Exploring the Preventive and Therapeutic Mechanisms of Probiotics in Chronic Kidney Disease through the Gut-Kidney Axis.

Gut dysbiosis contributes to deterioration of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Probiotics are a potential approach to modulate gut microbiota and gut-derived metabolites to alleviate CKD progression. We aim to provide a comprehensive view of CKD-related gut dysbiosis and a critical perspective on probiotic function in CKD. First, this review addresses gut microbial alterations during CKD progression and the adverse effects associated with the changes in gut-derived metabolites. Second, we conduct a thorough examination of the latest clinical trials involving probiotic intervention to unravel critical pathways via the gut-kidney axis. Finally, we propose our viewpoints on limitations, further considerations, and future research prospects of probiotic adjuvant therapy in alleviating CKD progression. Enhancing our understanding of host-microbe interactions is crucial for gaining precise insights into the mechanisms through which probiotics exert their effects and identifying factors that influence the effectiveness of probiotics in developing strategies to optimize their use and enhance clinical outcomes.

Investigating the Efficacy of Kidney-Protective Lactobacillus Mixture-Containing Pet Treats in Feline Chronic Kidney Disease and Its Possible Mechanism.

Microbiota-based strategies are a novel auxiliary therapeutic and preventative way of moderating chronic kidney disease (CKD). Lactobacillus mixture (Lm) was previously demonstrated to exert a renal-protective function in the CKD mice model. The efficacy of probiotics in pet foods is a relatively new area of study, and thus verifying the potential health benefits is necessary. This study evaluated the efficacy of Lm treats in feline CKD and elucidated the mechanisms underlying host-microbe interactions. CKD cats (2 and 3 stages) were administrated probiotic pet treats daily (10 g) for 8 weeks. The results demonstrated that during the eight weeks of Lm administration, creatinine was reduced or maintained in all cats with CKD. Similarly, gut-derived uremic toxin (GDUT), indoxyl sulfate (IS), were potential clinical significance in IS after Lm treatment (confidence intervals = 90%). The life quality of the cats also improved. Feline gut microbiome data, metabolic functional pathway, and renal function indicator analyses revealed the possible mechanisms involved in modulating CKD feline microbial composition. Further regulation of the microbial functions in amino acid metabolism after Lm administration contributed to downregulating deleterious GDUTs. The current study provides potential adjuvant therapeutic insights into probiotic pet foods or treats for pets with CKD.

A Pilot Study of Nephrogenic Probiotics to Further Improve an Already Stabilized Graft Function After Kidney Transplantation.

BACKGROUND: The majority of kidney recipients are a subset of chronic kidney disease. Our previous study demonstrated that the combination of Lactobacillus plantarum and Lactobacillus paracasei (Lm) had the highest clearance ability of uremic toxins and improved kidney function in a mouse model. This study aimed to evaluate Lm in improving graft function, effects on immunosuppressants, and safety in transplant recipients. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 24 patients. Twelve of them take Lm regularly; we compared the creatinine measurements and estimated glomerular filtration rate 3 months before and after Lm using a 2-tailed Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed-rank test while also evaluating the drug level of immunosuppressants and infection events. Other 12 patients who do not have Lm for evaluation of laboratory calibration and compared the proportion of improving creatinine using Fisher's exact test. RESULTS: The creatinine decreased by 0.06 mg/dL (P = .02), and the estimated glomerular filtration rate increased by 3.1 mL/min/1.73 m2 (P = .03) after Lm supplementation. This pilot study revealed the association of higher incidence (odds ratio 13.3, 95% CI 1.64-77.2, P = .01) of decreasing creatinine in transplant recipients using Lm. Furthermore, results showed a trend of higher trough levels of tacrolimus and sirolimus, which might provide a potential strategy for reducing the dosages of immunosuppressants. CONCLUSION: Our findings revealed an association between a higher incidence of decreasing creatinine in kidney transplant recipients using Lm, which may also provide a potential strategy for reducing the acquired dosages of immunosuppressants.

In vitro ruminal fermentation and cow-to-mouse fecal transplantations verify the inter-relationship of microbiome and metabolome biomarkers: potential to promote health in dairy cows.

