Management of Cardiovascular Diseases by Short-Chain Fatty Acid Postbiotics.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Global health concerns persist in the realm of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), necessitating innovative strategies for both prevention and treatment. This narrative review aims to explore the potential of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs)-namely, acetate, propionate, and butyrate-as agents in the realm of postbiotics for the management of CVDs. RECENT FINDINGS: We commence our discussion by elucidating the concept of postbiotics and their pivotal significance in mitigating various aspects of cardiovascular diseases. This review centers on a comprehensive examination of diverse SCFAs and their associated receptors, notably GPR41, GPR43, and GPR109a. In addition, we delve into the intricate cellular and pharmacological mechanisms through which these receptors operate, providing insights into their specific roles in managing cardiovascular conditions such as hypertension, atherosclerosis, heart failure, and stroke. The integration of current information in our analysis highlights the potential of both SCFAs and their receptors as a promising path for innovative therapeutic approaches in the field of cardiovascular health. The idea of postbiotics arises as an optimistic and inventive method, presenting new opportunities for preventing and treating cardiovascular diseases.

Feasibility of lactiplantibacillus plantarum postbiotics production in challenging media by different techniques.

The postbiotic derived from Lactiplantibacillus plantarum bacteria was produced in three culture media: milk, MRS, and whey, and its antibacterial and antifungal properties were evaluated. To investigate the production efficiency of postbiotics, three methods, heating, sonication and centrifugation, were utilized to prepare postbiotics in MRS broth culture medium. The antibacterial potency of the postbiotic was evaluated using the agar well-diffusion method, and MIC and MBC tests were conducted for different treatments. The results of the study showed that the postbiotic prepared in food environments such as milk and cheese whey can have antibacterial and antifungal properties similar to the postbiotic prepared in the MRS culture medium. However, it is possible to enrich food matrices such as milk and cheese whey and make further adjustments in terms of pH settings. Additionally, the thermal process was able to create a nanoscale postbiotic, which is a significant achievement for the application of postbiotics in the food and pharmaceutical industries. The future outlook of postbiotics clearly indicates that the emergence of this generation of probiotics can have an attractive and functional position in the food and pharmaceutical industries. Therefore, future research focusing on this subject will contribute to the development of this generation of postbiotics.

The inhibition mechanism of PostbioYDFF-3 on quality deterioration of refrigerated grass carp fillets from the perspective of endogenous enzyme and microorganisms changes.

The protective mode of PostbioYDFF-3 (referred to as postbiotics) on the quality stability of refrigerated fillets was explored from the aspects of endogenous enzyme activity and the abundance of spoilage microorganisms. Compared to the control group, the samples soaked in postbiotics showed significant reductions in TVC, TVB-N and TBARS values by 39.6%, 58.6% and 25.5% on day 5, respectively. In addition, the color changes, biogenic amine accumulation and texture softening of the fish fillets soaked in postbiotics were effectively suppressed. Furthermore, the activity of endogenous enzyme activities was detected. The calpain activities were significantly inhibited (p < 0.05) after soaking in postbiotics, which declined by 23%. Meanwhile, high throughput sequencing analysis further indicated that the growth of spoilage microorganism such as Acinetobacter and Pseudomonas were suppressed. Overall, the PostbioYDFF-3 was suitable for preserving fish meat.

Real-world effectiveness and tolerability of a cream containing postbiotic Aquaphilus dolomiae extract-G3 in subjects with sensitive facial skin.

Previous studies indicate that a postbiotic extract from Aquaphilus dolomiae (ADE-G3) improves skin barrier function and relieves neuroinflammation. Evaluation of an ADE-G3-based soothing cream for managing sensitive facial skin. This real-world, international, pre-post comparative study involved adults with sensitive facial skin who used the study product once or twice daily for two to three months according to usual practice. Subjects reported changes in perceived clinical symptoms using self-administered questionnaires. Physicians assessed changes in xerosis severity, overall product effectiveness and tolerability. User satisfaction and quality of life (QoL) assessments, and subgroup analyses according to the factors triggering sensitive skin were also conducted. In total, 2,382 subjects with sensitive facial skin (female: 79%; median age: 40 years) were included. An immediate skin soothing effect after the first ADE-G3-based cream application was reported by 93% of subjects, and improvements in symptoms were reported in 94% after a mean of nine days of product use. After several months of use (mean: 71±21 days), xerosis severity and dermatological-related QoL significantly improved in the whole study population and in the subgroups (p<0.001). At the end of the study, 92% of users were satisfied with the product and 95% reported improvements in their overall skin condition. Physicians found the cream to be effective and well tolerated in 92% and 98% of subjects, respectively. Regular use of the ADE-G3-based cream was shown to be effective in real-world management of sensitive facial skin, regardless of the factors involved in triggering skin sensitivity.

