急性呼吸窘迫综合征新生儿肠道菌群特征及其对免疫功能的影响

目的 研究急性呼吸窘迫综合征(ARDS)新生儿肠道菌群特征及其对免疫功能的影响。方法 采用前瞻性研究方法,以我院2017年1月至2021年1月诊断的新生儿急性呼吸窘迫综合征患儿120例作为研究对象,其中轻度患儿39例,中度患儿45例,重度患儿36例,另选取同期出生的健康新生儿120例作为对照组,收集患儿的粪便样本并保存于厌氧菌稀释液,使用MRS琼脂培养基、KF琼脂培养基、马丁培养基检测肠道双歧杆菌、肠球菌、乳杆菌以及真杆菌的数量,比较各类患儿肠道菌群、免疫指标的差异。结果 观察组患儿肠道双歧杆菌(t=16.217,P<0.001)、肠球菌(t=10.677,P<0.001)、乳杆菌(t=8.326,P<0.001)以及真杆菌(t=12.455,P<0.001)数量显著低于对照组。轻度组、中度组以及重度组患儿肠道双歧杆菌(F=13.069,P<0.001)、肠球菌(F=10.269,P<0.001)、乳杆菌(F=12.036,P<0.001)以及真杆菌(F=10.698,P<0.001)数量之间的差异有统计学意义。患儿出生后第10天肠道乳杆...     

肠道菌群与孤独症谱系障碍儿童功能性便秘的关系

目的 探讨孤独症谱系障碍（autism spectrum disorder,ASD）儿童肠道菌群组成与功能性便秘之间的关系,为该类患者的治疗提供参考。方法 选择101例2～7岁ASD儿童和82例年龄、性别相匹配健康儿童为研究对象,采用罗马Ⅳ标准评估便秘,将所有儿童分为ASD便秘组（ASD constipated,AD-C）、ASD非便秘组（ASD non-constipated,AD-NC）、正常便秘组（neurotypical constipated,NT-C）、正常非便秘组（neurotypical non-constipated,NT-NC）。对所有粪便样本中细菌16S rRNA基因V3-V4高变区进行测序,检测肠道菌群。结果 与NT组相比,AD组儿童肠道菌群α多样性指数（Chao1）显著升高（t=2.258,P=0.006）,组间β多样性差异有统计学意义（R=0.210,P<0.001）。AD组儿童肠道优势菌群为双歧杆菌属、柯林斯菌属、脱硫弧菌属等。与NT-NC组相比,AD-NC组患儿肠道菌群Chao1指数显著升高（t=2.170,P=0.021）,组间β多样性差异有统计...     

肠道菌群代谢产物短链脂肪酸在慢性肾脏病中的研究进展

近年来研究发现肾脏与肠道微生态间存在密切的联系,称为"肠-肾轴"。慢性肾脏病患者(CKD)由于各种因素往往导致肠道生态失调,表现为肠道菌群种类的相对丰度、组成及其代谢产物发生改变。肠道菌群代谢产物短链脂肪酸(SCFAs)是联系宿主和肠道菌群的重要中介物质,具有生物学效应。研究发现SCFAs主要通过与G蛋白偶联受体结合,抑制组蛋白去乙酰化酶调节RAS系统、炎症反应和细胞自噬等,起到延缓肾脏炎症和纤维化的作用。基于SCFAs与肾脏之间的紧密联系,SCFAs可能成为慢性肾脏病治疗的新靶点。外源性补充SCFAs能延缓CKD发生和发展的作用逐渐受到认可。因此,进一步研究SCFAs在肾脏方面的具体作用机制尤为重要。     