Introduction: There are differences in the gut microbiome and metabolome when the host undergoes different physical or pathological conditions. However, the inter-relationship of microbiome and metabolome biomarkers to potentially promote the health of dairy cows needs to be studied. Further, the development of next-generation probiotics for dairy cattle health promotion has not been demonstrated. Objective: In the present study, we identified the microbiome and metabolome biomarkers associated with healthy cows. Methods: We analyzed the relationships of the ruminal microorganism profile and metabolites between healthy and mastitis lactating dairy cows. The roles of bacterial biomarker were further verified by in vitro fermentation and cow-to-mouse fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT). Results: Two species, Ruminococcus flavefaciens and Bifidobacterium longum subsp. longum, and six rumen metabolites were positively correlated with healthy cows by Spearman's correlation analysis. Through in vitro ruminal fermentation, inoculating R. flavefaciens and B. longum subsp. longum showed the upregulation of the levels of putrescine, xanthurenic acid, and pyridoxal in the mastitis ruminal fluid, which confirmed the inter-relationships between these microbiota and metabolites associated with healthy cows. Further, we verified the role of R. flavefaciens and B. longum subsp. longum in promoting health by FMT. The administration of R. flavefaciens and B. longum subsp. longum reduced the death rate and recovered the bodyweight loss of germ-free mice caused by FMT mastitis feces. Discussion: We provided evidence that the bacterial biomarkers alter downstream metabolites. This could indirectly indicate that the two bacterial biomarkers have the potential to be used as next-generation probiotics for dairy cattle, although it needs more evidence to support our hypothesis. Two species, R. flavefaciens and B. longum subsp. longum, with three metabolites, putrescine, xanthurenic acid, and pyridoxal, identified in the ruminal fluid, may point to a new health-promoting and disease-preventing approach for dairy cattle.

Multiomics Strategy Reveals the Mechanism of Action and Ameliorating Effect of Deer Velvet Antler Water Extracts on DSS-Induced Colitis.

Velvet antler is a precious traditional Chinese medicine used for thousands of years. This study investigated the anti-colitis effects of water extracts of Formosan sambar deer (SVAE) and red deer (RVAE) to identify the possible mechanisms and the bioactive compounds using a dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis mouse model. The mechanism of action and the ameliorating effects of SVAE and RVAE on DSS-induced colitis were evaluated using a mouse model. Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-mass/mass and gas chromatography-mass/mass were applied to identify the bioactive components of the SVAE and RVAE water extracts. The results revealed that both high-dose SVAE and RVAE could ameliorate the symptoms of colitis due to reduced systemic inflammatory responses, enhanced intestinal barrier integrity by restoration of tight junction proteins, and improved gut dysbiosis. The potentially bioactive components of SVAE and RVAE were identified as small molecules (<3 kDa). Further identification by untargeted metabolomics analysis suggested that l-carnitine, hypoxanthine, adrenic acid, creatinine, gamma-aminobutyric-lysine, oleic acid, glycine, poly-γ-glutamic acid, and eicosapentaenoic acid in VAWEs might be involved in ameliorating the symptoms of colitis. This study provided evidence for the potential usage of SVAE and RVAE as anti-colitis agents.

A Heat-Killed Probiotic Mixture Regulates Immune T Cells Balance and IgE Production in House Dust Mite Extraction-Induced Atopic Dermatitis Mice.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic and relapsing inflammatory skin disease accompanied with severe itching and skin lesions. Current studies have demonstrated that probiotics can exert an immunomodulatory effect, improve epithelial barrier function, and normalize the composition of gut microbiota. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of probiotics on the immune balance of AD in vivo. We first screened two lactic acid bacteria strains, which were Lactococcus lactis subsp. cremoris MP01 and Lactobacillus paracasei subsp. paracasei MP02, from 10 strains isolated from traditional fermented milk with inflammation regulating activities in vitro. In the house dust mite (HDM) extraction-induced AD mouse model, mice were assigned randomly to four groups: control group (PC), HDM-induced AD group (NC), HDM-induced AD mice with administration of a mixture of heat-killed MP01 and MP02 at a low concentration (LD), and high concentration (HD) groups. Compared with the NC group, the probiotic treatments could relieve the AD symptoms. Moreover, the LD group significantly decreased total and HDM-specific IgE concentration. These results indicated that a combination of heat-killed MP01 and MP02 strains modulated the proportion of IL4+CD4+ T cells and IFNγ+CD4+ T cells in the spleen of HDM extraction-induced AD mice. In conclusion, administration of the heat-killed MP01 and MP02 mixtures appeared to relieve the classic AD signs, decrease serum IgE concentration, and rebalance the population of Th1/Th2 cells in HDM extraction-induced AD mice. The immunomodulatory activities of a combination of heat-killed MP01 and MP02 provided a potential new therapeutic strategy against AD.

