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Objective: To investigate the repairing effect of Lactobacillus acidophilus LA11-Only on ceftriaxone induced intestinal micronbiota imbalance in mice and its alleviating effect on lipid metabolism., Methods: A total of 30 SPF BALB/c male mice were randomly divided into control group(10) and model group(20). The model group was given ceftriaxone sodium solution by gavage for a week to create a mouse model of antibiotic flora disorder. The natural recovery group(10) was given 10% skimmed milk solution by gavage, and the LA11-Onlly group was given Lactobacillus acidophilus skimmed milk solution(1.0×10~9CFU/mL). Two weeks later, the feces were collected aseptically.16S rRNA sequencing technology and ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography combined with mass spectrometry(UPLC-MS) were used to analyze the repair effect of LA11-Onlly on antibiotic induced bacterial flora disorder and lipid metabolism in mice., Results: After ceftriaxone treatment, the diversity of intestinal microbiota in mice decreased, and there was a significant difference in the composition of flora compared with the control group; After treatment with LA11-Onlly, the Alpha diversity increased, the abundance of beneficial bacteria such as Lactobacillus and Butyricicoccus increased, and the composition of flora was closer to the control group; At the same time, the concentration of short chain fatty acids(SCFAs) increased in varying degrees. Compared with the natural recovery group, the levels of butyric acid and valeric acid in LA11-Onlly group increased significantly, close to the same level as the control group., Conclusion: Lactobacillus acidophilus LA11-Onlly probiotics can inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria by regulating the diversity and community composition of intestinal microbiota, promote the increase of the concentration of SCFAs, and alleviate the damage of antibiotics to the body.

Surgical resection, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy are the main therapies for cancers. These cancer therapies all prolong patient survival, but also bring multiple side effects. Gut microbiota participates in almost all the physiological and biochemical processes of the host, playing a key role in human health and diseases. As an exogenous intervention, probiotics can prevent diseases and enhance immunity. Their anti-cancer ability and ameliorative effect have received increasing recognition. Herein, we reported the latest findings on gut microbiota and cancer pathogenesis, focusing on the application of probiotics in reducing the side effects caused by cancer therapies and hoping to provide supportive references for the clinical use of probiotics in cancer treatment., (Copyright© by Editorial Board of Journal of Sichuan University (Medical Sciences).)

Objectives: To examine the impact of probiotics on the lung development of preterm birth of Bama pig. Methods: From April 2020 to October 2021, this animal experimental research was performed by setting up preterm (birth at gestation 104 d), full-term (birth at gestation 113 d), preterm with probiotics (birth at gestation 104 d treated with probiotics given at 3 d after birth), and full-term with probiotics (birth at gestation 113 d treated with probiotics given at 3 d after birth) groups and using the preterm Bama minipig model, the body weights were recorded and lung, ileum, and intestinal content samples were collected at birth, 4 days, 9 days, and 21 days after births of the piglets in preterm and full-term groups, the same samples were collected on 9 days after births of the piglets in preterm with probiotics and full-term with probiotics groups. The body weight and radial alveolar counts (RAC) were compared to evaluate the lung development of the piglets. The lengths of ileal villus were compared to evaluate the development of ileum. The composition structures of bacteria in ileum were analyzed by 16 S rRNA sequencing. The statistical analyses between different groups were performed by t test. Results: There were totally 30 piglets (16 female piglets and 14 male piglets) involving 12 piglets in preterm and full-term groups respectively and 3 piglets in preterm with probiotics and full-term with probiotics groups respectively. The body weights of the piglets in preterm group were lower than those in full-term group at 4, 9 and 21 d after birth ((507±27) vs. (694±56) g, (620±35) vs. (1 092±154) g, (1 660±210) vs. (2 960±418) g, t =2.96, 2.99, 2.78, all P< 0.05). The alveolarization of the preterm piglets at 9 days after birth was significantly lower than that of the full-term piglets at the equivalent time point (4.00±0.29 vs. 6.11±0.35, t =4.64, P< 0.01). The bacteria genus with the highest abundance in ileum were all different between the preterm and the full-term groups at 4, 9 and 21 d after birth (4 d Escherichia-Shigella (26.63%) and Enterococcus (30.48%) respectively;9 d Turicibacter (35.94%) and Lactobacillus (27.33%) respectively;21 d Escherichia-Shigella (28.02%) and Lactobacillus (46.29%) respectively). The heights of ileal villus of the preterm piglets at 9 d after birth were significantly lower than those of the full-term minipigs at the equivalent time point ((297±21) vs. (411±32) μm, t =3.01, P =0.007).There were both no differences in the body weight and alveolarization ((692±36) vs. (767±67) g, 5.44±0.34 vs. 5.89±0.26, t =0.74, 1.04, both P> 0.05) between the piglets in preterm with probiotics group and those in full-term with probiotics group. Turicibacter was the dominant genus in the piglets of both preterm with probiotics and the full-term with probiotics groups. The heights of ileal villus of the piglets in preterm with probiotics group were significantly longer that those of the piglets in preterm group ((371±13) vs. (297±21) μm, t =3.04, P =0.006), and were both not significantly different from those of the piglets in full-term with probiotics group and full-term group ((371±13) vs. (338±12) and (411±32) μm, t =1.90, 1.15, both P >0.05). Conclusions: Premature birth could impact the lung alveolarization of piglets. The probiotics could improve the lung alveolarization of preterm minipigs by promoting the development of ileum.

