International Journal of Molecular Sciences

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12 pages, 1651 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Probiotic Bifidobacterium longum subsp. longum Protects against Cigarette Smoke-Induced Inflammation in Mice

by Kurtis F. Budden, Shaan L. Gellatly, Annalicia Vaughan, Nadia Amorim, Jay C. Horvat, Nicole G. Hansbro, David L. A. Wood, Philip Hugenholtz, Paul G. Dennis, Peter A. B. Wark and Philip M. Hansbro

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(1), 252; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24010252 - 23 Dec 2022

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 2782

Abstract

Bifidobacterium are prominent gut commensals that produce the short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) acetate, and they are often used as probiotics. Connections between the gut and the lung, termed the gut–lung axis, are regulated by the microbiome. The gut–lung axis is increasingly implicated in [...] Read more.

Bifidobacterium are prominent gut commensals that produce the short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) acetate, and they are often used as probiotics. Connections between the gut and the lung, termed the gut–lung axis, are regulated by the microbiome. The gut–lung axis is increasingly implicated in cigarette smoke-induced diseases, and cigarette smoke exposure has been associated with depletion of Bifidobacterium species. In this study, we assessed the impact of acetate-producing Bifidobacterium longum subsp. longum (WT) and a mutant strain with an impaired acetate production capacity (MUT) on cigarette smoke-induced inflammation. The mice were treated with WT or MUT B. longum subsp. longum and exposed to cigarette smoke for 8 weeks before assessments of lung inflammation, lung tissue gene expression and cecal SCFAs were performed. Both strains of B. longum subsp. longum reduced lung inflammation, inflammatory cytokine expression and adhesion factor expression and alleviated cigarette smoke-induced depletion in caecum butyrate. Thus, the probiotic administration of B. longum subsp. longum, irrespective of its acetate-producing capacity, alleviated cigarette smoke-induced inflammation and the depletion of cecal butyrate levels. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances and Future Perspective in Microbiota and Probiotics)

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14 pages, 2086 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Intraspecific Diversity of Microbial Anti-Inflammatory Molecule (MAM) from Faecalibacterium prausnitzii

by Sandrine Auger, Camille Kropp, Esther Borras-Nogues, Wasaporn Chanput, Gwenaelle Andre-Leroux, Oscar Gitton-Quent, Leandro Benevides, Natalia Breyner, Vasco Azevedo, Philippe Langella and Jean-Marc Chatel

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(3), 1705; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23031705 - 1 Feb 2022

Cited by 18 | Viewed by 3515

Abstract

The commensal bacterium Faecalibacterium prausnitzii has unique anti-inflammatory properties, at least some of which have been attributed to its production of MAM, the Microbial Anti-inflammatory Molecule. Previous phylogenetic studies of F. prausnitzii strains have revealed the existence of various phylogroups. In this work, [...] Read more.

The commensal bacterium Faecalibacterium prausnitzii has unique anti-inflammatory properties, at least some of which have been attributed to its production of MAM, the Microbial Anti-inflammatory Molecule. Previous phylogenetic studies of F. prausnitzii strains have revealed the existence of various phylogroups. In this work, we address the question of whether MAMs from different phylogroups display distinct anti-inflammatory properties. We first performed wide-scale identification, classification, and phylogenetic analysis of MAM-like proteins encoded in different genomes of F. prausnitzii. When combined with a gene context analysis, this approach distinguished at least 10 distinct clusters of MAMs, providing evidence for functional diversity within this protein. We then selected 11 MAMs from various clusters and evaluated their anti-inflammatory capacities in vitro. A wide range of anti-inflammatory activity was detected. MAM from the M21/2 strain had the highest inhibitory effect (96% inhibition), while MAM from reference strain A2-165 demonstrated only 56% inhibition, and MAM from strain CNCM4541 was almost inactive. These results were confirmed in vivo in murine models of acute and chronic colitis. This study provides insights into the family of MAM proteins and generates clues regarding the choice of F. prausnitzii strains as probiotics for use in targeting chronic inflammatory diseases. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances and Future Perspective in Microbiota and Probiotics)

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9 pages, 974 KiB

Open AccessCommunication

Strategic Modification of Gut Microbiota through Oral Bacteriotherapy Influences Hypoxia Inducible Factor-1α: Therapeutic Implication in Alzheimer’s Disease

by Laura Bonfili, Chunmei Gong, Francesca Lombardi, Maria Grazia Cifone and Anna Maria Eleuteri

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(1), 357; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23010357 - 29 Dec 2021

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 3493

Abstract

Dysbiosis contributes to Alzheimer’s disease (AD) pathogenesis, and oral bacteriotherapy represents a promising preventative and therapeutic opportunity to remodel gut microbiota and to delay AD onset and progression by reducing neuroinflammation and amyloid and tau proteins aggregation. Specifically, SLAB51 multi-strain probiotic formulation positively [...] Read more.

