Benefits of procyanidins on gut microbiota in Bama minipigs and implications in replacing antibiotics

Several studies have reported the effect of absorption of procyanidins and their contribution to the small intestine. However, differences between dietary interventions of procyanidins and interventions via antibiotic feeding in pigs are rarely reported. Following 16S rRNA gene Illumina MiSeq sequencing, we observed that both procyanidin administration for 2 months (procyanidin-1 group) and continuous antibiotic feeding for 1 month followed by procyanidin for 1 month (procyanidin-2 group) increased the number of operational taxonomic units, as well as the Chao 1 and ACE indices, compared to those in pigs undergoing antibiotic administration for 2 months (antibiotic group). The genera Fibrobacter and Spirochaete were more abundant in the antibiotic group than in the procyanidin-1 and procyanidin-2 groups. Principal component analysis revealed clear separations among the three groups. Additionally, using the online Molecular Ecological Network Analyses pipeline, three co-occurrence networks were constructed; Lactobacillus was in a co-occurrence relationship with Trichococcus and Desulfovibrio and a co-exclusion relationship with Bacillus and Spharerochaeta. Furthermore, metabolic function analysis by phylogenetic investigation of communities by reconstruction of unobserved states demonstrated modulation of pathways involved in the metabolism of carbohydrates, amino acids, energy, and nucleotides. These data suggest that procyanidin influences the gut microbiota and the intestinal metabolic function to produce beneficial effects on metabolic homeostasis.

Isolation of a cellulolytic rod and its potential application in bio-ethanol production / Isolamento de bastão celulítico e sua potencial aplicação na produção de bio-etanol

With the world's focus on bio-fuel, cellulolytic microorganisms are being exclusively explored. In this paper, a strain of rod, NBG, was obtained from the rumen of Inner Mongolia sheep by an enrichment method with Whatman No.1 filter paper as the selective substrate. The strain was found to effectively degrade filter paper in solution. It was identified as Fibrobacter succinogenes based on DNA G + C mol %, together with morphological, physiological and biochemical tests. The endo-glucanase, -glucosidase and filter paper enzyme activity of NBG reached 62.5 ± 3.0 U•mL-1, 169.0 ± 9.4 U•mL-1 and 30.8 ± 5.4 U•mL-1, respectively, within 72 h of fermentation.

Com o foco mundial em biocombustíveis, microrganismos celuloliticos estão sendo exclusivamente explorados. Neste trabalho, uma cepa de bastão, NBG foi obtida do rumen de ovelhas do interior DA Mongolia com o método de enriquecimento e o papel de filtro No.1 como substrato seletivo. A cepa foi encontrada para degradar efetivamente o papel de filtro na solução. Foi identificado como Fibrobacter succinogenes baseado em DNA + c mol% juntamente com testes morofológicos, fisiológico e bioquímicos. A endo-glucanase e o papel de filtro chegaram com relação a atividade de enzima NBG 62.5 ± 3.0 U.ml-1, 169±9.4U.ml-1 e 30.8±5.4U.ml-1, respectivamente, com 72 horas de fermentação.