Subspecies Classification and Comparative Genomic Analysis of Lactobacillus kefiranofaciens HL1 and M1 for Potential Niche-Specific Genes and Pathways.

(1) Background: Strains HL1 and M1, isolated from kefir grains, have been tentatively identified, based on their partial 16S rRNA gene sequences, as Lactobacillus kefiranofaciens. The two strains demonstrated different health benefits. Therefore, not only the genetic factors exerting diverse functionalities in different L. kefiranofaciens strains, but also the potential niche-specific genes and pathways among the L. kefiranofaciens strains, should be identified. (2) Methods: Phenotypic and genotypic approaches were employed to identify strains HL1 and M1 at the subspecies level. For the further characterization of the probiotic properties of both strains, comparative genomic analyses were used. (3) Results: Both strains were identified as L. kefiranofaciens subsp. kefirgranum. According to the COG function category, dTDP-rhamnose and rhamnose-containing glycans were specifically detected in the L. kefiranofaciens subsp. Kefirgranum genomes. Three unique genes (epsI, epsJ, and epsK) encoding glycosyltransferase in the EPS gene cluster, and the ImpB/MucB/SamB family protein encoding gene were found in HL1 and M1. The specific ability to degrade arginine via the ADI pathway was found in HL1. The presence of the complete glycogen metabolism (glg) operon in the L. kefiranofaciens strains suggested the importance of glycogen synthesis to enable colonization in kefir grains and extend survival under environmental stresses. (4) Conclusions: The obtained novel information on the potential genes and pathways for polysaccharide synthesis and other functionalities in our HL1 and M1 strains could be applied for further functionality predictions for potential probiotic screening.

Probiotic Lactiplantibacillus plantarum Tana Isolated from an International Weightlifter Enhances Exercise Performance and Promotes Antifatigue Effects in Mice.

Exercise causes changes in the gut microbiota, and in turn, the composition of the gut microbiota affects exercise performance. In addition, the supplementation of probiotics is one of the most direct ways to change the gut microbiota. In recent years, the development and application of human-origin probiotics has gradually attracted attention. Therefore, we obtained intestinal Lactiplantibacillus plantarum "Tana" from a gold-medal-winning weightlifter, who has taken part in various international competitions such as the World Championships and the Olympic Games, to investigate the benefits of Tana supplementation for improving exercise performance and promoting antifatigue effects in mice. A total of 40 male Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) mice were divided into four groups (10 mice/group): (1) vehicle (0 CFU/mice/day), (2) Tana-1× (6.15 × 107 CFU/mice/day), (3) Tana-2× (1.23 × 108 CFU /mice/day), and (4) Tana-5× (3.09 × 108 CFU/mice/day). After four weeks of Tana supplementation, we found that the grip strength, endurance exercise performance, and glycogen storage in the liver and muscle were significantly improved compared to those in the vehicle group (p < 0.05). In addition, supplementation with Tana had significant effects on fatigue-related biochemical markers; lactate, ammonia, and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels and creatine kinase (CK) activity were significantly lowered (p < 0.05). We also found that the improved exercise performance and antifatigue benefits were significantly dose-dependent on increasing doses of Tana supplementation (p < 0.05), which increased the abundance and ratio of beneficial bacteria in the gut. Taken together, Tana supplementation for four weeks was effective in improving the gut microbiota, thereby enhancing exercise performance, and had antifatigue effects. Furthermore, supplementation did not cause any physiological or histopathological damage.

Development of Next-Generation Probiotics by Investigating the Interrelationships between Gastrointestinal Microbiota and Diarrhea in Preruminant Holstein Calves.