Objective: To investigate the effects of Lactobacillus paracasei N1115 combined with fructooligosaccharides (FOS) on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in mice and its possible mechanism. Methods: A total of 50 male C57 mice were randomly and equally divided into five experimental groups. Group 1 received a normal diet (ND). Other four groups received a high-fat diet (HFD) to establish NAFLD models. In addition to HFD, group 3 received Lactobacillus paracasei N1115 (2.2×10(9) CFU/mL), group 4 received FOS (4 g/kg per day), and group 5 received Lactobacillus paracasei N1115 (2.2×10(9) CFU/mL) and FOS (4 g/kg per day). All groups received continuous intervention for 16 weeks. The following indices were measured for all groups after intervention: general condition, the levels of fasting blood glucose, insulin, and lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and the levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and interferon (IFN)-γ in the serum and liver. The mRNA levels of Toll-like receptor (TLR)4, nuclear factor (NF)-κb, insulin receptor (InsR), and insulin receptor substrate (IRS)-1 were measured by real-time RT-PCR. The data were subjected to one-way analysis of variance and comparison between groups was made by Bonferroni method. Results: Compared with group 2, groups 3, 4, and 5 had significantly lower body weight, Lee's index, liver index, and the levels of blood glucose and insulin resistance ( P < 0.05). The serum level of LPS in group 2 was significantly higher than that in the other experimental groups (group 1: 8.80 ± 0.85 U/L, group 3: 12.31 ± 1.01 U/L, group 4: 12.27 ± 0.98 U/L, and group 5: 10.17 ± 0.79 U/L vs group 2: 15.45 ± 1.14 U/L, F = 55.117, P < 0.001). The levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and IFN-γ in the serum and liver in group 2 were also significantly higher than those in the other groups ( P < 0.05). Group 2 had significantly higher mRNA levels of TLR4 and NF-κb in the liver than the other groups (F = 82.933, P < 0.001; F = 149.033, P < 0.001); however, it had significantly lower mRNA levels of InsR and IRS-1 in the liver than the other groups ( F = 33.347, P < 0.001; F = 70.225, P < 0.001). Conclusion: Lactobacillus paracasei N1115 combined with FOS can reduce the level of LPS in the blood circulation, inhibit activation of the LPS/TLR4 signaling pathway, and reduce the release of inflammatory factor and the body's insulin resistance, so it can relieve NAFLD.

Human breast milk is the most natural and ideal food for the baby. Breastfeeding provides benefits for maternal and child health, child immune function, growth and development, and society. The operation of human milk bank and the use of donor human milk undoubtedly provides a new way of nutrition support for the preterm infants without their own mother's milk and a new kind of treatment for other diseases. Present research on the composition of breast milk focuses on the variety and quantity of proteins, bioactive substances, probiotics and cell population.Future research may focus on the bioactive substances, the mechanism of regulation and effect of cell population, the application of probiotics and the clinical application of donor human milk.

