Role of the gut microbiota in immunity and inflammatory disease

Targeted V-type peptide-decorated nanoparticles prevent colitis by inhibiting endosomal TLR signaling and modulating intestinal macrophage polarization

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has become a serious and challenging health problem globally without curative medical treatments. Mounting evidence suggests that intestinal macrophages and their phenotypes are key players in the pathogenesis of IBD. Modulating the phenotypes and functions of intestinal macrophages through targeted interventions could be a promising approach to manage detrimental gut inflammation in IBD. In this study, we rationally design and fabricate a novel class of V-type peptide-decorated nanoparticles, VP-NP, with potent anti-inflammatory activity. Such a design allows two functional motifs FFD in a single peptide molecule to enhance the bioactivity of the nanoparticles. As expected, VP-NP exhibits a strong inhibitory activity on endosomal Toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling. Surprisingly, VP-NP can inhibit M1 polarization while facilitating M2 polarization in mouse bone marrow-derived macrophages through regulating the key transcription factors NF-κB, STAT1 and PPAR-γ. Mechanistically, VP-NP is internalized by macrophages in the endosomes, where it blocks endosomal acidification to inhibit endosomal TLR signaling; the transcriptomic analysis reveals that VP-NP potently down-regulates many genes in TLR, NF-κB, JAK-STAT, and cytokine/chemokine signaling pathways associated with inflammatory responses. In a colitis mouse model, the intraperitoneally administered VP-NP effectively alleviates the disease activities by decreasing colon inflammation and injuries, pro-inflammatory cytokine production, and myeloid cell infiltration in the gut. Furthermore, VP-NP primarily targets intestinal macrophages and alters their phenotypes from inflammatory M1-type toward the anti-inflammatory M2-type. This study provides a new nanotherapeutic strategy to specifically regulate macrophage activation and phenotypes through a dual mechanism to control gut inflammation, which may augment current clinical treatments for IBD.

Exploring the gut microbiota landscape in cow milk protein allergy: Clinical insights and diagnostic implications in pediatric patients

Cow milk protein allergy (CMPA) is a significant health concern characterized by adverse immune reactions to cow milk proteins. Biomarkers for the accurate diagnosis and prognosis of CMPA are lacking. This study analyzed the clinical features of CMPA, and 16S RNA sequencing was used to investigate potential biomarkers through fecal microbiota profiling. Children with CMPA exhibit a range of clinical symptoms, including gastrointestinal (83% of patients), skin (53% of patients), and respiratory manifestations (26% of patients), highlighting the complexity of this condition. Laboratory analysis revealed significant differences in red cell distribution width and inflammatory markers between the CMPA and control groups, suggesting immune activation and inflammatory responses in CMPA. Microbial diversity analysis revealed higher specific diversity indices in the CMPA group compared with those in control group, with significant differences at the genus and species levels. Bacteroides were more abundant in the CMPA group, whereas Bifidobacterium, Ruminococcus, Faecalibacterium, and Parabacteroides were less abundant. The control group exhibited a balanced microbial profile, with a predominant presence of Bifidobacterium bifidum and Akkermansia muciniphila. The significant abundance of Bifidobacterium in the control group (23.19% vs. 9.89% in CMPA) was associated with improved growth metrics such as height and weight, suggesting its potential as a probiotic to prevent CMPA and enhance gut health. Correlation analysis linked specific microbial taxa such as Coprococcus and Bifidobacterium to clinical parameters such as family allergy history, weight, and height, providing insights into CMPA pathogenesis. Significant differences in bacterial abundance suggested diagnostic potential, with a panel of 6 bacteria achieving high predictive accuracy (area under curve = 0.8708). This study emphasizes the complex relationship between the gut microbiota and CMPA, offering valuable insights into disease mechanisms and diagnostic strategies.

Gut microbiota contributes to the intestinal and extraintestinal immune homeostasis by balancing Th17/Treg cells

Gut microbiota is generally considered to play an important role in host health due to its extensive immunomodulatory activities. Th17 and Treg cells are two important CD4+ T cell subsets involved in immune regulation, and their imbalance is closely tied to many immune diseases. Recently, abundant researches have highlighted the importance of gut microbiota in supporting intestinal and extraintestinal immunity through the balance of Th17 and Treg cells. Here, we presented a comprehensive review of these findings. This review first provided an overview of gut microbiota, along with Th17/Treg cell differentiation and cytokine production. Subsequently, the review summarized the regulatory effects of gut microbiota (in terms of species, components, and metabolites) on the Th17/Treg cell balance in the local intestines and extraintestinal organs, such as lung, liver, brain, kidney, and bone. Specifically, the Th17 and Treg cells that can be modulated by gut microbiota originate not only from the gut and extraintestinal organs, but also from peripheral blood and spleen. Then, the microbial therapeutics, including probiotics, prebiotics, postbiotics, and fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), were also reviewed because of their therapeutic potentials in addressing intestinal and extraintestinal diseases via the Th17/Treg axis. Finally, the review discussed the clinical applications and future study prospects of microbial therapeutics by targeting the Th17/Treg cell balance. In conclusion, this review focused on elucidating the regulatory effects of gut microbiota in balancing Th17/Treg cells to maintain intestinal and extraintestinal immune homeostasis, contributing to the further development and promotion of microbial therapeutics.

Jinhong decoction ameliorates injury in septic mice without disrupting the equilibrium of gut microbiota

Sepsis is a life-threatening condition and usually be treated with antibiotics, which however often has severe side effects. This work proposed a novel Chinese traditional medicine JINHONG (JH) decoction for therapy of sepsis. We first identified the chemical constituents of JH decoction by using high-performance liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS). Then, we constructed a model mouse for sepsis by using cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). Metagenomic sequencing method was used to compare the diversity and abundance of the gut microbiota between normal, disease model, JH decoction-treatment and antibiotic-treatment mice. Many indices including the number of platelets, CD62p and CD63 content, AQP2 and AQP8 level, as well as the expression level of protein C confirmed that the sepsis resulted in serious pathological damage, while all of these indices could be reversed by JH decoction and antibiotics. The diversity and abundance of intestinal flora decreased in CLP mice, and the decrements aggravated after antibiotic treatment while can be recovered by JH decoction treatment. The abundance of anti-inflammatory Ruminococcaceae increased after JH decoction treatment, indicating that JH decoction could ameliorate pathology associated with sepsis in CLP model via modulating the intestinal flora. This study demonstrates that JH decoction could treat sepsis clinically without obvious adverse effects on gut microbiota.

Immunologic derangement caused by intestinal dysbiosis and stress is the intrinsic basis of reactive arthritis

Reactive arthritis (ReA) is defined as arthritis resulting from infections in other body parts, such as the gastrointestinal and urogenital tracts. The primary clinical manifestations involve acute-onset and self-limiting asymmetric large joint inflammation in the lower limbs. Although bacterial or chlamydia infections have long been recognized as playing a pivotal role in its pathogenesis, recent studies suggest that antibiotic treatment may perpetuate rather than eradicate chlamydia within the host, indicating an involvement of other mechanisms in Reactive arthritis. Reactive arthritis is currently believed to be associated with infection, genetic marker (HLA-B27), and immunologic derangement. As an autoimmune disease, increasing attention has been given to understanding the role of the immune system in Reactive arthritis. This review focuses on elucidating how the immune system mediates reactive arthritis and explores the roles of intestinal dysbiosis-induced immune disorders and stress-related factors in autoimmune diseases, providing novel insights into understanding reactive arthritis.

Dynamic change of gut microbiota in head and neck concurrent chemoradiotherapy patients and its potential value in the prediction of acute oral mucositis grade as well as quality of life

PURPOSE

Radiotherapy is the major therapy for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). However, whether gut microbiota changes in HNSCC patients who received concurrent chemoradiotherapy remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the dynamic change of gut microbiota composition, construct the first radiotherapy-related gut microbiota database in these patients and identify the potential value of the gut microbiota changing in the prediction of acute oral mucositis grade as well as patients' life quality.

METHODS

We enrolled 47 HNSCC patients who scheduled with concurrent chemoradiotherapy. The field was irradiated with a total dose of 66-70 Gy in 33-35 fractions. All the patients received 2-3 cycles of platinum-based chemotherapy. After feces specimens collected, bacterial genomic DNA was isolated using magnetic beads and then analyzed by the Illumina MiSeq Sequencing System based on the V3-V4 hypervariable regions of the 16S rRNA gene.

