青霉素促使烫伤SPF大鼠肠道细菌易位的研究

本文描述了在控制微生物实验动物实验室中,口服青霉素的SPF大鼠(n=10),25％Ⅲ°烫伤后出现的肠道细菌易位。该组大鼠盲肠和结肠中的乳酸杆菌数量显著下降(约1,000倍),而肠杆菌数量明显上升(约100倍以上),其MLN中的细菌易位发生率为9/10,肝、脾、肾、肺和血流的发生率为1/10。口服青霉素组大鼠(n=5)的MLN细菌易位发生率为2/5,其它器官细菌培养阴性。空白组(n=6)和烫伤组(n=6)大鼠均未出现肠道细菌易位。这些结果说明:抗生素促使了烫伤SpF大鼠肠道细菌的易位。据病理形态学的观察,讨论了肠道细菌易位发生的机理和易位的途径。     

Bacterial Community Mapping of the Mouse Gastrointestinal Tract

Keeping mammalian gastrointestinal (GI) tract communities in balance is crucial for host health maintenance. However, our understanding of microbial communities in the GI tract is still very limited. In this study, samples taken from the GI tracts of C57BL/6 mice were subjected to 16S rRNA gene sequence-based analysis to examine the characteristic bacterial communities along the mouse GI tract, including those present in the stomach, duodenum, jejunum, ileum, cecum, colon and feces. Further analyses of the 283,234 valid sequences obtained from pyrosequencing revealed that the gastric, duodenal, large intestinal and fecal samples had higher phylogenetic diversity than the jejunum and ileum samples did. The microbial communities found in the small intestine and stomach were different from those seen in the large intestine and fecal samples. A greater proportion of Lactobacillaceae were found in the stomach and small intestine, while a larger proportion of anaerobes such as Bacteroidaceae, Prevotellaceae, Rikenellaceae, Lachnospiraceae, and Ruminococcaceae were found in the large intestine and feces. In addition, inter-mouse variations of microbiota were observed between the large intestinal and fecal samples, which were much smaller than those between the gastric and small intestinal samples. As far as we can ascertain, ours is the first study to systematically characterize bacterial communities from the GI tracts of C57BL/6 mice.     

Effect of Solar Particle Event Radiation and Hindlimb Suspension on Gastrointestinal Tract Bacterial Translocation and Immune Activation

The environmental conditions that could lead to an increased risk for the development of an infection during prolonged space flight include: microgravity, stress, radiation, disturbance of circadian rhythms, and altered nutritional intake. A large body of literature exists on the impairment of the immune system by space flight. With the advent of missions outside the Earth''s magnetic field, the increased risk of adverse effects due to exposure to radiation from a solar particle event (SPE) needs to be considered. Using models of reduced gravity and SPE radiation, we identify that either 2 Gy of radiation or hindlimb suspension alone leads to activation of the innate immune system and the two together are synergistic. The mechanism for the transient systemic immune activation is a reduced ability of the GI tract to contain bacterial products. The identification of mechanisms responsible for immune dysfunction during extended space missions will allow the development of specific countermeasures.     

Bacterial Association in the Gastrointestinal Tract of Beagle Dogs

Nine male beagle dogs, housed in either a conventional or locked environment for 2.5 years, were killed, and the bacterial flora present in various regions of each gastrointestinal tract was assessed by culture techniques, light microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. All dogs possessed a complex microflora in their colons; in almost every dog anaerobes predominated. The highest number of bacteria cultured was 10¹⁰/g (dry weight) of tissue and contents; highest counts obtained with a Petroff-Hauser counting chamber were 10¹⁰/ml (wet weight). Although there was a consistency in the detectable genera, there were also noticeable differences in the flora of dogs housed under different environmental conditions. These differences included qualitative and quantitative changes in the flora as well as alterations in the distribution and localization of microorganisms along the gastrointestinal tract and in the crypts of Lieberkuhn. No bacterial layers were detected on the surfaces of stomach or proximal bowel in any of the dogs. Dogs housed in a conventional, open, environment had bacteria that occurred in layers on their ceca and colons and in their crypts of Lieberkuhn; however, dogs housed under “locked” environmental conditions did not possess them or had them less frequently. Dogs removed from the locked environment and kept (30 days) in conventional housing conditions were the only ones with detectable segmented filamentous microbes in their ilea. This study shows that the microbial flora does not simplify when dogs are housed in a locked environment. Indeed, it may increase in complexity and cause alterations in the bacterial flora that is associated closely with gastrointestinal epithelial cells and crypts of Lieberkuhn.     

