CHEK2 deficiency increase the response to PD-1 inhibitors by affecting the tumor immune microenvironment.

Immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy has improved treatment effects in multiple cancers. Gene mutations in the DNA damage repair pathway (DDR) may cause genomic instability and may relate to the efficacy of ICB. Checkpoint kinase 2 (CHEK2) and polymerase epsilon (POLE) are important genes in the DDR. In this study, we aimed to study the impact of CHEK2 deficiency mutations on the response to ICB. We found that tumors with CHEK2 mutations had a significantly higher tumor mutational burden (TMB) compared to those with CHEK2-WT in a pancancer database. We noted that CHEK2 deficiency mutations potentiated the anti-tumor effect of anti-PD-1 therapy in MC38 and B16 tumor-bearing mice with the decrease of tumor volume and tumor weight after anti-PD-1 treatment. Mechanistically, CHEK2 deficiency tumors were with the increased cytotoxic CD8+ T-cell infiltration, especially cytotoxic CD8+ T cells, and modulated the tumor-immune microenvironment with an upregulated immune inflammatory pathway and antigen presentation pathway after anti-PD-1 treatment. Furthermore, murine models with POLE mutations confirmed that CHEK2 deficiency shaped similar mutational and immune landscapes as POLE mutations after anti-PD-1 treatment. Taken together, our results demonstrated that CHEK2 deficiency mutations may increase the response to ICB (eg. anti-PD-1) by influencing the tumor immune microenvironment. This indicated that CHEK2 deficiency mutations were a potentially predictive biomarker and CHEK2 deficiency may potentiate response to immunotherapy.

Lactobacillus plantarum Zhang-LL Inhibits Colitis-Related Tumorigenesis by Regulating Arachidonic Acid Metabolism and CD22-Mediated B-Cell Receptor Regulation.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a significant health concern and is the third most commonly diagnosed and second deadliest cancer worldwide. CRC has been steadily increasing in developing countries owing to factors such as aging and epidemics. Despite extensive research, the exact pathogenesis of CRC remains unclear, and its causes are complex and variable. Numerous in vitro, animal, and clinical trials have demonstrated the efficacy of probiotics such as Lactobacillus plantarum in reversing the adverse outcomes of CRC. These findings suggest that probiotics play vital roles in the prevention, adjuvant treatment, and prognosis of CRC. In this study, we constructed a mouse model of CRC using an intraperitoneal injection of azomethane combined with dextran sodium sulfate, while administering 5-fluorouracil as well as high- and low-doses of L. plantarum Zhang-LL live or heat-killed strains. Weight changes and disease activity indices were recorded during feeding, and the number of polyps and colon length were measured after euthanasia. HE staining was used to observe the histopathological changes in the colons of mice, and ELISA was used to detect the expression levels of IL-1ß, TNF-α, and IFN-γ in serum. To investigate the specific mechanisms involved in alleviating CRC progression, gut microbial alterations were investigated using 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing and non-targeted metabolomics, and changes in genes related to CRC were assessed using eukaryotic transcriptomics. The results showed that both viable and heat-killed strains of L. plantarum Zhang-LL in high doses significantly inhibited tumorigenesis, colon shortening, adverse inflammatory reactions, intestinal tissue damage, and pro-inflammatory factor expression upregulation. Specifically, in the gut microbiota, the abundance of the dominant flora Acutalibacter muris and Lactobacillus johnsonii was regulated, PGE2 expression was significantly reduced, the arachidonic acid metabolism pathway was inhibited, and CD22-mediated B-cell receptor regulation-related gene expression was upregulated. This study showed that L. plantarum Zhang-LL live or heat-inactivated strains alleviated CRC progression by reducing the abundance of potentially pathogenic bacteria, increasing the abundance of beneficial commensal bacteria, mediating the arachidonic acid metabolism pathway, and improving host immunogenicity.

Lacticaseibacillus paracasei fermentation broth identified peptide, Y2Fr, and its antibacterial activity on Vibrio parahaemolyticus.