Microbiota metabolites in bone: Shaping health and Confronting disease.

The intricate interplay between the gut microbiota and bone health has become increasingly recognized as a fundamental determinant of skeletal well-being. Microbiota-derived metabolites play a crucial role in dynamic interaction, specifically in bone homeostasis. In this sense, short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), including acetate, propionate, and butyrate, indirectly promote bone formation by regulating insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1). Trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) has been found to increase the expression of osteoblast genes, such as Runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2) and bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP2), thus enhancing osteogenic differentiation and bone quality through BMP/SMADs and Wnt signaling pathways. Remarkably, in the context of bone infections, the role of microbiota metabolites in immune modulation and host defense mechanisms potentially affects susceptibility to infections such as osteomyelitis. Furthermore, ongoing research elucidates the precise mechanisms through which microbiota-derived metabolites influence bone cells, such as osteoblasts and osteoclasts. Understanding the multifaceted influence of microbiota metabolites on bone, from regulating homeostasis to modulating susceptibility to infections, has the potential to revolutionize our approach to bone health and disease management. This review offers a comprehensive exploration of this evolving field, providing a holistic perspective on the impact of microbiota metabolites on bone health and diseases.

Unlocking the power of postbiotics: A revolutionary approach to nutrition for humans and animals.

Postbiotics, which comprise inanimate microorganisms or their constituents, have recently gained significant attention for their potential health benefits. Extensive research on postbiotics has uncovered many beneficial effects on hosts, including antioxidant activity, immunomodulatory effects, gut microbiota modulation, and enhancement of epithelial barrier function. Although these features resemble those of probiotics, the stability and safety of postbiotics make them an appealing alternative. In this review, we provide a comprehensive summary of the latest research on postbiotics, emphasizing their positive impacts on both human and animal health. As our understanding of the influence of postbiotics on living organisms continues to grow, their application in clinical and nutritional settings, as well as animal husbandry, is expected to expand. Moreover, by substituting postbiotics for antibiotics, we can promote health and productivity while minimizing adverse effects. This alternative approach holds immense potential for improving health outcomes and revolutionizing the food and animal products industries.

Microfluidic-based multifunctional microspheres for enhanced oral co-delivery of probiotics and postbiotics.

Probiotic-based therapies have shown great potential in the prevention and treatment of many diseases by positively regulating intestinal flora homeostasis. However, the efficacy of oral probiotics is severely limited due to the loss of bioactivity, short intestinal retention time, and insufficient therapeutic effect. Here, based on droplet microfluidics, we developed a hydrogel microsphere with colonic targeting and mucoadhesive capabilities as a multifunctional delivery platform, which can be used for co-delivery of probiotics (Escherichia coli Nissle 1917, EcN) and auxiliary molecules (indole-3-propionic acid, IPA), achieving synergistic therapeutic effects. In vivo studies shown that the integrated multifunctional microspheres can significantly reduce intestinal inflammation, repair intestinal barrier function, enhance probiotic colonization in the intestine, and modulate disordered intestinal flora, demonstrating enhanced therapeutic effects in a mouse model of colitis. This work reveals that microfluidic-based smart droplet microspheres can provide a versatile platform for advanced microbial therapies.

Both viable Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis B8762 and heat-killed cells alleviate the intestinal inflammation of DSS-induced IBD rats.

