The gastric microbiota in patients with Crohn's disease; a preliminary study

Potential prebiotic properties and proliferation mechanism of fermented milk-derived polypeptides

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the potential prebiotic properties and proliferation mechanism of fermented milk-derived peptides. In this study, fermented milk-derived polypeptides were obtained by extraction, separation, and purification. The purified peptides were used to culture fecal flora in vitro, and the relative abundance and composition of the flora were analyzed by high-throughput 16S rRNA sequencing technology. The results showed that peptides can promote the proliferation of beneficial bacteria Lactococcus in the intestine and inhibit the proliferation of harmful bacteria Escherichia coli-Shigella. The amino acid sequence of polypeptide components was determined and synthesized in vitro to verify the proliferation of intestinal flora; the proliferation mechanism of peptides on Lactococcus lactis was studied using non-targeted LC-MS metabolomics technology. Five important peptides with molecular weights of 1000-2000 Da were identified by LC-MS: GRP1 (LTEEEK), GRP2 (ENDAPSPVM*K), GRP3 (ITVDDK), GRP4 (EAM*APK) and GRP5 (LPPPEK). The results showed that the peptides could affect the arginine biosynthesis pathway and the amino sugar and nucleotide sugar metabolism of Lactococcus lactis. In addition, the peptides increased the expression of organic acids and their derivatives in Lactococcus lactis. This study provides a research basis for expanding the potential sources of new prebiotics and also opens up a new idea for discovering new prebiotics in vitro.

Plasma Bacterial Metabolites in Crohn's Disease Pathogenesis and Complications

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES

Crohn's disease is known for being associated with an abnormal composition of the bacterial flora, dysbiosis and intestinal function disorders. Metabolites produced by gut microbiota play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of CD, and the presence of unspecific extraintestinal manifestations.

METHODS

The aim of this study was a determination of the level of bacterial metabolites in blood plasma in patients with Crohn's disease. CD patients (29) and healthy individuals (30) were recruited for this study. Bacterial metabolites (SCFAs and TMAO panel) were measured by a liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry system.

RESULTS

A significant correlation (p-value < 0.05) between CD and bacterial metabolites was obtained for three of eight tested SCFAs; acetic acid (reduced in CD; FC 1.7; AUC = 0.714), butyric acid (increased; FC 0.68; AUC = 0.717), 2MeBA (FC 1.168; AUC = 0.702), and indoxyl (FC 0.624). The concentration of CA (FC 0.82) and choline (FC 0.78) in plasma was significantly disturbed according to the biological treatment. Choline level (FC 1.28) was also significantly disturbed in the patients treated with glucocorticoids. In total, 68.97% of Crohn's patients presented extraintestinal manifestations (EIMs) of Crohn's disease, mainly osteoarticular complications. The level of BA was statistically significantly elevated in patients with extraintestinal (FC 0.602) manifestations, while in the group of patients with osteoarticular complications, a significant difference in the level of betaine (FC 1.647) was observed.

CONCLUSIONS

The analyzed bacterial metabolites of plasma may significantly help in the diagnostic process, and in the monitoring of the disease course and treatment, in a lowly invasive way, as biomarkers after additional research on a larger group of patients.

Dysbiosis of the Upper Gastrointestinal Tract in Head-and-Neck Cancer Survivors: A Pilot Study Using the Capsule Sponge Device

BACKGROUND

A non-endoscopic capsule-sponge device allows sampling the entire length of the esophagus. Here, we compared microbiomes of the oral cavity, esophagus, and gastric corpus collected by oral swab, capsule-sponge device, and endoscopic biopsy, respectively, in patients representing three distinct risk profiles for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).

METHODS

The study enrolled 11 patients with esophageal squamous intraepithelial neoplasia, 21 patients after curative treatment for head and neck squamous cell cancer (HNSCC) (HNSCC survivors), and 40 patients with functional dyspeptic (FD) symptoms. Microbial genomic DNA was analyzed using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing.

RESULTS

The Shannon index of the capsule-sponge sample microbiota was significantly higher in FD group than in patients after treatment for HNSCC, and the Chao index of gastric samples differed between HNSCC survivors and FD patients. Analysis of the β-diversity of FD patients, HNSCC, and esophageal squamous intraepithelial neoplasia showed that different genera formed at each location. The abundance of 205, 116, and 9 genera differed between FD patients and HNSCC survivors in the gastric, capsule-sponge, and oral samples, respectively; 33 genera differed between the FD group and patients with esophageal squamous intraepithelial neoplasia in capsule-sponge samples.

CONCLUSIONS

The bacterial communities of the upper digestive tract were clustered according to the anatomic site. Despite substantial differences in gastric and esophageal microbiota samples between FD patients and HNSCC survivors, the microbial members and diversity showed small differences between FD patients and those with esophageal squamous intraepithelial neoplasia. It remains unclear whether gastric and esophageal dysbiosis is associated with or is a consequence of treatment for HNSCC.

