Search Results (5,804)

The uterine microbiota plays a crucial role in maintaining postpartum reproductive health in dairy cows, and its dysregulation is closely associated with uterine diseases. Vaginal discharge characteristics serve as important clinical indicators for assessing uterine status and guiding clinical decision-making. This study employed 16S rRNA gene sequencing to analyze uterine microbial diversity in cows with different discharge types. Results revealed significant microbial shifts associated with discharge severity. Notably, Caviibacter was highly enriched (up to 60.25%) in cows with mildly purulent discharge (<50%), suggesting its potential role in early-stage endometritis. In contrast, Fusobacterium and Helcococcus dominated when purulent discharge exceeded 50%, while Bacteroides, Porphyromonas, and Peptostreptococcus prevailed in cows with malodorous or discolored secretions, indicating severe inflammation. This study extends previous findings by uncovering stage-specific microbial transitions and proposing Caviibacter as a potential early biomarker of endometritis. These insights support early diagnosis and targeted interventions, contributing to improved reproductive management and sustainable dairy farming. Full article

This study investigated the effects of reduced nitrogen combined with an organic fertilizer on maize yield, soil microbial communities, and enzyme activities to optimize fertilization strategies. A field experiment on cinnamon soil in Yuncheng, Shanxi, was conducted and included six treatments: no fertilizer (CK), conventional N (NC0, 180 kg N/ha), sole organic fertilizer (CN0, 3000 kg/ha), and reduced-N + organic fertilizer (CN1: 90 kg N/ha + 3000 kg/ha; CN2: 135 kg N/ha + 3000 kg/ha; and CN3: 180 kg N/ha + 3000 kg/ha). We analyzed yield components, soil nutrients, urease and invertase activities, and bacterial community structure (16S rRNA sequencing). The key results are as follows: CN1 achieved the highest yield (9764.87 kg/ha), which was 46.8% higher than CK. CN2 maintained comparable yields while delivering higher enzyme activities and microbial abundance, positioning this strategy as suitable for soil remediation. Co-application enriched two beneficial phyla, Proteobacteria and Planctomycetota (19% in CN2), with Proteobacteria positively correlating with urease activity and alkali-hydrolyzable N (p < 0.05), while Verrucomicrobiota negatively correlated with urease activity. In conclusion, 25–50% N reduction with an organic fertilizer (3000 kg/ha) synergistically enhances yield, soil enzymes, and beneficial microbiota, supporting sustainable high-yield agriculture with improved soil fertility. Full article

Background/Objectives: Gut dysbiosis has been implicated in multiple sclerosis (MS), but microbial signatures remain inconsistent across studies. Machine learning (ML) algorithms based on global microbiome data integration can reveal key disease-associated microbial biomarkers and new insights into MS pathogenesis. This study aimed to investigate gut microbial signatures associated with MS and to evaluate the potential of ML for diagnostic applications. Methods: Fecal samples from 29 relapsing–remitting MS patients during exacerbation and 27 healthy controls were analyzed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Differential abundance analysis was performed, and data were integrated with 29 published studies. Four ML models were developed to distinguish MS-associated microbiome profiles. Results: MS patients exhibited reduced levels of Eubacteriales (p = 0.037), Lachnospirales (p = 0.021), Oscillospiraceae (p = 0.013), Lachnospiraceae (p = 0.012), Parasutterella (p = 0.018), Faecalibacterium (p = 0.004), and higher abundance of Lachnospiraceae UCG-008 (p = 0.045) compared to healthy controls. The Light Gradient Boosting Machine classifier demonstrated the highest performance (accuracy: 0.88, AUC-ROC: 0.95) in distinguishing MS microbiome profiles from healthy controls. Conclusions: This study highlights specific microbiome dysbiosis in MS patients and supports the potential of ML for diagnostic applications. Further research is needed to elucidate the mechanistic role of these microbial alterations in MS progression and their therapeutic utility. Full article

Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) is widely used to treat cholestatic liver diseases such as primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) and primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), yet its molecular mechanisms remain unclear. This study investigated the impact of long-term UDCA therapy on circulating levels of the microRNAs miR-34a and miR-506, which are implicated in PBC pathogenesis, and explored associated changes in inflammatory markers and signaling pathways. Serum samples from patients with PBC and PSC were collected before and after UDCA treatment and analyzed for miRNA expression as well as levels of TREM-2 and sCD163. In vitro studies using human cholangiocytes and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation assessed changes in the expression of miR-34a, TREM-2, and ADAM17. The results showed that the baseline levels of miR-34a and miR-506 were significantly elevated in PBC patients compared to controls and were significantly reduced after UDCA therapy in PBC but not in PSC. UDCA also decreased serum levels of TREM-2 and sCD163. In vitro, it suppressed the LPS-induced expression of miR-34a and ADAM17 while enhancing TREM-2 expression. Single-cell RNA sequencing of liver tissue and immunofluorescence staining confirmed TREM-2 expression in cholangiocytes. These findings suggest that UDCA modulates key inflammatory pathways and miRNAs in PBC, providing mechanistic insights into its therapeutic effect Full article

Background: Microbial communities of insects have distinct roles for their respective hosts. For the black fly (Diptera: Simuliidae), an important vector and ecological indicator, the representative microbiota from the different body regions are not known. Here, we investigated the microbial composition and diversity of the head, thorax, and abdomen of wild-caught Simulium vanluni. Methods: Adult Simulium vanluni were surface-sterilized and dissected into head, thorax, and abdomen. For each body region, 20 individuals were pooled into one sample with six replicates per region. DNA was extracted and sequenced using the 16S rRNA amplification method to assess for possible microbial diversity. Data were analyzed using MicrobiomeAnalyst, where we calculated alpha diversity, beta diversity, and tested compositional differences using PERMANOVA. Results: Across 17 pooled samples, three core genera, Wolbachia (78.33%), Rickettsia (9.74%), and Acinetobacter (9.20%), accounted for more than 97% of the 16S rRNA sequencing reads. Head communities were compositionally distinct compared to the thorax and abdomen (PERMANOVA, p < 0.05). Heads were nearly monodominated by Wolbachia (95–97%), exhibiting significantly lower diversity and evenness compared to other body regions. In contrast, the thoracic and abdominal communities were more even, where thoraces were enriched with Acinetobacter (19.16%) relative to Rickettsia (10.85%), while abdomens harbored higher Rickettsia (10.96%) than Acinetobacter (5.68%). Collectively, the near-monodominance of Wolbachia in heads and inverse abundances of Acinetobacter and Rickettsia in thoraces and abdomens suggest possible anatomical niche partitioning or competition exclusion of microbiota across body regions. Conclusions: Our findings reveal fine-scale anatomical niche partitioning in S. vanluni microbiota, with the heads being almost exclusively colonized by Wolbachia, while the thoracic and abdominal niche regions exhibit distinct enrichment patterns for Acinetobacter and Rickettsia. These spatially distinct microbial distributions suggest potential functional specialization across anatomical regions of S. vanluni. Full article

Background: Rosa L. is an economically significant genus with species that are notable for their rich content of phenolic compounds. Despite its importance, the taxonomy of Rosa remains complex and unresolved. Methods: We sequenced, assembled, and performed comparative analyses of the complete plastomes of four Rosa species: R. acicularis, R. iliensis, R. laxa, and R. spinosissima. In addition to the plastome, we sequenced the nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS). Results: Plastomes ranged in size from 157,148 bp (R. iliensis) to 157,346 bp (R. laxa). In each plastome, 136 genes were annotated, comprising 90 protein-coding, 38 tRNA, and eight rRNA genes. A total of 905 SSRs were identified, ranging from 224 (R. acicularis) to 229 in R. spinosissima. Nine highly variable regions were detected, including two coding genes (rps16 and ycf1) and seven intergenic spacers (ycf3-trnS(GGA), trnT(UGU)-trnL(UAA), rpl14-rpl16, trnR(UCU)-atpA, trnD(GUC), trnG(UCC)-trnfM(CAU), and psbE-petL). Maximum Likelihood (ML) phylogenetic analyses based on the complete plastome and ycf1 gene datasets consistently resolved the Rosa species into three major clades, with strong bootstrap support. In contrast, the ML tree based on ITS resolved species into four clades but showed lower bootstrap values, indicating reduced resolution compared to plastid datasets. Conclusions: Our findings underscore the value of plastome data in resolving phylogenetic relationships within the genus Rosa. Full article

