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The aim of this experiment was to investigate the effects of Chinese herbal preparations on serum biochemical and immune indexes, intestinal tissue morphology and digestive enzyme activity of Hu sheep. Eighteen 3-month-old healthy Hu male lambs with an average body weight of (19.60± 1.63) kg were randomly divided into 3 groups (control group, group A and group B) with 6 sheep in each group. The sheep in control group were fed a basal diet, and the sheep in groups A and B were fed 0.5% and 1.0% Chinese herbal preparations in concentrate supplement. The experiment lasted for 90 days. The results showed as follows: ① the total protein (TP) of sheep in group A was significantly higher than that of in control group (P<0.05), and the albumin (ALB) of control group was extremely significantly lower than that of groups A and B (P<0.05). ② Immunoglobulin A (IgA) in group B was extremely significantly higher than that of in control group and group A (P<0.01), immunoglobulin M (IgM) in control group was extremely significantly lower than that of groups A and B (P<0.01), lysozyme activity in control group was extremely significantly lower than that of groups A and B (P<0.01). ③ Ileum villi length in group B was extremely significantly higher than that in group A and control group (P<0.01), and muscle thickness in control group was extremely significantly lower than that in groups A and B (P<0.01). The muscle thickness of duodenum group B was significantly higher than that of group A (P<0.05), and the ratio of velvet to crypto in group B was significantly higher than that of control group (P<0.05). The villus length and pile-to-crypto ratio of jejunum in control group were extremely significantly lower than those in groups A and B (P<0.01). The results showed that Chinese herbal preparations could significantly improve the immunity and intestinal absorption and utilization ability of Hu sheep, the effect of 1% addition is better. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Animals form functional units with their microbial communities, termed metaorganisms. Despite extensive research on some model animals, microbial diversity in many species remains unexplored. Here, we describe the taxonomic profile of the microbes from the outer gut mucus layer from the Northeast Arctic cod using a shotgun DNA sequencing approach. We focused on the mucus to determine if its microbial composition differs from that of the fecal microbiota, which could reveal unique microbial interactions and functions. Metagenomes from six individuals were analyzed, revealing three different taxonomic profiles: Type I is dominated in numbers by Pseudomonadaceae (44%) and Xanthomonadaceae (13%), Type II by Vibrionaceae (65%), and Type III by Enterobacteriaceae (76%). This stands in sharp contrast to the bacterial diversity of the transient gut content (i.e., feces). Additionally, binning of assembled reads followed by phylogenomic analyses place a high-completeness bin of Type I within the Pseudomonas fluorescens group, Type II within the Photobacterium phosphoreum clade, and Type III within the Escherichia/Shigella group. In conclusion, we describe the adherent bacterial diversity in the Northeast Arctic cod's intestine using shotgun sequencing, revealing different taxonomic profiles compared to the more homogenous transient microbiota. This suggests that the intestine contains two separate and distinct microbial populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

【Objective】Although the policies for reducing or replacing antibiotics have been in place for many years, the use of antibiotics in the early stages of piglet rearing remains an important aspect of disease prevention and treatment in intensive farming operations. The study of the differences in antibiotic resistance and virulence of Escherichia coli isolated from different parts (intestinal tract and mammary gland) of sows with antibiotics in piglet stage in farms can provide a scientific basis for the optimization of antibiotic use in intensive farms.【Method】This study recorded the antibiotic usage of sows in a intensive Luochuan pig farm in Zhanjiang City, Guangdong Province, from the birth to around 420 days of age of piglets. Colostrum (within 2 h after delivery), regular milk (24-72 h after delivery) and fresh fecal samples from the anus were collected from healthy sows of the same batch at approximately 420 days of age. Suspected E. coli isolates were obtained by using MacConkey agar plates. Antibiotic susceptibility was analyzed through antibiotic sensitivity test, and the presence of virulence genes was examined by PCR.【Result】A total of 704 suspected E. coli isolates were obtained by using MacConkey agar plates, including 300 isolates from fecal samples, 220 from colostrum, and 184 from regular milk. Antibiotic sensitivity test revealed that the resistance rate of fecal E. coli to ampicillin and tetracycline was 96.3% (289/300), with a resistance rate of 63.6% (7/11) to other common antibiotics, and an overall resistance rate of 98.7% (296/300). The resistance rate of colostrum E. coli to ampicillin and tetracycline was 99.5% (219/220), with a resistance rate of 100% (1/1) to other common antibiotics, and an overall resistance rate of 100% (220/220). The resistance rate of regular milk E. coli to ampicillin and tetracycline was 40.8% (75/184), with a resistance rate of 67.9% (74/109) to other common antibiotics, and an overall resistance rate of 81.0% (149/184). A total of 39 non-antibiotic-resistant E. coli strains were identified. PCR detection showed that most of the 39 non-antibioticresistant E. coli strains did not contain common virulence genes associated with porcine pathogenic E. coli (89.74%, 35/39). Additionally, only 2.86% (1/35) of non-antibiotic-resistant regular milk E. coli strains carried virulence genes, while 75.0% (3/4) of non-antibiotic-resistant fecal E. coli strains carried virulence genes.