RESULTS

194 genera which belonged to 27 phyla were found in 141 samples. Increased abundance of microbiota in diversity and richness was observed in mid-radiotherapy group. Bacteroides, Blautia, Phascolarctobacterium were three main genera in all three groups and the mid-radiotherapy group had the highest relative abundance of Phascolarctobacterium. What is more, most significantly altered bacteria shared the same variation pattern which was increased in mid-radiotherapy while decreased to the almost same level of as pre-radiotherapy in post-radiotherapy group. Further analysis indicated that Bacteroidetes showing an upward trend while Proteobacteria declining in higher grade of acute mucositis. Moreover, relatively low abundant Proteobacteria was significantly correlated with high-grade acute oral mucositis. As for the quality of life, Lactobacillales and Actinomycetales were specifically found in better life quality group. However, Clostridia_UCG_014, Eubacteriaceae, UCG_010 and Moraxellaceae were unique abundantly present in worse life quality group.

CONCLUSION

Chemoradiotherapy can affect the composition of the gut microbiota in HNSCC patients during the mid-term of treatment. Yet self-stabilized ability maintained the gut microbiota homeostasis. Dynamic change of specific species could help predict acute oral mucositis grade and characterize different quality of life group in these patients.

Microbiota Alters and Its Correlation with Molecular Regulation Underlying Depression in PCOS Patients

Depression is one of the complications in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) that leads to considerable mental health. Accumulating evidence suggests that human gut microbiomes are associated with the progression of PCOS and depression. However, whether microbiota influences depression development in PCOS patients is still uncharacterized. In this study, we employed metagenomic sequencing and transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq) to profile the composition of the fecal microbiota and gene expression of peripheral blood mononuclear cells in depressed women with PCOS (PCOS-DP, n = 27) in comparison to mentally healthy women with PCOS (PCOS, n = 18) and compared with healthy control (HC, n = 27) and patients with major depressive disorder (MDD, n = 29). Gut microbiota assessment revealed distinct patterns in the relative abundance in the PCOS-DP compared to HC, MDD, and PCOS groups. Several gut microbes exhibited uniquely and significantly higher abundance in the PCOS-DP compared to PCOS patients, inducing EC Ruminococcus torques, Coprococcus comes, Megasphaera elsdenii, Acidaminococcus intestini, and Barnesiella viscericola. Bacteroides eggerthii was a potential gut microbial biomarker for the PCOS-DP. RNA-seq profiling identified that 35 and 37 genes were significantly elevated and downregulated in the PCOS-DP, respectively. The enhanced differential expressed genes (DEGs) in the PCOS-DP were enriched in pathways involved in signal transduction and endocrine and metabolic diseases, whereas several lipid metabolism pathways were downregulated. Intriguingly, genes correlated with the gut microbiota were found to be significantly enriched in pathways of neurodegenerative diseases and the immune system, suggesting that changes in the microbiota may have a systemic impact on the expression of neurodegenerative diseases and immune genes. Gut microbe-related DEGs of CREB3L3 and CCDC173 were possible molecular biomarkers and therapeutic targets of women with PCOS-DP. Our multi-omics data indicate shifts in the gut microbiome and host gene regulation in PCOS patients with depression, which is of possible etiological and diagnostic importance.

The disturbance of intestinal microbiome caused by the novel duck reovirus infection in Cherry Valley ducklings can induce intestinal damage

Novel duck reovirus disease is an infectious disease mainly caused by novel duck reovirus (NDRV), which is characterized by spleen necrosis and persistent diarrhea in ducks. However, the pathogenic mechanism of NDRV infection in Cherry Valley ducks remains unclear. To investigate the distribution of NDRV in the intestines of Cherry Valley ducks, intestinal morphogenesis, intestinal permeability, inflammatory cytokines, and the expression of tight junction proteins (TJPs), we introduced NDRV via intramuscular infection. The diversity and composition of ileum flora and content of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) were analyzed using Illumina MiSeq sequencing. The relationship between changes in the intestinal microbial community and intestinal damage in Cherry Valley ducks infected with NDRV was also assessed to offer new insights into the pathogenesis of NDRV and intestinal flora composition. The results showed that intestinal inflammation and barrier dysfunction occurred following NDRV infection. Additionally, a significant reduction in dominant bacterial species and a decrease in SCFA content within the intestinal microbiota led to weakened colonization resistance and the enrichment of opportunistic pathogens, exacerbating intestinal damage post-NDRV infection. Notably, TJPs and inflammatory cytokine disruptions were linked to a decline in SCFA-producing bacteria and an accumulation of pathogenic bacteria. In summary, changes in the ileum intestinal flora and disruptions to the intestinal barrier were associated with NDRV infection. Consequently, disturbances in intestinal flora caused by NDRV infection can lead to intestinal damage. These findings may offer us a new perspective, targeting the gut microbiota to better understand the progression of NDRV disease and investigate its underlying pathogenesis.

Immune cells mediate the effects of gut microbiota on neuropathic pain: a Mendelian randomization study

BACKGROUND

The gut microbiota may be involved in neuropathic pain. However, the causal association between gut microbiota and neuropathic pain remains unclear. Whether immune cells and inflammatory factors mediate the pathway from gut microbiota to neuropathic pain has not been elucidated.

METHODS

We obtained the summary data of 412 gut microbiota, 731 immune cells, 91 inflammatory factors, and five types of neuropathic pain (drug-induced neuropathy, postherpetic neuralgia, sciatica, trigeminal neuralgia, and unspecified neuralgia) from large-scale genome-wide association study (GWAS) datasets and the FinnGen database. We used bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis to explore the causal association between gut microbiota and neuropathic pain. Additionally, we conducted a mediation analysis to identify whether immune cells and inflammatory factors act as mediators within these causal relationships.

RESULTS

Our study revealed 30 causal relationships between 26 gut bacterial taxa and five types of neuropathic pain, including four associated with drug-induced neuropathy, six with postherpetic neuralgia, five with sciatica, eight with trigeminal neuralgia, and seven with unspecified neuralgia. Moreover, we identified 35 gut bacterial pathway abundances causally involved in neuropathic pain. The reverse MR analysis showed no evidence of reverse causality from gut microbiota to neuropathic pain. Mediation analysis demonstrated that the immune cell phenotype "HLA-DR++ monocyte % leukocyte" mediated the causal relationship between p_Proteobacteria and sciatica with a mediation proportion of 36.15% (P = 0.038), whereas "CD11c on CD62L+ myeloid dendritic cell" mediated the causal pathway from assimilatory sulfate reduction to trigeminal neuralgia with a mediation proportion of 27.90% (P = 0.041).

CONCLUSION

This study identified the causal relationships between several specific gut microbiota and various neuropathic pain subtypes. Additionally, two immune cells may act as potential mediators in the pathways from gut microbiota to neuropathic pain.

Outgrowth of Escherichia is susceptible to aggravation of systemic lupus erythematosus

BACKGROUND

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is linked to host gut dysbiosis. Here we performed faecal gut microbiome sequencing to investigate SLE-pathogenic gut microbes and their potential mechanisms.

METHODS

There were 134 healthy controls (HCs) and 114 SLE cases for 16 S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) sequencing and 97 HCs and 124 SLE cases for shotgun metagenomics. Faecal microbial changes and associations with clinical phenotypes were evaluated, and SLE-associated microbial genera were identified in amplicon analysis. Next, metagenomic sequencing was applied for accurate identification of microbial species and discovery of their metabolic pathways and immunogenic peptides both relevant to SLE. Finally, contribution of specific taxa to disease development was confirmed by oral gavage into lupus-prone MRL/lpr mice.

RESULTS

SLE patients had gut microbiota richness reduction and composition alteration, particularly lupus nephritis and active patients. Proteobacteria/Bacteroidetes (P/B) ratio was remarkably up-regulated, and Escherichia was identified as the dominantly expanded genus in SLE, followed by metagenomics accurately located Escherichia coli and Escherichia unclassified species. Significant associations primarily appeared among Escherichia coli, metabolic pathways of purine nucleotide salvage or peptidoglycan maturation and SLE disease activity index (SLEDAI), and between multiple epitopes from Escherichia coli and disease activity or renal involvement phenotype. Finally, gavage with faecal Escherichia revealed that it upregulated lupus-associated serum traits and aggravated glomerular lesions in MRL/lpr mice.

CONCLUSION

We characterize a novel SLE exacerbating Escherichia outgrowth and suggest its contribution to SLE procession may be partially associated with metabolite changes and cross-reactivity of gut microbiota-associated epitopes and host autoantigens. The findings could provide a deeper insight into gut Escherichia in the procession of SLE.

Dysbiosis-epigenetics-immune system interaction and ageing health problems

Background. The growing interest in microbiota-epigenetics-immune system research stems from the understanding that microbiota, a group of micro-organisms colonized in the human body, can influence the gene expression through epigenetic mechanisms and interaction with the immune system. Epigenetics refers to changes in gene activity that are not caused by the alteration in the DNA sequence itself.Discussion. The clinical significance of this research lies in the potential to develop new therapies for diseases linked to the imbalance of these microbial species (dysbiosis), such as cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. The intricate interaction between microbiota and epigenetics involves the production of metabolites and signalling molecules that can impact our health by influencing immune responses, metabolism and inflammation. Understanding these interactions could lead to novel therapeutic strategies targeting microbiota-epigenetic pathways to improve health outcomes.Conclusion. In this context, we aim to review and emphasize the current knowledge and key concepts that link the microbiota to epigenetics and immune system function, exploring their relevance to the development and maintenance of homeostasis and susceptibility to different diseases later in life. We aim to elucidate key concepts concerning the interactions and potential effects among the human gut microbiota, epigenetics, the immune system and ageing diseases linked to dysbiosis.