Objective: To observe the influences of bifidobacterium on glucose and lipid metabolism and intestinal flora in type 2 diabetes mellitus rats., Methods: Rats were randomly divided into 4 groups, the blank control group was fed with basic forage, the other 3 groups were fed with high fat diet. Meanwhile the high-dose and low-dose groups were gavage administrated with 12 and 4 ml/(kg x d) probiotic bifidobacterium for 6 weeks, then, injected with low dose of streptozotocin (20 mg/kg). All rats were sacrificed 2 weeks later, blood and feces samples were collected to analyse., Results: Compared with rats of type 2 diabetes model, glucose concentrations and serum concentrations of FFA, TG, LDL-C of 2 experimental groups were significantly lower, serum concentrations of HDL-C were higher, insulin sensitivity index was higher, content of bifidobacterium was higher, but there were no significant differences in other 5 bacteria., Conclusion: The probiotic bifidobacterium could significantly ameliorate the disorder of glucose and lipid metabolism, increase the amount of bifidobacterium of type 2 diabetes rats.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of probiotics (bifidobacterium breve and lactobacillus acidophilus) on serum lipid, serum insulin and insulin resistance in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese rats., Methods: Fifty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to a control (n=10) and a high fat diet groups (n=40) and were fed with standard diet and HFD respectively. Four weeks later, thirty-six HFD-induced obese rats were randomly administered with normal saline (NS), bifidobacterium breve and lactobacillus acidophilus daily (n=12 each). Four weeks later, body lengths, body weights and abdomen circumference of rats were measured, blood lipid, glucose and insulin levels were measured, and Lee's index and insulin resistance index were calculated., Results: Body weight, abdomen circumference, Lee's index, fasting glucose, triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low density lipoprotein (LDL) in the NS-treated HFD group were significantly higher than the control group (P<0.05). The bifidobacterium breve and lactobacillus acidophilus-treated groups had significantly lower levels of body weight, abdomen circumference, Lee's index, fasting glucose, TC, TG and LDL than the NS-treated HFD group (P<0.05), but the levels of the parameters in the bifidobacterium breve and lactobacillus acidophilus-treated groups were significantly higher than the control group (P<0.05). High density lipoprotein (HDL) and insulin sensitivity index in the NS-treated HFD group were significantly lower than the control group (P<0.05). Bifidobacterium breve and lactobacillus acidophilus treatment dramatically increased HDL levels and insulin sensitivity index compared with the NS-treated HFD group (P<0.05), although the levels of the two parameters did not reach to the levels of the control group. There were significant differences in the levels of fasting insulin, insulin resistance index and insulin secretion index between the bifidobacterium breve and lactobacillus acidophilus groups (P<0.05)., Conclusions: Lactobacillus acidophilus and bifidobacterium breve can decrease serum levels of lipid and glucose and improve insulin resistance in obese rats. Bifidobacterium breve seems to be more effective on attenuating insulin resistance than lactobacillus acidophilus.

Objective: To investigate MUC2 expression in rat colons induced by probiotics and its effects on the inhibition of E.coli K1 (E44) penetration of the intestinal barrier by probiotics., Methods: SD rats were subjected to intragastric administration of probiotics, E44, or probiotics +E44 on a daily basis for 7 days, and MUC2 expression in the colons was determined by RT-PCR. MUC2-targeted shRNA (shRNA MUC2) and scrambled shRNA plasmids (shRNA NC) were respectively transfected into Lovo cells, and the efficiency of MUC2 knockdown was determined using qRT-PCR. Competitive exclusion assay was used to evaluate the effects of the probiotics against E44 adhesion and invasion., Results: Intestinal MUC2 mRNA expression was up-regulated in the rats after intragastric administration of probiotics, while E44 administration caused significantly lowered MUC2 expression. MUC2 expression was down-regulated (by 66.7%) by transfection with shRNA MUC2 in Lovo cells as compared with the negative control and mock control cells. The inhibition of E44 adherence and invasion by probiotics was significantly attenuated in transfected Lovo cell culture (in which the relative adhesion and invasion rates of E44 were 56.64% and 66.64%, respectively) as compared with those in the control group., Conclusion: The up-regulation of MUC2 in rat colons can be one of the mechanisms of the probiotics in antagonizing the translocation of the pathogenic bacteria. Silencing MUC2 expression causes attenuated inhibitory effect of the probiotics on E. coli K1 penetration across human intestinal epithelial cells.

Objective: To study the effect of mouth-fed probiotics on pathogenic bacteria colonization of the oropharynx and lower respiratory tract in neonates undergoing mechanical ventilation., Methods: Randomized control method was employed to divide the neonates undergoing mechanical ventilation into probiotics (n=82) and control groups (n=83). The control group received routine treatment. The probiotics group was administered with oral probiotics in addition to routine treatment. The number of pathogenic bacteria colonized on the oropharynx and lower respiratory tract, and the number of the bacterial strain of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) in the two groups were examined. The timing of the bacteria colonization and VAP occurrence were also examined., Results: The probiotics group presented a lower bacterial strain colonization rate of the oropharynx pathogenic bacteria than the control group (35% vs 51%; P<0.05). The colonization time of pathogenic bacteria of the oropharynx and lower respiratory tract, and the time of VAP occurrence lagged behind in the probiotics group compared with that the control group (P<0.05). No adverse reaction caused by probiotics was found., Conclusions: Probiotics administration is effective in decreasing pathogenic bacteria colonization on the oropharynx, in postponing the pathogenic bacteria colonization on the oropharynx and lower respiratory tract and in delaying the occurrence of VAP in neonates undergoing mechanical ventilation.