Background/Objectives: An increasing number of apparently healthy individuals are adhering to a gluten-free lifestyle without any underlying medical indications, although the evidence for the health benefits in these individuals remains unclear. Although it has already been shown that a low- or gluten-free diet alters the gut microbiota, few studies have examined the effects of this diet on healthy subjects. Therefore, our aim was to evaluate whether and how a prolonged low-gluten diet impacts gut microbiota composition and function in healthy adults, bearing in mind its intimate link to the host’s health. Methods: Forty healthy volunteers habitually consuming a gluten-containing diet (HGD, high-gluten diet) were included in a randomised control trial consisting of two successive 8-week dietary intervention periods on a low-gluten diet (LGD). After each 8-week period, gut microbiota composition was assessed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing, molecular quantification by qPCR, and a cultural approach, while its metabolic capacity was evaluated through measuring faecal fermentative metabolites by ¹H NMR. Results: A prolonged period of LGD for 16 weeks reduced gut microbiota richness and decreased the relative abundance of bacterial species with previously reported potential health benefits such as Akkermansia muciniphila and Bifidobacterium sp. A decrease in certain plant cell wall polysaccharide-degrading species was also observed. While there was no major modification affecting the main short-chain fatty acid profiles, the concentration of the intermediate metabolite, ethanol, was increased in faecal samples. Conclusions: A 16-week LGD significantly altered both composition and metabolic production of the gut microbiota in healthy individuals, towards a more dysbiotic profile previously linked to adverse effects on the host’s health. Therefore, the evaluation of longer-term LDG would consolidate these results and enable a more in-depth examination of its impact on the host’s physiology, immunity, and metabolism. Full article

To elucidate the interactions among fatty acid metabolism, immune status, and gut microbiota, both cultured and wild Coilia nasus from the Yangtze River were examined in China. The results demonstrated that wild C. nasus exhibited markedly higher lipid and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) contents, a greater ratio of total ω-3 PUFAs to total ω-6 PUFAs, and more active antioxidant enzymes compared to cultured C. nasus. However, the shear force, water-holding capacity, and total n-6 PUFA content were lower in wild C. nasus. Transcriptome analysis revealed distinct gene expression patterns: wild C. nasus upregulated immune-related genes, while cultured C. nasus downregulated genes related to fatty acid metabolism. Significant differences were observed in alpha and beta diversity between cultured and wild groups. LEfSe analysis identified Clostridium_T, Escherichia, and Glutamicibacter as biomarkers for cultured C. nasus, while eight genera, including Pseudomonas_E and Sphingomonas_L, were predominant in wild C. nasus. Modular analysis identified five modules linked to immune functions and fatty acid metabolism. Clostridium_T, Sphingomonas_L, and Pseudomonas_E were dominant in the first two modules, with Pseudomonas_E and Clostridium_T as key regulators of fatty acid metabolism and immune processes. These differences, likely due to gut microbiota variations, provide insights for C. nasus nutritional studies. 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

