• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
• /
• v.47 no.3
• /
• pp.423-433
• /
• 2019

Midgut microbiota is known to play a fundamental role in the biology and physiology of the agricultural pest, Spodoptera litura. This study reports the difference in the larval midgut microbiota of field-caught and laboratory-reared populations of S. litura by performing 16S rDNA amplicon pyrosequencing. Field populations for the study were collected from castor crops, whereas laboratory-reared larvae were fed on a regular chickpea based diet. In total, 23 bacterial phylotypes were observed from both laboratory-reared and field-caught caterpillars. Fisher's exact test with Storey's FDR multiple test correction demonstrated that bacterial genus, Clostridium was significantly abundant (p < 0.05) in field-caught larvae of S. litura as compared to that in the laboratory-reared larvae. Similarly, bacterial genera, such as Bradyrhizobium, Burkholderia, and Fibrisoma were identified (p < 0.05) predominantly in the laboratory-reared population. The Bray-Curtis dissimilarity matrix depicted a value of 0.986, which exhibited the maximum deviation between the midgut microbiota of the laboratory-reared and field-caught populations. No significant yeast diversity was seen in the laboratory-reared caterpillars. However, two yeast strains, namely Candida rugosa and Cyberlindnera fabianii were identified by PCR amplification and molecular cloning of the internal transcribed space region in the field-caught caterpillars. These results emphasize the differential colonization of gut residents based on environmental factors and diet.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.29 no.1
• /
• pp.16-22
• /
• 2016

The intestinal environment plays a critical role in maintaining swine health. Many factors such as diet, microbiota, and host intestinal immune response influence the intestinal environment. Intestinal alkaline phosphatase (IAP) is an important apical brush border enzyme that is influenced by these factors. IAP dephosphorylates bacterial lipopolysaccharides (LPS), unmethylated cytosine-guanosine dinucleotides, and flagellin, reducing bacterial toxicity and consequently regulating toll-like receptors (TLRs) activation and inflammation. It also desphosphorylates extracellular nucleotides such as uridine diphosphate and adenosine triphosphate, consequently reducing inflammation, modulating, and preserving the homeostasis of the intestinal microbiota. The apical localization of IAP on the epithelial surface reveals its role on LPS (from luminal bacteria) detoxification. As the expression of IAP is reported to be downregulated in piglets at weaning, LPS from commensal and pathogenic gram-negative bacteria could increase inflammatory processes by TLR-4 activation, increasing diarrhea events during this phase. Although some studies had reported potential IAP roles to promote gut health, investigations about exogenous IAP effects or feed additives modulating IAP expression and activity yet are necessary. However, we discussed in this paper that the critical assessment reported can suggest that exogenous IAP or feed additives that could increase its expression could show beneficial effects to reduce diarrhea events during the post weaning phase. Therefore, the main goals of this review are to discuss IAP's role in intestinal inflammatory processes and present feed additives used as growth promoters that may modulate IAP expression and activity to promote gut health in piglets.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• /
• v.18 no.4
• /
• pp.379-385
• /
• 2015

We studied the effects of the proprietary prebiotic Immunogen$^{(R)}$ on the growth, hematology and gut microbiota of common carp fingerlings. A basal diet was formulated using common feed ingredients and supplemented with Immunogen$^{(R)}$ at concentrations of 0, 5, 10, 20 and $40g\;kg^{-1}$, each of which was tested experimentally on replicated groups of fish. The trials ran for 8 weeks. Common carp fingerlings with an initial weight of $4.82{\pm}0.05g$ were randomly distributed among the experimental tanks at a stocking density of 25 fish per tank. The experimental diets were provided thrice per day; on each occasion the fingerlings were given a weight of feed that amounted to 4% of fish biomass. At the end of the experimental period, we determined the growth performance, feed conversion ratio, hematological parameters, body composition and gut micro-flora parameters of the test fish. Inclusion of $5g\;kg^{-1}$Immunogen$^{(R)}$ in the diet significantly improved growth performance and feed utilization in comparison with controls. However, the whole-body composition of the fish was not significantly influenced by prebiotic inclusion. Inclusion of $5g\;kg^{-1}$ Immunogen$^{(R)}$ significantly increased the total bacterial and Lactobacillus counts in fish intestines, but these bacterial parameters were significantly negatively impacted by higher concentrations of the prebiotic. Red blood cells counts were increased by prebiotic dietary supplementation at concentrations of 5 and $10g\;kg^{-1}$ prebiotic. Glucose and cholesterol levels were elevated by administration of Immunogen$^{(R)}$. Thus, dietary supplementation with $5g\;kg^{-1}$ Immunogen$^{(R)}$ improved fingerling common carp growth performance and feed utilization, and beneficially influenced the gut microflora

