Pub Date : 2025-05-02DOI: 10.1016/j.medmic.2025.100128
Subhiksha Shekar, Ramesh Venkatachalapathy, Akash Jayaraman, N. Sai Supra Siddhu
Targeting the gut-brain axis, fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) has become a cutting-edge therapeutic strategy for treating Parkinson's disease (PD), reducing both motor and non-motor symptoms. With an emphasis on gut microbiota changes, disease progression, and symptom alleviation, this systematic review assesses the safety and effectiveness of FMT in PD patients. Four RCTs, one observational research, one non-randomized control study, one case series, and one case report were among the eight papers that were considered; these studies comprised 144 patients in total. Key findings show that FMT has a good safety profile with only mild to severe adverse effects observed, and it significantly improves PD symptoms, notably constipation. Colonic, Nasointestinal, and oral administration were among the delivery routes used to assess treatment effectiveness using the MDS-UPDRS scale. The research reveals differences in the makeup of microbiota and emphasizes how FMT may affect the gut-brain axis, hence resolving neurological abnormalities in Parkinson's disease. Small sample numbers, variations in FMT methods, and the absence of long-term follow-up data are some of the limitations. This study highlights FMT's potential as an adjunctive treatment for Parkinson's disease (PD), especially in improving patient quality of life and reducing non-motor symptoms. To provide standardized procedures and validate long-term safety and effectiveness, bigger multicentre trials are necessary.
{"title":"Fecal microbiota transplantation for Parkinson's disease: A systematic review of clinical evidence","authors":"Subhiksha Shekar, Ramesh Venkatachalapathy, Akash Jayaraman, N. Sai Supra Siddhu","doi":"10.1016/j.medmic.2025.100128","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.medmic.2025.100128","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Targeting the gut-brain axis, fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) has become a cutting-edge therapeutic strategy for treating Parkinson's disease (PD), reducing both motor and non-motor symptoms. With an emphasis on gut microbiota changes, disease progression, and symptom alleviation, this systematic review assesses the safety and effectiveness of FMT in PD patients. Four RCTs, one observational research, one non-randomized control study, one case series, and one case report were among the eight papers that were considered; these studies comprised 144 patients in total. Key findings show that FMT has a good safety profile with only mild to severe adverse effects observed, and it significantly improves PD symptoms, notably constipation. Colonic, Nasointestinal, and oral administration were among the delivery routes used to assess treatment effectiveness using the MDS-UPDRS scale. The research reveals differences in the makeup of microbiota and emphasizes how FMT may affect the gut-brain axis, hence resolving neurological abnormalities in Parkinson's disease. Small sample numbers, variations in FMT methods, and the absence of long-term follow-up data are some of the limitations. This study highlights FMT's potential as an adjunctive treatment for Parkinson's disease (PD), especially in improving patient quality of life and reducing non-motor symptoms. To provide standardized procedures and validate long-term safety and effectiveness, bigger multicentre trials are necessary.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":36019,"journal":{"name":"Medicine in Microecology","volume":"25 ","pages":"Article 100128"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143935332","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The phytochemicals found in vegetables and fruits exert considerable impacts on the gut microbiota and human health. Polyphenols, flavonoids and terpenoids are some of these compounds that can increase the growth of good bacteria, while reducing the growth of the bad ones hence maintaining gut health. Phytochemicals positively modulate gut microbiota that in turn enhances gut barrier integrity, immune system and metabolism. They have also been associated with the disease prevention and control approaches that include inflammatory bowel disease, obesity, diabetes and heart ailments. These modifications are often affected by the particular composition of each individual's gut microbiota as well as variables like dose, bioavailability and mechanism of phytochemical such as its antioxidant capacity, anti-inflammatory effects, or ability to modulate metabolic pathways. Saponins, capsaicin and polyphenols (flavonoids, quercetin, and catechins) are promising phytochemicals for regulating the gut flora. These substances affect the chemical composition of microorganisms, decreasing dangerous pathogens and increasing helpful bacteria like Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium. Additionally, they promote the synthesis of bioactive metabolites that have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. Based on individual microbial profiles, this targeted strategy may enhance gut health, prevent ailments like diabetes and obesity, and maximize treatment results. This review aims to explore the possibility and potential of phytochemicals as therapeutic agents for disease prevention and personalized medicine to advance understanding of their biological effects in disease prevention and modulation. Such knowledge might offer novel microbiota-directed approaches to improving human well-being.