Probiotics Shown To Change Bacterial Community Structure in the Avian Gastrointestinal Tract

Culturing and molecular techniques were used to monitor changes in the bacterial flora of the avian gastrointestinal (GI) tract following introduction of genetically modified (GM) and unmodified probiotics. Community hybridization of amplified 16S ribosomal DNA demonstrated that the bacterial flora of the GI tract changed significantly in response to the probiotic treatments. The changes were not detected by culturing. Although both GM and non-GM strains of Enterococcus faecium NCIMB 11508 changed the bacterial flora of the chicken GI tract, they did so differently. Probing the community DNA with an Enterococcus faecalis-specific probe showed that the relative amount of E. faecalis in the total eubacterial population increased in the presence of the non-GM strain and decreased in the presence of the GM probiotic compared with the results obtained with an untreated control group.     

Probiotic Bacillus amyloliquefaciens SC06 Prevents Bacterial Translocation in Weaned Mice

Probiotic is a preparation containing microorganisms that confers beneficial effect to the host. This work assessed whether oral administration of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens SC06 (Ba) could decrease bacterial translocation in weaned mice. Weaned C57BL/6 were randomly allocated into three groups: group I as the control group, group II were treated with 0.85 % NaCl. Group III was administered with probiotic Ba 1 × 10⁹ CFU/day dissolved in 100 μl of 0.85 % NaCl for 30 days. Mice were then sacrificed, and tissue were cultured to determine bacterial translocation. Meanwhile, splenic CD4⁺T cells, CD8⁺T cells, B cells, and macrophages were analysised by FACS. Our results showed that probiotic Ba significantly reduced bacteria translocation compared with the control group and 0.85 % NaCl group (P < 0.05), lower levels of bacteria were detected in the MLN, liver, spleen, and kidney of mice. Moreover, significant increase in percentage and number of macrophages were observed in the spleen of Ba-treated mice compared with the control and 0.85 % NaCl groups. Together, these data indicated that Ba could decrease bacterial translocation in weaned mice. This effect seems to be correlated with the changes of macrophage numbers.     

Cyclophosphamide-Induced Bacterial Translocation in Escherichia coli C25-Monoassociated Specific Pathogen-Free Mice

The kinetics of bacterial translocation (BTL) from the intestine to the mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN) and the number of peripheral white blood cells (WBC), macrophages in Peyer's patches (PP) and M-cells on the surface of cecal PP after cyclophosphamide (CY) injection were examined in penicillin-G and streptomycin sulfate decontaminated and Escherichia coli C25-monoassociated specific pathogen-free mice. WBC were counted to confirm the immunological state of the mice. Until 8 days after CY injection, the number of WBC, bacteria in MLN and macrophages in PP decreased, but then significantly increased on day 14. The levels again decreased to the control levels on day 16. Although the number of M-cells decreased up to day 8, it did not return to the control level on day 16. These results indicate that BTL is stimulated in an immunopotentiated state after CY injection, and this phenomenon may be closely related to the number of macrophages in the blood and PP.     

Evaluation of the Gastrointestinal Tract as Potential Route of Primary Polyomavirus Infection in Mice

Background

Detection of Polyomavirus (PyV) DNA in metropolitan rivers worldwide has led to the suggestion that primary viral infection can occur by the oral route. The aim of this study was to test this notion experimentally.

