Clinical uses of probiotics for stabilizing the gut mucosal barrier: successful strains and future challenges

Probiotic bacteria are used to treat disturbed intestinal microflora and increased gut permeability which are characteristic to many intestinal disorders. Examples include children with acute rotavirus diarrhoea, subjects with food allergy, subjects with colonic disorders and patients undergoing pelvic radiotherapy and sometimes changes associated with colon cancer development. In all such disease states altered intestinal microflora, impaired gut barrier and different types of intestinal inflammation are present. Successful probiotic bacteria are able to survive gastric conditions and colonize the intestine, at least temporarily, by adhering to the intestinal epithelium. Such probiotic microorganisms appear to be promising candidates for the treatment of clinical conditions with abnormal gut microflora and altered gut mucosal barrier functions. They are also promising ingredients to future functional foods and clinical foods for specific disease states provided that basic requirements for strains and clinical studies are carefully followed.     

健康儿童与轮状病毒感染儿童肠道菌群结构的比较研究

目的比较分析轮状病毒感染个体与健康个体肠道菌群结构的差异。方法采集11例轮状病毒感染个体及6例健康个体的粪便样品,提取粪便样品中细菌的混合DNA,先通过ERIC-PCR结合分子杂交的技术分析两组个体之间肠道微生物组成的相似性;再扩增粪便样品中菌群的16SrRNA基因,利用PCR—TGGE技术分析肠道菌群的组成情况。结果轮状病毒感染个体与健康个体相比,肠道菌群中GC含量较低的菌明显减少,同时肠道菌群有宿主专一性。结论轮状病毒感染会导致儿童肠道内菌群结构失调。     

Intestinal microbiocenosis at the critical periods of child development

The bacteriological study of fecal specimens obtained from 595 children at different critical periods of the development of their immune system was carried out. The comparison of intestinal microflora in children at the critical periods of the development of their immune system revealed that in children under 1 year considerable changes in the microflora composition were observed during the first 6 months of life. These changes, most pronounced in children aged 1 month and 3-6 months, were characterized by decreased level of indigenous microflora and an increase in the qualitative and quantitative content of aerobic microflora with the representatives of the family Enterobacteriaceae playing the dominating role. In boys such disturbances were manifested to a greater extent than in girls.     

Bacteriological pattern of acute purulent balanoposthitis in children

The microflora of the prepucial sac in 94 children (aged 2 months to 15 years) with acute purulent balanoposthitis (APB) was studied. In the overwhelming majority of cases APB in children was caused by facultative anaerobic and aerobic bacteria (96.7%); of these, Gram positive bacteria occurred most frequently (85.7% of cases). In 51.6% of children these bacteria were represented by staphylococci, constituting 60.3% of all Gram positive flora. Gram negative bacteria were isolated in 40.6% of cases, Escherichia coli taking the first place among them. The isolated microflora was highly resistant to frequently used wide spectrum antibiotics.     

抗生素所致腹泻大鼠肠屏障功能损伤及乳酸杆菌保护机制的研究

目的探讨抗生素对所致腹泻大鼠肠道屏障功能、肠道菌群结构和肠道细菌移位的影响及乳酸杆菌制剂的保护机制。方法采用细菌培养法动态测定抗生素所致腹泻大鼠肠道菌群变化及肠系膜淋巴结、肝脏、脾脏和结肠组织的移位细菌量;应用光镜和电子显微镜观察肠黏膜组织超微结构变化。结果应用抗生素可致大鼠腹泻,肠道菌群失调,肠黏膜组织受损,发生肠道细菌移位。大肠埃希菌攻击可加重肠道菌群失调和肠黏膜损伤程度,促发细菌移位发生。乳酸杆菌可扶正肠菌群结构,修复损伤的肠黏膜,抑制肠细菌移位发生。结论阐明了抗生素、肠黏膜屏障功能、肠道菌群结构和肠道细菌移位间的互为因果,相互影响的关系。微生态制剂在维持机体微生态平衡、修复肠黏膜方面具有保护作用。     

Microbiological aspects of enteric dysbacteriosis in patients of different age groups, visiting outpatient clinics of Moscow

The analysis of the intestinal microflora in 2,378 patients of different age revealed changes in the state of enteric microflora in all examined patients. In the maximum percent of cases a decrease in the amount of bifidobacteria was observed in children of up to 1 month old and in the amount of lactobacilli, in children aged 6 - 14 years. In patients of all age groups the representatives of such facultative microflora as Staphylococcus aureus or fungi of the genus Candida dominated. The highest proportion of isolated staphylococci was characteristic of children in the first year of life. In the highest percent of cases a decrease in the amount of Escherichia coli with typical properties was observed in persons over 65 years old. Other enterobacteria were most often isolated from adults aged 56 - 65, but the percentage of their isolation was 1.5 times lower than that of Candida. The conclusion was made that the treatment of patients with quantitative and qualitative disturbances of normal enteric microflora needed individual approach in each concrete case with due regard to the patient's age.     