{"title":"The role of phytochemicals in modulating the gut microbiota: Implications for health and disease","authors":"Amandeep Singh , Prabhjot Kaur , Manish Kumar , Sheeba Shafi , Prabhat Kumar Upadhyay , Abhishek Tiwari , Varsha Tiwari , Naresh Kumar Rangra , Vidhya Thirunavukkarasu , Sheeba Kumari , Debajyoti Roy , Maitrayee Ghosh , Nidhi Arora , Nandini Sharma , Yukta Garg","doi":"10.1016/j.medmic.2025.100125","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.medmic.2025.100125","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The phytochemicals found in vegetables and fruits exert considerable impacts on the gut microbiota and human health. Polyphenols, flavonoids and terpenoids are some of these compounds that can increase the growth of good bacteria, while reducing the growth of the bad ones hence maintaining gut health. Phytochemicals positively modulate gut microbiota that in turn enhances gut barrier integrity, immune system and metabolism. They have also been associated with the disease prevention and control approaches that include inflammatory bowel disease, obesity, diabetes and heart ailments. These modifications are often affected by the particular composition of each individual's gut microbiota as well as variables like dose, bioavailability and mechanism of phytochemical such as its antioxidant capacity, anti-inflammatory effects, or ability to modulate metabolic pathways. Saponins, capsaicin and polyphenols (flavonoids, quercetin, and catechins) are promising phytochemicals for regulating the gut flora. These substances affect the chemical composition of microorganisms, decreasing dangerous pathogens and increasing helpful bacteria like <em>Lactobacillus</em> and <em>Bifidobacterium</em>. Additionally, they promote the synthesis of bioactive metabolites that have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. Based on individual microbial profiles, this targeted strategy may enhance gut health, prevent ailments like diabetes and obesity, and maximize treatment results. This review aims to explore the possibility and potential of phytochemicals as therapeutic agents for disease prevention and personalized medicine to advance understanding of their biological effects in disease prevention and modulation. Such knowledge might offer novel microbiota-directed approaches to improving human well-being.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":36019,"journal":{"name":"Medicine in Microecology","volume":"24 ","pages":"Article 100125"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143815923","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-03-07DOI: 10.1016/j.medmic.2025.100124
Wael Hafez , Asrar Rashid , Feras Al-Obeidat , Nouran Hamza , Muneir Gador , Antesh Yadav , Mahmoud Abdelshakour , Sondos A.H. Thuminat , Tesfalidet Emoshe , Samuel Tesfaye Tefera , Seema Iqbal , Mohammad Alkammar , Alaaldeen Mohamed , Farah El-Sadaany , Daniel Simancas-Racines , Ivan Cherrez-Ojeda
Introduction
The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has encouraged extensive research into its pathophysiology, specifically the role of biomarkers in disease progression. Although TNF, NF-κB1, VEGF-A, and VEGF-B play fundamental roles in vascular development and the infection response, their precise involvement in COVID-19 remains unclear. We aimed to evaluate and synthesize TNF, NF-κB1, VEGF-A, and VEGF-B gene expression patterns in a mouse model of SARS-CoV-2 infection to understand their involvement in disease pathogenesis.
Methods
Gene datasets available on the open-source Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) platform were extracted from eleven specific datasets: GSE68220, GSE51387, GSE49262, GSE51386, GSE50000, GSE40824, GSE33266, GSE50878, GSE40840, GSE49263, and GSE40827. We used R 4.3.2 software in this analysis.
Results
A Substantial changes in the expression of VEGFA, VEGFB, TNF-, and NF-κB1 were observed. Upregulation of TNF- and NF-κB1 implies a strong inflammatory response, consistent with their established involvement in inflammation. Conversely, VEGFA and VEGFB showed a pattern of downregulation, suggesting alterations in the vascular and endothelial functions.
Conclusion
Substantial changes in TNF, NF-κB1, VEGFA, and VEGFB gene expression were observed During SARS-CoV infection, indicating their interconnected roles in disease pathogenesis. These findings improve our understanding of the molecular basis of COVID-19 vascular complications and will guide future research and therapies.