(1) Background: We aimed to isolate and identify potential next-generation probiotics (NGP) by investigating the interrelationships between gastrointestinal microbiota and diarrhea in preruminant Holstein calves. (2) Material and methods: Twenty preruminant Holstein calves were divided into healthy and diarrheic groups after the combination outcomes of veterinary diagnosis and fecal scores. The fecal microbiome, plasma cytokines, plasma immunoglobulin (Ig) G and haptoglobin were analyzed. The potential probiotic bacteria were identified by comparing the microbiota difference between healthy and diarrheic calves and correlation analysis with fecal scores and inflammatory markers. The identified bacteria were also isolated for further evaluation for antimicrobial activities and immunoregulatory effects. (3) Results: Microbiota analysis suggested that Ruminococcaceae_UCG_014, Bifidobacterium and Pseudoflavonifractor positively correlated with bovine IgG and negatively correlated with fecal score; inflammatory factors, bovine HP, and IL-8 were classified as beneficial bacteria contributing to the health of the calves. The alternation of gut microbial composition also induced changes in the functional gene enrichment of gut microbiota in calves. The gathering of microbiomic data strongly indicated the possible beneficial effects of Bifidobacterium longum subsp. longum, expected to develop as NGP. After isolation and evaluation of the potential functionality in vitro, two specific bifidobacterial strains demonstrated antimicrobial activities and immunoregulatory effects. (4) Conclusions: The results provide a new probiotic searching approach for preventing gastrointestinal disorders in preruminant calves. Further animal study is necessary to verify the results.

Characterization of exopolysaccharide-producing lactic acid bacteria from Taiwanese ropy fermented milk and their application in low-fat fermented milk.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to characterize the exopolysaccharides (EPS)-producing lactic acid bacteria from Taiwanese ropy fermented milk (TRFM) for developing a clean label low-fat fermented milk. METHODS: Potential isolates from TRFM were selected based on the Gram staining test and observation of turbid suspension in the culture broth. Random amplified polymorphic DNA-polymerase chain reaction, 16S rRNA gene sequencing, and API CHL 50 test were used for strain identification. After evaluation of EPS concentration, target strains were introduced to low-fat milk fermentation for 24 h. Fermentation characters were checked: pH value, acidity, viable count, syneresis, and viscosity. Sensory evaluation of fermented products was carried out by 30 volunteers, while the storage test was performed for 21 days at 4°C. RESULTS: Two EPS-producing strains (APL15 and APL16) were isolated from TRFM and identified as Lactococcus (Lc.) lactis subsp. cremoris. Their EPS concentrations in glucose and lactose media were higher than other published strains of Lc. lactis subsp. cremoris. Low-fat fermented milk separately prepared with APL15 and APL16 reached pH 4.3 and acidity 0.8% with a viable count of 9 log colony-forming units/mL. The physical properties of both products were superior to the control yogurt, showing significant improvements in syneresis and viscosity (p<0.05). Our low-fat products had appropriate sensory scores in appearance and texture according to sensory evaluation. Although decreasing viable cells of strains during the 21-day storage test, low-fat fermented milk made by APL15 exhibited stable physicochemical properties, including pH value, acidity, syneresis and sufficient viable cells throughout the storage period. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that Lc. lactis subsp. cremoris APL15 isolated from TRFM had good fermentation abilities to produce low-fat fermented milk. These data indicate that EPS-producing lactic acid bacteria have great potential to act as natural food stabilizers for low-fat fermented milk.

Investigating the Reciprocal Interrelationships among the Ruminal Microbiota, Metabolome, and Mastitis in Early Lactating Holstein Dairy Cows.

Mastitis in dairy cow significantly affects animal performance, ultimately reducing profitability. The reciprocal interrelationships among ruminal microbiota, metabolome, and mastitis combining early inflammatory factors (serum proinflammatory cytokines) in lactating dairy cows has not been explored, thus, this study evaluated these reciprocal interrelationships in early lactating Holstein dairy cows to identify potential microbial biomarkers and their relationship with ruminal metabolites. The ruminal fluid was sampled from 8 healthy and 8 mastitis cows for the microbiota and metabolite analyses. The critical ruminal microbial biomarkers and metabolites related to somatic cell counts (SCC) and serum proinflammatory cytokines were identified by the linear discriminant analysis effect size (LEfSe) algorithm and Spearman's correlation analysis, respectively. The SCC level and proinflammatory cytokines positively correlated with Sharpea and negatively correlated with Ruminococcaceae UCG-014, Ruminococcus flavefaciens, and Treponema saccharophilum. Furthermore, the metabolites xanthurenic acid, and 1-(1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl) ethan-1-ol positively correlated with microbial biomarkers of healthy cows, whereas, xanthine, pantothenic acid, and anacardic acid were negatively correlated with the microbial biomarkers of mastitis cows. In conclusion, Ruminococcus flavefaciens and Treponema saccharophilum are potential strains for improving the health of dairy cows. The current study provides a novel perspective to assist in targeting the ruminal microbiota with preventive/therapeutic strategies against inflammatory diseases in the future.

