Search Results (1,259)

The first few days following the birth are a vulnerable time for the neonate. Sick infants experience various interventions during their stay in the neonatal unit in order to stay alive and grow. Acquisition of gut microbes is critical for the short- and long-term health of the neonate. At a time when the gut microbiome is starting to take shape, crucial interventions directed at improving the growth, development and survival of the neonate impact its development. Events prior to and after the birth of the neonate, such as maternal conditions, antibiotic exposure, type of feeds, supplemental probiotics, and neonatal intensive care environment, contribute significantly to shaping the gut microbiome over the first few weeks and maintain its healthy balance crucial for long-term health. In this comprehensive review, we address common interventions the neonate is exposed to in its journey and their impact on gut microbiome, and discuss various interventions that minimize the dysbiosis of the gut. Full article

There is a growing body of research showing that Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is related to enteric dysbacteriosis. Exercise can be effective in alleviating AD, but the effects that exercise has on the gut microbiota in AD patients needs to be further studied. Through this study, we aimed to investigate the differences in the diversity of gut microorganisms between AD model mice and wild-type mice and the effect that treadmill exercise has on the composition of the gut microbiota in both types of mice. C57BL/6 wild-type mice were randomly divided into a sedentary control group (WTC) and an exercise group (WTE); APP/PS1 double transgenic mice were also randomly divided into a sedentary control group (ADC) and an exercise group (ADE). After the control group remained sedentary for 12 weeks and a 12-week treadmill exercise intervention was adopted for the exercise group, the rectal contents were collected so that they could undergo V3-V4 16S rDNA sequencing, and a comparative analysis of the microbial composition and diversity was also performed. The alpha diversity of the gut microbiota in AD mice was lower than that in wild-type mice, but exercise increased the gut microbial diversity in both types of mice. At the phylum level, the dominant microorganisms in all four groups of mice were Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes. There was an increase in the Bacteroidetes phylum in AD mice. Treadmill exercise reduced the abundance of Bacteroidetes in both groups of mice, whereas the abundance of Firmicutes increased. At the genus level, Muribaculaceae, the Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group, Alloprevotella, and Alistipes were in relatively high abundance. Muribaculaceae and Alloprevotella were in greater abundance in AD mice than in wild-type mice, but both decreased after treadmill exercise. Through performing linear discriminant analysis effect size (LEfSe), we found that the dominant strains in AD mice were Campilobacterota, Helicobacteraceae, Escherichia–Shigella, and other malignant bacteria, whereas exercise resulted in an increase in probiotics among the dominant strains in both types of mice. Although gut microbial diversity decreases and malignant bacteria increase in AD mice, treadmill exercise can increase gut microbial diversity and lead to the development of dominant strains of probiotics in both types of mice. These findings provide a basis for applying exercise as a treatment for AD. Full article

L-carnitine and Mildronate are substances that can significantly rearrange the energy metabolism of cells. This can potentially cause changes in the bacterial composition of the gut microbiome and affect testis functionality and male sexual health. Mice of the C57Bl/6 line were used. Sexual behavior was assessed using physiological tests, and gene expression patterns were assessed by qPCR. High-throughput sequencing of mouse fecal microbiota was performed. We showed that long-term administration of Mildronate has no significant effect on the intestinal microbiome, and there was a compensatory increase in the expression of genes involved in fatty acid and leptin metabolism. No impairment of sexual motivation in male mice was observed. Prolonged L-carnitine supplementation caused a decrease in alpha diversity of bacteria and a decrease in some groups of microorganisms that are components of a healthy gut microflora. A correlation was observed between the level of bacteria from Firmicutes phylum, indicators of sexual motivation of mice, and the dynamics of body weight gain. Our results may indicate that metabolic modulators can have a significant impact on the structure of the bacterial community of the gut microbiome, which may influence male sexual health through the gut–semen axis. Full article

Cardiac surgery, particularly procedures involving cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), is associated with a high risk of postoperative complications, including systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF), and infection. Growing evidence suggests that the gut–heart axis, through mechanisms involving intestinal barrier integrity and gut microbiota homeostasis, may influence these outcomes. This review summarizes the relationship between gut microbiota composition and the inflammatory response in patients undergoing cardiac surgery and the extent to which these alterations impact clinical outcomes. The reviewed studies consistently show that cardiac surgery induces notable alterations in microbial diversity and composition during the perioperative period. These changes, indicative of dysbiosis, are characterized by a reduction in health-associated bacteria such as Blautia, Faecalibacterium, and Bifidobacterium and an increase in opportunistic pathogens. Inflammatory biomarkers were frequently elevated postoperatively, even in patients without evident complications. Key microbial metabolites and biomarkers, including short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), and bile acids (BAs), were implicated in modulating inflammation and clinical outcomes. Additionally, vitamin D deficiency emerged as a contributing factor, correlating with increased systemic inflammation and a higher incidence of POAF. The findings suggest that gut microbiota composition prior to surgery may influence the severity of the postoperative inflammatory response and that perioperative modulation of the gut microbiota could represent a novel approach to improving surgical outcomes. However, the relationship between dysbiosis and acute illness in surgical patients is confounded by factors such as antibiotic use and other perioperative interventions. Large-scale, standardized clinical studies are needed to better define these interactions and guide future therapeutic strategies in cardiac surgery. Full article