{"title":"Evaluating gene expression patterns for NF-κB1, TNF, and VEGF A& VEGF B in a mouse model of SARS-CoV-2 infection","authors":"Wael Hafez , Asrar Rashid , Feras Al-Obeidat , Nouran Hamza , Muneir Gador , Antesh Yadav , Mahmoud Abdelshakour , Sondos A.H. Thuminat , Tesfalidet Emoshe , Samuel Tesfaye Tefera , Seema Iqbal , Mohammad Alkammar , Alaaldeen Mohamed , Farah El-Sadaany , Daniel Simancas-Racines , Ivan Cherrez-Ojeda","doi":"10.1016/j.medmic.2025.100124","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.medmic.2025.100124","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has encouraged extensive research into its pathophysiology, specifically the role of biomarkers in disease progression. Although TNF, NF-κB1, VEGF-A, and VEGF-B play fundamental roles in vascular development and the infection response, their precise involvement in COVID-19 remains unclear. We aimed to evaluate and synthesize TNF, NF-κB1, VEGF-A, and VEGF-B gene expression patterns in a mouse model of SARS-CoV-2 infection to understand their involvement in disease pathogenesis.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Gene datasets available on the open-source Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) platform were extracted from eleven specific datasets: GSE68220, GSE51387, GSE49262, GSE51386, GSE50000, GSE40824, GSE33266, GSE50878, GSE40840, GSE49263, and GSE40827. We used R 4.3.2 software in this analysis.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>A Substantial changes in the expression of VEGFA, VEGFB, TNF-, and NF-κB1 were observed. Upregulation of TNF- and NF-κB1 implies a strong inflammatory response, consistent with their established involvement in inflammation. Conversely, VEGFA and VEGFB showed a pattern of downregulation, suggesting alterations in the vascular and endothelial functions.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Substantial changes in TNF, NF-κB1, VEGFA, and VEGFB gene expression were observed During SARS-CoV infection, indicating their interconnected roles in disease pathogenesis. These findings improve our understanding of the molecular basis of COVID-19 vascular complications and will guide future research and therapies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":36019,"journal":{"name":"Medicine in Microecology","volume":"24 ","pages":"Article 100124"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143636854","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-02-20DOI: 10.1016/j.medmic.2025.100123
Karthikeyan Sundaram , Venkataraman Prabhu
Tuberculosis is a contagious illness caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It spreads readily from one person to another through tiny particles called airborne droplet nuclei. Immunocompromised individuals are particularly susceptible to this infection. In this context, various types of leukemia, lymphoma, and lung carcinoma are linked with reinforces of tuberculosis. Similarly, the tuberculous granuloma is associated with the progression of the tumor significantly. However, the lung is the primary organ infected by tuberculosis, and the granuloma of this disease is reinforced to lung adenocarcinoma, Squamous cell carcinoma, and non-small cell lung cancer. Multiple studies have revealed the root cause of the spread of these two illnesses is attributed to the production of granulomas in the lungs, which in turn contributes to the development of both tuberculosis and lung cancer. Also, the clinical signs and symptoms of tuberculosis and other malignancies in various sites of the host represent severe complications, and diagnosis of these two diseases through adequate clinical testing is crucial. Computerized tomography and rapid diagnosis for cancer and tuberculosis are effective for controlling the disease progression, and timely detection helps to treat the patients. Thus, imaging techniques and molecular diagnosis are capable of providing precise diagnostic results. So, this review comprehensively analyzed the patients affected with tuberculosis in the lung and other sites that could progress the cancer, also reinforces of tuberculosis in patients with different types of cancer.