Coculture Strategy for Developing Lactobacillus paracasei PS23 Fermented Milk with Anti-Colitis Effect.

Few studies have documented the effects of fermented milk on intestinal colitis, which are mediated by regulating various microbial and inflammatory processes. Here, we investigated the effects of fermented milk with Lactobacillus paracasei PS23 on intestinal epithelial cells in vitro and dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis in vivo. As L. paracasei PS23 grew poorly in milk, a coculture strategy with yogurt culture was provided to produce fermented milk (FM). The results indicated that the coculture exhibited a symbiotic effect, contributing to the better microbial and physicochemical property of the fermented milk products. We further evaluated the anti-colitis effect of fermented milk with L. paracasei PS23 in vitro. Both PS23-fermented milk (PS23 FM) and its heat-killed counterpart (HK PS23 FM) could protect or reverse the increased epithelial permeability by strengthening the epithelial barrier function in vitro by increasing transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER). In vivo analysis of the regulation of intestinal physiology demonstrated that low-dose L. paracasei PS23-fermented ameliorated DSS-induced colitis, with a significant attenuation of the bleeding score and reduction of fecal calprotectin levels. This anti-colitis effect may be exerted by deactivating the inflammatory cascade and strengthening the tight junction through the modification of specific cecal bacteria and upregulation of short-chain fatty acids. Our findings can clarify the role of L. paracasei PS23 in FM products when cocultured with yogurt culture and can elucidate the mechanisms of the anti-colitis effect of L. paracasei PS23 FM, which may be considered for therapeutic intervention.

Co-Culture Strategy of Lactobacillus kefiranofaciens HL1 for Developing Functional Fermented Milk.

Our previous studies indicated that Lactobacillus kefiranofaciens HL1, isolated from kefir grain, has strong antioxidant activities and anti-aging effects. However, this strain is difficult to use in isolation when manufacturing fermented products due to poor viability in milk. Thus, the purpose of this study was to apply a co-culture strategy to develop a novel probiotic fermented milk rich in L. kefiranofaciens HL1. Each of four selected starter cultures was co-cultured with kefir strain HL1 in different media to evaluate their effects on microbial activity and availability of milk fermentation. The results of a colony size test on de Man, Rogosa and Sharpe (MRS) agar agar, microbial viability, and acidification performance in MRS broth and skimmed milk suggested that Lactococcus lactis subsp. cremoris APL15 is a suitable candidate for co-culturing with HL1. We then co-cultured HL1 and APL15 in skimmed milk and report remarkable improvement in fermentation ability and no negative impact on the viability of strain HL1 or textural and rheological properties of the milk. Through a co-culture strategy, we have improved the viability of kefir strain HL1 in fermented skimmed milk products and successfully developed a novel milk product with a unique flavor and sufficient probiotics.

In vitro effects of velvet antler water extracts from Formosan Sambar deer and red deer on barrier integrity in Caco-2 cell.

