New highly toxic bile acids derived from deoxycholic acid,chenodeoxycholic acid and lithocholic acid

We have prepared a new panel of 23 BA derivatives of DCA, chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA) and lithocholic acid (LCA) in order to study the effect of dual substitution with 3-azido and 24-amidation, features individually associated with cytotoxicity in our previous work. The effect of the compounds on cell viability of HT-1080 and Caco-2 was studied using the 3-[4,5-dimethylthizol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Compounds with high potency towards reduction of cell viability were further studied using flow cytometry in order to understand the mechanism of cell death. Several compounds were identified with low micromolar IC₅₀ values for reducing cell viability in the Caco-2 and HT1080 cell lines, making them among the most potent BA apoptotic agents reported to date. There was no evidence of relationship between overall hydrophobicity and cytotoxicity supporting the idea that cell death induction by BAs may be structure–specific. Compounds derived from DCA caused cell death through apoptosis. There was some evidence of selectivity between the two cell lines studied which may be due to differing expression of CD95/FAS. The more toxic compounds increased ROS production in Caco-2 cells, and co-incubation with the antioxidant N-acetyl cysteine blunted pro-apoptotic effects. The properties these compounds suggest that there may be specific mechanism(s) mediating BA induced cell death. Compound 8 could be useful for investigating this phenomenon.     

Conversion of cholic acid and chenodeoxycholic acid into their 7-oxo derivatives by Bacteroides intestinalis AM-1 isolated from human feces

Secondary bile acid-producing bacteria were isolated from human feces to improve our appreciation of the functional diversity and redundancy of the intestinal microbiota. In total, 619 bacterial colonies were isolated using a nutrient-poor agar medium and the level of secondary bile acid formation was examined in each by a liquid culture, followed by thin-layer chromatography. Of five strains analyzed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing and biochemical testing, one was identified as Bacteroides intestinalis AM-1, which was not previously recognized as a secondary bile-acid producer. GC-MS revealed that B. intestinalis AM-1 converts cholic acid (CA) and chenodeoxycholic acid into their 7-oxo derivatives, 7-oxo-deoxycholic acid (7-oxo-DCA) and 7-oxo-lithocholic acid, respectively. Thus, B. intestinalis AM-1 possesses 7α-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (7α-HSDH) activity. In liquid culture, B. intestinalis AM-1 showed a relatively higher productivity of 7-oxo-DCA than Escherichia coli HB101 and Bacteroides fragilis JCM11019^T, which are known to possess 7α-HSDH activity. The level of 7α-HSDH activity was higher in B. intestinalis AM-1 than in the other two strains under the conditions tested. The 7α-HSDH activity in each of the three strains is not induced by CA; instead, it is regulated in a growth phase-dependent manner.     

Conversion of chenodeoxycholic acid to ursodeoxycholic acid by Clostridium absonum in culture and by immobilized cells

Abstract Volatile fatty acids (VFA) have interesting biological effects on eukaryotic cells, inducing alterations of cell shape, morphological differentiation, changes in the composition of the cytoplasmic membrane and growth inhibition. This paper describes the effects of VFA on granulocyte chemotaxis. The influences observed, usually inhibitory, were shown to depend on the concentration tested and the incubation atmosphere (anaerobic or 5% CO₂).
Because these metabolites are produced by several anaerobic bacteria both in vitro and at infected sites, one can speculate that they might act as potential 'leukotoxins' contributing to the pathogenicity of anaerobic bacteria.
We suggest that the well-known ability of anaerobes to inhibit their own phagocytosis and intracellular killing, as well as that of facultative anaerobes, might be at least partially due to the impairment of granulocyte functions induced by VFA.     

CO2 -dependent growth of Succinatimonas hippei YIT 12066T isolated from human feces

Succinatimonas hippei is a new bacterial species isolated from human feces. Here we report that the growth of S. hippei YIT 12066(T) depends on CO(2) or bicarbonate and the headspace gas produced by microbiota. Genetic defect for carbonic anhydrase in this bacterium suggested a reason for the syntrophic property of CO(2) dependency and may suggest an adaptation to its habitat.     

