• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• 제64권2호
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• pp.197-217
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• 2022

As the number of households that raise dogs and cats is increasing, there is growing interest in animal health. The gut plays an important role in animal health. In particular, the microbiome in the gut is known to affect both the absorption and metabolism of nutrients and the protective functions of the host. Using probiotics on pets has beneficial effects, such as modulating the immune system, helping to reduce stress, protecting against pathogenic bacteria and developing growth performance. The goals of this review are to summarize the relationship between probiotics/the gut microbiome and animal health, to feature technology used for identifying the diversity of microbiota composition of canine and feline microbiota, and to discuss recent reports on probiotics in canines and felines and the safety issues associated with probiotics and the gut microbiome in companion animals.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• 제56권4호
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• pp.349-360
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• 2023

Purpose: Ketogenic diets (KDs) have anti-obesity effects that may be related to glucose control and the gut microbiota. This paper hypothesizes that KD reduces body weight and changes the insulin sensitivity and gut microbiota composition in a mouse model of diet-induced obesity. Methods: In this study, C57BL/6 male mice were assigned randomly to 3 groups. The assigned diets were provided to the control and high-fat (HF) diet groups for 14 weeks. The KD group was given a HF diet for 8 weeks to induce obesity, followed by feeding the KD for the next 6 weeks. Results: After the treatment period, the KD group exhibited a 35.82% decrease in body weight gain compared to the HF group. In addition, the KD group demonstrated enhanced glucose control, as shown by the lower levels of serum fasting glucose, serum fasting insulin, and the homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance, compared to the HF group. An analysis of the gut microbiota using 16S ribosomal RNA sequencing revealed a significant decrease in the proportion of Firmicutes when the KD was administered. In addition, feeding the KD reduced the overall alpha-diversity measures and caused a notable separation of microbial composition compared to the HF diet group. The KD also led to a decrease in the relative abundance of specific species, such as Acetatifactor_muris, Ligilactobacillus_apodemi, and Muribaculum_intestinale, compared with the HF group. These species were positively correlated with the body weight, whereas the abundant species in the KD group (Kineothrix_alysoides and Saccharofermentans_acetigenes) showed a negative correlation with body weight. Conclusion: The current study presents supporting evidence that KD reduced the body weight and altered the insulin sensitivity and gut microbiota composition in a mouse model of diet-induced obesity.

• Animal Bioscience
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• 제36권11호
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• pp.1727-1737
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• 2023

Objective: The poultry industry is a primary source of animal protein worldwide. The gut microbiota of poultry birds, such as chickens and ducks, is critical in maintaining their health, growth, and productivity. This study aimed to identify longitudinal changes in the gut microbiota of laying hens from birth to the pre-laying stage. Methods: From a total of 80 Hy-Line Brown laying hens, birds were selected based on weight at equal intervals to collect feces (n = 20 per growth) and ileal contents (n = 10 per growth) for each growth stage (days 10, 21, 58, and 101). The V4 regions of the 16S rRNA gene were amplified after extracting DNA from feces and ileal contents. Amplicon sequencing was performed using Illumina, followed by analysis. Results: Microbial diversity increased with growth stages, regardless of sampling sites. Microbial community analysis indicated that Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, and Bacteroidetes were the dominant phyla in the feces and ileal. The abundance of Lactobacillus was highest on day 10, and that of Escherichia-shigella was higher on day 21 than those at the other stages at the genus level (for the feces and ileal contents; p<0.05). Furthermore, Turicibacter was the most abundant genus after changing feed (for the feces and ileal contents; p<0.05). The fecal Ruminococcus torques and ileal Lysinibacillus were negatively correlated with the body weights of chickens (p<0.05). Conclusion: The gut microbiota of laying hens changes during the four growth stages, and interactions between microbiota and feed may be present. Our findings provide valuable data for understanding the gut microbiota of laying hens at various growth stages and future applied studies.

