Patients with Infections of The Central Nervous System Have Lowered Gut Microbiota Alpha Diversity.

There are multiple lines of evidence for the existence of communication between the central nervous system (CNS), gut, and intestinal microbiome. Despite extensive analysis conducted on various neurological disorders, the gut microbiome was not yet analyzed in neuroinfections. In the current study, we analyzed the gut microbiome in 47 consecutive patients hospitalized with neuroinfection (26 patients had viral encephalitis/meningitis; 8 patients had bacterial meningitis) and in 20 matched for age and gender health controls. Using the QIIME pipeline, 16S rRNA sequencing and classification into operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were performed on the earliest stool sample available. Bacterial taxa such as Clostridium, Anaerostipes, Lachnobacterium, Lachnospira, and Roseburia were decreased in patients with neuroinfection when compared to controls. Alpha diversity metrics showed lower within-sample diversity in patients with neuroinfections, though there were no differences in beta diversity. Furthermore, there was no significant change by short-term (1-3 days) antibiotic treatment on the gut microbiota, although alpha diversity metrics, such as Chao1 and Shannon's index, were close to being statistically significant. The cause of differences between patients with neuroinfections and controls is unclear and could be due to inflammation accompanying the disease; however, the effect of diet modification and/or hospitalization cannot be excluded.

The Role of Gut Microbiota in Gastrointestinal Tract Cancers.

Disturbances in gastrointestinal (GI) microbiota could play a significant role in the development of GI cancers, but the underlying mechanisms remain largely unclear. While some bacteria seem to facilitate carcinogenesis, others appear to be protective. So far only one bacterium (Helicobacter pylori) has been classified by the International Agency for Cancer Research as carcinogenic in humans but many other are the subject of intense research. Most studies on the role of microbiota in GI tract oncogenesis focus on pancreatic and colorectal cancers with the following three species: Helicobacter pylori, Escherichia coli, and Porphyromonas gingivalis as likely causative factors. This review summarizes the role of bacteria in GI tract oncogenesis.

Search for Viral Infections in Cerebrospinal Fluid From Patients With Autoimmune Encephalitis.

BACKGROUND: It has been reported that virus-mediated brain tissue damage can lead to autoimmune encephalitis (AE) characterized by the presence of antibodies against neuronal surface antigens. In the study, we investigate the presence of viruses in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from patients with AE using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)/PCR and shotgun metagenomics. METHODS: CSF samples collected from 200 patients with encephalitis were tested for the presence of antibodies against antiglutamate receptor (NMDAR), contactin-associated protein 2 (CASPR2), glutamate receptors (type AMPA1/2), leucine-rich glioma-inactivated protein 1 (LGI1), dipeptidyl aminopeptidase-like protein 6 (DPPX), and GABA B receptor, and those found positive were further analyzed with real-time RT-PCR/PCR for common viral neuroinfections and shotgun DNA- and RNA-based metagenomics. RESULTS: Autoantibodies against neuronal cells were detected in CSF from 8 individuals (4% of all encephalitis patients): 7 (3.5%) had anti-NMDAR and 1 (0.5%) had anti-GABA B. RT-PCR/PCR identified human herpes virus type 1 (HSV-1; 300 copies/mL) and the representative of Enterovirus genus (550 copies/mL) in 1 patient each. Torque teno virus (TTV) was found in another patient using metagenomic analysis, and its presence was confirmed by specific PCR. CONCLUSIONS: We detected the presence of HSV, TTV, and Enterovirus genus in CSF samples from 3 out of 8 AE patients. These findings support the concept of viral involvement in the pathogenesis of this disease.

Trimethylamine But Not Trimethylamine Oxide Increases With Age in Rat Plasma and Affects Smooth Muscle Cells Viability.

It has been suggested that trimethylamine oxide (TMAO), a liver oxygenation product of gut bacteria-produced trimethylamine (TMA), is a marker of cardiovascular risk. However, mechanisms of the increase and biological effects of TMAO are obscure. Furthermore, the potential role of TMAO precursor, that is TMA, has not been investigated. We evaluated the effect of age, a cardiovascular risk factor, on plasma levels of TMA and TMAO, gut bacteria composition, gut-to-blood penetration of TMA, histological and hemodynamic parameters in 3-month-old and 18-month-old, male, Sprague-Dawley and Wistar-Kyoto rats. Cytotoxicity of TMA and TMAO was studied in human vascular smooth muscle cells. Older rats showed significantly different gut bacteria composition, a significantly higher gut-to-blood TMA penetration, and morphological and hemodynamic alterations in intestines. In vitro, TMA at concentration of 500 µmol/L (2-fold higher than in portal blood) decreased human vascular smooth muscle cells viability. In contrast, TMAO at 1,000-fold higher concentration than physiological one had no effect on human vascular smooth muscle cells viability. In conclusion, older rats show higher plasma level of TMA due to a "leaky gut". TMA but not TMAO affects human vascular smooth muscle cells viability. We propose that TMA but not TMAO may be a marker and mediator of cardiovascular risk.