Although Vibrio parahaemolyticus infections cause severe diseases of large yellow croaker (Larimichthys crocea), using antibiotics and other chemical agents to treat these infections could result in antimicrobial resistance, environmental pollution, and other associated problems. This study identified seven peptides from Lacticaseibacillus paracasei fermentation broth using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry and screened antimicrobial peptide Y2Fr (VEIKNGLLKLNGKPLLIR) through its net charge, hydrophobicity and predicted secondary structure. Antibacterial activity analysis revealed that Y2Fr had a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 125 µg/mL, minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of 250 µg/mL against V. parahaemolyticus and a time-kill of 3 h. In a bacterial membrane environment, the secondary structure of peptide Y2Fr changed from a random coil to a ß-sheet to enhance its membrane permeability and binding to bacteria DNA to exert its antibacterial effect. Further molecular docking analysis revealed that peptide Y2Fr could bind to the membrane protein KKI11460.1 and DNA polymerase A0A0L8TVA4 of V. parahaemolyticus through hydrogen bonds. Meanwhile, treatment of Y2Fr with mammalian red blood cells and plasma revealed that it was noncytotoxic, nonhemolytic, and stable under physiological conditions. Thus, peptide Y2Fr has great potential use in treating and preventing infections caused by V. parahaemolyticus or similar bacteria in aquatic animals.

Development of a visual detection method for Salmonella based on loop-mediated isothermal amplification using pyrophosphatase.

Salmonella is one of the most widely distributed and harmful food-borne pathogens; thus, the rapid detection of viable Salmonella is important for ensuring food safety. In this study, a rapid visual strategy based on loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) with the addition of thermal inorganic pyrophosphatase and linked with an ammonium molybdate chromogenic buffer was established to detect Salmonella. Specific primers were designed based on the phoP gene of Salmonella spp. The pyrophosphatase concentration, LAMP time, addition of ammonium molybdate chromogenic buffer, and color reaction time were optimized. Based on the optimal conditions, the sensitivity and specificity of the method were examined. In addition, the ability to detect actual samples was verified using apple juice containing Salmonella. LAMP was performed at 65°C for 45 min in the presence of thermal inorganic pyrophosphatase at a final concentration of 4 U ml-1, and 20 µl of the LAMP product was reacted with 50 µl of phosphate chromogenic buffer at 25°C for 15 min. According to our results, the limit of detection of the LAMP assay for viable Salmonella was 1.83 × 102 CFU per reaction, and nonspecific amplification was not observed. The detection rates of Salmonella Typhimurium with different concentrations in apple juice were 89.11%-94.80%, which verifies that the visual detection strategy is suitable for actual sample detection.

Microbiota-derived tryptophan catabolites mediate the chemopreventive effects of statins on colorectal cancer.

Epidemiological studies have indicated an association between statin use and reduced incidence of colorectal cancer (CRC), and work in preclinical models has demonstrated a potential chemopreventive effect. Statins are also associated with reduced dysbiosis in the gut microbiome, yet the role of the gut microbiome in the protective effect of statins in CRC is unclear. Here we validated the chemopreventive role of statins by retrospectively analysing a cohort of patients who underwent colonoscopies. This was confirmed in preclinical models and patient cohorts, and we found that reduced tumour burden was partly due to statin modulation of the gut microbiota. Specifically, the gut commensal Lactobacillus reuteri was increased as a result of increased microbial tryptophan availability in the gut after atorvastatin treatment. Our in vivo studies further revealed that L. reuteri administration suppressed colorectal tumorigenesis via the tryptophan catabolite, indole-3-lactic acid (ILA). ILA exerted anti-tumorigenic effects by downregulating the IL-17 signalling pathway. This microbial metabolite inhibited T helper 17 cell differentiation by targeting the nuclear receptor, RAR-related orphan receptor γt (RORγt). Together, our study provides insights into an anti-cancer mechanism driven by statin use and suggests that interventions with L. reuteri or ILA could complement chemoprevention strategies for CRC.

Both live and heat-killed Bifidobacterium animalis J-12 alleviated oral ulcers in LVG golden Syrian hamsters by gavage by directly intervening in the intestinal flora structure.

