Immunomodulatory Effects of Probiotics on Cytokine Profiles

Modulating effects of heat-killed and live Limosilactobacillus reuteri PSC102 on the immune response and gut microbiota of cyclophosphamide-treated rats

In the present study, we investigated the potential immunomodulatory effects of heat-killed (hLR) and live Limosilactobacillus reuteri PSC102 (LR; formerly Lactobacillus reuteri PSC102) in RAW264.7 macrophage cells and Sprague-Dawley rats. RAW264.7 murine macrophage cells were stimulated with hLR and LR for 24 h. Cyclophosphamide (CTX)-induced immunosuppressed Sprague-Dawley rats were orally administered with three doses of hLR (L-Low, M-Medium, and H-High) and LR for 3 weeks. The phagocytic capacity, production of nitric oxide (NO), and expression of cytokines in RAW264.7 cells were measured, and the different parameters of immunity in rats were determined. hLR and LR treatments promoted phagocytic activity and induced the production of NO and the expression of iNOS, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and Cox-2 in macrophage cells. In the in vivo experiment, hLR and LR treatments significantly increased the immune organ indices, alleviated the spleen injury, and ameliorated the number of white blood cells, granulocytes, lymphocytes, and mid-range absolute counts in immunosuppressive rats. hLR and LR increased neutrophil migration and phagocytosis, splenocyte proliferation, and T lymphocyte subsets (CD4+, CD8+, CD45RA+, and CD28+). The levels of immune factors (IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12A, TNF-α, and IFN-γ) in the hLR and LR groups were upregulated compared with those in the CTX-treatment group. hLR and LR treatments could also modulate the gut microbiota composition, thereby increasing the relative abundance of Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes but decreasing the level of Proteobacteria. hLR and LR protected against CTX-induced adverse reactions by modulating the immune response and gut microbiota composition. Therefore, they could be used as potential immunomodulatory agents.

Immune Remodeling during Aging and the Clinical Significance of Immunonutrition in Healthy Aging

Aging is associated with changes in the immune system and the gut microbiota. Immunosenescence may lead to a low-grade, sterile chronic inflammation in a multifactorial and dynamic way, which plays a critical role in most age-related diseases. Age-related changes in the gut microbiota also shape the immune and inflammatory responses. Nutrition is a determinant of immune function and of the gut microbiota. Immunonutrion has been regarded as a new strategy for disease prevention and management, including many age-related diseases. However, the understanding of the cause-effect relationship is required to be more certain about the role of immunonutrition in supporting the immune homeostasis and its clinical relevance in elderly individuals. Herein, we review the remarkable quantitative and qualitative changes during aging that contribute to immunosenescence, inflammaging and microbial dysbiosis, and the effects on late-life health conditions. Furthermore, we discuss the clinical significance of immunonutrition in the treatment of age-related diseases by systematically reviewing its modulation of the immune system and the gut microbiota to clarify the effect of immunonutrition-based interventions on the healthy aging.

Crosstalk between COVID-19 and the gut-brain axis: a gut feeling

The microbes in the gut are crucial for maintaining the body's immune system and overall gut health. However, it is not fully understood how an unstable gut environment can lead to more severe cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection. The gut microbiota also plays a role in the gut-brain axis and interacts with the central nervous system through metabolic and neuroendocrine pathways. The interaction between the microbiota and the host's body involves hormonal, immune, and neural pathways, and any disruption in the balance of gut bacteria can lead to dysbiosis, which contributes to pathogen growth. In this context, we discuss how dysbiosis could contribute to comorbidities that increase susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2. Probiotics and fecal microbiota transplantation have successfully treated infectious and non-infectious inflammatory-related diseases, the most common comorbidities. These treatments could be adjuvant therapies for COVID-19 infection by restoring gut homeostasis and balancing the gut microbiota.

The effect of probiotics supplementation on cancer-treatment complications: a critical umbrella review of interventional meta-analyses

Cancer-related complications pose significant challenges in the management and treatment of patients with malignancies. Several meta-analyses have indicated improving effects of probiotics on cancer complications, while some studies have reported contentious findings. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of probiotics in addressing cancer complications, including diarrhea, mucositis, and infections, following chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgery. Relevant studies were searched in the PubMed, Scopus, Embase and Web of Science databases and Google Scholar up to September 2023. All meta-analyses addressing the effects of probiotics on all cancer treatments-induced complications including infection, diarrhea and oral mucositis were included. The pooled results were calculated using a random-effects model. Analyses of subgroups, sensitivity and publication bias were also conducted. The results revealed that the probiotics supplementation was effective on reduction of total cancer complications (OR:0.53; 95% CI: 0.44, 0.62, p < 0.001; I2=79.0%, p < 0.001), total infection rate (OR:0.47; 95%CI: 0.41, 0.52, p < 0.001; I2= 48.8%, p < 0.001); diarrhea (OR:0.50; 95%CI: 0.44, 0.57, p < 0.001; I2=44.4%, p = 0.023) and severe diarrhea (OR: 0.4; 95%CI: 0.27, 0.56, p < 0.001; I2=31.3%, p = 0.178), oral mucositis (OR: 0.76; 95%CI: 0.58, 0.94, p < 0.001; I2=95.5%, p < 0.001) and severe oral mucositis (OR:0.65, 95%CI: 0.58, 0.72 p < 0.001; I2=22.1%, p = 0.274). Multi strain probiotic (OR:0.49; 95%CI: 0.32, 0.65, p < 0.001; I2=90.7%, p < 0.001) were more efficacious than single strain (OR:0.73; 95%CI: 0.66, 0.81, p < 0.001; I2=0.00%, p = 0.786). The findings of the current umbrella meta-analysis provide strong evidence that probiotic supplementation can reduce cancer complications.

Efficacy of topical agents in oral mucositis prevention: Systematic review and network meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Oral mucositis (OM) is considered one of the most common side effects of patients undergoing cancer therapy. OM prevention plays a crucial role in the effectiveness of cancer treatment and the patient's quality of life. Different preventive treatments have been proposed in clinical trials, however with inconclusive results.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A systematic review search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane Database to answer the PICO question: in cancer patients, do specific topical agents compared to standard treatments or placebo reduce the onset and severity of oral mucositis? The risk of bias was assessed, and a network meta-analysis was conducted.

RESULTS

Of 2913 results, 30 randomized clinical trials were considered suitable for inclusion. A total of 2564 patients were analyzed, of which 1284 belonged to the test group and 1280 belonged to the control group. Natural products were the most used, followed mainly by antimicrobial agents, coating agents, and basic oral care measures. Topical sucralfate resulted in the most powerful intervention for the OM prevention (OR = 0.04, 95%C.I. = 0.01-0.25, p-value = 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Due to its cytoprotective action, low cost, ease of administration, and safety, sucralfate could become a potential ally to prevent the onset of OM during cancer therapy.

The Function of Probiotics and Prebiotics on Canine Intestinal Health and Their Evaluation Criteria

Maintaining homeostasis within the intestinal microbiota is imperative for assessing the health status of hosts, and dysbiosis within the intestinal microbiota is closely associated with canine intestinal diseases. In recent decades, the modulation of canine intestinal health through probiotics and prebiotics has emerged as a prominent area of investigation. Evidence indicates that probiotics and prebiotics play pivotal roles in regulating intestinal health by modulating the intestinal microbiota, fortifying the epithelial barrier, and enhancing intestinal immunity. This review consolidates literature on using probiotics and prebiotics for regulating microbiota homeostasis in canines, thereby furnishing references for prospective studies and formulating evaluation criteria.

Lactobacillus plantarum GUANKE modulate anti-viral function of dendritic cells in mice

GUANKE is a Lactobacillus plantarum isolated from the feces of healthy volunteer. We have previously shown that GUANKE enhances the efficacy of the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine and prolongs the duration of vaccine protection by upregulating the IFN pathway and T and B lymphocyte functions of the host. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the protective effects and mechanism of oral administration of Lactobacillus plantarum GUANKE in the influenza (A virus A/Puerto Rico/8/34) infection mouse model. In our experiment, oral administration of GUANKE significantly decreased viral load and increased tight junction proteins expression in lung tissues of influenza-infected mice. After GUANKE was co-cultured with mBMDCs in vitro, mBMDCs' maturity and antiviral ability were enhanced, and matured mBMDCs induced polarization of naïve CD4+ T cells into T helper (Th) 1 cells. Adoptive transfer of GUANKE-treated mBMDCs could protect mice from influenza infections. This study suggests that oral administration of Lactobacillus plantarum GUANKE could provide protection against influenza infection in mice, and this protective effect may be mediated, at least in part, by dendritic cells.