【Conclusion】From the stage where antibiotics are used to prevent and control diseases in piglets to their growth into primiparous sows, a small number of non-virulent and nonantibiotic-resistant E. coli strains are still isolated from the anus and mammary glands. Among them, the proportion of nonvirulent and non-antibiotic-resistant E. coli in feces is extremely low, accounting for only 0.33% (1/300). No non-virulent and non-antibiotic-resistant E. coli are isolated from colostrum within 2 hours after delivery, accounting for 0% (0/220). However, a relatively higher proportion of non-virulent and non-antibiotic-resistant E. coli is found in regular milk collected 24-72 h after delivery, accounting for 18.48% (34/184).

【Objective】Although the policies for reducing or replacing antibiotics have been in place for many years, the use of antibiotics in the early stages of piglet rearing remains an important aspect of disease prevention and treatment in intensive farming operations. The study of the differences in antibiotic resistance and virulence of Escherichia coli isolated from different parts (intestinal tract and mammary gland) of sows with antibiotics in piglet stage in farms can provide a scientific basis for the optimization of antibiotic use in intensive farms.【Method】This study recorded the antibiotic usage of sows in a intensive Luochuan pig farm in Zhanjiang City, Guangdong Province, from the birth to around 420 days of age of piglets. Colostrum (within 2 h after delivery), regular milk (24-72 h after delivery) and fresh fecal samples from the anus were collected from healthy sows of the same batch at approximately 420 days of age. Suspected E. coli isolates were obtained by using MacConkey agar plates. Antibiotic susceptibility was analyzed through antibiotic sensitivity test, and the presence of virulence genes was examined by PCR.【Result】A total of 704 suspected E. coli isolates were obtained by using MacConkey agar plates, including 300 isolates from fecal samples, 220 from colostrum, and 184 from regular milk. Antibiotic sensitivity test revealed that the resistance rate of fecal E. coli to ampicillin and tetracycline was 96.3% (289/300), with a resistance rate of 63.6% (7/11) to other common antibiotics, and an overall resistance rate of 98.7% (296/300). The resistance rate of colostrum E. coli to ampicillin and tetracycline was 99.5% (219/220), with a resistance rate of 100% (1/1) to other common antibiotics, and an overall resistance rate of 100% (220/220). The resistance rate of regular milk E. coli to ampicillin and tetracycline was 40.8% (75/184), with a resistance rate of 67.9% (74/109) to other common antibiotics, and an overall resistance rate of 81.0% (149/184). A total of 39 non-antibiotic-resistant E. coli strains were identified. PCR detection showed that most of the 39 non-antibiotic-resistant E. coli strains did not contain common virulence genes associated with porcine pathogenic E. coli (89.74%, 35/39). Additionally, only 2.86% (1/35) of non-antibiotic-resistant regular milk E. coli strains carried virulence genes, while 75.0% (3/4) of non-antibiotic-resistant fecal E. coli strains carried virulence genes.【Conclusion】From the stage where antibiotics are used to prevent and control diseases in piglets to their growth into primiparous sows, a small number of non-virulent and nonantibiotic-resistant E. coli strains are still isolated from the anus and mammary glands. Among them, the proportion of nonvirulent and non-antibiotic-resistant E. coli in feces is extremely low, accounting for only 0.33% (1/300). No non-virulent and non-antibiotic-resistant E. coli are isolated from colostrum within 2 hours after delivery, accounting for 0% (0/220). However, a relatively higher proportion of non-virulent and non-antibiotic-resistant E. coli is found in regular milk collected 24-72 h after delivery, accounting for 18.48% (34/184). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Simple Summary: In symbiotic interactions, microorganisms associated with the intestinal tract, constituting the gut microbiome, are especially important, because they influence the life history and fitness of their host organisms. The gut microbiome of ground beetles, one of the most species-rich animal families, is poorly known, and research on sex-specific differences is almost completely missing. Investigating the gut bacterial microbiome of a widespread European carnivorous species, Carabus convexus, using next-generation high-throughput sequencing, we found 1138 different operational taxonomic units belonging to 21 bacterial phyla, 90 families, and 197 genera. One of the most abundant bacterial families and genera was previously not known from the digestive tracts of other ground beetle species. We also detected carbohydrate-degrading gut bacterial symbionts, which indicated possible plant feeding in this