Akkermansia muciniphila and its role in regulating host functions

Hyperforin-induced gut microbiota metabolite carbocysteine protects against depressive-like behaviors in mice by modulating the colonic mucus barrier

OBJECTIVE

Depression affects millions, and current treatments have limitations, necessitating new approaches. Earlier research confirms Hyperforin's ability to reduce anhedonic behaviors in mice and modulate gut microbiota. This study aims to identify specific metabolic changes induced by Hyperforin that could illuminate its impact on gut microbiome metabolism, possibly uncovering novel metabolites for developing antidepressant therapies.

METHODS

Following the chronic stress model, untargeted metabolomic analysis of fecal samples was conducted to identify metabolic changes induced by Hyperforin. Bioinformatics tools analyzed the origins of differentially expressed metabolites and their correlation with Akkermansia muciniphila and Muribaculum intestinale. The significant metabolite Carbocysteine was further investigated for its antidepressant effects using behavioral assays in a mouse model of depression. Additionally, the response of the colonic mucus barrier was evaluated using Periodic Acid-Schiff (PAS) staining, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA).

RESULTS

Hyperforin significantly altered fecal metabolite profiles in stressed mice, with a notable shift in 239 metabolites mainly associated with co-metabolism pathways and microbiota-specific processes. Among these, Carbocysteine emerged as a key metabolite linked to beneficial bacteria Akkermansia muciniphila and Muribaculum intestinale, with its levels significantly elevated following Hyperforin treatment. Behavioral assessments indicated that Carbocysteine supplementation ameliorated depressive-like behaviors in the chronic restraint stress mouse model. It also enhanced colonic mucus production and integrity.

CONCLUSION

Our research highlights Hyperforin's role in modulating gut microbiota metabolism and identifies Carbocysteine as a potential antidepressant. These findings advance our understanding of the gut-brain axis (GBA) in depression and pave the way for developing new therapeutics.

Beneficial effects of Akkermansia muciniphila on benign prostatic hyperplasia and metabolic syndrome

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a prevalent condition associated with male lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and is influenced by metabolic syndrome (MetS) and gut microbiota. Akkermansia muciniphila (AKK) is a gut commensal that has emerged as a potential modulator of metabolic health and inflammatory conditions. This study investigated the correlation between Akkermansia abundance and BPH severity and metabolic indices in fecal and serum samples from BPH patients and healthy donors using 16S rRNA sequencing and metabolic profiling. A testosterone-induced BPH mouse model was used to evaluate the effects of AKK administration on BPH severity and metabolic indices. Altered gut microbiota diversity was observed in BPH patients, with a significant reduction in Akkermansia abundance. Akkermansia abundance was negatively correlated with BPH symptom score, serum lipopolysaccharides (LPS), body mass index (BMI), blood glucose, total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). AKK administration in BPH mice resulted in histopathological improvements, reduced prostate index, and amelioration of glandular hyperplasia. Although changes in blood glucose, TC, and LDL-C levels post-AKK supplementation were not statistically significant, a trend toward improvement was noted. Additionally, AKK administration led to a reduction in systemic inflammation markers and restoration of intestinal barrier integrity. In conclusion, AKK might modulate the gut microbiota-prostate axis and MetS. AKK's influence on systemic inflammation and gut barrier function suggests its therapeutic promise in managing BPH and associated metabolic disorders. These findings pave the way for novel microbiota-targeted therapies in the treatment of BPH and MetS.

Traditional Chinese herbal formulas modulate inflammatory mediators, antioxidant enzyme levels, and ruminal microbiota composition in postpartum female Yaks

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is an emerging area due to increased antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The objective of this research was to explore the antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory potential of three traditional Chinese herbal formulas (TCHFs), along with variations in rumen bacteria. In this study, forty postpartum (80 ± 15) female yaks after the calves had weaned (PWFs) were divided into three experimental groups, which were offered basal feed with 5% (95% basal diet) TCHF1 (DE group), 5% TCHF2 (DF group) and 5% TCHF3 (DG group), and fourth, control group (DH group), fed only a basal diet for 30 days. Following blood and rumen fluid samples on the 15th and 30th day, ELISA testing was performed to check antioxidant enzyme levels and inflammatory mediators. The results indicated that TCHF2 significantly upregulated the interleukin-10 (IL-10) (p < 0.05). Additionally, 16 S rRNA sequencing results showed that TCHF2 significantly enhanced Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes ratio (F/B) at the phylum level. On day 15th, phylum Actinobacteria, SR1, Cyanobacteria, and Armatimonadetes were found to be significantly (p < 0.05) different, while, at the genus level, Butyrivibrio, CF231, YRC22, Moraxella, Clostridium, etc. were significantly different (p < 0.05). On day 30, phylum SR1, Armatimonadetes, Chlorobi, and genus Coprococcus, Oscillospira, Selenomonas, L7A_E11, Clostridium, etc. were found to be significantly different (p < 0.05). This study concluded that TCHF2 is the most effective one among all.

Practical Application of Evidence-Based Dietary Therapy in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: The DELECTABLE Program

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES

Exclusive Enteral Nutrition (EEN) and the Crohn's Disease Exclusion Diet (CDED) have been shown to induce remission in Crohn's disease. Low-sulphur, plant-based diets are being explored for ulcerative colitis, and wholefood, low-additive approaches are emerging as significant. Although Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) patients modify their diet, evidence for tolerability and benefit outside clinical trials is limited. The DELECTABLE program aimed to assess satisfaction, adherence, and efficacy of dietary therapies as part of IBD care.

METHODS

In this dietitian-led, open-label, prospective study, patients with Crohn's disease were offered the CDED or a whole-food, additive-free diet (WFD), and patients with ulcerative colitis were offered a low-sulphur, plant-based diet (UCD) or WFD. Primary outcomes were 12-week diet satisfaction (modified DSAT-28) and diet adherence, including food additive intake. Secondary outcomes were quality of life (QoL) (IBDQ-9), disease activity (CDAI for Crohn's disease, partial Mayo score for ulcerative colitis), and biochemical markers (CRP, faecal calprotectin). Analyses were conducted within, rather than between, diet arms due to the non-random nature of the study. Diet adherence and disease activity change across time points (baseline, week 6, week 12) were assessed using repeated measures ANOVA or Friedman's test, with pairwise paired t-test or Wilcoxon Signed-Rank test. Diet satisfaction and quality of life changes across time (baseline/week 1, week 12) were assessed using a paired t-test or Wilcoxon Signed-Rank test.

RESULTS

Of 165 referrals, 76 patients enrolled, with 64 completing the 12-week program (CDED: n = 15, WFD: n = 42, UCD: n = 7). Diet satisfaction was initially high and remained stable over time on CDED (p = 0.212) and improved on WFD (p = 0.03). Patient- and dietitian-rated adherence was high at baseline and did not significantly decrease on any diet arm (p > 0.349). Food additive intake decreased on WFD (p = 0.009). QoL improved on CDED and WFD (p < 0.001). CRP, calprotectin, and CDAI were reduced on CDED (p < 0.045), and CDAI and partial Mayo were reduced on WFD (p < 0.027).

CONCLUSIONS

Well-balanced therapeutic diets are feasible and well-accepted by patients with IBD, with a promising impact on disease activity.

Variations in Intestinal Microbiota Among Three Species in the Cervidae Family Under the Same Feeding Conditions

The breeding of large animals in the family Cervidae in China contributes to achieving two tasks: restoring the provenance of wild populations and providing raw materials for traditional Chinese medicine. Currently, red deer (Cervus elaphus), sika deer (C. nippon), and white-lipped deer (C. albirostris) maintain a large number of breeding populations. Some studies on the relationship between the intestinal microbiota and the feed of these deer have been conducted; however, owing to differences in feeding conditions between studies, it has been impossible to compare the intestinal microecology and related adaptability between species. Therefore, the present study is aiming to investigate whether the differences in intestinal microbiota of the three deer species are related to the distance of phylogenetic relationships under the same feeding environment. On this basis, we discuss whether there are differences in the adaptability of the intestinal microbiota of the three deer species to feed nutrients, deepen the understanding of the relationship between the three deer intestinal microbiota and feed nutrition, and provide basic data for improving the scientific feeding of the three deer species. In this study, 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing technology was utilized to analyze the intestinal microbiota in feces of the abovementioned healthy deer species. The results of this study indicated that the intestinal microbiota diversity and relative abundance in female white-lipped deer (FWLD) were significantly lower than those in female sika deer (FSD) and female red deer (FRD; p < 0.05); however, there was no significant difference between the latter two groups (p > 0.05). The community compositions of the intestinal microbiota in FSD and FRD were more similar, whereas that of FWLD was significantly different from those of the first two groups. Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes were the most abundant phyla in the intestinal microbiota of all three deer species, and Ruminococcceae_UCG-005 was the most abundant genus. No known obligatory pathogenic bacteria were observed in any sample. The relative abundance of the operational taxonomic units Christensenellaceae_R-7_group, Treponema_2, and Akkermansia exhibited significant differences among FSD, FRD, and FWLD, respectively. Therefore, the phylogenetic relatedness of the three deer species appears to play a major role in their intestinal microecology under the same feeding conditions-the greater the phylogenetic relatedness between hosts, the more similar is their intestinal microbiota. In addition, the PICRUSt (Phylogenetic Investigation of Communities by Reconstruction of Unobserved States) function prediction results indicated that FSD were less capable than FRD and FWLD in the functional category of nutrient metabolism, and FWLD were less capable than FSD and FRD in the functional category of intestinal absorption. These results indicated that there may be differences in the nutritional adaptation abilities of the three deer species under different feeding conditions. In summary, these results revealed the differences in intestinal microbiota among the three deer species under the same food conditions, indicating that the intestinal microbiota of the three deer species had significant differences in food adaptation. Based on this, the nutritional supply of feed for the three deer should consider the species differences.