Combination therapy with probiotics and anti-PD-L1 antibody synergistically ameliorates sepsis in mouse model

The study investigated the protective effects and mechanisms of probiotics in conjunction with an anti-PD-L1 antibody on the immune functions of septic mice. Sixty-four mice were assigned to sepsis groups receiving vehicle, probiotics, and anti-PD-L1 antibody individually or in combination, with healthy mice as controls. Sepsis was induced by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP), followed by intraperitoneal Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) injection. Blood and tissues were collected one day post-injection for detecting inflammation-related cytokines, Treg, PI3K/Akt pathway-related protein expression, and lung tissue pathology. The survival time of the remaining ten mice was recorded over seven days. Compared to healthy mice, septic mice given PBS exhibited significantly different serum levels of IL-6, IL-8, IL-17, IL-10, and IFN-γ (all p < 0.001). Treatment with anti-PD-L1 antibody combined with probiotics significantly increased the 7-day survival rate in septic mice, accompanied by decreased pro-inflammatory cytokines, increased anti-inflammatory cytokines, improved oxidative stress, reduced lung injury, and enhanced Th17/Treg balance. This combined therapy demonstrated superior efficacy compared to antibodies or probiotics alone. Additionally, it facilitated peripheral blood polymorphonuclear neutrophil apoptosis, enhancing protection by blocking PD-L1 function and inhibiting PI3K-dependent AKT phosphorylation. In conclusion, combining probiotics with an anti-PD-L1 antibody enhances protective effects in septic mice by reducing serum inflammatory factors, promoting neutrophil apoptosis, regulating Th17/Treg balance, and inhibiting the PI3K/Akt pathway.

Mushroom as Prebiotics: a Sustainable Approach for Healthcare

Mushrooms are considered as sustainable foods as they require less effort and can be cultivated on different agro-industrial wastes. Besides, these possess many nutraceuticals for providing health benefits along with supplementing nutrition. The mushrooms are also used as prebiotics for their ability to support beneficial microbes in the gut and inhibit the growth of pathogens. Furthermore, these remain undigested in the upper gut and reach the intestine to replenish the gut microbiota. The mushrooms boost health by inhibiting the binding of pathogenic bacteria, by promoting the growth of specific gut microbiota, producing short chain fatty acids, and regulating lipid metabolism and cancer. Research has been initiated in the commercial formulation of various products such as yogurt and symbiotic capsules. This paper sheds light on health-promoting effect, disease controlling, and regulating effect of mushroom prebiotics. This paper also presented a glimpse of commercialization of mushroom prebiotics. In the future, proper standardization of mushroom-based prebiotic formulations will be available to boost human health.

Mechanisms of medicinal, pharmaceutical, and immunomodulatory action of probiotics bacteria and their secondary metabolites against disease management: an overview

Probiotics or bacteriotherapy is today's hot issue for public entities (Food and Agriculture Organization, and World Health Organization) as well as health and food industries since Metchnikoff and his colleagues hypothesized the correlation between probiotic consumption and human's health. They contribute to the newest and highly efficient arena of promising biotherapeutics. These are usually attractive in biomedical applications such as gut-related diseases like irritable bowel disease, diarrhea, gastrointestinal disorders, fungal infections, various allergies, parasitic and bacterial infections, viral diseases, and intestinal inflammation, and are also worth immunomodulation. The useful impact of probiotics is not limited to gut-related diseases alone. Still, these have proven benefits in various acute and chronic infectious diseases, like cancer, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) diseases, and high serum cholesterol. Recently, different researchers have paid special attention to investigating biomedical applications of probiotics, but consolidated data regarding bacteriotherapy with a detailed mechanistically applied approach is scarce and controversial. The present article reviews the bio-interface of probiotic strains, mainly (i) why the demand for probiotics?, (ii) the current status of probiotics, (iii) an alternative to antibiotics, (iv) the potential applications towards disease management, (v) probiotics and industrialization, and (vi) futuristic approach.

COVID-19-associated encephalopathy: connection between neuroinflammation and microbiota-gut-brain axis

While neurological complications of COVID-19, such as encephalopathy, are relatively rare, their potential significant impact on long-term morbidity is substantial, especially given the large number of infected patients. Two proposed hypotheses for the pathogenesis of this condition are hypoxia and the uncontrolled release of proinflammatory cytokines. The gut microbiota plays an important role in regulating immune homeostasis and overall gut health, including its effects on brain health through various pathways collectively termed the gut-brain axis. Recent studies have shown that COVID-19 patients exhibit gut dysbiosis, but how this dysbiosis can affect inflammation in the central nervous system (CNS) remains unclear. In this context, we discuss how dysbiosis could contribute to neuroinflammation and provide recent data on the features of neuroinflammation in COVID-19 patients.

The effects of gut microbiome manipulation on glycemic indices in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: a comprehensive umbrella review

BACKGROUND

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a significant risk factor for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Increased fasting blood sugar (FBS), fasting insulin (FI), and insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) are observed in patients with NAFLD. Gut microbial modulation using prebiotics, probiotics, and synbiotics has shown promise in NAFLD treatment. This meta-umbrella study aimed to investigate the effects of gut microbial modulation on glycemic indices in patients with NAFLD and discuss potential mechanisms of action.

METHODS

A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Cochrane Library until March 2023 for meta-analyses evaluating the effects of probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics on patients with NAFLD. Random-effect models, sensitivity analysis, and subgroup analysis were employed.

RESULTS

Gut microbial therapy significantly decreased HOMA-IR (ES: -0.41; 95%CI: -0.52, -0.31; P < 0.001) and FI (ES: -0.59; 95%CI: -0.77, -0.41; P < 0.001). However, no significant effect was observed on FBS (ES: -0.17; 95%CI: -0.36, 0.02; P = 0.082). Subgroup analysis revealed prebiotics had the most potent effect on HOMA-IR, followed by probiotics and synbiotics. For FI, synbiotics had the most substantial effect, followed by prebiotics and probiotics.

CONCLUSION

Probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics administration significantly reduced FI and HOMA-IR, but no significant effect was observed on FBS.

Synergistic immunomodulatory effect of synbiotics pre- and postoperative resection of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma: a randomized controlled study

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is an aggressive cancer with a highly immunosuppressive microenvironment. This single-blind, randomized study aimed to evaluate the synergistic immunomodulatory effects of synbiotics (probiotics and inulin prebiotics), as well as their impact on postoperative complications and outcomes, compared to the use of probiotics alone. Ninety patients diagnosed with PDAC were enrolled and randomly assigned into three groups: the placebo group, the probiotics group (receiving a mixture of ten strains of Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, and Streptococcus bacteria at a dose of 25 billion CFUs), and the synbiotics group (the same probiotics along with inulin prebiotics). The interventions were administered for 14 days before the surgery and continued for one month postoperatively. Tumor tissue infiltration of CD8 + T cells and the expression of IFN γ were assessed by immunohistochemistry (IHC). Inflammatory cytokines concentrations, including Il 1 B, IL 6, and IL 10, were evaluated as well by ELISA at various time points pre- and postoperative. Furthermore, patients were followed up after the surgery to assess postoperative short-term outcomes. Our results showed a significant elevation of CD8 + T cell proportion and IFN γ expression in the synbiotics group compared to the probiotics group (p = 0.049, p = 0.013, respectively). Inflammatory cytokines showed a significant gradual decrease in the synbiotics group compared to placebo and probiotics-treated groups (p = 0.000 for both). Administration of synbiotics and probiotics significantly decreased the rate of postoperative complications including anastomotic leakage, diarrhea, and abdominal distension (p = 0.032, p = 0.044, p = 0.042, respectively), with a remarkable reduction in bacteremia in the synbiotics group. These results revealed that this synbiotics formulation potentially enhances the immune response and reduces complications associated with surgery.Clinical trial identification: NCT06199752 (27-12-2023).

Bifidobacterium modulation of tumor immunotherapy and its mechanism

The advent of tumor immunotherapy in patients has revolutionized the treatment of tumors and significantly improved survival rates for a wide range of tumors. However, the full therapeutic potential of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) has yet to be realized, as not all patients have a lasting survival benefit from them, and a significant proportion of patients show primary or acquired resistance to immunotherapy. Bifidobacterium is one of the most common probiotics, and its antitumor and immunomodulatory effects have been demonstrated in recent years, but its immunomodulatory effects in tumors, especially on ICIs and in combination, have not been extensively studied in clinical practice, and its effects on the immune system and the mechanisms that modulate immunotherapy are largely unknown. Therefore, this review will focus on the immunomodulatory effects of Bifidobacteria in malignancies and the possible mechanisms of action of Bifidobacteria on immunotherapy in the hope of providing a basis for further research and better application of Bifidobacteria in clinical practice.

