laboratories, Inc., West Sacramento, CA, United States
| | - Alexis Seguin
- IDEXX Laboratories, Inc., West Sacramento, CA, United States
| | - Joerg Balzer
- Vet Med Labor GmbH Division, IDEXX Laboratories, Inc., Kornwestheim, Germany
| | - Gigi Davidson
- Veterinary Hospital Pharmacy, College of Veterinary Medicine and Comparative Medicine Institute, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States
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Lee D, Goh TW, Kang MG, Choi HJ, Yeo SY, Yang J, Huh CS, Kim YY, Kim Y. Perspectives and Advances in Probiotics and the Gut Microbiome in
Companion Animals. JOURNAL OF ANIMAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 2022; 64:197-217. [PMID: 35530406 PMCID: PMC9039956 DOI: 10.5187/jast.2022.e8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2021] [Revised: 01/14/2022] [Accepted: 01/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
As the number of households that raise dogs and cats is increasing, there is
growing interest in animal health. The gut plays an important role in animal
health. In particular, the microbiome in the gut is known to affect both the
absorption and metabolism of nutrients and the protective functions of the host.
Using probiotics on pets has beneficial effects, such as modulating the immune
system, helping to reduce stress, protecting against pathogenic bacteria and
developing growth performance. The goals of this review are to summarize the
relationship between probiotics/the gut microbiome and animal health, to feature
technology used for identifying the diversity of microbiota composition of
canine and feline microbiota, and to discuss recent reports on probiotics in
canines and felines and the safety issues associated with probiotics and the gut
microbiome in companion animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Lee
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology
and Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Science, Seoul National
University, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - Tae Wook Goh
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology
and Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Science, Seoul National
University, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - Min Geun Kang
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology
and Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Science, Seoul National
University, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - Hye Jin Choi
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology
and Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Science, Seoul National
University, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - So Young Yeo
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology
and Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Science, Seoul National
University, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | | | - Chul Sung Huh
- Research Institute of Eco-Friendly
Livestock Science, Institute of Green-Bio Science and Technology, Seoul
National University, Pyeongchang 25354, Korea
- Graduate School of International
Agricultural Technology, Seoul National University,
Pyeongchang 25354, Korea
| | - Yoo Yong Kim
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology
and Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Science, Seoul National
University, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - Younghoon Kim
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology
and Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Science, Seoul National
University, Seoul 08826, Korea
- Corresponding author: Younghoon Kim, Department of
Agricultural Biotechnology and Research Institute of Agriculture and Life
Science, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea. Tel: +82-2-880-4808,
E-mail:
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7
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Short- and long-term effects of amoxicillin/clavulanic acid or doxycycline on the gastrointestinal microbiome of growing cats. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0253031. [PMID: 34910719 PMCID: PMC8673677 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0253031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2021] [Accepted: 10/18/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Antibiotic treatment in early life influences gastrointestinal (GI) microbial composition and function. In humans, the resultant intestinal dysbiosis is associated with an increased risk for certain diseases later in life. The objective of this study was to determine the temporal effects of antibiotic treatment on the GI microbiome of young cats. Fecal samples were collected from cats randomly allocated to receive either amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (20 mg/kg q12h) for 20 days (AMC group; 15 cats) or doxycycline (10 mg/kg q24h) for 28 days (DOX group;15 cats) as part of the standard treatment of upper respiratory tract infection. In addition, feces were collected from healthy control cats (CON group;15 cats). All cats were approximately two months of age at enrolment. Samples were collected on days 0 (baseline), 20 or 28 (AMC and DOX, respectively; last day of treatment), 60, 120, and 300. DNA was extracted and sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene and qPCR assays were performed. Fecal microbial composition was different on the last day of treatment for AMC cats, and 1 month after the end of antibiotic treatment for DOX cats, compared to CON cats. Species richness was significantly greater in DOX cats compared to CON cats on the last day of treatment. Abundance of Enterobacteriales was increased, and that of Erysipelotrichi was decreased in cats of the AMC group on the last day of treatment compared to CON cats. The abundance of the phylum Proteobacteria was increased in cats of the DOX group on days 60 and 120 compared to cats of the CON group. Only minor differences in abundances between the treatment groups and the control group were present on day 300. Both antibiotics appear to delay the developmental progression of the microbiome, and this effect is more profound during treatment with amoxicillin/clavulanic acid and one month after treatment with doxycycline. Future studies are required to determine if these changes influence microbiome function and whether they have possible effects on disease susceptibility in cats.