predatory species. Although the composition of the gut bacterial microbiome was not significantly different between the sexes, the gut symbionts showed more between-individual variability in females. This difference may result from the different mobility of sexes and the difference in reproductive investment. Biological interactions, including symbiotic ones, have vital roles in ecological and evolutionary processes. Microbial symbionts in the intestinal tracts, known as the gut microbiome, are especially important because they can fundamentally influence the life history, fitness, and competitiveness of their hosts. Studies on the gut-resident microorganisms of wild animals focus mainly on vertebrates, and studies on species-rich invertebrate taxa, such as ground beetles, are sparse. In fact, even among the species-rich genus Carabus, only the gut microbiome of two Asian species was studied, while results on European species are completely missing. Here, we investigated the gut bacterial microbiome of a widespread European Carabus species, targeting the V3 and V4 regions of the 16S ribosomal RNA genes by next-generation high-throughput sequencing. We identified 1138 different operational taxonomic units assigned to 21 bacterial phyla, 90 families, and 197 genera. Members of the carbohydrate-degrading Prevotellaceae family, previously not detected in ground beetles, were the most abundant in the gut microbiome of the carnivorous C. convexus. Presumably, individuals from the studied wild populations also consume plant materials, especially fruits, and these carbohydrate-degrading bacterial symbionts can facilitate both the consumption and the digestion of these supplementary foods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the number of pets has increased rapidly, especially in the case of dogs and cats. Pets have become important family members, and pet owners are paying more and more attention to the health and welfare of their pets. The health of pets is closely related to the health of their intestinal flora. Probiotics, as one of the tools to improve the health of host intestinal flora, play an important role in regulating immune function, producing antimicrobial compounds and improving the intestinal barrier. This paper reviews the research on the application of probiotics in functional foods for pets, as well as discusses the existing problems and prospects for the future, aiming to provide a reference for the scientific application of probiotics in functional foods for pets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) like to eat aquatic plants. The intestinal microorganism plays an important role in cellulose degradation and utilization. Isolating bacteria which can degrade cellulose from the intestines of P. clarkii can provide a theoretical basis for the development of probiotics in forage for P. clarkii. Three selective media including carboxymethyl-cellulose, microcrystalline cellulose, and cellobiose were used in plate cultures for 48h and then dyed with Congo red. It was found that 5 strains produced hydrolytic rings on 3 culture media at 48h. Based on the results of 16S rRNA molecular analysis, strains C, E, G, H, and M were identified as Citrobacter sp., Staphylococcus sp., Acinetobacter johnsonii, Shewanella sp., and Aeromonas caviae, respectively. Specifically, Staphylococcus sp. exhibited the strongest capacity for the degradation of cellulose. Shewanella sp. showed the strongest degradation capacity for cellobiose. Acinetobacter johnsonii and Shewanella sp. can degrade cellulose and are expected to be used as probiotic feed for P. clarkii. This study can provide a theoretical basis for the healthy culture of P. clarkii. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Copyright of Journal of Chinese Institute of Food Science & Technology / Zhongguo Shipin Xuebao is the property of Journal of Chinese Institute of Food Science & Technology Periodical Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Animals form functional units with their microbial communities, termed metaorganisms. Despite extensive research on some model animals, microbial diversity in many species remains unexplored. Here, we describe the taxonomic profile of the microbes from the outer gut mucus layer from the Northeast Arctic cod using a shotgun DNA sequencing approach. We focused on the mucus to determine if its microbial composition differs from that of the fecal microbiota, which could reveal unique microbial interactions and functions. Metagenomes from six individuals were analyzed, revealing three different taxonomic profiles: Type I is dominated in numbers by Pseudomonadaceae (44%) and Xanthomonadaceae (13%), Type II by Vibrionaceae (65%), and Type III by Enterobacteriaceae (76%). This stands in sharp contrast to the bacterial diversity of the transient gut content (i.e., feces). Additionally, binning of assembled reads followed by phylogenomic analyses place a high-completeness bin of Type I within the Pseudomonas fluorescens group, Type II within the Photobacterium phosphoreum clade, and Type III within the Escherichia/Shigella group. In conclusion, we describe the adherent bacterial diversity in the Northeast Arctic cod’s intestine using shotgun sequencing, revealing different taxonomic profiles compared to the more homogenous transient microbiota. This suggests that the intestine contains two separate and distinct microbial populations.