Age-dependent characteristics of intestinal microbiocenosis in Kemerovo residents

In 873 residents of Kemerovo aged 1-60 years and older the microflora of the large intestine was studied. The study revealed that in all examined subjects dysbiotic changes in the composition of normal microflora were observed. More profound disturbances of microbiocenosis were found in children aged 1-2 years, in adolescents and in adults over 60 years of age.     

基于16S rRNA基因高通量测序的 太原地区健康成年人肠道菌群结构分析

目的探讨太原地区健康成年人的肠道菌群结构及多样性。方法采集太原地区20份健康成年人的粪便样本,提取DNA、构建菌群16S rRNA基因克隆文库、高通量测序并进行生物信息学分析。结果测序获得优质序列1 383 680条,平均序列为69 184条±551条,归类于455个OTUs;所有样本共含有10个菌门,101个菌属,141种菌;其中核心菌门3个,依次为拟杆菌门(63.13%)、厚壁菌门(31.14%)和变形菌门(5.10%),占所有样本微生物总量的99.37%;丰度最高的前10个菌属依次为拟杆菌属(43.34%)、普氏菌属(15.51%)、栖粪杆菌属(4.92%)、罗氏菌属(4.73%)、毛螺菌属(3.27%)、萨特菌属(2.50%)、粪球菌属(2.38%)、布劳特菌属(2.31%)、瘤胃球菌属(2.18%)和副杆状菌属(1.61%),占样本微生物总量的82.75%,未分类的菌属占6.84%。结论健康成年人肠道微生物群落复杂,但主要菌群相对稳定,为进一步研究人体肠道菌群结构与功能提供了参考依据。     

Influence of a single γ-irradiation on rat microflora

Changes in leukocyte counts and in the gut microflora of laboratory rats irradiated with a single whole-body dose of γ rays (5.0 Gy) were determined. The number of leukocytes was lower especially 1 and 2 weeks after irradiation. A significant decrease in lymphocytes was observed 1 week and in monocytes 1 and 2 weeks after irradiation. In parallel with these changes, an increase in common microflora was observed; some microorganisms, which normally are not present in duodenum, liver and mouth cavity, were detected in these organs.     

模拟失重对大鼠肠道菌群影响的研究

目的：研究模拟失重条件下大鼠肠道菌群变化情况。方法：选择性培养基分别对肠球菌、肠杆菌、类杆菌、乳杆菌以及双歧杆菌进行定量测定,扫描电镜观察大鼠盲肠上皮细胞的组织变化。结果：过路菌群中肠杆菌和肠球菌数量增加显著;原籍菌群中双歧杆菌减少十分明显,乳杆菌的数量也有不同程度的减少,而类杆菌的数量有增加的趋势。SD大鼠盲肠出现了肿胀细胞,上皮细胞颈毛排列紊乱、稀疏。结论：模拟失重条件下大鼠肠道微生态出现平衡失调。     

Gut microflora is a key player in host energy homeostasis

Gut microflora is now considered as a key organ involved in host energy homeostasis. Recent data suggest that the alterations of the gut bacteria ecosystem could contribute to the development of metabolic disorders such as type 2 diabetes and obesity. First, gut microflora may increase energy efficiency of non digested food via the fermentation, thus providing more energy to the host. Secondly, fatty acids flux and storage in the adipose tissue is under the control of the fasting-induced adipocyte factor FIAF, which expression depends on gut microflora. Third, high-fat diet feeding changes gut bacteria profile, leading to a drop in bifidobacteria content, which correlates with a higher LPS plasma levels, thereby participating to the onset of inflammation, insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes associated with obesity. Changing gut microflora composition could be a useful tool to prevent or to treat high-fat/low fibres diet-induced metabolic syndrome. double dagger.     

Characterization of the gut bacterial community of the Japanese sea cucumber <Emphasis Type="Italic">Apostichopus japonicus</Emphasis>

Comparative analysis of the composition and abundance of the gut bacterial community of the Japanese sea cucumber (trepang) Apostichopus japonicus and the sediment from its habitat was carried out. In spite of the presence of strictly aerobic bacteria in the sediments, gut microbiota of this holothurian was shown to be formed by facultative anaerobes from the environment. Irrespective of the geographical location of the habitat, the sea cucumber gut community had a constant composition, considered its normal microflora. Capacity of bacteria isolated from the Japanese sea cucumber for decomposition of starch, sodium alginate, chitin, chondroitin sulfate, Tweens, olive oil, casein, and gelatin was studied. Various degrees of enzymatic activity were shown for 33% of the studied bacterial strains, which indicates a considerable role of the trepang gut microflora in processing and assimilation of organic matter arriving with food.     

Intestinal microflora in children from Mongolia, Russia, and Switzerland

Intestinal microflora was studied in 3 groups of children; 55--living in Mongolia, 18--in Switzerland and 28--in Russia. Age of children of both sexual groups was 1.5-3 years. This study revealed that in none of these groups of clinically healthy children living in different regions and having different diet normal intestinal microflora corresponded to the standard considered to be the norm. The revision of norm criteria for normal intestinal microflora in children is recommended.     

