Microbiota-derived I3A protects the intestine against radiation injury by activating AhR/IL-10/Wnt signaling and enhancing the abundance of probiotics.

The intestine is prone to radiation damage in patients undergoing radiotherapy for pelvic tumors. However, there are currently no effective drugs available for the prevention or treatment of radiation-induced enteropathy (RIE). In this study, we aimed at investigating the impact of indole-3-carboxaldehyde (I3A) derived from the intestinal microbiota on RIE. Intestinal organoids were isolated and cultivated for screening radioprotective tryptophan metabolites. A RIE model was established using 13 Gy whole-abdominal irradiation in male C57BL/6J mice. After oral administration of I3A, its radioprotective ability was assessed through the observation of survival rates, clinical scores, and pathological analysis. Intestinal stem cell survival and changes in the intestinal barrier were observed through immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry. Subsequently, the radioprotective mechanisms of I3A was investigated through 16S rRNA and transcriptome sequencing, respectively. Finally, human colon cancer cells and organoids were cultured to assess the influence of I3A on tumor radiotherapy. I3A exhibited the most potent radioprotective effect on intestinal organoids. Oral administration of I3A treatment significantly increased the survival rate in irradiated mice, improved clinical and histological scores, mitigated mucosal damage, enhanced the proliferation and differentiation of Lgr5+ intestinal stem cells, and maintained intestinal barrier integrity. Furthermore, I3A enhanced the abundance of probiotics, and activated the AhR/IL-10/Wnt signaling pathway to promote intestinal epithelial proliferation. As a crucial tryptophan metabolite, I3A promotes intestinal epithelial cell proliferation through the AhR/IL-10/Wnt signaling pathway and upregulates the abundance of probiotics to treat RIE. Microbiota-derived I3A demonstrates potential clinical application value for the treatment of RIE.

An emerging strategy: probiotics enhance the effectiveness of tumor immunotherapy via mediating the gut microbiome.

The occurrence and progression of tumors are often accompanied by disruptions in the gut microbiota. Inversely, the impact of the gut microbiota on the initiation and progression of cancer is becoming increasingly evident, influencing the tumor microenvironment (TME) for both local and distant tumors. Moreover, it is even suggested to play a significant role in the process of tumor immunotherapy, contributing to high specificity in therapeutic outcomes and long-term effectiveness across various cancer types. Probiotics, with their generally positive influence on the gut microbiota, may serve as effective agents in synergizing cancer immunotherapy. They play a crucial role in activating the immune system to inhibit tumor growth. In summary, this comprehensive review aims to provide valuable insights into the dynamic interactions between probiotics, gut microbiota, and cancer. Furthermore, we highlight recent advances and mechanisms in using probiotics to improve the effectiveness of cancer immunotherapy. By understanding these complex relationships, we may unlock innovative approaches for cancer diagnosis and treatment while optimizing the effects of immunotherapy.

Effects of dietary intervention on diabetic nephropathy: an umbrella review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials.

Objective: To evaluate the quality of evidence, potential biases, and validity of all available studies on dietary intervention and diabetic nephropathy (DN). Methods: We conducted an umbrella review of existing meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that focused on the effects of dietary intervention on DN incidence. The literature was searched via PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. According to the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE), evidence of each outcome was evaluated and graded as "high", "moderate", "low" or "very low" quality to draw conclusions. Additionally, we classified evidence of outcomes into 4 categories. Results: We identified 36 meta-analyses of RCTs and 55 clinical outcomes of DN from 395 unique articles. Moderate-quality evidence suggested that probiotic supplementation could significantly improve blood urea nitrogen (BUN), total cholesterol (TC) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels in DN patients. Low-quality evidence indicated that probiotic supplementation significantly improved the serum creatinine concentration, urinary albumin-creatinine ratio (UACR), fasting blood glucose (FBG), HbA1c and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) in DN patients. In addition, low-quality evidence suggested that a salt restriction diet could significantly improve the creatinine clearance rate (CrCl) in patients with DN. Low-quality evidence suggested that vitamin D supplementation could significantly improve the UACR in patients with DN. In addition, low-quality evidence has indicated that soy isoflavone supplementation could significantly improve BUN, FBG, total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG) and LDL-C levels in patients with DN. Furthermore, low-quality evidence suggested that coenzyme Q10 supplementation could significantly improve HbA1c, TC and HDL-C in patients with DN, and dietary polyphenols also significantly improved HbA1c in patients with DN. Finally, low-quality evidence suggested that supplementation with antioxidant vitamins could significantly improve the serum creatinine concentration, systolic blood pressure, and HbA1c level in patients with DN. Given the small sample size, all significantly associated outcomes were evaluated as class IV evidence. Conclusion: Moderate to low amounts of evidence suggest that supplementation with probiotics, vitamin D, soy isoflavones, coenzyme Q10, dietary polyphenols, antioxidant vitamins, or salt-restricted diets may significantly improve clinical outcomes in patients with DN. Systematic Review Registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/, identifier CRD42024512670.

