Lactobacillus Casei Decreases Organophosphorus Pesticide Diazinon Cytotoxicity in Human HUVEC Cell Line

Accumulation and ecological risk assessment of diazinon in surface sediments of Baiyangdian lake and its potential impact on probiotics and pathogens

Diazinon is an organophosphorus pesticide widely used in agriculture and household pest control, and its use also poses several environmental and health hazards. In this study, we investigated the spatial and temporal distribution of diazinon in Baiyangdian, evaluated its potential ecological risk and toxicity to aquatic organisms based on RQ (Risk quotient) and TU (Toxic unit) analysis, and assessed the potential effects of diazinon accumulation on probiotics and pathogens based on statistical analysis of high-throughput sequencing data. The results showed that diazinon in Baiyangdian posed a low to moderate chronic risk to sediment-dwelling organisms and a low toxicity effect on aquatic invertebrates, which was mainly concentrated in October and human-intensive areas. Meanwhile, increases in sediment electrical conductivity (EC), amorphous iron oxides content and phenol oxidase activity favored diazinon accumulation in sediments, whereas the opposite was the case for sediment organic carbon, β-1,4-glucosidase, phosphatase, catalase and pH, suggesting that environmental indicators play a key role in the behavior and distribution of diazinon. In addition, diazinon in heavily contaminated areas seem to inhibit the rare probiotics (Bifidobacterium adolescentis and Serratia sp.), while promoted dominant pathogens (e.g., Burkholderia cenocepacia), which can lead to increased disease risk to humans and ecosystems, disruption of ecological balance and potential health problems. However, probiotic Streptomyces xiamenensis resist to diazinon would be a potential degrader for diazinon remove. In conclusion, this study unveiled the effects of diazinon pollution on wetland ecosystems, emphasizing ecological impacts and potential health concerns. In addition, the discovery of diazinon resistant probiotics provided new insights into wetland ecological restoration.

Exposure to pesticide residues in honey and its potential cancer risk assessment

Honey is the most recognized natural food by-product derived from flower nectar and the upper aero-digestive tract of the honeybees. Significance of honey for its medicinal importance are well-documented in the world's oldest medical literatures. However, the current urbanization, environmental contaminations and changes in agricultural, as well as apiculture practices has led to various types of contaminations in honey. Among all, pesticide contamination has become one of the major issues worldwide. This review focuses on the recent updates concerning pesticides occurrence in honey, as well as how the repeated use and long-term exposure to honey contaminated with pesticide residues could affect the human physiological functions, possibly leading to the development of various cancers. Our findings suggests that uncontrolled use of pesticides in farming and apiculture practices leads to the occurrence of pesticides residues in honey. Therefore, regular consumption of such honey will pose a serious threat to human health, since most of the pesticides has been reported as potential carcinogens. This review will draw the attention of honey consumers, scientific communities, apiculture farmers, as well as governing bodies to strictly monitor the pesticide usage in floriculture, agriculture as well as other related practices.

Characterization and Protective Properties of Lactic Acid Bacteria Intended to Be Used in Probiotic Preparation for Honeybees (Apis mellifera L.)—An In Vitro Study

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are widely used probiotics and offer promising prospects for increasing the viability of honeybees. Thus, the probiotic potential of 10 LAB strains was determined, which in our previous studies showed the most potent protective abilities. In the current study, we investigated various properties of probiotic candidates. The tested LAB strains varied in susceptibility to tested antibiotics. Isolates showed high viability in sugar syrups and gastrointestinal conditions. None of the LAB strains exhibited β-hemolytic activity, mutual antagonism, mucin degradation, hydrogen peroxide production capacity, or bile salt hydrolase (BSH) activity. Additionally, the cytotoxicity of LAB cell-free supernatants (CFS) was assessed, as well as the effect of CFS from P. pentosaceus 14/1 on the cytotoxicity of coumaphos and chlorpyrifos in the Caco-2 cell line. The viability of Caco-2 cells reached up to 89.81% in the presence of the highest concentration of CFS. Furthermore, LAB metabolites decreased the cytotoxicity of insecticides (up to 19.32%) thus demonstrating cytoprotective activity. All tested LAB strains produced lactic, acetic, and malonic acids. This research allowed the selection of the most effective LAB strains, in terms of probiosis, for future in vivo studies aimed at developing an ecologically protective biopreparation for honeybees.

