Pasteurized Akkermansia muciniphila reduces periodontal and systemic inflammation induced by Porphyromonas gingivalis in lean and obese mice

Amuc_1100 pretreatment alleviates acute pancreatitis in a mouse model through regulating gut microbiota and inhibiting inflammatory infiltration

Amuc_1100 is a membrane protein from Akkermansia muciniphila, which has been found to play a role in host immunological homeostasis in the gastrointestinal tract by activating TLR2 and TLR4. In this study we investigated the effects and underlying mechanisms of Amuc_1100 on acute pancreatitis (AP) induced in mice by intraperitoneal injection of caerulein and lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The mice were treated with the protein Amuc_1100 (3 μg, i.g.) for 20 days before caerulein injection. Cecal contents of the mice were collected for 16S rRNA sequencing. We found that pretreatment with Amuc_1100 significantly alleviated AP-associated pancreatic injury, reduced serum amylase and lipase. Amuc_1100 pretreatment significantly inhibited the expression of proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, IFN-γ and IL-6) in spleen and pancreas through inhibiting NF-κB signaling pathway. Moreover, Amuc_1100 pretreatment significantly decreased the inflammatory infiltration, accompanied by the reduction of Ly6C+ macrophages and neutrophils in the spleen of AP mice. Gut microbiome analysis showed that the abundance of Bacteroidetes, Proteobacteria, Desulfobacterota and Campilobacterota was decreased, while the proportion of Firmicutes and Actinobacteriota was increased in AP mice pretreated with Amuc_1100. We further demonstrated that Amuc_1100 pretreatment restored the enrichment of tryptophan metabolism, which was mediated by intestinal flora. These results provide new evidence that Amuc_1100 lessens the severity of AP through its anti-inflammatory properties with a reduction of macrophages and neutrophil infiltration, as well as its regulation of the composition of intestinal flora and tryptophan metabolism.

Function and therapeutic prospects of next-generation probiotic Akkermansia muciniphila in infectious diseases

Akkermansia muciniphila is a gram-negative bacterium that colonizes the human gut, making up 3-5% of the human microbiome. A. muciniphila is a promising next-generation probiotic with clinical application prospects. Emerging studies have reported various beneficial effects of A. muciniphila including anti-cancer, delaying aging, reducing inflammation, improving immune function, regulating nervous system function, whereas knowledge on its roles and mechanism in infectious disease is currently unclear. In this review, we summarized the basic characteristics, genome and phenotype diversity, the influence of A. muciniphila and its derived components on infectious diseases, such as sepsis, virus infection, enteric infection, periodontitis and foodborne pathogen induced infections. We also provided updates on mechanisms how A. muciniphila protects intestinal barrier integrity and modulate host immune response. In summary, we believe that A. muciniphila is a promising therapeutic probiotic that may be applied for the treatment of a variety of infectious diseases.

Akkermansia muciniphila in infectious disease: A new target for this next-generation probiotic?

The common gastrointestinal commensal Akkermansia muciniphila is a mucin-degrading bacterium that is greatly reduced in individuals consuming a high-fat diet. Increasing evidence from a variety of clinical and pre-clinical studies suggests that oral supplementation with Akkermansia can improve metabolic health and moderate systemic inflammation. We and others have demonstrated a role for Akkermansia administration in protection against infectious disease and the outcome from sepsis. Very recent studies have indicated the molecular mechanisms by which A. muciniphila may interact with the host to influence systemic immune-regulation and control of microbial pathogenesis. Here we consider recent studies which demonstrate the efficacy of this potential next-generation probiotic in animal models of Salmonella Typhimurium, Listeria monocytogenes and Clostridioides difficile as well as influenza virus and phlebovirus. The potential mechanisms by which A. muciniphila may influence local and systemic immune responses are discussed.