{"title":"Contagious illness of tuberculosis and correlation with various types of cancer","authors":"Karthikeyan Sundaram , Venkataraman Prabhu","doi":"10.1016/j.medmic.2025.100123","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.medmic.2025.100123","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Tuberculosis is a contagious illness caused by the bacteria <em>Mycobacterium tuberculosis</em>. It spreads readily from one person to another through tiny particles called airborne droplet nuclei. Immunocompromised individuals are particularly susceptible to this infection. In this context, various types of leukemia, lymphoma, and lung carcinoma are linked with reinforces of tuberculosis. Similarly, the tuberculous granuloma is associated with the progression of the tumor significantly. However, the lung is the primary organ infected by tuberculosis, and the granuloma of this disease is reinforced to lung adenocarcinoma, Squamous cell carcinoma, and non-small cell lung cancer. Multiple studies have revealed the root cause of the spread of these two illnesses is attributed to the production of granulomas in the lungs, which in turn contributes to the development of both tuberculosis and lung cancer. Also, the clinical signs and symptoms of tuberculosis and other malignancies in various sites of the host represent severe complications, and diagnosis of these two diseases through adequate clinical testing is crucial. Computerized tomography and rapid diagnosis for cancer and tuberculosis are effective for controlling the disease progression, and timely detection helps to treat the patients. Thus, imaging techniques and molecular diagnosis are capable of providing precise diagnostic results. So, this review comprehensively analyzed the patients affected with tuberculosis in the lung and other sites that could progress the cancer, also reinforces of tuberculosis in patients with different types of cancer.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":36019,"journal":{"name":"Medicine in Microecology","volume":"24 ","pages":"Article 100123"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143510989","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-02-13DOI: 10.1016/j.medmic.2025.100122
H. Shayista , M.N. Nagendra Prasad , S. Niranjan Raj , Ashwini Prasad , S. Satish , H.K. Ranjini , K. Manju , Ravikumara , Raghuraj Singh Chouhan , Olga Y. Khohlova , Olga V. Perianova , S. Lakshmi , Syed Baker
This review investigates the effects of macrolides on the gut microbiota across different age groups. Macrolides, widely used to treat various infections, have been shown to disrupt the gut microbiome, leading to reduced bacterial diversity and increased risks of antibiotic resistance. The review examines the general mechanisms of action by macrolides, highlighting their role in inhibiting bacterial protein synthesis and promoting antibiotic resistance through horizontal gene transfer and selective pressure. Additionally, the reviews also focus on transition of gut microbiota across different age groups. It also addresses the dysbiotic shift induced by macrolides and its recovery following antibiotic discontinuation. Factors contributing to macrolides resistance, including genetic mutations and environmental factors, are discussed. The focus has been on alternative therapeutic approaches highlighted to mitigate resistance. Overall, the review provides a comprehensive overview of the implications associated with macrolides on gut health and offers insights into managing and minimizing resistance development.
{"title":"Impact of macrolide antibiotics on gut microbiota diversity with age-specific implications and scientific insights","authors":"H. Shayista , M.N. Nagendra Prasad , S. Niranjan Raj , Ashwini Prasad , S. Satish , H.K. Ranjini , K. Manju , Ravikumara , Raghuraj Singh Chouhan , Olga Y. Khohlova , Olga V. Perianova , S. Lakshmi , Syed Baker","doi":"10.1016/j.medmic.2025.100122","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.medmic.2025.100122","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This review investigates the effects of macrolides on the gut microbiota across different age groups. Macrolides, widely used to treat various infections, have been shown to disrupt the gut microbiome, leading to reduced bacterial diversity and increased risks of antibiotic resistance. The review examines the general mechanisms of action by macrolides, highlighting their role in inhibiting bacterial protein synthesis and promoting antibiotic resistance through horizontal gene transfer and selective pressure. Additionally, the reviews also focus on transition of gut microbiota across different age groups. It also addresses the dysbiotic shift induced by macrolides and its recovery following antibiotic discontinuation. Factors contributing to macrolides resistance, including genetic mutations and environmental factors, are discussed. The focus has been on alternative therapeutic approaches highlighted to mitigate resistance. Overall, the review provides a comprehensive overview of the implications associated with macrolides on gut health and offers insights into managing and minimizing resistance development.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":36019,"journal":{"name":"Medicine in Microecology","volume":"24 ","pages":"Article 100122"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143444844","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-02-07DOI: 10.1016/j.medmic.2025.100120
Cunlong Lu , Long Li , Tuo Shi , Yu Li , Yanbing Zhou
Hyperuricemia has been demonstrated to be correlated with gout and other metabolic disorders, and like the obesity and diabetes, it may be associated with gut microbial dysbiosis. However, recently, research on the changes of serum uric acid and gut microbiota during the development of hyperuricemia was sparse. The main objective of this study is to explore the changes of serum uric acid and gut microbiota in a hyperuricemia rat model. 16S rDNA obtained from fecal samples of rats were sequenced to characterize the diversity and composition of microbial communities. Unweighted UniFrac-based principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) of 16S rDNA sequences showed separated clusters between the model group and the control group. Our findings showed that the model group showed a decreased abundance of Lactobacillus, and the butyrate-producing bacteria Ruminococcus spp. and Roseburia spp., while an increased abundance of opportunistic pathogens, including Proteobacteria, Bacteroides fragilis, and Escherichia coli during the establishment of the hyperuricemia rat model. In addition, purine and uric acid metabolism of gut microbiota in the model group was improved. In conclusion, our results demonstrated that the diversity, composition and function of gut microbiota in the hyperuricemia rat model significantly altered.