The intestine is the largest mechanosensitive organ in the human body whose epithelial cells, smooth muscle cells, neurons and enteroendocrine cells must sense and respond to various mechanical stimuli such as motility, distension, stretch and shear to regulate physiological processes including digestion, absorption, secretion, motility and immunity. Piezo channels are a newly discovered class of mechanosensitive ion channels consisting of two subtypes, Piezo1 and Piezo2. Piezo channels are widely expressed in the intestine and are involved in physiological and pathological processes. The present review summarizes the current research progress on the expression, function and regulation of Piezo channels in the intestine, with the aim of providing a reference for the future development of therapeutic strategies targeting Piezo channels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biological interactions, including symbiotic ones, have vital roles in ecological and evolutionary processes. Microbial symbionts in the intestinal tracts, known as the gut microbiome, are especially important because they can fundamentally influence the life history, fitness, and competitiveness of their hosts. Studies on the gut-resident microorganisms of wild animals focus mainly on vertebrates, and studies on species-rich invertebrate taxa, such as ground beetles, are sparse. In fact, even among the species-rich genus Carabus, only the gut microbiome of two Asian species was studied, while results on European species are completely missing. Here, we investigated the gut bacterial microbiome of a widespread European Carabus species, targeting the V3 and V4 regions of the 16S ribosomal RNA genes by next-generation high-throughput sequencing. We identified 1138 different operational taxonomic units assigned to 21 bacterial phyla, 90 families, and 197 genera. Members of the carbohydrate-degrading Prevotellaceae family, previously not detected in ground beetles, were the most abundant in the gut microbiome of the carnivorous C. convexus. Presumably, individuals from the studied wild populations also consume plant materials, especially fruits, and these carbohydrate-degrading bacterial symbionts can facilitate both the consumption and the digestion of these supplementary foods.

The research aim is to examine the possibilities of including the sodium humate (NaHum) additive derived from freshwater sapropel in feed to identify its effects on growth performance, promote haematopoiesis, and modulate the microbiota of the intestinal tract. The research was done under production conditions, complying with Latvian and European Union legislation on the keeping, feeding, and welfare of farm animals. The research had three replications, and for each of them, two groups of Holstein breeding heifers were established: control (3xn=7) and research (3xn=7). The duration of each replication was 9 days in the adaptation period and 105 days in the research period. The heifers of the research group received the NaHum solution additive with feed from the 1st to 35th day (stage 1) at an intake rate of 0.4 mL/kg of live weight, from the 36th to 70th day (stage 2) at an intake rate of 0.5 mL/kg of live weight, and from the 71st to 105th day (stage 3) at an intake rate of 0.6 mL/kg of live weight. The breeding heifers of the research group, receiving NaHum at an intake rate of 0.6 mL/kg of live weight, achieved a significantly higher live weight gain at stage 3 and an overall numerically higher live weight gain (by 4.8 kg) than the control group during the research period. Consequently, a significantly higher relative growth ratio (0.334) was found in the research group at stage 3, which was 0.028 higher than that in the control group. The Lactobacillus spp. count in faecal samples was steady at the end of the research; a significant difference was found between groups, with the average ranging between 6.95 (control group) and 8.49 log CFU/g (research (NaHum) group). The novelty of the research is that it was scientifically proven that feeding the NaHum additive derived from freshwater lake sapropel to the breeding Holstein heifers up to 5 months of age increased their feed intake and live weight gain, as well as activity and health. Doi: 10.28991/ESJ-2023-07-04-023 Full Text: PDF

Copyright of Modern Food Science & Technology is the property of Editorial Office of Modern Food Science & Technology and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Fecal samples or cloacal swabs are preferred over lethal dissections to study vertebrate gut microbiota for ethical reasons, but it remains unclear which nonlethal methods provide more accurate information about gut microbiota. We compared the bacterial communities of three gastrointestinal tract (GIT) segments, that is, stomach, small intestine (midgut), and rectum (hindgut) with the bacterial communities of the cloaca and feces in the mesquite lizard Sceloporus grammicus. The hindgut had the highest taxonomic and functional alpha diversity, followed by midgut and feces, whereas the stomach and cloaca showed the lowest diversities. The taxonomic assemblages of the GIT segments at the phylum level were strongly correlated with those retrieved from feces and cloacal swabs (rs > 0.84 in all cases). The turnover ratio of Amplicon Sequence Variants (ASVs) between midgut and hindgut and the feces was lower than the ratio between these segments and the cloaca. More than half of the core‐ASVs in the midgut (24 of 32) and hindgut (58 of 97) were also found