Dialdehyde starch-epicatechin gallate conjugate alleviates inflammation in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW264.7 cells and dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis mice

In this study, epicatechin gallate (ECG), a natural anti-inflammatory agent, was conjugated onto dialdehyde starch (DAS) to achieve high physiological stability. The anti-inflammatory effect of DAS-ECG conjugate was evaluated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 cells and dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis mice models. Results showed that 25-800 μg/mL of DAS-ECG conjugate was non-cytotoxic to RAW264.7 cells. DAS-ECG conjugate effectively inhibited the abnormal morphology, the production of nitric oxide, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and reactive oxygen species, and the apoptosis of LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells in a dose-dependent manner. DAS-ECG conjugate significantly reduced the disease activity index, thymus atrophy, spleen enlargement, colon shortening and colon damage of DSS-induced colitis mice. Meanwhile, DAS-ECG conjugate remarkably reduced the levels of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β and malondialdehyde but increased the levels of superoxide dismutase and glutathione in the colon tissue of DSS-induced colitis mice. Moreover, DAS-ECG conjugate increased the relative abundance of beneficial bacteria (Akkermansia, Candidatus_Saccharimonas, unclassified_f_Muribaculaceae, Alistipes and Parabacteroides), promoted the production of short-chain fatty acids, and decreased the relative abundance of harmful bacterium (norank_f_Ruminococcaceae) in DSS-induced colitis mice. Therefore, DAS-ECG conjugate could be considered as a promising anti-inflammatory agent.

Characteristics of the gut microbiome of Swiss elite athletes with a spinal cord injury: An exploratory study

OBJECTIVES

To illustrate and explore associations between the gut microbiome and spinal cord injury (SCI) characteristics, physical training, dietary intake, body composition, and blood biomarkers of elite Swiss athletes.

DESIGN AND SETTING

Baseline data analysis of athletes with SCI who participated in a pilot trial (NCT04659408) in the Swiss Paraplegic Center, Nottwil, Switzerland.

PARTICIPANTS

Elite athletes, five males, and six females, with SCI who competed internationally.

OUTCOME MEASURES

We conducted a differential abundance analysis and measured the alpha and beta diversity of the gut microbiome.

RESULTS

The athletes' median age was 34.5 years. Six had traumatic SCI and five had a spina bifida. The athletes competed in para-cycling (5), wheelchair athletics (3), and wheelchair tennis (3). A higher duration of training per week was positively associated with Akkermansia and Akkermansiaceae but negatively associated with Prevotellaceae. Muribaculaceae was negatively associated with the average number of trainings per week. Waist circumference is negatively associated with Butyricimonas. Significant differences in the alpha diversity were found with sex, gastrointestinal quality of life index (GIQLI) scores, total caloric intake, total fat intake, total carbohydrate intake, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP). Beta diversity differences were found with impairment of the sympathetic nervous system of the gut at the genus level and HbA1c at the family level.

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides insight into the gut microbiome of athletes with SCI. Our results were similar to those found in athletes without SCI. Further replication is needed to confirm the relationships of organisms observed in the gut of athletes with SCI.

Non-starch polysaccharides and health: gut-target organ axis influencing obesity

Obesity is recognized as a global epidemic that can result in changes in the human body and metabolism. Accumulating evidence indicates that gut microbiota (GM) can affect the development of obesity. The GM not only plays a crucial role in digesting and absorbing nutrients, but also in maintaining the overall health of the host. Dietary supplements such as non-starch polysaccharides are mainly fermented by the GM in the colon. Recent findings suggest that shaping the GM through the prebiotic function of non-starch polysaccharides may be a viable strategy against obesity. In this paper, the effects of non-starch polysaccharides on host health, together with their prebiotic function influencing the GM to control obesity via the gut-target organ axis, are reviewed. Potential perspectives of non-starch polysaccharides exhibiting anti-obesity effects via the gut-target organ axis are proposed for future research.

Graphical abstract

Perturbed gut microbiota and serum metabolites are associated with progressive renal fibrosis

Introduction

The intricate pathogenesis of renal fibrosis necessitates identifying biomarkers at various stages to facilitate targeted therapeutic interventions, which would enhance patient survival rates and significantly improve prognosis.

Methods

We investigated the changes in gut microbiota and serum metabolites during the early, middle, and late stages of renal fibrosis in rats using 16S rDNA sequencing and UPLC-QTOF/MS-based metabolomics.

Results

We identified 5, 21, and 14 potential gut microbial markers and 19, 23, and 31 potential metabolic markers in the MOD1, MOD2, and MOD4 groups, respectively. Bifidobacterium was identified as a shared microbial marker between the MOD1 and MOD2 groups; Prevotellaceae_NK3B31_group and Bacteroides were identified as shared microbial markers between the MOD2 and MOD4 groups. The pathways of arachidonic acid metabolism and retinol metabolism were found to play a significant role in the modulation of renal fibrosis at 1, 2, and 4 weeks. Notably, the metabolic biomarkers 8,9-EET and 5(S)-HPETE within these pathways emerged as critical determinants influencing renal fibrosis.

Discussion

Our findings demonstrated that the severity of renal fibrosis is associated with dysbiosis of the gut microbiota and alterations in serum metabolites.

Comparative analysis of gut microbiota in free range and house fed yaks from Linzhou County

Gut microbiota variations in response to environmental and nutritional factors are of great significance as gut microbiota plays an integral role in nutrient metabolism, immunity, health, and disease conditions. In this context, limited studies investigated variations of gut microbiota in response to different feeding systems and environmental conditions. The current study obtained fresh fecal samples from house-fed (LS) and grazing yaks (LF) from Linzhou County. 16 S rRNA amplicon sequencing of the V3-V4 and internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) domains generated 16,332 bacterial and 2345 fungus amplicon sequence variants (ASVs). Alpha and beta diversity indices revealed significant variations (p > 0.05) in gut microflora between the two groups. At the phylum level, Firmicutes, Actinobacteriota, Bacteroidota, and Patescibacteria regarding bacteria, and Ascomycota and Basidiomycota regarding fungi dominated. At the genus level, UCG-005, Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group, Clostridium_sensu_stricto_1, g__Muribaculaceae, UCG-010, [Eubacterium]_coprostanoligenes_group, Turicibacter, Alistipes, Prevotellaceae_UCG-003, UCG-009, Blautia, dgA-11_gut_group, Candidatus_Saccharimonas dominated in LS, while Anthrobacter and Terrisporobacter dominated in the LF group. Fungal genera like Myrothecium and Plectosphaerella dominated the LS group, while Neoascochyta, Paraphaeosphaeria, and Hypocreales dominated the LF group. Also, significant variations (p > 0.05) in gene expressions were found between the two groups. These findings provide insights into yak gut microbiota adaptations and metabolic changes in response to varied environmental conditions and can provide valuable information, optimizing feeding strategies after identifying specific differences between grazing and house-fed yaks, reducing environmental impacts, and improving yaks' health and productivity in specific geographical settings.

The regulatory effects of epigallocatechin gallate on growth performance, systemic antioxidant status, immune response, and gut microbiota structure in geese

The effects of dietary supplementation with epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) on growth performance, antioxidant capacity, immune function, and gut microbiota in geese were investigated. Seventy-two healthy 35-day-old male geese were randomly divided into a control group (basal diet) or an EGCG group (basal diet + 200 mg/kg EGCG), with 36 geese per group, which was further subdivided into 6 replicates (6 geese per replicate). The experiment lasted 21 days. Geese in the EGCG group exhibited significantly higher final body weight (2.93 kg vs. 2.28 kg, P < 0.01) and average daily gain (72.38 g/d vs. 41.4 g/d, P < 0.01) along with a 42.8 % reduction in the feed conversion ratio (3.95 vs. 6.91, P < 0.01) versus the control. Liver weights in the EGCG group were significantly elevated compared to the CON group on days 14 and 21 (P < 0.05) and a strong correlation between liver weight and body weight. EGCG significantly increased catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase activities, and the total antioxidant capacity in serum and jejunum while decreasing malondialdehyde (MDA) levels (P < 0.05). Immunological analyses revealed elevated serum immunoglobulin (Ig)A, IgG, and IgM and lysozyme in the EGCG group (P < 0.05), accompanied by a decrease in the pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin-6 and interferon-γ. Intestinal morphology demonstrated increased villus height-to-crypt depth ratios in the duodenum and ileum (P < 0.05). 16S rRNA sequencing indicated that EGCG increased the relative abundance of Akkermansia and Verrucomicrobiota (P < 0.05) in the cecal content and enriched microbial functions related to inorganic ion transport and metabolism. Correlation analysis revealed positive associations between Akkermansia and IgA, and between Firmicutes and oxidative damage markers (MDA). Overall, dietary supplementation with 200 mg/kg EGCG could improve growth performance, antioxidant capacity, immune response, and gut microbiota structure in geese, supporting its potential as a plant-based feed additive.