{"title":"Alterations of gut microbiota during the development of a hyperuricemia rat model","authors":"Cunlong Lu , Long Li , Tuo Shi , Yu Li , Yanbing Zhou","doi":"10.1016/j.medmic.2025.100120","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.medmic.2025.100120","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Hyperuricemia has been demonstrated to be correlated with gout and other metabolic disorders, and like the obesity and diabetes, it may be associated with gut microbial dysbiosis. However, recently, research on the changes of serum uric acid and gut microbiota during the development of hyperuricemia was sparse. The main objective of this study is to explore the changes of serum uric acid and gut microbiota in a hyperuricemia rat model. 16S rDNA obtained from fecal samples of rats were sequenced to characterize the diversity and composition of microbial communities. Unweighted UniFrac-based principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) of 16S rDNA sequences showed separated clusters between the model group and the control group. Our findings showed that the model group showed a decreased abundance of <em>Lactobacillus</em>, and the butyrate-producing bacteria <em>Ruminococcus</em> spp. and <em>Roseburia</em> spp., while an increased abundance of opportunistic pathogens, including <em>Proteobacteria</em>, <em>Bacteroides fragilis</em>, and <em>Escherichia coli</em> during the establishment of the hyperuricemia rat model. In addition, purine and uric acid metabolism of gut microbiota in the model group was improved. In conclusion, our results demonstrated that the diversity, composition and function of gut microbiota in the hyperuricemia rat model significantly altered.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":36019,"journal":{"name":"Medicine in Microecology","volume":"24 ","pages":"Article 100120"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143419169","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Clostridioides difficile previously known as Clostridium difficile is one of the three most potent human pathogens associated with antibiotic-associated diarrhoea and damage to the colon. Although advanced healthcare facilities with the development of new antibiotics are now available, these are associated with either treatment failure or disease recurrence. Any reason that disturbs the microbiome such as antibiotic treatment, unbalanced diet, stress and chronic disease may allow C. difficile, to adhere, colonize, grow and reproduce and eventually cause disease recurrence. With increasing knowledge about the natural defence mechanism of microbiome against gut pathogens, interest in non-antibiotic alternatives like prebiotics, synbiotics, probiotics, and postbiotics is quickly evolving. The gut microenvironment can be suitably modified by using prebiotics and probiotics either alone or by using their mixture as synbiotics. The gut microbiome prevents pathogen adhesion either by physical competition or by the proliferation of anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial products. Besides, there are other possible methods such as faecal matter transplantation (FMT) and microbiome replacement therapies (MRT) for the repopulation of the gastrointestinal tract. In this article, we review current treatment strategies for C. difficile infection (CDI) using prebiotics, probiotics, synbiotics, postbiotic FMT, and MRT. The article will give useful insight into the current therapies of CDI and their future developments.