In this study, we established a mouse colitis model using DSS to investigate the impact of curcumin on gut injury, the intestinal microbiota, and fecal metabolites. The findings indicated that curcumin effectively mitigated weight loss and colon shortening caused by colitis, enhanced the expression of anti-inflammatory factor IL-10 mRNA (p < 0.05), and suppressed the expression of pro-inflammatory factors (IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α mRNA; p < 0.05). 16S rDNA sequencing analysis showed that in the CUR group, compared to the NC and DSS groups, the abundances of Bacteroides, Lachnospiraceae NK4A136, and Ruminococcaceae UGC 014 significantly increased, while that of Lactobacillus markedly decreased. Additionally, compared with the DSS group, the CUR group demonstrated a significant decrease in levels of metabolites associated with nucleic acid and fat metabolism, including xanthosine, isocitric acid, and D-xylose. Conversely, levels of metabolites of curcumin, such as demethoxycurcumin and tetrahydrocurcumin, were significantly elevated in the CUR group. Curcumin appears to offer protection against mouse colitis by potentially enhancing the composition of the gut microbiota and regulating metabolic and inflammatory processes through its metabolites. Full article

The global obesity and metabolic syndrome epidemic have accelerated demand for reduced-sugar food, prompting the food industry to adopt functional sugar alcohols as sucrose substitutes. Threitol is a four-carbon sugar alcohol and an isomer of erythritol. However, there is a scarcity of studies reporting on the edible safety of threitol. This study assessed threitol’s toxicological and metabolic properties. Acute oral administration (10 g/kg) caused no mortality or abnormalities in mice. Repeated 28-day exposure revealed no behavioral or histopathological alterations, with negative outcomes in three genotoxicity tests. Metabolic studies in rats demonstrated that the majority of ingested threitol is excreted in the urine within 24 h. Sensory evaluation indicated threitol’s sweetness equivalence to sucrose, exceeding erythritol and allulose. Notably, 16S rRNA sequencing revealed gut microbiota modulation in threitol-fed mice, indicating potential intestinal health benefits. These integrated findings establish threitol’s preclinical safety and support its development as a novel low-calorie sweetener. Full article

Streptococcus agalactiae (SA) is a severe prevalent pathogen, resulting in high morbidity and mortality in the global tilapia industry. With increasing bacterial resistance to antibiotics, alternative strategies are urgently needed. This study aims to investigate the antibacterial activity and the underlying mechanisms of the natural product xanthohumol (XN) against SA infection in tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). The results showed that XN could significantly reduce the bacterial loads of SA in different tissues (liver, spleen and brain) after treatment with different tested concentrations of XN (12.5, 25.0 and 50.0 mg/kg). Moreover, XN could improve the survival rate of SA-infected tilapia. 16S rRNA gene sequencing demonstrated that the alpha-diversity index (Chao1 and Shannon_e) was significantly increased in the XN-treated group (MX group) compared to the SA-infected group (CG group) (p < 0.05), and the Simpson diversity index significantly decreased. The Bray–Curtis similarity analysis of non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) and principal coordinate analysis (PCA) showed that there were significant differences in microbial composition among groups. At the phylum level, the relative abundance of the phyla Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes decreased in the MX group compared to the CG group, while the relative abundance of the phyla Fusobacteria, Firmicutes and Verrucomicrobia increased. Differences were also observed at the genus level; the relative abundance of Mycobacterium decreased in the MX group, but the abundance of Cetobacterium and Clostridium_sensu_stricto_1 increased. Metabolomics analysis revealed that XN changed the metabolic profile of the liver and significantly enriched aspartate metabolism, glycine and serine metabolism, phosphatidylcholine biosynthesis, arginine and proline metabolism, glutamate metabolism, urea cycle, purine metabolism, methionine metabolism, betaine metabolism, and carnitine synthesis. Correlation analysis indicated an association between the intestinal microbiota and metabolites. In conclusion, XN may be a potential drug for the prevention and treatment of SA infection in tilapia, and its mechanism of action may be related to the regulation of the intestinal microbiota and liver metabolism. Full article