灌喂植物乳杆菌和干酪乳杆菌增加仔猪肠道菌群多样性及短链脂肪酸生成

【目的】研究断奶前给仔猪饲喂植物乳杆菌和干酪乳杆菌对断奶前、后肠道菌群组成、数量和短链脂肪酸(SCFA)浓度的影响,分析仔猪生长性能与肠道形态、微生物菌群及SCFAs的相关性,探讨测试菌株缓解仔猪断奶应激的可能机制。【方法】选取15窝7 d龄杜长大仔猪,随机分为3组,分别灌喂2 mL去离子水(对照组)、0.5×10~9 CFU/mL植物乳杆菌(LP组)或干酪乳杆菌(LC组)的菌液,每组以窝为单位5个重复,于21 d(断奶)、24 d和35 d屠宰,采集回肠和结肠食糜,分析菌群组成和数量的变化,测定SCFAs浓度。【结果】测试菌株均能显著提高断奶2周后回肠、结肠菌群多样性(P0.05),促进乳酸杆菌和双歧杆菌增殖;显著促进断奶前回肠和结肠中乙酸、丙酸、丁酸和总SCFA生成,促进断奶后乙酸和总SCFA产生;相关分析显示,测试菌株组仔猪腹泻率下降与SCFAs浓度上升、回肠绒毛高度增加和总菌数量上升显著相关,日增重提高与结肠乙酸和TSCFA浓度增加显著相关。【结论】测试菌株促进乳酸杆菌、双歧杆菌等有益菌增殖,增加肠道菌群多样性,促进肠道SCFAs生成。     

益生菌及人体肠道菌群对低聚甘露糖的降解

目的研究益生菌及肠道菌群对低聚甘露糖的降解情况。方法(1)将5名志愿者粪便样品,13株纯菌以及7种微生态制剂接种到VI-MO液体培养基中,37℃厌氧培养24或72h,取样并采用TLC(薄层层析)检测降解情况;(2)选取7种微生态制剂中降解能力较强的乐塞益生菌胶囊(LS)中的益生菌作为筛选源,采用VI-MO固体培养基分离纯化低聚甘露糖的单一降解菌;(3)将B.uniformis L8和L.plantarum LS1A同时接种到VI-MO液体培养基中,37℃厌氧培养72h,取样并采用TLC检测降解情况。结果 (1)不同人体肠道菌群和微生态制剂对低聚甘露糖的利用情况存在较大差异,B.uniformis L8和B.xylanisolvens C5可利用大聚合度低聚甘露糖;(2)从微生态制剂中分离得到的L.plantarum LS1A可利用小聚合度低聚甘露糖;(3)B.uniformis L8利用MO产生的小寡糖能被L.plantarum LS1A利用。结论低聚甘露糖被拟杆菌降解释放出的小聚合度寡糖可以被乳酸菌利用,作为益生元很有可能改善肠道菌群的结构。     

大豆多糖对双歧杆菌及人肠道菌群生长的影响

目的研究大豆多糖对双歧杆菌及肠道菌群生长的影响。方法替换Bs培养基中的碳源,分为不加糖、加葡萄糖2％、加大豆多糖2％、加大豆多糖5％、加低聚果糖2％五组,加3种双歧杆菌（长双歧、青春双歧、两歧双歧）菌液1％,测其24h后的活菌数,比较大豆多糖对双歧杆菌生长的影响;替换Bs培养基中的碳源,分为不加糖、加葡萄糖2％、加大豆多糖2％,加低聚果糖2％四组,加人体粪便菌液1％,模拟人体肠道环境厌氧培养24h后,用选择性培养基测其肠杆菌、肠球菌、双歧杆菌、乳酸杆菌的活菌数,观察大豆多糖对人体肠道菌群的影响。结果大豆多糖添加量为5％时对长双歧的促进作用明显优于不加糖组（P〈0．05）;大豆多糖对人体肠道各菌群的生长促进作用与低聚果糖差异无显著性（P〉0．05）。结论大豆多糖对长双歧杆菌的体外促进作用较明显;以粪菌群发酵糖试验表明,大豆多糖对乳杆菌和双歧杆菌均有促进作用,和低聚果糖作用效果相比差异无显著性（P〉0．05）,具有益生元的特性。     