Dysbiosis contributes to Alzheimer’s disease (AD) pathogenesis, and oral bacteriotherapy represents a promising preventative and therapeutic opportunity to remodel gut microbiota and to delay AD onset and progression by reducing neuroinflammation and amyloid and tau proteins aggregation. Specifically, SLAB51 multi-strain probiotic formulation positively influences multiple neuro-chemical pathways, but exact links between probiotics oral consumption and cerebral beneficial effects remain a gap of knowledge. Considering that cerebral blood oxygenation is particularly reduced in AD and that the decreased neurovascular function contributes to AD damages, hypoxia conditioning represents an encouraging strategy to cure diseases of the central nervous system. In this work, 8-week-old 3xTg-AD and wild-type mice were chronically supplemented with SLAB51 to evaluate effects on hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α), a key molecule regulating host-microbial crosstalk and a potential target in neurodegenerative pathologies. We report evidence that chronic supplementation with SLAB51 enhanced cerebral expression of HIF-1α and decreased levels of prolyl hydroxylase 2 (PHD2), an oxygen dependent regulator of HIF-1α degradation; moreover, it successfully counteracted the increase of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) brain expression and nitric oxide plasma levels in AD mice. Altogether, the results demonstrate an additional mechanism through which SLAB51 exerts neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory effects in this model of AD. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances and Future Perspective in Microbiota and Probiotics)

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22 pages, 1861 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Production of a Potentially Probiotic Product for Animal Feed and Evaluation of Some of Its Probiotic Properties

by Rubén Agregán-Pérez, Elisa Alonso-González, Juan Carlos Mejuto and Nelson Pérez-Guerra

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(18), 10004; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms221810004 - 16 Sep 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2899

Abstract

Nowadays, probiotics have been proposed for substituting antibiotics in animal feed since the European Union banned the latter compounds in 2006 to avoid serious side effects on human health. Therefore, this work aimed to produce a probiotic product for use in animal feed [...] Read more.

Nowadays, probiotics have been proposed for substituting antibiotics in animal feed since the European Union banned the latter compounds in 2006 to avoid serious side effects on human health. Therefore, this work aimed to produce a probiotic product for use in animal feed by fed-batch fermentation of whey with a combination of kefir grains, AGK1, and the fermented whole milk used to activate these kefir grains. The probiotic culture obtained was characterized by high levels of biomass (8.03 g/L), total viability (3.6 × 10⁸ CFU/mL) and antibacterial activity (28.26 Activity Units/mL). Some probiotic properties of the probiotic culture were investigated in vitro, including its survival at low pH values, under simulated gastrointestinal conditions, after freezing in skim milk at −20 °C, and in the commercial feed during storage at room temperature. The viable cells of lactic and acetic acid bacteria and yeasts exhibited higher tolerance to acidic pH and simulated gastrointestinal conditions when the cells were protected with skim milk and piglet feed, compared with washed cells. The results indicated the feasibility of producing a probiotic product at a low cost with a potential application in animal feed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances and Future Perspective in Microbiota and Probiotics)

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16 pages, 2493 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Identification of Potential Probiotics Producing Bacteriocins Active against Listeria monocytogenes by a Combination of Screening Tools

by Christian K. Desiderato, Steffen Sachsenmaier, Kirill V. Ovchinnikov, Jonas Stohr, Susanne Jacksch, Dominique N. Desef, Peter Crauwels, Markus Egert, Dzung B. Diep, Oliver Goldbeck and Christian U. Riedel

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(16), 8615; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22168615 - 10 Aug 2021

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 3682

Abstract

Listeria monocytogenes is an important food-borne pathogen and a serious concern to food industries. Bacteriocins are antimicrobial peptides produced naturally by a wide range of bacteria mostly belonging to the group of lactic acid bacteria (LAB), which also comprises many strains used as [...] Read more.

Listeria monocytogenes is an important food-borne pathogen and a serious concern to food industries. Bacteriocins are antimicrobial peptides produced naturally by a wide range of bacteria mostly belonging to the group of lactic acid bacteria (LAB), which also comprises many strains used as starter cultures or probiotic supplements. Consequently, multifunctional strains that produce bacteriocins are an attractive approach to combine a green-label approach for food preservation with an important probiotic trait. Here, a collection of bacterial isolates from raw cow’s milk was typed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing and MALDI-Biotyping and supernatants were screened for the production of antimicrobial compounds. Screening was performed with live Listeria monocytogenes biosensors using a growth-dependent assay and pHluorin, a pH-dependent protein reporting membrane damage. Purification by cation exchange chromatography and further investigation of the active compounds in supernatants of two isolates belonging to the species Pediococcus acidilactici and Lactococcus garvieae suggest that their antimicrobial activity is related to heat-stable proteins/peptides that presumably belong to the class IIa bacteriocins. In conclusion, we present a pipeline of methods for high-throughput screening of strain libraries for potential starter cultures and probiotics producing antimicrobial compounds and their identification and analysis. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances and Future Perspective in Microbiota and Probiotics)

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Review

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11 pages, 479 KiB

Open AccessReview

Bacteriophages and the Microbiome in Dermatology: The Role of the Phageome and a Potential Therapeutic Strategy

by Nicole Natarelli, Nimrit Gahoonia and Raja K. Sivamani

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(3), 2695; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24032695 - 31 Jan 2023

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3837

Abstract

Bacteriophages, also known as phages, are viruses that selectively target and infect bacteria. In addition to bacterial dysbiosis, dermatologic conditions such as acne, psoriasis, and atopic dermatitis are characterized by a relative reduction in the abundance of phages and the overgrowth of the [...] Read more.