In view of the safety concerns of probiotics, more and more attention is paid to the beneficial effects of dead probiotics cells. Herein, we investigated and compared the alleviation effects of viable Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis B8762 (B. infantis B8762) and its heat-killed cells on dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) rats. Four groups of rats (n = 12 per group) were included: normal control, DSS-induced colitis rats without bacterial administration (DSS), DSS-induced colitis rats with viable B. infantis B8762 administration (VB8762), and DSS-induced colitis rats with dead B. infantis B8762 administration (DB8762). Our results showed that both VB8762 and DB8762 administration exerted significant protective effects on DSS-induced IBD rats, as evidenced by a reduction in mortality, disease activity index score, body weight loss, as well as decreased histology score, which were companied by a significant decrease in serum pro-inflammatory factors compared with DSS group, and a stronger effect on modulating the fecal microbiota alpha-diversity and beta-diversity compared with DSS group. Additionally, the fecal metabolome results showed that both VB8762 and DB8762 interventions indeed altered the fecal metabolome profile and related metabolic pathways of DSS-induced IBD rats. Therefore, given the alleviation effects on colitis, the DB8762 can be confirmed to be a postbiotic. Overall, our findings suggested that VB8762 and DB8762 had similar ability to alleviate IBD although with some differences. Due to the minimal safety concern of postbiotics, we propose that the postbiotic DB8762 could be a promising alternative to probiotics to be applied in the prevention and treatment of IBDs.IMPORTANCEInflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has emerged as a global disease because of the worldwide spread of western diets and lifestyles during industrialization. Up to now, many probiotic strains are used as a modulator of gut microbiota or an enhancer of gut barrier to alleviate or cure IBD. However, there are still many issues of using probiotics, which were needed to be concerned about, for instance, safety issues in certain groups like neonates and vulnerable populations, and the functional differences between viable and dead microorganisms. Therefore, it is of interest to investigate the beneficial effects of dead probiotics cells. The present study proved that both viable Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis B8762 and heat-killed cells could alleviate dextran sodium sulfate-induced colitis in rats. The findings help to support that some heat-killed probiotics cells can also exert relevant biological functions and can be used as a postbiotic.

Postbiotic Administration Ameliorates Colitis and Inflammation in Rats Possibly through Gut Microbiota Modulation.

Postbiotics are preparations of inanimate microorganisms and/or their components that are beneficial to host health. Compared with probiotics, the postbiotic dose required for exerting obvious protective effects is unknown. Thus, we conducted a dose-dependent postbiotic intervention study in dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis rats. The trial included five rat groups, including: control without DSS/postbiotic treatment, group C; 7-day DSS treatment, group D; 14-day low, medium, and high probiotic doses (0.1, 0.2, 0.4 g/kg; groups L, M, H, respectively) after DSS induction. We found that postbiotic intervention effectively mitigated the symptoms and inflammation in colitis rats, evidenced by the improved spleen index, less severe colon tissue damage, and changes in serum cytokine levels (decreases in tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-1ß; increase in interleukin-10) in postbiotic groups compared with group D. Moreover, the therapeutic effect was dose-dependent. Fecal metabolomics analysis revealed that the postbiotic recipients had more anti-inflammatory metabolites, namely, salicyloyl phytophingosine, podophylloxin, securinine, baicalein, and diosmetin. Fecal metagenomics analysis revealed that the postbiotic recipients had more beneficial microbes and less pro-inflammatory bacteria. This study confirmed that postbiotics are effective in alleviating colitis in a dose-dependent manner. Our findings are of interest to food scientists, clinicians, and the health food industry.

Streptococcus thermophilus: A Source of Postbiotics Displaying Anti-Inflammatory Effects in THP 1 Macrophages.