基于16S rDNA高通量测序技术对克罗恩病患儿肠道菌群变化的研究

目的研究克罗恩病(Crohn′s disease, CD)儿童和正常人群肠道菌群的分布,寻找与CD发生发展显著相关的菌属结构。方法纳入CD患儿36例和健康儿童21例,CD患儿分为活动期22例、缓解期14例,采用16S rDNA高通量测序技术,分析各组肠道菌群的生物多样性与结构组成。结果 CD组患儿(活动期与缓解期)肠道菌群丰富度指数、香浓多样性指数较健康儿童组有明显下降,差异有统计学意义(F=8.829 0,P=0.001 0,P=0.004 5;F=8.890 0,P=0.000 3,P=0.035 6)。在门类水平,所有CD患儿肠道菌群的放线菌门数量减少,变形菌门数量增多。在菌属水平,与健康儿童组相比,所有CD组患儿Faecalibacterium相对丰度显著减低,Klebsiella(克雷伯菌属)、Enterococcus(肠球菌属)相对丰度显著升高。活动期CD组Blautia(布劳特菌属)、Bifidobacterium(双歧杆菌属)、Subdoligranulum、Lachnospira(毛螺旋菌属)、Anaerostipes(丁酸弧菌属)、Eubacterium_rectale_group(直肠杆菌属)的相对丰度明显下降。结论 CD患儿肠道菌群结构及相对丰度较健康儿童存在显著差异。肠道菌群结构的异常与儿童CD的发生发展存在相关性。     

低聚果糖对溃疡性结肠炎模型小鼠肠黏膜屏障影响的研究

目的探讨低聚果糖对溃疡性结肠炎(UC)模型小鼠肠黏膜屏障的调节作用及可能机制。方法小鼠随机分成3组:正常对照(NC)组、模型(MD)组和低聚果糖(FOS)组,采用葡聚糖硫酸钠制作UC小鼠模型。造模7d同时给予干预治疗,停用造模药物并后续治疗7d。采用细菌定量测定法检测肠道菌群,放射免疫法检测肠黏膜sIgA,ELISA法检测小鼠肠黏膜IL-10、TNF-α和IL-6水平。结果模型组小鼠存在肠道菌群失调(t=2.088,2.036,2.203,2.109,P0.05),其TNF-α、IL-6水平高于正常对照组(t=1.734,1.801,P0.05),肠黏膜sIgA、IL-10低于正常对照组(t=1.820,1.806,P0.05);低聚果糖组肠道菌群失调状况较模型组有所改善,其TNF-α、IL-6水平低于正常对照组(t=1.980,1.816,1.936,1.920,1.969,1.893,P0.05),肠黏膜sIgA、IL-10高于正常对照组(t=1.801,1.796,P0.05)。结论低聚果糖可改善溃疡性结肠炎模型小鼠肠道菌群屏障功能,可以提高肠黏膜sIgA和抗炎细胞因子IL-10的水平并降低致炎细胞因子TNF-α和IL-6的水平,通过调节肠道过度的免疫反应,使免疫屏障功能得到一定恢复。     

运动通过调节SCFAs延缓衰老及其作用机制的研究进展

短链脂肪酸(SCFAs)作为肠道菌群的代谢产物,其水平失衡与衰老以及增龄相关疾病的发生发展关系密切。本文通过归纳、总结近年运动与老年人产SCFAs菌群相关的研究,系统论述运动对SCFAs的影响,以及SCFAs介导运动延缓衰老可能的作用机制。结果显示：运动能优化老年人肠道菌群组成,使产SCFAs菌群占比增加,促进SCFAs产生;运动调控SCFAs延缓衰老的分子机制可能涉及炎症反应、糖脂代谢及细胞自噬等多个方面。(1)炎症状态缓解：SCFAs激活GPR41/GPR43或HDAC抑制NF-κB通路,降低炎症因子水平,缓解炎性衰老。(2)改善糖脂代谢：SCFAs一方面通过GPR41/GPR43受体促进PYY、GLP-1和瘦素释放,加速血糖被骨骼肌或脂肪组织摄取利用;另一方面介导AMPK通路抑制肝脏糖异生,同时通过AMPK通路上调脂肪组织UCP-1/UCP-2等产热蛋白或ATGL等脂解蛋白表达,促进脂肪氧化与分解。(3)影响细胞自噬：SCFAs可经由AMPK/mTOR或PI3K/Akt/mTOR通路调控细胞自噬,改善衰老相关疾病病程。本文以SCFAs为切入点,对运动调控SCFAs表达进而延缓衰老...     