Recent Advances in Gut Microbiota in Psoriatic Arthritis

Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by joint inflammation and skin lesions. Recent research has underscored the critical role of gut microbiota-comprising bacteria, fungi, viruses, and archaea-in the pathogenesis and progression of PsA. This narrative review synthesizes the latest findings on the influence of gut microbiota on PsA, focusing on mechanisms such as immune modulation, microbial dysbiosis, the gut-joint axis, and its impact on treatment. Advances in high-throughput sequencing and metagenomics have revealed distinct microbial profiles associated with PsA. Studies show that individuals with PsA have a unique gut microbiota composition, differing significantly from healthy controls. Alterations in the abundance of specific bacterial taxa, including a decrease in beneficial bacteria and an increase in potentially pathogenic microbes, contribute to systemic inflammation by affecting the intestinal barrier and promoting immune responses. This review explores the impact of various factors on gut microbiota composition, including age, hygiene, comorbidities, and medication use. Additionally, it highlights the role of diet, probiotics, and fecal microbiota transplantation as promising strategies to modulate gut microbiota and alleviate PsA symptoms. The gut-skin-joint axis concept illustrates how gut microbiota influences not only gastrointestinal health but also skin and joint inflammation. Understanding the complex interplay between gut microbiota and PsA could lead to novel, microbiome-based therapeutic approaches. These insights offer hope for improved patient outcomes through targeted manipulation of the gut microbiota, enhancing both diagnosis and treatment strategies for PsA.

A microbiota pattern associated with cardiovascular events in secondary prevention: the CORDIOPREV study

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Preventing new cardiovascular events in patients with established cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a daunting task for clinicians. Intestinal microbiota may help identify patients at risk, thus improving the strategies of secondary prevention. The aim of this study was to evaluate the baseline differences between the gut microbiota from coronary heart disease (CHD) patients suffering new major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) in the following 7 years, compared with CHD patients who did not undergo new MACE in this period, and to build a score associated with the risk of suffering new MACE.

METHODS

Within the framework of the CORDIOPREV study, a clinical trial that involved 1002 patients with CHD, intestinal microbiota was examined in patients with available faecal samples (n = 679, 132 MACE), through 16S metagenomics on the Illumina MiSeq and Quiime2 software. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was measured using limulus amoebocyte lysate test.

RESULTS

Random survival forest identified 10 bacterial taxa with a higher predictive power for MACE incidence. Receiver operating characteristic curves yielded an area under the curve of 65.2% (59.1%-71.3%) in the training set and 68.6% (59.3%-77.9%) in the validation set. The intestinal microbiota risk score was associated with a MACE incidence hazard ratio of 2.01 (95% confidence interval 1.37-3.22). Lipopolysaccharide analysis showed a greater LPS post-prandial fold change in the MACE group (P = .005).

CONCLUSIONS

These results reinforce the relationship between intestinal microbiota and CVD and suggest that a microbiota profile is associated with MACE in CHD patients, in addition to higher endotoxaemia.

Fecal microbiota transplantation fails to impart the benefits of circadian-dependent intermittent fasting following ischemic stroke

Intermittent fasting (IF) is known to induce significant ischemic tolerance. Diet is a major proponent of gut microbiota, and gut microbial dysbiosis plays a role in post-stroke brain damage. Hence, we currently evaluated whether IF-mediated ischemic tolerance is mediated by gut microbiota. Additionally, circadian cycle is known to modulate post-ischemic outcomes, and thus we further evaluated if gut microbiota would be influenced by prophylactic IF during the inactive phase (fasting during daytime; IIF) or active phase (fasting during nighttime; AIF). The AIF, but not IIF, cohort showed a significantly decreased fecal Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio compared with the ad libitum (AL) cohort. Moreover, the levels of gut microbiota-derived metabolites butyrate and propionate decreased in AL cohort following focal ischemia, whereas they increased in AIF cohort. However, fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) from IIF or AIF cohort had no significant effects on post-ischemic motor and cognitive function recovery, anxiety-, and depression-like behaviors compared with FMT from AL cohort. Furthermore, FMT from IIF or AIF cohort did not influence the post-ischemic infarct volume, atrophy volume or white matter damage. Overall, the current findings indicate that the beneficial effects of IF after focal ischemia are not mediated by the gut microbiota.

Gastrointestinal symptoms in patients receiving imeglimin in combination with metformin: A post-hoc analysis of imeglimin clinical trial data

INTRODUCTION

An increased rate of gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms is reported in patients with type 2 diabetes receiving imeglimin plus metformin vs monotherapy or in combination with other antidiabetic drugs. This post-hoc analysis explored GI symptom incidence, risk factors for their occurrence, and the impact on therapeutic efficacy during imeglimin and metformin combination therapy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Data were derived from the 52-week, open-label, phase 3 TIMES-2 trial in Japanese type 2 diabetes patients. Patients in the imeglimin plus metformin group were divided into two subgroups based on the presence of GI symptoms and diarrhea, with efficacy and safety assessed. Factors associated with their occurrence were explored using multivariate logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS

Of 64 patients analyzed, GI symptoms and diarrhea occurred in 40.6% (n = 26) and 17.2% (n = 11) of patients, respectively. Metformin dose and patient age did not significantly affect their incidence. Events occurred more frequently within the first 4 months of treatment. Approximately half resolved within 1 week, and most were mild. Type 2 diabetes duration <5 years was significantly associated with diarrhea (odds ratio = 5.979; P = 0.039). Significant hypoglycemic effects were observed from baseline, irrespective of GI symptoms or diarrhea. However, the degree of HbA1c improvement tended to be greater in patients with GI symptoms and diarrhea.

CONCLUSIONS

Increased awareness regarding the potential for GI symptoms, including diarrhea, during imeglimin plus metformin combination therapy is warranted. This data will provide clinicians with useful information regarding symptomatic treatment when it occurs and help determine whether to continue treatment administration and is expected to improve patient adherence.

Fu Brick Tea Protects the Intestinal Barrier and Ameliorates Colitis in Mice by Regulating Gut Microbiota

Ulcerative colitis (UC) pathogenesis is strongly linked to gut microbiota dysbiosis and compromised intestinal barrier integrity. Emerging evidence suggests that targeted dietary interventions may restore microbial homeostasis and ameliorate colitis progression. In this study, we evaluated the therapeutic potential of Fu Brick tea (FBT) using a dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced murine colitis model. The results indicated that oral administration of FBT extract significantly improved the disease index, reduced inflammatory response, protected intestinal barrier protein (e.g., ZO-1), and maintained intestinal structure integrity. Furthermore, FBT intake increased the diversity of gut microbiota, promoted the growth of beneficial bacteria (e.g., Akkermansia), inhibited the proliferation of harmful bacteria (e.g., Desulfovibrioceae, Escherichia, and Helicobacter), restored intestinal homeostasis, and alleviated colitis symptoms including diarrhea. These findings position FBT as a promising nutraceutical candidate for UC management via multi-target modulation of mucosal immunity and microbial ecology.

Clade-specific extracellular vesicles from Akkermansia muciniphila mediate competitive colonization via direct inhibition and immune stimulation

Akkermansia muciniphila, a promising candidate for next-generation probiotics, exhibits significant genomic diversity, classified into several distinct clades (AmI to AmIV). Notably, a single Akkermansia clade tends to predominate within individual hosts, with co-occurrence of different clades being rare. The mechanisms driving such clade-specific exclusion remain unclear. Here, we show that extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from AmII clade inhibit the growth of clade I (AmI), conferring a competitive advantage to AmII. Moreover, we observe clade-specific immunoglobulin A (IgA) responses, where AmII clade-specific IgAs, induced by EVs from AmII, facilitate niche occupancy and competitive exclusion of AmI. These findings provide insights into the competitive dynamics of A. muciniphila clades and suggest that future personalized microbiome interventions could be optimized by considering the clade composition of A. muciniphila in individual hosts.