Ligilactobacillus Salivarius improve body growth and anti-oxidation capacity of broiler chickens via regulation of the microbiota-gut-brain axis

Certain strains of probiotic bacteria can secret functional substances namely digestive enzymes and functional peptides to regulate physiological conditions such as digestion and anti-oxidation, which are often incorporated in industrial broiler chick production. However, few studies have detailed the action mechanisms and effects of these bacteria on regulating growth and anti-oxidation levels in broiler chickens. Ligilactobacillus salivarius is a strain of probiotic bacteria used as dietary supplement. In the present study, Ligilactobacillus salivarius was evaluated for its secreted digestive enzymes in vitro. To detailed evaluate the action mechanisms and effects of gastrointestinal tract (GIT) microbiota on alleviating anti-oxidation levels of broiler chickens through the gut-brain axis. Ligilactobacillus salivarius was cultured and supplemented in the food of broilers to evaluate the probiotic effect on growth and anti-oxidation by modulation of gut microbial composition and its functional metabolites using metagenomic and metabolomic assays. Biochemical results showed that Ligilactobacillus salivarius secreted digestive enzymes: protease, lipase, and amylase. Broiler chickens with Ligilactobacillus salivarius supplemented for 42 days, showed increased body weights, a reduced oxidative status, decreased malondialdehyde levels, and improved activities rates of total superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase IIand IV improved. The microbial composition of caecum was more abundant than those broiler without probiotics supplementation, owing 400 of total number (489) of bacterial operational taxonomic units (OTU). The genera of Lactobacillus, Megamonas, Ruminoccoccaceae, Ruminococcus, Alistipes and Helicobacter shared the dominant proportion of Candidatus _Arthromitus compared with the control chickens. These functional bacteria genera assisted in the transportation and digestion of amino acids, carbohydrates, and ions, synthesis of cellular membranes, and anti-oxidation. Uncultured_organism_g_ Anaerosporobacter, Lactobacillus salivarius, uncultured_bacterium_g_ Ruminococcaceae_UCG-014, uncultured_bacterium_g_ Peptococcus were strongly and positively correlated with body growth performance and anti-oxidation. A metabonomic assay suggested that the secreted of gamma-aminobutyric acid and monobactam was metabolized according to the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analysis. In conclusion, Ligilactobacillus salivarius optimized microbial composition of the caecum and secreted functional peptides through gut-brain axis to improve the body growth and antioxidation of broiler chicken.

The Current and Future Perspectives of Postbiotics

With the emphasis on intestinal health, probiotics have exploded into a vast market potential. However, new scientific evidence points out that the beneficial health benefits of probiotics are not necessarily directly related to viable bacteria. However, the metabolites or bacterial components of the live bacteria are the driving force behind health promotion. Therefore, scientists gradually noticed that the beneficial effects of probiotics are based on bacteria itself, metabolites, or cell lysates, and these factors are officially named "postbiotics" by the ISAPP. Postbiotic components are diverse and outperform live probiotics in terms of technology, safety, and cost due to their good absorption, metabolism, and organismal distribution. Postbiotics have been shown to have bioactivities such as antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-proliferative, and immunomodulation. Moreover, numerous studies have revealed the significant potential of postbiotics for disease treatment. This paper first presents the production and classification of postbiotics with examples from lactic acid bacteria (LAB), followed by the mechanisms of action with the most recent pre-clinical and clinical studies and the wide range of non-clinical and clinical applications of postbiotics. Furthermore, the current and future prospects of the postbiotic market with commercial available products are discussed. Finally, we comment on the knowledge gaps and future clinical applications with several examples.

The recovery of the microbial community after plaque removal depends on periodontal health status

Plaque accumulation and microbial community changes are important causes of periodontal disease. Cleaned plaque microorganisms will reattach to form biofilms, but the recovery and outcome of plaque microbial communities in different periodontal health states remain unknown. In this study, we tracked the biofilm remodeling process in 206 dental plaque samples from 40 healthy periodontal, gingivitis and periodontitis volunteers at 6 time points before and after supragingival scaling. We found that microbial communities of different periodontal states changed asynchronously during the process, and the more severe the periodontal disease condition, the more lagged the recovery of plaque microorganisms to their original state after cleaning; this reflected a higher degree of plaque development in periodontitis samples. The plaque index and bleeding index were significantly correlated with plaque recovery, especially the recovery of bacteria such as Abiotrophia and Capnocytophaga. Meanwhile, we found that the microbial community structure of different periodontal health states was most similar at the Day 3 after plaque cleaning, and the communities gradually differentiated and developed in different directions. Abiotrophia and other bacteria might play an important role in determining the development trend of plaque biofilms. The discovery of specific time points and bacteria was of great value in clarifying the pathogenesis of periodontal disease and in seeking targets for prevention and treatment.