Bacteriophages, also known as phages, are viruses that selectively target and infect bacteria. In addition to bacterial dysbiosis, dermatologic conditions such as acne, psoriasis, and atopic dermatitis are characterized by a relative reduction in the abundance of phages and the overgrowth of the corresponding bacteria. Phages often exhibit high specificity for their targeted bacteria, making phage-replacement therapy a promising therapeutic strategy for the control of pathogenic bacteria in dermatologic disease. Novel therapeutic strategies regulating pathogenic bacteria are especially necessary in light of growing antibiotic resistance. In this review, we aimed to review the medical literature assessing phage dysbiosis and therapeutic trials in dermatology. Ultimately, studies have depicted promising results for the treatment of acne, psoriasis, and atopic dermatitis but are limited by low sample sizes and the omission of control groups in some trials. Additional work is necessary to validate the efficacy depicted in proof-of-concept trials and to further determine optimal treatment vehicles, administration mechanisms, and dosing schedules. This review provides the necessary framework for the assessment of phage efficacy in future trials. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances and Future Perspective in Microbiota and Probiotics)

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19 pages, 1433 KiB

Open AccessReview

Interactions between the Gut Microbiome, Lung Conditions, and Coronary Heart Disease and How Probiotics Affect These

by Trudy M. Wassenaar, Valentina A. Juncos and Kurt Zimmermann

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(18), 9700; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22189700 - 8 Sep 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 4419

Abstract

The importance of a healthy microbiome cannot be overemphasized. Disturbances in its composition can lead to a variety of symptoms that can extend to other organs. Likewise, acute or chronic conditions in other organs can affect the composition and physiology of the gut [...] Read more.

The importance of a healthy microbiome cannot be overemphasized. Disturbances in its composition can lead to a variety of symptoms that can extend to other organs. Likewise, acute or chronic conditions in other organs can affect the composition and physiology of the gut microbiome. Here, we discuss interorgan communication along the gut–lung axis, as well as interactions between lung and coronary heart diseases and between cardiovascular disease and the gut microbiome. This triangle of organs, which also affects the clinical outcome of COVID-19 infections, is connected by means of numerous receptors and effectors, including immune cells and immune-modulating factors such as short chain fatty acids (SCFA) and trimethlamine–N–oxide (TMAO). The gut microbiome plays an important role in each of these, thus affecting the health of the lungs and the heart, and this interplay occurs in both directions. The gut microbiome can be influenced by the oral uptake of probiotics. With an improved understanding of the mechanisms responsible for interorgan communication, we can start to define what requirements an ‘ideal’ probiotic should have and its role in this triangle. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances and Future Perspective in Microbiota and Probiotics)

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16 pages, 326 KiB

Open AccessReview

The Impact of Probiotics on Intestinal Mucositis during Chemotherapy for Colorectal Cancer: A Comprehensive Review of Animal Studies

by Povilas Miknevicius, Ruta Zulpaite, Bettina Leber, Kestutis Strupas, Philipp Stiegler and Peter Schemmer

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(17), 9347; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22179347 - 28 Aug 2021

Cited by 22 | Viewed by 3745

Abstract

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer in females (incidence 16.4/10,000) and the third in males (incidence 23.4/10,000) worldwide. Surgery, chemotherapy (CTx), radiation therapy (RTx), or a combined treatment of those are the current treatment modalities for primary CRC. Chemotherapeutic [...] Read more.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer in females (incidence 16.4/10,000) and the third in males (incidence 23.4/10,000) worldwide. Surgery, chemotherapy (CTx), radiation therapy (RTx), or a combined treatment of those are the current treatment modalities for primary CRC. Chemotherapeutic drug-induced gastrointestinal (GIT) toxicity mainly presents as mucositis and diarrhea. Preclinical studies revealed that probiotic supplementation helps prevent CTx-induced side effects by reducing oxidative stress and proinflammatory cytokine production and promoting crypt cell proliferation. Moreover, probiotics showed significant results in preventing the loss of body weight (BW) and reducing diarrhea. However, further clinical studies are needed to elucidate the exact doses and most promising combination of strains to reduce or prevent chemotherapy-induced side effects. The aim of this review is to overview currently available literature on the impact of probiotics on CTx-induced side effects in animal studies concerning CRC treatment and discuss the potential mechanisms based on experimental studies’ outcomes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances and Future Perspective in Microbiota and Probiotics)

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