Unraveling the Health Benefits and Mechanisms of Time-Restricted Feeding: Beyond Caloric Restriction

Time-restricted feeding (TRF) is a lifestyle intervention that aims to maintain a consistent daily cycle of feeding and fasting to support robust circadian rhythms. Recently, it has gained scientific, medical, and public attention due to its potential to enhance body composition, extend lifespan, and improve overall health, as well as induce autophagy and alleviate symptoms of diseases like cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, neurodegenerative diseases, cancer, and ischemic injury. However, there is still considerable debate on the primary factors that contribute to the health benefits of TRF. Despite not imposing strict limitations on calorie intake, TRF consistently led to reductions in calorie intake. Therefore, while some studies suggest that the health benefits of TRF are primarily due to caloric restriction (CR), others argue that the key advantages of TRF arise not only from CR but also from factors like the duration of fasting, the timing of the feeding period, and alignment with circadian rhythms. To elucidate the roles and mechanisms of TRF beyond CR, this review incorporates TRF studies that did not use CR, as well as TRF studies with equivalent energy intake to CR, which addresses the previous lack of comprehensive research on TRF without CR and provides a framework for future research directions.

Akkermansia muciniphila: biology, microbial ecology, host interactions and therapeutic potential

Akkermansia muciniphila is a gut bacterium that colonizes the gut mucosa, has a role in maintaining gut health and shows promise for potential therapeutic applications. The discovery of A. muciniphila as an important member of our gut microbiome, occupying an extraordinary niche in the human gut, has led to new hypotheses on gut health, beneficial microorganisms and host-microbiota interactions. This microorganism has established a unique position in human microbiome research, similar to its role in the gut ecosystem. Its unique traits in using mucin sugars and mechanisms of action that can modify host health have made A. muciniphila a subject of enormous attention from multiple research fields. A. muciniphila is becoming a model organism studied for its ability to modulate human health and gut microbiome structure, leading to commercial products, a genetic model and possible probiotic formulations. This Review provides an overview of A. muciniphila and Akkermansia genus phylogeny, ecophysiology and diversity. Furthermore, the Review discusses perspectives on ecology, strategies for harnessing beneficial effects of A. muciniphila for human mucosal metabolic and gut health, and its potential as a biomarker for diagnostics and prognostics.

Immunosuppressant-Induced Alteration of Gut Microbiota Causes Loss of Skeletal Muscle Mass: Evidence from Animal Experiments Using Mice and Observational Study on Humans

Background/Objectives: The number of older adults requiring a kidney transplant (KT) is increasing; hence, postoperative sarcopenia prevention is necessary. KT recipients require permanent oral immunosuppressants (ISs), and the gut microbiota (GM) plays a role in various systemic diseases. However, few studies have evaluated post-kidney transplantation frailty and the associations among ISs, GM, and muscle mass alterations. Therefore, we investigated the effects of ISs on GM and skeletal muscle mass in mice and human KT recipients. Methods: Mice were treated with six different ISs, and their skeletal muscle mass, GM diversity, and colonic mucosal function were assessed. Human KT recipients and donors were monitored before and after surgery for 1 year, and GM diversity was evaluated before and 1 month after surgery. Results: The abundance of Akkermansia, crypt depth, and mucin 2 expression were lower in tacrolimus- and prednisolone-treated mice. The psoas muscle volume changes at 1 month and 1 year after surgery were lower in KT recipients than in donors. Furthermore, the beta diversity was significantly different between the operative groups (p = 0.001), and the KT group showed the lowest Shannon index. Conclusions: The findings of this study indicate potential links among ISs, GM, and muscle mass decline. Further investigation is required to improve therapeutic strategies and patient outcomes.

Transcriptomics and microbiome insights reveal the protective mechanism of mulberry-derived postbiotics against inflammation in LPS-induced mice

Background

Natural food-derived bioactive compounds have garnered increasing attention for their potential to modulate immune responses and promote gut health. In particular, compounds like mulberry-derived postbiotics (MDP) may offer novel therapeutic strategies to address inflammation, a key driver of many metabolic disorders.

Methodology

This study examines the protective effects of MDP against inflammation in LPS-induced mice, using transcriptomic and microbiome analyses to explore underlying mechanisms.

Results

MDP pretreatment alleviates LPSinduced villous atrophy and intestinal barrier damage, promoting recovery of intestinal morphology. Transcriptomic profiling revealed significant changes in gene expression, with 983 upregulated and 1220 downregulated genes in the NC vs LPS comparison, and 380 upregulated and 204 downregulated genes in the LPS vs LPS+MDP comparison. Enrichment analysis using GO and KEGG pathways revealed significant associations with transcriptional regulatory activity, and the NOD-like receptor signaling pathway among the differentially expressed genes. Protein-protein interaction analysis identified key genes involved in inflammation and immune regulation, with hub genes like IL6, CXCL10, and MYD88 in the LPS group and CD74, CIITA, and H2-AB1 in the MDP-treated group.

Conclusion

Microbiome analysis suggested MDP may also influence gut microbiota composition, supporting systemic immune regulation. These findings highlight MDP's potential as a food additive for immune modulation and gut health.

Big lessons from the little Akkermansia muciniphila in hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most frequently occurring type of liver tumor and is considered one of the most common primary malignant neoplasms. The prognosis for HCC is dismal because of its complicated etiology and high level of medication resistance. Immunotherapy is presently regarded as one of the most effective therapeutic options for HCC; nevertheless, because of the disturbance of intestinal flora, immunotherapy shows low antitumor efficacy. An increasing body of research indicates that intestinal flora, particularly Akkermansia muciniphila (A. muciniphila), is vital for the treatment of tumors. Studies have demonstrated that the diminished effectiveness of immunotherapy in cancer patients is associated with a reduction in A. muciniphila levels, suggesting that increasing A. muciniphila levels significantly enhance the efficacy of immunotherapy. A. muciniphila functions as a gut probiotic and can treat and prevent a wide range of illnesses, including cancer. Consequently, preserving A. muciniphila abundance is enough to prevent and lower the danger of developing cancer disorders. In this review, we critically evaluate the current body of research on A. muciniphila, with a primary focus on its biological properties and functions. The different illnesses that A. muciniphila treats were then discussed, particularly the way it works with liver cancer. This review aims to give a novel treatment plan for patients with HCC as well as a theoretical foundation for improving HCC immunotherapy.

Orlistat ameliorates lipid dysmetabolism in high-fat diet-induced mice via gut microbiota modulation

Orlistat reduces obesity by inhibiting gastrointestinal lipases, thereby blocking the absorption and accumulation of triglycerides in the intestine. It has been shown to improve lipid metabolism and alter intestinal microbial communities in animals and humans. However, the impact of Orlistat-induced changes in gut microbiota on obesity requires further investigation. In this study, we found that Orlistat significantly improved metabolic disorders, inhibited fat accumulation, and reshaped the structure of intestinal microbiota. Specifically, it reduced α diversity and increased the relative abundance of Verrucomicrobia and Akkermansia. Notably, antibiotic-induced gut microbiota depletion significantly weakened Orlistat's effect on improving metabolic disorders. Furthermore, microbiota transplanted from Orlistat-treated mice effectively alleviated lipid metabolic disorders caused by a high-fat diet. We also observed that Orlistat increased food intake in mice and inhibited the synthesis of appetite-regulating hormones glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) and glucagon (Gcg). However, antibiotic-depleted microbiota mitigated this inhibitory effect. Interestingly, although Orlistat altered the gut microbiota of mice, transplanting these microbiota did not inhibit the synthesis of appetite-regulating hormones. In summary, our results suggest that Orlistat can reshape the gut microbiota, and the altered gut microbiota works synergistically with Orlistat to improve metabolic disorders. This improvement is related to the increased abundance of Verrucomicrobia and Akkermansia.

Antimicrobial peptide AP2 ameliorates Salmonella Typhimurium infection by modulating gut microbiota

BACKGROUND

Endogenous antimicrobial peptides and proteins are essential for shaping and maintaining a healthy gut microbiota, contributing to anti-inflammatory responses and resistance to pathogen colonization. Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Typhimurium (ST) infection is one of the most frequently reported bacterial diseases worldwide. Manipulation of the gut microbiota through exogenous antimicrobial peptides may protect against ST colonization and improve clinical outcomes.

RESULTS

This study demonstrated that oral administration of the antimicrobial peptide AP2 (2 µg /mouse), an optimized version of native apidaecin IB (AP IB), provided protective effects against ST infection in mice. These effects were evidenced by reduced ST-induced body weight loss and lower levels of serum inflammatory cytokines. A 16 S rRNA-based analysis of the cecal microbiota revealed that AP2 significantly modulated the gut microbiota, increasing the relative abundance of Bifidobacterium while decreasing that of Akkermansia at the genus level. Furthermore, the transplantation of fecal microbiota from AP2-treated donor mice, rather than from Control mice, significantly reduced cecal damage caused by ST and decreased the concentration of ST by one order of magnitude after infection.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings reveal a novel mechanism by which exogenous antimicrobial peptides mitigate Salmonella Typhimurium infection through the modulation of gut microbiota.