Characterization of feline-originated probiotics Lactobacillus rhamnosus CACC612 and Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis CACC789 and and evaluation of their host response

BACKGROUND

Probiotics are beneficial for animal health and new potential probiotics need to be characterized for their prospective use in improving animal health. In this study, 32 bacterial strains were isolated from a Norwegian forest cat (castrated, 12 years old) and a Persian cat (castrated, 10 years old), which were privately owned and had indoor access.

RESULTS

Lactobacillus rhamnosus CACC612 (CACC612) and Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis CACC789 (CACC789) were selected as potential probiotics; characterization of the two strains showed equivalent acid tolerance, similar cell adhesion rates on the HT-29 monolayer cell line, and superior bile tolerance compared to Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG). Subsequently, they exhibited inhibitory effects against a broad spectrum of pathogenic bacteria, including E. coli (KCTC 2617), Salmonella Derby (NCCP 12,238), Salmonella Enteritidis (NCCP 14,546), Salmonella Typhimurium (NCCP 10,328), Clostridium difficile JCM 1296T. From evaluating host effects, the viability of the feline macrophage cell line (Fcwf-4) increased with the treatment of CACC612 or CACC789 (P < 0.05). The induced expression of immune-related genes such as IFN-γ, IL1β, IL2, IL4, and TNF-α by immune stimulation was significantly attenuated by the treatment of CACC612 or CACC789 (P < 0.05). When 52 clinical factors of sera from 21 healthy cats were analyzed using partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA), the animals were obviously clustered before and after feeding with CACC612 or CACC789. In addition, hemoglobin and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) significantly increased after CACC612 feeding (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

In this study, feline-originated probiotics were newly characterized and their potentially probiotic effects were evaluated. These results contribute to our understanding of the functional effects of feline-derived probiotics and support their industrial applications.

A neonatal piglet model reveals interactions between nasal microbiota and influenza A virus pathogenesis

While vaccination and therapeutics for prevention/treatment of influenza are available, new strategies are needed to combat influenza disease in susceptible populations, particularly young children and newborns. Host associated microbiota play an important role in modulating the virulence of numerous pathogens, including the influenza A virus. In this study, we examined microbiome-influenza interactions in a neonatal piglet model system. The nasal microbiome of newborn piglets was longitudinally sampled before and after intranasal infection with recombinant viruses expressing hemagglutinins (HAs) derived from distinct zoonotic H1 subtypes. We found that viruses expressing different parental HAs manifested unique patterns of pathogenicity, and varied impacts on microbial community diversity. Despite these virus specific differences, a consistent microbial signature of viral infection was detected. Our results indicate that influenza A virus infection associates with the restructuring of nasal microbiome and such shifts in microbial diversity may contribute to outcomes of viral infection in neonatal piglets.

Evaluation of immunomodulatory potential of probiotic conditioned medium on murine macrophages

Probiotics are a mixture of beneficial live bacteria and/or yeasts that naturally exist in our bodies. Recently, numerous studies have focused on the immunostimulatory effects of single-species or killed multi-species probiotic conditioned mediums on macrophages. This study investigates the immunostimulatory effect of commercially available active, multi-species probiotic conditioned medium (CM) on RAW264.7 murine macrophages. The probiotic CM was prepared by culturing the commercially available probiotic in a cell-culture medium overnight at 37 °C, followed by centrifugation and filter-sterilization to be tested on macrophages. The immunostimulatory effect of different dilution percentages (50%, 75%, 100%) of CM was examined using the MTT assay, proinflammatory cytokine (tumor necrosis factor TNF-alpha) production in macrophages, migration, and phagocytosis assays. For all the examined CM ratios, the percentages of cell viability were > 80%. Regarding the migration scratch, TNF-alpha and phagocytosis assays, CM demonstrated a concentration-dependent immunostimulatory effect. However, the undiluted CM (100%) showed a significant (p-value < 0.05) stimulatory effect compared to the positive and negative controls. The findings suggest that the secretions and products of probiotics, as measured in the CM, may be closely associated with their immune-boosting effects. Understanding this relationship between probiotic secretions and immune function is crucial for further exploring the potential benefits of probiotics in enhancing overall health and well-being.

Non-specific effects of inactivated Mycobacterium bovis oral and parenteral treatment in a rabbit scabies model

Tuberculosis BCG vaccination induced non-specific protective effects in humans led to postulate the concept of trained immunity (TRAIM) as an innate type of immune mechanism that triggered by a pathogen, protects against others. Killed vaccines have been considered not to be effective. However, field efficacy of a commercial vaccine against paratuberculosis, as well as of a recently developed M. bovis heat-inactivated vaccine (HIMB) prompted to test whether it could also induce TRAIM. To this, we used a sarcoptic mange rabbit model. Twenty-four weaned rabbits were treated orally or subcutaneously with a suspension of either HIMB (107 UFC) or placebo. Eighty-four days later the animals were challenged with approximately 5000 S. scabiei mites on the left hind limb. Skin lesion extension was measured every 2 weeks until 92 days post-infection (dpi). Two animals were killed at 77 dpi because of extensive skin damage. The rest were euthanized and necropsied and the lesion area and the mite burden per squared cm were estimated. Specific humoral immune responses to S. scabiei and to M. bovis were investigated with the corresponding specific ELISA tests. Subcutaneously and orally HIMB vaccinated animals compared with placebo showed reduced lesion scores (up to 74% and 62%, respectively) and mite counts (-170% and 39%, respectively). This, together with a significant positive correlation (r = 0.6276, p = 0.0031) between tuberculosis-specific antibodies and mite count at 92 dpi supported the hypothesis of non-specific effects of killed mycobacterial vaccination. Further research is needed to better understand this mechanism to maximize cross protection.

Distinct Changes in Gut Microbiota of Patients With Kidney Graft Rejection

Background

Kidney graft rejection still represents the major cause of graft loss in kidney transplant recipients. Of growing interest is the bidirectional relationship between gut microbiome and immune system suggesting that gut microbiota can affect allograft outcome.

Methods

In this cross-sectional case-control study, we characterized the gut microbial profile of adult renal transplant recipients with and without graft rejection to define a cohort-specific microbial fingerprint through 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing. We used very strict inclusion and exclusion criteria to address confounder of microbiota composition.

Results

Different relative abundances in several gut microbial taxa were detectable in control patients compared with patients with kidney allograft rejection. Alpha diversity was lower in the rejection group and beta diversity revealed dissimilarity between patients with and without kidney graft rejection (P < 0.01). When the rejection group was stratified according to different types of allograft rejection, major changes were identified between patients with chronic T-cellular-mediated rejection and controls. Changes in alpha diversity within the gut microbiome were related to the probability of chronic T-cellular-mediated rejection (P < 0.05). Kidney transplant patients without rejection showed significant enrichment of rather anti-inflammatory taxa whereas in the rejection group bacteria well known for their role in chronic inflammation were increased. For example, amplicon sequence variant (ASV) 362 belonging to the genus Bacteroides and ASV 312 belonging to Tannerellaceae were enriched in no rejection (P < 0.001 and P < 0.01), whereas ASV 365 was enriched in patients with allograft rejection (P = 0.04). Looking at metagenomic functions, a higher abundance of genes coding for enzymes involved in bacterial multidrug resistance and processing of short-chain fatty acids was found in patients without rejection but an increase in enzymes involved in nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate production was seen in patients with allograft rejection.

Conclusions

A distinct microbial fingerprint of patients with allograft rejection might serve as noninvasive biomarker in the future.

Effects of Probiotic-Fermented Feed on the Growth Profile, Immune Functions, and Intestinal Microbiota of Bamei Piglets

Purebred Bamei piglets present problems, including slow growth, respiratory disease, and post-weaning stress. This study investigated the effects of Lactobacillus plantarum QP28-1- and Bacillus subtilis QB8-fermented feed supplementation on the growth performance, immunity, and intestinal microflora of Bamei piglets from Qinghai, China. A total of 48 purebred Bamei piglets (25 days; 6.8 ± 0.97 kg) were divided into the following four groups for a 28-day diet experiment: basal feed (CK); diet containing 10% Lactobacillus plantarum-fermented feed (L); diet containing 10% Bacillus subtilis-fermented feed (B); and diet containing a mixture of 5% Lactobacillus plantarum + 5% Bacillus subtilis-fermented feed (H). The daily weight gain and daily food intake of group H increased (p < 0.05), and the feed/weight gain ratios of the groups fed with fermented feed decreased more than that of the CK group. The levels of three immune factors, namely immunoglobulin (Ig)M, IgG, and interferon-γ, were higher (p < 0.05), whereas those of tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, and IL-6 were lower (p < 0.05) in the fermented feed groups than in the CK group. Total protein was higher (p < 0.05), while urea nitrogen, total cholesterol and triglycerides were lower (p < 0.05) in the mixed-fermented feed group than in the CK group. Analysis of the gut microbiota showed that the addition of fermented feed increased the α-diversity of the gut microbiota, increasing the abundances of probiotics including Lactobacillus, Muribaculaceae, Ruminococcaceae, Prevotellaceae, and Rikenellaceae. Additionally, correlation analysis demonstrated that several of these probiotic bacteria were closely related to serum immunity. In conclusion, fermented feed supplementation rebuilt the intestinal microbiota of Bamei piglets, thereby reducing the feed/weight ratio, improving feed intake, and enhancing immunity.