[Research progress of probiotics regulating intestinal micro-ecological environment in obese patients after bariatric surgery]

Bariatric surgery may cause intestinal microecological environment imbalance due to changes in gastrointestinal anatomy. Some patients may have compli-cations, even regain weight. Probiotics can act on intestinal mucosa, epithelium and gut-associated lymphoid tissue to improve the intestinal microecological environment of obese patients after bariatric surgery. Probiotics can promote the production of short-chain fatty acids, stimulate intestinal cells to release glucagon-like peptide-1, peptide tyrosine-tyrosine, insulin and other endocrine hormones, affect the function of the central nervous system through the gut-brain axis, make patients after bariatric surgery feel full, and reduce blood sugar at the same time. Probiotics can produce lactic acid, acetic acid and lactase, to inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria and to improve gastrointestinal symptoms of patients after bariatric surgery. Probiotics can activate the AMP-activated protein kinase signaling pathway, improve lipid metabolism, and promote the recovery of symptom indicators of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease after bariatric surgery. Probiotics can regulate the release of neurotransmitters or metabolites by the microbiota through the gut-brain axis to affect brain activity and behavior, thus helping patients improve negative emotions after bariatric surgery. This article describes the intestinal microecological environment of obese patients and mechanism of the change after bariatric surgery and summarizes the effects and possible mechanisms of probiotics in improving the intestinal microecological environment of obese patients after bariatric surgery, to provide references for promoting the clinical application of probiotics.

Modulation of the Immune Environment in Glioblastoma by the Gut Microbiota

Studies increasingly support the role of the gut microbiota in glioma development and treatment, although the exact mechanisms remain unclear. Research indicates that the gut microbiota can influence glioma progression, response to therapies, and the effectiveness of treatments like immunotherapy, with certain microbial compositions being linked to better outcomes. Additionally, the gut microbiota impacts the tumor microenvironment, affecting both tumor growth and the response to treatment. This review will explore glioma, the gut microbiota, and how their interaction shapes glioma development and therapy responses. Additionally, this review examines the influence of gut microbiota metabolites, such as short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and tryptophan, on glioma development and treatment. It also explores gut microbiome signaling via pattern recognition receptors, and the role of molecular mimicry between microbial and tumor antigens in glioblastoma, and if these interactions affect glioma development and treatment.

Host-microbe interaction-mediated resistance to DSS-induced inflammatory enteritis in sheep

BACKGROUND

The disease resistance phenotype is closely related to immunomodulatory function and immune tolerance and has far-reaching implications in animal husbandry and human health. Microbes play an important role in the initiation, prevention, and treatment of diseases, but the mechanisms of host-microbiota interactions in disease-resistant phenotypes are poorly understood. In this study, we hope to uncover and explain the role of microbes in intestinal diseases and their mechanisms of action to identify new potential treatments.

METHODS

First, we established the colitis model of DSS in two breeds of sheep and then collected the samples for multi-omics testing including metagenes, metabolome, and transcriptome. Next, we made the fecal bacteria liquid from the four groups of sheep feces collected from H-CON, H-DSS, E-CON, and E-DSS to transplant the fecal bacteria into mice. H-CON feces were transplanted into mice named HH group and H-DSS feces were transplanted into mice named HD group and Roseburia bacteria treatment named HDR groups. E-CON feces were transplanted into mice named EH group and E-DSS feces were transplanted into mice in the ED group and Roseburia bacteria treatment named EDR groups. After successful modeling, samples were taken for multi-omics testing. Finally, colitis mice in HD group and ED group were administrated with Roseburia bacteria, and the treatment effect was evaluated by H&E, PAS, immunohistochemistry, and other experimental methods.

RESULTS

The difference in disease resistance of sheep to DSS-induced colitis disease is mainly due to the increase in the abundance of Roseburia bacteria and the increase of bile acid secretion in the intestinal tract of Hu sheep in addition to the accumulation of potentially harmful bacteria in the intestine when the disease occurs, which makes the disease resistance of Hu sheep stronger under the same disease conditions. However, the enrichment of harmful microorganisms in East Friesian sheep activated the TNFα signalling pathway, which aggravated the intestinal injury, and then the treatment of FMT mice by culturing Roseburia bacteria found that Roseburia bacteria had a good curative effect on colitis.

CONCLUSION

Our study showed that in H-DSS-treated sheep, the intestinal barrier is stabilized with an increase in the abundance of beneficial microorganisms. Our data also suggest that Roseburia bacteria have a protective effect on the intestinal barrier of Hu sheep. Accumulating evidence suggests that host-microbiota interactions are associated with IBD disease progression. Video Abstract.

The Importance of Argan Oil in Medicine and Cosmetology

Argan oil, rich in unsaturated fatty acids and polyphenols, exerts beneficial effects on both the intestinal and skin microbiotas. In the gut, it promotes the growth of beneficial bacteria, such as lactobacilli, while reducing pathogenic bacteria, due to its anti-inflammatory properties that help maintain microbial balance. Additionally, it improves the integrity of the intestinal mucosa, reducing the risk of dysbiosis. On the skin, argan oil hydrates and balances the lipid environment, creating a favorable setting for beneficial microorganisms, while also possessing antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties that soothe conditions like eczema and acne. Thus, argan oil is valuable for overall health, supporting digestion and skin health. The objective of this review is to provide a summary of the benefits of argan oil for alternative and complementary medicine. An exhaustive search of the literature was carried out using targeted keywords. A set of 83 articles were selected and analyzed. As the mechanisms of action of argan oil are not completely understood, this work highlighted the benefits of this oil by analyzing its nutritional properties and its beneficial effects on the intestinal and skin microbiotas. Indeed, argan oil is valuable for overall health.

Childhood and adolescent residential and farm pesticide exposures and inflammatory bowel disease incidence in a U.S. cohort of women

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

There are few known risk factors for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), an autoimmune disease characterized by chronic intestinal inflammation. Use of specific pesticides has been associated with higher incidence of IBD among pesticide applicators and their spouses, but no study has examined pesticide exposure in early life, a period where the human immune system undergoes rapid changes. We evaluated pesticide use during childhood and adolescence and incidence of IBD among US women enrolled in the Sister Study.

METHODS

Incident IBD diagnoses between enrollment (2003-2009) and 2021 were identified and validated with medication use and colectomy/colostomy surgery. We estimated hazard ratios (HR) and 95 % confidence intervals (CI) for the relationship of childhood/adolescent residential and farm pesticide exposures with IBD incidence using Cox models, accounting for age, race and ethnicity, education, smoking, and birth year.

RESULTS

We identified 277 incident IBD cases among 48,382 eligible participants. IBD hazard was elevated among those whose childhood residence was regularly treated with pesticides, especially among those who ever personally applied pesticides (HR = 1.39, 95%CI: 0.65, 2.99). We observed a positive association between IBD and exposure to broadcast pesticide sprays before DDT was banned (>6 times vs. never HR = 1.56, 95%CI: 1.06, 2.31). Among participants who lived on a farm during childhood/adolescence for ≥1 year (N = 9162), IBD hazards were higher among those who were in crop fields during pesticide application (HR = 2.06, 95%CI: 0.94, 4.51) and who ever personally applied pesticides on crops (HR = 1.85, 95%CI: 0.81, 4.18) or livestock (HR = 2.58, 95%CI: 1.14, 5.83).

CONCLUSION

Early-life pesticide exposure may be a novel risk factor for IBD. Practices that reduce pesticide exposure during early life may help reduce the burden of this disease.

Microbiota activation and regulation of adaptive immunity

In the mucosa, T cells and B cells of the immune system are essential for maintaining immune homeostasis by suppressing reactions to harmless antigens and upholding the integrity of intestinal mucosal barrier functions. Host immunity and homeostasis are regulated by metabolites produced by the gut microbiota, which has developed through the long-term coevolution of the host and the gut biome. This is achieved by the immunological system's tolerance for symbiote microbiota, and its ability to generate a proinflammatory response against invasive organisms. The imbalance of the intestinal immune system with commensal organisms is causing a disturbance in the homeostasis of the gut microbiome. The lack of balance results in microbiota dysbiosis, the weakened integrity of the gut barrier, and the development of inflammatory immune reactions toward symbiotic organisms. Researchers may uncover potential therapeutic targets for preventing or regulating inflammatory diseases by understanding the interactions between adaptive immunity and the microbiota. This discussion will explore the connection between adaptive immunity and microbiota.