The development of probiotics and prebiotics therapy to ulcerative colitis: a therapy that has gained considerable momentum.

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is increasingly common, and it is gradually become a kind of global epidemic. UC is a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and it is a lifetime recurrent disease. UC as a common disease has become a financial burden for many people and has the potential to develop into cancer if not prevented or treated. There are multiple factors such as genetic factors, host immune system disorders, and environmental factors to cause UC. A growing body of research have suggested that intestinal microbiota as an environmental factor play an important role in the occurrence and development of UC. Meanwhile, evidence to date suggests that manipulating the gut microbiome may represent effective treatment for the prevention or management of UC. In addition, the main clinical drugs to treat UC are amino salicylate and corticosteroid. These clinical drugs always have some side effects and low success rate when treating patients with UC. Therefore, there is an urgent need for safe and efficient methods to treat UC. Based on this, probiotics and prebiotics may be a valuable treatment for UC. In order to promote the wide clinical application of probiotics and prebiotics in the treatment of UC. This review aims to summarize the recent literature as an aid to better understanding how the probiotics and prebiotics contributes to UC while evaluating and prospecting the therapeutic effect of the probiotics and prebiotics in the treatment of UC based on previous publications.

Evaluating Oral Probiotic Supplements as Complementary Treatment in Advanced Lung Cancer Patients Receiving ICIs: A Prospective Real-World Study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of oral probiotic supplements in patients undergoing immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) for the treatment of advanced lung cancer. METHODS: This prospective real-world study enrolled patients with advanced lung cancer who were receiving ICIs as part of their treatment. The patients were divided into 2 groups: Group OPS received oral probiotic supplements along with ICIs, while Group C did not. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS). The secondary outcome measure was the objective response rate (ORR). RESULTS: A total of 253 patients were included in the study, with 71 patients in Group OPS and 182 patients in the control group (Group C). No significant differences were observed in the median PFS between the 2 groups for all patients. However, for small cell lung cancer (SCLC) patients, the median PFS was significantly better in the Group OPS compared to the Group C (11.1 months vs 7.0 months, P = .049). No significant differences were observed in median PFS for the non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cohort between the 2 groups, but a trend towards better median PFS in Group OPS was noticed (16.5 months vs 12.3 months, P = .56). The ORR for the entire cohort was 58.0%. CONCLUSION: Oral probiotics supplements in combination with ICIs included regimen may improve the outcome in patients with advanced SCLC. The above points should be proved by further study.

This study examined whether the addition of oral probiotic supplements to ICIs could enhance the treatment of advanced lung cancer. A total of 253 patients with advanced lung cancer were involved in the study, with some receiving probiotics in combination with ICIs and others not. The findings revealed that patients with SCLC who took probiotics had significantly better PFS compared to those who did not. Additionally, there was a tendency towards enhanced PFS in NSCLC patients who received probiotics. In conclusion, the study indicates that incorporating oral probiotics with ICIs may lead to better outcomes for patients with advanced SCLC, although further research is necessary to validate these results.This real world study explores whether oral probiotic supplements along with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) can help treat advanced lung cancer. The study included 253 patients with advanced lung cancer receiving ICIs treatment, part of them taking probiotics along with ICIs. The results showed that patients with small cell lung cancer (SCLC) who took probiotics had better progression-free survival (PFS) compared to those who didn't. There was also a trend towards better PFS in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients who took probiotics. Overall, the study suggests that taking oral probiotics along with ICIs may improve outcomes for patients with advanced SCLC, but more research is needed to confirm these findings.