Live and heat-killed Bifidobacterium has been proven to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. In this study, we evaluated the effects of live and heat-killed Bifidobacterium animalis J-12 (J-12) on the oral ulceration of LVG golden Syrian hamsters after buccal membrane injection with methyl viologen dichloride. Results showed that interleukin-1ß, glutathione, and malondialdehyde in serum were downregulated by the gavage of live and heat-killed J-12 bacteria. The J-12 live and heat-killed bacteria can reduce the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-9 by reducing the expression of nuclear factor kappa-B, thus reducing the expression of anti-inflammatory factors lipoxin A4 and prostaglandin E2. Reducing the expression of caspase-3 and adenosine diphosphate ribose polymerase resulted in a reduction of ulcer tissue DNA damage. In addition, regulating the structure of the intestinal flora prevented the process of oral ulcer formation. This study shows that J-12 can reduce the risk of oral ulcer formation while also having a positive effect on inhibiting existing oral ulcer growth.

Bifidobacterium animalis A12 and Lactobacillus salivarius M18-6 Alleviate Alcohol Injury by keap1-Nrf2 Pathway and Thioredoxin System.

Excessive drinking can significantly damage people's health and well-being. Although some lactic acid bacterial strains have been previously shown to alleviate the symptoms of alcohol injury, the mechanism underlying these effects remains unclear. The aim of this study was to establish an alcohol injury model and examine the protective effect and mechanism of B. animalis A12 and L. salivarius M18-6. The results showed that A12 freeze-dried powder could maintain the survival rate of mice with alcohol injury at 100%. Compared with Alco group, L. salivarius M18-6 dead cell improved the survival rate of mice, attenuated liver steatosis, and significantly down-regulated serum Alanine transaminase (ALT) level; at the same time, it activated keap1-Nrf2 signaling pathway and up-regulated Superoxide dismutase (SOD), it protects mouse liver cells from oxidative stress induced by alcohol injury. In addition, B. animalis A12 can reduce the stress response to short-term alcohol intake and improve the ability of anti-oxidative stress by upregulating the level of isobutyric acid, reducing the level of keap1 protein in the liver of mice and upregulating the expression of thioredoxin genes (Txnrd1, Txnrd3, Txn1). Taken together, the results showed that B. animalis A12 and L. salivarius M18-6 alleviate alcohol injury in mice through keap1-Nrf2 signaling pathway and thioredoxin system.

Bifidobacterium animalis A12, a Probiotic Strain That Promotes Glucose and Lipid Metabolism, Improved the Texture and Aroma of the Fermented Sausage.

Bifidobacterium animalis A12 was used for the development of fermented sausage. The growth activity, tolerance, and enzyme activity of B. animalis A12 and its contribution to the texture and flavour of fermented sausages were evaluated. Additionally, the sensory texture, flavour components, and amino acid nutrients during the fermentation process were assessed. B. animalis had high tolerance to NaCl and nitrite, and B. animalis A12 had protease and lipase activities. The pH value of sausage fermented with B. animalis A12 was lower than that of sausage fermented without any fermentation strain. Hexanal, heptanal, decanal, cis-2-decanal, and 4-methoxy-benzaldehyde are the unique aldehydes flavour components of fermented sausages in the A12 group. The highest content of volatile flavour substances and amino acids, and the color and texture characteristics of fermented sausage in the experimental group at 18 h were better than those at other times. These results suggest that B. animalis A12 has the potential to be used as a starter culture for im-proving flavour and texture in fermented sausage.

Development of a recombinase polymerase amplification assay with lateral flow dipstick (RPA-LFD) for rapid detection of Shigella spp. and enteroinvasive Escherichia coli.

Shigella spp. and enteroinvasive Escherichia coli (EIEC) are widely distributed and can cause serious food-borne diseases for humans such as dysentery. Therefore, an efficient detection platform is needed to detect Shigella and EIEC quickly and sensitively. In this study, a method called recombinase polymerase amplification combined with lateral flow dipstick (RPA-LFD) was developed for rapid detection of Shigella and EIEC. RPA primers and LFD detection probes were designed for their shared virulence gene ipaH. Primers and probes were screened, and the primer concentration, and reaction time and temperature were optimized. According to the optimization results, the RPA reaction should be performed at 39°C, and when combined with LFD, it takes less than 25 min for detection with the naked eye. The developed RPA-LFD method specifically targets gene ipaH and has no cross-reactivity with other common food-borne pathogens. In addition, the minimum detection limit of RPA-LFD is 1.29×102 copies/µL. The detection of food sample showed that the RPA-LFD method was also verified for the detection of actual samples.