{"title":"Potential therapeutic solution for Clostridioides difficile infection: Current scenario and future prospects","authors":"Chandrashekhar Singh , Anjali Singh , Deepjyoti Singh , Richa Upadhyay","doi":"10.1016/j.medmic.2025.100121","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.medmic.2025.100121","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Clostridioides difficile</em> previously known as <em>Clostridium difficile</em> is one of the three most potent human pathogens associated with antibiotic-associated diarrhoea and damage to the colon. Although advanced healthcare facilities with the development of new antibiotics are now available, these are associated with either treatment failure or disease recurrence. Any reason that disturbs the microbiome such as antibiotic treatment, unbalanced diet, stress and chronic disease may allow <em>C. difficile</em>, to adhere, colonize, grow and reproduce and eventually cause disease recurrence. With increasing knowledge about the natural defence mechanism of microbiome against gut pathogens, interest in non-antibiotic alternatives like prebiotics, synbiotics, probiotics, and postbiotics is quickly evolving. The gut microenvironment can be suitably modified by using prebiotics and probiotics either alone or by using their mixture as synbiotics. The gut microbiome prevents pathogen adhesion either by physical competition or by the proliferation of anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial products. Besides, there are other possible methods such as faecal matter transplantation (FMT) and microbiome replacement therapies (MRT) for the repopulation of the gastrointestinal tract. In this article, we review current treatment strategies for <em>C. difficile</em> infection (CDI) using prebiotics, probiotics, synbiotics, postbiotic FMT, and MRT. The article will give useful insight into the current therapies of CDI and their future developments.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":36019,"journal":{"name":"Medicine in Microecology","volume":"24 ","pages":"Article 100121"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143419168","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Acute respiratory tract infection (ARTI) rank among the top ten most common illnesses affecting children in Indonesia. Myxovirus resistance-A (MxA) protein, selectively induced by the activation of type I interferon in response to viral infections, has emerged as a promising biomarker to diagnose viral ARTI. Notably, the activation of interferons is thought to be influenced by plasma vitamin A and zinc levels. Therefore, our study aims to investigate the level of MxA expression in children with vitamin A and zinc deficiencies when experiencing viral ARTI. This cross-sectional study involved a total of 113 subjects, including 53 diagnosed with ARTI due to viral causes based on validated clinical scoring criteria, and 50 healthy controls. To determine the etiology, we conducted blood cultures and employed RT-PCR analysis on nasopharyngeal swabs. Additionally, we assessed plasma levels of vitamin A, zinc, and MxA protein expression. Our findings revealed that subjects with ARTI displayed elevated MxA expression compared to controls. Specifically, MxA expression levels in ARTI cases of viral origin were significantly higher than those in both control and bacterial origin. On closer examination, the vitamin A and zinc non-deficient group exhibited higher MxA expression levels in comparison to the deficient group. However, it is notable that the expression levels in the deficient group remained higher than those in the control group. In summary, MxA protein expression was found to be lower in children with vitamin A and zinc deficiencies when compared to those without deficiencies in cases of viral ARTI. Thus, MxA expression may serve as a diagnostic tool for distinguishing viral from bacterial ARTI, especially in populations where the prevalence of micronutrient-deficient children is high, such as in Indonesia.
急性呼吸道感染是影响印度尼西亚儿童的十大最常见疾病之一。黏液病毒耐药性- a (MxA)蛋白是在病毒感染反应中由I型干扰素激活选择性诱导产生的,已成为诊断病毒性ARTI的一种有前景的生物标志物。值得注意的是,干扰素的激活被认为受到血浆维生素A和锌水平的影响。因此,我们的研究旨在探讨维生素A和锌缺乏的儿童在经历病毒性ARTI时MxA的表达水平。这项横断面研究共涉及113名受试者,其中53名根据经过验证的临床评分标准诊断为由病毒引起的ARTI, 50名健康对照。为了确定病因,我们对鼻咽拭子进行了血培养和RT-PCR分析。此外,我们评估了血浆中维生素A、锌和MxA蛋白的表达水平。我们的研究结果显示,与对照组相比,ARTI患者的MxA表达升高。具体来说,病毒源性ARTI病例的MxA表达水平显著高于对照组和细菌源性ARTI病例。进一步研究发现,维生素A和锌不缺乏组的MxA表达水平高于缺乏组。然而,值得注意的是,缺陷组的表达水平仍然高于对照组。总之,在病毒性ARTI病例中,与不缺乏维生素A和锌的儿童相比,缺乏维生素A和锌的儿童的MxA蛋白表达较低。因此,MxA表达可以作为区分病毒性和细菌性ARTI的诊断工具,特别是在印度尼西亚等微量营养素缺乏儿童患病率高的人群中。
