Anti-oxidative activity of probiotics; focused on cardiovascular disease, cancer, aging, and obesity.

By disturbing the prooxidant-antioxidant balance in the cell, a condition called oxidative stress is created, causing severe damage to the nucleic acid, protein, and lipid of the host cell, and as a result, endangers the viability of the host cell. A relationship between oxidative stress and several different diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and obesity has been reported. Therefore, maintaining this prooxidant-antioxidant balance is vital for the cell. Probiotics as one of the potent antioxidants have recently received attention. Many health-promoting and beneficial effects of probiotics are known, and it has been found that the consumption of certain strains of probiotics alone or in combination with food exerts antioxidant efficacy and reduces oxidative damage. Studies have reported that certain probiotic strains implement their antioxidant effects by producing metabolites and antioxidant enzymes, increasing the antioxidant capacity, and reducing host oxidant metabolites. Therefore, we aimed to review and summarize the latest anti-oxidative activity of probiotics and its efficacy in aging, cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and obesity.

The effect of thyme essential oil and endothelial progenitor stem cells on lipopolysaccharide-induced sepsis in C57BL/6 mice.

Sepsis is a potentially fatal syndrome related to severe systemic inflammation developed by infection. Despite different antimicrobial therapies, morbidity and mortality rates remain high. Herbs along with cell therapy have been introduced as a promising option to improve the symptoms of sepsis. The present study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic effect of simultaneous administration of thyme essential oil (TEO) and endothelial progenitor stem cells (EPCs) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced sepsis in C57BL/6 mice. Sepsis was induced in C57Bl/6J mice by intraperitoneal injection of LPS, followed 2 h later by an intravenous injection of EPCs or oral administration of TEO or simultaneous administration of TEO and EPCs. After 10 days, the complete blood cell, renal and liver factors, serum levels of inflammatory cytokines, and angiogenic factors were measured. Simultaneous treatment with EPCs and TEO significantly increased the survival of mice with sepsis and modulated the inflammatory response by reducing the serum levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Moreover, this treatment significantly reduced the level of white blood cells and neutrophils and increased the number of red blood cells, the percentage of hematocrit, and hemoglobin. The combination of TEO with EPCs decreased organ injuries and was assessed by lower levels of the liver enzymes alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase compared to the sepsis group. Administration of EPCs and TEO also significantly improved angiogenic factors, lung function, and toll-like receptor 4 expression. EPCs in combination with TEO increase survival in the LPS-induced sepsis mice model by acting on several targets. Thus, the combination of TEO with EPCs can be a feasible approach for the future clinical treatment and control of sepsis.

Antibody-Antibiotic Conjugates: A Comprehensive Review on Their Therapeutic Potentials Against BacterialInfections.

INTRODUCTION: Antibodies are significant agents in the immune system and have proven to be effective in treating bacterial infections. With the advancement of antibody engineering in recent decades, antibody therapy has evolved widely. AIM: This review aimed to investigate a new method as a therapeutic platform for the treatment of bacterial infections and explore the novel features of this method in conferring pathogen specificity to broad-spectrum antibiotics. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A literature review was conducted addressing the following topics about antibody-antibiotic conjugates (AACs): (1) structure and mechanism of action; (2) clinical effectiveness; (3) advantages and disadvantages. RESULT: Antibody conjugates are designed to build upon the progress made in the development of monoclonal antibodies for the treatment of diseases. Despite the growing emergence of antibiotic resistance among pathogenic bacteria worldwide, novel antimicrobials have not been sufficiently expanded to combat the global crisis of antibiotic resistance. A recently developed strategy for the treatment of infectious diseases is the use of AACs, which are specifically activated only in host cells. CONCLUSION: A novel therapeutic AAC employs an antibody to deliver the antibiotic to the bacteria. The AACs can release potent antibacterial components that unconjugated forms may not exhibit with an appropriate therapeutic index. This review highlights how this science has guided the design principles of an impressive AAC and discusses how the AAC model promises to enhance the antibiotic effect against bacterial infections.