Probiotic cultures as a potential protective strategy against the toxicity of environmentally relevant chemicals: State-of-the-art knowledge

Environmentally relevant toxic substances may affect human health, provoking numerous harmful effects on central nervous, respiratory, cardiovascular, endocrine and reproductive system, and even cause various types of carcinoma. These substances, to which general population is constantly and simultaneously exposed, enter human body via food and water, but also by inhalation and dermal contact, while accumulating evidence suggests that probiotic cultures are able to efficiently adsorb and/or degrade them. Cell wall of probiotic bacteria/fungi, which contains structures such as exopolysaccharide, teichoic acid, protein and peptidoglycan components, is considered the main place of toxic substances adsorption. Moreover, probiotics are able to induce metabolism and degradation of various toxic substances, making them less toxic and more suitable for elimination. Other probable in vivo protective effects have also been suggested, including decreased intestinal absorption and increased excretion of toxic substances, prevented gut microbial dysbiosis, increase in the intestinal mucus secretion, decreased production of reactive oxygen species, reduction of inflammation, etc. Having all of this in mind, this review aims to summarize the state-of-the-art knowledge regarding the potential protective effects of different probiotic strains against environmentally relevant toxic substances (mycotoxins, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, pesticides, perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, phthalates, bisphenol A and toxic metals).

Functional Properties and Antimicrobial Activity from Lactic Acid Bacteria as Resources to Improve the Health and Welfare of Honey Bees

Simple Summary

Honey bees play a pivotal role in the sustainability of ecosystems and biodiversity. Many factors including parasites, pathogens, pesticide residues, forage losses, and poor nutrition have been proposed to explain honey bee colony losses. Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are normal inhabitants of the gastrointestinal tract of honey bees and their role has been consistently reported in the literature. In recent years, there have been numerous scientific evidence that the intestinal microbiota plays an essential role in honey bee health. Management strategies, based on supplementation of the gut microbiota with probiotics, may be important to increase stress tolerance and disease resistance. In this review, recent scientific advances on the use of LABs as microbial supplements in the diet of honey bees are summarized and discussed.

Abstract

Honey bees (Apis mellifera) are agriculturally important pollinators. Over the past decades, significant losses of wild and domestic bees have been reported in many parts of the world. Several biotic and abiotic factors, such as change in land use over time, intensive land management, use of pesticides, climate change, beekeeper’s management practices, lack of forage (nectar and pollen), and infection by parasites and pathogens, negatively affect the honey bee’s well-being and survival. The gut microbiota is important for honey bee growth and development, immune function, protection against pathogen invasion; moreover, a well-balanced microbiota is fundamental to support honey bee health and vigor. In fact, the structure of the bee’s intestinal bacterial community can become an indicator of the honey bee’s health status. Lactic acid bacteria are normal inhabitants of the gastrointestinal tract of many insects, and their presence in the honey bee intestinal tract has been consistently reported in the literature. In the first section of this review, recent scientific advances in the use of LABs as probiotic supplements in the diet of honey bees are summarized and discussed. The second section discusses some of the mechanisms by which LABs carry out their antimicrobial activity against pathogens. Afterward, individual paragraphs are dedicated to Chalkbrood, American foulbrood, European foulbrood, Nosemosis, and Varroosis as well as to the potentiality of LABs for their biological control.