Projections indicate that the global urban population is anticipated to reach 67.2% by 2050, accompanied by a threefold increase in urban built-up areas worldwide. Urbanization has profoundly transformed Earth’s natural environment, notably characterized by the drastic reduction and fragmentation of wildlife habitats. These changes contribute to local species extinction, leading to biodiversity loss and profoundly impacting ecological processes and regional sustainable development. However, within urban settings, certain ‘generalist’ species demonstrate survival capabilities contingent upon phenotypic plasticity. The co-evolution of gut microbiota with their hosts emerges as a key driver of this phenotypic plasticity. The presence of diverse gut microbiota constitutes a crucial adaptive mechanism essential for enabling hosts to adjust to rapid environmental shifts. This review comprehensively explores amniote gut microbial changes in the context of urbanization, examining potential drivers of these changes (including diet and environmental pollutants) and their potential consequences for host health (such as physiology, metabolism, immune function, and susceptibility to infectious and non-infectious diseases). Ultimately, the implications of the gut microbiome are highlighted for elucidating key issues in ecology and evolution. This understanding is expected to enhance our comprehension of species adaptation in the Anthropocene. Full article

Secondary methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection causes high mortality in patients with influenza A virus (IAV). Our previous study observed that the relative abundance of Lactobacillus murinus (L. murinus) was significantly reduced in both the respiratory tract and gut of IAV-infected mice and negatively correlated with the severity of IAV–MRSA coinfection pneumonia, but the role of L. murinus remains unclear. Here, we supplemented the respiratory tract and gut of IAV-infected mice with live L. murinus and performed a secondary MRSA infection challenge to investigate the effects and potential mechanisms further. Data showed that L. murinus supplementation significantly reduced mortality and pathogen loads in IAV–MRSA coinfected mice and upregulated the lung T cell-independent (TI) IgA response in IAV-infected mice. The 16S rRNA gene sequencing results showed that L. murinus supplementation ameliorated microbiota composition disorder and regulated metabolic dysfunction in the gut of IAV-infected mice. The correlation analysis and antibiotic cocktail treatment experiment showed that the TI IgA response in lungs is dependent on gut microbiota. These findings demonstrated that L. murinus supplementation reduces susceptibility to secondary MRSA infection in IAV-infected mice by promoting the TI IgA response, and provide a new perspective on the use of probiotics to prevent secondary bacterial infection following IAV infection. Full article

Human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) have garnered significant attention as one of the bioactive components in human milk, with growing applications in infant formula and food products. HMOs enhance butyrate production, which is produced by butyrate-producing bacteria such as Faecalibacterium prausnitzii and contributes to gut health through its diverse biological functions. However, the specific mechanisms by which individual HMOs promote butyrate production remain unclear. In this study, we conducted in vitro co-culture experiments of F. prausnitzii and Bifidobacterium bifidum, examining their relative abundance, fatty acid production, residual sugar levels, and gene expression. Our results revealed that B. bifidum utilizes HMOs and provides the constituent sugars to F. prausnitzii, thereby promoting butyrate production by F. prausnitzii. Furthermore, we found that the underlying mechanisms vary depending on the structure of the HMOs. Specifically, 2′-fucosyllactose and 3′-sialyllactose enhance the butyrate production efficiency of F. prausnitzii, while 6′-sialyllactose primarily promotes the growth of F. prausnitzii. These findings not only deepen our understanding of how HMOs influence infant gut health but also suggest new directions for developing nutritional products that leverage the distinct functional properties of each HMO. Full article

The black-spotted frog (Pelophylax nigromaculatus) is a common economic species in the rice–frog ecological cropping mode. The present study investigated microbial community structures in paddy water and black-spotted frog’s guts across rice monoculture and low-/high-density rice–frog co-cropping systems at four rice growth stages. Proteobacteria dominate in paddy water, while frog guts are enriched in Firmicutes and Actinobacteriota. The frog density shows no impact on the α-diversity, but rice growth stages significantly alter the Shannon, Simpson, and Pielou_e indices (p < 0.01). Co-cropping may promote amino acid synthesis, elemental cycling, and stress tolerance in paddy water microbiota, which are more diverse than gut microbiota. Strong correlations exist between paddy water and gut microbiotas, with Limnohabitans being linked to gut diversity (p < 0.05). Low-density co-cropping enhances Xenorhabdus, which is beneficial for pest control and stabilizes gut microbiota. The results of this study offer insights for managing rice–frog systems based on rice growth stages. Full article