Epidemiology of HBV-HCV Coinfection Among Iranian Patients: a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections are major causes of hepatitis, an important disease affecting millions of people worldwide. The present study aimed to estimate the prevalence of HBV-HCV coinfection in Iran and evaluate the demographic and behavioral factors associated with a heterogeneity of results. METHODS: We used MEDLINE/PubMed, Web of Science, SCOPUS, Google Scholar, and 1 Persian database (Scientific Information Database) for a systematic search from January 1, 2005 to February 26, 2022. Data were analyzed based on the city, publication time, enrollment time, number of patients, gender, mean age, and HBV/HCV diagnosis method. The analysis was carried out using R (version 4.2.1) and the metafor package (version 3.8.1). RESULTS: In total, 2,072 studies were found through databases: PubMed/Medline (n = 224), Scopus (n = 1,092), Web of Science (n = 394), Google Scholar (n = 272), and Scientific Information Database (n = 90). Overall, nine studies with 1,964 male and 1,909 female patients (age average = 38.1) were included in the analysis. The observed proportion ranged from 0.004 to 0.273. The estimated average proportion was µ = 0.040 (95% CI: 0.016 to 0.101). Therefore, the average outcome differed significantly from zero (z = -6.330, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: HBV/HCV coinfection is a challenging and crucial medical condition because of its variable clinical manifestations, increased risk of cirrhosis and HCC, and unpredictable treatment response. There is a heterogeneous distribution pattern of HBV/HCV infection between Iran's provinces, indicating the necessity of continuous prevention and control measurements and the implementation of further epidemiologic studies for collecting reliable data on HBV/HCV prevalence in different parts of Iran.

Global Estimate of Clarithromycin Resistance in Clinical Isolates of Helicobacter pylori: a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: A high resistance rate to clarithromycin usually leads to failure to eradicate Helicobacter pylori. The aim of the present study was to review recent data on H. pylori resistance towards clarithromycin in clinical studies worldwide. METHODS: PubMed/Medline, Web of Science, and Embase were used for a systematic review from 1 January 2011 to 13 April 2021 to retrieve the clinical trial studies. Data were analyzed according to publication year, age, geographic area, and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). Statistical analysis was done by STATA version 14.0 (College Station, Texas). RESULTS: From a total of 4,304 articles, 89 articles related to clinical studies were selected for analysis. The overall H. pylori clarithromycin resistance rate was 34.95%. Based on continents, the highest and lowest pooled estimate of the bacterial resistance rates were observed in Asia (35.97%) and North America (7.02%), respectively. The highest and the lowest pooled estimate of H. pylori resistance rate to clarithromycin based on country were obtained in Australia (93.4%) and USA (7%), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: H. pylori resistance to clarithromycin in most parts of the world is more than 15%, so it is recommended that each country, after estimating the rate of resistance to clarithromycin, determine the treatment/eradication pattern for H. pylori infection.

Interesting probiotic traits of mother's milk Lactobacillus isolates; from bacteriocin to inflammatory bowel disease improvement.

