Search Results (117)

Human milk bacteria contribute to gut microbiome establishment in breastfed infants. Although breastfeeding is recommended throughout infancy, temporal variation in the milk microbiome—particularly beyond solid food introduction—remains understudied. We analyzed 539 milk samples from 83 mother–infant dyads between 1 week and 12 months postpartum using full-length 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The microbiota was dominated by Streptococcus (34%), Cutibacterium (12%), and Staphylococcus (9%), with marked inter-individual variation. Microbiome profiles remained largely stable across lactation, with only six taxa showing temporal fluctuations, including increases in typical oral bacteria such as Streptococcus salivarius, Streptococcus lactarius, Rothia mucilaginosa, and Granulicatella adiacens. Richness and evenness were higher at 1 week compared to 1 month postpartum (p = 0.00003 and p = 0.007, respectively), then stabilized. Beta diversity also remained stable over time. Maternal pre-pregnancy BMI was positively associated with Gemella haemolysans (p = 0.016), while Haemophilus parainfluenzae was more abundant in milk from mothers with allergies (p = 0.003) and those who gave birth in autumn or winter (p = 0.006). The introduction of solid food was linked to minor taxonomic shifts. Overall, the milk microbiome remained robustly stable over the first year of lactation, with limited but notable fluctuations in specific taxa. This study supports the role of human milk as a consistent microbial source for infants and identifies maternal BMI, allergy status, and birth season as key variables warranting further investigation. Full article

Background/Objective: Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the oral mucosa with unclear etiology. Increasing evidence implicates oral microbial dysbiosis in its pathogenesis, but little is known about supragingival plaque communities in relation to clinical subtypes. This cross-sectional case–control study aimed to characterize the supragingival plaque microbiota and microbial interaction networks in erosive OLP (E-OLP), non-erosive OLP (NE-OLP), and healthy controls (HCs), to elucidate microbial patterns associated with disease severity. Methods: Supragingival plaque samples were collected from 90 participants (30 per group) and analyzed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Alpha and beta diversity metrics, differential abundance, and co-occurrence network analyses were performed. Results: E-OLP exhibited pronounced dysbiosis, including the enrichment of pro-inflammatory taxa (e.g., Prevotella, Parvimonas) and depletion of health-associated commensals (e.g., Rothia, Capnocytophaga). Network analysis revealed the stepwise disintegration of microbial community structure from HC to NE-OLP to E-OLP, with reduced connectivity and increased dominance of pathogenic clusters in E-OLP. These microbial alterations aligned with clinical findings, as E-OLP patients showed significantly higher Reticulation/keratosis, Erythema, and Ulceration (REU) scores for erythema and ulceration compared to NE-OLP. Conclusions: Supragingival plaque dysbiosis and ecological disruption are strongly associated with OLP severity and subtype. This study highlights the utility of plaque-based microbial profiling in capturing lesion-proximal dysbiotic signals, which may complement mucosal and salivary analyses in future diagnostic frameworks. Multi-omics approaches incorporating fungal, viral, and metabolic profiling are warranted to fully elucidate host–microbe interactions in OLP. Full article

Beta-thalassemia major is an inherited disorder that requires lifelong blood transfusions, with the risk of complications including poor oral health and dental caries. The objective of this study was to compare the oral microbiome diversity and composition in transfusion-dependent thalassemia patients and relate it to oral hygiene and dental caries. A cross-sectional analysis of 35 patients of beta-thalassemia major aged 6–18 years was performed. The status of oral hygiene was examined through the Oral Hygiene Index—Simplified (OHI-S) and Decayed, Missing, and Filled Teeth (DMFT) index. Saliva was taken for DNA extraction, followed by the 16S rRNA sequencing of V3-V4 hypervariable regions. The bioinformatics pipeline in QIIME2 was utilized for analyzing the comparison of microbial composition and diversity in groups of varying oral hygiene status and severity of caries. Metagenomic analysis revealed 3334 Amplicon Sequence Variants (ASVs), of which the most prevalent genera were Streptococcus, Haemophilus, Veillonella, Rothia, and Prevotella. High-oral-hygiene groups presented increased levels of cariogenic bacteria, while moderate-oral-hygiene groups presented an equilibrated microbiome. No statistically significant differences in microbial diversity were found between the study groups (p > 0.05). This study sheds light on the critical importance of oral hygiene in microbiome diversity in patients with beta-thalassemia major. Full article