Apoptotic Effect of Saccharomyces cerevisiae on Human Colon Cancer SW480 Cells by Regulation of Akt/NF-ĸB Signaling Pathway

Drug resistance is one of the major problems, which causes recurrence of cancers. Therefore, complementary treatments are needed to improve the impacts of chemotherapy agents. The effect of probiotics as cancer-preventing agents through involvement in the activation of apoptotic pathways has been established. The present study sought to investigate how the heat-killed form of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (as a probiotic) could affect the Akt/NF-kB-induced apoptosis in colon cancer cells, the SW480 cell line. The cytotoxic effects of heat-killed yeast (HKY) and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU, as a positive control drug) were assayed using the MTT method. Morphological changes followed by apoptosis were examined using DAPI staining. The transcription and translation level of apoptosis genes were explored with qRT-PCR and western blotting. The data were analyzed using GraphPad Prism V6.0 Software. The results showed that HKY could induce apoptosis in colon cancer cell line through downregulation of p-Akt1, Rel A, Bcl-XL, pro-caspase 3, and pro-caspase 9 expressions, and upregulation of BAX, cleaved caspase-3, and cleaved caspase-9. Besides, Akt protein expression was not affected. It is noticeable that HKY had a better modulating effect on BAX expression compared with 5-FU. It was able to modulate Akt/NF-kB signaling pathway followed by the apoptotic cascade.

Characterization of Apis mellifera Gastrointestinal Microbiota and Lactic Acid Bacteria for Honeybee Protection-A Review

Numerous honeybee (Apis mellifera) products, such as honey, propolis, and bee venom, are used in traditional medicine to prevent illness and promote healing. Therefore, this insect has a huge impact on humans’ way of life and the environment. While the population of A. mellifera is large, there is concern that widespread commercialization of beekeeping, combined with environmental pollution and the action of bee pathogens, has caused significant problems for the health of honeybee populations. One of the strategies to preserve the welfare of honeybees is to better understand and protect their natural microbiota. This paper provides a unique overview of the latest research on the features and functioning of A. mellifera. Honeybee microbiome analysis focuses on both the function and numerous factors affecting it. In addition, we present the characteristics of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) as an important part of the gut community and their special beneficial activities for honeybee health. The idea of probiotics for honeybees as a promising tool to improve their health is widely discussed. Knowledge of the natural gut microbiota provides an opportunity to create a broad strategy for honeybee vitality, including the development of modern probiotic preparations to use instead of conventional antibiotics, environmentally friendly biocides, and biological control agents.

Can probiotics win the battle against environmental endocrine disruptors?

Compounds that have negative effects on the endocrine system are called endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs). There are several different types of compounds, with several different usage areas in the environment, which can be classified as EDCs. These chemicals have a wide range of negative health effects in organisms, depending on their target hormone system. EDCs are among the most popular topics of scientific research, as they are widely used and organisms are frequently exposed to these chemicals. There are various exposure routes for EDCs, such as oral, inhalation and dermal exposure. Parabens, phenolic compounds, phthalates, and pesticides are the most common EDCs. Nowadays, intestinal microorganism distribution, probiotics, and food supplements that regulate these microorganisms and their protective effects against various harmful chemicals attract attention. For this reason, many studies have been carried out in this field and certain diet schemes have been created according to the results of these studies. In fact, probiotics are preferred in order to reduce and eliminate the negative effects of harmful chemicals and to ensure that the organism reacts strongly in these conditions. In this review, we will focus on EDCs, their health effects and positive effects of probiotics on EDCs exposure conditions.

Gut Microbiota: A Key Factor in the Host Health Effects Induced by Pesticide Exposure?

In the past few decades, a large number of pesticides have been widely used for plant protection. Pesticides may enter non-target organisms through multiple ways and bring potential health risks. There is a dense and diverse microbial community in the intestines of mammals, which is called the gut microbiota. The gut microbiota and its metabolites play vital roles in maintaining the health of the host. Interestingly, many studies have shown that exposure to multiple pesticides could affect the gut microbiota of the host. However, the roles of gut microbiota and its related metabolites in the host health effects induced by pesticide exposure of non-target organisms need further study. We reviewed the relationships between pesticide exposure and host health effects as well as between the gut microbiota and host health effects. Importantly, we reviewed the latest research on the gut microbiota and its metabolites in the host health effects induced by pesticide exposure.