AIMS AND BACKGROUND: Lactobacillus spp. are an important element in breast milk. This component has a beneficial effect on the composition of the intestinal microflora and the intestinal immune system. The aim of this study was to isolate and identify Lactobacillus strains in breast milk and evaluate some of their probiotic properties, such as presence of bacteriocin genes, adhesion to HT-29 cell line, competition with enteropathogens in cell culture, and effect on serum level of lipids and digestive enzymes, and mice model of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 323 lactic acid bacteria (LAB) were isolated from breast milk samples of healthy mothers with the age ranges from 21 to 45 years old. These isolates were subjected to phenotypic and molecular experiments. The frequency of bacteriocin genes was determined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Adhesion of Lactobacillus isolates to HT-29 cells was measured based on the number of attached bacterial cells in 20 fields of the light microscopy. Competition test was done by colony count and real-time PCR procedures. Five strongly adhesive Lactobacillus strains were selected and administered orally to the treatment groups. After 8 days, the serum level of digestive enzymes and improvement in induced IBD, and after 14 days, the serum level of lipids (triglycerides, total cholesterol, HDL, and LDL) in treated mice were surveyed compared to the control groups. RESULTS: Based on the phenotypic and molecular experiments, L. casei, L. plantarum, L. rhamnosus, and L. acidophilus strains were isolated and identified in the breast milk samples. The highest frequency of bacteriocin genes belonged to Plantaricin B (100%), followed by Plantaricin D (84.7%), Plantaricin G (84.7%), and Plantaricin EF (54.3%). Also, 71.8% of the isolates were strongly adhesive, 21.8% were non-adhesive, and 6.4% were adhesive. Lactobacillus strains had a significant effect on the displacement of enteropathogens. The in vitro cholesterol-removing ability of L. casei (L1), L. casei (L2), L. casei (L3), L. plantarum (L4), and L. rhamnosus (L5) was 3.5, 31.5, 21.3, 18.7, and 27.3%, respectively. The serum level of total cholesterol in the L. plantarum (L4) group as well as LDL in the L. casei (L3) (p = .0108) and L. rhamnosus (L5) (p = .0206) groups decreased significantly compared to the control group. The serum level of lipase increased in all the treatment groups compared to the control group, which was significant in the L. plantarum (L4) group (p = .0390). Disease activity index (DAI) scores were improved significantly in L. casei (L3) group compared to the IBD control group (p < .0001). CONCLUSION: It could be concluded that lactobacilli strains isolated from the breast milk samples had good probiotic properties, such as presence of bacteriocin genes, attaching to enterocyte-like HT-29 cells, competing with intestinal pathogens, lowering cholesterol, and improving IBD. Thus, after further studies, they could be considered as probiotic strains.

Role of microRNAs in Staphylococcus aureus infection: Potential biomarkers and mechanism.

Staphylococcus aureus is known as a common pathogen that colonizes 30% of healthy humans. Additionally, this bacterium can cause a number of serious infections, that is, endocarditis, bacteremia, pneumonia, wound, skin infections, and tissue abscesses. A variety of cellular and molecular pathways and targets are involved in response against S. aureus. Among them, microRNAs (miRNAs) have crucial roles in response against S. aureus. In this regard, it has been shown that these molecules exert their regulatory roles via modulating a wide range of events, such as inflammatory reactions, host innate, and adaptive immunity. Current works have provided insight into the crucial involvement of miRNAs in immune defense toward Staphylococcal infections. Herein, we highlighted the current findings on the deregulation of different miRNAs in S. aureus-infected cells. Moreover, we summarized the mechanisms and targets of miRNAs in S. aureus infections.

The effect of improved formulation of chitosan-alginate microcapsules of Bifidobacteria on serum lipid profiles in mice.

BACKGROUND: Probiotics have been associated with many beneficial effects in human digestive physiology. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of improved formulation of chitosan-alginate microcapsules of Bifidobacterium strains on serum triglycerides, cholesterol, HDL, and LDL in mice. METHODS: Five approved probiotic strains of Bifidobacterium were tested for anti-proliferative effect and interleukin-8 induction on HT-29 cell lines. Bifidobacterium strains plus five approved Lactobacillus were encapsulated in chitosan-alginate microcapsules and tested for its survival in simulated gastrointestinal conditions. These microcapsules were administered to 4 groups of mice (including 1. Bif (Bifidobacterium strains), 2. Lac (Lactobacillus strains), 3. Bif-Lac (Bifidobacterium plus Lactobacillus strains) and 4. Control) for 8 days. At eighth day, the blood of mice were taken and serum levels of triglycerides, cholesterol, HDL, and LDL of them were determined. RESULTS: All of the Bifidobacterium strains significantly (P < 0.001) reduced secretion of IL-8 in HT-29 cells as well as maximum antiproliferative effects (P < 0.001). In addition, all microcapsules showed impressive survival rate in bile (>%94.1) and gastrointestinal (>%78.28) conditions (P < 0.05). Only Bif-Lac group displayed significantly lower serum cholesterol and LDL levels than control group (P < 0.05). Besides, all groups indicate statistically significant weight loss of mice during the 8 days in comparison with the control group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The results of this study showed that the microencapsulated probiotics with alginate and chitosan had an effective mean of delivery of viable bacterial cells and non-pharmacological interventions use to reduce serum cholesterol and LDL levels in in-vivo condition.