Rcs phosphorelay affects the sensitivity of Escherichia coli to plantaricin BM-1 by regulating biofilm formation.

Introduction: Plantaricin BM-1 is a class IIa bacteriocin produced by Lactobacillus plantarum BM-1 that exerts significant antibacterial activity against many foodborne bacteria. Studies have shown that class IIa bacteriocins inhibit Gram-positive bacteria via the mannose phosphotransferase system; however, their mechanism of action against Gram-negative bacteria remains unknown. In this study, we explored the mechanism through which the Rcs phosphorelay affects the sensitivity of Escherichia coli K12 cells to plantaricin BM-1. Methods and Results: The minimum inhibitory concentrations of plantaricin BM-1 against E. coli K12, E. coli JW5917 (rcsC mutant), E. coli JW2204 (rcsD mutant), and E. coli JW2205 (rcsB mutant) were 1.25, 0.59, 1.31, and 1.22 mg/ml, respectively. Growth curves showed that E. coli JW5917 sensitivity to plantaricin BM-1 increased to the same level as that of E. coli K12 after complementation. Meanwhile, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy revealed that, under the action of plantaricin BM-1, the appearance of E. coli JW5917 cells did not significantly differ from that of E. coli K12 cells; however, cell contents were significantly reduced and plasmolysis and shrinkage were observed at both ends. Crystal violet staining and laser scanning confocal microscopy showed that biofilm formation was significantly reduced after rcsC mutation, while proteomic analysis identified 382 upregulated and 260 downregulated proteins in E. coli JW5917. In particular, rcsC mutation was found to affect the expression of proteins related to biofilm formation, with growth curve assays showing that the deletion of these proteins increased E. coli sensitivity to plantaricin BM-1. Discussion: Consequently, we speculated that the Rcs phosphorelay may regulate the sensitivity of E. coli to plantaricin BM-1 by affecting biofilm formation. This finding of class IIa bacteriocin against Gram-negative bacteria mechanism provides new insights.

BasS/BasR Two-Component System Affects the Sensitivity of Escherichia coli to Plantaricin BM-1 by Regulating the Tricarboxylic Acid Cycle.

Plantaricin BM-1, a class IIa bacteriocin produced by Lactiplantibacillus plantarum BM-1, exhibits significant antibacterial activity against many gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. However, the mechanism underlying the action of class IIa bacteriocins against gram-negative bacteria remains to be explored. This study aimed to investigate the role of the BasS/BasR two-component system (TCS) in Escherichia coli (E. coli) K12 response to plantaricin BM-1. The IC50 values for plantaricin BM-1 in E. coli K12, basS mutant (E. coli JW4073), and basR mutant (E. coli JW4074) strains were found to be 10.85, 8.94, and 7.62 mg/mL, respectively. Growth curve experiments showed that mutations in the BasS/BasR TCS led to an increase in the sensitivity of E. coli K12 to plantaricin BM-1 and that after gene complementation, the complemented mutant strain regained its original sensitivity. Proteomic analysis showed that 100 and 26 proteins were upregulated and 62 and 58 proteins were downregulated in E. coli JW4073 and E. coli JW4074, respectively. These differential proteins, which exhibited different molecular functions and participated in different molecular pathways, were mainly concentrated in the cytoplasm. More specifically, mutations in basS and basR were found to affect the synthesis and metabolism of many substances in E. coli, including many important amino acids and enzymes involved in cellular activities. In addition, 14 proteins, including 8 proteins involved in the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, were found to be downregulated in both E. coli JW4073 and E. coli JW4074. Growth curve experiments showed that the deletion of these proteins could increase the sensitivity of E. coli to plantaricin BM-1. Therefore, we speculate that TCA pathway regulation may be an important mechanism by which the BasS/BasR TCS regulates the sensitivity of E. coli to plantaricin BM-1. This finding will facilitate the determination of the mechanism underlying the action of class IIa bacteriocins against gram-negative bacteria.