Gut Microbiota in Neurological Disorders.

The incidence of neurological disorders such as multiple sclerosis (MS), Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD) is increasing throughout the world, but their pathogenesis remains unclear and successful treatment remains elusive. Bidirectional communications between the central nervous system and gut microbiota may play some role in the pathogenesis of the above disorders. Up to a thousand bacterial species reside in human intestine; they colonize the gut shortly after birth and remain for life. Numerous studies point to the role of microbiota composition in the development, course and treatment of MS, AD and PD.

The gut microbiota in neuropsychiatric disorders.

The purpose of this review is to summarize current knowledge about the gut microbiota in neuropsychiatric disorders. It is estimated that the human gut is colonized by up to 1018 microorganisms, mostly anaerobic bacteria. The gut microbiome is responsible for multiple functions, e.g. tightness of the intestine barrier, digestion and absorption. The correlation between gut dysbiosis and development of psychiatric, autoimmune and allergic diseases as well as bidirectional communication between brain and gut microflora have been shown. Recent findings suggest that specific bacteria can be involved in the development of clinical conditions, such as Autism Spectrum Disorders, depression and schizophrenia, and microbiota may be a target for therapeutic intervention providing novel treatment strategies.

High salt intake increases plasma trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) concentration and produces gut dysbiosis in rats.

OBJECTIVE: A high-salt diet is considered a cardiovascular risk factor; however, the mechanisms are not clear. Research suggests that gut bacteria-derived metabolites such as trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) are markers of cardiovascular diseases. We evaluated the effect of high salt intake on gut bacteria and their metabolites plasma level. METHODS: Sprague Dawley rats ages 12-14 wk were maintained on either water (controls) or 0.9% or 2% sodium chloride (NaCl) water solution (isotonic and hypertonic groups, respectively) for 2 wk. Blood plasma, urine, and stool samples were analyzed for concentrations of trimethylamine (TMA; a TMAO precursor), TMAO, and indoxyl sulfate (indole metabolite). The gut-blood barrier permeability to TMA and TMA liver clearance were assessed at baseline and after TMA intracolonic challenge test. Gut bacterial flora was analyzed with a 16S ribosomal ribonucleic acid (rRNA) gene sequence analysis. RESULTS: The isotonic and hypertonic groups showed a significantly higher plasma TMAO and significantly lower 24-hr TMAO urine excretion than the controls. However, the TMA stool level was similar between the groups. There was no significant difference between the groups in gut-blood barrier permeability and TMA liver clearance. Plasma indoxyl concentration and 24-hr urine indoxyl excretion were similar between the groups. There was a significant difference between the groups in gut bacteria composition. CONCLUSIONS: High salt intake increases plasma TMAO concentration, which is associated with decreased TMAO urine excretion. Furthermore, high salt intake alters gut bacteria composition. These findings suggest that salt intake affects an interplay between gut bacteria and their host homeostasis.

Enalapril decreases rat plasma concentration of TMAO, a gut bacteria-derived cardiovascular marker.

INTRODUCTION: Increased plasma level of trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), a bacterial metabolite of choline, is associated with an increased cardiovascular risk. Indoxyl sulfate, a bacterial metabolite of tryptophan, is thought to be associated with higher mortality in cardiorenal syndrome. We hypothesized that enalapril, a well-established drug reducing cardiovascular mortality, may affect the plasma level of gut bacteria-derived metabolites and gut bacteria composition. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 14-16-week-old Wistar rats were maintained either on water (controls) or water solution of enalapril for two weeks (5.3 or 12.6 mg/kg b.w.). Blood plasma and urine were analyzed for the concentration of TMAO and indoxyl sulfate using liquid chromatography coupled with triple-quadrupole mass spectrometry. Gut bacteria composition was analyzed with 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. RESULTS: Rats treated with enalapril showed a significantly lower plasma TMAO level and a trend towards higher 24 h urine excretion of TMA and TMAO. Plasma indoxyl level was similar between the groups. There was no significant difference between the groups in gut bacteria composition. CONCLUSIONS: Enalapril decreases rat plasma TMAO, but does not affect the plasma level of indoxyl sulfate and gut bacteria composition. The enalapril-induced decrease in plasma TMAO level may be of therapeutic and diagnostic importance.