Influence of Cultivation pH on Composition, Diversity, and Metabolic Production in an In Vitro Human Intestinal Microbiota

Influence of fermented milk permeate containing antimicrobial Lactobacillus and galactooligosaccharides on growth performance and health parameters in neonatal piglets

The study aimed to compare the effects of fermented milk permeate (MP) containing Pediococcus pentosaceus (MPPp) and P. acidilactici (MPPa) on growth performance, plasma parameters, and the faecal microbial, metataxonomic, and physicochemical characteristics of Topigs Norsvin Yorkshire piglets. A total of 36 1-day-old piglets were divided into three groups: (i) control group (C), (ii) MPPp group, and (iii) MPPa group. The treated groups, in addition to their full-fledged combined pre-starter diet, received 25 mL of MP daily. After the experiment, piglets in the MPPa group exhibited the highest weight gain, while piglets in the MPPp group showed the highest IgM concentration. Both experimental groups demonstrated increased Lactobacillus counts in the faeces. Although the numbers of Lactobacillus and Enterobacteria increased, these microbial changes did not show a direct correlation with growth performance. The feces of MPPa piglets had a unique volatile compound profile, characterized by higher levels of butanoic acid and indole levels, which may be linked to differences in their metataxonomic profile. The MPPp group showed a greater variety of bacterial patterns compared to the control and MPPa groups. Post-experiment, the MPPa group demonstrated the highest prevalence of specific bacterial species, Parabacteroides sp. 12,306, Terrisporobacter sp. 34,393, Holdemanella sp. 36,738, and Lachnospiraceae sp. In conclusion, feeding piglets with MPPa proved beneficial for achieving better weight gain while also promoting the proliferation of specific bacteria species and contributing to a distinctive VC profile in their faeces. These findings highlight the importance of further research into the metabolic pathways underlying these observations.

Alterations in Milk Biomolecular Profiles and Piglet Performances Due to Dietary Probiotic Bacillus licheniformis DSMZ 28710 Supplementation

The present study aimed to investigate the effects of probiotic Bacillus licheniformis DSMZ 28710 supplementation on sow performance, Preweaning piglet performance, and the biochemical profiles of colostrum and milk. Sixty-eight crossbred sows (Landrace× $\times $ Yorkshire) were allocated to either a standard lactation diet (Control; n = 35) or the Control diet supplemented with 10 g/sow/day of B. licheniformis DSMZ 28710 (Treatment; n = 33), from day 109 of gestation until day 21 of lactation. Sow and piglet performance, as well as the incidence of piglet diarrhea, were recorded. Moreover, the study investigated the changes in major chemical compositions, immunoglobulins, fatty acids, and non-volatile polar metabolites in colostrum, transient milk, and mature milk of sows. Supplementation of B. licheniformis increased piglet body weight on day 21 of lactation in old parity sows (p = 0.037). Moreover, the incidence of diarrhea was reduced in piglets suckled by sows supplemented with B. licheniformis DSMZ 28710, regardless of sow's parity or lactation stage (p < 0.05). Probiotic supplementation decreased fat content in transient milk (p = 0.026) and increased lactose content in mature milk (p = 0.011). Chemometric analysis revealed clear distinctions between the Control and Treatment group in the fatty acid profiles of colostrum, transient milk, and mature milk, while notable differences in non-volatile polar metabolite profiles were observed specifically in mature milk. In conclusion, supplementation with B. licheniformis DSMZ 28710 reduced the incidence of diarrhea in piglets, increased body weight of the piglets in old parity sows and altered the biomolecular profiles in colostrum, transit milk, and mature milk of the sows.

Large intestinal nutritional and physicochemical parameters from different dog sizes reshape canine microbiota structure and functions in vitro

Different dog sizes are associated with variations in large intestinal physiology including gut microbiota, which plays a key role in animal health. This study aims to evaluate, using the CANIM-ARCOL (Canine Mucosal Artificial Colon), the relative importance of gut microbes versus physicochemical and nutritional parameters of the canine colonic environment in shaping microbiota structure and functions. CANIM-ARCOL was set up to reproduce nutrient availability, bile acid profiles, colonic pH, and transit time from small, medium, or large dogs according to in vivo data, while bioreactors were all inoculated with a fecal sample collected from medium size dogs (n = 2). Applying different dog size parameters resulted in a positive association between size and gas or SCFA production, as well as distinct microbiota profiles as revealed by 16S Metabarcoding. Comparisons with in vivo data from canine stools and previous in vitro results obtained when CANIM-ARCOL was inoculated with fecal samples from three dog sizes revealed that environmental colonic parameters were sufficient to drive microbiota functions. However, size-related fecal microbes were necessary to accurately reproduce in vitro the colonic ecosystem of small, medium, and large dogs. For the first time, this study provides mechanistic insights on which parameters from colonic ecosystem mainly drive canine microbiota in relation to dog size. The CANIM-ARCOL can be used as a relevant in vitro platform to unravel interactions between food or pharma compounds and canine colonic microbiota, under different dog size conditions. The potential of the model will be extended soon to diseased situations (e.g. chronic enteropathies or obesity).

