Lactobacillus supplementation and Group B Streptococcus infection

Astragalus membranaceus as a Drug Candidate for Inflammatory Bowel Disease: The Preclinical Evidence

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a group of chronic inflammatory disorders that include Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). Today, IBD has no successful treatment. As a result, it is of paramount importance to develop novel therapeutic agents for IBD prevention and treatment. Astragalus membranaceus (AMS) is a traditional Chinese medicine found in the AMS root. Modern pharmacological studies indicate that AMS and its constituents exhibit multiple bioactivities, such as anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, immune regulatory, anticancer, hypolipidemic, hypoglycemic, hepatoprotective, expectorant, and diuretic effects. AMS and its active constituents, which have been reported to be effective in IBD treatment, are believed to be viable candidate drugs for IBD treatment. These underlying mechanisms are associated with anti-inflammation, anti-oxidation, immunomodulation, intestinal epithelial repair, gut microbiota homeostasis, and improved energy metabolism. In this review, we summarize the efficacy and underlying mechanisms involved in IBD treatment with AMS and its active constituents in preclinical studies.

Effects of Dietary Astragalus Polysaccharide Supplementation on the Th17/Treg Balance and the Gut Microbiota of Broiler Chickens Challenged With Necrotic Enteritis

This study aimed to investigate the effects of dietary astragalus polysaccharide (APS) supplementation on the immune function, gut microbiota and metabolism of broiler chickens challenged with necrotic enteritis (NE). Two hundred forty Arbor Acres broiler chicks (one day old) were randomly assigned using a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement into two groups fed different levels of dietary APS (0 or 200 ppm of diet) and two disease challenge groups (control or NE challenged). The results showed that NE infection significantly increased FCR, mortality rate, Th17/Treg (Th17 cells% in blood and ileum, Th17/Treg, IL-17 and IL-17/IL-10 in blood), NO, lysozyme activity and IL-1β in blood, intestinal immune cell proportion and activity (Tc%, Treg% and monocyte phagocytic activity in ileum), intestinal inflammatory cytokines (TLR2, NF-κB, TNF-α and IL- 6) gene expression levels, and the number of Clostridium perfringens in cecum. NE infection significantly reduced body weight gain, thymus index, lymphocyte proliferation activity in blood and ileum, villus height and V/C in jejunum, Th cells% and Mucin2 gene expression in ileum. Dietary APS supplementation significantly increased body weight, feed intake, proportion of immune cells (T cells in blood and Tc, Treg in ileum), lymphocyte proliferation activity, V/C in jejunum, and ZO-1 gene expression in ileum. Dietary APS supplementation significantly reduced FCR and mortality rate, Th17/Treg, Th17%, intestinal pathology scores, intestinal inflammatory cytokine gene expression levels, and the number of Clostridium perfringens in cecum. In addition, broilers challenged with NE significantly increased Staphylococcus and Turicibacter and reduced α diversity of microbiota in ileum. Dietary APS supplementation significantly increased α diversity, Romboutsia, Halomonas, propionic acid, butyric acid, formononetin, taurine, cholic acid and equol and downregulated uric acid, L-arginine and serotonin in ileum. Spearman’s correlation analysis revealed that Romboutsia, Turicibacter, Staphylocpccus, Halomonas, Streptococcus, Escherichia-Shigella, Prevotella, uric acid, L-arginine, jerivne, sodium cholate and cholic acid were related to inflammation and Th17/Treg balance. In conclusion, APS alleviated intestinal inflammation in broilers challenged with NE probably by regulating intestinal immune, Th17/Treg balance, as well as intestinal microbiota and metabolites.

The impact of prenatal use of oral Clostridium butyricum on maternal group B Streptococcus colonization: A retrospective study

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study is to examine the effect of taking Clostridium butyricum (Miyarisan BM) orally for 4 weeks since the 32⁺⁰ weeks of gestation on preventing Group B Streptococcus colonization.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We retrospectively collected data on the pregnancy outcomes of 1602 women between October 2017 and August 2019. The control group received standard antenatal care, and the intervention group received standard antenatal care with a daily oral dose of probiotics since the 32⁺⁰ weeks of gestation. The daily dose was one pack of C. butyricum (Miyarisan BM) once or twice a day. A vaginal Group B Streptococcus swab was collected between 36⁺⁰ and 36⁺⁶ weeks of gestation.

RESULTS

After applying the designated exclusion criteria, the total number of participants was 1576. The Group B Streptococcus colonization rate was significantly decreased in the intervention group (P = 0.0338; adjusted OR: 0.66 (0.45-0.97)).

CONCLUSION

Probiotics can reduce the colonization rate of Group B Streptococcus in the vagina and rectum under three conditions: (1) intervention of adequate length, (2) sufficient probiotic dose, and (3) effective probiotics.