Fecal Signatures of Streptococcus anginosus and Streptococcus constellatus for Noninvasive Screening and Early Warning of Gastric Cancer.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Most patients with gastric cancer (GCa) are diagnosed at an advanced stage. We aimed to investigate novel fecal signatures for clinical application in early diagnosis of GCa. METHODS: This was an observational study that included 1043 patients from 10 hospitals in China. In the discovery cohort, 16S ribosomal RNA gene analysis was performed in paired samples (tissues and feces) from patients with GCa and chronic gastritis (ChG) to determine differential abundant microbes. Their relative abundances were detected using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction to test them as bacterial candidates in the training cohort. Their diagnostic efficacy was validated in the validation cohort. RESULTS: Significant enrichments of Streptococcus anginosus (Sa) and Streptococcus constellatus (Sc) in GCa tumor tissues (P < .05) and feces (P < .0001) were observed in patients with intraepithelial neoplasia, early and advanced GCa. Either the signature parallel test Sa∪Sc or single signature Sa/Sc demonstrated superior sensitivity (Sa: 75.6% vs 72.1%, P < .05; Sc: 84.4% vs 64.0%, P < .001; and Sa∪Sc: 91.1% vs 81.4%, P < .01) in detecting early GCa compared with advanced GCa (specificity: Sa: 84.0% vs 83.9%, Sc: 70.4% vs 82.3%, and Sa∪Sc: 64.0% vs 73.4%). Fecal signature Sa∪Sc outperformed Sa∪CEA/Sc∪CEA in the discrimination of advanced GCa (sensitivity: 81.4% vs 74.2% and 81.4% vs 72.3%, P < .01; specificity: 73.4% vs 81.0 % and 73.4% vs 81.0%). The performance of Sa∪Sc in the diagnosis of both early and advanced GCa was verified in the validation cohort. CONCLUSION: Fecal Sa and Sc are noninvasive, accurate, and sensitive signatures for early warning in GCa. (ClinicalTrials.gov, Number: NCT04638959).

Plantaricin BM-1 decreases viability of SW480 human colorectal cancer cells by inducing caspase-dependent apoptosis.

Plantaricin BM-1 is a class IIa bacteriocin produced by Lactobacillus plantarum BM-1 that has significant antimicrobial activity against food-borne bacteria. In this study, a cell proliferation assay and scanning electron microscopy were used to detect changes in the viability of SW480, Caco-2, and HCT-116 colorectal cancer cells treated with plantaricin BM-1. We found that plantaricin BM-1 significantly reduced the viability of all colorectal cancer cell lines tested, especially that of the SW480 cells. Scanning electron microscopy showed that plantaricin BM-1 treatment reduced the number of microvilli and slightly collapsed the morphology of SW480 cells. Fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry demonstrated that plantaricin BM-1 induced apoptosis of SW480 cells in a concentration-dependent manner. Western blotting further showed that plantaricin BM-1-induced apoptosis of SW480 cells was mediated by the caspase pathway. Finally, transcriptomic analysis showed that 69 genes were differentially expressed after plantaricin BM-1 treatment (p < 0.05), of which 65 were downregulated and four were upregulated. The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analysis showed that expression levels of genes involved in the TNF, NF-κB, and MAPK signaling pathways, as well as functional categories such as microRNAs in cancer and transcriptional misregulation in cancer, were affected in SW480 cells following the treatment with plantaricin BM-1. In conclusion, plantaricin BM-1 induced death in SW480 cells via the caspase-dependent apoptosis pathway. Our study provides important information for further development of plantaricin BM-1 for potential applications in anti-colorectal cancer.

Ameliorative Effects of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis J-12 on Hyperglycemia in Pregnancy and Pregnancy Outcomes in a High-Fat-Diet/Streptozotocin-Induced Rat Model.