Extractive fermentation for butyric acid production from glucose by Clostridium tyrobutyricum

A novel extractive fermentation for butyric acid production from glucose, using immobilized cells of Clostridium tyrobutyricum in a fibrous bed bioreactor, was developed by using 10% (v/v) Alamine 336 in oleyl alcohol as the extractant contained in a hollow-fiber membrane extractor for selective removal of butyric acid from the fermentation broth. The extractant was simultaneously regenerated by stripping with NaOH in a second membrane extractor. The fermentation pH was self-regulated by a balance between acid production and removal by extraction, and was kept at approximately pH 5.5 throughout the study. Compared with conventional fermentation, extractive fermentation resulted in a much higher product concentration (>300 g/L) and product purity (91%). It also resulted in higher reactor productivity (7.37 g/L. h) and butyric acid yield (0.45 g/g). Without on-line extraction to remove the acid products, at the optimal pH of 6.0, the final butyric acid concentration was only approximately 43.4 g/L, butyric acid yield was 0.423 g/g, and reactor productivity was 6.77 g/L. h. These values were much lower at pH 5.5: 20.4 g/L, 0.38 g/g, and 5.11 g/L. h, respectively. The improved performance for extractive fermentation can be attributed to the reduced product inhibition by selective removal of butyric acid from the fermentation broth. The solvent was found to be toxic to free cells in suspension, but not harmful to cells immobilized in the fibrous bed. The process was stable and provided consistent long-term performance for the entire 2-week period of study.     

Evaluation of acid phosphatase as a confirmation test for Clostridium perfringens isolated from water

AIMS: To evaluate testing for acid phosphatase as an alternative method for the confirmation of Clostridium perfringens isolated from water. METHODS AND RESULTS: Sixty-two reference strains of Clostridium were tested for their ability to produce acid phosphatase, as well as reduction of sulfite on tryptose sulfite cycloserine agar (TSC) and production of fluorescence in TSC supplemented with 4-methylumbelliferylphosphate (MUP). Additionally 155 environmental presumptive C. perfringens isolates from TSC incubated at 44 degrees C were identified and tested for acid phosphatase production and by the conventional MNLG (testing for motility, nitrate reduction, lactose fermentation and gelatin liquefaction) confirmation procedure. Twenty-seven strains from 15 species of Clostridium-reduced sulfite to some extent on TSC incubated at 44 degrees C, with a significant number of species being able to grow well at this temperature, indicating that a confirmation step is needed for the enumeration of C. perfringens on this medium. All 10 strains of C. perfringens tested, together with one strain each of Clostridium baratii and Clostridium rectum produced acid phosphatase. These also produced fluorescence on MUP supplemented TSC, as did 13 strains of acid phosphatase negative, sulfite-reducing clostridia, representing nine species. Of the environmental isolates, 114 were identified as C. perfringens of which 108 (94.7%) were confirmed by the acid phosphatase test compared with 104 (91.2%) by the MNLG tests. CONCLUSIONS: Testing for acid phosphatase production is at least as reliable, and much simpler to perform, than the current standard confirmation MNLG procedure. Incorporation of MUP into TSC does not reliably improve the identification of presumptive C. perfringens. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Application of testing for acid phosphatase as a confirmation test for C. perfringens would substantially simplify the analysis for this bacterium from water samples, and reduce the analysis time to confirmed counts.     

Biohydrogenation of linoleic acid by Clostridium sporogenes, Clostridium bifermentans, Clostridium sordellii and Bacteroides sp.

Abstract Several strains of Clostridium bifermentans, Clostridium sporogenes and Clostridium sordellit and one strain of Bacteroides sp. hydrogenate linoleic acid into transvaccenic acid in vitro following the same pathway. Linoleic acid (18:2; 9- cis , 12- cis ) was first isomerised into 9- cis , 11- trans -octadecadienoic acid, after which the 9- cis double bond was reduced. These species also hydrogenated linoleic acid into an octadecenoic acid in vivo when mono-associated with gnotobiotic rats. Several other species of Clostridium and Bacteroides did not hydrogenate linoleic acid.     

Synthesis, intestinal absorption and metabolism of sarcosine conjugated ursodeoxycholic acid

Sarcosine conjugated ursodeoxycholic acid (SUDC) was synthesized and its intestinal absorption and metabolism were studied in rat and hamster. Intestinal absorption study using bile fistula rat shows that more than 90% of SUDC administered intraduodenally was excreted in the bile within 24 hr. No change of the administered bile acid was seen during the absorption from the intestine, the passage of the liver, and the excretion into the bile. When [24-14C]SUDC and [11,12-3H2]-ursodeoxycholic acid were administered orally to a hamster, more than 95% of both the administered 14C and 3H were recovered from the feces within 6 days. Most (77%) of the fecal 14C-labeled compound was SUDC, whereas 95% of the fecal 3H-labeled compound was unconjugated lithocholic acid. These results indicate that SUDC, unlike taurine or glycine conjugated bile acid, resists bacterial deconjugation and 7-dehydroxylation.     