The importance of intracellular bacterial biofilm in infectious diseases.

Various bacterial species, previously known as extracellular pathogens, can reside inside different host cells by adapting to intracellular modes by forming microbial aggregates with similar characteristics to bacterial biofilms. Additionally, bacterial invasion of human cells leads to failure in antibiotic therapy, as most conventional anti-bacterial agents cannot reach intracellular biofilm in normal concentrations. Various studies have shown that bacteria such as uropathogenic Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Borrelia burgdorferi,Moraxella catarrhalis, non-typeable Haemophilus influenzae, Streptococcus pneumonia, and group A Streptococci produce biofilm-like structures within the host cells. For the first time in this review, we will describe and discuss the new information about intracellular bacterial biofilm formation and its importance in bacterial infectious diseases.

Bacterial resistance to antimicrobial peptides.

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) or host defense peptides (HDPs) are vital components of human innate defense system targeting human-related bacteria. Many bacteria have various mechanisms interfering with AMP activity, causing resistance to AMPs. Since AMPs are considered as potential novel antimicrobial drugs, understanding the mechanisms of bacterial resistance to direct killing of AMPs is of great significance. In this review, a comparative overview of bacterial strategies for resistance to direct killing of various AMPs is presented. Such strategies include bacterial cell envelope modification, AMP degradation, sequestration, expelling, and capsule.

Microbiota metabolites in the female reproductive system: Focused on the short-chain fatty acids.

Several disorders have been linked to modifications in the gut microbial imbalance, intestinal epithelium, and host immune system. In this regard, microbiota derived short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) play a key function in the regulation of histone deacetylases (HDACs), which affect modulation of immunity and regulation of inflammatory responses in the intestine and other organs. Studies examining the metabolites produced by polymicrobial bacterial vaginosis (BV) states and Lactobacillus-dominated microbiota have noted a dramatic reduction of lactic acid and a shift toward SCFA synthesis. Along with higher levels of SCFAs, acetate is typically the main metabolite in the cervicovaginal fluid of women with symptomatic bacterial vaginosis. The fact that SCFAs made by the vaginal microbiota have been shown to exhibit antibacterial and immune-modulating properties suggests that they may have promise as indicators of disease and/or disease susceptibility. In this review, we overview and summarize the current findings on the detrimental or protective roles of microbiota metabolites especially SCFAs in the health and disease of the female reproductive system.

Bacterial Persister Cells: Mechanisms of Formation, Control, and Eradication.

Bacterial Persister Cells (BPCs) are quiescent, slow-growing or growth-arrested phenotypic variants of normal bacterial cells that are transiently tolerant to antibiotics. It seems that persister cells are the main cause of the recurrence of various chronic infections. Stress response (RpoS-mediated), Toxin-Antitoxin (TA) systems, inhibition of ATP production, Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS), efflux pumps, bacterial SOS response, cell-to-cell communication and stringent response (ppGpp- mediated) are the primary potential mechanisms for persistence cell formation. However, eradicating persistent cells is challenging as the specific molecular mechanisms that initiate their formation remain fuzzy and unknown. Here we reviewed and summarized the current understanding of how bacterial persister cells are formed, controlled, and destroyed.

The metabolic, protective, and immune functions of Akkermansia muciniphila.

Numerous studies have almost proven the beneficial effects of gut microbiota in various aspects of human health, and even the gut microbiota is known as a new and forgotten organ. Akkermansia muciniphila, as a member of the gut microbiota, is considered a bacterium with probiotic properties; consequently, it has a remarkable position in microbiome research. This bacterium accounts for about 1-4 % of the total fecal microbiota population and is also considered a health marker. The accumulated evidence has shown a significant association between A. muciniphila and several disorders and diseases, such as obesity, fatty liver disease, diabetes, and even behavioral disorders. On the other hand, the beneficial effects of A. muciniphila in different studies have shown, such as protective role against pathogenic agents, antitumor properties, tight junctions' improvement, reduction of inflammation, gut permeability, and boosting adaptive immune responses. In this review, based on the available evidence and the latest research, we comprehensively evaluated the impact of A. muciniphila on host health from three points of view: metabolic, protective, and immune functions, as well as the possible mechanisms of each process.

