Collagen Peptide Exerts an Anti-Obesity Effect by Influencing the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes Ratio in the Gut.

Alterations in the intestinal microbial flora are known to cause various diseases, and many people routinely consume probiotics or prebiotics to balance intestinal microorganisms and the growth of beneficial bacteria. In this study, we selected a peptide from fish (tilapia) skin that induces significant changes in the intestinal microflora of mice and reduces the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio, which is linked to obesity. We attempted to verify the anti-obesity effect of selected fish collagen peptides in a high-fat-diet-based obese mouse model. As anticipated, the collagen peptide co-administered with a high-fat diet significantly inhibited the increase in the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio. It increased specific bacterial taxa, including Clostridium_sensu_stricto_1, Faecalibaculum, Bacteroides, and Streptococcus, known for their anti-obesity effects. Consequently, alterations in the gut microbiota resulted in the activation of metabolic pathways, such as polysaccharide degradation and essential amino acid synthesis, which are associated with obesity inhibition. In addition, collagen peptide also effectively reduced all obesity signs caused by a high-fat diet, such as abdominal fat accumulation, high blood glucose levels, and weight gain. Ingestion of collagen peptides derived from fish skin induced significant changes in the intestinal microflora and is a potential auxiliary therapeutic agent to suppress the onset of obesity.

Hot-Melt Extrusion Enhances Antioxidant Effects of Mulberry on Probiotics and Pathogenic Microorganisms.

Mulberry is a rich source of anthocyanins (ACNs) known to possess biological activities. However, these ACNs are unstable in high pH, heat, and aqueous environments with a low bioavailability. In this study, a colloidal dispersion was prepared by hot melt extrusion with proper excipients. In this process, a hydrophilic polymer matrix was used to confirm the stability of the compound in high pH, high temperature, and aqueous media. It was confirmed that the particle size and the polydispersity index value were reduced, thereby improving the solubility. In vitro release studies revealed that the extrudate had a sustained release compared to a non-extruded product. As a result of measuring changes of intestinal microorganisms (Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus, Pediococcus pentosaceus, Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecalis, and Staphylococcus aureus), contents of probiotics were found to be increased whereas contents of pathogenic microorganisms were decreased. Thus, hot-melt extrusion could enhance the stability of ACN with prolonged release. The processed formulation exhibited probiotic properties and antimicrobial activities against pathogenic intestinal microflora.

Isolation and Characterization of a Deoxynivalenol-Degrading Bacterium Bacillus licheniformis YB9 with the Capability of Modulating Intestinal Microbial Flora of Mice.

Deoxynivalenol (DON) is one of the most prevalent food- and feed-associated mycotoxins. It frequently contaminates agricultural commodities and poses serious threats to human and animal health and leads to tremendous economic losses globally. Much attention has been paid to using microorganisms to detoxify DON. In this study, a Bacillus licheniformis strain named YB9 with a strong ability to detoxify DON was isolated and characterized from a moldy soil sample. YB9 could degrade more than 82.67% of 1 mg/L DON within 48 h at 37 °C and showed strong survival and DON degradation rate at simulated gastric fluid. The effects of YB9 on mice with DON intragastrical administration were further investigated by biochemical and histopathological examination and the gut microbiota was analyzed by 16S rRNA Illumina sequencing technology. The results showed that DON increased the levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and creatinine (Cr), decreased those of immunoglobulin G (IgG) and IgM in serum, and resulted in severe pathological damage of the liver, kidney, and spleen. By contrast, YB9 supplementation obviously inhibited or attenuated the damages caused by DON in mice. In addition, YB9 addition repaired the DON-induced dysbiosis of intestinal flora, characterized by recovering the balance of Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes to the normal level and decreasing the abundance of the potentially harmful bacterium Turicibacter and the excessive Lactobacillus caused by DON. Taken together, DON-degrading strain YB9 might be used as potential probiotic additive for improving food and feed safety and modulating the intestinal microbial flora of humans and animals.

Sarecycline hydrochloride for the treatment of acne vulgaris.

Sarecycline hydrochloride (Seysara) is a novel, narrow-spectrum tetracycline derivative approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in October 2018 for the treatment of inflammatory non-nodular moderate to severe acne vulgaris. It was initially developed by Paratek Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (U.S.) and Allergan plc (U.S.), which later was acquired by Almirall S.A. (Barcelona, Spain). Almirall S.A. obtained U.S. FDA approval of oral sarecycline tablets under the trade name Seysara. Sarecycline exhibits antibacterial activity against important skin/soft tissue pathogens with targeted activity against Cutibacterium acnes--an anaerobic Gram-positive bacterium linked with acne lesions--and also exerts anti-inflammatory effects as do other tetracyclines used in the treatment of acne vulgaris. Interestingly, unlike the broad-spectrum tetracyclines, sarecycline is less potent against aerobic Gram-negative bacilli and anaerobic bacteria associated with endogenous intestinal microbial flora. This provides it with a more specific antibacterial spectra with lower chances of adverse off-target antibacterial effects, thus making it a promising choice of treatment over others in its class. It has also demonstrated low propensity to resistance as compared with other tetracyclines and is also active against tetracycline-resistant Staphylococcus aureus as well as erythromycin- and clindamycin-resistant C. acnes strains. Sarecycline has successfully undergone numerous phase I, phase II and three phase III studies establishing it as a well-tolerated once-daily oral drug available as a tablet for the treatment of patients 9 years of age or above.