阿莫西林克拉维酸钾或头孢他啶联合布地奈德对肺炎患儿的疗效

目的探讨阿莫西林克拉维酸钾或头孢他啶联合布地奈德对肺炎患儿的治疗效果及对肠道微生物的影响。方法选择2016年9月至2018年12月我院儿科收治的90例肺炎患儿为研究对象,入选患儿随机分为对照组(n=45)和研究组(n=45)。另外选取本院同期健康体检的40例儿童为健康组。对照组患儿接受头孢他啶联合布地奈德疗法,研究组患儿采用阿莫西林克拉维酸钾联合布地奈德疗法。连续治疗7 d后,比较两组患儿临床疗效、临床症状(发热、咳嗽、啰音及扁桃体充血)消失时间及不良反应,同时比较各组患儿肠道微生物(乳杆菌、双歧杆菌、真杆菌、肠杆菌及肠球菌)变化情况。结果研究组患儿总有效率为95.56%,对照组总有效率为91.11%,两组比较差异无统计学意义(χ~2=0.714,P=0.398)。研究组患儿发热、咳嗽、啰音及扁桃体充血消失时间与对照组比较差异无统计学意义(均P0.05)。治疗前,研究组和对照组患儿肠道菌群数量与健康组比较差异无统计学意义(均P0.05)。治疗后,研究组和对照组患儿肠道菌群数量与健康组比较差异有统计学意义(均P0.05)。治疗后,研究组和对照组患儿肠道乳杆菌、双歧杆菌、真杆菌及肠球菌水平较治疗前显著下降,肠杆菌数量明显上升,差异均有统计学意义(均P0.05)。治疗后,研究组和对照组患儿肠道菌群数量比较差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。研究组(8.89%)和对照组(13.33%)总不良反应率比较差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。结论阿莫西林克拉维酸钾联合布地奈德治疗小儿肺炎疗效显著,能有效缩短患儿临床症状持续时间,其疗效与头孢他啶联合布地奈德疗效相当,且药物副作用较小,但对肠道菌群平衡有破坏作用。因此,扶植肠道菌群可以作为综合治疗的一部分。     

体外法探究猪空肠和回肠黏膜微生物对低聚半乳糖和低聚甘露糖的发酵特性

【背景】小肠黏膜微生物是肠道菌群的重要组成部分,大量研究表明日粮添加低聚半乳糖（galacto-oligosaccharides,GOS）和低聚甘露糖（manno-oligosaccharides,MOS）能够调控猪的大肠菌群结构,但关于其调控小肠黏膜微生物的研究较少。【目的】通过体外发酵法探究猪空肠黏膜和回肠黏膜微生物发酵GOS和MOS的规律。【方法】以生长猪的空肠黏膜微生物和回肠黏膜微生物作为接种物,以GOS和MOS作为底物进行厌氧发酵,在发酵0、6、12、24 h时采样测定总菌数量、pH、氨态氮（ammonia nitrogen,NH₃-N）、菌体蛋白（microbial crude protein,MCP）和有机酸,在24 h收集微生物提取DNA进行细菌定量分析。【结果】在24 h时,回肠黏膜组的NH₃-N浓度显著低于空肠黏膜组,而MCP浓度显著高于空肠黏膜组（P<0.05）。在发酵的前6 h各组pH无明显变化,有机酸积累较少。在12 h时,MOS组的乳酸、乙酸、丁酸和总短链脂肪酸产量显著高于GOS组（P<0.05）,此时只有回肠黏膜组有少量丙酸产生。在24 h时,MOS回肠黏膜组乳酸产量最高而pH值最低（P<0.05）。相较于MOS组,GOS组显著提高了丙酸的产量（P<0.05）。相较于GOS组,MOS组显著提高了乙酸的产量,在空肠黏膜组中显著提高了丁酸和总短链脂肪酸的产量（P<0.05）。定量结果表明,在24 h时,各处理组的厚壁菌门数量都接近总菌数量,属于优势菌门。相较于MOS组,GOS组显著提高了拟杆菌门、链球菌属、韦荣氏球菌属和普拉梭菌细菌的数量,提高了空肠黏膜组中Clostridium cluster IV和回肠黏膜组中Clostridium cluster XIVa的数量（P<0.05）。相较于GOS组,MOS组显著提高了大肠杆菌和乳酸杆菌属的数量,提高了回肠黏膜组中罗氏菌属的数量（P<0.05）。【结论】猪小肠黏膜微生物对GOS和MOS具有不同的发酵模式,主要表现在有机酸的产生和促进细菌的增殖方面。GOS具有产丙酸优势,提高了拟杆菌门和韦荣氏球菌属的数量;MOS促进了乙酸的产生,提高了大肠杆菌和乳酸杆菌的数量。     