Dual engineered bacteria improve inflammatory bowel disease in mice.

Currently, there are many different therapies available for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including engineered live bacterial therapeutics. However, most of these studies focus on producing a single therapeutic drug using individual bacteria, which may cause inefficacy. The use of dual drugs can enhance therapeutic effects. However, expressing multiple therapeutic drugs in one bacterial chassis increases the burden on the bacterium and hinders good secretion and expression. Therefore, a dual-bacterial, dual-drug expression system allows for the introduction of two probiotic chassis and enhances both therapeutic and probiotic effects. In this study, we constructed a dual bacterial system to simultaneously neutralize pro-inflammatory factors and enhance the anti-inflammatory pathway. These bacteria for therapy consist of Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 that expressed and secreted anti-TNF-α nanobody and IL-10, respectively. The oral administration of genetically engineered bacteria led to a decrease in inflammatory cell infiltration in colon and a reduction in the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Additionally, the administration of engineered bacteria did not markedly aggravate gut fibrosis and had a moderating effect on intestinal microbes. This system proposes a dual-engineered bacterial drug combination treatment therapy for inflammatory bowel disease, which provides a new approach to intervene and treat IBD. KEY POINTS: • The paper discusses the effects of using dual engineered bacteria on IBD • Prospects of engineered bacteria in the clinical treatment of IBD.

Impact of Probiotic Lactiplantibacillus plantarum ATCC 14917 on atherosclerotic plaque and its mechanism.

Atherosclerosis is viewed as not just as a problem of lipid build-up in blood vessels, but also as a chronic inflammatory disease involving both innate and acquired immunity. In atherosclerosis, the inflammation of the arterial walls is the key characteristic that significantly contributes to both the instability of plaque and the occlusion of arteries by blood clots. These events ultimately lead to stroke and acute coronary syndrome. Probiotics are living microorganisms that, when consumed in the right quantities, offer advantages for one's health. The primary objective of this study was to investigate the influence of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum ATCC 14917 (ATCC 14917) on the development of atherosclerotic plaques and its underlying mechanism in Apo lipoprotein E-knockout (Apoe-/- mice). In this study, Apoe-/- mice at approximately 8 weeks of age were randomly assigned to three groups: a Normal group that received a normal chow diet, a high fat diet group that received a gavage of PBS, and a Lactiplantibacillus plantarum ATCC 14917 group that received a high fat diet and a gavage of 0.2 ml ATCC 14917 (2 × 109 CFU/mL) per day for a duration of 12 weeks. Our strain effectively reduced the size of plaques in Apoe-/- mice by regulating the expression of inflammatory markers, immune cell markers, chemokines/chemokine receptors, and tight junction proteins (TJPs). Specifically, it decreased the levels of inflammatory markers (ICAM-1, CD-60 MCP-1, F4/80, ICAM-1, and VCAM-1) in the thoracic aorta, (Ccr7, cd11c, cd4, cd80, IL-1ß, TNF-α) in the colon, and increased the activity of ROS-scavenging enzymes (SOD-1 and SOD-2). It also influenced the expression of TJPs (occludin, ZO-1, claudin-3, and MUC-3). In addition, the treatment of ATCC 14917 significantly reduced the level of lipopolysaccharide in the mesenteric adipose tissue. The findings of our study demonstrated that our strain effectively decreased the size of atherosclerotic plaques by modulating inflammation, oxidative stress, intestinal integrity, and intestinal immunity.

