Consumption of traditional Sardinian fermented milk promotes changes in the rat gut microbiota composition and functions

ABSTRACT: Introduction: Fermented milk products are part of the staple diet for many Mediterranean populations. Most of these traditional foods are enriched with lactobacilli and other lactic acid bacteria and metabolites resulting from lactose fermentation. There is currently very little scientific knowledge on the influence of diet supplementation with fermented milk on the gut microbiota metabolism and composition. Methods: We integrated 16S rRNA gene-based taxonomic profiling with metaproteomic-based functional analysis to investigate the gut microbiota modifications in rats exposed for 8 weeks to diet supplementation with casu axedu, a traditional fermented milk produced within rural communities in Sardinia (Italy). Results and Discussion: Several taxa showed a significantly increased abundance at the end of the dietary treatment, including Phascolarctobacterium, Prevotella, Blautia glucerasea, and Akkermansia muciniphila, while Bifidobacterium, Lachnoclostridium, Odoribacter, Bacteroides dorei and Dubosiella newyorkensis were decreased compared to the control rats. Metaproteomic analysis highlighted a striking reshape of the Prevotella proteome profile in agreement with its blooming in casu axedu-fed animals, suggesting an increase of the glycolytic activity through the Embden Meyerhof Parnas Pathway over the Entner Doudoroff Pathway. Moreover, an increased production of succinate was observed, which in turn significantly boosted the abundance of Phascolartcobacterium and its production of propionate. Fermented milk consumption was also associated with promotion of microbial synthesis of branched chain essential amino acids L-valine and L-leucine. Finally, metaproteomic data indicated a reduction of bacterial virulence factors and host inflammatory markers, suggesting that the consumption of casu axedu can have beneficial effects on the gut mucosa health.

INSTRUMENT(S):

ORGANISM(S): Rattus Norvegicus (rat) Rat Gut Metagenome

TISSUE(S): Feces

SUBMITTER: Antonio Palomba  

LAB HEAD: Daniela Pagnozzi

PROVIDER: PXD054645 | Pride | 2025-09-29

REPOSITORIES: Pride