{"title":"Diagnostic ability of myxovirus resistance-A in pediatric cases of viral-acute respiratory tract infections with vitamin A and zinc deficiencies","authors":"Dian Kesumapramudya Nurputra , Amalia Setyati , Nur Arfian , Endy Paryanto Prawirohartono , Zulvikar Syambani Ulhaq","doi":"10.1016/j.medmic.2024.100119","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.medmic.2024.100119","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Acute respiratory tract infection (ARTI) rank among the top ten most common illnesses affecting children in Indonesia. Myxovirus resistance-A (MxA) protein, selectively induced by the activation of type I interferon in response to viral infections, has emerged as a promising biomarker to diagnose viral ARTI. Notably, the activation of interferons is thought to be influenced by plasma vitamin A and zinc levels. Therefore, our study aims to investigate the level of MxA expression in children with vitamin A and zinc deficiencies when experiencing viral ARTI. This cross-sectional study involved a total of 113 subjects, including 53 diagnosed with ARTI due to viral causes based on validated clinical scoring criteria, and 50 healthy controls. To determine the etiology, we conducted blood cultures and employed RT-PCR analysis on nasopharyngeal swabs. Additionally, we assessed plasma levels of vitamin A, zinc, and MxA protein expression. Our findings revealed that subjects with ARTI displayed elevated MxA expression compared to controls. Specifically, MxA expression levels in ARTI cases of viral origin were significantly higher than those in both control and bacterial origin. On closer examination, the vitamin A and zinc non-deficient group exhibited higher MxA expression levels in comparison to the deficient group. However, it is notable that the expression levels in the deficient group remained higher than those in the control group. In summary, MxA protein expression was found to be lower in children with vitamin A and zinc deficiencies when compared to those without deficiencies in cases of viral ARTI. Thus, MxA expression may serve as a diagnostic tool for distinguishing viral from bacterial ARTI, especially in populations where the prevalence of micronutrient-deficient children is high, such as in Indonesia.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":36019,"journal":{"name":"Medicine in Microecology","volume":"23 ","pages":"Article 100119"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-12-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143144433","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Mental health problems have become one of the major issues worldwide. People of every age group and gender are facing psychological issues. Conventional medicines are not reliable due to their adverse effects like altered sleeping pattern, addiction and health problems throughout the entire body. Psychobiotics is a new class of probiotics that is serving a wide range of applications in psychological health. Psychobiotic refers to the biological formulation which when consumed in right amount, confers psychological benefits. A lot of studies have supported the function of gut microbiota in mood cognition and controlling anxiety. The mechanism of action of psychobiotics has not been completely investigated. However, it may confer benefits by modulating hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, by directly influencing immune system and through production of various neurotransmitters and neurohormones like proteins and short fatty acids chains. This review highlights the potential of different bacterial strains in human and animal trials. It latter also covers various psychobiotics formulations marketed by different companies. In addition to this, we also tried to cover the various hurdles in psychobiotic research that need to be addressed in the future to build a prosperous society.
{"title":"Exploring the promise of psychobiotics: Bridging gut microbiota and mental health for a flourishing society","authors":"Neel Kamal , Baljeet Singh Saharan , Joginder Singh Duhan , Ashwani Kumar , Payal Chaudhary , Chhaya Goyal , Mukesh Kumar , Nikita Goyat , Meena Sindhu , Priti Mudgil","doi":"10.1016/j.medmic.2024.100118","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.medmic.2024.100118","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Mental health problems have become one of the major issues worldwide. People of every age group and gender are facing psychological issues. Conventional medicines are not reliable due to their adverse effects like altered sleeping pattern, addiction and health problems throughout the entire body. Psychobiotics is a new class of probiotics that is serving a wide range of applications in psychological health. Psychobiotic refers to the biological formulation which when consumed in right amount, confers psychological benefits. A lot of studies have supported the function of gut microbiota in mood cognition and controlling anxiety. The mechanism of action of psychobiotics has not been completely investigated. However, it may confer benefits by modulating hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, by directly influencing immune system and through production of various neurotransmitters and neurohormones like proteins and short fatty acids chains. This review highlights the potential of different bacterial strains in human and animal trials. It latter also covers various psychobiotics formulations marketed by different companies. In addition to this, we also tried to cover the various hurdles in psychobiotic research that need to be addressed in the future to build a prosperous society.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":36019,"journal":{"name":"Medicine in Microecology","volume":"23 ","pages":"Article 100118"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-11-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143144432","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-11-14DOI: 10.1016/j.medmic.2024.100117
