Beneficial microbes最新文献

Probiotics offer numerous health benefits and are increasingly incorporated into dietary supplements and food products. Rigorous safety evaluations are essential to ensure their suitability for human consumption. This study evaluates the safety profile of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum N13, isolated from traditional fermented dairy products, through genomic and phenotypic analyses. Whole-genome sequencing confirmed general length of strain N13 (containing three plasmids) is about 3,318,516 bp, GC content is 44.4% and the absence of antibiotic resistance and virulence genes. Antibiotic susceptibility tests demonstrated that N13 is sensitive to ampicillin (1 μg/ml), gentamycin (4 μg/ml), kanamycin (32 μg/ml), erythromycin (0.5 μg/ml), clindamycin (0.25 μg/ml), tetracycline (32 μg/ml), and chloramphenicol (8 μg/ml), meeting the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) guidelines. Additionally, genome analysis confirmed that N13 lacks genes related to biogenic amine biosynthesis, indicating its low risk of biogenic amine production. Scanning electron microscopy confirmed that N13 cells exhibited typical L. plantarum morphology. Phenotypic assays demonstrated that N13 is non-hemolytic and lacks harmful enzyme activity, including α-galactosidase, β-glucuronidase, and α-mannosidase. Acute and 28-day oral toxicity tests demonstrated that N13 was well tolerated in both Immunocompetent Research mice and Sprague Dawley rats, with no observable toxic effects or adverse changes even at high doses. At the recommended dose (0.5 × 1010 CFU/kg), N13 exhibited good oral safety. These findings establish L. plantarum N13 as a safe and promising probiotic strain, paving the way for its further application in dietary and functional food products.

Antibiotics are among the most prescribed medicines in children globally. Antibiotic-associated diarrhoea (AAD) and associated abdominal pain are common side effects, caused by alterations to the intestinal microbiota composition. Most research on probiotic interventions involves prophylactic use of Saccharomyces, lactobacilli or bifidobacteria. Less is known about spore-forming strains administered after AAD onset. Bacillus subtilis HU58™ was found to improve AAD symptoms in adults. This randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in India investigated the effects of a dietary supplement containing B. subtilis HU58 (2 × 109 cfu/day) versus placebo for seven days on diarrhoea duration (Bristol Stool Scale, BSS), abdominal pain intensity (Visual Analogue Scale, VAS), and overall gastrointestinal wellbeing (adapted Gastrointestinal Restoration Questionnaire, GIRQ; Physician Global Assessment, PGA) in 68 children (1-12 years) with AAD. Between-group comparison of data from each timepoint was conducted for the intention to treat population (Chi-squared test of independence for distribution of BSS types, Wilcoxon rank sum test for mean BSS types, mixed model for repeated measures for VAS, GIRQ and PGA scores). By day 3, 93.5% of the probiotic group had normal BSS types, versus 22.6% in the placebo group ( P < 0.001). Almost all subjects in both groups had normal stool types by day 7. Significantly greater decreases in abdominal pain VAS scores were observed among those receiving the probiotic versus placebo at day 3 (-7.4 [SE 0.5] versus -1.9 [SE 0.3], P < 0.001) and day 7 (-9.1 [SE 0.3] versus -8.5 [SE 0.2], P < 0.001). Greater improvements for both adapted GIRQ and PGA scores assessing GI wellbeing were observed in the probiotic group compared to the placebo group at days 3 and 7 (all P < 0.001). Spore-forming B. subtilis HU58 administered to children after onset of AAD may lead to faster resolution of diarrhoea and associated abdominal pain. Further research with daily clinical assessment and faecal microbiome analysis is warranted. The trial is registered at https://ctri.nic.in/Clinicaltrials (CTRI/2022/02/040138).

Gut microbiota plays a central role in dog health, supporting nutritional and physiological processes. However, antibiotic treatment can disturb microbiota equilibrium, leading to a perturbated state, called dysbiosis. While probiotic and postbiotic strategies are increasingly studied, their use in dogs remains poorly documented, particularly in the context of antibiotic-induced dysbiosis. In this study, we provide novel insights by evaluating for the first time, the efficacy of two microbiota restoration strategies using a canine-specific in vitro gut model (Canine Mucosal Artificial Colon, CANIM-ARCOL): the probiotic live yeast Saccharomyces boulardii CNCM I-1079 and the postbiotic heat-inactivated Lactobacillus helveticus HA-122. Both were administered at in-field doses twice a day, during and after a 5-day antibiotic treatment (metronidazole/enrofloxacin), to assess their ability to enhance microbiota resistance and/or promote recovery in both lumen and mucus-associated microbiota. Our results demonstrated that within two days post-antibiotic treatment, both interventions significantly mitigated the bloom of Enterobacteriaceae (up to -75% relative abundance, P < 0.05), accelerated the recovery of total bacterial load (increase of ∼1.5 log 10 copies/ml), and promoted a faster restoration of bacterial diversity (Shannon index returning to baseline by day 14 vs day 16 in the control). Additionally, S. boulardii significantly reduced redox potential (+200 mV with antibiotic vs only +80 mV with yeast, P < 0.0001), while L. helveticus preserved short-chain fatty acid concentrations (>100 mM vs 80 mM under control conditions) and upregulated beneficial metabolic pathways (e.g. norspermidine biosynthesis). Moreover, both treatments reduced variability in microbiota profiles and enhanced functional resilience post-antibiotic exposure. These findings provide compelling evidence supporting the relevance of probiotic and postbiotic strategies in companion animal and highlight the potential of the CANIM-ARCOL model as an ethical and robust alternative to in vivo trials for preclinical evaluation of microbiota-targeted intervention in canine nutrition and health.