in feces, while less than 5 were found in the cloaca. At the ASVs level, however, the structure of the bacterial communities of the midgut and hindgut were similar to those detected in feces and cloaca. Our findings suggest that fecal samples and cloacal swabs of spiny lizards provide a good approximation of the taxonomic assemblages and beta diversity of midgut and hindgut microbiota, while feces better represent the bacterial communities of the intestinal segments at a single nucleotide variation level than cloacal swabs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective This study aimed to investigate the expression of CD73 in colonic tissues in Crohn's disease (CD) and its significance and possible mechanism of action. Methods Thirty male BALB/c mice were randomly divided into normal control group, model group and intervention group. The control group was fed normally, and the model group was treated with TNBS+40% alcohol enema to establish a mouse model of Crohn's disease induced by chronic inflammation. The intervention group was treated with AB-680 intraperitoneally on the second day of each enema based on the model group. Mice body weight, fecal traits and fecal occult blood were recorded for disease activity index (DAI) score of inflammatory bowel disease. The animals were sacrificed at 7th week, their colonic tissues were removed, weighed and measured. The tissue inflammation was observed by standard hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining. Masson staining was used to measure the area of collagen in colon tissue of mice. CD73 was detected by fluorescence quantitative PCR and immunohistochemistry. The expression levels of TGF-β, TNF-α and IL-6 in colon tissue of mice were determined by ELISA. Results The DAI score was (0.10±0.16) in the control group, (2.80±0.79) in the model group, and (3.07±0.34) in the intervention group. Compared with the control group, the DAI scores of the model and intervention groups were increased significantly (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, the DAI score of the intervention group was significantly increased (P<0.05). HE staining showed that there was no inflammation in the colon of the control group, while the colon of the model group and the intervention group showed typical inflammatory manifestations such as edema and congestion, inflammatory cell infiltration, and mucosal ulcer. The area ratio of collagen in the control group was (4.95±0.82)%, in the model group was (24.62±1.46)%, and in the intervention group was (54.47±2.75)%. Compared with the control group, the area ratio of collagen in the model group and the intervention group was significantly increased (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, the area ratio of collagen in the intervention group was significantly increased (P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the expression of CD73 in colon tissue of the model group and the intervention group was significantly increased (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, the expression of CD73 in colon tissue of the intervention group was decreased (P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the expressions of TGF-β, TNF-α and IL-6 in the model group and the intervention group were significantly increased (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, the expression of TGF-β, TNF-α and IL-6 in the intervention group decreased (P<0.05). Conclusions CD73 is upregulated in colon tissue of CD mice, it can inhibit inflammatory reaction and improve fibrosis by up-regulating TGF-β expression. On the other hand, CD73 can aggravate the inflammatory response in CD intestinal inflammation and fibrosis by upregulating the expression of IL-6 and TNF-α. Therefore, CD73 may play a bidirectional regulatory role in intestinal inflammation and fibrosis of CD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) is an important pathogen causing healthcare-associated infections. In recent years, an increasing number of CA-MRSA clones have emerged and rapidly spread in the community and hospital settings in China. Objectives: To investigate the molecular epidemiology and resistance of CA-MRSA in the respiratory tracts of Chinese adults with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). Methods: A total of 243 sputum samples were collected from adult patients with CAP at the Nantong Hospital in China between 2018 and 2021. S. aureus was identified using PCR, and its susceptibility to 14 antimicrobials was tested using the broth dilution method. Genomic characterization of respiratory CA-MRSA and our previously collected intestinal CA-MRSA isolates was performed using whole-genome sequencing, and the evolutionary relationships of these isolates were assessed using phylogenetic analysis. Results: The CA-MRSA colonization rate among adults with CAP in China was 7.8 % (19/243). Antimicrobial resistance analysis revealed that the proportion of multidrug-resistant respiratory CA-MRSA isolates (100 %) was higher than that of intestinal CA-MRSA isolates (6.3 %). Among the 35 CA-MRSA isolates, 10 MLST types were identified and clustered into five clone complexes (CCs). CC5 (48.6 %) and CC88 (20 %) were predominant CA-MRSA clones. Notably, the CC5 clone ST764/ST6292-MRSA-II-t002 was identified as the major lineage causing respiratory tract infections in Chinese adults with CAP. Conclusions: The prevalence of CA-MRSA among Chinese adults with CAP is high and often involves ST764/ST6292-MRSA-II-t002 as the causal pathogen.