Synergistic immunomodulatory effect of synbiotics pre- and postoperative resection of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma: a randomized controlled study.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is an aggressive cancer with a highly immunosuppressive microenvironment. This single-blind, randomized study aimed to evaluate the synergistic immunomodulatory effects of synbiotics (probiotics and inulin prebiotics), as well as their impact on postoperative complications and outcomes, compared to the use of probiotics alone. Ninety patients diagnosed with PDAC were enrolled and randomly assigned into three groups: the placebo group, the probiotics group (receiving a mixture of ten strains of Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, and Streptococcus bacteria at a dose of 25 billion CFUs), and the synbiotics group (the same probiotics along with inulin prebiotics). The interventions were administered for 14 days before the surgery and continued for one month postoperatively. Tumor tissue infiltration of CD8 + T cells and the expression of IFN γ were assessed by immunohistochemistry (IHC). Inflammatory cytokines concentrations, including Il 1 B, IL 6, and IL 10, were evaluated as well by ELISA at various time points pre- and postoperative. Furthermore, patients were followed up after the surgery to assess postoperative short-term outcomes. Our results showed a significant elevation of CD8 + T cell proportion and IFN γ expression in the synbiotics group compared to the probiotics group (p = 0.049, p = 0.013, respectively). Inflammatory cytokines showed a significant gradual decrease in the synbiotics group compared to placebo and probiotics-treated groups (p = 0.000 for both). Administration of synbiotics and probiotics significantly decreased the rate of postoperative complications including anastomotic leakage, diarrhea, and abdominal distension (p = 0.032, p = 0.044, p = 0.042, respectively), with a remarkable reduction in bacteremia in the synbiotics group. These results revealed that this synbiotics formulation potentially enhances the immune response and reduces complications associated with surgery.Clinical trial identification: NCT06199752 (27-12-2023).

Probiotics induce intestinal IgA secretion in weanling mice potentially through promoting intestinal APRIL expression and modulating the gut microbiota composition.

Intestinal infections are strongly associated with infant mortality, and intestinal immunoglobulin A (IgA) is important to protect infants from intestinal infections after weaning. This study aims to screen probiotics that can promote the production of intestinal IgA after weaning and further explore their potential mechanisms of action. In this study, probiotics promoting intestinal IgA production were screened in weanling mouse models. The results showed that oral administration of Bifidobacterium bifidum (B. bifidum) FL228.1 and Bifidobacterium bifidum (B. bifidum) FL276.1 significantly enhanced IgA levels in the small intestine and upregulated the expression of a proliferation-inducing ligand (APRIL) and its upstream regulatory factor toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4). Furthermore, B. bifidum FL228.1 upregulated the relative abundance of Lactobacillus, while B. bifidum FL276.1 increased the relative abundance of Marvinbryantia and decreased Mucispirillum, further elevating intestinal IgA levels. In summary, B. bifidum FL228.1 and B. bifidum FL276.1 can induce IgA production in the intestinal tract of weanling mice by promoting intestinal APRIL expression and mediating changes in the gut microbiota, thus playing a significant role in enhancing local intestinal immunity in infants.

Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bacillus subtilis significantly change the growth performance, serum immunity and cecal microbiota of Cherry Valley ducks during the fattening period.

This study explored the effects of a Bacillus subtilis and Lactobacillus acidophilus mixture containing the co-fermented products of the two probiotics on growth performance, serum immunity and cecal microbiota of Cherry Valley ducks. This study included 480 one-day-old Cherry Valley ducks divided into four feeding groups: basal diet (control group) and basal diet supplemented with 300, 500, or 700 mg/kg of the probiotic powder; the ducks were raised for 42 days. Compared with the control group, body weight on day 42 and the average daily gain on days 15-42 significantly increased (p < 0.05), and the feed conversion rate significantly decreased (p < 0.05) in the experimental groups. Furthermore, the serum immunoglobulin (Ig) A, IgG, IgM, and interleukin (IL)-4 levels increased significantly (p < 0.05), and IL-1ß, IL-2, and tumor necrosis factor-α decreased significantly (p < 0.05) in the experimental groups. Finally, Sellimonas, Prevotellaceae NK3B31 group, Lachnospiraceae NK4A136 group and Butyricoccus played an important role in the cecal microbiota of the experimental group. Thus, the probiotic powder has impacts on the growth performance, serum immunity and cecal microbiota of Cherry Valley Ducks.

Mucosal adjuvanticity and mucosal booster effect of colibactin-depleted probiotic Escherichia coli membrane vesicles.