In vitro assessment of biofunctional properties of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum strain Jb21-11 and the characterization of its exopolysaccharide

ABSTACT

The microbiota of traditional food provides a rich reservoir of biodiversity to find new strains with interesting features for novel functional food formulation. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the biofunctional potential of the lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strain Jb21-11 isolated from Jben, a traditional Algerian fresh cheese. This isolate was selected out of a collection of 154 LAB based on its exopolysaccharide (EPS) phenotype and was preliminarily identified by polyphasic characterization as Lactiplantibacillus plantarum (previously known as Lactobacillus plantarum) and its biofunctional properties were then assessed in vitro. The tested strain demonstrated good resistance to gastric juice, acidity around pH 2, and 2% (v/v) bile salts, which are important characteristics for potential biofunctional LAB candidates. It also showed a good production of ropy EPS with 674 mg/L on MRS medium. However, this ability appears to compromise the adhesion of the strain to Caco-2 cells (less than 1%), which according to our results, seems not to be related to autoaggregation and hydrophobicity (44.88 ± 0.028% and 16.59 ± 0.012%). Furthermore, promising antimicrobial activity against three pathogenic bacteria (Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Salmonella) was detected probably due to antimicrobial metabolites excreted during fermentation process into the medium. Moreover, the strain L. plantarum Jb21-11 displayed a therapeutic functionality with both anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory action using RAW 264.7 cells. The chemical features of the novel ropy Jb21-11-EPS were also investigated revealing the presence of three monosaccharides, namely, mannose, galactose, and glucose, with a molar ratio of 5.42:1.00:4.52 linked together by α- and β-glycosidic bonds, presenting a relatively high molecular weight of 1.08 × 105 Da of interest for a texturing potential. Therefore, the new producing EPS strain Jb21-11 is a promising candidate for use as an adjunct culture for improving the texture of functional food.

Role of probiotics in managing various human diseases, from oral pathology to cancer and gastrointestinal diseases

The imbalance of microbial composition and diversity in favor of pathogenic microorganisms combined with a loss of beneficial gut microbiota taxa results from factors such as age, diet, antimicrobial administration for different infections, other underlying medical conditions, etc. Probiotics are known for their capacity to improve health by stimulating the indigenous gut microbiota, enhancing host immunity resistance to infection, helping digestion, and carrying out various other functions. Concurrently, the metabolites produced by these microorganisms, termed postbiotics, which include compounds like bacteriocins, lactic acid, and hydrogen peroxide, contribute to inhibiting a wide range of pathogenic bacteria. This review presents an update on using probiotics in managing and treating various human diseases, including complications that may emerge during or after a COVID-19 infection.

Immunity, rumen metagenomics, ruminal variables, and growth performance of calves fed milk with sage (Salvia officinalis) essential oil

The study aimed to determine the effect of sage (Salvia officinalis) essential oil (EO) to the drinking milk until the weaning stage of Holstein calves on the growth performance, body measurements, ruminal fermentation, rumen metagenomic profile, proinflammatory cytokines [interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α), and IL-1β], immune globulins (IgG, IgM, and IgE), and acute phase proteins (serum amyloid-A, SAA). In the study, 24 Holstein calves were divided into three groups as 0 μL (SAG0; control group), 100 μL (SAG100), or 200 μL (SAG200) of sage EO to the milk per calf per day. The addition of sage EO to the milk linearly increased the live weight, feed intake, and daily body weight gain (P < 0.05). The addition of sage EO to the milk in calves linearly increased serum IgG titter dose dependently (P < 0.05), but serum IgM and IgE titters did not change (P > 0.05). The concentrations of serum TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 in the weaned calves linearly decreased by the sage aromatic oil addition to the milk (P < 0.05). The serum SAA concentrations of calves did not differ among the control and treatment groups (P > 0.05). Probiotic Bifidobacterium and Acidaminococcus genus in calf rumen fluid can increase by sage EO addition to milk. The relative abundance of genus Prevotella, Prevotellaceae_NK3B31_group, and Prevotella_9 increase with sage EO. The ruminal ammonia-nitrogen (NH3-N) concentration and total short chain fatty acid (T-SCFA) molarity decreased by sage EO addition to the drinking milk (P < 0.05). The molarities of iso butyric (IBA) and iso valeric acids (IVA) in rumen fluid of the weaned calves linearly reduced by the increasing sage EO dose to the milk (P < 0.05). The butyric acid (BA) and iso caproic acid (ICA) molarities in rumen fluid did not change by the sage EO addition (P > 0.05). Consequently, it has been observed that sage EO addition to the milk of calves positively affected the immune system variables and performance parameters. Sage EO addition of calves before weaning may support the immune system in the eventual immunosuppression at the weaning stage.

The Potential Immunomodulatory Effect of Bifidobacterium longum subsp. longum BB536 on Healthy Adults through Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cell Activation in the Peripheral Blood

The interaction between the gut microbiota and the host can influence the host's immune system. Bifidobacterium, a commensal genus of gut bacteria, seems to have positive effects on host health. Our previous clinical research showed that B. longum subsp. longum BB536 enhanced innate and adaptive immune responses in elderly individuals with a lower grade of immunity, but the immunomodulatory mechanism is still unclear. In this study, dendritic cell (DC) surface markers in peripheral blood mononuclear cells isolated from healthy individuals were evaluated through coculture with heat-killed BB536. DC markers, innate immune activity and cytokine levels in plasma were also evaluated by a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study (UMIN000045564) with 4 weeks of continuous live BB536 intake. BB536 significantly increased the expression of CD86 and HLA-DR on plasmacytoid DCs (pDCs) in vitro. Compared to placebo (n = 48), a significant increase in the expression of CD86 on peripheral pDCs was detected at week 4 of live BB536 intake (n = 49; 1 × 1010 CFU/day). Furthermore, coculture with hk-BB536 significantly increased the IFNγ expression level and demonstrated trends of increased IFNα1 and IFNβ expression. These findings suggest that consumption of BB536 has potential immunomodulatory effects on healthy individuals through the activation of peripheral pDCs.

Microencapsulated Sodium Butyrate Alleviates Immune Injury and Intestinal Problems Caused by Clostridium Perfringens through Gut Microbiota

Microencapsulated sodium butyrate (MS-SB) is an effective sodium butyrate additive which can reduce the release of sodium butyrate (SB) in the fore gastrointestinal tract. In this study, we assess the protective effects and mechanisms of MS-SB in Clostridium perfringens (C. perfringens)-challenged broilers. Broiler chickens were pre-treated with SB or MS-SB for 56 days and then challenged with C. perfringens three times. Our results indicate that the addition of MS-SB or SB before C. perfringens infection significantly decreased the thymus index (p < 0.05). Serum IgA, IgY, and IgM concentrations were significantly increased (p < 0.05), while pro-inflammatory IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α were significantly decreased (p < 0.05) under MS-SB or SB supplementation. Compared with SB, MS-SB presented a stronger performance, with higher IgA content, as well as a lower IL-1β level when normal or C. perfringens-challenged. While C. perfringens challenge significantly decreased the villus height (p < 0.05), MS-SB or SB administration significantly increased the villus height and villus height/crypt depth (V/C ratio) (p < 0.05). Varying degrees of SB or MS-SB increased the concentrations of volatile fatty acids (VFAs) during C. perfringens challenge, where MS-SB presented a stronger performance, as evidenced by the higher content of isovaleric acid and valeric acid. Microbial analysis demonstrated that both SB or MS-SB addition and C. perfringens infection increase variation in the microbiota community. The results also indicate that the proportions of Bacteroides, Faecalibacterium, Clostridia, Ruminococcaceae, Alistipes, and Clostridia were significantly higher in the MS-SB addition group while, at same time, C. perfringens infection increased the abundance of Bacteroides and Alistipes. In summary, dietary supplementation with SB or MS-SB improves the immune status and morphology of intestinal villi, increases the production of VFAs, and modulates cecal microbiota in chickens challenged with C. perfringens. Moreover, MS-SB was more effective than SB with the same supplemental amount.