• BMB Reports
• /
• v.49 no.5
• /
• pp.263-269
• /
• 2016

The intestine represents the largest and most elaborate immune system organ, in which dynamic and reciprocal interplay among numerous immune and epithelial cells, commensal microbiota, and external antigens contributes to establishing both homeostatic and pathologic conditions. The mechanisms that sustain gut homeostasis are pivotal in maintaining gut health in the harsh environment of the gut lumen. Intestinal epithelial cells are critical players in creating the mucosal platform for interplay between host immune cells and luminal stress inducers. Thus, knowledge of the epithelial interface between immune cells and the luminal environment is a prerequisite for a better understanding of gut homeostasis and pathophysiologies such as inflammation. In this review, we explore the importance of the epithelium in limiting or promoting gut inflammation (e.g., inflammatory bowel disease). We also introduce recent findings on how small RNAs such as microRNAs orchestrate pathophysiologic gene regulation.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.25 no.9
• /
• pp.1555-1558
• /
• 2015

Administration of dietary fibers has various health benefits, mainly by increasing numbers of beneficial bacteria and enhancing production of short-chain fatty acids in the colon. There has been growing interest in the addition of dietary fiber to human diet, due to its prebiotic effects. This study aimed to evaluate the prebiotic activity of inulin using an in vitro batch fermentation system with human fecal microbiota. Fermentation of inulin resulted in a significantly greater ratio of Lactobacillus or Bifidobacteria to Enterobacteria strains as an index of healthy human intestine and elevated butyrate concentration, which are related to improvement of gut health.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
• /
• v.64 no.5
• /
• pp.897-910
• /
• 2022

Bovine fecal microbiota is important for host health and its composition can be affected by various factors, such as diet, age, species, breed, regions, and environments. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of diet and gender on fecal microbiota in Korean native Hanwoo cattle. The 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing of fecal microbiota was conducted from 44 Hanwoo cattle divided into four groups: (1) 11 heifers fed an oat hay plus total mixed ration (TMR) diet for breeding (HOTB), (2) 11 heifers fed an early fattening TMR diet (HEFT), (3) 11 steers fed the early fattening TMR diet (SEFT), and (4) 11 steers fed the late fattening TMR diet (SLFT). Firmicutes and Bacteroidota were the first and second most dominant phyla in all the samples, respectively. The Firmicutes/Bacteroidota (F/B) ratio associated with feed efficiency was significantly greater in the SLFT group than in the other groups. At the genus level, Romboutsia, Paeniclostridium, and Turicibacter were the most abundant in the SLFT while Akkermansia, Bacteroides, and Monoglobus were the most abundant in the HOTB group. Although the same early fattening TMR diet was fed to Hanwoo heifers and steers, Marvinbryantia and Coprococcus were the most abundant in the HEFT group while Alistipes and Ruminococcus were the most abundant in the SEFT group. Shannon and Simpson diversity indices were significantly lower in the SLFT group than in the other groups. Distribution of fecal microbiota and functional genetic profiles were significantly different among the four treatment groups. The present study demonstrates that different diets and genders can affect fecal microbiota and the F/B ratio may be associated with feed efficiency in Hanwoo cattle. Our results may help develop strategies to improve gut health and productivity through manipulation of fecal microbiota using the appropriate diet considering Hanwoo cattle gender.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
• /
• v.22 no.1
• /
• pp.3.1-3.21
• /
• 2022

Cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide and the number of cancer patients is expected to continuously increase in the future. Traditional cancer therapies focus on inhibiting cancer growth while largely ignoring the contribution of the immune system in eliminating cancer cells. Recently, better understanding of immunological mechanisms pertaining to cancer progress has led to development of several immunotherapies, which revolutionized cancer treatment. Nonetheless, only a small proportion of cancer patients respond to immunotherapy and maintain a durable response. Among multiple factors contributing to the variability of immunotherapy response rates, commensal microbiota inhabiting patients have been identified as one of the most critical factors determining the success of immunotherapy. The functional diversity of microbiota differentially affects the host immune system and controls the efficacy of immunotherapy in individual cancer patients. Moreover, clinical studies have demonstrated that changing the gut microbiota composition by fecal microbiota transplantation in patients who failed a previous immunotherapy converts them to responders of the same therapy. Consequently, both academic and industrial researchers are putting extensive efforts to identify and develop specific bacteria or bacteria mixtures for cancer immunotherapy. In this review, we will summarize the immunological roles of commensal microbiota in cancer treatment and give specific examples of bacteria that show anticancer effect when administered as a monotherapy or as an adjuvant agent for immunotherapy. We will also list ongoing clinical trials testing the anticancer effect of commensal bacteria.

• Food Science and Industry
• /
• v.47 no.4
• /
• pp.14-18
• /
• 2014

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
• /
• v.42 no.3
• /
• pp.119-138
• /
• 2021

Objectives: This study aimed to review the clinical research of the gut microbiome for respiratory diseases to assist the design of trials for respiratory diseases by regulating the gut microbiome with herbal medicine later. Methods: We searched three international databases (PubMed, CENTRAL and EMBASE) to investigate randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of the gut microbiome for respiratory diseases. The selected trials were analyzed by study design, subject diseases, inclusion/exclusion criteria, sample size, study period, intervention group, control group, outcome measures, and study results. Results: A total of 25 studies were included and published from 1994 to 2021 mostly in Europe and Asia. Subject diseases were many in the order of respiratory tract infection, cystic fibrosis, allergy, and so on. As outcome measures, the gut microbiome in a fecal sample was analyzed by 16S rRNA sequencing analysis method, and symptom assessment tools related each disease were used. Major intervention drugs were probiotics and the results were mostly improved in the composition and diversity of the gut microbiome. Conclusion: Clinical studies of the gut microbiome for respiratory diseases have confirmed various effects and this review provides basic data for a well-designed clinical study for respiratory diseases by regulating the gut microbiome with herbal medicine.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.28 no.1
• /
• pp.65-76
• /
• 2018

Although there has been a steady increase in the prevalence of food allergies worldwide in recent decades, no effective therapeutic strategies have been developed. Modulation of the gut microbiota composition and/or function through probiotics has been highlighted as a promising target for protection against food allergies. In this study, we aimed to investigate the allergy-reducing effects of a probiotic mixture (P5: Lactococcus lactis KF140, Pediococcus pentosaceus KF159, Lactobacillus pentosus KF340, Lactobacillus paracasei 698, and Bacillus amyloliquefaciens 26N) in mice with ovalbumin (OVA)-induced food allergy. Administration of P5 significantly suppressed the oral OVA challenge-induced anaphylactic response and rectal temperature decline, and reduced diarrhea symptoms. Moreover, P5 also significantly inhibited the secretion of IgE, Th2 cytokines (interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5, IL-10, and IL-13), and Th17 cytokines (IL-17), which were increased in mice with OVA-induced food allergy, and induced generation of CD4+Foxp3+ regulatory T cells. These results revealed that P5 may have applications as a preventive agent against food allergy.