Strategies for applying probiotics in the antibiotic management of Clostridioides difficile infection

The vital role of probiotics in the food field has been widely recognized, and at the same time, probiotics are gradually exhibiting surprising effects in the field of nutraceuticals, especially in regulating gut inflammation and the nutritional environment. As a dietary supplement in clinical nutrition, the coadministration of probiotics with antibiotics model has been applied to prevent intestinal infections caused by Clostridioides difficile. However, the mechanism behind this "bacteria-drug combination" model remains unclear. In particular, the selection of specific probiotic strains, the order of probiotics or antibiotics, and the time interval of coadministration are key issues that need to be further explored and clarified. Here, we focus on the issues mentioned above and give reasonable opinions, mainly including: (1) probiotics are safer and more effective when they intervene after antibiotics have been used; (2) the choice of the time interval between coadministration should be based on the metabolism of antibiotics in the host, differences in probiotic strains, the baseline ecological environment of the host's intestine, and the host immune level; in addition, the selection of the coadministration regime should also take into account factors such as the antibiotic sensitivity of probiotics and dosage of probiotics; and (3) by encapsulating probiotics, combining probiotics with prebiotics, and developing next-generation probiotics (NGPs) and postbiotic formulations, we can provide a more reasonable reference for this type of "bacteria-drug combination" model, and also provide targeted guidance for the application of probiotic dietary supplements in the antibiotic management of C. difficile infection.

Photodynamic Therapy with Tolonium Chloride and a Diode Laser (635 nm) in the Non-Surgical Management of Periodontitis: A Clinical Study

This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of photodynamic therapy (PDT) using tolonium chloride and a 635 nm diode laser as an adjunct to non-surgical periodontitis treatment, specifically scaling and root planing (SRP) alone. A total of 32 patients with a pocket probing depth > 5 mm were included in the study. Among them, 16 patients underwent SRP alone (control group), and the remaining 16 patients received SRP along with PDT (study group). The PDT procedure utilized a 635 nm diode laser (Smart M, Lasotronix, Poland) and tolonium chloride. Clinical periodontal parameters, such as the plaque index (PI), bleeding on probing (BOP), gingival recession (GR), probing pocket depth (PPD), and clinical attachment loss (CAL), were assessed before treatment (T0) and at 3 months after treatment (T3). At T3, both groups demonstrated a significant reduction in the PI, BOP, PD, and CAL compared to T0. The SRP + PDT group displayed a significant reduction in PPD (3.79 mm ± 0.35) compared to the SRP alone group (4.85 mm ± 0.42) at T3. Furthermore, the SRP + PDT group exhibited a significant reduction in CAL (5.01 ± 0.81) compared to the SRP group (5.99 ± 1.08) at T3. Within the study's limitations, it was concluded that PDT, with tolonium chloride and a 635 nm diode laser, significantly contributed to the non-surgical treatment of periodontitis.

Modulation of bone remodeling by the gut microbiota: a new therapy for osteoporosis

The gut microbiota (GM) plays a crucial role in maintaining the overall health and well-being of the host. Recent studies have demonstrated that the GM may significantly influence bone metabolism and degenerative skeletal diseases, such as osteoporosis (OP). Interventions targeting GM modification, including probiotics or antibiotics, have been found to affect bone remodeling. This review provides a comprehensive summary of recent research on the role of GM in regulating bone remodeling and seeks to elucidate the regulatory mechanism from various perspectives, such as the interaction with the immune system, interplay with estrogen or parathyroid hormone (PTH), the impact of GM metabolites, and the effect of extracellular vesicles (EVs). Moreover, this review explores the potential of probiotics as a therapeutic approach for OP. The insights presented may contribute to the development of innovative GM-targeted therapies for OP.