Effect of pH and dose on the growth of gut bacteria on prebiotic carbohydrates in vitro

The effect of pH and substrate dose on the fermentation profile of a number of commercial prebiotics was analysed in triplicate using stirred, pH and temperature controlled anaerobic batch culture fermentations, inoculated with a fresh faecal slurry from one of three healthy volunteers. Bacterial numbers were enumerated using fluorescence in situ hybridisation. The commercial prebiotics investigated were fructooligosaccharides (FOS), inulin, galactooligosaccharides (GOS), isomaltooligosaccharides (IMO) and lactulose. Two pH values were investigated, i.e. pH 6 and 6.8. Doses of 1% and 2% (w/v) were investigated, equivalent to approximately 4 and 8 g per day, respectively, in an adult diet. It was found that both pH and dose altered the bacterial composition. It was observed that FOS and inulin demonstrated the greatest bifidogenic effect at pH 6.8 and 1% (w/v) carbohydrate, whereas GOS, IMO and lactulose demonstrated their greatest bifidogenic effect at pH 6 and 2% (w/v) carbohydrate. From this we can conclude that various prebiotics demonstrate differing bifidogenic effects at different conditions in vitro.     

Pediatric obesity is associated with an altered gut microbiota and discordant shifts in Firmicutes populations

An altered gut microbiota has been linked to obesity in adulthood, although little is known about childhood obesity. The aim of this study was to characterize the composition of the gut microbiota in obese (n = 42) and normal‐weight (n = 36) children aged 6 to 16. Using 16S rRNA gene‐targeted sequencing, we evaluated taxa with differential abundance according to age‐ and sex‐normalized body mass index (BMI z‐score). Obesity was associated with an altered gut microbiota characterized by elevated levels of Firmicutes and depleted levels of Bacteroidetes. Correlation network analysis revealed that the gut microbiota of obese children also had increased correlation density and clustering of operational taxonomic units (OTUs). Members of the Bacteroidetes were generally better predictors of BMI z‐score and obesity than Firmicutes, which was likely due to discordant responses of Firmicutes OTUs. In accordance with these observations, the main metabolites produced by gut bacteria, short chain fatty acids (SCFAs), were higher in obese children, suggesting elevated substrate utilisation. Multiple taxa were correlated with SCFA levels, reinforcing the tight link between the microbiota, SCFAs and obesity. Our results suggest that gut microbiota dysbiosis and elevated fermentation activity may be involved in the etiology of childhood obesity.     

Barcoded pyrosequencing reveals that consumption of galactooligosaccharides results in a highly specific bifidogenic response in humans

Prebiotics are selectively fermented ingredients that allow specific changes in the gastrointestinal microbiota that confer health benefits to the host. However, the effects of prebiotics on the human gut microbiota are incomplete as most studies have relied on methods that fail to cover the breadth of the bacterial community. The goal of this research was to use high throughput multiplex community sequencing of 16S rDNA tags to gain a community wide perspective of the impact of prebiotic galactooligosaccharide (GOS) on the fecal microbiota of healthy human subjects. Fecal samples from eighteen healthy adults were previously obtained during a feeding trial in which each subject consumed a GOS-containing product for twelve weeks, with four increasing dosages (0, 2.5, 5, and 10 gram) of GOS. Multiplex sequencing of the 16S rDNA tags revealed that GOS induced significant compositional alterations in the fecal microbiota, principally by increasing the abundance of organisms within the Actinobacteria. Specifically, several distinct lineages of Bifidobacterium were enriched. Consumption of GOS led to five- to ten-fold increases in bifidobacteria in half of the subjects. Increases in Firmicutes were also observed, however, these changes were detectable in only a few individuals. The enrichment of bifidobacteria was generally at the expense of one group of bacteria, the Bacteroides. The responses to GOS and the magnitude of the response varied between individuals, were reversible, and were in accordance with dosage. The bifidobacteria were the only bacteria that were consistently and significantly enriched by GOS, although this substrate supported the growth of diverse colonic bacteria in mono-culture experiments. These results suggest that GOS can be used to enrich bifidobacteria in the human gastrointestinal tract with remarkable specificity, and that the bifidogenic properties of GOS that occur in vivo are caused by selective fermentation as well as by competitive interactions within the intestinal environment.     