Health Effects and Therapeutic Potential of the Gut Microbe Akkermansia muciniphila

Akkermansia muciniphila is a bacterium commonly found in the human gastrointestinal tract that has received considerable interest as a potential probiotic for the improvement of gut health and overall metabolic function. A. muciniphila is enriched in the mucus layer of the intestinal lining, where it degrades mucin and plays a significant role in gut barrier maintenance and immune regulation. A higher abundance of A. muciniphila has been observed in the gut of healthy individuals relative to those with metabolic disorders, and multiple metabolic benefits, including improved glucose management, reduced body fat, and reduced inflammation have been linked to A. muciniphila. Current research on A. muciniphila primarily relies on mouse models, with limited human interventional studies available. While these animal studies offer valuable insights into the potential roles of A. muciniphila in health and disease, further clinical investigations in humans are needed to fully understand its impact. Here, we explore the current scope of A. muciniphila research and its potential as a therapeutic agent to improve gut and metabolic health while also emphasizing the need to optimize techniques to further improve studies of this organism.

Akkermansia muciniphila relieves inflammatory response in DSS-induced ulcerative colitis in mice through regulating macrophage polarization via SCFAs-SLC52A2/FFAR2 pathway

Ulcerative colitis (UC) remains an intractable and relapsing disease featured by intestinal inflammation. The anti-UC activity of Akkermansia muciniphila (AKK), an intestinal microorganism, has been widely investigated. The current work is to explore the impacts of AKK on UC and its possible reaction mechanism. In vivo UC model was induced by dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) and phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA)-induced THP-1-M0 and raw264.7 macrophages were treated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). H&E staining evaluated tissue damage. Inflammatory and oxidative stress levels were assessed by relevant kits. The high-throughput analysis of fatty acids was performed by the LC/MS method. RT-qPCR and Western blot detected related gene expression. Flow cytometry measured cell apoptosis and macrophage polarization. Energy metabolism was detected by ELISA, related assay kits, JC-1 staining, and Western blot. AKK reduced the pathological damage of mice colon tissues, alleviated oxidative stress and inflammatory response, upregulated the expression of Occludin-1 and SCFAs receptors, and stimulated M1 to M2 macrophage polarization in vivo. After FFAR2 was silenced, the promoting role of AKK in the viability and M1 to M2 macrophage polarization and the inhibitory role in oxidative stress, inflammation, apoptosis, energy metabolism disorder, necroptosis, and pyroptosis were both reverted. Conclusively, AKK might mediate SCFAs-SLC52A2/FFAR2 pathways to exert protective activities against intestinal inflammatory response in UC, suggesting that AKK might represent a novel and promising candidate for UC therapy.

PreLect: Prevalence leveraged consistent feature selection decodes microbial signatures across cohorts

The intricate nature of microbiota sequencing data-high dimensionality and sparsity-presents a challenge in identifying informative and reproducible microbial features for both research and clinical applications. Addressing this, we introduce PreLect, an innovative feature selection framework that harnesses microbes' prevalence to facilitate consistent selection in sparse microbiota data. Upon rigorous benchmarking against established feature selection methodologies across 42 microbiome datasets, PreLect demonstrated superior classification capabilities compared to statistical methods and outperformed machine learning-based methods by selecting features with greater prevalence and abundance. A significant strength of PreLect lies in its ability to reliably identify reproducible microbial features across varied cohorts. Applied to colorectal cancer, PreLect identifies key microbes and highlights crucial pathways, such as lipopolysaccharide and glycerophospholipid biosynthesis, in cancer progression. This case study exemplifies PreLect's utility in discerning clinically relevant microbial signatures. In summary, PreLect's accuracy and robustness make it a significant advancement in the analysis of complex microbiota data.

Transcriptomic and Metabolomic Insights Into the Prebiotic Potential of Camellia Seed Oil for Enhancing Akkermansia muciniphila Proliferation In Vitro

Camellia seed oil (CSO), a potential prebiotic agent, can significantly increase the relative abundance of Akkermansia muciniphila (A. muciniphila) in mice gut microbiota following oral administration, this study aims to investigate the enhancing effect in vitro. The results showed that after 24-h co-cultivation with 0.5% (v/v) CSO, the growth of A. muciniphila increased from 11.61 ± 0.04 Log10CFU/mL to 12.17 ± 0.10 Log10CFU/mL (p < 0.05), accompanied by a reduction in the oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) value of the media from -126.67 ± 1.78 mV to -117.33 ± 0.72 mV (p < 0.05). Additionally, squalene and (+)-α-tocopherol, bioactive compounds present in CSO, were found to promote A. muciniphila proliferation (squalene OD600: 1.086 ± 0.002, tocopherol OD600: 1.100 ± 0.003, DMSO control OD600: 0.991 ± 0.003, p < 0.0001). Transcriptomic and metabolomic profiling revealed 464, 121, and 194 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 212, 160, and 156 differentially expressed metabolites (DEMs) in A. muciniphila co-cultivated with CSO after 4, 16, and 24 h, respectively (p < 0.05). The upregulated DEGs and DEMs were primarily enriched in pathways associated with energy generation (e.g., gap, icd, sucC, GOZ73_RS04175, succinate, phosphoenolpyruvate), nucleotide metabolism (e.g., mazG, deoxyguanosine), amino acid metabolism (e.g., argF, metK, L-tyrosine), translation (e.g., rplO, rpmC), and environmental adaptation (e.g., murA, katE, reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide). These findings suggest that various bioactive compounds present in CSO exhibit prebiotic effects on the in vitro proliferation of A. muciniphila by facilitating nutrient utilization and environmental adaptation. This study provides insights into the extended utilization of CSO.

Cannabis and cannabinoid-microbiome interactions in varied clinical contexts: A comprehensive systematic review

With legalisation of cannabis for both medicinal and recreational use expanding to more world nations, grasping its effects on the human body is vital. The microbiome is critical to human health and disease, and accumulating data suggests that it is influenced by a variety of external variables, including marijuana/cannabis and cannabinoids. We therefore conducted a comprehensive assessment of the literature to analyse cannabis and cannabinoid effects on the human microbiota. We searched PubMed, Embase and Cochrane Library CENTRAL databases for studies involving the use of marijuana, medical cannabis, cannabinoids and cannabinoid-like lipid mediators on microbiota, across all clinical conditions. Nine studies were identified: 2 clinical trials and 7 observational studies examining cannabis and cannabinoid impact on oral, gastrointestinal, faecal and vaginal microbial abundance and diversity. Outcomes illustrated positive and negative impacts of cannabis use/cannabinoid actions on microbiota in adults with cognitive deficiency, depression, HIV infection, inflammation/pain, oral disease or obesity. Changes in alpha diversity were identified with cannabis/cannabinoid use, although this varied depending on the clinical context. A positive association exists between serum endocannabinoids and gut microbiota, via elevation in SCFAs and anti-inflammatory actions, beneficial for musculoskeletal pain relief and to counter obesity. Marijuana use in HIV patients showed protective effects by decreasing abundance of pro-inflammatory Prevotella, though excessive consumption leads to reduced microbiome richness and diversity, and increased systemic inflammation. Overall, this review underscores the need for further exploration in understanding the complex effects of cannabis, cannabinoids and cannabinoid-like mediators on composition and metabolic activity of the human microbiota.

Whole-genome sequencing and genomic analysis of four Akkermansia strains newly isolated from human feces

Background

Numerous studies have demonstrated that Akkermansia is closely associated with human health. These bacteria colonize the mucus layer of the gastrointestinal tract and utilize mucin as their sole source of carbon and nitrogen. Akkermansia spp. exhibit potential as probiotics under specific conditions. However, the gene accumulation curve derived from pan-genome analysis suggests that the genome of Akkermansia strains remains open. Consequently, current genome mining efforts are insufficient to fully capture the intraspecific and interspecific characteristics of Akkermansia, necessitating continuous exploration of the genomic and phenotypic diversity of new isolates.

Methods

Based on this finding, we sequenced, assembled, and functionally annotated the whole genomes of four new human isolates from our laboratory: AKK-HX001, AKK-HX002, AKK-HX003, and AKK-HX004.

Results

Phylogenetic analysis revealed that all four isolates belonged to the AmII phylogroup, whereas the type strain DSM 22959 is classified within the AmI phylogroup. Moreover, 2,184 shared homologous genes were identified among the four isolates. Functional annotation using the COG, KEGG, and CAZy databases indicated that the functional genes of the four isolates were primarily associated with metabolism. Two antibiotic resistance genes were identified in AKK-HX001 and AKK-HX002, while three resistance genes were detected in AKK-HX003 and AKK-HX004. Additionally, each of the four isolates possessed two virulence genes and three pathogenicity genes, none of which were associated with pathogenicity. The prediction of mobile genetic elements indicated unequal distributions of GIs among the isolates, and a complete CRISPR system was identified in all isolates except AKK-HX003. Two annotated regions of secondary metabolite biosynthesis genes, both belonging to Terpene, were detected using the antiSMASH online tool.