• BMB Reports
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• 제57권5호
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• pp.207-215
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• 2024

The gut microbiota, an intricate community of bacteria residing in the gastrointestinal system, assumes a pivotal role in various physiological processes. Beyond its function in food breakdown and nutrient absorption, gut microbiota exerts a profound influence on immune and metabolic modulation by producing diverse gut microbiota-generated metabolites (GMGMs). These small molecules hold potential to impact host health via multiple pathways, which exhibit remarkable diversity, and have gained increasing attention in recent studies. Here, we elucidate the intricate implications and significant impacts of four specific metabolites, Urolithin A (UA), equol, Trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), and imidazole propionate, in shaping human health. Meanwhile, we also look into the advanced research on GMGMs, which demonstrate promising curative effects and hold great potential for further clinical therapies. Notably, the emergence of positive outcomes from clinical trials involving GMGMs, typified by UA, emphasizes their promising prospects in the pursuit of improved health and longevity. Collectively, the multifaceted impacts of GMGMs present intriguing avenues for future research and therapeutic interventions.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제33권9호
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• pp.1444-1454
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• 2020

Objective: Cold stress induces oxidative damage and impairs energy status of broilers. N-acetylcysteine (NAC) exhibits antioxidant properties and modulates energy metabolism of animals. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of NAC on energy status and antioxidant capacity of heart and liver in the cold-stressed broilers. Methods: The experiment consisted of 4 treatments in a 2×2 factorial arrangement with two diets (basal diet or plus 0.1% NAC) and two ambient temperatures (thermoneutral [conventional ambient temperature] or cold stress [10℃±1℃ during days 15 to 42]). Results: No ascites were seen in cold-stressed broilers. NAC did not attenuate the impaired growth performance of stressed birds. However, NAC decreased plasma asparagine but increased aspartate levels in cold-stressed birds (p<0.05). NAC reduced hepatic adenosine triphosphate (ATP) but elevated adenosine diphosphate contents in unstressed birds (p<0.05). The hepatic ratio of adenosine monophosphate (AMP) to ATP was increased in birds fed NAC (p<0.05). NAC decreased plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) level and cardiac total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) activity in unstressed birds, but increased hepatic activities of T-SOD, catalase and glutathione peroxidase in stressed birds (p<0.05). NAC down-regulated hepatic AMP-activated protein kinase but up-regulated cardiac heme-oxigenase mRNA expression in stressed birds, and decreased expression of hepatic peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor coactivator-1α as well as hypoxia-inducible factor-1α in liver and heart of birds. Conclusion: Dietary NAC did not affect energy status but enhanced the hepatic antioxidant capacity by increasing the activities of antioxidant enzymes in cold-stressed broilers.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제31권10호
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• pp.1409-1419
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• 2021

A growing number of healthy dietary ingredients in fruits and vegetables have been shown to exhibit diverse biological activities. Phloretin, a dihydrochalcone flavonoid that is abundant in apples and pears, has anti-inflammatory effects on ulcerative colitis (UC) mice. The gut microbiota and metabolism are closely related to each other due to the existence of the food-gut axis in the human colon. To investigate the interplay of faecal metabolites and the microbiota in UC mice after phloretin treatment, phloretin (60 mg/kg) was administered by gavage to ameliorate dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced UC in mice. Gut microbes and faecal metabolite profiles were detected by high-throughput sequencing and liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS) analysis, respectively. The correlations between gut microbes and their metabolites were evaluated by Spearman correlation coefficients. The results indicated that phloretin reshaped the disturbed faecal metabolite profile in UC mice and improved the metabolic pathways by balancing the composition of faecal metabolites such as norepinephrine, mesalazine, tyrosine, 5-acetyl-2,4-dimethyloxazole, and 6-acetyl-2,3-dihydro-2-(hydroxymethyl)-4(1H)-pyridinone. Correlation analysis identified the relations between the gut microbes and their metabolites. Proteus was negatively related to many faecal metabolites, such as norepinephrine, L-tyrosine, laccarin, dopamine glucuronide, and 5-acetyl-2,4-dimethyloxazole. The abundance of unidentified Bacteriodales_S24-7_group was positively related to ecgonine, 15-KETE and 6-acetyl-2,3-dihydro-2-(hydroxymethyl)-4(1H)-pyridinone. The abundance of Christensenellaceae_R-7_group was negatively related to the levels of 15-KETE and netilmicin. Stenotrophomonas and 15-KETE were negatively related, while Intestinimonas and alanyl-serine were positively related. In conclusion, phloretin treatment had positive impacts on faecal metabolites in UC mice, and the changes in faecal metabolites were closely related to the gut microbiota.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제32권7호
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• pp.927-937
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• 2022