Methods

Mouse PyV (MPyV) was used to infect C57BL/6J mice by the nasal or intragastric route. Viral load kinetics was studied 3, 7, 10, 14, 21 and 28 days post-infection (dpi) using quantitative PCR.

Results

Following nasal infection, MPyV DNA was readily detected in many organs including lung, heart, aorta, colon, and stool with viral loads in the range of 10³–10⁶ copies/mg wet weight that peaked 7–10 dpi. Complete viral clearance occurred in the serum and kidney by 28 dpi, while clearance in other organs was partial with a 10–100 fold decrease in viral load. In contrast, following intragastric infection peak detection of PyV was delayed to 21 dpi, and viral loads were up to 3 logs lower. There was no detectable virus in the heart, colon, or stool.

Conclusions

The intragastric route of MPyV infection is successful, not as efficacious as the respiratory route, and associated with delayed viral dissemination as well as a lower peak MPyV load in individual organs.     

The Effect of Cocoa and Polydextrose on Bacterial Fermentation in Gastrointestinal Tract Simulations

Effects of cocoa mass and supplemented dietary fiber (polydextrose) on microbial fermentation were studied by combining digestion simulations of stomach and small intestine with multi-staged colon simulations. During the four phases of digestion, concentrations of available soluble proteins and reducing sugars reflected in vivo absorption of nutrients in small intestine. In colon simulation vessels, addition of polydextrose to digested cocoa mass significantly increased concentrations of total short-chain fatty acids and butyric acid, from 103 to 468 mM (P<0.01) and from 12 to 22 mM (P<0.01), respectively. Long-chain fatty acid concentrations (decreasing from 1,222 to 240 mM) were mainly affected by the presence of digested cocoa mass. Cocoa mass with or without polydextrose addition significantly decreased production of cadaverine (P<0.02) and branched-chain fatty acids compared to control during colon simulations. Results indicate beneficial effects on metabolism of colonic microbiota after digestion of cocoa mass, and even more so with polydextrose addition.     

Effect of Condensed Tannins on Bacterial Diversity and Metabolic Activity in the Rat Gastrointestinal Tract

The effect of dietary condensed tannins (proanthocyanidins) on rat fecal bacterial populations was ascertained in order to determine whether the proportion on tannin-resistant bacteria increased and if there was a change in the predominant bacterial populations. After 3 weeks of tannin diets the proportion of tannin-resistant bacteria increased significantly (P < 0.05) from 0.3% ± 5.5% to 25.3% ± 8.3% with a 0.7% tannin diet and to 47.2% ± 5.1% with a 2% tannin diet. The proportion of tannin-resistant bacteria returned to preexposure levels in the absence of dietary tannins. A shift in bacterial populations was confirmed by molecular fingerprinting of fecal bacterial populations by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). Posttreatment samples were generally still distinguishable from controls after 3.5 weeks. Sequence analysis of DGGE bands and characterization of tannin-resistant isolates indicated that tannins selected for Enterobacteriaceae and Bacteroides species. Dot blot quantification confirmed that these gram-negative bacterial groups predominated in the presence of dietary tannins and that there was a corresponding decrease in the gram-positive Clostridium leptum group and other groups. Metabolic fingerprint patterns revealed that functional activities of culturable fecal bacteria were affected by the presence of tannins. Condensed tannins of Acacia angustissima altered fecal bacterial populations in the rat gastrointestinal tract, resulting in a shift in the predominant bacteria towards tannin-resistant gram-negative Enterobacteriaceae and Bacteroides species.     

Ion Conductivity of the Bacterial Translocation Channel SecYEG Engaged in Translocation

While engaged in protein transport, the bacterial translocon SecYEG must maintain the membrane barrier to small ions. The preservation of the proton motif force was attributed to (i) cation exclusion, (ii) engulfment of the nascent chain by the hydrophobic pore ring, and (iii) a half-helix partly plugging the channel. In contrast, we show here that preservation of the proton motif force is due to a voltage-driven conformational change. Preprotein or signal peptide binding to the purified and reconstituted SecYEG results in large cation and anion conductivities only when the membrane potential is small. Physiological values of membrane potential close the activated channel. This voltage-dependent closure is not dependent on the presence of the plug domain and is not affected by mutation of 3 of the 6 constriction residues to glycines. Cellular ion homeostasis is not challenged by the small remaining leak conductance.     