Gut microbiota remodeling improves natural aging-related disorders through Akkermansia muciniphila and its derived acetic acid

Accumulating evidence indicates gut microbiota contributes to aging-related disorders. However, the exact mechanism underlying gut dysbiosis-related pathophysiological changes during aging remains largely unclear. In the current study, we first performed gut microbiota remodeling on old mice by fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) from young mice, and then characterized the bacteria signature that was specifically altered by FMT. Our results revealed that FMT significantly improved natural aging-related systemic disorders, particularly exerted hepatoprotective effects, and improved glucose sensitivity, hepatosplenomegaly, inflammaging, antioxidative capacity and intestinal barrier. Moreover, FMT particularly increased the abundance of fecal A.muciniphila, which was almost nondetectable in old mice. Interestingly, A.muciniphila supplementation also exerted similar benefits with FMT on old mice. Notably, targeted metabolomics on short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) revealed that only acetic acid was consistently reversed by FMT. Then, acetic acid intervention exerted beneficial actions on both Caenorhabditis elegans and natural aging mice. In conclusion, our current study demonstrated that gut microbiota remodeling improved natural aging-related disorders through A.muciniphila and its derived acetic acid, suggesting that interventions with potent stimulative capacity on A. muciniphila growth and production of acetic acid was alternative and effective way to maintain healthy aging. DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT: The data of RNAseq and 16 S rRNA gene sequencing can be accessed in NCBI with the accession number PRJNA848996 and PRJNA849355.

Akkermansia muciniphila as a Next-Generation Probiotic in Modulating Human Metabolic Homeostasis and Disease Progression: A Role Mediated by Gut-Liver-Brain Axes?

Appreciation of the importance of Akkermansia muciniphila is growing, and it is becoming increasingly relevant to identify preventive and/or therapeutic solutions targeting gut-liver-brain axes for multiple diseases via Akkermansia muciniphila. In recent years, Akkermansia muciniphila and its components such as outer membrane proteins and extracellular vesicles have been known to ameliorate host metabolic health and intestinal homeostasis. However, the impacts of Akkermansia muciniphila on host health and disease are complex, as both potentially beneficial and adverse effects are mediated by Akkermansia muciniphila and its derivatives, and in some cases, these effects are dependent upon the host physiology microenvironment and the forms, genotypes, and strain sources of Akkermansia muciniphila. Therefore, this review aims to summarize the current knowledge of how Akkermansia muciniphila interacts with the host and influences host metabolic homeostasis and disease progression. Details of Akkermansia muciniphila will be discussed including its biological and genetic characteristics; biological functions including anti-obesity, anti-diabetes, anti-metabolic-syndrome, anti-inflammation, anti-aging, anti-neurodegenerative disease, and anti-cancer therapy functions; and strategies to elevate its abundance. Key events will be referred to in some specific disease states, and this knowledge should facilitate the identification of Akkermansia muciniphila-based probiotic therapy targeting multiple diseases via gut-liver-brain axes.

Advances in the Study of Probiotics for Immunomodulation and Intervention in Food Allergy

Food allergies are a serious food safety and public health issue. Soybean, dairy, aquatic, poultry, and nut products are common allergens inducing allergic reactions and adverse symptoms such as atopic dermatitis, allergic eczema, allergic asthma, and allergic rhinitis. Probiotics are assumed as an essential ingredient in maintaining intestinal microorganisms' composition. They have unique physiological roles and therapeutic effects in maintaining the mucosal barrier, immune function, and gastrointestinal tract, inhibiting the invasion of pathogenic bacteria, and preventing diarrhea and food allergies. Multiple pieces of evidence reveal a significant disruptive effect of probiotics on food allergy pathology and progression mechanisms. Thus, this review describes the allergenic proteins as an entry point and briefly describes the application of probiotics in allergenic foods. Then, the role of probiotics in preventing and curing allergic diseases by regulating human immunity through intestinal flora and intestinal barrier, modulating host immune active cells, and improving host amino acid metabolism are described in detail. The anti-allergic role of probiotics in the function and metabolism of the gastrointestinal tract has been comprehensively explored to furnish insights for relieving food allergy symptoms and preventing food allergy.