Background: Clinical features of asthma are associated with differences in the lower airway microbiome. However, knowledge is limited on whether airway microbiota composition differs between individuals residing in different geographic regions and if asthma-associated differences in lower airway microbiota are similar between distinct populations. Methods: Existing 16S rRNA gene sequence data, generated from sputum collected from adults with or without asthma (n = 74) from two single-center cohort studies in the U.S. and United Arab Emirates, were re-processed for merged computational analysis using standard available tools. Potential differences between study sites, asthma status and specific clinical factors (inhaled corticosteroid use, ICS; obesity) were examined. Results: Differences in sputum bacterial composition, assessed by alpha- and beta-diversity measures, were associated with study site. Despite this, asthma-related differences were discerned in both cohorts. Specifically, sputum microbiota of asthmatic patients on ICS treatment displayed reduced bacterial phylogenetic diversity, compared to those not on ICS treatment (p = 0.006). Sputum bacterial composition also differed by obesity status (unweighted Unifrac distance PERMANOVA, p = 0.004). Specific genera were identified in both cohorts that were differentially enriched between obese vs. non-obese subjects, including Rothia and Veillonella (obesity-associated) and Campylobacter (non-obesity-associated). Conclusions: Our findings suggest clinical factors associated with differences in the lower airway microbiome in asthma may transcend variation related to geographic area of residence. Full article

This study investigated the effects of adding fermented mixed feed (FMF, composed of several unconventional protein feeds, such as brown rice, rice bran, rice bran meal, sunflower meal, cottonseed meal, and corn starch residue) into the diet of Longyan Shan-ma ducks on their egg quality and intestinal health. The ducks were randomly divided into two groups: one group served as the control and received a standard diet, while the other group received a diet in which 4% of the feed was substituted with FMF. Compared to unfermented feed, FMF had elevated lactic acid levels and reduced phytic acid and crude fiber, along with higher amounts of crude protein and a range of amino acids, including serine, histidine, arginine, alanine, valine, methionine, cysteine, isoleucine, and lysine. FMF significantly enhanced egg production and improved the overall egg quality, such as eggshell strength and thickness. It also enhanced total antioxidant capacity and glutathione peroxidase concentrations in serum while reducing serum urea nitrogen and interleukin-1β levels. Histological analysis showed that FMF supplementation improved the ileal villus height-to-crypt depth ratio. Microbiota analysis demonstrated that FMF had a significant impact on β-diversity by increasing Firmicutes, Actinobacteriota, and Desulfobacterota and decreasing Proteobacteria and Myxococcota at the phylum level. The abundance of Corynebacterium, Lactobacillus, and Gallicola was found to be elevated due to FMF at the genus level, whereas Kocuria, Rothia, Helicobacter, and Escherichia-Shigella were decreased. Additionally, diets supplemented with FMF resulted in higher intestinal valeric acid levels among ducks. Our findings indicate that incorporating FMF into laying duck diets can enhance production performance, egg quality, and gut health. Full article