Bifidobacterium, a common probiotic, is widely used in the food industry. Hyperglycemia in pregnancy has become a common disease that impairs the health of the mother and can lead to adverse pregnancy outcomes, such as preeclampsia, macrosomia, fetal hyperinsulinemia, and perinatal death. Currently, Bifidobacterium has been shown to have the potential to mitigate glycolipid derangements. Therefore, the use of Bifidobacterium-based probiotics to interfere with hyperglycemia in pregnancy may be a promising therapeutic option. We aimed to determine the potential effects of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis J-12 (J-12) in high-fat diet (HFD)/streptozotocin (STZ)-induced rats with hyperglycemia in pregnancy (HIP) and respective fetuses. We observed that J-12 or insulin alone failed to significantly improve the fasting blood glucose (FBG) level and oral glucose tolerance; however, combining J-12 and insulin significantly reduced the FBG level during late pregnancy. Moreover, J-12 significantly decreased triglycerides and total cholesterol, relieved insulin and leptin resistance, activated adiponectin, and restored the morphology of the maternal pancreas and hepatic tissue of HIP-induced rats. Notably, J-12 ingestion ameliorated fetal physiological parameters and skeletal abnormalities. HIP-induced cardiac, renal, and hepatic damage in fetuses was significantly alleviated in the J-12-alone intake group, and it downregulated hippocampal mRNA expression of insulin receptor (InsR) and insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF-1R) and upregulated AKT mRNA on postnatal day 0, indicating that J-12 improved fetal neurological health. Furthermore, placental tissue damage in rats with HIP appeared to be in remission in the J-12 group. Upon exploring specific placental microbiota, we observed that J-12 affected the abundance of nine genera, positively correlating with FBG and leptin in rats and hippocampal mRNA levels of InsR and IGF-1R mRNA in the fetus, while negatively correlating with adiponectin in rats and hippocampal levels of AKT in the fetus. These results suggest that J-12 may affect the development of the fetal central nervous system by mediating placental microbiota via the regulation of maternal-related indicators. J-12 is a promising strategy for improving HIP and pregnancy outcomes.

Lactobacillus paracasei M11-4 isolated from fermented rice demonstrates good antioxidant properties in vitro and in vivo.

BACKGROUND: Probiotics are defined as microorganisms that can exert health benefits for the host. Among the recognized probiotics, Lactobacillus paracasei are one of the most frequently used probiotics in humans. The L. paracasei strain M11-4, isolated from fermented rice (which could ferment soymilk within a short curd time) and fermented soymilk presented high viability, acceptable flavor, and antioxidant activity, which revealed that the strain maybe have a potential antioxidant value. Therefore, it is necessary to further explore the antioxidant activity of L. paracasei strain M11-4. RESULTS: The radical scavenging activities, lipid peroxidation inhibition, and reducing power of L. paracasei M11-4 were the highest in the fermentation culture without cells, whereas the activities of other antioxidant enzymes of L. paracasei M11-4 were high in the cell-free extract and bacterial suspension. Moreover, L. paracasei M11-4 exerted its antioxidant effect by upregulating the gene expression of its antioxidant enzymes - the thioredoxin and glutathione systems - when hydrogen peroxide existed. Supplementation of rats with L. paracasei M11-4 effectively alleviated d-galactose-induced oxidative damage in the liver and serum and prevented d-galactose-induced changes to intestinal microbiota. Supplementation with L. paracasei M11-4 also reduced the elevated expression of thioredoxin and glutathione system genes induced by d-galactose. CONCLUSION: L. paracasei M11-4 has good antioxidant properties both in vitro and in vivo, and its antioxidant mechanism was studied at the molecular level. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.

YbfA Regulates the Sensitivity of Escherichia coli K12 to Plantaricin BM-1 via the BasS/BasR Two-Component Regulatory System.