Microbiota and organophosphates

Organophosphates (OPs) are important toxic compounds commonly used for a variety of purposes in agriculture, industry and household settings. Consumption of these compounds affects several central nervous system functions. Some of the most recognised consequences of organophosphate pesticide exposure in humans include neonatal developmental abnormalities, endocrine disruption, neurodegeneration, neuroinflammation and cancer. In addition, neurobehavioral and emotional deficits following OP exposure have been reported. It would be of great value to discover a therapeutic strategy which produces a protective effect against these neurotoxic compounds. Moreover, a growing body of preclinical data suggests that the microbiota may affect metabolism and neurotoxic outcomes through exposure to OPs. The human gut is colonised by a broad variety of microorganisms. This huge number of bacteria and other microorganisms which survive by colonising the gastrointestinal tract is defined as "gut microbiota". The gut microbiome plays a profound role in metabolic processing, energy production, immune and cognitive development and homeostasis. The effects are not only localized in the gut, but also influence many other organs, such as the brain through the microbiome-gut-brain axis. Therefore, given the gut microbiota's key role in host homeostasis, this microbiota may be altered or modified temporarily by factors such as antibiotics, diet and toxins such as pesticides. The aim of this review is to examine scientific articles concerning the impact of microbiota in OP toxicity. Studies focussed on the possible contribution the microbiota has on variable host pharmacokinetic responses such as absorption and biotransformation of xenobiotics will be evaluated. Microbiome manipulation by antibiotic or probiotic administration and faecal transplantation are experimental approaches recently proposed as treatments for several diseases. Finally, microbiota manipulation as a possible therapeutic strategy in order to reduce OP toxicity will be discussed.

Diazinon exposure activated transcriptional factors CCAAT-enhancer-binding proteins α (C/EBPα) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) and induced adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes

Environmental chemical exposure could be a contributor to the increasing obesity epidemic. Diazinon, an organophosphate insecticide, has been widely used in the agriculture, and exposure of the general population to diazinon has been reported. Diazinon has been known to induce neurotoxic effects mainly through the inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE). However, its association with dysregulation of adipogenesis has been poorly investigated. The current study aimed to examine the mechanism of diazinon's effect on adipogenesis using the 3T3-L1 preadipocytes combined with a single-cell-based high-content analysis. The results showed that diazinon induced lipid droplet accumulation in a dose-dependent manner. The dynamic changes of adipogenic regulatory proteins and genes were examined at the three stages of adipogenesis (induction, differentiation, and maturation) in 3T3-L1 cells treated with various doses of diazinon (0, 1, 10, 100 μM) using real-time quantitative RT-PCR and Western Blot respectively. Diazinon significantly induced protein expression of transcriptional factors CCAAT-enhancer-binding proteins α (C/EBPα) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ), their downstream proteins, fatty acid synthase (FASN), acetyl CoA carboxylase (ACC), fatty acid-binding protein 4 (FABP4), lipoprotein lipase (LPL), adiponectin and perilipin in dose and time-dependent manners. Similarly, the adipogenic genes were significantly induced in a dose and time-dependent manner compared to the relative controls. The current study demonstrates that diazinon promotes lipid accumulation and activates the adipogenic signaling pathway in the in vitro model.

Mechanisms of diazinon effects on impaired spermatogenesis and male infertility

Diazinon (DZN) is an organophosphate insecticide that has cytotoxic and pathological effects on the reproductive system. It causes a wide variety of pathological effects on the reproductive system such as testicular atrophy, disturbance in sex hormones, impaired spermatogenesis, low quality of sperm, and fertility problems. However, molecular and cellular mechanisms of its adverse effects are not well understood. General events such as testicular damage, inflammation, mitochondrial deficiency, DNA fragmentation, disintegration of sperm plasma membrane, apoptosis, and cell death are observed in DZN-exposed animals. Oxidative stress (OS) induced by reactive oxygen species may be a main mechanism, which can be associated with sperm DNA fragmentation, reduced integrity of sperm cell membrane, apoptosis, depletion of antioxidants, and subsequently poor sperm quality and male infertility. Therefore, identification of these pathways may provide valuable information regarding the mechanisms of DZN action on the male reproductive system. In this review, we aim to discuss the proposed cellular and molecular mechanisms of DZN action on male reproductive system, the importance of OS and mechanisms by which DZN induces OS and depletion of other antioxidants.