There is a growing interest in development of novel vaccines against respiratory tract infections, due to COVID-19 pandemic. Here, we examined mucosal adjuvanticity and the mucosal booster effect of membrane vesicles (MVs) of a novel probiotic E. coli derivative lacking both flagella and potentially carcinogenic colibactin (ΔflhDΔclbP). ΔflhDΔclbP-derived MVs showed rather strong mucosal adjuvanticity as compared to those of a single flagellar mutant strain (ΔflhD-MVs). In addition, glycoengineered ΔflhDΔclbP-MVs displaying serotype-14 pneumococcal capsular polysaccharide (CPS14+MVs) were well-characterized based on biological and physicochemical parameters. Subcutaneous (SC) and intranasal (IN) booster effects of CPS14+MVs on systemic and mucosal immunity were evaluated in mice that have already been subcutaneously prime-immunized with the same MVs. With a two-dose regimen, an IN boost (SC-IN) elicited stronger IgA responses than homologous prime-boost immunization (SC-SC). With a three-dose regimen, serum IgG levels were comparable among all tested regimens. Homologous immunization (SC-SC-SC) elicited the highest IgM responses among all regimens tested, whereas SC-SC-SC failed to elicit IgA responses in blood and saliva. Furthermore, serum IgA and salivary SIgA levels were increased with an increased number of IN doses administrated. Notably, SC-IN-IN induced not only robust IgG response, but also the highest IgA response in both serum and saliva among the groups. The present findings suggest the potential of a heterologous three-dose administration for building both systemic and mucosal immunity, e.g. an SC-IN-IN vaccine regimen could be beneficial. Another important observation was abundant packaging of colibactin in MVs, suggesting increased applicability of ΔflhDΔclbP-MVs in the context of vaccine safety.

Antiaging Effects of Human Fecal Transplants with Different Combinations of Bifidobacterium bifidum LTBB21J1 and Lactobacillus casei LTL1361 in d-Galactose-Induced Mice.

The feces of healthy middle-aged and old people were first transplanted into d-galactose-induced aging mice to construct humanized aging mice with gut microbiota (FMTC) to confirm the antiaging effect of probiotics produced from centenarians. The mouse model was then treated with centenarian-derived Bifidobacterium bifidum (FMTL), Lactobacillus casei (FMTB), and their mixtures (FMTM), and young mice were used as the control. Compared with the FMTC group, the results demonstrated that the probiotics and their combinations alleviated neuronal damage, increased antioxidant capacity, decreased inflammation, and enhanced cognitive and memory functions in aging mice. In the gut microbiota, the relative abundance of Lactobacillus, Ligilactobacillus, and Akkermansia increased and that of Desulfovibrio and Colidextribacter decreased in the FMTM group compared with that in the FMTC group. The three probiotic groups displayed significant changes in 15 metabolites compared with the FMTC group, with 4 metabolites showing increased expression and 11 metabolites showing decreased expression. The groups were graded as Control > FMTM > FMTB > FMTL > FMTC using a newly developed comprehensive quantitative scoring system that thoroughly analyzed the various indicators of this study. The beneficial antiaging effects of probiotics derived from centenarians were quantitatively described using a novel perspective in this study; it is confirmed that both probiotics and their combinations exert antiaging effects, with the probiotic complex group exhibiting a larger effect.

Effect of the probiotic Weissella cibaria CMS1 on the immune response and the oral microbiome: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel study.

The oral cavity connects the external environment and the respiratory and digestive systems, and the oral microbial ecosystem is complex and plays a crucial role in overall health and immune defense against external threats. Recently, the potential use of probiotics for disease prevention and treatment has gained attention. This study aimed to assess the effect of Weissella cibaria CMS1 (W. cibaria CMS1) consumption on the oral microbiome and immune function in healthy individuals through a 12-week clinical trial. This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel trial enrolled 90 healthy subjects. The consumption of W. cibaria CMS1 significantly increased salivary immunoglobulin A (p = 0.046) and decreased tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) levels (p = 0.008). Analysis of the oral microbiota revealed changes in beta diversity, increased abundance of Firmicutes and Actinobacteria, and decreased abundance of Bacteroidetes and Fusobacteria after 12 weeks of consuming W. cibaria CMS1. Significant increases in various strains, including Lactobacillales, Bacilli, Streptococcaceae, Streptococcus, and Firmicutes, were observed in the W. cibaria CMS1 group after 12 weeks of intake. Additionally, Fusobacteriia Fusobacteriales Fusobacteriaceae and Fusobacteriia Fusobacteriales Fusobacteriaceae Fusobacterium exhibited a positive correlation with TNF-α. These findings demonstrate the positive effect of W. cibaria CMS1 on the oral environment and immune function.