Anjali K. Ravi , Saradhadevi Muthukrishnan , Gayathiri Gunasangkaran , Vijaya Anand Arumugam , Velayuthaprabhu Shanmugam , Kunnathur Murugesan Sakthivel , Marie Arockianathan Pushpam , Ashokkumar Kaliyaperumal
Cervical cancer remains the deadliest cancer among women worldwide. Investigating the molecular mechanisms of tumor progression by targeting signaling pathways can provide insights into novel therapeutic strategies to overcome the limitations of conventional treatments. Green synthesis of nanoparticles addresses conventional treatment drawbacks like chemotherapy and radiation. This study aims to green synthesize, characterize, and evaluate chitosan-encapsulated silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using Lactobacillus plantarum probiotics against cervical cancer HeLa cells, targeting the EMT mechanism. The green synthesized chitosan encapsulated Silver- Nanoparticles using probiotic -Lactobacillus plantarum (CS-LP-AgNPs) were characterized using UV–vis spectroscopy, which showed a peak at 420 nm confirming the reduction of AgNPs. Zeta and DLS analysis revealed the particle surface charge and stability. TEM analysis demonstrated that CS-LP-AgNPs are spherically shaped, with a size of approximately 15.3 nm. XRD patterns confirmed the crystalline nature of CS-LP-AgNPs. FTIR spectroscopy confirmed that CS-LP-AgNPs were functionalized with biomolecules. DAPI and double staining were employed to examine characteristic nuclear and morphological changes during apoptosis. Gene expression profiles of EMT in HeLa cell lines were performed to evaluate the anticancer potency of CS-LP-AgNPs. MTT assay demonstrated cytotoxic activity, whereas DAPI/(AO/EB) double staining images showed the induced apoptosis in HeLa cells by CS-LP-AgNPs treatment. CS-LP-AgNPs treated HeLa cells showed decreased SNAIL/EMT via enhancing apoptotic cascade mechanism. Green synthesized CS-LP-AgNPs may be considered an effective anti-cancer drug delivery system for the treatment of CC in the future.
{"title":"Biosynthesis of chitosan encapsulated silver- nanoparticles using Probiotic-Lactobacillus plantarum strain and it's in vitro anticancer assessment on HeLa cells","authors":"Anjali K. Ravi , Saradhadevi Muthukrishnan , Gayathiri Gunasangkaran , Vijaya Anand Arumugam , Velayuthaprabhu Shanmugam , Kunnathur Murugesan Sakthivel , Marie Arockianathan Pushpam , Ashokkumar Kaliyaperumal","doi":"10.1016/j.medmic.2024.100117","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.medmic.2024.100117","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Cervical cancer remains the deadliest cancer among women worldwide. Investigating the molecular mechanisms of tumor progression by targeting signaling pathways can provide insights into novel therapeutic strategies to overcome the limitations of conventional treatments. Green synthesis of nanoparticles addresses conventional treatment drawbacks like chemotherapy and radiation. This study aims to green synthesize, characterize, and evaluate chitosan-encapsulated silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using <em>Lactobacillus plantarum</em> probiotics against cervical cancer HeLa cells, targeting the EMT mechanism. The green synthesized chitosan encapsulated Silver- Nanoparticles using probiotic -<em>Lactobacillus plantarum</em> (CS-LP-AgNPs) were characterized using UV–vis spectroscopy, which showed a peak at 420 nm confirming the reduction of AgNPs. Zeta and DLS analysis revealed the particle surface charge and stability. TEM analysis demonstrated that CS-LP-AgNPs are spherically shaped, with a size of approximately 15.3 nm. XRD patterns confirmed the crystalline nature of CS-LP-AgNPs. FTIR spectroscopy confirmed that CS-LP-AgNPs were functionalized with biomolecules. DAPI and double staining were employed to examine characteristic nuclear and morphological changes during apoptosis. Gene expression profiles of EMT in HeLa cell lines were performed to evaluate the anticancer potency of CS-LP-AgNPs. MTT assay demonstrated cytotoxic activity, whereas DAPI/(AO/EB) double staining images showed the induced apoptosis in HeLa cells by CS-LP-AgNPs treatment. CS-LP-AgNPs treated HeLa cells showed decreased SNAIL/EMT via enhancing apoptotic cascade mechanism. Green synthesized CS-LP-AgNPs may be considered an effective anti-cancer drug delivery system for the treatment of CC in the future.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":36019,"journal":{"name":"Medicine in Microecology","volume":"22 ","pages":"Article 100117"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-11-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142702843","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}