Objective: We studied the antiviral activity of probiotics and possible mechanism thereof., Methods: With hemagglutination in vitro and 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) of chicken embryo fibroblast (CEF), the hemagglutination titers and virus inhibition rate were respectively determined to evaluate the impact of probiotics on Newcastle Disease Virus (NDV)., Results: Five probiotics and their metabolites could reduce the viral titer of NDV, but the two pathogenic bacteria and their metabolites could not. These results indicated that probiotics may destruct the structure of NDV directly and this effect was strain-specific. Probiotics could inhibit the replication rate of NDV significantly in a dose-dependent manner (P<0.01). The inhibitory rate increased when the cells were pre-treated with probiotics, which indicated that the probiotics might block NDV adsorbing to the cells. The fact that addition of probiotics and NDV at the same time reduced the cytopathic effect (CPE) of cells suggested that probiotics could destruct the viral structure directly; the lower inhibitory rate of viral replication when cells infected with NDV before addition of probiotics to the cells suggested that the probiotics worked hardly after the cells were infected., Conclusion: Probiotics can not only destruct the virus, but also block the virus infection of the cells and inhibit the viral proliferation in the cells.

We reviewed existing literature concerning the effects of probiotics on serum cholesterol levels in animals and humans, with particular attention to the possible mechanisms of their action. Probiotics are live microorganisms, which, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host. One specific benefit that has been reported is that certain probiotic strains (e. g. lactobacilli, bifidobacteria and enterococci) can lower serum cholesterol levels. However, conclusions regarding such hypocholesterollemic effects can vary from studies on animals and humans due to differences in their physiology. As for the cholesterol-lowering mechanisms, different hypotheses have been proposed, including: (I) cholesterol is absorbed into the cellular membrane or cytoplasm; (II) cholesterol is bound to the cellular surface; (III) cholesterol is co-precipitated with free bile acids; (IV) conjugated bile acids were hydrolyzed by probiotics and the resulting free bile acids are more likely than are conjugated ones to be excreted from the body; (V) free bile acids were bound to the cellular surface by capsule exocellular polysaccharides produced by probiotics; (VI) food-derived indigestible carbohydrates were fermented by probiotics to produce propanoic acid in the gut, which can then decrease systemic levels of serum cholesterol by inhibiting hepatic cholesterol synthesis; (VII) a reduction in cholesterol absorption by probiotics through the down-regulation of NPC1L1 gene expression of cells; and (VIII) cholesterol micelle is disrupted by probiotics. The future research is needed to further confirm these hypotheses.

Objective: To study the efficacy and safety of probiotics for the prevention of feeding intolerance in low birth weight (LBW) premature infants., Methods: Sixty eligible LBW premature infants were randomly divided into probiotics and conventional treatment groups (n=30 each). Both groups received treatment of the primary disease. Additionally, the probiotics treatment group was administered with probiotics (0.25 g, twice daily). The incidence of feeding intolerance, the time to regain birth weight and to reach full enteral nutrition and the length of hospitalization were compared between the two groups. The occurrence of adverse reactions was recorded., Results: The incidence of feeding intolerance in the probiotics treatment group was lower than that in the conventional treatment group (4% vs 14%; P<0.01). The time to regain birth weight (6.8±1.2 days vs 7.7±1.6 days; P<0.05) and the time to reach full enteral nutrition (8.0±1.4 days vs 9.0±2.0 days; P<0.05) in the probiotics treatment group were shorter than those in the conventional treatment group. No adverse reactions were observed in the probiotics treatment group., Conclusions: Probiotics can reduce the incidence of feeding intolerance in LBW premature infants, can promote weight gain and shorten the time to reach full enteral nutrition. The application of probiotics appears to be safe in LBW premature infants.