The Anti-inflammatory Potential of a Strain of Probiotic Bifidobacterium pseudocatenulatum G7: In Vitro and In Vivo Evidence.

The genus Bifidobacterium has been widely used in functional foods for health promotion due to its beneficial effects on human health, especially in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT). In this study, we characterize the anti-inflammatory potential of the probiotic strain Bifidobacterium pseudocatenulatum G7, isolated from a healthy male adult. G7 secretion inhibited inflammatory response in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages. Moreover, oral administration of bacteria G7 alleviated the severity of colonic inflammation in dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-treated colitis mice, which was evidenced by a decreased disease activity index (DAI) and enhanced structural integrity of the colon. The 16S rRNA gene sequencing result illustrated that the G7 alleviated DSS-induced gut microbiota dysbiosis, accompanied by the modulated bile acids and short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) levels. Overall, our results demonstrated the potential anti-inflammatory effects of Bifidobacterium pseudocatenulatum G7 on both in vitro and in vivo models, which provided a solid foundation for further development of a novel anti-inflammatory probiotic.

The Many Faces of Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Fatty Liver Disease Treatment: From the Mediterranean Diet to Fecal Microbiota Transplantation.

The gastrointestinal tract is inhabited by the gut microbiota. The main phyla are Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes. In non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, now renamed metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD), an alteration in Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes abundance promotes its pathogenesis and evolution into non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, liver cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. For this reason, early treatment is necessary to counteract its progression. The aim of the present narrative review is to evaluate the different therapeutic approaches to MAFLD. The most important treatment for MAFLD is lifestyle changes. In this regard, the Mediterranean diet could be considered the gold standard in the prevention and treatment of MAFLD. In contrast, a Western diet should be discouraged. Probiotics and fecal microbiota transplantation seem to be valid, safe, and effective alternatives for MAFLD treatment. However, more studies with a longer follow-up and with a larger cohort of patients are needed to underline the more effective approaches to contrasting MAFLD.

Probiotics may alleviate intestinal damage induced by cardiopulmonary bypass in children.

OBJECTIVES: Intestinal ischaemia-reperfusion injury induced by cardiopulmonary bypass causes intestinal epithelial barrier dysfunction, leading to dysbiosis and bacterial translocation. We conducted a randomized prospective study with 2 objectives: (i) to investigate epithelial barrier dysfunction and bacterial translocation induced by cardiopulmonary bypass and changes in the gut microbiota and (ii) to verify whether probiotics can improve these conditions. METHODS: Between 2019 and 2020, patients 0-15 years old scheduled to undergo cardiac surgery using cardiopulmonary bypass were enrolled and randomly allocated to 2 groups: the intervention group received probiotics and the control group did not receive probiotics. We analysed the microbiota in faeces and blood, organic acid concentrations in faeces, plasma intestinal fatty acid-binding protein and immunological responses. RESULTS: Eighty-two patients were enrolled in this study. The characteristics of the patients were similar in both groups. The total number of obligate anaerobes was higher in the intervention group than in the control group after postoperative day 7. We identified 4 clusters within the perioperative gut microbiota, and cluster changes showed a corrective effect of probiotics on dysbiosis after postoperative day 7. Organic acid concentrations in faeces, incidence of bacterial translocation, intestinal fatty acid-binding protein levels and immunological responses, except for interleukin -17A, were not markedly different between the 2 groups. CONCLUSIONS: Administration of probiotics was able to correct dysbiosis but did not sufficiently alleviate the intestinal damage induced by cardiopulmonary bypass. More effective methods should be examined to prevent disturbances induced by cardiac surgery using cardiopulmonary bypass. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: https://center6.umin.ac.jp/cgi-open-bin/ctr_e/ctr_view.cgi?recptno=R000037174 UMIN000035556.

Skin Deep: The Potential of Microbiome Cosmetics.