Feed fermented by various strains of Lactobacillus plantarum (LP) produces distinct biologically active substances. This study systematically evaluates the growth performance, gut microbiota modulation, and immune response parameters in Muscovy ducks fed with LP81-fermented diets (LP81-FF) compared to conventional regimens. Our findings demonstrate that LP81-FF elicits dose-dependent improvements in Muscovy duck production parameters. Through a 70-day feeding trial, LP81-FF administration reduced feed intake by 3.1% and improved the average daily gain (ADG) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) by 9.18% and 6.65% (p < 0.05) compared to conventional feed. Systemic antioxidant capacity analysis revealed 25.99% elevation in total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) (p < 0.05), accompanied by 14.37% and 30.79% increases in serum IgG and IgM levels, respectively. Immune organ indices showed dose-responsive enhancement, with the high-dose group (HD) achieving 47.27% and 28.92% increases in thymus and bursa of Fabricius indices (p < 0.05). Additionally, 16S rRNA sequencing revealed that LP81-FF optimized the intestinal microbial community structure of Muscovy ducks by promoting the abundance of Bacteroides, Butyricicoccus, and Ruminococcus (beneficial bacteria) (p < 0.05), while inhibiting the increase of Escherichia-Shigella and Rothia (harmful bacteria). It also promoted the secretion of beneficial metabolites such as Glutaric acid and 2,6-Diaminohexanoic acid in the intestine, inhibited the production of harmful substances dominated by Fexofenadine, and enhanced the strength of physical barrier-related factors such as intestinal mucosa villi and goblet cell count. These multi-omics insights establish that LP81-FF enhances growth performance through coordinated modulation of gut–liver axis homeostasis, mucosal immunity activation, and microbial-metabolic network optimization. Our results position LP81-FF as a sustainable alternative to antibiotic growth promoters in waterfowl production systems. Full article

Background/Objectives: Growing evidence suggests that oral microbiota dysbiosis may contribute to the development of systemic conditions, including neurodegenerative diseases. This dysregulation promotes immunoinflammatory responses that are increasingly associated with dementia. This systematic review aimed to evaluate the association between oral microbiota dysbiosis and the risk of dementia in older adults. Methods: Eligible studies evaluated oral microbial composition using validated methods such as genetic sequencing, bacterial culture, or metagenomic analysis. Following PRISMA guidelines and a PICO framework, the review included cohort, case–control, and cross-sectional studies. Searches were conducted across PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, and Cochrane Library. Two independent reviewers screened and selected studies, resolving disagreements through a third evaluator. Results: This systematic review revealed that Tannerella forsythia, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Porphyromonas, Prevotella, Leptotrichia, Fusobacteriota, Peptostreptococcaceae, and Candida spp. were consistently associated with Alzheimer’s disease and mild cognitive impairment, indicating their potential role in neurodegeneration. In contrast, Streptococcus gordonii, Gemella haemolysans, Rothia, Neisseria, and Haemophilus were reduced in cognitively impaired individuals, suggesting a link with healthy cognition. Studies also showed decreased microbial diversity in Alzheimer’s disease and the possible modifying effect of the APOE4 allele. Oral health interventions improved microbial composition and slowed cognitive decline, supporting the diagnostic and therapeutic potential of oral microbiota modulation. Conclusions: The findings suggest that oral microbiota dysbiosis may not only result from cognitive decline but also contribute to its pathogenesis. Future studies with larger and more diverse cohorts are recommended to validate these associations. Full article

Studies demonstrated that Bacillus coagulans (B. coagulans) as a dietary additive enhanced broiler growth performance, yet its mechanisms of action modulation remained unclear. Therefore, this study investigated effects of dietary B. coagulans BCH0 (1 × 10⁹ CFU/kg) on growth performance, intestinal morphology, gut microbiota, and ileal transcriptomics in Arbor Acres broilers using a completely randomized design. A total of 200 one-day-old broilers were allocated to control (Con, basal diet) and experimental (BCH0, basal diet + 1 × 10⁹ CFU/kg B. coagulans BCH0) groups (10 replicates/group, 10 birds/replicate) over a 42-day trial. The results revealed that BCH0 significantly increased body weights (BW) at 21 and 42 days (p < 0.05), improved the average daily gain (ADG) during the starter (1–21 days) and overall phases (1–42 days), and reduced the ratio of feed intake to body weight gain (F/G) across all phases (p < 0.05). Duodenal morphology analysis indicated a BCH0 elevated villus height (+16.9%, p < 0.01) and villus height/crypt depth (V/C) (p < 0.01) and no significant differences in crypt depth (p = 0.46). In the ileum, the BCH0 group exhibited a significantly greater villus height (p < 0.01), crypt depth (p < 0.05), and V/C (p < 0.05) than the Con group. Microbiota analysis revealed no significant differences in α-diversity or β-diversity, but phylum-level shifts involved an increase in Firmicutes and a reduction in Actinobacteriota in the BCH0 group. At the genus level, dominance shifted from Romboutsia (Control group) to Lactobacillus (BCH0 group), accompanied by marked reductions in Turicibacter, Ldatus_arthromitus, and Rothia. Ileal transcriptomics identified 605 differentially expressed genes, with KEGG enrichment highlighting activated nutrient assimilation pathways (p < 0.05), including carbohydrate, mineral, fat, and protein digestion/absorption. These findings collectively demonstrated that B. coagulans BCH0 enhanced broiler growth through the synergistic modulation of beneficial microbiota, the upregulation of nutrient metabolism genes, and intestinal architectural optimization, supporting its role as a sustainable microbial additive for enhancing poultry productivity and gut health. Full article