Plantaricin BM-1, a class IIa bacteriocin produced by Lactobacillus plantarum BM-1, shows obvious antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli. However, the mechanism underlying the action of class IIa bacteriocins against gram-negative bacteria remains to be explored. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of YbfA, a DUF2517 domain-containing protein, in the response of Escherichia coli K12 to plantaricin BM-1. The growth curve experiment and MIC experiment showed that the sensitivity of E. coli to plantaricin BM-1 was decreased by a ybfA null mutation. Electron microscopy showed that the ybfA null mutation reduced the surface rupture and contraction caused by plantaricin BM-1, and mitigated the effect of plantaricin BM-1 on the morphology of the E. coli cell membrane. Proteomics analysis showed that 323 proteins were differentially expressed in E. coli lacking the ybfA gene (P < 0.05); 118 proteins were downregulated, and 205 proteins were upregulated. The metabolic pathways containing the upregulated proteins mainly included outer membrane proteins, integral components of the plasma membrane, regulation of cell motility, and regulation of locomotion. The metabolic pathways involving the downregulated proteins mainly included outer membrane protein glycine betaine transport, amino-acid betaine transport, and transmembrane signaling receptor activity. The results of the proteomics analysis showed that the protein expression of the BasS/BasR two-component system was significantly increased (P < 0.05). Moreover, the expression levels of downstream proteins regulated by this two-component system were also significantly increased, including DgkA, FliC, and MlaE, which are involved in cell membrane structure and function, and RT-qPCR also confirmed this result. The growth curve showed that the sensitivity of E. coli to plantaricin BM-1 was significantly increased due to deletion of the BasS/BasR two-component system. Thus, deletion of ybfA in E. coli can increase the expression of the BasS/BasR two-component system and positively regulate the structure and function of the cell membrane to reduce the sensitivity to plantaricin BM-1. This will help to explore the mechanism of action of class IIa bacteriocins against gram-negative bacteria.

Hypoglycemic effects of space-induced Lactobacillus plantarum SS18-5 on type 2 diabetes in a rat model.

Probiotics can improve dyslipidemia and promote metabolic control as a therapeutic approach for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The hypoglycemic effects of space-induced Lactobacillus plantarum SS18-5 on T2DM were explored in 4-week-old male Sprague Dawley rats. The normal (N) group was fed a basal diet, while the other groups received a high glucose fat diet. T2DM was established by streptozotocin injection and the T2DM rats were randomly divided into three groups, a diabetic (D) group (T2DM rats treated with saline only), GS18 group (T2DM rats treated with 109  CFU/ml of L. plantarum GS18), and SS18-5 group (T2DM rats treated with 109  CFU/ml of L. plantarum SS18-5). After continuous gavage for 6 weeks, blood biochemical indices were measured and livers were collected for histopathological examination. The colon contents were collected for counting of Escherichia coli, Clostridium perfringens, and Lactobacillus sp. The results showed that L. plantarum SS18-5 effectively controlled the weight of rats, reduced levels of fasting blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin, and insulin, increased liver glycogen levels, improved abnormal metabolism of blood lipids, enhanced the effect of anti-lipid peroxidation, alleviated chronic inflammation and fatty liver disease, and regulated the intestinal microbiota by reducing the numbers of E. coli and C. perfringens, and increasing the numbers of Lactobacillus sp. From these results, we conclude that space-induced L. plantarum SS18-5 has the potential to improve T2DM by alleviating hypoglycemia and regulating the intestinal microbiota. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: With the exploration of the universe, a large number of studies have observed the changes of microorganisms in space flight, which provided a new method for high-quality microbial pharmaceuticals in the space environment. In this study, the space environment mutated. Lactobacillus plantarum SS18-5 can effectively improve the blood glucose of rats with type 2 diabetes, relieve oxidative stress, reduce blood lipid content, enhance immune capacity, and regulate intestinal microflora, which has potential use in the treatment of type 2 diabetes.

A clinical nomogram incorporating salivary Desulfovibrio desulfuricans level and oral hygiene index for predicting colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: Emerging evidence demonstrates that the salivary microbiome could serve as a biomarker for various diseases. To date, the oral microbiome's role in the diagnosis of colorectal cancer (CRC) has not been fully elucidated. We aimed to illustrate the salivary microbiome's role in diagnosing and predicting the risk of CRC. METHODS: We collected preoperational saliva from 237 patients [95 healthy controls (HCs) and 142 CRC patients] who underwent surgical resections or colorectal endoscopy in Renji Hospital from January 2018 to January 2020. Clinical demographics, comorbidities, and oral health conditions were obtained from medical records or questionnaires. Salivary microbial biomarkers were detected using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) after DNA extraction. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was employed to analyze the risk factors for CRC. A predictive model for the risk of developing CRC was constructed based on logistic regression analysis. Predictive accuracy was internally validated by bootstrap resampling. A clinical nomogram was constructed to visualize the predictive model. RESULTS: Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that the risk factors associated with CRC included age at diagnosis, male sex, poor oral hygiene, and relative salivary Desulfovibrio desulfuricans abundance. The predictive model had good discriminative (0.866) and calibration abilities (0.834) after bias correction. CONCLUSIONS: The model based on age, sex, oral hygiene index (OHI), and the salivary Desulfovibrio desulfuricans level, which is visualized by a clinical nomogram, can predict the risk of CRC. Developing good oral hygiene habits might reduce the risk of CRC.