A comprehensive bibliometric analysis of literature is imperative to elucidate current research landscapes and hotspots in the interplay between gut microbiota and hypertension, identify knowledge gaps, and establish theoretical foundations for the future. We used publications retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) and SCOPUS databases (January 2001–December 2024) to analyze the annual publication trends with GraphPad Prism 9.5.1, to evaluate co-authorship, keywords clusters, and co-citation patterns with VOSviewer 1.6.20, and conducted keyword burst detection and keyword co-occurrence utilizing CiteSpace v6.4.1. We have retrieved 2485 relevant publications published over the past 24 years. A 481-fold increase in global annual publications in this field was observed. China was identified as the most productive country, while the United States demonstrated the highest research impact. For the contributor, Yang Tao (University of Toledo, USA) and the University of Florida (USA) have emerged as the most influential contributors. Among journals, the highest number of articles was published in Nutrients (n = 135), which also achieved the highest citation count (n = 5397). The emergence of novel research hotspots was indicated by high-frequency keywords, mainly “hypertensive disorders of pregnancy”, “mendelian randomization”, “gut-heart axis”, and “hepatitis B virus”. “Trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO)” and “receptor” may represent promising new research frontiers in the gut microbiota–hypertension nexus. The current research trends are shifting from exploring the factors influencing gut microbiota and hypertension to understanding the underlying mechanisms of these factors and the potential therapeutic applications of microbial modulation for hypertension management. Full article

Stag beetles are saproxylic insects, essential for decomposing rotten wood and maintaining the carbon cycle. Their gut bacteria contribute significantly to nutrient digestion and energy acquisition, making them crucial for understanding host-microbe interactions. Despite the fungivorous behavior of stag beetle larvae, research on how diet influences gut bacterial diversity remains scarce. Therefore, this study was conducted to compare the diversity and metabolic functions of gut bacteria in Dorcus hopei larvae fed on fungus (Pleurotus geesteranus) and rotten wood diets using high-throughput sequencing technology. Significant differences (p < 0.05) were observed in gut bacterial community composition between two diets, highlighting diet as a key factor shaping bacterial diversity. Additionally, gut bacterial communities varied across larval developmental stages (p < 0.05), indicating the influence of host age. Dominant bacterial phyla included Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, and Proteobacteria. Bacteroidetes were more abundant in rotten-wood-fed larvae (7.61%) than fungus-fed larvae (0.15%), while Proteobacteria were more abundant in fungus-fed larvae. Functional analysis revealed that rotten-wood-fed larvae were primarily related to carbohydrate and amino acid metabolism, whereas fungus-fed larvae exhibited enhanced membrane transport function. This study enhances the understanding of gut bacterial diversity and functions in stag beetles, providing a theoretical foundation for their conservation and sustainable utilization. Full article

Many studies have focused on ageing and gut microbiota, but the correlation between gut microbiota and physical function in older adults, especially those with longevity, remains obscure and deserves further exploration. In this study we investigated changes in the gut microbiota and the association between gut microbiota and physical function in adults with longevity. This is a prospective observational study. Fifty-one older adults aged ≥ 60 years (including 27 participants aged 90 years and above) were enrolled. Information on clinical data, physical function including intrinsic capacity by Integrated Care for Older People (ICOPE) tool, and dietary habits of participants was collected and analysed. Gut microbiota structure and functional pathways were analysed by Metagenomics. Intrinsic capacity (measured as ICOPE scores) of adults’ longevity (aged 90–98, longe group) was significantly lower than older adults aged 60–89 years (CON group) (5.44 ± 2.15 vs. 6.71 ± 1.46, p = 0.017). Gut microbiota of the longe group is enriched in Akkermansia and Bifidobacterium, which may be beneficial to health. Gut microbiota was closely related to daily milk (including plain milk, flavoured milk with a content of cow’s milk or reconstituted milk of ≥80%, or reconstituted milk or fermented milk with a content of cow’s milk or milk powder of ≥80%) consumption, anxiety, and physical function including grip strength by the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB). Bacteroides plebeius and Bacteroides eggerthii were increased in long-living adults with better physical function. Escherichia coli was more abundant in frail young-old adults. Grip strength is positively correlated with the abundance of Roseburia hominis, Eubacterium rectale, Eubacterium eligens, and Roseburia intestinalis (p < 0.05). Pathways related to amino acid synthesis that include L-isoleucine, L-valine, and L-threonine were over-presented in long-living adults of better physical function. Adults with longevity showed comparable gut microbiota abundance to younger elderly individuals. The gut microbiota of long-living adults showed higher abundance of potentially beneficial bacteria, and the altered bacteria are closely associated with physical function. Changes in the gut microbiota may precede clinical indicators during the process of ageing. Gut microbiota may be a potential biomarker for longevity and healthy ageing. Nutrition and emotional state can be important influencing factors. Full article