Impact of diet and individual variation on intestinal microbiota composition and fermentation products in obese men

There is growing interest in understanding how diet affects the intestinal microbiota, including its possible associations with systemic diseases such as metabolic syndrome. Here we report a comprehensive and deep microbiota analysis of 14 obese males consuming fully controlled diets supplemented with resistant starch (RS) or non-starch polysaccharides (NSPs) and a weight-loss (WL) diet. We analyzed the composition, diversity and dynamics of the fecal microbiota on each dietary regime by phylogenetic microarray and quantitative PCR (qPCR) analysis. In addition, we analyzed fecal short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) as a proxy of colonic fermentation, and indices of insulin sensitivity from blood samples. The diet explained around 10% of the total variance in microbiota composition, which was substantially less than the inter-individual variance. Yet, each of the study diets induced clear and distinct changes in the microbiota. Multiple Ruminococcaceae phylotypes increased on the RS diet, whereas mostly Lachnospiraceae phylotypes increased on the NSP diet. Bifidobacteria decreased significantly on the WL diet. The RS diet decreased the diversity of the microbiota significantly. The total 16S ribosomal RNA gene signal estimated by qPCR correlated positively with the three major SCFAs, while the amount of propionate specifically correlated with the Bacteroidetes. The dietary responsiveness of the individual''s microbiota varied substantially and associated inversely with its diversity, suggesting that individuals can be stratified into responders and non-responders based on the features of their intestinal microbiota.     

The role of short-chain fatty acids in the interplay between diet,gut microbiota,and host energy metabolism

Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), the end products of fermentation of dietary fibers by the anaerobic intestinal microbiota, have been shown to exert multiple beneficial effects on mammalian energy metabolism. The mechanisms underlying these effects are the subject of intensive research and encompass the complex interplay between diet, gut microbiota, and host energy metabolism. This review summarizes the role of SCFAs in host energy metabolism, starting from the production by the gut microbiota to the uptake by the host and ending with the effects on host metabolism. There are interesting leads on the underlying molecular mechanisms, but there are also many apparently contradictory results. A coherent understanding of the multilevel network in which SCFAs exert their effects is hampered by the lack of quantitative data on actual fluxes of SCFAs and metabolic processes regulated by SCFAs. In this review we address questions that, when answered, will bring us a great step forward in elucidating the role of SCFAs in mammalian energy metabolism.     

Isolation of lactate-utilizing butyrate-producing bacteria from human feces and in vivo administration of Anaerostipes caccae strain L2 and galacto-oligosaccharides in a rat model

Lactate-utilizing butyrate-producers were isolated from human feces and identified based on the sequences of 16S rRNA gene. Anaerostipes caccae strain L2, one of the seven human fecal isolates, was administered to rats with galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) as bifidogenic carbohydrates for stimulating lactate formation in the hindgut. Ingestion of GOS alone increased concentrations of cecal lactate and butyrate compared with control rats (P<0.05). Additional administration of strain L2 on GOS tended to enhance the promoting effect of GOS on cecal butyrate formation (P=0.06) and lowered the mean value of cecal lactate concentration (P=0.32). Consequently, cecal and fecal butyrate concentrations in rats administered with both strain L2 and GOS were significantly higher than those in the control rats (P<0.01 and P<0.05, respectively). Significant changes were observed in the other fermentation acids, such as succinate, acetate, and propionate, depending on the ingestion of strain L2. Administered strain L2 was retrieved from the cecal content of a rat based on randomly amplified polymorphic DNA analysis. The results suggest that synbiotic ingestion of lactate-utilizing butyrate-producers and GOS alters the microbial fermentation and promotes the formation of beneficial fermentation acids, including butyrate, in the gut.     

