Positioning the preventive potential of microbiome treatments for cystic fibrosis in the context of current therapies.

Antibiotics and cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) modulators play a pivotal role in cystic fibrosis (CF) treatment, but both have limitations. Antibiotics are linked to antibiotic resistance and disruption of the airway microbiome, while CFTR modulators are not widely accessible, and structural lung damage and pathogen overgrowth still occur. Complementary strategies that can beneficially modulate the airway microbiome in a preventive way are highly needed. This could be mediated via oral probiotics, which have shown some improvement of lung function and reduction of airway infections and exacerbations, as a cost-effective approach. However, recent data suggest that specific and locally administered probiotics in the respiratory tract might be a more targeted approach to prevent pathogen outgrowth in the lower airways. This review aims to summarize the current knowledge on the CF airway microbiome and possibilities of microbiome treatments to prevent bacterial and/or viral infections and position them in the context of current CF therapies.

Salivary microbiome of healthy women of reproductive age.

IMPORTANCE: The salivary microbiome has been proven to play a crucial role in local and systemic diseases. Moreover, the effects of biological and lifestyle factors such as oral hygiene and smoking on this microbial community have already been explored. However, what was not yet well understood was the natural variation of the saliva microbiome in healthy women and how this is associated with specific use of hormonal contraception and with the number of different sexual partners with whom microbiome exchange is expected regularly. In this paper, we characterized the salivary microbiome of 255 healthy women of reproductive age using an in-depth questionnaire and self-sampling kits. Using the large metadata set, we were able to investigate the associations of several host-related and lifestyle variables with the salivary microbiome profiles. Our study shows a high preservation between individuals.

Demonstrating the involvement of an active efflux mechanism in the intestinal absorption of chlorogenic acid and quinic acid using a Caco-2 bidirectional permeability assay.

SCOPE: Chlorogenic acid (5-caffeoylquinic acid), the most prominent polyphenolic compound in coffee, has been attributed multiple health-promoting effects such as anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic and antioxidative effects. These effects are dependent on the bioavailability of chlorogenic acid, which is determined by the pharmacokinetic properties: absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion (ADME). In order to have a better understanding of the biological properties of chlorogenic acid and to optimize formulation and dosing of chlorogenic acid-containing food supplements, information on the absorption of chlorogenic acid and its microbial biotransformation products is of essence. METHODS AND RESULTS: In the present work, the intestinal absorption of chlorogenic acid and quinic acid, one of its most prominent intestinal biotransformation products, was studied by an in vitro permeability assay using a human Caco-2 cell line model. For both chlorogenic acid and quinic acid, the involvement of an active efflux mechanism was demonstrated, suggesting an overall low intestinal absorption. CONCLUSIONS: An overall low intestinal absorption for chlorogenic acid and quinic acid was reported given the involvement of an active efflux mechanism. These findings could aid in the development of optimal formulation and dosing strategies of chlorogenic acid in food supplements in order to obtain beneficial health effects.

Expression of fluorescent proteins in Lactobacillus rhamnosus to study host-microbe and microbe-microbe interactions.

Probiotic Lactobacillus strains are widely used to benefit human and animal health, although the exact mechanisms behind their interactions with the host and the microbiota are largely unknown. Fluorescent tagging of live probiotic cells is an important tool to unravel their modes of action. In this study, the implementation of different heterologously expressed fluorescent proteins for the labelling of the model probiotic strains Lactobacillus rhamnosusGG (gastrointestinal) and Lactobacillus rhamnosusGR-1 (vaginal) was explored. Heterologous expression of mTagBFP2 and mCherry resulted in long-lasting fluorescence of L. rhamnosusGG and GR-1 cells, using the nisin-controlled expression (NICE) system. These novel fluorescent strains were then used to study in vitro aspects of their microbe-microbe and microbe-host interactions. Lactobacillus rhamnosusGG and L. rhamnosusGR-1 expressing mTagBFP2 and mCherry could be visualized in mixed-species biofilms, where they inhibited biofilm formation by Salmonella Typhimurium-gfpmut3 expressing the green fluorescent protein. Likewise, fluorescent L. rhamnosusGG and L. rhamnosusGR-1 were implemented for the visualization of their adhesion patterns to intestinal epithelial cell cultures. The fluorescent L. rhamnosus strains developed in this study can therefore serve as novel tools for the study of probiotic interactions with their environment.