Objective: To study the possible roles of probiotics in decreasing intestinal bacterial colonization rate and the incidence of enterogenic infections in premature infants., Methods: Seventy premature infants were randomly assigned to two groups: probiotics and conventional treatment groups (control) (n=35 each). The probiotics treatment group was administered with oral Clostridium butyricum powder (250 mg, twice daily up to discharge) 24 hrs after birth except conventional treatment. Rectal swab cultures were done at admission, 5 and 12 days after admission, and before discharge. Clinical and laboratory findings were compared between the two groups., Results: The intestinal bacterial colonization rate in the probiotics treatment group was lower than that in the control group 12 days after admission (60% vs 83%; p<0.05) and before discharge (51% vs 80%; p<0.05). Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli and Enterococcus faecium were common colonization bacteria in the two groups. Diarrhea occurred in 7 cases (20%) in the probiotics treatment group compared with 16 cases (46%) in the control group (p<0.05). Two infants (6%) developed sepsis in the probiotics treatment group compared with 9 cases (26%) in the control group (p<0.05)., Conclusions: Probiotics can decrease intestinal bacterial colonization rate and the incidence of diarrhea and sepsis in premature infants.

Probiotics are defined as viable microorganisms that exhibit a beneficial effect on the health of the host when they are ingested. They have many beneficial effects for health, and are commonly recognized as safe. With the development of the protein expression technique for probiotics, the study of probiotics to be used as protein, antigen and antibody delivery vehicles becomes a new highlight. This paper used Lactobacillus as the delegate of probiotics, summarized the effect principle, relevant technique and advances of genetic engineering vaccine delivered by probiotics.

Changes of bacterial flora from hindguts of piglets from 7 to 35 days of age (two weeks after weaning) were studied after oral administration of L. amylovorus S1, using molecular techniques based on 16S rDNA gene. Six litters of neonatal piglets were divided randomly into control group and treatment group. At 7, 9, 11 days of age, piglets in treatment group received 1, 2 and 3mL preparation of S1 (5 x 10(9) CFU/mL) through oral administration, respectively. On D 7, 14, 21, 24 and 35, one piglet from each litter was slaughtered and samples of hindguts were collected for analysis. The results showed that high G + C mol% bacteria in hindguts of piglets disappeared after weaning and restored gradually two weeks later. Sequencing analysis indicated that most of these high G + C mol% bacteria blonged to Lactobacillus spp. . Statistical analysis showed that treatment with S1 had no marked effect on diversity index of predominant bacteria from hindguts in piglets. By comparing the bands in DGGE profiles between two groups, a specific band in treatment group was found in profiles from piglets at 14 days of age, sequence matched with that showed 95 % similarity to Clostridium disporicum. At 35 days of age, another specific band appeared in control group, which was identified to be Streptococcus suis (99% ).

This paper studied the effects of probiotics on the sediment of Penaeus vannamei pond during 117 days of culture period. The results showed that probiotics application significantly decreased the concentrations of total nitrogen, total phosphorous, and sulfide in sediment, but no significant difference was observed in total plate count (TPC) of microbes between treated and control ponds. The final average presumptive vibrio count (PVC) of treated pond sediment (3.65 x 10(3) cfu x g(-1)) was significantly lower than that of the control (1.16 x 10(5) cfu x g(-1)), while the average number of BS (Bacillus), AB (ammonifying bacteria), PSOB (presumptive sulphur oxidizing bacteria) and SRB (sulphur reducing bacteria) in treated pond sediment was higher than that of the control. These data showed that probiotics could decrease the nutrients (nitrogen, phosphate and sulfur) accumulation and improve the composition of bacterial populations in pond sediment, and thus, supply a good sediment environment for the healthily culture of the shrimp.

21 strains of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, isolated from feces of healthy youth and children feces and identified by molecular biological methods, together with 6 strains of probiotics preserved in Onlly lab were studied in the experiments, including removal cholesterol from media, bile-tolerance and acid-tolerance. The results demonstrated that all strains could remove cholesterol from media and removal rates of 5 strains were more than 40%. Meanwhile these 5 strains had high removal effectiveness. The bile-tolerance and acid-tolerance were varied from strain to strain. Among 27 strains, Bm26 demonstrated higher ability of removal cholesterol, bile-tolerance and bile-tolerance than other strains.

Different doses of probiotics EM were added to the diets of blue fox in its growth phase to study the effects of EM additives on its growth, digestion metabolism and immune function. The results showed that with EM additives applied, the ingestion and average daily gains were increased remarkably (P < 0.05). The apparent digest rate of crude fibre, crude protein, mineral elements Ca, P and NPU could be increased (P < 0.05) and correlated with its dose, and the digest rates of the later four targets in group III were increased by 8.21%, 16.27%, 9.82%, and 12.13%, respectively. EM additives could not increase the digest rate of ether extral and N-free extract. Disease of diarrhoea and blood in stool could be prevented and cured, and immune function and the survival rate of fox in growth phase could be increased remarkably. EM, which a kind of efficient, safe and environmental protection additives, can be extended and applied in farming of fur animals.