In addition to traditional use in fermented dairy products, S. thermophilus also exhibits anti-inflammatory properties both in live and heat-inactivated form. Recent studies have highlighted that some hydrolysates from surface proteins of S. thermophilus could be responsible partially for overall anti-inflammatory activity of this bacterium. It was hypothesized that anti-inflammatory activity could also be attributed to peptides resulting from the digestion of intracellular proteins of S. thermophilus. Therefore, total intracellular proteins (TIP) from two phenotypically different strains, LMD-9 and CNRZ-21N, were recovered by sonication followed by ammonium sulphate precipitation. The molecular masses of the TIP of both strains were very close to each other as observed by SDS-PAGE. The TIP were fractionated by size exclusion fast protein liquid chromatography to obtain a 3-10 kDa intracellular protein (IP) fraction, which was then hydrolysed with pancreatic enzyme preparation, Corolase PP. The hydrolysed IP fraction from each strain exhibited anti-inflammatory activity by modulating pro-inflammatory mediators, particularly IL-1ß in LPS-stimulated THP-1 macrophages. However, a decrease in IL-8 secretion was only observed with hydrolysed IP fraction from CNRZ-21N, indicating that strain could be an important parameter in obtaining active hydrolysates. Results showed that peptides from the 3-10 kDa IP fraction of S. thermophilus could therefore be considered as postbiotics with potential beneficial effects on human health. Thus, it can be used as a promising bioactive ingredient for the development of functional foods to prevent low-grade inflammation.

Evaluation of a Standard Dietary Regimen Combined with Heat-Inactivated Lactobacillus gasseri HM1, Lactoferrin-Producing HM1, and Their Sonication-Inactivated Variants in the Management of Metabolic Disorders in an Obesity Mouse Model.

This study investigated the impact of incorporating various inactivated probiotic formulations, with or without recombinant lactoferrin (LF) expression, into a standard chow diet on metabolic-related disorders in obese mice. After inducing obesity through a 13-week high-fat diet followed by a standard chow diet, mice received daily oral administrations of different probiotics for 6 weeks using the oral gavage approach. These probiotic formulations consisted of a placebo (MRS), heat-inactivated Lactobacillus gasseri HM1 (HK-HM1), heat-killed LF-expression HM1 (HK-HM1/LF), sonication-killed HM1 (SK-HM1), and sonication-killed LF-expression HM1 (SK-HM1/LF). The study successfully induced obesity, resulting in worsened glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity. Interestingly, the regular diet alone improved glucose tolerance, and the addition of inactivated probiotics further enhanced this effect, with SK-HM1/LF demonstrating the most noticeable improvement. However, while regular dietary intervention alone improved insulin sensitivity, probiotic supplementation did not provide additional benefits in this aspect. Inflammation in perirenal and epididymal fat tissues was partially alleviated by the regular diet and further improved by probiotics, particularly by SK-HM1, which showed the most significant reduction. Additionally, HK-HM1 and HK-HM1/LF supplements could contribute to the improvement of serum total triglycerides or total cholesterol, respectively. Overall, incorporating inactivated probiotics into a regular diet may enhance metabolic indices, and recombinant LF may offer potential benefits for improving glucose tolerance.

Postbiotics-enriched flaxseed mucilage coating: A solution to improving postharvest quality and shelf life of strawberry.

This research aimed to assess the effects of flaxseed mucilage (Mu) coatings supplemented with postbiotics (P) obtained from Lactobacillus acidophilus LA-5 on various physical, biochemical, and microbial characteristics of strawberry fruits. Strawberry fruits were immersed for 2 min in Mu2.5 (2.5 % mucilage in distilled water), Mu5 (5 % mucilage in distilled water), P-Mu2.5 (2.5 % mucilage in undiluted postbiotics) and P-Mu5 (5 % mucilage in undiluted postbiotics) solutions and were stored at 4 °C and 85 RH for 12 days. All coatings were effective in reducing fungal count compared to the uncoated control fruits. Mu5 coating exhibited the highest efficacy, reducing fungal count by 2.85 log10 CFU/g, followed by Mu2.5 (1.47 log10 CFU/g reduction) and P-Mu2.5 groups (0.90 log10 CFU/g reduction). The fruits coated with edible coatings showed significant delays in the change of weight loss, pH, and total soluble solids as compared to the uncoated fruits. The coating containing postbiotics i.e., P-Mu5 also showed a significant increase in the total phenolic contents, total flavonoid content, antioxidant capacity, and total anthocyanin content at the end of storage relative to the uncoated fruits. Thus, Mu and P-Mu coatings may be a useful approach to maintaining the postharvest quality of strawberry fruits during cold storage.