Background: The mucus integrity and abnormal inflammatory response are the crucial biomarker of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Velvet antler (VA) has been used as traditional Chinese medicines for many years. Anti-inflammatory property was demonstrated via suppression of cyclooxygenase-2 and cytokines protein expression. And it has further proved to promote wound healing in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats model. The aforementioned functionalities of VA extracts may be associated with the treatment of IBD. Thus, the aim of present study was to evaluate the effect of velvet antler water extracts form Formosan Sambar deer (Rusa unicolor swinhoei, SVAE) and red deer (Cervus elaphus, RVAE) on the barrier function and to investigate the possible mechanism using in vitro model. Methods: Human colonic epithelial cell models (Caco-2) were co-cultured with various concentrations of both SVAE and RVAE (250-500 µg mL-1) in dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis model. Trans-epithelial electrical resistance (TEER) value and the macromolecule permeability of Fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-labeled dextran were measured to evaluate the integrity of monolayer of Caco-2. Western blotting was performed for analysis of protein expressions of occludin, Zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1), claudin-1, claudin-2 and myosin light chain kinase (MLCK). The cytotoxicity was conducted by MTT assay. Results: Results indicated that both SVAE and RVAE could enhance integrity of monolayer in dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colonic epithelial cell model (Caco-2) through reducing the decline of trans-epithelial electrical resistance (TEER) and macromolecule permeability at the concentration of 250 µg mL-1. RVAE significantly increased the expression of tight junction proteins (occludin and ZO-1) while SVAE significantly reduced the activity of MLCK (P < 0.05.). Elevated C-C chemokine ligand 20 (CCL20) production suggested that both SVAE and RVAE could enhance the repair of epithelial cell. Besides, MTT assay revealed that both extracts showed no cytotoxicity. Conclusion: Thus, SVAE and RVAE supplementation may attenuate barrier damage by enhancing the occludin and ZO-1 protein expression, decreasing MLCK expression, promoting the CCL20 production. In the future, animal study is needed for further confirmation.

Culturing-Enriched Metabarcoding Analysis of the Oryctes rhinoceros Gut Microbiome.

Wood-feeding insects should have a source of enzymes like cellulases to digest their food. These enzymes can be produced by the insect, or by microbes living in the wood and/or inside the insect gut. The coconut rhinoceros beetle, Oryctes rhinoceros, is a pest whose digestive microbes are of considerable interest. This study describes the compartments of the O. rhinoceros gut and compares their microbiomes using culturing-enriched metabarcoding. Beetle larvae were collected from a coconut grove in southern Taiwan. Gut contents from the midgut and hindgut were plated on nutrient agar and selective carboxymethylcellulose agar plates. DNA was extracted from gut and fat body samples and 16S rDNA metabarcoding performed to identify unculturable bacteria. Cellulase activity tests were performed on gut fluids and microbe isolates. The midgut and hindgut both showed cellulolytic activity. Bacillus cereus, Citrobacter koseri, and the cellulolytic fungus Candida xylanilytica were cultured from both gut sections in most larvae. Metabarcoding did not find Bacillus cereus, and found that either Citrobacter koseri or Paracoccus sp. were the dominant gut microbes in any given larva. No significant differences were found between midgut and hindgut microbiomes. Bacillus cereus and Citrobacter koseri are common animal gut microbes frequently found in Oryctes rhinoceros studies while Candida xylanilytica and the uncultured Paracoccus sp. had not been identified in this insect before. Some or all of these may well have digestive functions for the beetle, and are most likely acquired from the diet, meaning they may be transient commensalists rather than obligate mutualists. Broader collection efforts and tests with antibiotics will resolve ambiguities in the beetle-microbe interactions.

The Rumen Specific Bacteriome in Dry Dairy Cows and Its Possible Relationship with Phenotypes.

Most microbiome studies of dairy cows have investigated the compositions and functions of rumen microbial communities in lactating dairy cows. The importance of the relationships among hosts, microbiota, diet composition, and milk production remains unknown in dry dairy cows. Thus, in the present study, the composition of the rumen microbiome in cows from three dairy farms was investigated to identify core bacteria contributing to various physiological roles during rumen fermentation in dry dairy cows. The results indicated that ruminal fluid in dry dairy cows from different regional farms had core rumen microbiota that could be clearly distinguished from that of cows of the other farms. Further identification of key microorganisms associated with each farm revealed that Prevotella, Methanobrevibacter, Pseudobutyrivibrio, Ruminococcus, Bacteroides, and Streptococcus were major contributors. Spearman's correlation indicated that the abundance of genera such as Prevotella and Ruminococcus in dry dairy cows could indicate milk yield in the previous lactating period. Functional pathway analysis of the rumen bacterial communities demonstrated that amino acid metabolism and carbohydrate metabolism were the major pathways. Our findings provide knowledge of the composition and predicted functions of rumen microbiota in dry dairy cows from regional farms, which underscore the importance of the relationships among hosts, microbiota, diet composition, and milk production.