Gene Transfer in the Gastrointestinal Tract

The maximum in vivo transfer rate of plasmid pAMβ1 in the gut was 0.03 transconjugant per recipient cell, and this rate could be simulated in vitro only by forced filter mating. Transfer was not detected in liquid culture matings. Our findings demonstrate that in vitro methods, such as forced filter mating and liquid mating, underestimate the in vivo rates of gene transfer.     

Morphine Induces Bacterial Translocation in Mice by Compromising Intestinal Barrier Function in a TLR-Dependent Manner

Opiates are among the most prescribed drugs for pain management. However, morphine use or abuse results in significant gut bacterial translocation and predisposes patients to serious infections with gut origin. The mechanism underlying this defect is still unknown. In this report, we investigated the mechanisms underlying compromised gut immune function and bacterial translocation following morphine treatment. We demonstrate significant bacterial translocation to mesenteric lymph node (MLN) and liver following morphine treatment in wild-type (WT) animals that was dramatically and significantly attenuated in Toll-like receptor (TLR2 and 4) knockout mice. We further observed significant disruption of tight junction protein organization only in the ileum but not in the colon of morphine treated WT animals. Inhibition of myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) blocked the effects of both morphine and TLR ligands, suggesting the role of MLCK in tight junction modulation by TLR. This study conclusively demonstrates that morphine induced gut epithelial barrier dysfunction and subsequent bacteria translocation are mediated by TLR signaling and thus TLRs can be exploited as potential therapeutic targets for alleviating infections and even sepsis in morphine-using or abusing populations.     

Effective Recovery of Bacterial DNA and Percent-Guanine-Plus-Cytosine-Based Analysis of Community Structure in the Gastrointestinal Tract of Broiler Chickens

A DNA-based, direct method for initial characterization of the total bacterial community in ileum and cecum of the chicken gastrointestinal (GI) tract was developed. The efficiencies of bacterial extraction and lysis were >95 and >99%, respectively, and therefore the DNA recovered should accurately reflect the bacterial communities of the ileal and cecal digesta. Total bacterial DNA samples were fractionated according to their percent G+C content. The profiles reflecting the composition of the bacterial community were reproducible within each compartment, but different between the compartments of the GI tract. This approach is independent of the culturability of the bacteria in the consortium and can be used to improve our understanding of how diet and other variables modulate the microbial communities of the GI tracts of animals.     

Phylogenetic Analysis of Bacterial Communities in Different Regions of the Gastrointestinal Tract of Agkistrodon piscivorus,the Cottonmouth Snake

Vertebrates are metagenomic organisms in that they are composed not only of their own genes but also those of their associated microbial cells. The majority of these associated microorganisms are found in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) and presumably assist in processes such as energy and nutrient acquisition. Few studies have investigated the associated gut bacterial communities of non-mammalian vertebrates, and most rely on captive animals and/or fecal samples only. Here we investigate the gut bacterial community composition of a squamate reptile, the cottonmouth snake, Agkistrodon piscivorus through pyrosequencing of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene. We characterize the bacterial communities present in the small intestine, large intestine and cloaca. Many bacterial lineages present have been reported by other vertebrate gut community studies, but we also recovered unexpected bacteria that may be unique to squamate gut communities. Bacterial communities were not phylogenetically clustered according to GIT region, but there were statistically significant differences in community composition between regions. Additionally we demonstrate the utility of using cloacal swabs as a method for sampling snake gut bacterial communities.     