The Promise of Precision Nutrition for Modulation of the Gut Microbiota as a Novel Therapeutic Approach to Acute Graft-versus-host Disease

Acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) is a severe side effect of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (aHSCT) that has complex phenotypes and often unpredictable outcomes. The current management is not always able to prevent aGVHD. A neglected actor in the management of aGVHD is the gut microbiota. Gut microbiota dysbiosis after aHSCT is caused by many factors and may contribute to the development of aGVHD. Diet and nutritional status modify the gut microbiota and a wide range of products are now available to manipulate the gut microbiota (pro-, pre-, and postbiotics). New investigations are testing the effect of probiotics and nutritional supplements in both animal models and human studies, with encouraging results. In this review, we summarize the most recent literature about the probiotics and nutritional factors able to modulate the gut microbiota and we discuss the future perspective in developing new integrative therapeutic approaches to reducing the risk of graft-versus-host disease in patients undergoing aHSCT.

Probiotics and prebiotics: potential prevention and therapeutic target for nutritional management of COVID-19?

Scientists are working to identify prevention/treatment methods and clinical outcomes of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Nutritional status and diet have a major impact on the COVID-19 disease process, mainly because of the bidirectional interaction between gut microbiota and lung, that is, the gut-lung axis. Individuals with inadequate nutritional status have a pre-existing imbalance in the gut microbiota and immunity as seen in obesity, diabetes, hypertension and other chronic diseases. Communication between the gut microbiota and lungs or other organs and systems may trigger worse clinical outcomes in viral respiratory infections. Thus, this review addresses new insights into the use of probiotics and prebiotics as a preventive nutritional strategy in managing respiratory infections such as COVID-19 and highlighting their anti-inflammatory effects against the main signs and symptoms associated with COVID-19. Literature search was performed through PubMed, Cochrane Library, Scopus and Web of Science databases; relevant clinical articles were included. Significant randomised clinical trials suggest that specific probiotics and/or prebiotics reduce diarrhoea, abdominal pain, vomiting, headache, cough, sore throat, fever, and viral infection complications such as acute respiratory distress syndrome. These beneficial effects are linked with modulation of the microbiota, products of microbial metabolism with antiviral activity, and immune-regulatory properties of specific probiotics and prebiotics through Treg cell production and function. There is a need to conduct clinical and pre-clinical trials to assess the combined effect of consuming these components and undergoing current therapies for COVID-19.

Electrospinning Microencapsulation of Lactobacillus fermentum K73 Using Gelatin as the Main Component of a Food-Grade Matrix

This work aimed to establish the conditions that improve the viability of Lactobacillus fermentum K73 during and after the electrospinning process. A mixture of experimental designs were performed to select the formulation (gelatin and bacterial culture) that improves the probiotic viability after blending and under simulated gastrointestinal conditions. A Box-Behnken design was performed to improve the encapsulation yield and survival during the electrospinning process. For the Box-Behnken design, the factors were soy lecithin and bacteria culture concentration at the blend and collector distance for electrospinning. It was hypothesized that soy lecithin improved the electrospinnability, acting as a surfactant in the mixture and allowing lower voltage to be used during the process. The selected volume ratio of the gelatin (25%)/bacterial culture mixture was 0.66/0.34. The physicochemical parameters of the selected blend were in the recommended range for electrospinning. The conditions that improved the encapsulation yield and survival during electrospinning were 200 g/L of bacterial culture, 2.5% (w/v) soy lecithin, and 7 cm collector distance. The experimental encapsulation yield and survival was 80.7%, with an experimental error of 7.2%. SEM micrographs showed the formation of fibers with gelatin/bacterial culture beads. Encapsulation improved the viability of the probiotic under simulated gastrointestinal conditions compared to free cells.

Probiotic Potential of Bacillus sp. 62A Isolated from a Marine Extreme Environment

Antimicrobial resistance is an important health concern globally, and probiotics are considered an alternative to minimize it. The present study examined the in vitro probiotic characteristics and in vivo immunomodulatory potential of Bacillus sp. 62A - an extremophile bacterium. Bacillus sp. 62A was evaluated in vitro for its cytotoxicity, hemolytic activity, antibiotic susceptibility, and resistance to gastrointestinal conditions (bile salts, low pH, and intestinal adherence). Additionally, the immunomodulatory effect of Bacillus sp. 62A was studied in mice. The animals were supplemented daily with phosphate-buffered saline (control) and Bacillus sp. 62A at 1 × 108 colony forming units (CFU). Samples were taken on days 5 and 10. Isolated splenocytes were challenged with Escherichia coli for immunological analyses and immune-related gene expression. Serum and feces were collected for IgA and IgG determination. Bacillus sp. 62A did not show cytotoxicity, hemolytic activity, or resistance to antibiotics. Furthermore, the bacterium has autoaggregation and intestinal adhesion capacities and grows in the presence of bile salts and low pH. Bacillus supplementation in mice improved respiratory burst activity, nitric oxide production, and IL-1β and IL-6 gene expressions, mainly at 10 days. After E. coli challenge, Bacillus supplementation in mice induced an anti-inflammatory response through a decrease in immunological parameters and an increase in IL-10 gene expression. Moreover, serum IgA and IgG and fecal IgG augmented in supplemented mice. In conclusion, Bacillus sp. 62A has biosafe and immunomodulatory probiotic potential.

Mechanistic insights into the role of probiotics in modulating immune cells in ulcerative colitis

BACKGROUND

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a persistent inflammatory disorder that affects the gastrointestinal tract, mainly the colon, which is defined by inflammatory responses and the formation of ulcers. Probiotics have been shown to directly impact various immune cells, including dendritic cells (DCs), macrophages, natural killer (NK) cells, and T and B cells. By interacting with cell surface receptors, they regulate immune cell activity, produce metabolites that influence immune responses, and control the release of cytokines and chemokines.

METHODS

This article is a comprehensive review wherein we conducted an exhaustive search across published literature, utilizing reputable databases like PubMed and Web of Science. Our focus centered on pertinent keywords, such as "UC," 'DSS," "TNBS," "immune cells," and "inflammatory cytokines," to compile the most current insights regarding the therapeutic potential of probiotics in managing UC.

RESULTS

This overview aims to provide readers with a comprehensive understanding of the effects of probiotics on immune cells in relation to UC. Probiotics have a crucial role in promoting the proliferation of regulatory T cells (Tregs), which are necessary for preserving immunological homeostasis and regulating inflammatory responses. They also decrease the activation of pro-inflammatory cells like T helper 1 (Th1) and Th17 cells, contributing to UC development. Thus, probiotics significantly impact both direct and indirect pathways of immune cell regulation in UC, promoting Treg differentiation, inhibiting pro-inflammatory cell activation, and regulating cytokine and chemokine release.

CONCLUSION

Probiotics demonstrate significant potential in modulating the immune reactions in UC. Their capacity to modulate different immune cells and inflammation-related processes makes them a promising therapeutic approach for managing UC. However, further studies are warranted to optimize their use and fully elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying their beneficial effects in UC treatment.

Prebiotic-mediated gastroprotective potentials of three bacterial levans through NF-κB-modulation and upregulation of systemic IL-17A

This study aimed to investigate whether the gastroprotective effects of three types of bacterial levans are correlated with their prebiotic-associated anti-inflammatory/antioxidant potentials. Three levans designated as LevAE, LevP, and LevZ were prepared from bacterial honey isolates; purified, and characterized using TLC, NMR, and FTIR. The anti-inflammatory properties of levan preparations were assessed in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cell lines, while their safety and gastroprotective potentials were assessed in Wistar rats. The three levans significantly reduced ulcer number (22.29-70.05 %) and severity (31.76-80.54 %) in the ethanol-induced gastric ulcer model compared to the control (P < 0.0001/each), with the highest effect observed in LevAE and levZ (200 mg/each) (P < 0.0001). LevZ produced the highest levels of glutathione; catalase activity, and the lowest MDA levels (P = 0.0001/each). The highest anti-inflammatory activity was observed in LevAE and levZ in terms of higher inhibitory effect on IL-1β and TNF-α production (P < 0.0001 each); COX2, PGE2, and NF-κB gene expression. The three levan preparations also proved safe with no signs of toxicity, with anti-lipidemic properties as well as promising prebiotic activity that directly correlated with their antiulcer effect. This novel study highlights the implication of prebiotic-mediated systemic immunomodulation exhibited by bacterial levans that directly correlated with their gastroprotective activity.

