Low-dose perinatal supplementation with Enterococcus faecalis increases concentrations of short-chain fatty acids in the offspring but does not protect against allergic asthma.

Childhood allergic asthma is associated with a dysbiotic gut microbiome in early life, and maternal perinatal treatment with probiotics is a potential way alter the infant microbiome, which may improve asthma outcomes. This study used a mouse model to examine the effect of maternal supplementation with the probiotic Enterococcus faecalis on faecal short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) concentrations and asthma risk in the offspring. Pregnant/lactating mice were treated daily, from gestation day 6 to postnatal day 21, with an oral suspension of 106, 107 or 108 colony-forming units of a live preparation of the probiotic E. faecalis (Symbioflor®1). At weaning, offspring were subjected to an ovalbumin-induced experimental asthma protocol. Faeces were collected from the mothers and offspring at several different time points to determine SCFA concentrations. It was found that maternal supplementation with E. faecalis did not alter litter size, sex ratio or offspring weight, and was associated with an increase in SCFAs in offspring faeces at weaning and after allergy induction. However, allergic offspring from E. faecalis supplemented mothers showed no difference in asthma severity when compared with allergic offspring from control mothers. In conclusion, although maternal perinatal supplementation with low-dose E. faecalis was associated with increased faecal SCFAs in the offspring, it did not protect against offspring asthma. This is may be because SCFA concentrations were not increased to an immunoprotective level. We recommend that future studies concentrate on probiotic supplementation in high-risk cases, for instance, to repair gut dysbiosis resulting from antibiotic use in pregnant mothers or their infants.

Impact of Biometric Patient Data, Probiotic Supplementation, and Selected Gut Microorganisms on Calprotectin, Zonulin, and sIgA Concentrations in the Stool of Adults Aged 18-74 Years.

Alterations to the intestinal barrier may be involved in the pathogenesis of various chronic diseases. The diagnosis of mucosal barrier disruption has become a new therapeutic target for disease prevention. The aim of this study was to determine whether various patient demographic and biometric data, often not included in diagnostic analyses, may affect calprotectin, zonulin, and sIgA biomarker values. Stool markers' levels in 160 samples were measured colorimetrically. The analysis of twenty key bacteria (15 genera and 5 species) was carried out on the basis of diagnostic tests, including cultures and molecular tests. The concentrations of selected markers were within reference ranges for most patients. The sIgA level was significantly lower in participants declaring probiotics supplementation (p = 0.0464). We did not observe differences in gastrointestinal discomfort in participants. We found significant differences in the sIgA level between the 29-55 years and >55 years age-related intervals groups (p = 0.0191), together with a significant decreasing trend (p = 0.0337) in age-dependent sIgA concentration. We observed complex interdependencies and relationships between their microbiota and the analyzed biomarkers. For correct clinical application, standardized values of calprotectin and sIgA should be determined, especially in elderly patients. We observed a correlation between the composition of the gut community and biomarker levels, although it requires further in-depth analysis.

Bacterial Species Associated with Highly Allergenic Plant Pollen Yield a High Level of Endotoxins and Induce Chemokine and Cytokine Release from Human A549 Cells.

Sensitization to pollen allergens has been increasing in Europe every year. Most studies in this field are related to climate change, phenology, allergens associated with different pollens, and allergic disorders. As a plant microhabitat, pollen is colonized by diverse microorganisms, including endotoxin-producing bacteria which may contribute to pollen allergy (pollinosis). Therefore, bacteria isolated from high allergenic and low allergenic plant pollen, as well as the pollen itself with all microbial inhabitants, were used to assess the effect of the pollen by measuring the endotoxins lipopolysaccharides (LPS) and lipoteichoic acid (LTA) concentrations and their effect on chemokine and cytokine release from transwell cultured epithelial A549 cells as a model of epithelial lung barrier. High allergenic pollen showed a significantly higher level of bacterial endotoxins; interestingly, the endotoxin level found in the bacterial isolates from high allergenic pollen was significantly higher compared to that of bacteria from low allergenic pollen. Moreover, bacterial LPS concentrations across different pollen species positively correlated with the LPS concentration across their corresponding bacterial isolates. Selected bacterial isolates from hazel pollen (HA5, HA13, and HA7) co-cultured with A549 cells induced a potent concentration-dependent release of the chemokine interleukin-8 and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 as well as the cytokine TNF-alpha and interleukin-2 to both apical and basal compartments of the transwell model. This study clearly shows the role of bacteria and bacterial endotoxins in the pollen allergy as well as seasonal allergic rhinitis.