N-acyl glycines produced by commensal bacteria potentiate GLP-1 secretion as GPCR ligands

Commensal microbiota is crucial for nutrient digestion and production of biologically active molecules, many of which mimic endogenous ligands of human GPCRs. Bacteroides spp. are among the most abundant bacteria residing in the human gut and their absence has been positively correlated with metabolic disorders. In the present study, we focused on N-acylated glycines (NAGlys) as products of Bacteroides spp. and potential GPCR ligands modulating GLP-1 secretion. Representative strains of the most abundant commensal Bacteroides were cultured in either yeast- or animal-based nutrient broths. The broths post-culture were investigated in terms of the contents of NAGlys and stimulatory effects towards GLP-1 production in GLUTag and NCI-H716 cell lines. Pure preparations of the detected NAGlys were further studied to evaluate stimulation of GLP-1 production and related cellular signalling evoked. The most potent NAGlys were also tested as ligands of key lipid GPCRs involved in the regulation of carbohydrate metabolism: GPR40/FFAR1, GPR55, GPR119, and GPR120/FFAR4. We found that Bacteroides potentiate GLP-1 production, depending on the strain and provided nutrient mix. Long-chain unsaturated oleoyl and arachidonoyl glycines, produced by B. thetaiotaomicron and B. intestinalis in the animal-based broth, were particularly effective in stimulation of GLP-1 secretion. They served as agonists of all the receptors under study expressed in GLP-1-producing cells. The obtained results broaden the knowledge of microbial signalling molecules and their role in regulation of carbohydrate homeostasis. They also emphasise the importance of balanced diet as a source of building blocks for commensal bacteria to produce efficient agonists of lipid GPCRs.

"Enhancing Oral Drug Absorption: Overcoming Physiological and Pharmaceutical Barriers for Improved Bioavailability"

The oral route stands out as the most commonly used method for drug administration, prized for its non-invasive nature, patient compliance, and easy administration. Several elements influence the absorption of oral medications, including their solubility, permeability across mucosal membranes, and stability within the gastrointestinal (GI) environment. Research has delved into comprehending physicochemical, biochemical, metabolic, and biological obstacles that impact the bioavailability of a drug. To improve oral drug absorption, several pharmaceutical technologies and delivery methods have been studied, including cyclodextrins, micelles, nanocarriers, and lipid-based carriers. This review examines both traditional and innovative drug delivery methods, as well as the physiological and pharmacological barriers influencing medication bioavailability when taken orally. Additionally, it describes the challenges and advancements in developing formulations suitable for oral use.

Transferability of Human and Environmental Microbiome on Clothes as a Tool for Forensic Investigations

Considering the growing importance of microbiome analyses in forensics for identifying individuals, this study explores the transfer of the skin microbiome onto clothing, its persistence on fabrics over time, and its transferability from the environment and between different garments. Furthermore, this project compares three specific QIAGEN microbiome extraction kits to test their extraction efficiency on fabric samples. Additionally, this study aims to check if these extracts contain human DNA, providing a chance to obtain more information from the same evidence for personal identification. The results obtained show: (1) variations in the skin microbiome between the volunteers, potentially due to their different sex; (2) differences in microbial composition between worn and unworn clothing; (3) the influence of the environment on the microbial signature of unworn clothing; (4) the potential use of certain phyla as biomarkers to differentiate between worn and unworn garments, even over extended periods; (5) a tendency towards extraction biases in the QIAampMP® DNA microbiome kit among the three tested ones; and (6) none of the extraction kits allow for the typing of human genetic profiles suitable for comparison. In conclusion, our study offers supplementary insights into the potential utility of time-transferred microbiome analysis on garments for forensic applications.

The Effect of Maternal Probiotic or Synbiotic Supplementation on Sow and Offspring Gastrointestinal Microbiota, Health, and Performance

The increasing prevalence of antimicrobial-resistant pathogens has prompted the reduction in antibiotic and antimicrobial use in commercial pig production. This has led to increased research efforts to identify alternative dietary interventions to support the health and development of the pig. The crucial role of the GIT microbiota in animal health and performance is becoming increasingly evident. Hence, promoting an improved GIT microbiota, particularly the pioneer microbiota in the young pig, is a fundamental focus. Recent research has indicated that the sow's GIT microbiota is a significant contributor to the development of the offspring's microbiota. Thus, dietary manipulation of the sow's microbiota with probiotics or synbiotics, before farrowing and during lactation, is a compelling area of exploration. This review aims to identify the potential health benefits of maternal probiotic or synbiotic supplementation to both the sow and her offspring and to explore their possible modes of action. Finally, the results of maternal sow probiotic and synbiotic supplementation studies are collated and summarized. Maternal probiotic or synbiotic supplementation offers an effective strategy to modulate the sow's microbiota and thereby enhance the formation of a health-promoting pioneer microbiota in the offspring. In addition, this strategy can potentially reduce oxidative stress and inflammation in the sow and her offspring, enhance the immune potential of the milk, the immune system development in the offspring, and the sow's feed intake during lactation. Although many studies have used probiotics in the maternal sow diet, the most effective probiotic or probiotic blends remain unclear. To this extent, further direct comparative investigations using different probiotics are warranted to advance the current understanding in this area. Moreover, the number of investigations supplementing synbiotics in the maternal sow diet is limited and is an area where further exploration is warranted.

Designs and methodologies to recreate in vitro human gut microbiota models

The human gut microbiota is widely considered to be a metabolic organ hidden within our bodies, playing a crucial role in the host’s physiology. Several factors affect its composition, so a wide variety of microbes residing in the gut are present in the world population. Individual excessive imbalances in microbial composition are often associated with human disorders and pathologies, and new investigative strategies to gain insight into these pathologies and define pharmaceutical therapies for their treatment are needed. In vitro models of the human gut microbiota are commonly used to study microbial fermentation patterns, community composition, and host-microbe interactions. Bioreactors and microfluidic devices have been designed to culture microorganisms from the human gut microbiota in a dynamic environment in the presence or absence of eukaryotic cells to interact with. In this review, we will describe the overall elements required to create a functioning, reproducible, and accurate in vitro culture of the human gut microbiota. In addition, we will analyze some of the devices currently used to study fermentation processes and relationships between the human gut microbiota and host eukaryotic cells.

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