The interplay between the skin microbiome and its host is a complex facet of dermatological health and has become a critical focus in the development of microbiome cosmetics. The skin microbiome, comprising various microorganisms, is essential from birth, develops over the lifespan, and performs vital roles in protecting our body against pathogens, training the immune system, and facilitating the breakdown of organic matter. Dysbiosis, an imbalance of these microorganisms, has been implicated in a number of skin conditions such as acne, atopic dermatitis, and skin cancer. Recent scientific findings have spurred cosmetic companies to develop products that preserve and enhance the skin's microbial diversity balance. These products may incorporate elements like prebiotics, probiotics, and postbiotics, which are beneficial for the skin microbiome. Beyond topical products, there's increasing interest in ingestible beauty supplements (i.e. oral probiotics), highlighting the connection between the gut and skin. This review examines the influence of the microbiome on skin health and the emerging trends of microbiome skincare products.

Prophylactic Supplementation with Lactobacillus Reuteri or Its Metabolite GABA Protects Against Acute Ischemic Cardiac Injury.

The gut microbiome has emerged as a potential target for the treatment of cardiovascular disease. Ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) after myocardial infarction is a serious complication and whether certain gut bacteria can serve as a treatment option remains unclear. Lactobacillus reuteri (L. reuteri) is a well-studied probiotic that can colonize mammals including humans with known cholesterol-lowering properties and anti-inflammatory effects. Here, the prophylactic cardioprotective effects of L. reuteri or its metabolite γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) against acute ischemic cardiac injury caused by I/R surgery are demonstrated. The prophylactic gavage of L. reuteri or GABA confers cardioprotection mainly by suppressing cardiac inflammation upon I/R. Mechanistically, GABA gavage results in a decreased number of proinflammatory macrophages in I/R hearts and GABA gavage no longer confers any cardioprotection in I/R hearts upon the clearance of macrophages. In vitro studies with LPS-stimulated bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDM) further reveal that GABA inhibits the polarization of macrophages toward the proinflammatory M1 phenotype by inhibiting lysosomal leakage and NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Together, this study demonstrates that the prophylactic oral administration of L. reuteri or its metabolite GABA attenuates macrophage-mediated cardiac inflammation and therefore alleviates cardiac dysfunction after I/R, thus providing a new prophylactic strategy to mitigate acute ischemic cardiac injury.

Acanthopanax senticosus cultures fermented by Lactobacillus rhamnosus enhanced immune response through improvement of antioxidant activity and inflammation in crucian carp (Carassius auratus).

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) have been recognized as safe microorganism that improve micro-flora disturbances and enhance immune response. A well-know traditional herbal medicine, Acanthopanax senticosus (As) was extensively utilized in aquaculture to improve growth performance and disease resistance. Particularly, the septicemia, skin wound and gastroenteritis caused by Aeromonas hydrophila threaten the health of aquatic animals and human. However, the effects of probiotic fermented with A. senticosus product on the immune regulation and pathogen prevention in fish remain unclear. Here, the aim of the present study was to elucidate whether the A. senticosus fermentation by Lactobacillus rhamnosus improve immune barrier function. The crucian carp were fed with basal diet supplemented with L. rhamnosus fermented A. senticosus cultures at 2 %, 4 %, 6 % and 8 % bacterial inoculum for 8 weeks. After trials, the weight gain rate (WGR), specific growth rate (SGR) were significantly increased, especially in LGG-6 group. The results confirmed that the level of the CAT, GSH-PX, SOD, lysozyme, and MDA was enhanced in fish received with probiotic fermented product. Moreover, the L. rhamnosus fermented A. senticosus cultures could trigger innate and adaptive immunity, including the up-regulation of the C3, C4, and IgM concentration. The results of qRT-PCR revealed that stronger mRNA transcription of IL-1ß, IL-10, IFN-γ, TNF-α, and MyD88 genes in the liver, spleen, kidney, intestine and gills tissues of fish treated with probiotic fermented with A. senticosus product. After infected with A. hydrophila, the survival rate of the LGG-2 (40 %), LGG-4 (50 %), LGG-6 (60 %), LGG-8 (50 %) groups was higher than the control group. Meanwhile, the pathological damage of the liver, spleen, head-kidney, and intestine tissues of probiotic fermentation-fed fish could be alleviated after pathogen infection. Therefore, the present work indicated that L. rhamnosus fermented A. senticosus could be regard as a potential intestine-target therapy strategy to protecting fish from pathogenic bacteria infection.