Effects of Bacillus subtilis BS-Z15 on Intestinal Microbiota Structure and Body Weight Gain in Mice.

In our previous study, we identified a metabolite of Bacillus subtilis BS-Z15 (a strain with probiotic characteristics) that could improve immunity in mice. In the present study, we examined the effects of B. subtilis BS-Z15 and its metabolites on body weight gain and the intestinal microbiota of mice. Sixty 25-day-old male Kunming white mice were selected and randomly divided into four groups: control group (A), daily saline gavage; B. subtilis-treated group (B), single gavage (1 × 109 CFU/time/animal/day); group D, 14 consecutive gavages (1 × 109 CFU/time/animal/day); and B. subtilis metabolite-treated group (E), 30 consecutive gavages (90 mg kg-1/time/animal/day). High-throughput sequencing technology was used to analyze intergroup differences in the mouse intestinal microbiota. The results showed that the three treated groups had significantly slower body weight gain compared with the control group, which lasted until the 45 days (P < 0.05), and the daily food intake of the treated mice was higher (P < 0.05). The intestinal microbiota structure of the mice in the treated groups was significantly altered compared with that in the control group, suggesting that B. subtilis BS-Z15 may regulate the weight gain of animals by affecting their intestinal bacterial composition. After stopping the gavage of B. subtilis BS-Z15, the abundance of this strain in the small intestine of the mice gradually decreased and its presence was undetectable at 45 days, indicating that B. subtilis BS-Z15 could not colonize the intestine of these mice. These findings suggest that B. subtilis BS-Z15 may regulate intestinal microbiota through its metabolites to reduce weight gain.

Analysis of HIV/AIDS epidemic characteristics and spatiotemporal aggregation in Lanzhou City from 2011 to 2018 / 中华疾病控制杂志

Objective To detect the characteristics of acquired immune deficiency syndrom (AIDS) epidemic in Lanzhou City from 2011 to 2018 and the spatiotemporal aggregation of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and AIDS patients at county level, and to provide scientific reference for prevention and control of HIV/AIDS in Lanzhou City. Methods The space-time scanning and measurement method was used to detect, test, and analyze the spatiotemporal aggregation of HIV/AIDS reports. The aggregation characteristics of the AIDS epidemic in time and space were obtained, and the detection results were visualized by ArcGIS 10.3. Results From 2011 to 2018, there were four statistically significant high spatial and temporal aggregation areas in HIV/AIDS in Lanzhou City. One type of gathering area was Chengguan District, Anning District and Gaolan County. The gathering time was from 2015 to 2018 (LLR=108.63,RR=2.02, P<0.001); The second type of aggregation area was the Qilihe area, which gathered from 2015 to 2018 (LLR=60.93,RR=2.11, P<0.001). It was detected that the Qilihe District had a type Ⅰ aggregation of heterosexual transmission from 2014 to 2017, and Gaolan County, Anning District and Chengguan District had a type II aggregation of heterosexual transmission from 2015 to 2018; It was detected that Gaolan County, Anning District and Chengguan District had a type of gathering of same-sex transmission from 2015 to 2018; In the Qilihe District, there was a second category of same-sex communication between 2017 and 2018. Conclusion The HIV/AIDS epidemic in Lanzhou City has spatiotemporal aggregation regardless of the number of reports or different transmission routes. The prevention and control situation is still severe and should be highly valued by the relevant local departments.