Akkermansia muciniphila improves chronic colitis-induced enteric neuroinflammation in mice.

BACKGROUND: Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are chronic diseases that are not fully understood. Drugs in use can only be applied for a short time due to their side effects. Therefore, research is needed to develop new treatment approaches. In addition, it has been proven that IBD causes degeneration in the enteric nervous system (ENS). In recent years, it has been discussed that probiotics may have positive effects in the prevention and treatment of inflammatory enteric degeneration. Akkermansia muciniphila (A. muciniphila) is an anaerobic bacterium found in the mucin layer of the intestinal microbiota. It has been found that the population of A. muciniphila decreases in the case of different diseases. In light of this information, the curative effect of A. muciniphila application on colitis-induced inflammation and enteric degeneration was investigated. METHODS: In this study, 5 weeks of A. muciniphila treatment in Trinitro-benzene-sulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced chronic colitis model was investigated. Colon samples were examined at microscopic, biochemical, and molecular levels. Fecal samples were collected before, during, and after treatment to evaluate the population changes in the microbiota. Specific proteins secreted from the ENS were evaluated, and enteric degeneration was examined. RESULTS: As a result of the research, the ameliorative effects of A. muciniphila were shown in the TNBS colitis model-induced inflammation and ENS damage. DISCUSSION: In light of these results, A. muciniphila can potentially be evaluated as a microbiome-based treatment for IBD with further clinical and experimental studies.

A thermophilic chemolithoautotrophic bacterial consortium suggests a mutual relationship between bacteria in extreme oligotrophic environments.

A thermophilic, chemolithoautotrophic, and aerobic microbial consortium (termed carbonitroflex) growing in a nutrient-poor medium and an atmosphere containing N2, O2, CO2, and CO is investigated as a model to expand our understanding of extreme biological systems. Here we show that the consortium is dominated by Carbonactinospora thermoautotrophica (strain StC), followed by Sphaerobacter thermophilus, Chelatococcus spp., and Geobacillus spp. Metagenomic analysis of the consortium reveals a mutual relationship among bacteria, with C. thermoautotrophica StC exhibiting carboxydotrophy and carbon-dioxide storage capacity. C. thermoautotrophica StC, Chelatococcus spp., and S. thermophilus harbor genes encoding CO dehydrogenase and formate oxidase. No pure cultures were obtained under the original growth conditions, indicating that a tightly regulated interactive metabolism might be required for group survival and growth in this extreme oligotrophic system. The breadwinner hypothesis is proposed to explain the metabolic flux model and highlight the vital role of C. thermoautotrophica StC (the sole keystone species and primary carbon producer) in the survival of all consortium members. Our data may contribute to the investigation of complex interactions in extreme environments, exemplifying the interconnections and dependency within microbial communities.

Carotenoids from UV-resistant Antarctic Microbacterium sp. LEMMJ01.

The Microbacterium sp. LEMMJ01 isolated from Antarctic soil does not belong to any of the nearest species identified in the RDP database. Under UV radiation (A, B and C wavebands) the survival fractions of Microbacterium sp. cells were much higher compared with wild-type E. coli K12A15. Especially remarkable for an Antarctic bacterium, an expressive resistance against high UV-B doses was observed. The increased survival of DNA repair-proficient E. coli grown overnight added of 0.1 mg/ml or 1 mg/ml of the whole pigment extract produced by Microbacterium sp. revealed that part of the resistance of Microbacterium sp. against UV-B radiation seems to be connected with photoprotection by its pigments. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that UV-A and UV-B ensued membrane alterations only in E. coli. The APCI-MS fingerprints revealed the diagnostic ions for neurosporene (m/z 580, 566, 522, 538, and 524) synergism for the first time in this bacterium by HPLC-MS/MS analysis. Carotenoids also were devoid of phototoxicity and cytotoxicity effects in mouse cells and in human keratinocytes and fibroblasts.

Impacto dos genes IgVH, LPL, ADAM29 e da proteína Zap-70 no prognóstico da leucemia linfocítica crônica / Prognostic impact of IgVH, LPL and ADAM29 genes, and Zap-70 protein in chronic lymphocytic leukemia

Objetivo: A leucemia linfocítica crônica (LLC) é marcada pela heterogeneidade evolutiva, que não pode ser prevista pelos atuais sistemas de estadiamento clínico. Recentemente, o estado mutacional dos genes IgVH vem sendo considerado como o melhor marcador de prognóstico nesta doença. No entanto, sua análise não é aplicável à rotina clínica, sendo o nosso principal objetivo o encontro de um marcador substituto (surrogate) de fácil utilização e reprodutibilidade. Métodos: Foram estudados pacientes com LLC acompanhados pelo Grupo Cooperativo Francês em LLC, pela Universidade Federal de São Paulo ou pelo Hospital do Servidor Público Estadual-SP. Inicialmente, investigamos a possibilidade de substituição do estudo IgVH pelo estadiamento clínico de Binet. A seguir, empregamos a técnica de microarrays buscando marcadores surrogate no perfil de expressão gênica diferencial entre os grupos IgVH mutado e não-mutado. Enfim, utilizamos RT-PCR quantitativa e citometria de fluxo para validação de nossos achados numa série ampliada de pacientes, onde analisamos o impacto da expressão de cada marcador em relação ao prognóstico na LLC. Resultados: O estadiamento clínico de Binet e o estado mutacional IgVH mostraram-se como fatores independentes, porém complementares, de prognóstico na LLC. Encontramos os genes LPL, ADAM29 e ZAP-70 como potenciais surrogates ao estado mutacional IgVH. Confirmamos os resultados obtidos nos microarrays, e verificamos que os perfis de expressão da relação LPLIADAM29 e a da proteína Zap-70 possuem alta correlação com o estado mutacional IgVH e com o prognóstico na LLC. Além disso, a associação dos resultados de LPLIADAM29 e Zap-70 mostrou ser capaz de dispensar o estudo IgVH em 80 por cento dos pacientes. Conclusões: O estadiamento clínico ainda possui um papel independente de prognóstico na LLC, e a avaliação do estado mutacional IgVH pode ser substituída, num futuro próximo, por LPL, ADAM29 e Zap-70