Influence of the gut microflora on protein synthesis in tissues and in the whole body of chicks.

1. The influence of the gut microflora on protein synthesis in individual tissues and in the whole body of young chicks was investigated by the large-dose injection of [3H]phenylalanine. 2. Growth of germ-free chicks was significantly better than that of conventional controls. Wet weights of liver, spleen, duodenum, jejunum + ileum and caeca were heavier in conventional birds than in germ-free counterparts. 3. Fractional rates of protein synthesis were higher in jejunum + ileum and whole body of conventional birds than in those of germ-free birds. Amounts of protein synthesized were larger in liver, jejunum + ileum and caeca in the presence of the gut microflora. 4. When tissues were classified into gut + liver and the remainder of the carcass, in the presence of the gut microflora an enhanced protein synthesis in fractional and absolute rate was found in the gut + liver, which is in direct contact or in close association with micro-organisms, whereas virtually no effect of the gut micro-organisms was detected in the remainder of the carcass. 5. The contribution of protein synthesis of gut + liver to that of the whole body was larger in conventional chicks than in germ-free birds, whereas the reverse was true for the remainder of the carcass.     

斑头雁成鸟与雏鸟泄殖腔微生物的对比分析

肠道微生物通过维持稳态、辅助消化和促进免疫系统发育等方式维护宿主的健康状态。肠道微生物本身则受到宿主的基因、饮食、年龄和环境等因素的影响。然而,肠道微生物的变化与宿主年龄之间的关系仍有许多未知。本研究分别收集斑头雁(Anser indicus)2只成鸟及3只雏鸟泄殖腔样品,提取肠道微生物总DNA,采用16S rRNA高通量测序的方法,分析并比较两年龄阶段鸟类肠道微生物的菌群结构及组成差异。研究发现,斑头雁雏鸟泄殖腔微生物属于9个门,含量最高的前5个门分别是梭杆菌门(48.29%)、厚壁菌门(22.21%)、变形杆菌门(22.07%)、放线菌门(5.02%)和软壁菌门(1.93%)。成鸟泄殖腔微生物属于17个门,最多的依次是变形菌门(64.69%)、厚壁菌门(23.92%)、蓝细菌(8.48%)、放线菌门(1.43%)和梭杆菌门(0.56%)。在属的水平,斑头雁雏鸟泄殖腔微生物属于18个属,而成鸟含有24个属。成鸟泄殖腔微生物的α多样性显著高于雏鸟(P0.05,Welch′s t-test)。有186个操作分类单元(OTU)属于成鸟和雏鸟共有,而其他640个OTU和90个OTU则分别隶属于成鸟和雏鸟。雏鸟中67.39%的OTUs是成鸟所具有的。基于OTU的聚类结果与年龄分组一致。本结果对认识鸟类肠道微生物与宿主年龄变化之间的关系有一定的参考价值。     

Is urinary indolyl-3-acryloylglycine a biomarker for autism with gastrointestinal symptoms?

An autism spectrum disorder (ASD) diagnosis is based on clinical behaviours as there are no validated biological diagnostic tools. Indolyl-3-acryloylglycine (IAG) is a chemical produced by gut microflora and there are conflicting reports as to whether urinary levels are elevated in children with ASD compared with controls. Urinary IAG levels in morning urine samples were statistically significantly higher in children with ASD whose caregivers reported the presence of chronic gastrointestinal (GI) disturbance than children with ASD without chronic GI disturbance. Urinary IAG, however, was not statistically significantly higher in children with ASD, compared with siblings or unrelated controls without ASD.     

Dysbacteriosis in patients with colon polyposis

The study revealed the most profound changes in the composition of intestinal microflora in patients with polyposis of the large intestine. In these patients anaerobic microflora (bifidobacteria, lactic acid bacteria) was more often suppressed than in other examined groups, in particular, patients with cholelithic disease. The associations of hemolytic Escherichia with Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Citrobacter freundii were often observed as well as the increased content of enterococci and fungi of the genus Candida. The determination of frequency and degree of manifestations showed that dysbacteriosis was registered in the absolute majority of patients (97.4%) with polyposis of the large intestine. Among patients with cholelithic disease disturbances in microbiocenosis were detected in 60.0% of cases, the profundity and character of the microflora composition changes being less pronounced.     

Microbiocenosis of the large intestine in acute complicated pneumonia in children

Fifty-six children of early age with pneumonia developed on the background of frequent respiratory infections were placed under observation. In 91.1% of these cases microecological disturbances in the intestine were detected, 46.6% of the patients having third-degree dysbacteriolysis. In such cases it is more correct to regard the "intestinal" syndrome as the clinical manifestation of disturbances in the biocenosis of the intestine, the state of its microflora. Intestinal dysbacteriosis aggravates the course of acute aggravated pneumonia in children and requires the inclusion of special therapy aimed at normalizing intestinal microflora.