Identification of lactic acid bacteria isolated from human vaginal secretions

A total of 57 lactic acid bacteria were isolated from the vaginal secretions of 259 patients. Of these strains, 37 were isolated from patients attending pre-natal clinics and the remaining strains from patients attending post-natal clinics. The strains were identified by using simple physiological and biochemical tests and their phenotypic relatedness determined by numerical analysis of total soluble cell protein patterns. The genotypic relatedness of representative strains selected from each of the protein profile clusters was determined by numerical analysis of the DNA banding patterns obtained from RAPD-PCR. The majority of lactobacilli isolated belonged to the species Lactobacillus pentosus, Lactobacillus fermentum and Enterococcus faecium. A few strains of Lactobacillus plantarum and Weissella viridescens were also isolated. One strain, TV 1029, grouped into the same protein profile cluster as E. faecium, but revealed a DNA banding pattern closer related to Enterococcus faecalis. This is the first report of W. viridescens associated with the human vagina. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Clostridium asparagiforme sp. nov., isolated from a human faecal sample

An obligatory anaerobic, Gram-positive, rod-shaped organism was isolated from faeces of a healthy human donor. It was characterized using biochemical, phenotypic and molecular taxonomic methods. The organism produced acetate, lactate, and ethanol as the major products of glucose fermentation. The G + C content was 53 mol%. Based on comparative 16S rRNA gene sequencing, the unidentified bacterium is a member of the Clostridium subphylum of the Gram-positive bacteria, and most closely related to species of the Clostridium coccoides cluster (rRNA cluster XIVa) [M.D. Collins et al., The phylogeny of the genus Clostridium: proposal of five new genera and eleven new species combinations, Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol. 44 (1994) 812-826]. Clostridium bolteae and Clostridium clostridioforme were identified as the most closely related described species. A 16S rRNA sequence divergence value of > 3% suggested that the isolate represents a new species. This was also supported by the gyrase-encoding gyrB gene sequences. Based on these findings, we propose the novel bacterium from human faeces to be classified as a new species, Clostridium asparagiforme. The type strain of C. asparagiforme is N6 (DSM 15981 and CCUG 48471).     

人体肠道益生菌体外降胆固醇活性研究

从健康儿童和青年人肠道分离并鉴定了21株乳杆菌和双歧杆菌,连同6株实验室保藏菌株进行了体外降胆固醇、耐酸及耐胆汁盐实验。结果表明,所有实验菌株都能从培养基中去除胆固醇,5株去除率可达40%以上,同时去除效力也较高。胆汁盐耐受性和耐酸性具有菌株特异性。菌株Bm26同时具有较高降胆固醇能力和耐胆汁盐及耐酸性能。     

大熊猫粪便乳酸菌的分离鉴定

大熊猫作为国家保护动物,其健康问题备受瞩目。为了维护大熊猫的肠道健康,本研究从大熊猫肠道内分离出适宜于大熊猫肠道环境的乳酸菌菌株,有望将其制成熊猫肠道微生物制剂,从而改善大熊猫肠道菌群环境。从雅安市宝兴县蜂桶寨自然保护区选取圈养与野生大熊猫的粪便,通过体外培养分离出9个菌株。分离菌株经过革兰氏染色镜检、过氧化氢产气、菌落形态观察等方法与技术初步鉴定为乳酸菌。对这9株乳酸菌进行耐酸试验、耐胆盐试验、抑菌能力试验和产酸能力等测试,筛选出了3个适应性较强,有望制成调节大熊猫肠道内环境平衡作用的微生态菌剂的菌株。16S rRNA基因序列分析表明:分离菌株J1、J2和J4分别为融合魏斯氏菌（Weissella confusa）,海氏肠球菌（Enterococcus heynei）和非解乳糖链球菌（Streptococcus alactolyticus）,有望被应用于大熊猫肠道微生态制剂的研究。     