Long-term consumption of Arctium lappa L. roots can lead to weight loss. To explore the relationship between anti-obesity and anti-inflammation, the effects and mechanism of A. lappa L. root powder (ARP) on intestinal inflammation in obese rats were investigated. Dietary obese rats were successfully established by feeding a high-fat and high-sugar diet. The control group (n = 6) consumed a normal diet. The intestines were compared among the groups (each n = 6) with and without the administration of ARP (intragastric 7.5 g/kg·bw/d). Real-time quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and western blotting analysis revealed that ARP effectively inhibited the expression of pro-inflammatory and inflammatory cytokines in the colons of obese rats. These cytokines included interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-8, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, intercellular adhesion molecule-1, and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1. The inhibition rates for all these cytokines exceeded 88 %. Moreover, ARP demonstrated the ability to down-regulate key genes involved in Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) complexes, namely Tlr4, myeloid differentiation protein-2 (Md2), and myeloid differentiation factor 88 (Myd88), along with downstream signaling molecules such as tumor necrosis factor receptor associated factor 6 (TRAF6) and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), with inhibition rates over 81 %. Additionally, ARP was observed to inhibit protein levels of TLR4, NF-κB, IL-1β, and TNF-α in the colons of obese rats, with inhibition rates of 65.6 ± 10.9 %, 84.4 ± 19.9 %, 80.8 ± 14.4 %, and 68.4 ± 17.5 %, respectively. This study confirmed the effectiveness of ARP in inhibiting intestinal inflammation through the blockade of the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway. It also suggested that ARP holds potential in improving intestinal health in the context of obesity, implying its possible application in the prevention and treatment of obesity and related metabolic diseases.

BACKGROUND: Heat stress (HS) is known to exert negative effects on the poultry and breeding industry, resulting in severe economic losses. Bile acids (BAs), an important component of bile, play a crucial role in improving the production performance of livestock and poultry, alleviating stress injury, and ensuring the health of livestock and poultry. At present, porcine BAs are widely used because of their therapeutic effects on HS; however, it remains unclear whether the same effects are exerted by sheep BAs, which are different from porcine BAs and have different compositions. In this study, we compared the anti‐HS effects of porcine BAs and sheep BAs in the diet by establishing an HS model of chicks and investigating the chicken performance, HS‐related genes' expression, oxidative stress markers, jejunal histoarchitecture, inflammatory cytokines' expression, jejunal secreted immunoglobulin A concentration, and cecal bacterial flora. RESULTS: The results showed that the addition of sheep BAs to the diet increased the average daily weight gain and the feed conversion ratio of chicks. Under HS, sheep BAs were more effective than porcine BAs in improving the activities of lactate dehydrogenase and glutamic pyruvic transaminase in serum and the content/activity of malondialdehyde, superoxide dismutase, and reduced glutathione in serum and tissue, in reducing the messenger RNA (mRNA) expression of heat shock proteins (HSP60, HSP70, and HSP90) in the liver and jejunum, and in improving the histological structure and the expression of tight junction proteins (occludin and zonula occludens‐1) and enriching intestinal bacterial flora. However, porcine BAs were significantly inferior to sheep BAs in reducing the mRNA expression of inflammatory factors (interleukin‐6, interleukin‐1β, and tumor necrosis factor‐α). CONCLUSION: The effect of sheep BAs was more significant than porcine BAs was in alleviating HS injury in chicks, suggesting that sheep BAs have great potential as new feed nutrition and health additive to improve poultry production performance and prevent HS. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A two-way experimental design was used to demonstrate the physiological effects of magnetized water and sex on blood indices and histomorphometric parameters of Japanese quail intestine sections. Red blood cell count (RBCs), packed cell volume (PCV), hemoglobin concentration (Hb), thrombocytes, white blood cell count (WBCs), and WBC differentiation were investigated. A total of 450 unsexed Japanese quail were randomized into three groups (45/replicate; 3 replicates; 135/group). As a monitoring group, the first group was given untreated tap water to drink. The two others were consumed magnetized water that were subjected to an electrical magnetic field with a power of 1 Tesla (10,000 Gauss) and 2 Tesla (20,000 Gauss), respectively. The treatments had a significant (p ≤ 0.05) effect on thrombocytes and Hb. Sex showed significant (p ≤ 0.05) differences for RBCs and PCV at 42 days of age. At different ages, significant effects were observed on histomorphometric parameters of the Japanese quail intestinal tract. It may be inferred that the influence of magnetized water, up to 1 Tesla, was positive on the haematological and histomorphometric parameters of the Japanese quail intestinal tract by augmenting the haematological measurements, which were within a normal range and increasing the surface area of the villus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to develop the new antibiotic substitutes, a strain of Bacillus velezensis BzAH-1 with antibacterial mechanism, tolerance, and application effects of its antibacterial metabolites were studied, and its antibacterial metabolite was obtained and determined by antibacterial zone. The bacteriostatic effect, thermal stability, acid-base tolerance and bacteriostatic mechanism were detected in this experiment. The results showed that the antibacterial metabolites had good thermal stability under the condition of 70 ℃ for 24 h, while had high tolerance to acid-base buffers ranging in pH 2-11. As a probiotics, Bacillus velezensis BzAH-1 can improve the laying rate, feed conversion ratio and reduce mortality rate of laying hens. It indicated Bacillus velezensis BzAH-1 had good antibacterial activity, high temperature resistance, acid-alkali tolerance could be applied in aquaculture industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To determine the effect of neutral detergent fiber (NDF) level on the antioxidant stress capacity of intestinal tissue in calves, 24 newborn Holstein male calves with a similar birth weight [(42±2.5) kg] were randomly divided into four groups. Diets with NDF levels of 10% (10%NDF group), 15% (15%NDF group), 20% (20%NDF group), and 25% (25%NDF group) were fed. The results showed that the total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) of jejunum in 10%NDF group was significantly higher than that in 20%NDF group (P<0.05), and that in 15%NDF group was significantly higher than that in 20%NDF group and 25%NDF group (P<0.01). The content of malondialdehyde (MDA) in 25%NDF group was significantly higher than that in 10%NDF group (P <0.05). There were no significant differences in the antioxidant indexes of ileum and duodenum among all groups (P>0.05). The relative expression of GSH-Px mRNA in jejunum in 10%NDF group was significantly higher than that in 15%NDF group (P<0.05), and the relative expression of GSH-Px mRNA in 25%NDF group was significantly higher than that in 15%NDF group (P<0.01) and significantly higher than that in 20%NDF group (P<0.05). The relative expression of superoxide dismutase one (SOD1) mRNA in the 25%NDF group was significantly higher than that in the 15%NDF group (P<0.05). The relative expression of glutathione S-transferase Aone (GSTA1) mRNA in 20%NDF group was significantly higher than that in 10%NDF group and 15%NDF group (P<0.01), and that in 25%NDF group was significantly higher than that in 10%NDF group (P<0.05). The relative expression level of GSH-Px mRNA in ileum of 15%NDF group was significantly higher than that of 10%NDF group and 25%NDF group (P<0.01), significantly higher than that of 20%NDF group (P<0.05), and 20%NDF group was significantly higher than 25%NDF group (P<0.05). The relative expression of SOD1 mRNA in 25%NDF group was significantly lower than that in other three groups (P<0.01). The relative expression of CAT mRNA in 15%NDF group was significantly higher than that in other three groups (P<0.01), that in 10%NDF group and 20%NDF group was significantly higher than that in 25%NDF group (P<0.01). The relative expression of GSTA1 mRNA in 15%NDF group was significantly higher than that in other three groups (P< 0.01), and that in 10%NDF group was significantly higher than that in 25%NDF group (P<0.05). The mRNA expression of GSH-Px in duodenum of 15%NDF group was significantly lower than that of the other three groups (P<0.01), and the mRNA expression of 10%NDF group was significantly higher than that of 20%NDF group and 25%NDF group (P<0.05). The relative expression of SOD1 mRNA in 25%NDF group was significantly higher than that in other three groups (P<0.01). The relative expression of CAT mRNA in 15%NDF group was significantly higher than that in other three groups (P<0.01). The results showed that dietary NDF at 15% and 20% levels