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8
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Comparative Genomics of Atypical Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli from Kittens and Children Identifies Bacterial Factors Associated with Virulence in Kittens. Infect Immun 2021; 89:IAI.00619-20. [PMID: 33257534 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00619-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2020] [Accepted: 11/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Typical enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (tEPEC) is a leading cause of diarrhea and associated death in children worldwide. Atypical EPEC (aEPEC) lacks the plasmid encoding bundle-forming pili and is considered less virulent, but the molecular mechanism of virulence is poorly understood. We recently identified kittens as a host for aEPEC where intestinal epithelial colonization was associated with diarrheal disease and death. The purposes of this study were to (i) determine the genomic similarity between kitten aEPEC and human aEPEC isolates and (ii) identify genotypic or phenotypic traits associated with virulence in kitten aEPEC. We observed no differences between kitten and human aEPEC in core genome content or gene cluster sequence identities, and no distinguishing genomic content was observed between aEPEC isolates from kittens with nonclinical colonization (NC) versus those with lethal infection (LI). Variation in adherence patterns and ability to aggregate actin in cultured cells mirrored descriptions of human aEPEC. The aEPEC isolated from kittens with LI were significantly more motile than isolates from kittens with NC. Kittens may serve as a reservoir for aEPEC that is indistinguishable from human aEPEC isolates and may provide a needed comparative animal model for the study of aEPEC pathogenesis. Motility seems to be an important factor in pathogenesis of LI associated with aEPEC in kittens.
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Ortín-Piqueras V, Freitag TL, Andersson LC, Lehtonen SH, Meri SK, Spillmann T, Frias R. Urinary Excretion of Iohexol as a Permeability Marker in a Mouse Model of Intestinal Inflammation: Time Course, Performance and Welfare Considerations. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11010079. [PMID: 33406796 PMCID: PMC7824797 DOI: 10.3390/ani11010079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2020] [Revised: 12/24/2020] [Accepted: 12/26/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary In mammals, different diseases are associated with intestinal changes that may cause an increase in gut permeability. Intestinal permeability tests allow the evaluation of intestinal damage in humans, veterinary patients and laboratory animal models. When used in mouse models, these tests require that animals are singly housed in metabolic cages with a wire-grid floor to collect urine samples. This raises welfare concerns. Iohexol meets several criteria for an ideal intestinal permeability marker and has recently been used in several species. Here, we examined the performance of an intestinal permeability test using iohexol administered by mouth and following excretion over 24 h in urine. As a model, we chose immunodeficient mice with intestinal inflammation induced by adoptive transfer of effector/memory T cells. We collected urine samples at seven time points to profile the urinary excretion of iohexol, in addition to intestinal tissue samples for histological assessment. We conclude that a 6 h cumulative urine sample may be sufficient to evaluate small intestinal permeability in this mouse model and increased urinary excretion of iohexol is correlated with increased severity of duodenitis. The welfare of mice housed in metabolic cages could be improved by reducing the cage periods from 24 to 6 h. Abstract Intestinal permeability (IP) tests are used to assess intestinal damage in patients and research models. The probe iohexol has shown advantages compared to 51Cr-EDTA or absorbable/nonabsorbable sugars. During IP tests, animals are housed in metabolic cages (MCs) to collect urine. We examined the performance of an iohexol IP test in mice. Rag1-/- (C57BL/6) mice of both sexes were divided into controls or treatment groups, the latter receiving injections of effector/memory T cells to induce intestinal inflammation. After