The impact of the intestinal microbiome on bone health.

Intestinal microbial flora, known as the second gene pool of the human body, play an important role in immune function, nutrient uptake, and various activities of host cells, as well as in human disease. Intestinal microorganisms are involved in a variety of mechanisms that affect bone health. Gut microbes are closely related to genetic variation, and gene regulation plays an important part in the development of bone-related diseases such as osteoporosis. Intestinal microorganisms can disrupt the balance between bone formation and resorption by indirectly stimulating or inhibiting osteoblasts and osteoclasts. In addition, intestinal microorganisms affect bone metabolism by regulating growth factors or altering bone immune status and can also alter the metabolism of serotonin, cortisol, and sex hormones, thereby affecting bone mass in mice. Moreover, probiotics, antibiotics, and diet can change the composition of the intestinal microbial flora, thus affecting bone health and also potentially helping to treat bone disease. Studying the relationship between intestinal flora and osteoblasts, osteoclasts, and bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells may provide a basis for preventing and treating bone diseases. This paper reviews recent advances in the study of the relationship between intestinal microflora and bone disease.

Neuroprotective effect of erythropoietin on rat model of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy / 中国比较医学杂志

Objective To study the protective effect of recombinant human erythropoietin (EPO) on brain and to explore the changes in the diversity of intestinal microbial flora in neonatal rats with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) by establishing a neonatal rat model of HIE, and to provide an experimental basis for clinical application of EPO in the treatment of neonatal HIE. Methods The HIE model was established in 7-day-old neonatal SD rats. The rats were randomly divided into the HIE model group, EPO-treated group and control group. The changes of nestin expression were detected by immunohistochemistry. Feces of the rats were collected to detect the changes in intestinal microbial flora by 16s rRNA sequencing. Results The expressions of nestin at the same time point in each group were significantly different (P ＜0. 05). The nestin level in the control group was the lowest, that in the EPO-treated group was the highest, and the HIE model group in between. The Shannon-Wiener index of the HIE model group showed a tendency to decrease compared with the control group. Conclusions Exogenous EPO can promote the growth of neural cells in neonatal rats with HIE, indicating a certain protective effect. Meanwhile, the diversity of intestinal microbial flora of the HIE neonatal rats is also changed.

Japanese traditional dietary fungus koji Aspergillus oryzae functions as a prebiotic for Blautia coccoides through glycosylceramide: Japanese dietary fungus koji is a new prebiotic.

BACKGROUND: The Japanese traditional cuisine, Washoku, considered to be responsible for increased longevity among the Japanese, comprises various foods fermented with the non-pathogenic fungus Aspergillus oryzae (koji). We have recently revealed that koji contains an abundant amount of glycosylceramide. Intestinal microbes have significant effect on health. However, the effects of koji glycosylceramide on intestinal microbes have not been studied. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Glycosylceramide was extracted and purified from koji. C57BL/6N mice were fed a diet containing 1 % purified koji glycosylceramide for 1 week. Nutritional parameters and faecal lipid constituents were analyzed. The intestinal microbial flora of mice on this diet was investigated. RESULTS: Ingested koji glycosylceramide was neither digested by intestinal enzymes nor was it detected in the faeces, suggesting that koji glycosylceramide was digested by the intestinal microbial flora. Intestinal microbial flora that digested koji glycosylceramide had an increased ratio of Blautia coccoides. Stimulation of B. coccoides growth by pure koji glycosylceramide was confirmed in vitro. CONCLUSIONS: Koji functions as a prebiotic for B. coccoides through glycosylceramide. Since there are many reports of the effects of B. coccoides on health, an increase in intestinal B. coccoides by koji glycosylceramide might be the connection between Japanese cuisine, intestinal microbial flora, and longevity.

Transcriptome characterization of intestinal microbial flora in different pregnant women using Illumina sequencing / 中国病理生理杂志

[ ABSTRACT] AIM:To investigate the characteristics of the intestinal microbial flora in the pregnant women with congenital heart disease fetus ( PW group) and normal pregnant women ( NW group) .METHODS: Stool samples were collected from 15 NW and 17 PW cases.The bacterial genomic DNA was extracted.The 16S rDNA was amplified by PCR, and the second generation of Illumina sequencing was conducted.RESULTS: We obtained 2 696 276 ( NW group) and 2 445 530 ( PW group) optimized sequences.The coverage was greater than 97%.We obtained 77 243 operational taxono-mic units ( OTUs) in NW group and 75 600 OTUs in PW group after a 97%similarity merge.In NW group, the Chao 1 in-dex and the Shannon index were greater than those in PW group.The diversity analysis of microbial population indicated that they were mainly composed of Firmicutes, Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria.In family, the Bifidobacteriaceae and Cori-obacteriaceae were significantly different through analysis of variance.CONCLUSION: The Bifidobacteriaceae and Cori-obacteriaceae may play an important role in the occurrence of congenital heart disease.