Investigating the Mechanistic Differences of Obesity-Inducing Lactobacillus kefiranofaciens M1 and Anti-obesity Lactobacillus mali APS1 by Microbolomics and Metabolomics.

Many studies have investigated the anti-obesity effects of probiotics in animal models and humans. However, few studies have focused on the mechanisms of obesity-inducing probiotics. In a previous study, we demonstrated that specific bacterial strains isolated from kefir, Lactobacillus kefirnofaciens M1 and Lactobacillus mali APS1, possess obesity and anti-obesity effects, respectively, in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mice. Thus, in the present study, we systematically investigated whether APS1 and M1 affect energy homeostasis and lipid metabolism in HFD-induced obese mice and how this might be achieved. We observed that the M1/APS1 intervention influenced fat accumulation by regulating adipogenesis and inflammation-related marker expression both in vitro and in a HFD induced C57BL/6J mice model. We also observed putative links between key taxa and possible metabolic processes of the gut microbiota. Notably, families Christensenellaceae and S24_7 were negatively correlated with body weight gain through increase in the essential esterized carnitine for energy expenditure. These results suggest the importance of specific probiotic interventions affecting leanness and obesity of subjects under a HFD, which are operated by modulating the tripartite relationship among the host, microbiota, and metabolites.

A novel immobilized cell system involving Taiwanese kefir microorganisms and sugar cane pieces for fermented milk production.

The objective of this study was to develop a novel immobilized system using kefir lactic acid bacteria and sugar cane pieces for the production of fermented milk. Lactobacillus kefiranofaciens HL1, Lactobacillus kefiri HL2, Leuconostoc mesenteroides HL3, and Lactococcus lactis HL4 were isolated from Taiwanese kefir grains and immobilized on pieces of sugar cane using adsorption. Scanning electron micrographs of the cell-immobilized sugar cane pieces (CISCP) showed that the microorganisms were embedded within the porous structures of the sugar cane pieces. During 28 cycles of repeated batch fermentation, viable cells on both sugar cane pieces and fermented products were maintained at 10 log cfu/g (cfu/mL). Random amplified polymorphic DNA PCR analysis revealed that Leu. mesenteroides HL3 (29-43%) and Lc. lactis HL4 (31-49%) were predominant on the CISCP, and the fermented samples had 79% Lc. lactis HL4. When tracking fermentation parameters, the data on the microbial, chemical, and physical properties of the fermented milk suggested that the CISCP had stable fermentative ability over the course of successive fermentations. We found an enhancement of the acid-producing ability of CISCP as the number of fermentations increased, with a significant growth in titratable acidity from 0.65 to 0.81% by the end.

Alleviating chronic kidney disease progression through modulating the critical genus of gut microbiota in a cisplatin-induced Lanyu pig model.

In the present study, we investigated the effects of Probiotic mix 1 (Pm1) with Lactobacillus plantarum subsp. plantarum, Lactobacillusparacasei subsp. paracasei, and Streptococcus salivarius subsp. thermophilus on preventing renal injury using a chronic kidney disease (CKD) minipig model previously developed in our lab using cisplatin-induced CKD in Lanyu pigs. The results indicated that the high dosage Pm1 (H.Pm1) group demonstrated lower incidence of lesions, including atrophy, mononuclear inflammation, cell infiltration, and interstitial fibrosis in renal tubules in hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and Masson's trichrome stain. We further systematically investigated the preventing effect of Pm1. The H.Pm1 group decreased inflammatory cytokines production and increased the level of superoxide dismutase activity in plasma. The pigs fed with high dosage of Pm1 group also showed reduced both creatinine and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) when compared with the cisplatin group. Microbiota results indicated that Pm1-intervention not only reduced the abundance of Gram-negative bacteria but also affected the abundance of specific genera biomarkers, Anaerovibrio, possible_genus_SK018, Holdemanella, and Lachnospiraceae_UCG_010 in gut microbiota, leading to decreased inflammation and apoptosis in the kidney and further prevention/alleviation of the symptoms of CKD.

Author Correction: Diversity in gut bacterial community of school-age children in Asia.

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