Bacterial symbionts play an important role in insect survival by contributing to key metabolic and defensive functions. While stingless bees are known to harbor diverse microbial communities, their core bacterial symbionts remain poorly characterized. In this study, we analyzed the gut microbiota of sixteen stingless bee species collected from different regions of Mexico using 16S rRNA gene sequencing on the Illumina^® MiSeq™ platform. Our results revealed that Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, and Actinobacteria are the most abundant bacterial phyla across species. Among the dominant genera, lactic acid bacteria, such as Lactobacillus spp., Bifidobacterium, and Fructobacillus spp., were the most prevalent. These bacteria are responsible for developing biochemical functions in metabolic processes like lactic fermentation and the biotransformation of complex organic compounds into molecules that are more easily assimilated by bees. This study offers a novel perspective on the diversity and predicted composition of gut microbiota in Mexican stingless bees. By highlighting differences in microbial communities among species with different feeding habits, our results emphasize the importance of preserving microbial biodiversity in these pollinators. Full article

Antibiotic resistance has emerged as a critical global public health challenge. In this study, we employed metagenomic sequencing to analyze fecal samples from giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) across three distinct stages—semi-wild, released, and wild populations—to investigate shifts in antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and virulence factors (VFs) during the reintroduction process. Our findings revealed significant variations in the composition of ARG and VF across different stages, with released and wild giant pandas exhibiting similar ARG and VF profiles. Further analyses identified that the increased abundance of ARGs and VFs in both released and wild individuals compared to semi-wild individuals was mainly from Pseudomonas. We hypothesized that the same geographic environment in which ARGs and VFs are transmitted between a host and the environment via mobile genetic elements (MGEs) may be responsible for the similar structure of ARGs and VFs in released and wild giant pandas. Additionally, diet may modulate the gut microbial community, thereby influencing the distributions of ARG and VF. This study elucidated the impact of geographic and dietary factors on ARGs and VFs dynamics in giant pandas, offering valuable insights for mitigating antibiotic resistance and virulence gene dissemination. Full article

The advent of alignment-free k-mer barcoding has revolutionized taxonomic analysis, enabling bacterial identification at phylogroup resolution within natural communities. We applied this approach to characterize Escherichia coli intraspecific diversity in human gut microbiomes using publicly available datasets representing diverse human physiological states. By estimating the relative abundance of eight E. coli phylogroups defined by their 18-mer markers in 558 fecal samples, we compared their distribution between gut microbiomes of healthy individuals, patients with chronic bowel diseases and volunteers subjected to various external interventions. Across all datasets, phylogroups exhibited bidirectional abundance shifts in response to host physiological changes, indicating an inherent bimodality in their adaptive strategies. Correlation analysis of phylogroup persistence revealed positive intraspecific connectivity networks and dependence of their patterns on both acute interventions like antibiotic or probiotic treatment and chronic bowel disorders. Along with predominantly negative correlations with Bacteroides, we observed a transition from positive to negative associations with Prevotella in Prevotella-rich microbiomes. Several interspecific correlations individually established by E. coli phylogroups with dominant taxa suggest their potential role in shaping intraspecific networks. Machine learning techniques statistically confirmed an ability of phylogroup patterns to discriminate the physiological state of the host and virtual diagnostic assays opened a way to optimize intraspecific phylotyping for medical applications. Full article

Our previous study reported that male university rugby players tended to have a gut with a dysbiotic environment, characterized by abundant pathobiont bacteria and an accumulation of succinate, when compared with age-matched, non-rugby playing healthy males. In the present study, we conducted a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled experiment to evaluate the potential of blackcurrant extract and/or partially hydrolyzed guar gum (PHGG) to improve the gut environment of university rugby players. Participants were supplemented with blackcurrant extract and/or PHGG or a placebo for 4 weeks. Beneficial gut bacteria such as Megasphaera spp. tended to increase (p < 0.10) and Bifidobacterium spp. increased (p < 0.05) with the intake of blackcurrant extract and/or PHGG. A subgroup analysis further indicated that, unlike in those with a eubiotic gut environment, the dietary supplements also increased the number of beneficial gut bacteria such as Phascolarctobacterium spp. (p < 0.10) and Faecalibacterium spp. (p < 0.10) and fecal SCFA concentrations (p < 0.05) in participants with a possible dysbiotic gut environment. However, a synergistic effect between blackcurrant extract and PHGG was not clearly observed. Although further investigation is recommended, it was concluded that blackcurrant extract and PHGG can at least be used as functional materials to improve gut dysbiosis in university rugby players. Full article