To confirm the therapeutic effect of the water extract from Ecklonia cava (WEE) against PM_2.5 induced systemic health damage, we evaluated gut health with a focus on the microbiota and metabolites. Systemic damage in mice was induced through PM_2.5 exposure for 12 weeks in a whole-body chamber. After exposure for 12 weeks, body weight and food intake decreased, and WEE at 200 mg/kg body weight (mpk) alleviated these metabolic efficiency changes. In addition, PM_2.5 induced changes in the length of the colon and fecal water content. The administration of the WEE at 200 mpk oral dose effectively reduced changes in the colon caused by PM_2.5 exposure. We also attempted to confirm whether the effect of the WEE is mediated via regulation of the microbiota-gut-brain axis in mice with PM_2.5 induced systemic damage. We examined changes in the fecal microbiota and gut metabolites such as short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and kynurenine metabolites. In the PM_2.5 exposed group, a decrease in the abundance of Lactobacillus (Family: Lactobacillaceae) and an increase in the abundance of Alistipes (Family: Rikenellaceae) were observed, and the administration of the WEE showed a beneficial effect on the gut microbiota. In addition, the WEE effectively increased the levels of SCFAs (acetate, propionate, and butyrate). Furthermore, kynurenic acid (KYNA), which is a critical neuroprotective metabolite in the gut-brain axis, was increased by the administration of the WEE. Our findings suggest that the WEE could be used as a potential therapeutic against PM_2.5 induced health damage by regulating gut function.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• 제64권5호
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• pp.937-949
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• 2022

Health concern of dogs is the most important issue for pet owners. People who have companied the dogs long-term provide the utmost cares for their well-being and healthy life. Recently, it was revealed that the population and types of gut microbiota affect the metabolism and immunity of the host. However, there is little information on the gut microbiome of dogs. Hericium erinaceus (H. erinaceus; HE) is one of the well-known medicinal mushrooms and has multiple bioactive components including polyphenol, β-glucan, polysaccharides, ergothioneine, hericerin, erinacines, etc. Here we tested a pet food that contained H. erinaceus for improvement in the gut microbiota environment of aged dogs. A total of 18 dogs, each 11 years old, were utilized. For sixteen weeks, the dogs were fed with 0.4 g of H. erinaceus (HE-L), or 0.8 g (HE-H), or without H. erinaceus (CON) per body weight (kg) with daily diets (n = 6 per group). Taxonomic analysis was performed using metagenomics to investigate the difference in the gut microbiome. Resulting from principal coordinates analysis (PCoA) to confirm the distance difference between the groups, there was a significant difference between HE-H and CON due to weighted Unique fraction metric (Unifrac) distance (p = 0.047), but HE-L did not have a statistical difference compared to that of CON. Additionally, the result of Linear discriminate analysis of effect size (LEfSe) showed that phylum Bacteroidetes in HE-H and its order Bacteroidales increased, compared to that of CON, Additionally, phylum Firmicutes in HE-H, and its genera (Streptococcus, Tyzzerella) were reduced. Furthermore, at the family level, Campylobacteraceae and its genus Campylobacter in HE-H was decreased compared to that of CON. Summarily, our data demonstrated that the intake of H. erinaceus can regulate the gut microbial community in aged dogs, and an adequate supply of HE on pet diets would possibly improve immunity and anti-obesity on gut-microbiota in dogs.

• 생태와환경
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• 제55권4호
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• pp.368-375
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• 2022