Chemically Defined Diet Alters the Protective Properties of Fructo-Oligosaccharides and Isomalto-Oligosaccharides in HLA-B27 Transgenic Rats

Non-digestible oligosaccharides (NDO) were shown to reduce inflammation in experimental colitis, but it remains unclear whether microbiota changes mediate their colitis-modulating effects. This study assessed intestinal microbiota and intestinal inflammation after feeding chemically defined AIN-76A or rat chow diets, with or without supplementation with 8 g/kg body weight of fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS) or isomalto-oligosaccharides (IMO). The study used HLA-B27 transgenic rats, a validated model of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), in a factorial design with 6 treatment groups. Intestinal inflammation and intestinal microbiota were analysed after 12 weeks of treatment. FOS and IMO reduced colitis in animals fed rat chow, but exhibited no anti-inflammatory effect when added to AIN-76A diets. Both NDO induced specific but divergent microbiota changes. Bifidobacteria and Enterobacteriaceae were stimulated by FOS, whereas copy numbers of Clostridium cluster IV were decreased. In addition, higher concentrations of total short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) were observed in cecal contents of rats on rat chow compared to the chemically defined diet. AIN-76A increased the relative proportions of propionate, iso-butyrate, valerate and iso-valerate irrespective of the oligosaccharide treatment. The SCFA composition, particularly the relative concentration of iso-butyrate, valerate and iso-valerate, was associated (P≤0.004 and r≥0.4) with increased colitis and IL-1 β concentration of the cecal mucosa. This study demonstrated that the protective effects of fibres on colitis development depend on the diet. Although diets modified specific cecal microbiota, our study indicates that these changes were not associated with colitis reduction. Intestinal inflammation was positively correlated to protein fermentation and negatively correlated with carbohydrate fermentation in the large intestine.     

Effects of Orange Juice Formulation on Prebiotic Functionality Using an In Vitro Colonic Model System

A three-stage continuous fermentative colonic model system was used to monitor in vitro the effect of different orange juice formulations on prebiotic activity. Three different juices with and without Bimuno, a GOS mixture containing galactooligosaccharides (B-GOS) were assessed in terms of their ability to induce a bifidogenic microbiota. The recipe development was based on incorporating 2.75g B-GOS into a 250 ml serving of juice (65°Brix of concentrate juice). Alongside the production of B-GOS juice, a control juice – orange juice without any additional Bimuno and a positive control juice, containing all the components of Bimuno (glucose, galactose and lactose) in the same relative proportions with the exception of B-GOS were developed. Ion Exchange Chromotography analysis was used to test the maintenance of bimuno components after the production process. Data showed that sterilisation had no significant effect on concentration of B-GOS and simple sugars. The three juice formulations were digested under conditions resembling the gastric and small intestinal environments. Main bacterial groups of the faecal microbiota were evaluated throughout the colonic model study using 16S rRNA-based fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). Potential effects of supplementation of the juices on microbial metabolism were studied measuring short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) using gas chromatography. Furthermore, B-GOS juices showed positive modulations of the microbiota composition and metabolic activity. In particular, numbers of faecal bifidobacteria and lactobacilli were significantly higher when B-GOS juice was fermented compared to controls. Furthermore, fermentation of B-GOS juice resulted in an increase in Roseburia subcluster and concomitantly increased butyrate production, which is of potential benefit to the host. In conclusion, this study has shown B-GOS within orange juice can have a beneficial effect on the fecal microbiota.     

The composition and metabolic activity of child gut microbiota demonstrate differential adaptation to varied nutrient loads in an in vitro model of colonic fermentation

The extent to which the dietary loads of simple sugars, carbohydrates, protein, and fiber impact colonic fermentation in children is unknown. This study assessed the impact of dietary energy on gut microbial communities and metabolism using a three-stage in vitro continuous fermentation model. Two separate models, replicating the proximal, transverse, and distal colon regions, were inoculated with immobilized fecal microbiota from one of two female children. Three different fermentation media were designed to examine the effects of prevalent Western dietary trends on gut microbiota. Media compositions reflected obese (high energy), normal weight (normal energy), and anorectic (low energy) child dietary intakes and were alternately supplied to each microbiota during separate fermentation periods. Gut microbiota demonstrated differential metabolic and compositional adaptation to varied substrate availability. High energy medium was strongly butyrogenic, resulting in significant stimulation of butyrate-producing members of clostridia cluster XIVa, whereas members of cluster IV demonstrated greater adaptive variability. Normal and low energy nutrient loads induced significantly less metabolic activity in both microbiota, with low energy medium inducing a broad reorganization of the commensal community structure. These results suggest a concerted metabolic adaptation in response to nutrient load, exercised by different microbial populations, indicating substantial redundancy in gastrointestinal metabolic pathways.