Health and Disease: Akkermansia muciniphila , the Shining Star of the Gut Flora

Akkermansia muciniphila ( A. muciniphila ) has drawn much attention as an important gut microbe strain in recent years. A. muciniphila can influence the occurrence and development of diseases of the endocrine, nervous, digestive, musculoskeletal, and respiratory systems and other diseases. It can also improve immunotherapy for some cancers. A. muciniphila is expected to become a new probiotic in addition to Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium . An increase in A. muciniphila abundance through direct or indirect A. muciniphila supplementation may inhibit or even reverse disease progression. However, some contrary findings are found in type 2 diabetes mellitus and neurodegenerative diseases, where increased A. muciniphila abundance may aggravate the diseases. To enable a more comprehensive understanding of the role of A. muciniphila in diseases, we summarize the relevant information on A. muciniphila in different systemic diseases and introduce regulators of A. muciniphila abundance to promote the clinical transformation of A. muciniphila research.

Oral Prevalence of Akkermansia muciniphila Differs among Pediatric and Adult Orthodontic and Non-Orthodontic Patients

Akkermansia muciniphila (AM) is one of many highly abundant intestinal microbes that influences homeostasis and metabolic disorders and may also play a role in oral disorders. However, there is little evidence regarding the oral prevalence of this organism. Based upon this lack of evidence, the primary goal of this project is to survey an existing saliva repository to determine the overall prevalence of this organism and any associations with demographic or patient characteristics (age, sex, body mass index, race/ethnicity, orthodontic therapy). Using an approved protocol,, a total n = 141 pediatric samples from an existing saliva repository were screened using qPCR revealing 29.8% harbored AM with nearly equal distribution among males and females, p = 0.8347. Significantly higher percentages of pediatric, non-orthodontic patients were positive for AM (42.3%) compared with age-matched orthodontic patients (14.3%)-which were equally distributed among non-orthodontic males (42.1%) and non-orthodontic females (42.5%). In addition, analysis of the adult samples revealed that nearly equal percentages of males (18.2%) and females (16.7%) harbored detectable levels of salivary AM, p = 0.2035. However, a higher proportion of non-orthodontic adult samples harbored AM (21.3%) compared to orthodontic samples (12.8%, p = 0.0001), which was equally distributed among males and females. These results suggest that both age and the presence of orthodontic brackets may influence microbial composition and, more specifically, are associated with reduction in AM among both pediatric and adult populations from their baseline levels.

Obesity, Bone Loss, and Periodontitis: The Interlink

Obesity and periodontitis are both common health concerns that have given rise to considerable economic and societal burden worldwide. There are established negative relationships between bone metabolism and obesity, obesity and diabetes mellitus (DM), and DM and periodontitis, to name a few, with osteoporosis being considered a long-term complication of obesity. In the oral cavity, bone metabolic disorders primarily display as increased risks for periodontitis and alveolar bone loss. Obesity-driven alveolar bone loss and mandibular osteoporosis have been observed in animal models without inoculation of periodontopathogens. Clinical reports have also indicated a possible association between obesity and periodontitis. This review systematically summarizes the clinical periodontium changes, including alveolar bone loss in obese individuals. Relevant laboratory-based reports focusing on biological interlinks in obesity-associated bone remodeling via processes like hyperinflammation, immune dysregulation, and microbial dysbiosis, were reviewed. We also discuss the potential mechanism underlying obesity-enhanced alveolar bone loss from both the systemic and periodontal perspectives, focusing on delineating the practical considerations for managing periodontal disease in obese patients.