보구치는 어류와 요각류가 공통 먹이원으로 분석되었다. 광양만에서 채집한 보구치가 가장 많이 먹은 먹이원은 단각류로 ASV 빈도가 62.5%로 나타났으며 여수 어시장에서 구입한 보구치는 어류의 ASV 빈도가 16.6%로 가장 많았다. 광양만에서 채집한 참조기의 우점 먹이원은 십각류로 ASV 빈도가가 99.9%로 나타났으며 어시장의 참조기는 어류의 ASV 빈도가 51.2%로 조사되었다. 광양만과 어시장의 자주새우 우점 먹이원은 각각 요각류로 92.6%와 100%로 조사되었다. 광양만에서 채집한 꼴뚜기는 요각류(91.4%)를 가장 많이 먹었으나 어시장에서 구입한 갑오징어는 어류(96.6%)를 가장 많이 섭식하였다. 계층적 군집 분석 결과, 꼴뚜기 및 채집한 자주새우와 구입한 자주새우는 먹이원이 유사하였으며 보구치와 참조기, 갑오징어와는 차이가 있는 것으로 조사되었다. 네트워크 분석 결과, 요각류는 참조기를 제외한 모든 수서 생물과 연결되어 있어 가장 중요한 먹이원인 것으로 조사되었다. 먹이원 폭 분석 결과 광양만에서 채집한 참조기의 먹이원 폭 값은 0.001로 낮았으나 어시장에서 구입한 참조기의 먹이원 폭 값은 0.886으로 먹이원 다양성이 가장 높았다. 영양단계 분석 결과, 어류를 주로 섭식했던 갑오징어가 3.98로 가장 높았으며, 광양만에서 채집한 보구치가 2.0으로 영양단계가 가장 낮은 것으로 조사되었다. 이를 통해 위 내용물의 DNA 메타바코딩을 활용한 먹이원 분석 연구는 육안을 통한 먹이원 분석 사이에서 상호보완하여 섭식생태 연구에 활용할 수 있을 것이다.

• 공연문화연구
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• 제34호
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• pp.215-240
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• 2017

이글에서는 강신무굿인 서울굿과 황해도굿, 세습무굿인 경기도당굿과 남해안별신굿의 장단 활용 양상을 살핀 후 이를 바탕으로 무당굿 장단 활용의 보편성을 살폈다. 동해안굿이나 호남굿의 장단 활용 양상까지 살펴야 마땅하자 그렇지 못한 것은 이글의 한계이다. 다만 보편성을 살피면서 동해안굿의 사례 몇 가지를 언급은 했으나 동해안굿 장단 활용 양상도 살펴야 이 글의 논지가 더 충실해질 것으로 기대한다. 이를 통해 지역별로 연행 집단, 연행 양상 등이 달라 보이지만, 실상 보편적인 원리는 같을 수도 있다는 것을 제시하려 했다. 각 지역별 굿에 사용하는 장단은 분명한 나름의 체계를 가진다. 연행자와 연행방식에 따라 사용하는 장단이 다르다. 그런데 이렇게 사용하는 장단의 체계는, 장단의 명칭이나 구성 등에서는 독자성이 보이지만, 다른 지역의 굿과 비교하면 공통점이 많다. 여기서는 이를 일러 보편성이라고 했다. 이는 한국의 굿거리 짜임이나 연행방식, 장단의 활용 등에서는 상당한 차이가 있지만, 장단 체계만큼은 동일하다는 의미이다. 다음으로 연행자에 따라 장단의 활용양상이 다른 것도 지역적인 보편성이다. 서울굿에서는 장구재비가 앉은 굿을 하면서 직접 무가를 부르는 경우와, 무당이 선굿을 하는 경우에 따라 장단의 활용이 다르다. 연행자에 따른 장단의 활용이 뚜렷하게 구분되는 것은 경기도당굿이 대표적이다. 미지와 산이가 연행하는가에 따라 장단이 달라진다. 아울러 장단의 활용을 통해 굿거리 연행의 의미를 전달하는 것도 공통된다. 청신과 오신의 의미를 장단을 통해 나타내는 것은 모든 지역굿에서 확인된다. 그리고 이는 몇몇 장단이 신령의 위상과 긴밀한 관련을 가지고 있음을 나타내는 데 보다 분명하게 드러난다. 서울굿에서는 상산장단과 별상장단이라는 이름처럼, 신령의 이름이 곧장 장단명으로 사용되기도 하고 모든 지역의 굿에서 수비를 물리는 의미를 장단의 활용을 통해 드러낸다. 지역별로 굿의 연행 양상은 다르지만, 굿판의 주체인 신령을 인식하고 있다는 의미이다. 비록 세습무들의 굿이 강신무의 굿보다는 신령에 대한 인식이 드러나지 않고, 신력(神力)을 드러내는 다양한 연행 요소는 없지만 신령에 대한 인식이 있음이 장단 활용을 통해 나타내는 것이다.