Fecal Fusobacterium nucleatum as a predictor for metachronous colorectal adenoma after endoscopic polypectomy.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Fusobacterium nucleatum is increasingly being recognized as an important risk factor in colorectal cancer and colorectal adenoma. Endoscopic polypectomy is associated with a decreased incidence of colorectal cancer; however, patients still suffer from a risk of metachronous adenoma. Currently, there are few effective non-invasive factors that may predict metachronous colorectal adenoma. Here, we evaluated the performance of F. nucleatum in predicting metachronous adenoma. METHODS: Fecal samples and clinical information of patients before endoscopic polypectomy were collected from 367 patients in a retrospective cohort, and 238 patients in a prospective cohort. The abundance of fecal F. nucleatum was measured via quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Surveillance colonoscopies were conducted between 1 and 3 years after polypectomy (average follow-up 27.07 months for the retrospective cohort & 22.57 months for the prospective cohort) to identify metachronous adenoma. Candidate predictive factors and cut-off value of F. nucleatum abundance were identified from the retrospective cohort and then validated in the prospective cohort. RESULTS: A high abundance of fecal F. nucleatum was found to be an independent risk factor for metachronous adenomas (odds ratio, 6.38; P < 0.001) in the retrospective cohort and was validated in the prospective cohort with a specificity of 65.00%, and a sensitivity of 73.04%, and an overall performance with the area under the curve of 0.73. CONCLUSION: Fecal abundance of F. nucleatum may be a reliable predictor for metachronous adenoma after endoscopic polypectomy.

Effects of a probiotic-fermented herbal blend on the growth performance, intestinal flora and immune function of chicks infected with Salmonella pullorum.

Salmonella pullorum is a highly pathogenic bacteria in poultry industry. However, antibiotics were restricted in many countries because of the increasing risk of antibiotic resistance, Therefore, an environmental friendly and effective alternative strives to be developed. This study investigated the benefit of a probiotic-fermented herbal blend on the growth performance and gut microbiota of newborn broilers infected with S. pullorum. A total of 120 one-day-old dwarf male chicks were randomly allotted to 4 treatment groups, each including 5 replicates of 6 chicks: negative control (NC), positive control (PC), herbal blend (HB), and probiotic-fermented herbal blend (PF). All birds (n = 90), except for those in the NC, were infected with S. pullorum (1.69 × 108 CFU) on day 1. On day 11, body weight (BW), mortality, tissue pathology, cecal colony counts, immune organ indices, cecal mucosa secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA) concentrations, and cecal cytokine mRNA expression levels were investigated. No mortality was observed after the PF treatment, and less pathological condition was in the ileum, cecum, and liver of HB and PF. BW, average daily gain and average daily feed intake were significant higher in the HB group compared to the PC and were the highest in the PF (P < 0.05). HB treatment significantly increased cecal populations of Lactobacilli, and decreased cecal populations of Escherichia coli and Salmonella, but results were more pronounced in the PF group (P < 0.05). Both HB and PF treatments increased cecal mucosa sIgA compared with the PC (P < 0.05). Tumor necrosis factor alpha and interferon gamma were lowest (P < 0.05) and interleukin 4 was the highest (P < 0.05) in PF, which exhibited similar levels to the NC group. PF treatment significantly improved the development of the thymus and bursa in S. pullorum-infected chicks. In conclusion, PF treatment prevented death, improved growth performance, regulated intestinal flora and enhanced immune ability of in S. pullorum-infected with chicks.