two, four and five weeks (W), a single dose of iohexol was orally administered. Urine was collected seven times over 24 h in MCs. Iohexol concentration was measured by ELISA. Intestinal histological damage was scored in duodenal sections. In control and treated mice of both sexes, urinary excretion of iohexol peaked at 4 h. From W2 to W4/W5, urinary iohexol excretion increased in treated mice of both sexes, consistent with development of duodenitis in this model. Positive correlations were observed between the urinary excretion of iohexol in W4/W5 and the histological severity of duodenitis in treated male mice. We conclude that a 6 h cumulative urine sample appears sufficient to evaluate small IP to iohexol in this mouse model, improving animal welfare by reducing cage periods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria Ortín-Piqueras
- Department of Equine and Small Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, FIN-00014 Helsinki, Finland;
- Comparative Medicine, Karolinska Institute, SE-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden;
- Correspondence:
| | - Tobias L Freitag
- Translational Immunology Research Program, University of Helsinki, FIN-00014 Helsinki, Finland; (T.L.F.); (S.K.M.)
| | - Leif C Andersson
- Department of Pathology, University of Helsinki, FIN-00014 Helsinki, Finland; (L.C.A.); (S.H.L.)
| | - Sanna H Lehtonen
- Department of Pathology, University of Helsinki, FIN-00014 Helsinki, Finland; (L.C.A.); (S.H.L.)
- Research Programme for Clinical and Molecular Medicine, University of Helsinki, FIN-00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Seppo K Meri
- Translational Immunology Research Program, University of Helsinki, FIN-00014 Helsinki, Finland; (T.L.F.); (S.K.M.)
| | - Thomas Spillmann
- Department of Equine and Small Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, FIN-00014 Helsinki, Finland;
| | - Rafael Frias
- Comparative Medicine, Karolinska Institute, SE-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden;
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Jaguezeski AM, Glombowsky P, Galli GM, da Rosa G, Araújo DN, Campigotto G, Horn VW, Sareta L, Mendes RE, Da Silva AS. Daily consumption of a homeopathic product decreases intestinal damage and stool bacterial counts in mice challenged with Escherichia coli. Microb Pathog 2020; 147:104269. [PMID: 32439564 DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2020.104269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2019] [Revised: 04/04/2020] [Accepted: 05/13/2020] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Escherichia coli is a bacterium normally found in the gastrointestinal tract of domestic animals that can usually control the infection. Nevertheless, some factors (high exposure, stress conditions, animal category, among others) can favor the exacerbation of E. coli infection and cause of disease. Because it is a zoonotic bacterium, it is important to control the infection, avoiding contamination of home interiors in the case of pets. There are various forms of treatment for E. coli; nevertheless, there are few options for prevention. In the present study, we evaluated homeopathy. Thus, the objective of this study was to determine whether administration of a prophylactic homeopathic in water would minimize the negative effects of E. coli infection, as well as reducing bacterial counts in the feces of a experimental model. Forty mice were divided into four experimental groups (n = 10/group). Groups NC (negative control) and PC (positive control) were not treated; in group T1, the animals received 0.002 mL/day/animal of the homeopathic in water, and animals in group T2 0.004 mL/day/animal. The experiment lasted 54 days, and on the 31st day, mice of T1, T2 and PC groups were infected orally a 0.2 mL inoculum of 1.5 × 108 CFU of E. coli. Euthanasia and sample collection were performed on the 40th and 54th days of the experiment (n = 5/group/time point). Blood, liver, spleen, intestine, and feces samples were collected from the final portion of the intestine. There was no significant difference in animal weight between groups at the end of the experiment. Neutrophil count was lower in PC group animals on day 40, while on day 54, the counts were lower in T2 and PC. Lymphocyte counts were lower only in the PC group than in the NC group on day 54. Globulins