Project description:This work investigates the effects of a prebiotic mix containing lutein, zeaxanthin, and saffron, recognized for their anti-inflammatory properties, on ophthalmological and microbial parameters in neovascular AMD (nAMD) patients.
Project description:BACKGROUND. The incidence of Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) has significantly increased in recent decades and coincides with lifestyle changes that have likely altered the composition of the gut microbiota. Dysbiosis and gut barrier dysfunction are associated with T1D, and notably, our studies have identified an inflammatory state in T1D families that is consistent microbial antigen exposure. METHODS. We conducted a 6-week, single-arm, open-label trial to investigate whether daily multi-strain probiotic (Bifidobacteria, Lactobacillus, and Streptococcus) supplementation could reduce the familial inflammatory state in 25 unaffected siblings of diabetes patients. RESULTS. Probiotic supplementation was found safe and well-tolerated; there were no adverse events and participant adherence was 93%. Bacterial 16S rDNA gene sequencing of stool revealed that community alpha and beta diversity were not altered between the pre- and post-supplement samplings. LEfSe analyses identified post-supplement enrichment of the family Lachnospiraceae, producers of the anti-inflammatory short chain fatty acid butyrate. Systemic inflammation was measured by plasma induced transcription and quantified with a gene ontology-based composite inflammatory index (I.I.com). After supplementation, I.I.com was reduced (p=0.017), and pathway analysis predicted inhibition of IL17A, lipopolysaccharide, NFkB, IL1B, and TNF (Z-score≤-2.0) and activation of IL10RA (Z-score=2.0). Post-supplement plasma levels of IL12p40, IL-13, IL-15, IL-18, CCL2, CCL24 were reduced (p<0.05), while butyrate levels trended 2.4-fold higher (p=0.06). CONCLUSION. There is a substantial need for safe, broadly applicable therapies to reduce T1D susceptibility. This study indicates that investigations of prebiotic and probiotic strategies are warranted as they may be efficacious either alone or in combination with other therapeutic agents.
Project description:The gut and local esophageal microbiome progressively shift from healthy commensal bacteria to inflammatory-linked pathogenic bacteria in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease, Barrett’s esophagus and esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC). However, mechanisms by which microbial communities contribute to reflux-driven EAC remain incompletely understood and challenging to target. Herein, we utilized a rat reflux-induced EAC model to investigate targeting the gut microbiome-esophageal metabolome axis with cranberry proanthocyanidins (C-PAC) to inhibit EAC progression. Sprague Dawley rats, with or without reflux-induction received water or C-PAC ad libitum (700 µg/rat/day) for 25 or 40 weeks. C-PAC exerted prebiotic activity abrogating reflux-induced dysbiosis, and mitigating bile acid metabolism and transport, culminating in significant inhibition of EAC through TLR/NF-κB/TP53 signaling cascades. At the species level, C-PAC mitigated reflux-induced pathogenic bacteria (Streptococcus parasanguinis, Escherichia coli, and Proteus mirabilis). C-PAC specifically reversed reflux-induced bacterial, inflammatory and immune-implicated proteins and genes including Ccl4, Cd14, Crp, Cxcl1, Il6, Il1β, Lbp, Lcn2, Myd88, Nfkb1, Tlr2 and Tlr4 aligning with changes in human EAC progression, as confirmed through public databases. C-PAC is a safe promising dietary constituent that may be utilized alone or potentially as an adjuvant to current therapies to prevent EAC progression through ameliorating reflux-induced dysbiosis, inflammation and cellular damage.
Project description:The bifidogenic effect of the prebiotic inulin and its hydrolysed form (fructoligosaccharide, FOS) is well established since they promote the growth of specific beneficial (probiotic) gut bacteria such as bifidobacteria. Previous studies of the opportunistic nosocomial pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 have shown that inulin and FOS reduce growth, biofilm formation, through decrease of its ability to motility and exotoxin secretion. However, the transcriptional basis for these phenotypic alterations remains unclear. To address this question we conducted RNA-sequence analysis. In most cases changes in the transcript level induced by inulin and FOS were similar. However, a set of transcripts were increased in expression response to inulin, but reduced in the presence of FOS. In the presence of inulin or FOS 260 and 217 transcript levels, respectively, were altered as compared to the control to which no polysaccharide was added. Importantly, changes in transcript levels of 57 and 83 genes were found to be specific for either inulin or FOS, respectively, indicating that both compounds trigger different changes. Gene pathway analysis of different exposure genes (DEG) revealed a specific FOS-mediated reduction in transcript levels of genes that participate in several canonical pathways involved in metabolism and growth, motility, biofilm formation, β-lactam resistance and in the modulation of type III and VI secretion system which were supported by real time quantitative PCR measurements. These results may provide solid information to suggest that FOS selectively modulates the P. aeruginosa PAO1 pathogenecity through distinct signaling pathways.
Project description:The gut microbiome (GMB) plays an important role in developmental processes and has been implicated in the etiology of psychiatric disorders. However, the relationship between GMB and schizophrenia remains unclear. In this article, we review the existing evidence surrounding the gut microbiome in schizophrenia and the potential for antipsychotics to cause adverse metabolic events by altering the gut microbiome. We also evaluate the current evidence for the clinical use of probiotic and prebiotic treatment in schizophrenia. The current data on microbiome alteration in schizophrenia remain conflicting. Longitudinal and larger studies will help elucidate the confounding effect on the microbiome. Current studies help lay the groundwork for further investigations into the role of the GMB in the development, presentation, progression and potential treatment of schizophrenia.
Project description:Transcriptional profiling of probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus strain GG mid-exponential pH-controlled bioreactor cultures before and after exposure to bovine bile (0.2% ox gall). Keywords: bile, stress response
Project description:The global transcriptome of the wild type Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM strain (NCK56) was measured during exponential growth on 11 prebiotic carbohydrates and glucose to identify the specific gene cluster differentially upregulated in response to each carbohydrate.
Project description:The global transcriptome of the Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis Bl-04 was analyzed during exponential growth on 11 prebiotic carbohydrates and glucose to identify the specific gene cluster differentially upregulated in response to each carbohydrate.