Impact of Gut Microbiota and Inflammatory Cytokines on Immune Thrombocytopenia

Immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is an autoimmune disorder, and recent research suggests that gut microbiota and inflammatory cytokines may play a significant role in its pathogenesis. However, the specific effects of these factors on ITP and their relationships remain unclear. We conducted a two-step, two-sample Mendelian randomization study using an inverse variance-weighted approach to investigate the causal role of the gut microbiota in ITP and the mediating effect of inflammatory cytokines on their association. The results showed that among the 473 gut microbiota species, 11 were positively associated and 12 were negatively associated with the risk of ITP. Among the 91 screened inflammatory cytokines, five (CXCL10, CXCL5, IL-12RA, TRAIL, and VEGF-A) were found to have a causal relationship with ITP. Mediation analysis revealed that the gut microbiota UBA1066 promoted the occurrence of ITP through CXCL10 mediation, with a mediation effect of 0.118932 (95% CI: 0.049471-0.188393) accounting for 9.95% of the total effect. Gut microbiota Treponema promoted ITP through VEGF-A mediation, with a mediation effect of 0.045873 (95% CI: 0.01456-0.07718) accounting for 4.28% of the total effect. Gut microbiota Haloplasma promoted the occurrence of ITP via CXCL5. The mediating effect of CXCL5 was 0.038409 (95% CI = 0.00107718-0.07575082), with a mediating ratio of 16.79%. This study revealed a causal relationship between gut microbiota composition and ITP risk, highlighting three inflammatory cytokines as potential causal mediators of this relationship. These findings provide potential targets and biomarkers for the prevention and treatment of ITP with significant clinical implications.

Research progress on prognostic factors of gallbladder carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Gallbladder carcinoma is the most common malignant tumor of the biliary system, and has a poor overall prognosis. Poor prognosis in patients with gallbladder carcinoma is associated with the aggressive nature of the tumor, subtle clinical symptoms, ineffective adjuvant treatment, and lack of reliable biomarkers.

PURPOSE

Therefore, evaluating the prognostic factors of patients with gallbladder carcinoma can help improve diagnostic and treatment methods, allowing for tailored therapies that could benefit patient survival.

METHODS

This article systematically reviews the factors affecting the prognosis of gallbladder carcinoma, with the aim of evaluating prognostic risk in patients.

CONCLUSION

A comprehensive and in-depth understanding of prognostic indicators affecting patient survival is helpful for assessing patient survival risk and formulating personalized treatment plans.

Turicibacter and Catenibacterium as potential biomarkers in autism spectrum disorders

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by social, behavioral, and cognitive impairments. Several comorbidities, including gastrointestinal (GI) dysregulations, are frequently reported in ASD children. Although studies in animals have shown the crucial role of the microbiota in key aspects of neurodevelopment, there is currently no consensus on how the alteration of microbial composition affects the pathogenesis of ASD. Moreover, disruption of the gut-brain axis (GBA) has been reported in ASD although with limited studies conducted on the Mediterranean population. In our study, we aimed to investigate gut microbiota composition in Lebanese ASD subjects, their unaffected siblings, and a control group from various regions in Lebanon using the 16 S-rRNA sequencing (NGS). Our study revealed a lower abundance of Turicibacter and a significant enrichment on Proteobacteria in the ASD and siblings' groups compared to the controls, indicating that gut microbiota is probably affected by dietary habits, living conditions together with host genetic factors. The study also showed evidence of changes in the gut microbiome of ASD children compared to their siblings and the unrelated control. Bacteroidetes revealed a lower abundance in the ASD group compared to controls and siblings, conversely, Catenibacterium and Tenericutes revealed an increased abundance in the ASD group. Notably, our study identifies alterations in the abundance of Turicibacter and Catenibacterium in ASD children suggesting a possible link between these bacterial taxa and ASD and contributing to the growing body of evidence linking the microbiome to ASD.

A novel clinically relevant human fecal microbial transplantation model in humanized mice

The intact immune system of mice exhibits resistance to colonization by exogenous microorganisms, but the gut microbiota profiles of the humanized mice and the patterns of human fecal microbiota colonization remain unexplored. Humanized NCG (huNCG) mice were constructed by injected CD34 +stem cells. 16S rRNA sequencing and fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) technologies were used to detect the differences in microbiota and selective colonization ability for exogenous community colonization among three mice cohorts (C57BL/6J, NCG, and huNCG). Flow cytometry analysis showed that all huNCG mice had over 25% hCD45 +in peripheral blood. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed that compared with NCG mice, the gut microbiota of huNCG mice were significantly altered. After FMT, the principal coordinates analysis (PCoA) showed that the gut microbial composition of huNCG mice (huNCG-D9) was similar to that of donors. The relative abundance of Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes were significantly increased in huNCG mice compared to NCG mice. Further comparison of ASV sequences revealed that Bacteroides plebeius, Bacteroides finegoldii, Escherichia fergusonii, Escherichia albertii, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Klebsiella variicola exhibited higher abundance and stability in huNCG mice after FMT. Furthermore, PICRUSt2 analysis showed that huNCG mice had significantly enhanced metabolism and immunity. This study demonstrated that humanized mice are more conducive to colonization within the human gut microbiota, which provides a good method for studying the association between human diseases and microbiota.IMPORTANCEThe gut microbiota and biomarkers of humanized mice are systematically revealed for the first time. The finding that human fecal microbiota colonize humanized mice more stably provides new insights into the study of interactions between immune responses and gut microbiota.

Ursolic Acid Regulates Immune Balance, Modulates Gut Microbial Metabolism, and Improves Liver Health in Mice

Ursolic acid (UA) has demonstrated significant immunomodulatory and hepatoprotective effects; however, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. This study aims to analyze the impact of UA on the gut microbiome, metabolome, and liver transcriptome, investigate UA's role in maintaining gut immune homeostasis and liver health, and evaluate the potential contributions of gut microbes and their metabolites to these beneficial effects. Our findings indicate that UA enhances immune balance in the jejunum, fortifies intestinal barrier function, and promotes overall gut health. UA modulates the intestinal microbiota and its metabolic processes, notably increasing the abundance of beneficial bacteria such as Odoribacter and Parabacteroides, along with their metabolites, including ornithine and lactucin. Additionally, UA inhibits the expression of interleukin-1 receptor 1 (IL1R1) and calcium (Ca2+) voltage-gated channel auxiliary subunit beta 2 (CACNB2) while enhancing the synthesis pathways of retinol and ascorbic acid, thereby exerting a protective influence on liver function. In summary, UA enhances intestinal immune homeostasis and promotes liver health, with these advantageous effects potentially mediated by beneficial bacteria (Odoribacter and Parabacteroides) and their metabolites (ornithine and lactucin).

Periodontal disease: A systemic condition

For decades, periodontitis has been considered to be a local inflammatory disease of the periodontal tissues in the oral cavity. Initially, associations of periodontitis with a multitude of noncommunicable diseases were each studied separately, and relationships were shown. The associations of periodontitis with morbidities, such as cardiovascular diseases, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes mellitus, respiratory diseases, have been demonstrated. As most such studies were cross-sectional in nature, questions about causality cannot be univocally answered. And periodontitis as an independent risk factor for one systemic disease, becomes even more difficult to assess since recently periodontitis has also been associated with multimorbidity. Periodontitis and many systemic diseases share environmental, lifestyle and genetic risk factors, and share immunopathology. Moreover, suffering from one common noncommunicable disease may increase the susceptibility for another such chronic disease; the systemic effects of one condition may be one of various risk factors for another such disease. The overarching effect of any systemic disease is it causing a pro-inflammatory state in the individual; this has also been shown for periodontitis. Moreover, in periodontitis a prothrombotic state and elevated immunological activity have been shown. As such, when we consider periodontal disease as another systemic disease, it can affect the susceptibility and progression of other systemic diseases, and importantly, vice versa. And with this, it is not surprising that periodontitis is associated with a variety of other noncommunicable diseases. The medical definition of a systemic disease includes diseases that affect different organs and systems. Thus, the aim of this opinion paper is to propose that periodontitis should be considered a systemic disease in its own right and that it affects the individual's systemic condition and wellbeing. The dental and medical profession and researchers alike, should adapt this paradigm shift, advancing periodontal disease out of its isolated anatomical location into the total of chronic noncommunicable diseases, being for some conditions a comorbid disease and, vice versa, comorbidities can affect initiation and progression of periodontal disease.

Impact of Lactobacillaceae supplementation on the multi-organ axis during MASLD

The gut-liver axis plays a pivotal role in maintaining body homeostasis. Disruption of the gut-liver axis is linked to a multitude of diseases, including metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). Probiotic strains from the Lactobacillaceae family are commonly used to mitigate experimental MASLD. Over the years, numerous studies have demonstrated the efficacy of these probiotics, often focusing on the outcome of liver disease. This review aims to further understand MASLD as a systemic metabolic dysfunction and to highlight the effects of probiotics on multi-organ axis, including organs such as the gastrointestinal tract, pancreas, muscle, adipose tissue, and the immune system. We specifically discuss evidence on how supplementation with Lactobacillaceae strains may alleviate MASLD by not only restoring liver health but also by modulating the physiology of other organ systems.