were lower in the NC and PC groups than in T1 and T2 on day 40, remaining lower the PC group and higher in T1 on day 54; levels of immunoglobulin IgG and IgM were higher in groups T1 and T2, which differed from PC and NC. TNF-α levels were higher in the T1 and T2 groups at 40 and 54 days. INF-γ levels were higher in T1, T2, and PC compared to NC on day 40, remaining higher than NC in groups T1 and T2 on day 54. Total bacterial count, total coliforms and E. coli counts were lower in group T1 and higher in NC and PC on days 40 and 54, when they were lower for T1 and T2. Histologically, no lesions were observed in extra-intestinal tissues; however the height of intestinal crypts in the PC group was smaller than the others on day 40. On day 54, villi and crypts of all infected groups were larger in T1 and T2 than in NC; sizes in the PC group were higher than those of all other groups. These data suggest that the homeopathic agent in the drinking water improved health of the mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonise M Jaguezeski
- Department of Toxicological Biochemistry, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM), Santa Maria, RS, Brazil
| | - Patricia Glombowsky
- Graduate Program in Animal Science, Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina (UDESC), Chapecó, SC, Brazil
| | - Gabriela M Galli
- Graduate Program in Animal Science, Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina (UDESC), Chapecó, SC, Brazil
| | - Gilneia da Rosa
- Graduate Program in Animal Science, Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina (UDESC), Chapecó, SC, Brazil
| | - Denise N Araújo
- Graduate Program in Animal Science, Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina (UDESC), Chapecó, SC, Brazil; Department of Animal Science, Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina (UDESC), Chapecó, SC, Brazil
| | - Gabriela Campigotto
- Graduate Program in Animal Science, Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina (UDESC), Chapecó, SC, Brazil
| | - Vitor W Horn
- Department of Veterinary Pathology, Instituto Federal Catarinense (IFC), Concórdia, SC, Brazil
| | - Laércio Sareta
- Department of Veterinary Pathology, Instituto Federal Catarinense (IFC), Concórdia, SC, Brazil
| | - Ricardo E Mendes
- Department of Veterinary Pathology, Instituto Federal Catarinense (IFC), Concórdia, SC, Brazil
| | - Aleksandro S Da Silva
- Department of Toxicological Biochemistry, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM), Santa Maria, RS, Brazil; Graduate Program in Animal Science, Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina (UDESC), Chapecó, SC, Brazil; Department of Animal Science, Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina (UDESC), Chapecó, SC, Brazil.
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Hotinger JA, May AE. Animal Models of Type III Secretion System-Mediated Pathogenesis. Pathogens 2019; 8:pathogens8040257. [PMID: 31766664 PMCID: PMC6963218 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens8040257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2019] [Revised: 11/18/2019] [Accepted: 11/20/2019] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
The type III secretion system (T3SS) is a conserved virulence factor used by many Gram-negative pathogenic bacteria and has become an important target for anti-virulence drugs. Most T3SS inhibitors to date have been discovered using in vitro screening assays. Pharmacokinetics and other important characteristics of pharmaceuticals cannot be determined with in vitro assays alone. In vivo assays are required to study pathogens in their natural environment and are an important step in the development of new drugs and vaccines. Animal models are also required to understand whether T3SS inhibition will enable the host to clear the infection. This review covers selected animal models (mouse, rat, guinea pig, rabbit, cat, dog, pig, cattle, primates, chicken, zebrafish, nematode, wax moth, flea, fly, and amoeba), where T3SS activity and infectivity have been studied in relation to specific pathogens (Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp., Pseudomonas spp., Shigella spp., Bordetella spp., Vibrio spp., Chlamydia spp., and Yersinia spp.). These assays may be appropriate for those researching T3SS inhibition.
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