We recently showed that the gut microbiota composition in a cross-sectional study of 36-45 month old stunted children was different from that of normal children in East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia. Here, we compared anthropometric measures and nutritional intake, and we correlated percent macronutrient intake to fecal short-chain (SCFA) and branched-chain fatty acids (BCFA) concentrations, and gut microbiota composition in this cohort. The concentrations of the SCFA acetate and propionate are significantly lower in feces of stunted children, while butyrate and BCFA showed no difference. Moreover, percentage fat-intake correlated negatively to fecal propionate ( q = 0.007; rho = -0.23) and butyrate ( q = 0.041; rho = -0.18) concentrations, while percent fibre-intake, as expected, positively correlated with butyrate concentrations ( q = 0.0001; rho = +0.30). There was a trend for percent carbohydrate-intake to positively correlate with fecal butyrate concentrations too ( q = 0.067; rho = +0.18). In addition, 48 of the 124 taxa in the dataset showed correlations with one or more of the nutritional intake parameters (percent energy, protein, fat, carbohydrate or fibre). Of the three taxa that we reported before to be significantly different when compared between stunted and normal nutritional children, only Faecalibacterium showed significance with nutritional intake, particularly positive correlations with percent carbohydrate- ( q = 0.036; rho = +0.19) and percent fibre-intake ( q = 0.038; rho = +0.20). The results add to the insight of the role of the gut microbiota in stunting and possibilities to prevent this by modulating the microbiota. The trial was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov with identifier number NCT05119218.

Background: colorectal cancer (CRC) rates are rising in developing countries like Nepal, though the incidence remains 5-10% of that in Europe. The human microbiota significantly influences CRC development, shaped by diet and lifestyle. Travelling abroad can alter microbial composition due to lifestyle adjustments. The study aimed to delineate the nature, extent, and pace of changes in intestinal and oral microbiota among Swedish residents after a two-month stay in Nepal, with a particular focus on changes associated with risk of CRC development.

Methods: eight study participants provided fecal and saliva samples before departing from Sweden, before departing from Nepal, as well as two and four weeks after returning to Sweden. The microbiota was analysed using deep sequencing with the Illumina MiSeq platform targeting the V3-V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene. Denoising was performed using DADA2 to generate observational taxonomic unit (OTU) composition. Taxonomy annotation was conducted based on SILVA.

Results: after the stay in Nepal, there was a rise in intestinal abundance of genus Escherichia-Shigella across all travellers. Two weeks after returning to Sweden, all but one traveller showed detectable Escherichia-Shigella levels, one exhibiting an exceptionally high amount (36.7%). Four weeks post-return, Escherichia-Shigella persisted in 50% of participants. Following sojourn in Nepal, travellers exhibited a reduction in oral abundance of families Fusobacteriaceae and Campylobacteraceae.

Conclusions: when conducting microbiome studies, it is essential to consider the influence of international travel, as it can lead to substantial microbiota alterations. Identified microbiota changes could potentially be utilised as risk markers in future studies of CRC.