Conclusion

These findings indicate that the four Akkermansia isolates, which belong to a phylogroup distinct from the model strain DSM 22959, exhibit lower genetic risk and may serve as potential probiotic resources for future research.

Insights into the Donkey Hindgut Microbiome Using Metagenome-Assembled Genomes

The gut microbiota plays an important role in the digestion, absorption, and metabolism of nutrients, as well as in the immunity, health, and behavior of donkeys. While reference genomes and gut microbial gene catalogs have been helpful in understanding the composition of the donkey, there is still a significant gap in sequencing and understanding the functional aspects of donkey gut microbial genomes. In this study, we analyzed metagenomic sequencing data from 26 donkeys' gut samples and successfully assembled 844 microbial metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs). Surprisingly, 678 (80.33%) of these MAGs appear to belong to previously unidentified species. Our analysis further revealed a total of 292,980 predicted carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes) and 257,893 polysaccharide utilization loci (PULs). Interestingly, these enzymes and loci displayed relatively low similarity matches in public databases. We found that the higher abundances of 36 MAGs in the cecum (such as Prevotella, Desulfovibrio, Alistipes, and Treponema_D) and 9 MAGs in the dorsal colon (such as Limimorpha, Saccharofermentans, and Lactobacillus) were associated with a diverse array of carbohydrate-degrading pathways. Network analysis identified Prevotella and Dysosmobacter as connectors, while Saccharofermentans and Akkermansia were shown as provincial hubs. This suggests their crucial roles in complex carbohydrate degradation and hindgut metabolism in donkeys. These findings underscore the complexity of hindgut metabolism in donkeys and expand our understanding of their gut microbiome. Overall, this study provides a comprehensive catalog of donkey gut microbial genes, revealing novel carbohydrate-degrading enzymes and offering new insights for future research on the donkey gut microbiome.

Compound Probiotics Improve Neuropathic Pain Prognosis in a Murine Model of Chronic Constriction Injury

Purpose

Compound probiotics have been reported to ameliorate imbalances in the intestinal flora that may play a critical role in neuropathic pain. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of compound probiotic treatment on neuropathic pain.

Methods

Thirty mice were randomly divided into three groups: 1) sham group, 2) mouse with chronic constrictive injury (CCI), and 3) probiotic gavage with CCI (CCI+Prob). The degree of pain and gait recovery was assessed by Mechanical withdrawal threshold (MWT), thermal withdrawal latency (TWL), and mouse footprints. The degree of atrophy of the gastrocnemius muscle was assessed by muscle weight, hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining. Gut microbiota were analyzed by 16S ribosomal RNA sequencing (16SrRNA).

Results

Four weeks after surgery, TWL and MWT assessment showed significant increases in the CCI+Prob group compared with the CCI group (P < 0.01). Gait analysis results as well as gastrocnemius muscle weight showed a significant improvement in the CCI+Prob group compared with the CCI group. Measurement of alpha diversity showed a significant increase in the CCI group compared with the sham group, but this increase was attenuated by probiotic intervention in the CCI+Prob group. Although the CCI group had significantly decreased levels of Akkermansia and significantly increased levels of Ruminococcaceae, probiotic treatment reversed these changes.

Conclusion

Compound probiotics treatment can improve the pain and muscle atrophy in mice with CCI-induced neuropathic pain. The improvement of symptoms is associated with changes in the composition of gut microbiota.

Akkermansia muciniphila: A promising probiotic against inflammation and metabolic disorders

Metabolic disease is a worldwide epidemic that has become a public health problem. Gut microbiota is considered to be one of the important factors that maintain human health by regulating host metabolism. As an abundant bacterium in the host gut, A. muciniphila regulates metabolic and immune functions, and protects gut health. Multiple studies have indicated that alterations in the abundance of A. muciniphila are associated with various diseases, including intestinal inflammatory diseases, obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and even parasitic diseases. Beneficial effects were observed not only in live A. muciniphila, but also in pasteurized A. muciniphila, A. muciniphila-derived extracellular vesicles, outer membrane, and secreted proteins. Although numerous studies have only proven the simple correlation between multiple diseases and A. muciniphila, an increasing number of studies in animal models and preclinical models have demonstrated that the beneficial impacts shifted from correlations to in-depth mechanisms. In this review, we provide a comprehensive view of the beneficial effects of A. muciniphila on different diseases and summarize the potential mechanisms of action of A. muciniphila in the treatment of diseases. We provide a comprehensive understanding of A. muciniphila for improving host health and discuss the perspectives of A. muciniphila in the future studies.

Oat anthranilamides regulates high-fat diet-induced intestinal inflammation by the TLR4/NF-κb signalling pathway and gut microbiota

Oat anthranilamides have demonstrated antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects; however, the precise mechanism of action remains unclear. This study investigated the impact of oat anthranilamide B (AVN B) on high-fat diet (HFD)-induced intestinal inflammation in mice and its underlying mechanisms. The results indicated that AVN B supplementation mitigated weight gain and reduced inflammatory and oxidative stress markers in serum, liver, and intestines. It improved intestinal barrier dysfunction by upregulating the expression levels of Occludin and MUC2 while simultaneously reducing intestinal inflammation by inhibiting the TLR4/NF-κB signalling pathway. Additionally, AVN B treatment improved gut microbiota composition. It increased the abundance of beneficial flora and the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), especially propionate and butyrate, associated with reduced production of pro-inflammatory factors and enhanced intestinal protection. The findings provide scientific evidence for the potential of AVN B as an anti-inflammatory agent.

Garcinol enriched fraction of Garcinia morella (Gaertn.) Desr. fruit rind improves gut health and reduces the risk of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease by regulating PCK1/ACC/SREBP1/FASn pathway in a mouse model

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), a fast-emerging global burden, is an umbrella term for several liver manifestations that result in excessive accumulation of fat in the liver. NAFLD leads to gut microbiome dysbiosis, loss in gut epithelia, increased gut permeability, etc. The limited availability of registered drugs for NAFLD highlights the urgent need to focus on understanding its pathogenesis and discovering new treatments, including the potential exploration of herbal therapies for managing the condition. In this study, we evaluated the bioactive potential of garcinol enriched fraction from Garcinia morella fruit rind in preventing NAFLD-associated increased gut permeability. Administration of garcinol-enriched fraction (GEF) significantly reduced body weight, serum lipids (triglyceride and total cholesterol) levels, and enzymes (alkaline phosphatase and aspartate aminotransferase) responsible for liver dysfunction in high-fat diet (HFD)-fed C57BL/6 mice. GEF treatment also regulated the alteration in signaling pathways of lipid metabolism in HFD-fed mice by inhibiting the overexpression of genes involved in de novo lipogenesis. Mice treated with GEF had increased gut microbial diversity, reduced pathogenic bacteria, and increased Lactococcus and Streptococcaceae genera. Additionally, GEF treatment could increase the expression of intestinal tight junction proteins, which were otherwise decreased in HFD-fed mice, stipulating its protective effect in maintaining gut barrier integrity. Our study demonstrated that GEF treatment reduces obesity in mice and improves gut health by keeping junctions tight and maintaining a healthy gut microbiome.

Cerasicoccus fimbriatus sp. nov., isolated from the mid-ridge of the Southwest Indian Ocean

A Gram-stain-negative bacterium, designated as strain TK19100T, was isolated from the mid-ridge of the Southwest Indian Ocean. Cells of strain TK19100T were strictly aerobic, non-motile and short-rod shaped with fimbriae-like structures around the cell surface. Growth occurred at 15-40 °C, at pH 6.0-9.0 and with 1-10% (w/v) NaCl. Strain TK19100T shared the highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity with Cerasicoccus frondis NBRC 105381T of 97.74%, followed by Cerasicoccus arenae KCTC 12870T of 97.69% and Cerasicoccus maritimus NBRC 105382T of 97.40%. The phylogenetic tree based on both 16S rRNA genes and 92 core genes placed strain TK19100T in a new linage within the genus Cerasicoccus. The genome size of strain TK19100T was 5.07 Mb with the DNA G + C content 56.1%. The average nucleotide identity value and the digital DNA-DNA hybridization value of strain TK19100T compared with the closest related species, Cerasicoccus frondis, were 78.39% and 23.70%, respectively. Strain TK19100T encoded a previously unreported combination of GH16 and Carbohydrate Binding Module 96. The major fatty acids of strain TK19100T were C14:0 and C18:1 ω9c. Menaquinone-7 was the sole respiratory quinone. The phenotypic and genotypic characterization analysis indicate that strain TK19100T represents a novel species affiliated to the genus Cerasicoccus, for which the name Cerasicoccus fimbriatus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is TK19100T (= CGMCC 1.18957T = NBRC 116189T).