Antibiotic Susceptibility of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium Species from the Human Gastrointestinal Tract

One hundred and twenty-two strains of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus species have been tested against 12 antibiotics and two antibiotic mixtures by a commercial system (Sensititre Anaero3; Treck Diagnostic Systems). The upper limits of some minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were completed on MRS agar plates by the NCCLS procedure. All strains were sensitive to chloramphenicol and imipenem and most of the strains were resistant to metronidazole. Bifidobacteria isolates were susceptible to cefoxitin, whereas about half of the lactobacilli were resistant. Approximately 30% of the Bifidobacterium isolates were resistant to tetracycline, as well as five Lactobacillus strains belonging to four different species. None of the tested Bifidobacterium isolates was resistant to vancomycin, whereas a species-dependent resistance was found among the lactobacilli. Single strains of Bifidobacterium longum, Bifidobacterium pseudocatenulatum, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, and Lactobacillus brevis were resistant to erythromycin and/or clindamycin. Most of the observed resistances seemed to be intrinsic, but some others could be compatible with transmissible determinants.     

Isolation and Selection of Potential Probiotic Bacteria from the Pig Gastrointestinal Tract

The present study aimed to isolate bacterial strains from the pig gastrointestinal tract that have antagonistic activity against potential pathogens and are able to produce antimicrobial compounds. That ability would be a first requirement for the strains’ possible use as probiotics. Samples obtained from pig intestinal mucosa and contents were screened for the presence of antagonistic activity against pathogenic indicator strains of Escherichia coli, Salmonella, and Listeria by means of the double-layer technique. Samples displaying the largest inhibitory halos were further studied for the production of inhibitory substances using the agar diffusion and microtitration methods. The three most promising isolates were identified by sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene and showed highest affiliation to Lactobacillus salivarius. Optimal growth conditions and bacteriocin production were recorded in de Man, Rogosa, and Sharpe broth under anaerobic conditions at 37 °C. The antimicrobial substances were found to be sensitive to proteolytic enzymes but showed good stability at pH values below 6. Our findings suggest that these three intestinal strains are able to produce antimicrobial substances capable of inhibiting the growth of potential enteric pathogens and might have potential as probiotic feed additives for the prevention of gastrointestinal diseases.     

Histopathological Studies of Reactions in Mice Injected with Aluminum-Adsorbed Tetanus Toxoid

Histopathological observations of changes at the injection site in mice were made for 20 weeks after a single intramuscular (im) injection of aluminum hydroxide-adsorbed tetanus toxoid (Alum-TT), plain tetanus toxoid (TT), or aluminum adjuvant (Alum alone). Marked injury to muscle fibers and infiltration of neutrophils around the aluminum remnants were observed, and some microabscesses were occasionally formed, after im injection of Alum-TT. Some mature alum-granulomas were seen in the Alum-TT group, while the Alum alone group had only a few immature alum-granulomas. The TT group showed only slight injury to muscle fibers and acute inflammation at an early stage. In the Alum-TT group, well-developed lymphoid tissues and granulomatous lesions were still observable even 20 weeks after the injection; however, these changes had already diminished in the Alum alone group by that time. These findings could serve as good models for undesirable local reactions to aluminum-adjuvanted vaccines.     

Physiologic Status Monitoring via the Gastrointestinal Tract

Reliable, real-time heart and respiratory rates are key vital signs used in evaluating the physiological status in many clinical and non-clinical settings. Measuring these vital signs generally requires superficial attachment of physically or logistically obtrusive sensors to subjects that may result in skin irritation or adversely influence subject performance. Given the broad acceptance of ingestible electronics, we developed an approach that enables vital sign monitoring internally from the gastrointestinal tract. Here we report initial proof-of-concept large animal (porcine) experiments and a robust processing algorithm that demonstrates the feasibility of this approach. Implementing vital sign monitoring as a stand-alone technology or in conjunction with other ingestible devices has the capacity to significantly aid telemedicine, optimize performance monitoring of athletes, military service members, and first-responders, as well as provide a facile method for rapid clinical evaluation and triage.