Leuconostoc mesenteroides WHH1141 ameliorates ovalbumin-induced food allergy in mice

Food allergy (FA) is acknowledged as a significant public health and food safety issue, due to its manifestation as an amplified immune reaction to food antigens. Recently, probiotics within Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium have been highlighted as a promising strategy against allergic disease by modulating the balance of Th1/Th2 responses. However, the allergy-alleviating effects of probiotic Leuconostoc mesenteroides strains are unknown. Therefore, this study investigated the potentials of eleven L. mesenteroides strains on the Th1/Th2 balance in vitro by evaluating the expression patterns of interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) (Th1 cytokine) and interleukin-4 (IL-4) (Th2 cytokine) in mesenteric lymph node-derived lymphocytes from ovalbumin (OVA)-sensitized mice. Among strains, WHH1141 incubation caused the highest IFN-γ/IL-4 ratio. Oral administration of WHH1141 (1 × 109  CFU/mL) in the OVA-induced FA mouse model for 40 days improved the weight loss and FA pathological symptoms and normalized the serum immunoglobulin E levels. Meanwhile, the OVA-induced elevated gene expressions of cytokines (IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13) and tight-junction proteins (ZO-1 and Occludin) and levels of cytokines (IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13) and histamine in the jejunum were restored by WHH1141. Furthermore, WHH1141 reversed the reduced gut microbial diversity and short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) levels, specifically increased Bacteroidota abundance, and decreased Firmicutes abundance in OVA-induced mice. Overall, these findings suggest that WHH1141 exerts FA-alleviating effects on OVA-induced mice, which is involved with the inhibition of the jejunal Th2 immune responses and the modulation of gut microbiome composition and SCFA productions. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Leuconostoc mesenteroides WHH1141 with FA-alleviating potentials may be considered a promising approach in the mitigation of FA symptoms.

Evaluation of Four Multispecies Probiotic Cocktails in a Human Colonic Fermentation Model

Bacteriotherapy represents an attractive approach for both prophylaxis and treatment of human diseases. However, combining probiotic bacteria in "cocktails" is underexplored, despite its potential as an alternative multi-target therapy. Herein, three-strain probiotic mixtures containing different combinations of Bacillus (Bc.) coagulans [ATB-BCS-042], Levilactobacillus (Lv.) brevis [THT 0303101], Lacticaseibacillus (Lc.) paracasei [THT 031901], Bacillus subtilis subsp. natto [ATB-BSN-049], Enterococcus faecium [ATB-EFM-030], and Bifidobacterium (Bf.) animalis subsp. lactis [THT 010802] were prepared. Four cocktails (PA: Bc. coagulans + Lv. brevis + Lc. paracasei, PB: Bc. subtilis subsp. natto + Lv. brevis + Lc. paracasei, PC: E. faecium + Lv. brevis + Lc. paracasei, PD: Bc. coagulans + Lv. brevis + Bf. animalis subsp. lactis) were tested using a short-term (72 h) simulation of the human colonic microbiota in a final dose of 6 × 109 CFU. All these probiotic mixtures significantly increased butyrate production compared to the parallel control experiment. PA and PB promoted a bifidogenic effect and facilitated lactobacilli colonization. Furthermore, reporter gene assays using the AhR_HT29-Lucia cell line revealed that fermentation supernatants from PA and PB notably induced AhR transactivity. Subsequent examination of the metabolic outputs of PA and PB in intestinal epithelial models using cell culture inserts suggested no significant impact on the transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER). Assessment of the expression of proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines, as well as AhR-related target genes in the Caco-2 cell monolayers indicated that PB's metabolic output upregulated most of the measured endpoints. This in vitro investigation evaluated the potential impact of four multispecies probiotic mixtures in the human colonic microbiota and identified a promising formulation comprising a combination of Bc. subtilis subsp. natto, Lv. brevis, and Lc. paracasei as a promising formulation for further study.

Changes in Intracellular and Extracellular Metabolites of Mixed Lactobacillus Strains Enhance Inhibition of Pathogenic Bacterial Growth and Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Alleviation of RAW264.7 Cellular Inflammation

It is important to explore whether there are antagonistic and synergistic effects between different strains of Lactobacillus when developing mixed Lactobacillus strain products. In this study, we investigated the antagonistic and symbiotic effects of co-cultured Lactobacillus strains, as well as their amelioratory effects on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation and oxidative stress in RAW264.7 cells. The Lactobacillus strains tested in this paper showed no antagonism. Co-culture of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum Y44 and L. plantarum AKS-WS9 was found to show inhibiting effects on the growth of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Additionally, the co-cultured Lactiplantibacillus plantarum Y44 and L. plantarum AKS-WS9 relieved inflammation in RAW264.7 cells induced by LPS by inhibiting the activation of NF-κB and P38 signaling pathways and down-regulating the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines NO, ROS, iNOs and TNF-α. And the co-cultured Lactobacillus strains activated the Nrf2 signaling pathway in the LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells to promote the expression of antioxidant enzymes in response to oxidative stress. There was a difference in intracellular and extracellular metabolites between single or co-cultured Lactobacillus strains, and the co-cultured Lactobacillus strains significantly increased extracellular metabolites 4-chlorobenzaldehyde, psoromic acid, and 2-dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid and intracellular metabolites 9(S)-HODE, pyocyanin, and LysoPA. We inferred that the better antibacterial and anti-inflammatory ability of the co-cultured Lactobacillus strains were related to the changes in the metabolites of the co-cultured Lactobacillus strains. The co-cultured L. plantarum Y44 and L. plantarum AKS-WS9 strains exhibited better anti-inflammatory abilities and had the potential to alleviate the symptoms of inflammatory diseases as mixed probiotics.

Effects of a complex probiotic preparation, Fengqiang Shengtai and coccidiosis vaccine on the performance and intestinal microbiota of broilers challenged with Eimeria spp

BACKGROUND

Coccidiosis, a prominent intestinal protozoan disease, carries significant economic implications for the poultry industry. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of Fengqiang Shengtai (BLES), a probiotics product, and coccidiosis vaccine in modulating the intestinal microbiome and providing insight into mitigating the occurrence and management of avian coccidiosis.

METHODS

Broilers included in the study were divided into four pre-treatment groups: the Pre-Con group (commercial diet), Pre-BLES group (BLES supplement), Pre-Vac group (coccidiosis vaccination) and Pre-Vac-BLES group (combined vaccination and BLES). Body weight gain, feed consumption and feed conversion ratio were monitored from age 25 to 55 days. Cecum contents were collected at 8 and 15 days of age for comparative analysis of intestinal microbiomes. In the Pre-BLES and Pre-Vac-BLES groups, probiotics were administered at a dose of 0.01 g per chicken between ages 3 to 6 days and 10-13 days. At 3 days of age, chickens in the Pre-Vac and Pre-Vac-BLES groups were vaccinated with 1700 sporulated oocysts of the live coccidiosis vaccine per chicken. At the age of 25 days, Eimeria spp. challenge experiments were performed based on the aforementioned immunization strategy, and the oocysts per gram (OPG) in the feces, intestinal lesion score and intestinal pathological characteristics were evaluated. Specifically, 30 chickens were randomly selected from each group and orally administered 34,000 sporulated oocysts of Eimeria spp. per chicken, re-defined as Eimeria group, BLES-Eimeria group, Vac-Eimeria group and Vac-BLES-Eimeria group, respectively. Additionally, 30 chickens were randomly selected from the Pre-Con group and included as negative control without Eimeria spp.

CHALLENGE

Intestinal microbiota was sequenced and analyzed when the broilers were 32 days old.

RESULTS

A significant improvement was observed in body weight gain of the broilers in the Pre-BLES and Pre-Vac-BLES group at 45 days of age. Analysis of the intestinal microbiota revealed a positive correlation between the experimental groups receiving BLES and coccidiosis vaccines at 8 and 15 days of age with the Enterococcus genus and Lachnospiraceae NK4A136 group, respectively. In addition to the reduced lesion score and OPG values, the combination of coccidiosis vaccine and BLES also reduced the intestinal epithelial abscission induced by coccidiosis vaccines. The results of intestinal microbial function prediction demonstrated that N-glycan biosynthesis and ferroptosis were the prominent signal pathways in the Vac-BLES-Eimeria group.

CONCLUSIONS

Taken together, the results of the present study suggest that supplementation of BLES with coccidiosis vaccine represents a promising strategy for improving growth performance, alleviating clinical manifestations and inducing favorable alterations to the intestinal microbiota in broiler chickens affected by coccidiosis.