Introduction: The cause–effect relationships between microbiota composition changes and type 2 diabetes (T2D) are complex, likely involving two-way interactions, and require further elucidation. Few studies have examined the interactions of antidiabetic drugs with the gut microbiota. This study’s goal was to evaluate the gut microbiota of patients with type 2 diabetes at first diagnosis and again after 12 weeks of taking oral antidiabetic drugs. Methods: We performed a fecal microbiota analysis of adult patients who recently received a T2D diagnosis and healthy adults. We compared the microbiota compositions between the T2D patients and healthy controls; we also evaluated changes from baseline to 12 weeks of treatment in the total group receiving oral antidiabetics, as well as in the subgroups receiving metformin and linagliptin. Results: The alpha diversity and beta diversity indices were different at baseline between patients with type 2 diabetes and healthy controls. The LEfSe analysis showed that, at the genus level, the Lactobacillus, Rothia, Collinsella, and Eubacterium genera increased in relative abundance in the T2D group while, at the species level, the Rothia mucilaginosa, Collinsella aerofaciens, and Eubacterium bioforme strains were found to be dominant in the T2D group. Faecalibacterium at the genus level and Faecalibacterium prausnitzii at the strain level increased in relative abundance in the T2D group after 12 weeks. After 12 weeks of intervention, the alpha diversity indices were significantly lower in the T2D group compared to the control group. At the end of the 12th week, the Gemmiger and Collinsella genera were dominant in the T2D group, with Gemmiger formicilis and Collinsella aerofaciens being dominant at the species level; in the control group, Bacteroides and Alistipes were dominant at the genus level, and Prevotella stercorea and Alistipes finegoldii were dominant. There was no difference in the LEfSe analysis results between baseline and 12 weeks of linagliptin treatment. At the strain level, Gemmiger formicilis, Ruminococcus bromii, Rothia mucilaginosa, and Lactobacillus ruminis were predominant at the start of metformin treatment; however, after 12 weeks, Collinsella aerofaciens became predominant. Conclusions: We report that there is a substantial change in the composition of the gut microbiota in patients with T2D. Oral antidiabetic treatments, especially metformin, have some beneficial effects on microbiota composition. Few studies have explored the interaction of antidiabetic drugs with the gut microbiota; further research will elucidate the clinical impact of these changes in gut microbiota composition in diabetes. Full article