Obesity-induced metabolic disorders, including insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), are significant global health issues exacerbated by high-fat diets (HFD). These conditions often lead to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), characterised by hepatic lipid accumulation, inflammation, and oxidative stress, which further impair insulin signalling. Probiotics, particularly those in the Lactobacillus genus, have been shown to ameliorate metabolic disorders. This study evaluated the antidiabetic and hepatoprotective effects of Lactobacillus paragasseri SBT2055 (LG2055), a sister taxon of L. gasseri, in HFD-induced obese mice. Mice supplemented with LG2055 (1 × 108 or 1 × 1010 CFU/mouse/day) exhibited significant reductions in body weight, fasting blood glucose, and homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) values, alongside improved glucose tolerance and hepatic glycogen storage. LG2055 supplementation modulated the expression of genes involved in hepatic gluconeogenesis and intestinal glucose uptake, effectively suppressing insulin resistance. Hepatic lipid accumulation and liver weight were significantly reduced, accompanied by downregulation of lipogenic genes and proteins, while antioxidant enzyme activities {superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and glutathione reductase (GR)} were enhanced, reducing oxidative stress markers. LG2055 also alleviated liver inflammation by decreasing plasma lipopolysaccharide (LPS) levels and suppressing Toll-like receptor signalling, as well as reducing the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and fibrosis-related markers. These findings suggest that LG2055 mitigates HFD-induced metabolic disturbances by improving insulin sensitivity, reducing hepatic lipid synthesis, enhancing antioxidant defences, and attenuating inflammation. LG2055 demonstrates potential as a therapeutic probiotic for the prevention and treatment of T2DM and associated metabolic disorders.

Many healthy people complain of functional gastrointestinal (GI) tract symptoms that do not fit diagnostic criteria for established diseases. Disrupted intestinal microbiomes are associated with these functional conditions, thus the use of beneficial bacteria shown to restore the protective microbiome may be useful. Our aims were to determine if Heyndrickxia (Bacillus) coagulans GBI-30, 6086 (BC30) would improve GI functions in healthy adults living in China and to determine its effect on the GI microbiome. Healthy adults ( n = 111, 18-65 years old) with functional GI complaints were enrolled in a prospective, double-blind trial and randomised (by random number table) to either BC30 (1 × 109/day) or placebo for four weeks. Outcomes were analysed by ANOVA or the Wilcoxon tests or with mixed regression models. Functional GI symptoms improved significantly in adults given BC30 compared to placebo: increase in number of stools/week ( P = 0.036), improved fecal consistency ( P < 0.001) and fewer participants had constipation ( P < 0.001). Four weeks of BC30 increased intestinal Bacteroides levels and reduced Clostridium, Blautia, Ruminococcus levels but did not otherwise alter the general microbiome. BC30 significantly improved GI functions in healthy adults in China, with minor modifications of the fecal microbiome and was well-tolerated. The trial was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT06644001).

A mounting body of evidence suggests that probiotics may mitigate constipation through their favourable modulation of gut microbiota and its metabolic byproducts. The precise mechanisms underlying this effect remain to be fully elucidated. This randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study investigates the clinical efficacy of Bifidobacterium longum (B. longum) CCFM1112 in treating chronic constipation. Fifty-six volunteers diagnosed with chronic constipation according to the Rome IV criteria were randomly assigned to either the B. longum CCFM1112 group or a placebo group for a 4-week intervention. Key outcomes measured included weekly spontaneous bowel movements (SBM), stool consistency (Bristol Stool Form Scale [BSFS]), Patient Assessment of Constipation-Symptoms (PAC-SYM) questionnaire, and Quality of Life (PAC-QOL) questionnaire. In addition, gut microbiota was detected using metagenomic sequencing, and non targeted metabolomics was used to detect fecal and serum metabolites. Results demonstrated that B. longum CCFM1112 significantly reduced PAC-QOL scores and improved BSFS in patients with chronic constipation. Correlation analyses revealed that B. longum CCFM1112 significantly increased the abundance of the genera Blautia, Anaerobutyricum, and Streptococcus. Furthermore, the abundance of species, including Blautia massiliensis, Blautia sp. SC05B48, Anaerobutyricum hallii, and Streptococcus salivarius, was also significantly elevated. Furthermore, it elevated fecal levels of linoleic acid, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), and arachidonic acid, while increasing L-glutamic acid and decreasing adenosine in serum. Our research findings provide evidence that the intake of B. longum CCFM1112 can alleviate constipation.

Breast milk provides essential nutrition and bioactive components, including probiotics, which contribute to the development of a balanced infant microbiota and a strengthened immune system. The gut-breast axis theory suggests that the maternal gut microbiota may influence the microbiota and composition of breast milk through immune-mediated signaling. This study aimed to investigate the colonization potential of S. thermophilus TCI633 in the infant gut and to explore its possible transfer via the gut-breast axis. A total of 30 exclusively breastfeeding mother-infant pairs were recruited. Mothers took TCI633 daily for one month following hospital discharge. Breast milk, maternal feces, and infant fecal samples were collected and analyzed for microbiota composition, S. thermophilus abundance, and detection of TCI633-specific gene fragments. Results showed minor changes in the microbiota composition of breast milk and fecal samples in the TCI633 group, with a slight increase in S. thermophilus abundance. Furthermore, TCI633-specific gene fragments were detected in 66.7% of infant fecal samples, suggesting potential microbial transfer and colonisation. These findings provide preliminary evidence supporting the feasibility of TCI633 transmission via the gut-breast axis, although further research is needed to determine its functional significance.