Postbiotics in colorectal cancer: intervention mechanisms and perspectives.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a common malignancy affecting the gastrointestinal tract worldwide. The etiology and progression of CRC are related to factors such as environmental influences, dietary structure, and genetic susceptibility. Intestinal microbiota can influence the integrity of the intestinal mucosal barrier and modulate intestinal immunity by secreting various metabolites. Dysbiosis of the intestinal microbiota can affect the metabolites of the microbial, leading to the accumulation of toxic metabolites, which can trigger chronic inflammation or DNA damage and ultimately lead to cellular carcinogenesis and the development of CRC. Postbiotics are preparations of inanimate microorganisms or their components that are beneficial to the health of the host, with the main components including bacterial components (e.g., exopolysaccharides, teichoic acids, surface layer protein) and metabolites (e.g., short-chain fatty acids, tryptophan metabolite, bile acids, vitamins and enzymes). Compared with traditional probiotics, it has a more stable chemical structure and higher safety. In recent years, it has been demonstrated that postbiotics are involved in regulating intestinal microecology and improving the progression of CRC, which provides new ideas for the prevention and diagnosis of CRC. In this article, we review the changes in intestinal microbiota in different states of the gut and the mechanisms of anti-tumor activity of postbiotic-related components, and discuss the potential significance of postbiotics in the diagnosis and treatment of CRC. This reviews the changes and pathogenesis of intestinal microbiota in the development of CRC, and summarizes the relevant mechanisms of postbiotics in resisting the development of CRC in recent years, as well as the advantages and limitations of postbiotics in the treatment process of CRC.

The Potential of Pediococcus acidilactici Cell-Free Supernatant as a Preservative in Food Packaging Materials.

This study delves into the production and antimicrobial characteristics of cell-free supernatants from Pediococcus acidilactici (CFSs-Pa). Antimicrobial activity was initially observed in CFS-Pa harvested after 12 h of incubation and increased up to the late stationary phase at 48 h. The increase in antimicrobial activity did not align with total protein content, pointing to other factors linked to the accumulation of organic acids, particularly lactic acid. The SDS-PAGE analysis also indicated that the expected proteinaceous compound (pediocin) was not observed in CFS-Pa. Further investigations suggested that the antimicrobial properties of CFS-Pa were exclusively due to organic acids. The MIC values confirmed potent antimicrobial activity, particularly at a 10% dilution of CFS-Pa in MRS broth. The time-kill assays demonstrated bactericidal activity against EHEC, Listeria monocytogenes, and Staphylococcus aureus by 12 h, 18 h, and 24 h using a 10% dilution of CFS-Pa. Additionally, CFS-Pa exhibited dose-dependent antioxidant activity, requiring a 70% (v/v) concentration to inhibit DPPH scavenging activity by 50%. All the experimental results suggested potential applications of CFS-Pa in food preservation. An attempt to incorporate CFS-Pa into bacterial cellulose (BC) for edible food packaging demonstrated promising antimicrobial results, particularly against L. monocytogenes and S. aureus, with room for optimization.

Heat-Killed Saccharomyces boulardii Alleviates Dextran Sulfate Sodium-Induced Ulcerative Colitis by Restoring the Intestinal Barrier, Reducing Inflammation, and Modulating the Gut Microbiota.

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a global intestinal disease, and conventional therapeutic drugs often fail to meet the needs of patients. There is an urgent need to find efficient and affordable novel biological therapies. Saccharomyces boulardii has been widely used in food and pharmaceutical research due to its anti-inflammatory properties and gut health benefits. However, there is still a relatively limited comparison and evaluation of different forms of S. boulardii treatment for UC. This study aimed to compare the therapeutic effects of S. boulardii, heat-killed S. boulardii, and S. boulardii ß-glucan on UC, to explore the potential of heat-killed S. boulardii as a new biological therapy. The results demonstrate that all three treatments were able to restore body weight, reduce the disease activity index (DAI), inhibit splenomegaly, shorten colon length, and alleviate histopathological damage to colonic epithelial tissues in DSS-induced colitis mice. The oral administration of S. boulardii, heat-killed S. boulardii, and S. boulardii ß-glucan also increased the levels of tight junction proteins (Occludin and ZO-1), decreased the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1ß, and IL-6) in the serum, and suppressed the expressions of TNF-α, IL-1ß, and IL-6 mRNA in the colon. In particular, in terms of gut microbiota, S. boulardii, heat-killed S. boulardii, and S. boulardii ß-glucan exhibited varying degrees of modulation on DSS-induced dysbiosis. Among them, heat-killed S. boulardii maximally restored the composition, structure, and functionality of the intestinal microbiota to normal levels. In conclusion, heat-killed S. boulardii showed greater advantages over S. boulardii and S. boulardii ß-glucan in the treatment of intestinal diseases, and it holds promise as an effective novel biological therapy for UC. This study is of great importance in improving the quality of life for UC patients and reducing the burden of the disease.

