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Simple Summary: Research increasingly shows that bacteria, the largest part of the gut microbiome, may play a significant role in cancer. These microorganisms produce metabolites that can travel through the body and interact with host cells via microbial metabolite receptors, potentially affecting cancer development. This study investigates the involvement of these receptors in human cells across twenty-three types of cancer. By analyzing data from both cancer cell lines and human tumor samples, we examined how these interactions may impact key cancer-related processes, such as immune response, tumor growth, and spread. Notably, we identified several receptors that are consistently altered in cancer, which might serve as helpful biomarkers for diagnosis or treatment. This research highlights the potential of targeting the gut microbiome in cancer therapy and provides valuable insights for developing new cancer treatments based on microbiome interactions. Background/Objectives: The role of the gut microbiome in cancer biology has become an increasingly prominent area of research, particularly regarding the role of microbial metabolites and their receptors (MMRs). These metabolites, through the various gut–organ axes, have been proven to influence several pathogenetic mechanisms. This study conducted a comprehensive pan-cancer analysis of MMR transcriptomic profiles across twenty-three cancer types, exploring the mechanisms through which they can influence cancer development and progression. Methods: Utilizing both cancer cell lines from CCLE (Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia) and human tumor samples from TCGA (The Cancer Gene Atlas), we analyzed 107 MMRs interacting with microbial metabolites such as short-chain fatty acids, bile acids, indole derivatives, and others while studying their interactions with key known cancer genes. Results: Our results revealed that certain MMRs, such as GPR84 and serotonin receptors, are consistently upregulated in various malignancies, while others, like ADRA1A, are frequently downregulated, suggesting diverse roles in cancer pathophysiology. Furthermore, we identified significant correlations between MMR expression and cancer hallmark genes and pathways, including immune evasion, proliferation, and metastasis. Conclusions: These findings suggest that the interactions between microbial metabolites and MMRs may serve as potential biomarkers for cancer diagnosis, prognosis, and therapy, highlighting their therapeutic potential. This study underscores the significance of the microbiota–cancer axis and provides novel insights into microbiome-based strategies for cancer treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rice-based vaccines do not require high-cost purification. They are stable at room temperature, can eliminate the risk of attenuated vaccine strains, and are resistant to gastrointestinal degradation. We tested the applicability of an oral delivery system for tuberculosis (TB) and cholera antigens in transgenic rice for induction of immune responses in the mucosal compartment as well as in the systemic circulation. For vaccine development, we selected mycobacterial Ag85B antigen and immunoprotective P4 epitope of TcpA fused to the nontoxic cholera toxin B (CTB) subunit for immunization against TB and cholera, respectively, in independent constructs. The expression levels of CTB, CTB-TcpA, and CTB-Ag85B in transgenic lines containing stably integrated, chimeric genes showed up to 0.64%, 0.34%, and 0.02% of total rice seed protein, respectively. Oral immunization of mice with each of the three seed lines resulted in significantly increased levels of both anti-CTB IgG and IgA responses in the serum and IgA responses in the bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid. This indicated the capacity for oral immunization to elicit immune responses in the respiratory mucosal compartment. Plant-expressed TcpA could be detected in immunoblot analysis by using TcpA-specific commercial antibody, while there was no recognition of rice-expressed Ag85B by the commercial antibody raised against the latter antigen, where both antibodies were produced against the antigens expressed in the bacterial system. This study focused on identifying antigens resistant to both posttranslational modifications in plants and immunogenic under the proposed delivery system in animals for boosting the mucosal and systemic humoral immune response against enteric as well as respiratory pathogens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cholera is endemic in Bangladesh, with outbreaks reported annually. Currently, the majority of epidemic cholera reported globally is El Tor biotype Vibrio cholerae isolates of the serogroup O1. However, in Bangladesh, outbreaks attributed to V. cholerae serogroup O139 isolates, which fall within the same phylogenetic lineage as the O1 serogroup isolates, were seen between 1992 and 1993 and in 2002 to 2005. Since then, V. cholerae serogroup O139 has only been sporadically isolated in Bangladesh and is now rarely isolated elsewhere., Methods: Here, we present case histories of four cholera patients infected with V. cholerae serogroup O139 in 2013 and 2014 in Bangladesh. We comprehensively typed these isolates using conventional approaches, as well as by whole genome sequencing. Phenotypic typing and PCR confirmed all four isolates belonging to the O139 serogroup., Findings: Whole genome sequencing revealed that three of the isolates were phylogenetically closely related to previously sequenced El Tor biotype, pandemic 7, toxigenic V. cholerae O139 isolates originating from Bangladesh and elsewhere. The fourth isolate was a non-toxigenic V. cholerae that, by conventional approaches, typed as O139 serogroup but was genetically divergent from previously sequenced pandemic 7 V. cholerae lineages belonging to the O139 or O1 serogroups., Conclusion: These results suggest that previously observed lineages of V. cholerae O139 persist in Bangladesh and can cause clinical disease and that a novel disease-causing non-toxigenic O139 isolate also occurs.