The rheumatoid arthritis gut microbial biobank reveals core microbial species that associate and effect on host inflammation and autoimmune responses

Gut microbiota dysbiosis has been implicated in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and influences disease progression. Although molecular and culture-independent studies revealed RA patients harbored a core microbiome and had characteristic bacterial species, the lack of cultured bacterial strains had limited investigations on their functions. This study aimed to establish an RA-originated gut microbial biobank (RAGMB) that covers and further to correlates and validates core microbial species on clinically used and diagnostic inflammation and immune indices. We obtained 3200 bacterial isolates from fecal samples of 20 RA patients with seven improved and 11 traditional bacterial cultivation methods. These isolates were phylogenetically identified and selected for RAGMB. The RAGMB harbored 601 bacterial strains that represented 280 species (including 43 novel species) of seven bacterial phyla. The RAGMB covered 93.2% at species level of medium- and high-abundant (relative abundances ≥0.2%) RA gut microbes, and included four rare species of the phylum Synergistota. The RA core gut microbiome was defined and composed of 20 bacterial species. Among these, Mediterraneibacter tenuis and Eubacterium rectale were two species that statistically and significantly correlated with clinically used diagnostic indices such as erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and IL-10. Thus, M. tenuis and E. rectale were selected for experimental validation using DSS-treated and not DSS-treated mice model. Results demonstrated both M. tenuis and E. rectale exacerbated host inflammatory responses, including shortened colon length and increased spleen weight, decreased IL-10 and increased IL-17A levels in plasma. Overall, we established the RAGMB, defined the RA core microbiome, correlated and demonstrated core microbial species effected on host inflammatory and immune responses. This work provides diverse gut microbial resources for future studies on RA etiology and potential new targets for new biomedical practices.

Does the gut microbiome influence disc health and disease? The interplay between dysbiosis, pathobionts, and disc inflammation: a pilot study

BACKGROUND CONTEXT

Gut microbiome alterations resulting in inflammatory responses have been implicated in many distant effects on different organs. However, its influence on disc health is still not fully investigated.

PURPOSE

Our objective was to document the gut biome in healthy volunteers and patients with disc degeneration and to understand the role of gut dysbiosis on human disc health.

STUDY DESIGN

Experimental case-control study.

PATIENT SAMPLE

We included 40 patients with disc degeneration (DG) and 20 healthy volunteers (HV). HV comprised of age groups 30 to 60 years with no known record of back pain and no clinical comorbidities, with normal MRI. Diseased group (DG) were patients in the same age group undergoing surgery for disc disease (disc herniation-25; discogenic stenosis-15) and without instability (with Modic-20; and non-Modic-20).

OUTCOME MEASURES

N/A.

METHODS

We analyzed 16S V3-V4 rDNA gut metagenome from 20 healthy volunteers (HV) and compared the top signature genera from 40 patients with disc degeneration (DG) across Modic and non-Modic groups. Norgen Stool DNA Kit was used for DNA extraction from ∼200 mg of each faecal sample collected using the Norgen Stool Collection Kit.16S V3-V4 rDNA amplicons were generated with universal bacterial primers 341F and 806R and amplified with Q5 High-Fidelity DNA Polymerase. Libraries were sequenced with 250×2 PE to an average of 0.1 million raw reads per sample (Illumina Novaseq 6000). Demultiplexed raw data was assessed with FastQC, and adapter trimmed reads >Q30 reads were processed in the QIME2 pipeline. Serum C-reactive protein (CRP) was measured by the immunoturbimetry method and Fatty acid-binding protein 5 (FABP5) was measured in albumin-globulin-depleted plasma through global proteome analysis.

RESULTS

We observed significant gut dysbiosis between HV and DG and also between the Modic and non-Modic groups. In the Modic group, commensals Bifidobacterium and Ruminococcus were significantly depleted, while pathobionts Streptococcus, Prevotella, and Butryvibrio were enriched. Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio was decreased in DG (Modic-0.62, non-Modic-0.43) compared to HV (0.70). Bacteria-producing beneficial short-chain fatty acids were also depleted in DG. Elevated serum CRP and increased FABP5 were observed in DG.

CONCLUSION

The study revealed gut dysbiosis, an altered Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio, reduced SCFA-producing bacteria, and increased systemic and local inflammation in association with disc disease, especially in Modic changes. The findings have considerable importance for our understanding and prevention of disc degeneration.

Network Analysis of Gut Microbial Communities Reveals Key Reason for Quercetin Protects against Colitis

As one of the most representative natural products among flavonoids, quercetin (QUE) has been reported to exhibit beneficial effects on gut health in recent years. In this study, we utilized a dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis mice model to explore the protective effects and underlying mechanisms of QUE on colitis. Our data demonstrated that QUE oral gavage administration significantly ameliorates the symptoms and histopathological changes associated with colitis. Additionally, the concentration of mucin-2, the number of goblet cells, and the expression of tight junction proteins (such as ZO-1, Occludin, and Claudin-1) were all found to be increased. Furthermore, QUE treatment regulated the levels of inflammatory cytokines and macrophage polarization, as well as the oxidative stress-related pathway (Nrf2/HO-1) and associated enzymes. Additionally, 16S rDNA sequencing revealed that QUE treatment rebalances the alterations in colon microbiota composition (inlcuding Bacteroidaceae, Bacteroides, and Odoribacter) in DSS-induced colitis mice. The analysis of network dynamics reveals a significant correlation between gut microbial communities and microenvironmental factors associated with inflammation and oxidative stress, in conjunction with the previously mentioned findings. Collectively, our results suggest that QUE has the potential to treat colitis by maintaining the mucosal barrier, modulating inflammation, and reducing oxidation stress, which may depend on the reversal of gut microbiota dysbiosis.

Role of Gut Microbial Metabolites in Cardiovascular Diseases-Current Insights and the Road Ahead

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of premature morbidity and mortality globally. The identification of novel risk factors contributing to CVD onset and progression has enabled an improved understanding of CVD pathophysiology. In addition to the conventional risk factors like high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity and smoking, the role of gut microbiome and intestinal microbe-derived metabolites in maintaining cardiovascular health has gained recent attention in the field of CVD pathophysiology. The human gastrointestinal tract caters to a highly diverse spectrum of microbes recognized as the gut microbiota, which are central to several physiologically significant cascades such as metabolism, nutrient absorption, and energy balance. The manipulation of the gut microbial subtleties potentially contributes to CVD, inflammation, neurodegeneration, obesity, and diabetic onset. The existing paradigm of studies suggests that the disruption of the gut microbial dynamics contributes towards CVD incidence. However, the exact mechanistic understanding of such a correlation from a signaling perspective remains elusive. This review has focused upon an in-depth characterization of gut microbial metabolites and their role in varied pathophysiological conditions, and highlights the potential molecular and signaling mechanisms governing the gut microbial metabolites in CVDs. In addition, it summarizes the existing courses of therapy in modulating the gut microbiome and its metabolites, limitations and scientific gaps in our current understanding, as well as future directions of studies involving the modulation of the gut microbiome and its metabolites, which can be undertaken to develop CVD-associated treatment options. Clarity in the understanding of the molecular interaction(s) and associations governing the gut microbiome and CVD shall potentially enable the development of novel druggable targets to ameliorate CVD in the years to come.

Lactiplantibacillus argentoratensis AGMB00912 protects weaning mice from ETEC infection and enhances gut health

Maintaining a healthy intestinal environment, optimal epithelial barrier integrity, and balanced gut microbiota composition are essential for the growth performance of weaning pigs. We identified Lactiplantibacillus argentoratensis AGMB00912 (LA) in healthy porcine feces as having antimicrobial activity against pathogens and enhanced short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production. Herein, we assess the protective role of LA using a weaning mouse model with enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) infection. LA treatment improves feed intake and weight gain and alleviates colon shortening. Furthermore, LA inhibits intestinal damage, increases the small intestine villus height compared with the ETEC group, and enhances SCFA production. Using the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes and other bioinformatic tools, including InterProScan and COGNIZER, we validated the presence of SCFA-producing pathways of LA and Lactiplantibacillus after whole genome sequencing. LA mitigates ETEC-induced shifts in the gut microbiota, decreasing the proportion of Escherichia and Enterococcus and increasing SCFA-producing bacteria, including Kineothrix, Lachnoclostridium, Roseuburia, Lacrimispora, Jutongia, and Blautia. Metabolic functional prediction analysis revealed enhanced functions linked to carbohydrate, amino acid, and vitamin biosynthesis, along with decreased functions associated with infectious bacterial diseases compared to the ETEC group. LA mitigates the adverse effects of ETEC infection in weaning mice, enhances growth performance and intestinal integrity, rebalances gut microbiota, and promotes beneficial metabolic functions. These findings validate the functionality of LA in a small animal model, supporting its potential application in improving the health and growth performance of weaning pigs.