Efficacy of ETB-F01, Heat-Killed Akkermansia muciniphila Strain EB-AMDK19, in Patients with Respiratory Symptoms: A Multicenter Clinical Trial

Respiratory symptoms are prevalent in the general population, and they are associated with a decline in lung function and increased mortality. The gut-lung connection suggests intestinal dysbiosis may impact lung diseases, with Akkermansia muciniphila showing promise in regulating extraintestinal diseases. However, its application in patients with respiratory symptoms lacks clinical trial evidence. In this randomized, double-blind trial, ETB-F01, containing heat-killed A. muciniphila strain EB-AMDK19, was compared with a placebo in patients experiencing respiratory symptoms for 4 to 12 weeks. The primary outcome was improvement in Breathlessness, Cough, and Sputum Scale (BCSS) score over 12 weeks. Secondary outcomes included lung function, fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO), modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) dyspnea scale, St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ), and Visual Analog Scale (VAS) score. The primary analysis was performed in the per-protocol set, with a sensitivity analysis in the full analysis set. In the per-protocol population, 68 participants were randomly assigned to the ETB-F01 group and 65 to the placebo group. ETB-F01 had a superior efficacy over placebo in improving BCSS total scores (between-group difference = -0.8 (95% confidence interval, -1.4--0.3), p-value = 0.004). Specifically, there was a significant reduction in BCSS breathlessness and cough domain scores with ETB-F01. While trends toward improvement in lung function were noted, statistical significance was not achieved. No significant differences were observed in FeNO and other symptom scores (mMRC, SGRQ, and VAS). In safety profile, ETB-F01 did not cause any serious adverse events. These results suggest that ETB-F01 is safe and effective for alleviating respiratory symptoms.

Corrinoid salvaging and cobamide remodeling in bacteria and archaea

Cobamides (Cbas) are cobalt-containing cyclic tetrapyrroles used by cells from all domains of life as co-catalyst of diverse reactions. There are several structural features that distinguish Cbas from one another. The most relevant of those features discussed in this review is the lower ligand, which is the nucleobase of a ribotide located in the lower face of the cyclic tetrapyrrole ring. The above-mentioned ribotide is known as the nucleotide loop, which is attached to the ring by a short linker. In Cbas, the nucleobase of the ribotide can be benzimidazole or derivatives of it, purine or derivatives of it, or phenolic compounds. Given the importance of Cbas in prokaryotic metabolism, it is not surprising that prokaryotes have evolved enzymes that cleave part or the entire nucleotide loop. This function is advantageous when Cbas contain nucleobases that somehow interfere with the function of Cba-dependent enzymes in the organism. After cleavage, Cbas are rebuilt via the nucleotide loop assembly (NLA) pathway, which includes enzymes that activate the nucleobase and the ring intermediate, followed by condensation of activated intermediates and a final dephosphorylation reaction. This exchange of nucleobases is known as Cba remodeling. The NLA pathway is used to salvage Cba precursors from the environment.

Akkermansia muciniphila ONE effectively ameliorates dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced ulcerative colitis in mice

Akermansia muciniphila shows promise as a next-generation probiotic, however, its beneficial regulatory effects on mice ulcerative colitis (UC) has not been extensively investigated. We used an Akkermansia muciniphila strain (AKK ONE) isolated from healthy human feces to study its effect on DSS-induced colitis in mice. Our results demonstrate that AKK ONE supplementation significantly improves food intake, weight, colon length, disease activity index (DAI) score, organ index, and tissue damage of colitis mice. AKK ONE notably improved intestinal barrier integrity by significantly enhancing expression of occludin and claudin-1. Additionally, AKK ONE reduced inflammation by down-regulating IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α, and up-regulating IL-10. In addition to reducing excessive inflammation, AKK ONE also increased the abundance of Akkermansia and decreased the abundance of Bacteroides. Furthermore, the AKK ONE intervention markedly increased SCFAs in cecal contents. AKK ONE may be a potential therapeutic agent for improving UC, based on the findings of this study.

Huperzine a ameliorates sepsis-induced acute lung injury by suppressing inflammation and oxidative stress via α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor

Sepsis, characterized by high mortality rates, causes over 50 % of acute lung injury (ALI) cases, primarily due to the heightened susceptibility of the lungs during this condition. Suppression of the excessive inflammatory response is critical for improving the survival of patients with sepsis; nevertheless, no specific anti-sepsis drugs exist. Huperzine A (HupA) exhibits neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory properties; however, its underlying mechanisms and effects on sepsis-induced ALI have yet to be elucidated. In this study, we demonstrated the potential of HupA for treating sepsis and explored its mechanism of action. To investigate the in vivo impacts of HupA, a murine model of sepsis was induced through cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) in both wild-type (WT) and α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7nAChR) knockout mice. Our results showed that HupA ameliorates sepsis-induced acute lung injury by activating the α7nAChR. We used the CLP sepsis model in wild-type and α7nAChR -/- mice and found that HupA significantly increased the survival rate through α7nAChR, reduced the pro-inflammatory cytokine levels and oxidative stress, ameliorated histopathological lung injury, altered the circulating immune cell composition, regulated gut microbiota, and promoted short-chain fatty acid production through α7nAChR in vivo. Additionally, HupA inhibited Toll-like receptor NF-κB signaling by upregulating the α7nAChR/protein kinase B/glycogen synthase kinase-3 pathways. Our data elucidate HupA's mechanism of action and support a "new use for an old drug" in treating sepsis. Our findings serve as a basis for further in vivo studies of this drug, followed by application to humans. Therefore, the findings have the potential to benefit patients with sepsis.

Changes in gut flora in patients with epilepsy: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

Epilepsy is a prevalent chronic neurological disorder that is strongly associated with a wide range of psychological, cognitive and social problems. It affects a significant proportion of the global population and has a number of complex etiologies. A growing body of research indicates that there is a strong association between epilepsy and the gut microbiota. Indeed, a substantial body of research has investigated the potential role of epilepsy in relation to the gut microbiota, examining alterations in the abundance, diversity, and relative abundance of the gut microbiota in patients with epilepsy.

Methods

This study was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines and included multiple studies that met specific criteria. A keyword search was conducted in the following databases: PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science. The data extraction and quality assessment were conducted by two independent researchers. A systematic review and meta-analysis of the relationship between patients with epilepsy and gut flora was conducted using the R 4.3.4 software.

Results

The results of the analyses indicated that the intestinal flora of patients with epilepsy did not differ significantly in alpha diversity compared to healthy controls. However, the relative abundance of specific flora, such as Verrucomicrobia and Ackermannia was significantly increased in patients, whereas Lactobacillus was significantly decreased.

Conclusion

The relationship between epilepsy and gut flora is reciprocal. The present meta-analysis demonstrated that there were no statistically significant alterations in the overall characteristics of the intestinal flora of the patients. However, significant changes were observed in the relative abundance of certain phyla and genera. Consequently, it is hypothesized that epilepsy can cause changes in the relative abundance of specific flora in patients. Furthermore, in conjunction with previous studies, it is believed that changes in intestinal flora can also have an effect on seizures. For example, Lactobacillus may be a beneficial genus that potentially reduces seizures. Conversely, the effect of Akkermansia is two-sided.

Impact of Gut Microbiome Interventions on Glucose and Lipid Metabolism in Metabolic Diseases: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND

The gut microbiome is increasingly recognized as a key player in metabolic health, influencing glucose and lipid metabolism through various mechanisms. However, the efficacy of gut microbiota-targeted interventions, such as probiotics, prebiotics, fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), and diet-based treatments, remains unclear for specific metabolic outcomes. In this study, the aim was to evaluate the impact of these interventions on the glucose and lipid parameters in individuals with metabolic diseases such as diabetes mellitus (DM), obesity, and metabolic syndrome.

METHODS

This systematic review and meta-analysis included 41 randomized controlled trials that investigated the effects of gut microbiota-targeted treatments on metabolic parameters such as fasting glucose, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and triglycerides. A comprehensive search was conducted using databases like PubMed, Google Scholar, and Scopus, focusing on interventions targeting the gut microbiota. A meta-analysis was performed using random-effects models, with effect sizes calculated for each outcome. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool.

RESULTS

Gut microbiota-targeted interventions significantly reduced fasting glucose, HbA1c, HOMA-IR, total cholesterol, LDL-C, and triglycerides, with moderate heterogeneity observed across studies. The interventions also led to modest increases in HDL-C levels. Probiotic and synbiotic interventions showed the most consistent benefits in improving both glucose and lipid profiles, while FMT yielded mixed results. Short-term interventions showed rapid microbial shifts but less pronounced metabolic improvements, whereas longer-term interventions had more substantial metabolic benefits.

CONCLUSIONS

In this study, it is demonstrated that gut microbiota-targeted interventions can improve key metabolic outcomes, offering a potential therapeutic strategy for managing metabolic diseases. However, the effectiveness of these interventions varies depending on the type, duration, and population characteristics, highlighting the need for further long-term studies to assess the sustained effects of microbiota modulation on metabolic health.

