Effect of regulating gut microbiota using probiotics on functional changes in the brain: protocol for a systematic review

Biointerface mineralization generates ultraresistant gut microbes as oral biotherapeutics

Despite the fact that oral microecologics are effective in modulating the gut microbiome, they always suffer from multiple insults during the journey from manufacture to arrival at the intestine. Inspired by the protective mechanism of mineralization, we describe a cytocompatible approach of biointerface mineralization that can generate an ultraresistant and self-removable coating on bacterial surface to solve these challenges. Mineral coating endows bacteria with robust resistances against manufacture-associated oxygen exposure, ultraviolet irradiation, and 75% ethanol. Following oral ingestion, the coating is able to actively neutralize gastric acid and release encapsulated bacteria through spontaneous yet rapid double-decomposition reaction. In addition to acid neutralization, the generated calcium ions can trigger micellar aggregation of bile acid, enabling dual exemptions from the insults of gastric acid and bile acid to achieve uncompromised bacterial viability. Further supported by the therapeutic efficacy of coated bacteria toward colitis mice, biointerface mineralization provides a versatile platform for developing next-generation living oral biotherapeutics.

Gut bless you: The microbiota-gut-brain axis in irritable bowel syndrome

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common clinical label for medically unexplained gastrointestinal symptoms, recently described as a disturbance of the microbiota-gut-brain axis. Despite decades of research, the pathophysiology of this highly heterogeneous disorder remains elusive. However, a dramatic change in the understanding of the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms surfaced when the importance of gut microbiota protruded the scientific picture. Are we getting any closer to understanding IBS' etiology, or are we drowning in unspecific, conflicting data because we possess limited tools to unravel the cluster of secrets our gut microbiota is concealing? In this comprehensive review we are discussing some of the major important features of IBS and their interaction with gut microbiota, clinical microbiota-altering treatment such as the low FODMAP diet and fecal microbiota transplantation, neuroimaging and methods in microbiota analyses, and current and future challenges with big data analysis in IBS.