Postbiotic butyrate: role and its effects for being a potential drug and biomarker to pancreatic cancer.

Postbiotics are produced by microbes and have recently gained importance in the field of oncology due to their beneficial effects to the host, effectiveness against cancer cells, and their ability to suppress inflammation. In particular, butyrate dominates over all other postbiotics both in quantity and anticancer properties. Pancreatic cancer (PC), being one of the most malignant and lethal cancers, reported a decreased 5-year survival rate in less than 10% of the patients. PC causes an increased mortality rate due to its inability to be detected at an early stage but still a promising strategy for its diagnosis has not been achieved yet. It is necessary to diagnose Pancreatic cancer before the metastatic progression stage. The available blood biomarkers lack accurate and proficient diagnostic results. Postbiotic butyrate is produced by gut microbiota such as Rhuminococcus and Faecalibacterium it is involved in cell signalling pathways, autophagy, and cell cycle regulation, and reduction in butyrate concentration is associated with the occurrence of pancreatic cancer. The postbiotic butyrate is a potential biomarker that could detect PC at an early stage, before the metastatic progression stage. Thus, this review focused on the gut microbiota butyrate's role in pancreatic cancer and the immuno-suppressive environment, its effects on histone deacetylase and other immune cells, microbes in major butyrate synthesis pathways, current biomarkers in use for Pancreatic Cancer.

Biotics and Children's and Adolescents' Health: A Narrative Review.

Recently, there has been an increasing interest in the association of gut microbiota with health conditions and the potentially beneficial role of several types of biotics in several population groups, including children and adolescents. Children and adolescents comprise a unique population group due their rapid growth rates, high nutritional requirements, the immaturity of their immune system in early life, and their susceptibility to infectious diseases. The aim of the present study is to investigate the role and limitations of the administration of biotics in specific conditions affecting children and adolescents. A narrative review of related articles published on PubMed up to October 2023 was conducted. The administration of biotics has been evaluated in several health conditions among children and adolescents, such as the treatment and prevention of infectious diarrhea, the prevention of diarrhea after the use of antibiotics, the prevention of necrotizing enterocolitis, the treatment of functional gastrointestinal diseases, such as infant colic, functional abdominal pain, and irritable bowel syndrome, the eradication of H. pylori, the treatment of ulcerative colitis and pouchitis, and the prevention of atopic dermatitis, and the findings indicate improved symptoms and various beneficial health outcomes. However, some limitations have been identified regarding probiotics' use. In conclusion, biotics may have a beneficial impact in several health conditions among children and adolescents. There is a need for additional randomized, controlled clinical studies on the effects of the administration of biotics in children and particularly in adolescents and young adults.

Supplementation of Foals with a Saccharomyces cerevisiae Fermentation Product Alters the Early Response to Vaccination.

Feed supplements supporting animal welfare and performance are becoming increasingly important. Immunomodulatory effects of such products have been observed in many species. The aim of this study was to analyze whether food supplementation with a Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation product (SCFP) affects the occurrence of foal diarrhea in early life, and whether the SCFP feeding has an impact on the immediate response to a parenteral vaccination at the age of 6-9 months. Eleven foals received the SCFP (OLI) and eleven foals were fed a placebo (PLA) for 29 days. Growth, diarrhea, and diarrhea severity were observed until day 30. After weaning, at the age of 6-9 months, foals were vaccinated parenterally against influenza and tetanus. The supplementation had no statistically significant effect on diarrhea duration and severity. On the day of vaccination, PLA and OLI foals did not differ significantly regarding numbers of circulating blood leukocyte subsets. However, the response to vaccination differed significantly between OLI and PLA foals. In OLI foals, the numbers of the major leukocyte fractions (granulocytes, lymphocytes, monocytes, CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, CD21+ B cells, and MHC-II+/CD21- cells) increased significantly 24 h after vaccination but remained unchanged in PLA foals. The observed results suggest that early life supplementation with an SCFP may affect the early immune response to an initial vaccination.