Effects of a Supplement Containing a Cranberry Extract on Recurrent Urinary Tract Infections and Intestinal Microbiota: A Prospective, Uncontrolled Exploratory Study.

Aim: Cranberries (Vaccinium macrocarpon) are traditionally used in prevention of urinary tract infections (UTIs). The authors' aim was to evaluate effects of a supplement containing cranberry extract, pumpkin seed extract, vitamin C, and vitamin B2 on recurrent uncomplicated UTIs in women and their intestinal microbiota. Methods: A prospective, uncontrolled exploratory study was conducted in women with recurrent uncomplicated UTIs. The primary exploratory outcome was the number of UTIs in a 6-month prospective observation period compared with a 6-month retrospective period. Further outcomes included number of antibiotics, quality of life (SF-36), intestinal microbiota (assessed by 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing), and evaluation questions. Parameters were assessed at baseline and after 1, 2, and 7 months (start of intake of cranberry supplement after 1 month for 6 months). p-Values were calculated with the pairwise Wilcoxon signed-rank test for α diversity and permutational multivariate analysis of variance. Results: Twenty-three women (aged 52.7 ± 12.4 years) were included in the study. Participants reported 2.2 ± 0.8 UTIs (at baseline) in the previous 6 months. After 6 months of cranberry intake, participants reported a significant decrease to 0.5 ± 0.9 UTIs (p < 0.001). Number of antibiotic therapies was also significantly (p < 0.001) reduced by 68% during 6 months of cranberry intake (0.14 ± 0.35) when compared with 6 months retrospectively (1.14 ± 0.71). The SF-36 physical component score increased from 44.9 ± 5.5 at baseline to 45.7 ± 4.6 at 7 months (p = 0.16). The SF-36 mental component score decreased slightly from the baseline value of 46.5 ± 6.5 to 46.2 ± 6.4 at 7 months (p = 0.74). No significant intragroup mean changes at genus, family, or species level for α and ß diversity within the intestinal microbiota were found. In the evaluation questions, participants rated the cranberry extract positively and considered it beneficial. The supplement intake was safe. Conclusions: This study shows that women with recurrent uncomplicated UTIs benefit from cranberry intake. Future larger clinical studies with further investigation of the mechanisms of action are required to determine the effects of cranberries on participants with uncomplicated UTIs.

Changes in human gut microbiota composition are linked to the energy metabolic switch during 10 d of Buchinger fasting.

Fasting is increasingly popular to manage metabolic and inflammatory diseases. Despite the role that the human gut microbiota plays in health and diseases, little is known about its composition and functional capacity during prolonged fasting when the external nutrient supply is reduced or suppressed. We analysed the effects of a 10-d periodic fasting on the faecal microbiota of fifteen healthy men. Participants fasted according to the peer-reviewed Buchinger fasting guidelines, which involve a daily energy intake of about 1046 kJ (250 kcal) and an enema every 2 d. Serum biochemistry confirmed the metabolic switch from carbohydrates to fatty acids and ketones. Emotional and physical well-being were enhanced. Faecal 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing showed that fasting caused a decrease in the abundance of bacteria known to degrade dietary polysaccharides such as Lachnospiraceae and Ruminococcaceae. There was a concomitant increase in Bacteroidetes and Proteobacteria (Escherichia coli and Bilophila wadsworthia), known to use host-derived energy substrates. Changes in taxa abundance were associated with serum glucose and faecal branched-chain amino acids (BCAA), suggesting that fasting-induced changes in the gut microbiota are associated with host energy metabolism. These effects were reversed after 3 months. SCFA levels were unchanged at the end of the fasting. We also monitored intestinal permeability and inflammatory status. IL-6, IL-10, interferon γ and TNFα levels increased when food was reintroduced, suggesting a reactivation of the postprandial immune response. We suggest that changes in the gut microbiota are part of the physiological adaptations to a 10-d periodic fasting, potentially influencing its beneficial health effects.

Diversity, specificity, co-occurrence and hub taxa of the bacterial-fungal pollen microbiome.