Bemisia tabaci (Aleyrodidae family) is one of the most damaging pests of numerous crops worldwide. Insecticides, namely pyrethroids and organophosphates, have long been the primary control tools against this pest, resulting in several resistance cases. In Tunisia, the two most damaging biotypes of B. tabaci, MEAM1-B and MED-Q, are sympatric, and more concerns about developing resistance keep rising due to the extensive use of insecticides. Here, we aimed to elucidate the molecular mechanism of resistance to pyrethroids and organophosphorus insecticides in two Tunisian populations of B. tabaci, collected respectively on Capsicum annuum and Lantana camara, and then determine the bacterial community associated with insecticide resistance and susceptible biotypes based on 16S rRNA Illumina sequencing. The results showed that the population collected on Capsicum annuum belonged to the MEAM1-B biotype with an insecticide resistance profile. In contrast, the population collected on the Lantana camara belonged to the MED-Q biotype with a sensitive profile. The bacterial communities of the two biotypes were predominantly structured by the Proteobacteria phylum and three genera, including Candidatus Portiera, the secondary facultative symbiont, and Hamiltonella, which were unevenly distributed between the two biotopes. Our results provide the first evidence for insecticide resistance alleles in Tunisian MEAM1-B populations and suggest an association between bacterial community composition within susceptible biotypes and insecticide resistance. Full article

Background: Early neurovascular unit (NVU) impairment plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy (DR), often preceding clinically detectable changes. Butyrate, a short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) derived from gut microbiota, has shown promising metabolic and anti-inflammatory effects. Methods: This study investigated the protective potential of oral butyrate supplementation in a mouse model of early type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) induced by a high-fat diet and streptozotocin. Mice (C57BL/6J) received sodium butyrate (5 g/L in drinking water) for 12 weeks. Retinal NVU integrity was assessed using widefield swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography (WF SS-OCTA), alongside evaluations of systemic glucose and lipid metabolism, hepatic steatosis, visual function, and gut microbiota composition via 16S rRNA sequencing. Results: Butyrate supplementation significantly reduced body weight, fasting glucose, serum cholesterol, and hepatic lipid accumulation. Microbiome analysis demonstrated a partial reversal of gut dysbiosis, characterized by increased SCFA-producing taxa (Ruminococcaceae, Oscillibacter, Lachnospiraceae) and decreased pro-inflammatory, lipid-metabolism-related genera (Rikenella, Ileibacterium). KEGG pathway analysis further revealed enrichment in microbial lipid metabolism functions (fabG, ABC.CD.A, and transketolase). Retinal vascular and neurodegenerative alterations—including reduced vessel density and retinal thinning—were markedly attenuated by butyrate, as revealed by WF SS-OCTA. OKN testing indicated partial improvement in visual function, despite unchanged ERG amplitudes. Conclusions: Butyrate supplementation mitigates early NVU damage in the diabetic retina by improving glucose and lipid metabolism and partially restoring gut microbial balance. This study also underscores the utility of WF SS-OCTA as a powerful noninvasive tool for detecting early neurovascular changes in DR. Full article

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic gastrointestinal disorder associated with gut microbiota dysbiosis and impaired intestinal barrier function. Probiotic interventions have shown potential in alleviating intestinal inflammation and restoring microbial balance. This study explores the protective effects of Lacticaseibacillus paracasei (L. paracasei) E10 in mice. L. paracasei E10 demonstrated strong gastrointestinal transit tolerance, high mucosal adhesion, and probiotic properties such as hydrophobicity and aggregation ability (p < 0.05). The oral administration of L. paracasei E10 significantly alleviated colitis symptoms by reducing the disease activity index, preserving colonic architecture, increasing goblet cell density, and upregulating tight junction proteins, thereby enhancing intestinal barrier integrity. 16S rRNA sequencing revealed that L. paracasei E10 supplementation enriched microbial diversity, increased the abundance of Muribaculaceae, and modulated the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio, contributing to gut homeostasis. These findings indicate that L. paracasei E10 is a potential candidate for IBD management. Full article