IL23R-specific CAR Tregs for the treatment of Crohn's disease

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are key regulators in maintaining tissue homeostasis. Disrupted immune homeostasis is associated with Crohn's disease (CD) pathogenesis. Thus, Treg therapy represents a promising long-acting treatment to restore immune balance in the diseased intestine. CAR (Chimeric Antigen Receptor) T-cell therapy has revolutionized cancer treatment. This innovative approach also provides the opportunity to improve therapy for CD. By targeting a disease-relevant protein, Interleukin-23 receptor (IL23R), we engineered Tregs expressing IL23R-CAR for treating active CD.

METHODS

Intestinal IL23R expression from active CD was verified by immunohistochemical analysis. Phenotypic and functional characteristics of IL23R-CAR Tregs were assessed using in vitro assays and their migration capacity was monitored in a xenograft tumor model. Transcriptomic and proteomic analyses were performed to associate molecular profiles with IL23R-CAR Treg activation against colon biopsy-derived cells from active CD patients.

RESULTS

Our study showed that IL23R-CAR displayed negligible tonic signalling and strong signal-to-noise ratio. IL23R-CAR Tregs maintained regulatory phenotype during in vitro expansion, even when chronically exposed to proinflammatory cytokines and target antigen. IL23R engagement on IL23R-CAR Tregs triggered CAR-specific activation and significantly enhanced their suppressive activity. Also, IL23R-CAR Tregs migrated to IL23R-expressing tissue in humanized mice. Finally, IL23R-CAR Tregs elicited a specific activation against colon biopsy-derived cells from active CD, suggesting an efficient CAR engagement in active CD. Molecular profiling of CD patient biopsies also revealed transcriptomic and proteomic patterns associated with IL23R-CAR activation.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, our results demonstrate that IL23R-CAR Tregs represent a promising therapy for active CD.

Assessing Fecal Microbial Diversity and Hormone Levels as Indicators of Gastrointestinal Health in Reintroduced Przewalski's Horses (Equus ferus przewalskii)

Diarrhea serves as a vital health indicator for assessing wildlife populations post-reintroduction. Upon release into the wild, wild animals undergo adaptation to diverse habitats and dietary patterns. While such changes prompt adaptive responses in the fecal microbiota, they also render these animals susceptible to gastrointestinal diseases, particularly diarrhea. This study investigates variations in fecal microorganisms and hormone levels between diarrhea-afflicted and healthy Przewalski's horses. The results demonstrate a significant reduction in the alpha diversity of the fecal bacterial community among diarrheal Przewalski's horses, accompanied by notable alterations in taxonomic composition. Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, and Bacteroidetes emerge as dominant phyla across all fecal samples, irrespective of health status. However, discernible differences in fecal bacterial abundance are observed between healthy and diarrhea-stricken individuals at the genus level, specifically, a diminished relative abundance of Pseudobutyrivibrio is observed. The majority of the bacteria that facilitate the synthesis of short-chain fatty acids, Christensenellaceae_R_7_group (Christensenellaceae), NK4A214_group (Ruminococcus), Lachnospiraceae_XPB1014_group (Lachnospiraceae), [Eubacterium]_coprostanoligenes_group (Eubacterium), Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group, Lachnospiraceae_AC2044_group (Lachnospiraceae), and Prevotellaceae_UcG_001 (Prevotella) are noted in diarrhea-affected Przewalski's horses, while Erysipelotrichaceae, Phoenicibacter, Candidatus_Saccharimonas (Salmonella), and Mogibacterium are present in significantly increased amounts. Moreover, levels of immunoglobulin IgA and cortisol are significantly elevated in the diarrhea group compared with the non-diarrhea group. Overall, this study underscores substantial shifts in fecal bacterial diversity, abundance, and hormone levels in Przewalski's horses during episodes of diarrhea.

Effects of T2DM on cancer progression: pivotal precipitating factors and underlying mechanisms

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a chronic metabolic disorder affecting people worldwide. It is characterized by several key features, including hyperinsulinemia, hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, and dysbiosis. Epidemiologic studies have shown that T2DM is closely associated with the development and progression of cancer. T2DM-related hyperinsulinemia, hyperglycemia, and hyperlipidemia contribute to cancer progression through complex signaling pathways. These factors increase drug resistance, apoptosis resistance, and the migration, invasion, and proliferation of cancer cells. Here, we will focus on the role of hyperinsulinemia, hyperglycemia, and hyperlipidemia associated with T2DM in cancer development. Additionally, we will elucidate the potential molecular mechanisms underlying their effects on cancer progression. We aim to identify potential therapeutic targets for T2DM-related malignancies and explore relevant directions for future investigation.

Distinct members of the Caenorhabditis elegans CeMbio reference microbiota exert cryptic virulence that is masked by host defense

Microbiotas are complex microbial communities that colonize specific niches in the host and provide essential organismal functions that are important in health and disease. Understanding the ability of each distinct community member to promote or impair host health, alone or in the context of the community, is imperative for understanding how differences in community structure affect host health and vice versa. Recently, a reference 12-member microbiota for the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans, known as CeMbio, was defined. Here, we show the differential ability of each CeMbio bacterial species to activate innate immunity through the conserved PMK-1/p38 MAPK, ACh-WNT, and HLH-30/TFEB pathways. Although distinct CeMbio members differed in their ability to activate the PMK-1/p38 pathway, the ability to do so did not correlate with bacterial-induced lifespan reduction in wild-type or immunodeficient animals. In contrast, most species activated HLH-30/TFEB and showed virulence toward hlh-30-deficient animals. These results suggest that the microbiota of C. elegans is rife with bacteria that can shorten the host's lifespan if host defense is compromised and that HLH-30/TFEB is a fundamental and key host protective factor.

Metabolic Regulation of Microbiota and Tissue Response

The microbiota in our gut regulates the sophisticated metabolic system that the human body has, essentially converting food into energy and the building blocks for various bodily functions. In this review, we discuss the multifaceted impact of the microbiota on host nutritional status by producing short-chain fatty acids, influencing gut hormones and mediating bile acid metabolism, and the key role in maintaining intestinal barrier integrity and immune homeostasis. Understanding and leveraging the power of the gut microbiome holds tremendous potential for enhancing human health and preventing various diseases.

Mouse IgA modulates human gut microbiota with inflammatory bowel disease patients

BACKGROUND

The imbalance of commensal bacteria is called dysbiosis in intestinal microflora. Secreted IgA in the intestinal lumen plays an important role in the regulation of microbiota. Although dysbiosis of gut bacteria is reported in IBD patients, it remains unclear what makes dysbiosis of their microflora. The intervention method for remedy of dysbiosis in IBD patients is not well established. In this study, we focused on the quality of human endogenous IgA and investigated whether mouse monoclonal IgA which binds to selectively colitogenic bacteria can modulate human gut microbiota with IBD patients.

METHODS

IgA-bound and -unbound bacteria were sorted by MACS and cell sorter. Sorted bacteria were analyzed by 16S rRNA sequencing to investigate what kinds of bacteria endogenous IgA or mouse IgA recognized in human gut microbiota. To evaluate the effect of mouse IgA, gnotobiotic mice with IBD patient microbiota were orally administrated with mouse IgA and analyzed gut microbiota.

RESULTS

We show that human endogenous IgA has abnormal binding activity to gut bacteria in IBD patients. Mouse IgA can bind to human microbiota and bind to selectively colitogenic bacteria. The rW27, especially, has a growth inhibitory activity to human colitogenic bacteria. Furthermore, oral administration of mouse IgA reduced an inflammation biomarker, fecal lipocalin 2, in mice colonized with IBD patient-derived microbiota, and improved dysbiosis of IBD patient sample.

CONCLUSION

Oral treatment of mouse IgA can treat gut dysbiosis in IBD patients by modulating gut microbiota.