Akkermansia muciniphila: new insights into resistance to gastrointestinal stress, adhesion, and protein interaction with human mucins through optimised in vitro trials and bioinformatics tools

According to the FAO/WHO guidelines, selection of probiotics requires the assessment of survival under gastrointestinal stress and adhesion to human epithelial cells. These attributes were evaluated on Akkermansia muciniphila ATCC BAA-835 simulating the gastrointestinal transit (GIT) immediately followed by adhesion to human intestinal cell lines (CaCo2, HT-29, and HT-29-MTX) as an alternative approach to in vitro methods performed with fresh cells in each trial. The survival rate after GIT, as determined by plate counts and fluorescent probes, was significantly higher for A. muciniphila (about 8 Log CFU/mL) than for the probiotic Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus GG ATCC 53103 (about 3 Log CFU/mL). The use of Live/Dead assay highlighted that A. muciniphila forms cell aggregates in the gastric phase as protective mechanism, explaining its high viability in the intestine. The rate of adhesion to human cell lines was always lower for strains tested after simulated GIT than for strains that did not undergo simulated GIT. Akkermansia muciniphila exhibited significantly higher adhesion than Lbs. rhamnosus GG, particularly to the mucus-secreting HT-29-MTX cells across a range of concentrations (2-8 Log CFU/mL). Finally, the bioinformatic analysis of A. muciniphila proteome confirmed the Amuc_1434 as a potential factor in binding to the human MUC2 protein.

Auricularia auricula polysaccharide alleviates cyclophosphamide-induced liver injury in mice involving remodeling of the gut bacteriome, mycobiome, and metabolome

In this study, a novel polysaccharide (AHP) from Auricularia auricula was isolated and purified, showing protective effects against CTX-induced liver injury in mice. To study the action mechanism of AHP, a liver injury model was established by intraperitoneally injection 80 mg/kg of CTX for 3 consecutive days. The focus was on how AHP regulated the gut bacteriome and mycobiome to help alleviate metabolic disorders associated with liver injury. Results showed that AHP amended liver injury by improving liver function, stabilizing oxidative stress homeostasis, reducing inflammatory invasion and activating Akt/GSK3β/Nrf-2/HO-1 signaling pathway. The 16S ribosomal DNA (16S rDNA) and Internal Transcribed Spacer-1 (ITS1) sequencing results demonstrated that AHP supplementation significantly restored the gut bacteriome and mycobiome composition in CTX-induced liver injury mice, by enriching the abundance of beneficial bacteriome (unclassified_Muribaculaceae, Faecalibaculum and Alloprevotella) and mycobiome (Fusarium), reducing the abundance of harmful bacteriome (Akkermanisa) and mycobiome (Fusicolla and Cladosporium). Analysis of untargeted metabolomics indicated that AHP altered the levels of metabolites associated with both bile acid and arachidonic acid metabolism, showing a significant connection to the AHP-regulated bacteriome and mycobiome. To conclude, the findings suggested that AHP was a viable and secure candidate for use as a hepatoprotective medication.

Gastrointestinal Microbiota in Gastric Cancer: Potential Mechanisms and Clinical Applications-A Literature Review

Emerging evidence highlights the crucial role of gastrointestinal microbiota in the pathogenesis of gastric cancer. Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection stands out as a primary pathogenic factor. However, interventions such as anti-H. pylori therapy, gastric surgeries, immunotherapy, and chronic inflammation significantly remodel the gastric microbiome, implicating a broader spectrum of microorganisms in cancer development. These microbial populations can modulate gastric carcinogenesis through various mechanisms, including sustained chronic inflammation, bacterial genotoxins, alterations in short-chain fatty acids, elevated gastrointestinal bile acids, impaired mucus barrier function, and increased concentrations of N-nitrosamines and lactic acid. The dynamic changes in gut microbiota also critically influence the outcomes of anti-cancer therapies by modifying drug bioavailability and metabolism, thus affecting therapeutic efficacy and side effect profiles. Additionally, the effectiveness of radiotherapy can be significantly impacted by gut microbiota alterations. Novel therapeutic strategies targeting the microbiome, such as dietary interventions, probiotic and synbiotic supplementation, and fecal microbiota transplantation, are showing promise in cancer treatment. Understanding the intricate relationship between the gut microbiota and gastric cancer is essential for developing new, evidence-based approaches to the prevention and treatment of this malignancy.

Akkermansia muciniphila administration ameliorates streptozotocin-induced hyperglycemia and muscle atrophy by promoting IGF2 secretion from mouse intestine

Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is an autoimmune disease that can lead to severe diabetic complications. While the changes and correlations between gut microbiota and the pathogenesis of T1DM have been extensively studied, little is known about the benefits of interventions on gut bacterial communities, particularly using probiotics, for this disease. In the present study, we reported that the mice surviving after 5 months of streptozotocin (STZ) injection had reduced blood glucose level and recovered gut microbiota with increased Akkermansia muciniphila proportion. Gavage of heat-killed A. muciniphila increases the diversity of gut microbiota and elevated immune and metabolic signaling pathways in the intestine. Mechanistically, A. muciniphila treatment promoted the secretion of insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF2) which subsequently activated IGF2 signaling in skeletal muscles and enhanced muscle and global metabolism. Our results suggest that the administration of heat-killed A. muciniphila could be a potential therapeutic strategy for T1DM and its associated hyperglycemia.

Social behaviour mediates the microbiome response to antibiotic treatment in a wild mammal

High levels of social connectivity among group-living animals have been hypothesized to benefit individuals by creating opportunities to rapidly reseed the microbiome and maintain stability against disruption. We tested this hypothesis by perturbing the microbiome of a wild population of Grant's gazelles with an antibiotic and asking whether microbiome recovery differs between individuals with high versus low levels of social connectivity. We found that after treatment, individuals with high social connectivity experienced a faster increase in microbiome richness than less socially connected individuals. Unexpectedly, the rapid increase in microbiome richness of highly connected individuals that received treatment led to their microbiomes becoming more distinct relative to the background population. Our results suggest that the microbiome of individuals with high social connectivity can be rapidly recolonized after a perturbation event, but this leads to a microbiome that is more distinct from, rather than more similar to the unperturbed state. This work provides new insight into the role of social interactions in shaping the microbiome.

A New Combination of Bifidobacterium bifidum and Lactococcus lactis Strains with Synergistic Effects Alleviates Colitis-Associated Colorectal Cancer

Chronic inflammation is a factor in the development of cancer, and probiotics play a role in preventing or treating inflammation as an adjuvant therapy. To investigate potential probiotics for the prevention of colitis-associated colorectal cancer (CAC), Bifidobacterium bifidum H3-R2 and Lactococcus lactis KLDS4.0325 were used to examine the effects on colon cancer cells and in an inflammation-related cancer animal model. The results revealed that B. bifidum H3-R2 in combination with L. lactis KLDS4.0325 caused apoptosis in colon cancer cells by increasing caspase-3 and caspase-9 protein levels, enhancing Bax expression, and lowering Bcl-2 expression. In addition, the combination of the two strains relieved the tissue damage; reduced proinflammatory cytokines, myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, and hypoxia-inducible factor 1-alpha (HIF-1α) level; upregulated anti-inflammatory cytokines; increased colonic tight junction protein expression; regulated intestinal homeostasis by inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome signaling pathway; and improved the imbalance of gut microbiota in animal models. Moreover, the combination of the two strains had a greater preventive impact than each strain alone. These findings are supportive of clinical studies and product development of multi-strain probiotic preparations for diseases associated with colitis.

Perinatal Exposure to Tobacco Smoke and Its Association with the Maternal and Offspring Microbiome: A Systematic Review

BACKGROUND

The human microbiome, comprising trillions of microorganisms, significantly influences human health and disease. During critical periods like the perinatal phase, the microbiome undergoes significant changes, impacting lifelong health. Tobacco smoke, a known environmental pollutant, has adverse effects on health, particularly during pregnancy. Despite this, its association with the perinatal microbiome remains understudied.

METHODS

We conducted a systematic review to integrate findings on perinatal tobacco smoke exposure and its association with the maternal and neonatal microbiomes. We conducted a comprehensive literature search in the PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases from January 2000 to February 2024. We selected studies that met predefined inclusion criteria and performed data extraction.

RESULTS

The review included eight studies that revealed diverse associations of perinatal tobacco exposure with the maternal and neonatal microbiome. Active smoking during pregnancy was linked to alterations in microbiome composition and diversity in children. Maternal smoking correlated with increased Firmicutes abundance and decreased Akkermansia muciniphila abundance in offspring. Additionally, exposure to thirdhand smoke in neonatal intensive care units was related to infant microbiome diversity. Infants exposed to tobacco smoke showed various microbial changes, suggesting potential implications for childhood health outcomes, including obesity risk.

CONCLUSIONS

Perinatal exposure to tobacco smoke exerts significant influence on the maternal and neonatal microbiomes, with potential implications for long-term health outcomes. Addressing socioeconomic and psychological barriers to smoking cessation, implementing stricter smoking regulations, and promoting public health campaigns are essential steps towards reducing tobacco-related harm during the perinatal period. Further longitudinal studies and standardized assessment methods are needed to validate these findings and guide the development of effective preventive measures.