Effects of dietary Nisin on growth performance, immune function, and gut health of broilers challenged by Clostridium perfringens

Nisin (Ni) is a polypeptide bacteriocin produced by lactic streptococci (probiotics) that can inhibit the majority of gram-positive bacteria, and improve the growth performance of broilers, and exert antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties. The present study investigated the potential preventive effect of Nisin on necrotic enteritis induced by Clostridium perfringens (Cp) challenge. A total of 288 Arbor Acres broiler chickens of 1-d-olds were allocated using 2 × 2 factorial arrangement into four groups with six replicates (12 chickens per replicate), including: (1) control group (Con, basal diet), (2) Cp challenge group (Cp, basal diet + 1.0 × 108 CFU/mL Cp), (3) Ni group (Ni, basal diet + 100 mg/kg Ni), and (4) Ni + Cp group (Ni + Cp, basal diet + 100 mg/kg Ni + 1.0 × 108 CFU/mL Cp). The results showed that Cp challenge decreased the average daily gain (ADG) of days 15 to 21 (P<0.05) and increased interleukin-6 (IL-6) content in the serum (P < 0.05), as well as a significant reduction in villus height (VH) and the ratio of VH to crypt depth (VCR) (P<0.05) and a significant increase in crypt depth (CD) of jejunum (P<0.05). Furthermore, the mRNA expressions of Occludin and Claudin-1 were downregulated (P<0.05), while the mRNA expressions of Caspase3, Caspase9, Bax, and Bax/Bcl-2 were upregulated (P<0.05) in the jejunum. However, the inclusion of dietary Ni supplementation significantly improved body weight (BW) on days 21 and 28, ADG of days 15 to 21 (P<0.05), decreased CD in the jejunum, and reduced tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) content in the serum (P<0.05). Ni addition upregulated the mRNA levels of Claudin-1 expression and downregulated the mRNA expression levels of Caspase9 in the jejunum (P<0.05). Moreover, Cp challenge and Ni altered the cecal microbiota composition, which manifested that Cp challenge decreased the relative abundance of phylum Fusobacteriota and increased Shannon index (P<0.05) and the trend of phylum Proteobacteria (0.05 Collapse

Key Words

• Clostridium perfringens
• broiler
• gut health
• necrotic enteritis
• nisin

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MESH Headings

• Animals
• Clostridium perfringens
• Chickens
• Intestines
• Clostridium Infections/prevention & control
• Clostridium Infections/veterinary
• Clostridium Infections/microbiology
• Nisin/pharmacology
• Claudin-1
• bcl-2-Associated X Protein/pharmacology
• Diet/veterinary
• RNA, Messenger/genetics
• Immunity
• Poultry Diseases/microbiology
• Dietary Supplements
• Animal Feed/analysis

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Affiliation(s)

Hua Yuan College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China
Guangdong Bai College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China College of Animal Science and Technology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
Yu Lin College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China
Xilong Yu College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China
Qinghui Yang College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China
Renkai Dou College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China
Hao Sun College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China
Zeyu Zhao College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China
Zhongyu Li College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China
Zhihui Chen College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China
Liangmei Xu College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China

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Gastric juice microbiota in pediatric chronic gastritis that clinically tested positive and negative for Helicobacter pylori

Purpose

Helicobacter pylori (HP) infection is an identified risk factor for pediatric chronic gastritis (PCG), but its impact on gastric juice microbiota (GJM) remains to be further elucidated in PCG. This study aimed to analyze and compare the microbial communities and microbial interactive networks of GJM in PCG that clinically tested positive and negative for HP (HP+ and HP-, respectively).

Methods

A total of 45 PCG patients aged from 6 to 16 years were recruited, including 20 HP+ and 25 HP- patients tested by culture and rapid urease test. Gastric juice samples were collected from these PCG patients and subjected to high-throughput amplicon sequencing and subsequent analysis of 16S rRNA genes.

Results

While no significant change in alpha diversity, significant differences in beta diversity were observed between HP+ and HP- PCG. At the genus level, Streptococcus, Helicobacter, and Granulicatella were significantly enriched in HP+ PCG, whereas Campylobacter and Absconditabacteriales (SR1) were significantly enriched in HP- PCG. Network analysis showed that Streptococcus was the only genus positively correlated with Helicobacter (r = 0.497) in the GJM network of overall PCG. Moreover, compared to HP- PCG, HP+ PCG showed a reduction in microbial network connectivity in GJM. Netshift analysis identified driver microbes including Streptococcus and other four genera, which substantially contributed to the GJM network transition from HP- PCG to HP+ PCG. Furthermore, Predicted GJM function analysis indicated up-regulated pathways related to the metabolism of nucleotides, carbohydrates, and L-Lysine, the urea cycle, as well as endotoxin peptidoglycan biosynthesis and maturation in HP+ PCG.

Conclusion

GJM in HP+ PCG exhibited dramatically altered beta diversity, taxonomic structure, and function, with reduced microbial network connectivity, which could be involved in the disease etiology.

Endoscopic findings in the upper gastrointestinal tract in patients with Crohn's disease are common, highly specific, and associated with chronic gastritis

Crohn's disease (CD) may affect the entire gastrointestinal tract including its upper part. However, this aspect is poorly addressed in scientific literature and considered a rare finding. Here we aimed to prospectively investigate the prevalence, characteristics and clinical significance of upper gastrointestinal tract involvement in patients with CD, with particular focus on stomach bamboo joint-like appearance (BJA), Helicobacter pylori status and presence of microscopic changes. 375 prospectively recruited patients were included. In CD patients the prevalence of gastric and duodenal, but not esophageal, mucosal lesions, such as gastric mucosal inflammation, duodenal edema, ulcerations, and duodenal bulb deformation was significantly higher (at least p < 0.01 for all). Similar results were found when only H. pylori negative individuals were analyzed. Moreover, BJA of the stomach and in case of H. pylori negative patients also duodenal bulb deformation were detected exclusively in CD patients. Presence of BJA lesion was not significantly associated with neither duration of the disease nor use/history of biologic treatment. Despite absence of H. pylori infection microscopic features of chronic gastritis were found in almost all (93.5%) patients, and in 31% of controls (p < 0.00001). Our analysis outlines that upper gastrointestinal tract involvement in CD is a very common event and frequently manifests with a highly specific BJA lesion. Furthermore, our study reveals that in almost all CD patients features of H. pylori negative gastritis are present.