A Comprehensive Review of Bioactive Compounds from Lactic Acid Bacteria: Potential Functions as Functional Food in Dietetics and the Food Industry

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are beneficial microbes known for their health-promoting properties. LAB are well known for their ability to produce substantial amounts of bioactive compounds during fermentation. Peptides, exopolysaccharides (EPS), bacteriocins, some amylase, protease, lipase enzymes, and lactic acid are the most important bioactive compounds generated by LAB activity during fermentation. Additionally, the product produced by LAB is dependent on the type of fermentation used. LAB derived from the genera Lactobacillus and Enterococcus are the most popular probiotics at present. Consuming fermented foods has been previously connected to a number of health-promoting benefits such as antibacterial activity and immune system modulation. Furthermore, functional food implementations lead to the application of LAB in therapeutic nutrition such as prebiotic, immunomodulatory, antioxidant, anti-tumor, blood glucose lowering actions. Understanding the characteristics of LAB in diverse sources and its potential as a functional food is crucial for therapeutic applications. This review presents an overview of functional food knowledge regarding interactions between LAB isolated from dairy products (dairy LAB) and fermented foods, as well as the prospect of functioning LAB in human health. Finally, the health advantages of LAB bioactive compounds are emphasized.

Efficacy and safety of gastrointestinal microbiome supplementation for allergic rhinitis: A systematic review and meta-analysis with trial sequential analysis

BACKGROUND

Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a non-infective chronic inflammatory disease of nasal mucosa.

PURPOSE

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of gastrointestinal microbiome supplementation (GMS) for patients with allergic rhinitis (AR), concerning improvement on symptoms and signs, laboratory outcomes, quality of life, and medication scores.

METHODS

Five English databases were searched up to Dec 12th, 2022. Probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics were main therapies or adjuvants in experimental groups. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses were conducted based on the Cochrane systematic review method by using RevMan 5.4 Software, with meta-influence analyses, subgroup-analyses, meta-regression, and publication bias performed for exploration of heterogeneity by Stata V.14. Trial sequential analyses were performed by TSA 0.9, and quality of the results was accessed through the GRADE-pro GDT.

RESULTS

Finally, extracted from 53 articles, 65 RCTs involving 3,634 participants with sound worldwide representativeness were included. Primary results showed better improvement in GMS groups on TNSS (WMD=1.05, P for WMD=0.004, 95%CI:0.34 to 1.76), overall nasal condition (WMD=1.25, P for WMD<0.001, 95%CI:0.90 to 1.61), overall quality of life (WMD=6.16, P for WMD<0.001, 95%CI:4.92 to 7.40) and medication score (WMD=0.42, P for WMD=0.42, 95%CI:-0.06 to 0.90).However, GMS groups were inferior than the controls concerning reduction on serum total IgE (WMD=-1.81) and ratios of serum Th1/Th2 (WMD=-1.06). Meta-regressions suggested significant (p<0.05) variations of the effects in some comparisons. In addition, results of sub-group analyses firstly revealed potential influence between final results and the variables above. Instantly after intervention, the GRADE levels of evidence were sound, including "High ⨁⨁⨁⨁" in 10, "Moderate ⨁⨁⨁◯" in 33, and "Low ⨁⨁◯◯" in nine comparisons. However, overall certainties decreased obviously during follow-ups.

CONCLUSION

Overall, our pooled results firstly revealed that GMS yielded acceptable benefits for patients with AR compared with controls with sound certainties, after balancing the benefits and harms.

Probiotics, the Immune Response and Acute Appendicitis: A Review

Acute appendicitis is a common reason for admission to the Emergency Department (ED). It affects almost 70% of people under 30 years of age and 10% over 60 years of age. Its diagnosis includes the combination of clinical signs, laboratory tests and imaging. For years, surgical appendectomy has been the first-line therapy for acute appendicitis, but currently the management has shown some changes, in particular in patients with uncomplicated appendicitis. Recent studies have investigated the use of probiotics as an adjunctive therapy with promising results in conferring health benefits to patients with acute appendicitis. The aim of our review is to summarize the results of clinical studies about probiotics and the immunological response in acute appendicitis, discussing the limitations and future directions of this research.

Molecular Mechanism and Clinical Effects of Probiotics in the Management of Cow's Milk Protein Allergy

Cow's milk protein allergy (CMPA) is the most common food allergy (FA) in infancy, affecting approximately 2% of children under 4 years of age. According to recent studies, the increasing prevalence of FAs can be associated with changes in composition and function of gut microbiota or "dysbiosis". Gut microbiota regulation, mediated by probiotics, may modulate the systemic inflammatory and immune responses, influencing the development of allergies, with possible clinical benefits. This narrative review collects the actual evidence of probiotics' efficacy in the management of pediatric CMPA, with a specific focus on the molecular mechanisms of action. Most studies included in this review have shown a beneficial effect of probiotics in CMPA patients, especially in terms of achieving tolerance and improving symptoms.

An ultrasensitive bacterial imprinted electrochemical sensor for the determination of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG

An ultrasensitive label-free electrochemical sensor based on a homemade imprinted polypyrrole (PPy) polymer film was prepared to achieve quantitative determination of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG). The LGG-imprinted polymer (LIP) film was deposited on a portable screen-printed electrode (SPE) via electropolymerization, which constituted an independent integrated system. The main preparation parameters of the LIP sensor were investigated to obtain optimal performance. Under optimized conditions, the peak current response of the LIP sensor showed a linear relationship with the logarithmic value of LGG concentration in the range from 10¹ to 10⁹ CFU mL^-1 and a detection limit of 5 CFU mL^-1. The proposed LIP sensor has achieved efficient, ultrasensitive, highly selective, and cost-effective detection of LGG and can be further developed for practical applications in the quality inspection and development of probiotic products.

Relationship between Human Papillomavirus Status and the Cervicovaginal Microbiome in Cervical Cancer

Uterine cervical cancer (CC) is a complex, multistep disease primarily linked to persistent infection with high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV). However, it is widely acknowledged that HR-HPV infection alone cannot account for the formation and progression of CC. Emerging evidence suggests that the cervicovaginal microbiome (CVM) also plays a significant role in HPV-related CC. Certain bacteria, such as Fusobacterium spp., Porphyromonas, Prevotella, and Campylobacter, are currently being considered as potential microbiomarkers for HPV-positive CC. However, the composition of the CVM in CC is inconsistent; thus, further studies are needed. This review comprehensively discusses the complex interplay between HPV and the CVM in cervical carcinogenesis. It is postulated that the dynamic interaction between HPV and the CVM creates an imbalanced cervicovaginal microenvironment that triggers dysbiosis, enhances HPV persistence, and promotes cervical carcinogenesis. Moreover, this review aims to provide updated evidence on the potential role of bacteriotherapy, particularly probiotics, in the treatment of CC.

Biochemical, functional and genomic characterization of a new probiotic Ligilactobacillus salivarius F14 from the gut of tribes of Odisha

Characterization of new potential probiotics is desirable in the field of research on probiotics for their extensive use in health and disease. Tribes could be an unusual source of probiotics due to their unique food habits and least dependence on medications and consumption of antibiotics. The aim of the present study is to isolate lactic acid bacteria from tribal fecal samples of Odisha, India, and characterize their genetic and probiotic attributes. In this context one of the catalase-negative and Gram-positive isolates, identified using 16S rRNA sequencing as Ligilactobacillus salivarius, was characterized in vitro for its acid and bile tolerance, cell adhesion and antimicrobial properties. The whole genome sequence was obtained and analyzed for strain level identification, presence of genomic determinants for probiotic-specific features, and safety. Genes responsible for its antimicrobial and immunomodulatory functions were detected. The secreted metabolites were analyzed using high resolution mass spectroscopy; the results indicated that the antimicrobial potential could be due to the presence of pyroglutamic acid, propionic acid, lactic acid, 2-hydroxyisocaproic acid, homoserine, and glutathione, and the immuno-modulating activity, contributed by the presence of short chain fatty acids such as acetate, propionate, and butyrate. So, to conclude we have successfully characterized a Ligilactobacillus salivarius species with potential antimicrobial and immunomodulatory ability. The health-promoting effects of this probiotic strain and/or its derivatives will be investigated in future.

Effects of Probiotic Supplementation on Exercise and the Underlying Mechanisms

Long-term, high-intensity exercise can trigger stress response pathways in multiple organs, including the heart and lungs, gastrointestinal tract, skeletal muscle, and neuroendocrine system, thus affecting their material and energy metabolism, immunity, oxidative stress, and endocrine function, and reducing exercise function. As a natural, safe, and convenient nutritional supplement, probiotics have been a hot research topic in the field of biomedical health in recent years. Numerous studies have shown that probiotic supplementation improves the health of the body through the gut-brain axis and the gut-muscle axis, and probiotic supplementation may also improve the stress response and motor function of the body. This paper reviews the progress of research on the role of probiotic supplementation in material and energy metabolism, intestinal barrier function, immunity, oxidative stress, neuroendocrine function, and the health status of the body, as well as the underlying mechanisms.