Diversity of the Clostridium coccoides group in human fecal microbiota as determined by 16S rRNA gene library

Fecal microbiota were analyzed in seven healthy individuals by 16S rRNA gene libraries (universal library) using universal primers, and the Clostridium coccoides group libraries using the universal primer 27F and the C. coccoides group-specific primer Erec482. The universal libraries were used in our previous studies. The 972 clones obtained from two different primer set libraries belonged to the C. coccoides group and were classified into 139 operational taxonomic units (OTU) (at least 98% sequence similarity). Of these, 41 OTU were detected commonly from universal libraries and C. coccoides group libraries. One hundred and ten OTU were detected from the C. coccoides group libraries. Fifteen new OTU were isolated from the C. coccoides group libraries in human gut. Most of the OTU did not correspond to known species, thus representing as-yet-uncultured bacteria. We also detected OTU that related to the butyrate-producing bacteria. The C. coccoides group consisted of an average of 35 OTU, although there were differences in the number and the type of species in each individual. When fecal microbiota were analyzed using universal libraries, the OTU belonging to the C. coccoides group detected in elderly individuals were fewer than those detected in adult individuals. When C. coccoides group libraries were used, the numbers of OTU in elderly and adult individuals were not different. Interindividual differences in the composition of OTU belonging to the C. coccoides group were also observed in fecal microbiota.     

Biosynthesis of butyric acid by Clostridium tyrobutyricum

Butyric acid (C₃H₇COOH) is an important chemical that is widely used in foodstuffs along with in the chemical and pharmaceutical industries. The bioproduction of butyric acid through large-scale fermentation has the potential to be more economical and efficient than petrochemical synthesis. In this paper, the metabolic pathways involved in the production of butyric acid from Clostridium tyrobutyricum using hexose and pentose as substrates are investigated, and approaches to enhance butyric acid production through genetic modification are discussed. Finally, bioreactor modifications (including fibrous bed bioreactor, inner disk-shaped matrix bioreactor, fibrous matrix packed in porous levitated sphere carriers), low-cost feedstocks, and special treatments (including continuous fermentation with cell recycling, extractive fermentation with solvent, using different artificial electron carriers) intended to improve the feasibility of commercial butyric acid bioproduction are summarized.     

脐带间充质干细胞治疗熊去氧胆酸应答不佳的原发性胆汁性胆管炎的临床观察

目的探讨脐带间充质干细胞（UC-MSCs）输注治疗熊去氧胆酸（UDCA）应答不佳的原发性胆汁性胆管炎（PBC）患者的安全性和有效性，分析影响UC-MSCs疗效应答的相关因素。 方法选取解放军总医院第五医学中心2010年8月至2017年10月接受UC-MSCs输注治疗UDCA应答不佳的PBC患者29例。患者均以4周为间隔给予3次外周静脉输注细胞1.0×10⁶个/kg。通过实验室指标、生命体征及不良事件发生情况评估UC-MSCs治疗的安全性。通过患者临床症状、肝功指标和Child-Pugh评分评估治疗的有效性。以"巴黎Ⅰ标准"作为疗效标准，评价患者UC-MSCs治疗后的疗效应答情况，比较有效患者及无效患者基线临床症状和肝脏功能差异，分析影响UC-MSCs疗效的相关因素。采用独立样本t检验分析年龄；采用Mann-Whitney U检验比较两组UDCA治疗时间、激素治疗时间、实验室数据等，采用Wilcoxon秩和检验比较组间数据；采用χ²检验比较性别、临床症状和Child-Pugh分级等指标。多因素Cox回归分析对影响UC-MSCs疗效的相关因素。 结果1例患者在治疗后因合并严重感染出现高热，所有患者未出现UC-MSCs相关严重不良事件。UC-MSCs输注后与基线相比，患者的血清碱性磷酸酶（ALP）[281.00 （182.50，428.50）比201.00 （149.50，402.00）]、γ-谷氨酰转移酶（GGT）[156.00 （73.00，390.00）比84.00 （43.50，312.50）]、总胆固醇（TC）[5.10 （3.14，7.69）比3.94 （3.00，6.01）]均下降（P < 0.05）。其中，9例（31﹪）患者治疗后疗效明显，达到"巴黎Ⅰ标准"，与无效组患者基线相比，有效组患者天冬氨酸转氨酶（AST）[93.50 （77.75，100.75）比53.00 （46.00，78.00）]、ALP[342.00 （237.25，516.00）比185.00 （152.50，295.50）]、总胆红素（TBIL）[58.50 （33.45，69.33）比13.10 （11.25，20.25）]均下降（P < 0.05）。多因素Cox回归分析显示，血清TBIL是影响UC-MSCs疗效的重要独立因素[HR为0.817 （95﹪CI：0.715 ~ 0.935），P < 0.05]。 结论UC-MSCs输注对UDCA治疗应答不佳的PBC患者是安全可行的且耐受性良好，部分患者肝功能得到一定的改善。血清TBIL是影响UC-MSCs治疗疗效的独立重要因素，提示在疾病进展早期TBIL较低的阶段进行UC-MSCs治疗可能有效改善和减缓患者疾病进程。     