Farms are a major source of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB), and previous research mainly focuses on polluted soils and breeding environments. However, slaughtering is an important link in the transmission of ARGs and ARB from farmland to dining table. In this study, we aim to reveal the pollution of ARGs and ARB in the slaughter process of broilers. First, by qualitative and quantitative analysis of ARGs in samples collected from the broiler slaughtering and processing production chain, the contamination level of ARGs was reflected; secondly, potential hosts for ARGs and microbial community were analyzed to reflect the possible transmission rules; thirdly, through the antibiotic susceptibility spectrum analysis of four typical food-borne pathogens, the distribution of ARB was revealed. The results showed that 24 types of ARGs were detected positive on the broiler slaughter production line, and tetracycline-resistance genes (20.45%) were the most frequently detected. The types of ARGs vary with sampling process, and all sampling links contain high levels of sul2 and intI1. The most abundant ARGs were detected in chicken surface in the scalding stage and entrails surface in the evisceration stage. There was a significant correlation between intI1 and tetM, suggesting that tetM might be able to enter the human food chain through class-1 integrons. The host range of the oqxB gene is the most extensive, including Sphingobacterium, Bacteroidia unclassified, Rothia, Microbacterium, Algoriella, etc. In the relevant links of the slaughter production line, the microbial community structure is similar. Removing viscera may cause diffusion of ARGs carried by intestinal microorganisms and contaminate chicken and following processing production. The four food-borne pathogens we tested are widely present in all aspects of the slaughter process, and most of them have multi-drug resistance and even have a high degree of resistance to some veterinary drugs banned by the Ministry of Agriculture. Our study preliminarily revealed the pollution of ARGs and ARB in the slaughter process of broilers, and these results are helpful to carry out food safety risk assessment and formulate corresponding control measures. Full article

Introduction: Marfan syndrome (MFS) is an autosomal dominant genetic disorder, caused by a mutation in the FBN-1 gene, affecting the cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, ocular, and central nervous systems. Cardiovascular abnormalities associated with MFS lead to different pathological conditions, such as cardiac arrhythmias, coronary artery disease, and aortic dilatation. The latter are the primary causes of mortality in MFS patients. To date, the role of altered oral microbiota (OM) in MFS is unknown, and so the aim of our study was to determine whether there are differences in the oral microbiota of MFS patients with aortic dilatation and non-dilatation. Methods: We enrolled 36 MFS patients, who were divided into groups with aortic non-dilatation (n = 12) and with aortic dilatation (n = 24). Dental plaque samples were used for OM analysis, and serum was used for cytokine evaluation. Results: The main genera were compared between patients with aortic dilatation and non-dilatation, revealing three genera with significant differences: Actinomyces (p = 0.007) and Rothia (p = 0.002) were more abundant in those with aortic dilatation, while Fusobacterium (p = 0.044) was more abundant in non-dilatation patients. However, no significant differences in cytokine levels were observed between the presence and absence of aortic dilatation, except that the IL-1β levels were higher in non-dilatation patients (165.09 pg/mL) than in those with dilatation (117.15 pg/mL), with a significance of p = 0.057. Conclusions: This study represents the initial, tentative pilot study to understand the relationship between oral health and systemic conditions in patients with Marfan syndrome. Full article

This study strove to investigate the effect of boar age on conventional and non-conventional quality traits of fresh and liquid-stored semen. Sixty boars were allocated into 3 groups: 8–12 months (young); 24–36 months (adult); and 48–60 months (senior). Ejaculates were divided into two parts; the first one was assessed in native state while the second one was extended in the Androstar Plus extender containing gentamycin, stored at 5 °C and evaluated following 72 h. Young animals presented with a significantly lower sperm motility (p < 0.01), membrane and acrosome integrity (p < 0.0001), and mitochondrial activity (p < 0.0001) against adult boars. Significantly higher levels of free radicals and tumor necrosis factor alpha (p < 0.001), interleukin 1 and 6 (p < 0.0001) were found in young boars in comparison to adult boars. The assessment of liquid-stored semen revealed a significantly lower sperm motility, membrane, and acrosome integrity (p < 0.0001) in young boars when compared to adult boars. Moreover, Clostridium difficile, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Rothia nasimurium remained in liquid-stored semen obtained from young boars, while Corynebacterium sp. and Escherichia coli continued to be identified in samples collected from adult boars. In conclusion, age contributes to the overall quality of fresh as well as liquid-stored boar semen. Full article