Microbiota alterations associated with vascular diseases: postbiotics as a next-generation magic bullet for gut-vascular axis

The intestinal microbiota represents a key element in maintaining the homeostasis and health conditions of the host. Vascular pathologies and other risk factors such as aging have been recently associated with dysbiosis. The qualitative and quantitative alteration of the intestinal microbiota hinders correct metabolic homeostasis, causing structural and functional changes of the intestinal wall itself. Impairment of the intestinal microbiota, combined with the reduction of the barrier function, worsen the pathological scenarios of peripheral tissues over time, including the vascular one. Several experimental evidence, collected in this review, describes in detail the changes of the intestinal microbiota in dysbiosis associated with vascular alterations, such as atherosclerosis, hypertension, and endothelial dysfunction, the resulting metabolic disorders and how these can impact on vascular health. In this context, the gut-vascular axis is considered, for the first time, as a merged unit involved in the development and progression of vascular pathologies and as a promising target. Current approaches for the management of dysbiosis such as probiotics, prebiotics and dietary modifications act mainly on the intestinal district. Postbiotics, described as preparation of inanimate microorganisms and/or their components that confers health benefits on the host, represent an innovative strategy for a dual management of intestinal dysbiosis and vascular pathologies. In this context, this review has the further purpose of defining the positive effects of the supplementation of bacterial strains metabolites (short‑chain fatty acids, exopolysaccharides, lipoteichoic acids, gallic acid, and protocatechuic acid) restoring intestinal homeostasis and acting directly on the vascular district through the gut-vascular axis.

Exploring microbial worlds: a review of whole genome sequencing and its application in characterizing the microbial communities

The classical microbiology techniques have inherent limitations in unraveling the complexity of microbial communities, necessitating the pivotal role of sequencing in studying the diversity of microbial communities. Whole genome sequencing (WGS) enables researchers to uncover the metabolic capabilities of the microbial community, providing valuable insights into the microbiome. Herein, we present an overview of the rapid advancements achieved thus far in the use of WGS in microbiome research. There was an upsurge in publications, particularly in 2021 and 2022 with the United States, China, and India leading the metagenomics research landscape. The Illumina platform has emerged as the widely adopted sequencing technology, whereas a significant focus of metagenomics has been on understanding the relationship between the gut microbiome and human health where distinct bacterial species have been linked to various diseases. Additionally, studies have explored the impact of human activities on microbial communities, including the potential spread of pathogenic bacteria and antimicrobial resistance genes in different ecosystems. Furthermore, WGS is used in investigating the microbiome of various animal species and plant tissues such as the rhizosphere microbiome. Overall, this review reflects the importance of WGS in metagenomics studies and underscores its remarkable power in illuminating the variety and intricacy of the microbiome in different environments.

Co-Development of Three Dietary Indices to Facilitate Dietary Intake Assessment of Pediatric Crohn's Disease Patients

Literature on dietary behaviours of the pediatric Crohn's Disease (CD) population and the relationship between dietary intake and CD activity is limited. Three dietary indices were developed and tested to conduct dietary pattern analysis in pediatric patients with CD consuming a free diet following remission induction via exclusive enteral nutrition (n = 11). Index scores underwent descriptive and inferential analysis. The mean adjusted scores (out of 100) for the Pediatric Western Diet Index, Pediatric Prudent Diet Index, and Pediatric-Adapted 2010 Alternate Healthy Eating Index (PA2010-AHEI) were 29.82 ± 15.22, 34.25 ± 15.18, and 51.50 ± 11.69, respectively. The mean Western-to-Prudent ratio was 0.94 ± 0.55. A significant correlation (r = -0.71) and relationship (F[1, 9] = 9.04, P < 0.05, R2 = 0.501) between the Western-to-Prudent ratio and PA2010-AHEI was found. The results suggest participants were not following a Western or Prudent diet, and were consuming foods not captured by the indices. More research is needed to describe dietary intake of individuals with CD, validate dietary indices in diverse samples, and explore the utility of these indices in CD assessment and treatment. The co-authors hope this work will stimulate/inspire subsequent interprofessional, dietitian-led research on this topic.

CHIKV infection drives shifts in the gastrointestinal microbiome and metabolites in rhesus monkeys

BACKGROUND

Many studies have demonstrated the association between intestinal microbiota and joint diseases. The "gut-joint axis" also has potential roles in chikungunya virus (CHIKV) infection. Pro-inflammatory arthritis after CHIKV infection might disrupt host homeostasis and lead to dysbacteriosis. This study investigated the characteristics of fecal and gut microbiota, intestinal metabolites, and the changes in gene regulation of intestinal tissues after CHIKV infection using multi-omics analysis to explore the involvement of gut microbiota in the pathogenesis of CHIKV infection.

RESULTS

CHIKV infection increases the systemic burden of inflammation in the GI system of infected animals. Moreover, infection-induced alterations in GI microbiota and metabolites may be indirectly involved in the modulation of GI and bone inflammation after CHIKV infection, including the modulation of inflammasomes and interleukin-17 inflammatory cytokine levels.

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest that the GI tract and its microbes are involved in the modulation of CHIKV infection, which could serve as an indicator for the adjuvant treatment of CHIKV infection. Video Abstract.

Enhanced anti-inflammatory activity of chlorogenic acid via folic acid-TPGS-modified liposomes encapsulation: characterization and In vivo evaluation on colitis mice

Introduction

Chlorogenic acid (CGA) has been identified to possess salient anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anticancer attributes. However, its application is limited by its instability and low bioavailability. Liposomes have been considered effective pharmaceutical delivery vehicles due to their ability to continuously release loaded drugs, improve drug stability, and display good biocompatibility. They can be easily modified by other small molecules to acquire additional biological functions. In this study, we developed and characterized folic acid-TPGS-modified chlorogenic acid liposome (FTCLP) and evaluated its anti-inflammatory activity.

Methods

The successful encapsulation of CGA within FTCLP was confirmed through examination using electron microscopy, fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The in vitro release characteristics of FTCLP were evaluated using the dialysis bag membrane method. Meanwhile, a dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) -induced colitis model was employed to investigate the anti-inflammatory effect of FTCLP and its mechanism.

Results

The FTCLP exhibited an encapsulation efficiency (EE) of 84.85 ± 1.20% and a drug loading (DL) of 11.67 ± 0.04%. The particle size of FTCLP was determined to be 150.63 ± 0.71 nm, with a polydispersity index (PDI) of 0.198 ± 0.02 and a zeta potential of 2.61 ± 0.38 mV. The in vitro release profile followed the Higuchi model, indicating sustained-release characteristics. The in vivo study demonstrated that FTCLP treatment was effective in improving the symptoms of DSS-induced inflammatory response, as evidenced by mitigation of weight loss, reduction in the disease activity index (DAI) score, restoration of colon length, and attenuation of colon tissue damage. Furthermore, the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including interferon-gamma (INF-γ), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), and interleukin-6 (IL-6), were markedly diminished in both the serum and colon tissue. FTCLP was also observed to suppress the expression of INF-γ, IL-1β, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) p65, while concomitantly upregulating the expression of Janus kinase (JAK) and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3). Besides, the administration of FTCLP was found to result in an increase in the abundance of Lactobacillaceae and Peptostreptococcaceae, while decreasing the abundance of Bacteroidaceae, Rikenellaceae, and Helicobacteraceae.

Conclusion

Following encapsulation of CGA within liposomes, FTCLP revealed favorable stability and sustained release properties, and enhanced the anti-inflammatory effects by modulating multiple inflammation-related biomarkers. FTCLP has the potential to be a safe and effective drug for targeted therapy of colitis.

Modulatory role of Faecalibacterium on insulin resistance and coagulation in patients with post-viral long haulers depending on adiposity

Patients with Post-viral long hauler encompass lasting symptoms and comorbid complexities, often exacerbated in individuals with excessive body weight. The aim was to study gut microbiota in 130 patients with post-viral long hauler stratified by body mass index (BMI) and the relationship between inflammation and microbiota. Significant higher values were found for anthropometric variables and markers of glucose and dyslipidemia in individuals with higher BMI, as well as elevated levels of C-reactive protein, fibrinogen, IL-6, uric acid, and D-dimer. An interactive association showed an interplay between Faecalibacterium, D-dimer levels, and insulin resistance. This investigation showed that anthropometric, biochemical, and inflammatory variables were impaired in patients with post-viral long haulers with higher BMI. In addition, gut microbiota differences were found between groups and a modification effect on Faecalibacterium abundance regarding insulin resistance and D-dimer. These findings suggest that considering adiposity and gut microbiota structure and composition may improve personalized clinical interventions in patients with chronic inflammation.

Therapeutic Strategies to Combat Increasing Rates of Multidrug Resistant Pathogens

The emergence of antimicrobic-resistant infectious pathogens and the consequent rising in the incidence and prevalence of demises caused by or associated to infections which are not sensitive to drug treatments is one of today's major global health challenges. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) can bring to therapeutic failure, infection's persistence and risk of serious illness, in particular in vulnerable populations such as the elderly, patients with neoplastic diseases or the immunocompromised. It is assessed that AMR will induce until 10 million deaths per year by 2050, becoming the leading cause of disease-related deaths. The World Health Organisation (WHO) and the United Nations General Assembly urgently call for new measures to combat the phenomenon. Research and development of new antimicrobial agents has decreased due to market failure. However, promising results are coming from new alternative therapeutic strategies such as monoclonal antibodies, microbiome modulators, nanomaterial-based therapeutics, vaccines, and phages. This narrative review aimed to analyse the benefits and weaknesses of alternative therapeutic strategies to antibiotics which treat multidrug-resistant bacterial infections.