Lactobacilli and Bifidobacterium as anti-atherosclerotic agents.

Atherosclerosis is the thickening or hardening of the arteries which is caused by a buildup of atheromatous plaque in the inner lining of an artery. Hypercholesterolemia, inflammation, oxidative stress, and trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) are important risk factors for atherosclerosis. Therefore, this study aimed to review the anti-atherosclerotic effects of Lactobacilli and Bifidobacterium via improving lipid profile and reducing the effects of oxidative stress, inflammation, and TMAO. To prepare the present review, several databases such as Scopus, PubMed, and Google Scholar were searched, and relevant articles from 1990 until 2022 were selected and reviewed. The present review showed that Lactobacilli and Bifidobacterium reduce the risk of atherosclerosis in both in vitro and in vivo studies by breaking down or altering cholesterol metabolism with the help of their by-products and by reducing inflammation and oxidative stress and TMAO. Consumption of Lactobacilli and Bifidobacterium can be useful in prevention of atherosclerosis.

Microbiological Detoxification of Mycotoxins: Focus on Mechanisms and Advances.

Some fungal species of the genera Aspergillus, Penicillium, and Fusarium secretes toxic metabolites known as mycotoxins, have become a global concern that is toxic to different species of animals and humans. Biological mycotoxins detoxification has been studied by researchers around the world as a new strategy for mycotoxin removal. Bacteria, fungi, yeast, molds, and protozoa are the main living organisms appropriate for the mycotoxin detoxification. Enzymatic and degradation sorptions are the main mechanisms involved in microbiological detoxification of mycotoxins. Regardless of the method used, proper management tools that consist of before-harvest prevention and after-harvest detoxification are required. Here, in this review, we focus on the microbiological detoxification and mechanisms involved in the decontamination of mycotoxins.

Role of microbiota-derived short-chain fatty acids in nervous system disorders.

During the past decade, accumulating evidence from the research highlights the suggested effects of bacterial communities of the human gut microbiota and their metabolites on health and disease. In this regard, microbiota-derived metabolites and their receptors, beyond the immune system, maintain metabolism homeostasis, which is essential to maintain the host's health by balancing the utilization and intake of nutrients. It has been shown that gut bacterial dysbiosis can cause pathology and altered bacterial metabolites' formation, resulting in dysregulation of the immune system and metabolism. The short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), such as butyrate, acetate, and succinate, are produced due to the fermentation process of bacteria in the gut. It has been noted remodeling in the gut microbiota metabolites associated with the pathophysiology of several neurological disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, stress, anxiety, depression, autism, vascular dementia, schizophrenia, stroke, and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders, among others. This review will discuss the current evidence from the most significant studies dealing with some SCFAs from gut microbial metabolism with selected neurological disorders.

Minocycline, focus on mechanisms of resistance, antibacterial activity, and clinical effectiveness: Back to the future.

OBJECTIVES: The increasing crisis regarding multidrug-resistant (MDR) and extensively drug-resistant microorganisms leads to appealing therapeutic options. METHODS: During the last 30 years, minocycline, a wide-spectrum antimicrobial agent, has been effective against MDR Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial infections. As with other tetracyclines, the mechanism of action of minocycline involves attaching to the bacterial 30S ribosomal subunit and preventing protein synthesis. RESULTS: This antimicrobial agent has been approved for the treatment of acne vulgaris, some sexually transmitted diseases and rheumatoid arthritis. Although many reports have been published, there remains limited information regarding the prevalence, mechanism of resistance and clinical effectiveness of minocycline. CONCLUSION: Thus, we summarize here the currently available data concerning pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, mechanism of action and resistance, antibacterial activity and clinical effectiveness of minocycline.