Acquisition and development of the oral microbiome are dynamic processes that occur during early life. However, data regarding longitudinal assembly and determinants of the infant oral microbiome are sparse. This study aimed to characterise temporal development of the infant oral microbiome during the first two years of life. Infant oral samples (n = 667 samples, 84 infants) were collected at 2–7 days and 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 12, and 24 months of age using COPAN E-swabs. Bacterial DNA profiles were analysed using full-length 16S rRNA gene sequencing. At 4 months of age, 76.2% of infants were exclusively breastfed, while breastfeeding rates were 83.3% at 6 months and 65.5% at 12 months. The median breastfeeding duration was 12 months (IQR: 3 months). In this cohort, the oral microbiome was dominated by Streptococcus mitis, Gemella haemolysans, and Rothia mucilaginosa. Bacterial richness decreased significantly from 1 to 2 months, then rose significantly from 12 to 24 months. Shannon diversity increased from 1 week to 1 month and again from 6 to 9 months and 9 to 12 months (all p ≤ 0.04). Microbiome composition was significantly associated with multiple factors, including pacifier use, intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis, maternal allergy, pre-pregnancy BMI, siblings, delivery mode, maternal age, pets at home, and birth season (all p ≤ 0.03). Introduction of solid foods was a significant milestone in oral microbiome development, triggering an increase in bacterial diversity (richness p = 0.0004; Shannon diversity p = 0.0007), a shift in the abundance of seven species, and a change in beta diversity (p = 0.001). These findings underscore how the oral microbiome develops over the first two years of life and highlight the importance of multiple factors, particularly the introduction of solid foods, in shaping the oral microbiome during early life. Full article

Towels with complex woven structures are susceptible to biofilm formation during daily use. The composition of biofilms formed on towels used under real-life conditions has yet to be studied. Thus, we investigated the color changes, structural integrity, and biofilm development on towels used continuously for 10 weeks by 12 volunteers in specific kitchen environments. Apparent biofilms composed of bacteria and extracellular polymeric substances (EPSs) were found on all used towels. The bacteria concentrations ranged from 4 to 7 log CFU/g. Proteins were the most abundant EPS, followed by polysaccharides and eDNA. A high-throughput sequencing method was employed to investigate the bacterial diversity on the towels. The predominant bacterial genera differed from towel to towel. Kocuria, Rothia, Psychrobacter, Enhydrobacter, and Pseudomonas are genera of relatively high abundance that may originate from the human body and foods. In addition, correlations among environmental factors, major bacterial genera, physical properties, and biofilm formation of the towels were analyzed, which could provide a scientific reference for maintaining towel hygiene. Full article

Biofilms are of great concern for the meat industry because, despite the implementation of control plans, they remain important hotspots of contamination by foodborne pathogens, highlighting the need to better understand the ecology of these microecosystems. The objective of this paper was to critically survey the recent scientific literature on microbial biofilms of importance for meat safety and quality, also pointing out the most promising methods to combat them. For this, the databases PubMed, Scopus, Science Direct, Web of Science, and Google Scholar were surveyed in a 10-year time frame (but preferably papers less than 5 years old) using selected keywords relevant for the microbiology of meats, especially considering bacteria that are tolerant to cleaning and sanitization processes. The literature findings showed that massive DNA sequencing has deeply impacted the knowledge on the species that co-habit biofilms with important foodborne pathogens (Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella, pathogenic Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus aureus). It is likely that recalcitrant commensal and/or spoilage microbiota somehow protect the more fastidious organisms from harsh conditions, in addition to harboring antimicrobial resistance genes. Among the members of background microbiota, Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter, and Enterobacteriales have been commonly found on food contact and non-food contact surfaces in meat processing plants, in addition to less common genera, such as Psychrobacter, Enhydrobacter, Brevundimonas, and Rothia, among others. It has been hypothesized that these rare taxa may represent a primary layer in microbial biofilms, offering better conditions for the adhesion of otherwise poor biofilm formers, especially considering their tolerance to cold conditions and sanitizers. Taking into consideration these findings, it is not only important to target the foodborne pathogens per se in cleaning and disinfection plans but the use of multiple hurdles is also recommended to dismantle the recalcitrant structures of biofilms. In this sense, the last part of this manuscript presents an updated overview of the antibiofilm methods available, with an emphasis on eco-friendly approaches. Full article