Microbiota and angiogenesis in the intestinal vasculature

The gut microbiota is responsible for several metabolic functions, producing various metabolites with numerous roles for the host. The gut microbiota plays a key role in constructing the microvascular network in the intestinal villus, depending on the Paneth cells, strategically positioned to coordinate the development of both the microbiota and the microvasculature. The gut microbiota secretes several molecules and chemokines involved in the induction of the secretion of pro-angiogenic factors.

Recent alcohol intake impacts microbiota in adult burn patients

Alcohol use is associated with an increased incidence of negative health outcomes in burn patients due to biological mechanisms that include a dysregulated inflammatory response and increased intestinal permeability. This study used phosphatidylethanol (PEth) in blood, a direct biomarker of recent alcohol use, to investigate associations between a recent history of alcohol use and the fecal microbiota, short chain fatty acids, and inflammatory markers in the first week after a burn injury for nineteen participants. Burn patients were grouped according to PEth levels of low or high and differences in the overall fecal microbial community were observed between these cohorts. Two genera that contributed to the differences and had higher relative abundance in the low PEth burn patient group were Akkermansia, a mucin degrading bacteria that improves intestinal barrier function, and Bacteroides, a potentially anti-inflammatory bacteria. There was no statistically significant difference between levels of short chain fatty acids or intestinal permeability across the two groups. To our knowledge, this study represents the first report to evaluate the effects of burn injury and recent alcohol use on early post burn microbiota dysbiosis, inflammatory response, and levels of short chain fatty acids. Future studies in this field are warranted to better understand the factors associated with negative health outcomes and develop interventional trials.

The gut microbiota derived metabolite trimethylamine N-oxide: Its important role in cancer and other diseases

An expanding body of research indicates a correlation between the gut microbiota and various diseases. Metabolites produced by the gut microbiota act as mediators between the gut microbiota and the host, interacting with multiple systems in the human body to regulate physiological or pathological functions. However, further investigation is still required to elucidate the underlying mechanisms. One such metabolite involved in choline metabolism by gut microbes is trimethylamine (TMA), which can traverse the intestinal epithelial barrier and enter the bloodstream, ultimately reaching the liver where it undergoes oxidation catalyzed by flavin-containing monooxygenase 3 (FMO3) to form trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO). While some TMAO is eliminated through renal excretion, remaining amounts circulate in the bloodstream, leading to systemic inflammation, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, mitochondrial stress, and disruption of normal physiological functions in humans. As a representative microbial metabolite originating from the gut, TMAO has significant potential both as a biomarker for monitoring disease occurrence and progression and for tailoring personalized treatment strategies for patients. This review provides an extensive overview of TMAO sources and its metabolism in human blood, as well as its impact on several major human diseases. Additionally, we explore the latest research areas related to TMAO along with future directions.

Effects of low protein feed on hepato-intestinal health and muscle quality of grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus)

In this study, grass carp (33.28 ± 0.05 g) were fed three diets for 8 weeks: control (crude protein [CP] 30%, crude lipid [CL] 6%), low protein (LP; CP16%, CL6%), and low protein with high-fat (LPHF; CP16%, CL10%). The final body weight decreased in the LP and LPHF groups compared to the Control (P < 0.05). Liver triglycerides, total cholesterol, and nonesterified fatty acids were higher in the LP group than the Control, whereas these indexes in the LPHF group were higher than those in the LP group (P < 0.05). The LP group had intestinal barrier damage, while the LPHF group had a slight recovery. TNF-α, IL-8, and IL-1β content were lower in the LP group than in the Control (P < 0.05), and even higher in the LPHF group (P < 0.05). The expressions of endoplasmic reticulum stress-related genes Activating transcription factor 6 (ATF-6) and Glucose-regulated protein (GRP78) were higher in the LPHF group against the LP group (P < 0.05). The IL-1β and TNF-α content negatively correlated with intestinal Actinomycetes and Mycobacterium abundance (P < 0.05). The muscle fiber diameter was smaller in both the LP and LPHF groups than the control (P < 0.05), with the LP group showing metabolites related to protein digestion and absorption, and LPHF group exhibiting metabolites related to taste transmission. The results demonstrate reducing dietary protein affects growth, causing liver lipid accumulation, reduced enteritis response, and increased muscle tightness, while increasing fat content accelerates fat accumulation and inflammation.

The Prevention of Viral Infections: The Role of Intestinal Microbiota and Nutritional Factors

Viral infections pose significant global challenges due to their rapid transmissibility. Therefore, preventing and treating these infections promptly is crucial to curbing their spread. This review focuses on the vital link between nutrition and viral infections, underscoring how dietary factors influence immune system modulation. Malnutrition, characterized by deficiencies in essential nutrients such as vitamins A, C, D, E, and zinc, can impair the immune system, thereby increasing vulnerability to viral infections and potentially leading to more severe health outcomes that complicate recovery. Additionally, emerging evidence highlights the role of commensal microbiota in immune regulation, which can affect hosts' susceptibility to infections. Specific dietary components, including bioactive compounds, vitamins, and probiotics, can beneficially modify gut microbiota, thus enhancing immune response and offering protection against viral infections. This review aims to elucidate the mechanisms by which dietary adjustments and gut microbiota impact the pathogenesis of viral infections, with a particular focus on strengthening the immune system.

Exploring the gut microbiota's crucial role in acute pancreatitis and the novel therapeutic potential of derived extracellular vesicles

During acute pancreatitis, intestinal permeability increases due to intestinal motility dysfunction, microcirculatory disorders, and ischemia-reperfusion injury, and disturbances in the intestinal flora make bacterial translocation easier, which consequently leads to local or systemic complications such as pancreatic and peripancreatic necrotic infections, acute lung injury, systemic inflammatory response syndrome, and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome. Therefore, adjusting intestinal ecosystem balance may be a promising approach to control local and systemic complications of acute pancreatitis. In this paper, we reviewed the causes and manifestations of intestinal flora disorders during acute pancreatitis and their complications, focused on the reduction of acute pancreatitis and its complications by adjusting the intestinal microbial balance, and innovatively proposed the treatment of acute pancreatitis and its complications by gut microbiota-derived extracellular vesicles.

The potential of EGCG in modulating the oral-gut axis microbiota for treating inflammatory bowel disease

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a recurrent chronic intestinal disorder that includes ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD). Its pathogenesis involves intricate interactions between pathogenic microorganisms, native intestinal microorganisms, and the intestinal immune system via the oral-gut axis. The strong correlation observed between oral diseases and IBD indicates the potential involvement of oral pathogenic microorganisms in IBD development. Consequently, therapeutic strategies targeting the proliferation, translocation, intestinal colonization and exacerbated intestinal inflammation of oral microorganisms within the oral-gut axis may partially alleviate IBD. Tea consumption has been identified as a contributing factor in reducing IBD, with epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) being the primary bioactive compound used for IBD treatment. However, the precise mechanism by which EGCG mediates microbial crosstalk within the oral-gut axis remains unclear. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of the diverse oral microorganisms implicated in the pathogenesis of IBD and elucidate their colonization pathways and mechanisms. Subsequently, we investigated the antibacterial properties of EGCG and its potential to attenuate microbial translocation and colonization in the gut, emphasizing its role in attenuating exacerbations of IBD. We also elucidated the toxic and side effects of EGCG. Finally, we discuss current strategies for enhancing EGCG bioavailability and propose novel multi-targeted nano-delivery systems for the more efficacious management of IBD. This review elucidates the role and feasibility of EGCG-mediated modulation of the oral-gut axis microbiota in the management of IBD, contributing to a better understanding of the mechanism of action of EGCG in the treatment of IBD and the development of prospective treatment strategies.

Interaction between Intestinal Parasites and the Gut Microbiota: Implications for the Intestinal Immune Response and Host Defence

Intestinal parasites, including helminths and protozoa, account for a significant portion of the global health burden. The gastrointestinal (GI) tract not only serves as the stage for these parasitic infections but also as the residence for millions of microbes. As the intricacies of the GI microbial milieu continue to unfold, it is becoming increasingly apparent that the interactions between host, parasite, and resident microbes help dictate parasite survival and, ultimately, disease outcomes. Across both clinical and experimental models, intestinal parasites have been shown to impact microbial composition and diversity. Reciprocally, microbes can directly influence parasitic survival, colonization and expulsion. The gut microbiota can also indirectly impact parasites through the influence and manipulation of the host. Studying this host-parasite-microbiota axis may help bring about novel therapeutic strategies for intestinal parasitic infection as well as conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). In this review, we explore the relationship between intestinal parasites, with a particular focus on common protozoa and helminths, and the gut microbiota, and how these interactions can influence the host defence and intestinal immune response. We will also explore the impact of this tripartite relationship in a clinical setting and its broader implications for human health.