Flower pollen represents a unique microbial habitat, however the factors driving microbial assemblages and microbe-microbe interactions remain largely unexplored. Here we compared the structure and diversity of the bacterial-fungal microbiome between eight different pollen species (four wind-pollinated and four insect-pollinated) from close geographical locations, using high-throughput sequencing of the 16S the rRNA gene fragment (bacteria) and the internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2, fungi). Proteobacteria and Ascomycota were the most abundant bacterial and fungal phyla, respectively. Pseudomonas (bacterial) and Cladosporium (fungal) were the most abundant genera. Both bacterial and fungal microbiota were significantly influenced by plant species and pollination type, but showed a core microbiome consisting of 12 bacterial and 33 fungal genera. Co-occurrence analysis highlighted significant inter- and intra-kingdom interactions, and the interaction network was shaped by four bacterial hub taxa: Methylobacterium (two OTUs), Friedmanniella and Rosenbergiella. Rosenbergiella prevailed in insect-pollinated pollen and was negatively correlated with the other hubs, indicating habitat complementarity. Inter-kingdom co-occurrence showed a predominant effect of fungal on bacterial taxa. This study enhances our basic knowledge of pollen microbiota, and poses the basis for further inter- and intra-kingdom interaction studies in the plant reproductive organs.

Bacterial microbiota associated with flower pollen is influenced by pollination type, and shows a high degree of diversity and species-specificity.

Diverse microorganisms colonise the different plant-microhabitats, such as rhizosphere and phyllosphere, and play key roles for the host. However, bacteria associated with pollen are poorly investigated, despite its ecological, commercial and medical relevance. Due to structure and nutritive composition, pollen provides a unique microhabitat. Here the bacterial abundance, community structure, diversity and colonization pattern of birch, rye, rapes and autumn crocus pollens were examined, by using cultivation, high-throughput sequencing and microscopy. Cultivated bacteria belonged to Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria and Firmicutes, with remarkable differences at species level between pollen species. High-throughput sequencing of 16S rRNA gene amplicon libraries showed Proteobacteria as the dominant phylum in all pollen species, followed by Actinobacteria, Acidobacteria and Firmicutes. Both plant species and pollination type significant influenced structure and diversity of the pollen microbiota. The insect-pollinated species possessed a more similar microbiota in comparison to the wind-pollinated ones, suggesting a levelling effect by insect vectors. Scanning electron microscopy as well as fluorescent in situ hybridisation coupled with confocal laser scanning microscopy (FISH-CLSM) indicated the tectum surface as the preferred niche of bacterial colonisation. This work is the most comprehensive study of pollen microbiology, and strongly increases our knowledge on one of the less investigated plant-microhabitats.

Adjunctive use of essential oils following scaling and root planing -a randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Hitherto no study has been published on the effect of the adjunctive administration of essential oils following scaling and root planing (SRP). This study describes the effect of a mouthrinse consisting of essential oils (Cymbopogon flexuosus, Thymus zygis and Rosmarinus officinalis) following SRP by clinical and microbiological variables in patients with generalized moderate chronic periodontitis. METHODS: Forty-six patients (aged 40-65 years) with moderate chronic periodontitis were randomized in a double-blind study and rinsed their oral cavity following SRP with an essential oil mouthrinse (n  =  23) or placebo (n  =  23) for 14 days. Probing depth (PD), attachment level (AL), bleeding on probing (BOP) and modified sulcus bleeding index (SBI) were recorded at baseline and after 3 and 6 months. Subgingival plaque was taken for assessment of major bacteria associated with periodontitis. RESULTS: AL, PD, BOP and SBI were significantly improved in both groups after three (p   <   0.001) and 6 months (p   ≤   0.015). AL improved significantly better in the test than in the control group after 3 and 6 months (p < 0.001), so did PD after three months in the tendency (p  =  0.1). BOP improved better in the test group after 3 months (p  =  0.065). Numbers of Treponema denticola (p  =  0.044) and Fusobacterium nucleatum (p  =  0.029) decreased more in the test than in the control group after 3 months, those of Tannerella forsythia after 6 months (p  =  0.039). Prevotella micra (p  <  0.001, p  =  0.035) and Campylobacter rectus (p  =  0.002 , p  =  0.012) decreased significantly in both groups after 3 months. CONCLUSIONS: The adjunctive use of a mouthrinse containing essential oils following SRP has a positive effect on clinical variables and on bacterial levels in the subgingival biofilm. TRIAL REGISTRATION: 332-12-24092012, DRKS 00009387, German Clinical Trials Register, Freiburg i. Br., 16.09.2015.