Formation of 2-hydroxy-4-methylpentanoic acid from l-leucine by Clostridium butyricum

Abstract Five Clostridium butyricum strains of different origin were grown in trypticase-yeast extract-hemin medium with or without d-glucose (TGYH or TYH medium, respectively) and in a synthetic basal medium with d-glucose (BMG medium). 2-Hydroxy-4-methylpentanoic acid was detected by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) for the five strains whether grown in TGYH or TYH medium (270 or 170 μM, respectively). In BMG medium supplemented with l-leucine (10 mM), the concentration of this metabolite was strongly increased (2.8 mM versus 10 μM in the control). After culture in TGYH or TYH medium supplemented with l-( methyl -²H₃)leucine, 2-hydroxy-4-([²H₃]methyl)pentanoic acid was detected by GC-MS. This observation demonstrates that C. butyricum is able to convert l-leucine into the corresponding 2-hydroxy acid and opens a new aspect in the study of C. butyricum metabolism.     

Molecular typing of Clostridium perfringens isolated from turkey meat by multiplex PCR

Aims:  To determine the presence of toxin genes in 22 Clostridium perfringens isolated from turkey meat samples by molecular typing.
Methods and Results:  For this purpose, alpha ( cpa ), beta ( cpb ), beta 2 ( cpb2 ), epsilon ( etx ), iota ( iA ) and enterotoxin ( cpe ) toxin genes were analysed by multiplex PCR. All 22 turkey meat Cl. perfringens isolates were found to carry the cpa , gene but in none of the isolates cpb , etx, iap or cpe genes were detected. Results showed that all isolates represented type A and were cpe negative.
Conclusions:  Our results indicate that Cl. perfringens type A is the most common type in turkey meat. Also multiplex PCR is effective and rapid method for typing of Cl. perfringens .
Significance and Impact of the Study:  It is the first study about molecular typing of Cl. perfringens using multiplex PCR in turkey meat samples in Turkey.     

Effects of ptb knockout on butyric acid fermentation by Clostridium tyrobutyricum

Clostridium tyrobutyricum ATCC 25755 is an anaerobic, rod-shaped, gram-positive bacterium that produces butyrate, acetate, hydrogen, and carbon dioxide from various saccharides, including glucose and xylose. Phosphotransbutyrylase (PTB) is a key enzyme in the butyric acid synthesis pathway. In this work, effects of ptb knockout by homologous recombination on metabolic flux and product distribution were investigated. When compared with the wild type, the activities of PTB and butyrate kinase in ptb knockout mutant decreased 76 and 42%, respectively; meanwhile, phosphotransacetylase and acetate kinase increased 7 and 29%, respectively. However, ptb knockout did not significantly reduce butyric acid production from glucose or xylose in batch fermentations. Instead, it increased acetic acid and hydrogen production 33.3-53.8% and ≈ 11%, respectively. Thus, the ptb knockout did increase the carbon flux toward acetate synthesis, resulting in a significant decrease (28-35% reduction) in the butyrate/acetate ratio in ptb mutant fermentations. In addition, the mutant displayed a higher specific growth rate (0.20 h(-1) vs. 0.15 h(-1) on glucose and 0.14 h(-1) vs. 0.10 h(-1) on xylose) and tolerance to butyric acid. Consequently, batch fermentation with the mutant gave higher fermentation rate and productivities (26-48% increase for butyrate, 81-100% increase for acetate, and 38-46% increase for hydrogen). This mutant thus can be used more efficiently than the parental strain in fermentations to produce butyrate, acetate, and hydrogen from glucose and xylose.