Postbiotics of Naturally Fermented Synbiotic Mixture of Rice Water Aids in Promoting Colonocyte Health.

The eubiotic state of the gut microbiota is primarily brought about by various probiotic species that colonize the gut. It is becoming very clear that the probiotic-metabolite mixtures in the gut luminal milieu is central in establishing cross-kingdom signalling networks to maintain gut-multi-organ axes health. Culturally, different fermented foods and beverages have been regional staples since ancient times, and are known to be enriched with probiotics. However, regional variations including the environment, the staple food source (prebiotics), and fermentation methods, among other factors, influence the fermenting probiotic species. Fermented rice water (FRW), an economical, easy to make, simple beverage is a rich source of synbiotics. Therefore, consumption of fermented rice water allows for the intake of a variety of region-specific live probiotics. The secondary metabolites (postbiotics) present in such symbiotic mixtures may also contribute toward maintaining normal intestinal cellular functions. In this study, we highlight that regional staples such as rice consumed in their fermented form may hold promise in alleviating gut-related diseases. Our results show that simple overnight fermentation of cooked edible rice enables the growth of probiotic bacterial species belonging to the Lactic Acid Bacteria group (Leuconostoc lactis, Weisella confusa, Weisella cibacria, Lactococcus lactis, lactococcus taiwanensis, Lactobacillus fermentum, Lactobacillus nagelii, and Lactobacillus delbrueckii ssp. indicus). Metabolomic analysis of the overnight fermented and over two-nights fermented rice water identified more than 200 postbiotic metabolites. Our results show that postbiotics contributing to energy metabolism, gut-multiorgan axes, and microbial paraprobiotics are enriched in the overnight (~10 h) fermented rice water as compared to the over two-nights fermented rice water. Functional analysis via gene expression studies for nutrient absorption (mct-1 and mct-2) and barrier integrity (occludin and zo-1) reveals significant upregulation of these genes upon FRW treatment of HT29 colon cells. This study is a first-of-its-kind to demonstrate the proof-of-principle that postbiotics of naturally fermented rice water positively modulates colonocyte health.

Postbiotics from Lactobacillus delbrueckii Alleviate Intestinal Inflammation by Promoting the Expansion of Intestinal Stem Cells in S. Typhimurium-Induced Mice.

Previous studies have demonstrated that L. delbrueckii plays beneficial roles in modulating the gut microbiota, enhancing the intestinal barrier, and promoting animal growth. Postbiotics have a similar or even superior effect in protecting intestinal health compared to probiotics due to their excellent stability, extended shelf life, and safety. However, the protective effects and underlying mechanism of postbiotics from L. delbrueckii in intestinal inflammation remain unclear. In this study, we demonstrated the beneficial impact of postbiotics from L. delbrueckii on intestinal health by establishing a S. Typhimurium-induced intestinal inflammation model in mice, which included inactivated bacteria and supernatant. The results revealed that the probiotics and postbiotics from L. delbrueckii increased the survival rate and body weight of S. Typhimurium-induced mice, increased the level of IL-10, and decreased the levels of TNF-α and IL-6, thereby alleviating intestinal inflammation. Meanwhile, treatment with postbiotics decreased the levels of D-LA, DAO, and LPS and promoted the expression of Occludin, ZO-1, and Claudin-1 in the serum and jejunum, suggesting an improvement in intestinal barrier function by postbiotics. Additionally, the postbiotics modulated gut microbial diversity, increased the ratio of Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes, and restored the abundance of Muribaculaceae, Lachnospiraceae_NK4a136_groups, and Alloprevotella in S. Typhimurium-infected mice. Moreover, postbiotics from L. delbrueckii promoted the expansion of intestinal stem cells (ISCs) and increased the numbers of Paneth and Goblet cells. Taken together, these data revealed the beneficial role of postbiotics from L. delbrueckii in protecting against intestinal inflammation by promoting the expansion of ISCs.