World Federation of Societies of Biological Psychiatry (WFSBP) guidelines update 2023 on the pharmacological treatment of eating disorders

OBJECTIVES

This 2023 update of the WFSBP guidelines for the pharmacological treatment of eating disorders (EDs) reflects the latest diagnostic and psychopharmacological progress and the improved WFSBP recommendations for the assessment of the level of evidence (LoE) and the grade of recommendation (GoR).

METHODS

The WFSBP Task Force EDs reviewed the relevant literature and provided a timely grading of the LoE and the GoR.

RESULTS

In anorexia nervosa (AN), only a limited recommendation (LoE: A; GoR: 2) for olanzapine can be given, because the available evidence is restricted to weight gain, and its effect on psychopathology is less clear. In bulimia nervosa (BN), the current literature prompts a recommendation for fluoxetine (LoE: A; GoR: 1) or topiramate (LoE: A; GoR: 1). In binge-eating disorder (BED), lisdexamfetamine (LDX; LoE: A; GoR: 1) or topiramate (LoE: A; GoR: 1) can be recommended. There is only sparse evidence for the drug treatment of avoidant restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID), pica, and rumination disorder (RD).

CONCLUSION

In BN, fluoxetine, and topiramate, and in BED, LDX and topiramate can be recommended. Despite the published evidence, olanzapine and topiramate have not received marketing authorisation for use in EDs from any medicine regulatory agency.

Over-production of exopolysaccharide by Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus CNCM I-3690 strain cutbacks its beneficial effect on the host

Most lactobacilli produce extracellular polysaccharides that are considered to contribute to the probiotic effect of many strains. Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus CNCM I-3690 is an anti-inflammatory strain able to counterbalance gut barrier dysfunction. In this study ten spontaneous variants of CNCM I-3690 with different EPS-production were generated and characterized by their ropy phenotype, the quantification of the secreted EPS and genetic analysis. Amongst them, two were further analysed in vitro and in vivo: an EPS over-producer (7292) and a low-producer derivative of 7292 (7358, with similar EPS levels than the wild type (WT) strain). Our results showed that 7292 does not have anti-inflammatory profile in vitro, and lost the capacity to adhere to the colonic epithelial cells as well as the protective effect on the permeability. Finally, 7292 lost the protective effects of the WT strain in a murine model of gut dysfunction. Notably, strain 7292 was unable to stimulate goblet cell mucus production and colonic IL-10 production, all key features for the beneficial effect of the WT strain. Furthermore, transcriptome analysis of colonic samples from 7292-treated mice showed a down-regulation of anti-inflammatory genes. Altogether, our results point out that the increase of EPS production in CNCM I-3690 impairs its protective effects and highlight the importance of the correct EPS synthesis for the beneficial effects of this strain.

The synergetic potential of Lactobacillus delbrueckii and Lactobacillus fermentum probiotics in alleviating the outcome of acute toxoplasmosis in mice

Toxoplasmosis is an immunologically complex disease, particularly in immunocompromised patients. Although there are several therapeutic regimens for such disease, the majority of them have many drawbacks. Therefore, it is of utmost importance to improve the current regimen in an effort to achieve a well-tolerated therapy while also enhancing the host immune response. Famous for their immunomodulatory effect, Lactobacillus delbrueckii and Lactobacillus fermentum probiotics were chosen to be evaluated in this study as an adjuvant therapy against the virulent RH Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) strain. Experimental mice were divided into control and treated groups. The control group was further subdivided into two groups: group I: 10 uninfected mice and group II: 20 infected untreated mice. The treated experimental group was subdivided into three groups (20 mice each); group III: sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim (SMZ-TMP) treated, group IV: probiotics treated, and group V: SMZ-TMP combined with probiotics. The results obtained revealed that combined therapy increased survival rate and time up to 95% and 16 days, respectively, with an 82% reduction of tachyzoites and marked distortion, as detected by the scanning electron microscope (SEM). Additionally, combined therapy alleviated the severity and the extent of the inflammatory cells' infiltration, thereby reducing hepatocyte degeneration. Intriguingly, serum IF-γ level showed a significant increase to 155.92 ± 10.12 ng/L with combined therapy, reflecting the immunological role of the combined therapy. The current results revealed that probiotics have a high adjuvant potential in alleviating the impact of toxoplasmosis. Using probiotics as a synergistic treatment to modulate conventional therapy in systemic toxoplasmosis may gain popularity due to their low cost and current availability.

The Combined Effect of Potential Probiotic Bacillus licheniformis MCC 2514 and Bifidobacterium breve NCIM 5671 Towards Anti-inflammatory Activity on HT-29 Cell Lines

Probiotics are considered a natural source for treating many intestinal disorders, which deliver health benefits in different ways. The study aims to evaluate the immunomodulatory gene expression on HT-29 cell line using Bacillus licheniformis MCC 2514 and Bifidobacterium breve NCIM 5671 as a single culture and in combination. Upon inflammation induced by LPS, the combination of bacteria downregulated the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1α (13.4), IL-12 (14.6), IL-8 (2.6), and IL-6 (1.9), and in contrast, TNF-α (21.2) folds has upregulated. However, anti-inflammatory genes such as IL-4 (0.6), IL-10 (2.9), TGF-2 (92.2), and TGF-3 (85.8) folds were upregulated. The combination of bacteria against oxidative stress downregulated the pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1α & β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-12, and IL-18, and upregulated the anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-10, IL-4, TGF-2, and TGF-3. On the introduction of Kocuria rhizophila, the pro-inflammatory cytokines were upregulated. On supplementation of B. licheniformis and B. breve, the upregulated pro-inflammatory cytokines were decreased, and anti-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-4 (6.2), IL-10 (23.5), TGF-2 (166), and TGF-3(28.4) folds were increased. However, gene expression of toll-like receptor-2 was found high (26 folds) upon introducing probiotic bacteria. ELISA results of Interferon-γ found that the expression was higher (7.19 ng/mL) on the introduction of both the bacteria in combination. The higher anti-inflammatory activity was observed when potential probiotic bacteria were used in combination compared to a single culture. Overall study indicates that the combination of aerobic B. licheniformis and anaerobic B. breve has an anti-inflammatory activity that can sustain an excellent gastrointestinal environment during pathogen invasion and inflammation.

Intracloacal Inoculation of Broiler Chickens with Clostridium perfringens Strains: Evaluation of Necrotic Enteritis Disease Development and Lymphoid Immune Responses

Necrotic enteritis (NE) is an economically important disease of chickens. We have recently shown that inflammatory responses in chickens inoculated orally with virulent Clostridium perfringens were spatially regulated. Here, we used previously virulence-characterized netB+ C. perfringens strains, avirulent CP5 and virulent CP18 and CP26, to assess the severity of NE and immune responses in broiler chickens when inoculated intracloacally. The results showed that CP18- and CP26-infected birds had a reduced weight gain and developed milder/less severe NE lesions, as determined by the gross lesions scores, suggesting a subclinical-grade infection. Gene expression analysis in infected birds revealed three statistically significant observations compared to uninfected-control: (1) Increased expression of anti-inflammatory/immunoregulatory interleukin (IL)-10/transforming growth factor (TGF)β in cecal tonsil (CT) and bursa of Fabricius in the CP18/CP26-infected groups. (2) Increased CT transcription of pro-inflammatory IL-1β, IL-6 and interferon (IFN)γ and decreased Harderian gland (HG) expression of IFNγ in the CP18/CP26-infected birds. (3) Increased HG or bursal expression of IL-4 and IL-13 in CP5-infected birds. Collectively, intracloacal C. perfringens inoculation seems to induce a highly regulated inflammatory response in the CT and other mucosal lymphoid organs and an intracloacal infection model may be useful in evaluating immune responses in chickens with subclinical NE.

The Anti-Helicobacter pylori effects of Limosilactobacillus reuteri strain 2892 isolated from Camel milk in C57BL/6 mice

Helicobacter pylori infection (H. pylori) is associated with chronic gastritis, peptic ulcers, and gastric cancer. The present study provides information on the protective effects of Limosilactobacillus reuteri strain 2892 (L. reuteri 2892) isolated from camel's milk against H. pylori-induced gastritis in the stomach tissue of animal models. Animal assays revealed that L. reuteri 2892 pretreatment significantly downregulated the virulence factor cagA gene expression. It upregulated the expression level of tight junction molecules [zona occludens (ZO-1), claudin-4] and suppressed metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP-9 expressions. L. reuteri 2892 exhibited immunomodulatory effects on cytokine profile, as it reduced the serum concentrations of pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1β, and INF-γ and increased the anti-inflammatory cytokine, IL-10. In addition, L. reuteri 2892 showed anti-oxidative stress activity by regulating the levels of oxidative stress-associated markers [superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA)]. Our findings suggest that L. reuteri 2892 attenuates H. pylori-induced gastritis.