could improve the antioxidant capacity of the calf intestine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the effects of dosing non-toxigenic Clostridia to cows is rare and has received little attention so far. In the present study, a total of eight lactating dairy cows were divided in two groups: control (n = 4) or Clostridia challenged (oral supplementation of five diverse strains of Paraclostridium bifermentans, n = 4). Bacterial communities were analyzed by qPCR and next-generation sequencing (NGS) in the buccal mucosa as well as digesta and mucosal samples of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract from rumen to rectum (10 compartments), as well as fecal samples. Transcriptomic analysis of barrier and immune-related gene expression was performed on rumen, jejunum, and liver samples. We observed increased microbial populations with the Clostridial challenge in the buccal tissues and the proximal GI tract (forestomach), correlating with Clostridial loads in the feed. Otherwise, there were no significant differences in microbial populations (p > 0.05) throughout the distal part of the GI tract. The NGS approach, however, revealed that the Clostridial challenge changed the relative abundance of gut and fecal microbiota. In particular, in the challenge group, no Bifidobacterium was observed in the mucosa-associated microbiota and abundance of Pseudomonadota increased in the feces. These results indicated potential adverse effects of Clostridia to cow health. In general, immune responses to the Clostridial challenge were weak. However, transcriptional analysis revealed the down-regulation of junction adhesion molecule encoding gene (-1.44 of log2 fold-change), which might impact intestinal permeability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The intestinal tract is not only the main part of nutrient digestion and absorption, but also an important immune and endocrine organ. The digestion and absorption of nutrients in the intestine is a crucial factor to achieve their efficient utilization. Constructing an appropriate in vitro intestinal model is of great significance to clarify the effective absorption site, absorption efficiency, and mechanism of nutrients. Organoids are widely used in various fields because they can highly simulate the genetic and apparent characteristics of target tissues or organs. This paper reviews the recent application research progress of intestinal organoids in nutrient digestion and absorption, with a view to providing a reference for the wide application of intestinal organoids in nutrient digestion and absorption.

Probiotics, defined as live microorganisms conferring health benefits, have gained global popularity for their role in promoting host well-being. Lactic acid bacteria, known inhabitants of the gastrointestinal tract, are investigated for their probiotic properties, including acid and bile salt tolerance. Numerous researchers have documented the potential probiotic properties of lactic acid bacteria, attributing them to their ability to enhance the host animal's immune system and promote microbial equilibrium in the gastrointestinal tract. This study aimed to assess the probiotic potential of lactic acid bacteria obtained from the intestinal tract of the freshwater fish, Labeo rohita (Rohu). The isolated lactic acid bacteria underwent thorough characterization and identification, employing morphological, cultural, and biochemical analyses. Subsequently, their probiotic potential was evaluated through acid tolerance and bile salt tolerance studies. This investigation revealed that two Lactobacillus species isolated from the gut of Labeo rohita met the essential criteria for probiotics, demonstrating resilience to high acidity within the pH range of 3 to 5 and tolerating bile salt concentrations up to 0.3%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) is an important pathogen causing healthcare-associated infections. In recent years, an increasing number of CA-MRSA clones have emerged and rapidly spread in the community and hospital settings in China. To investigate the molecular epidemiology and resistance of CA-MRSA in the respiratory tracts of Chinese adults with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). A total of 243 sputum samples were collected from adult patients with CAP at the Nantong Hospital in China between 2018 and 2021. S. aureus was identified using PCR, and its susceptibility to 14 antimicrobials was tested using the broth dilution method. Genomic characterization of respiratory CA-MRSA and our previously collected intestinal CA-MRSA isolates was performed using whole-genome sequencing, and the evolutionary relationships of these isolates were assessed using phylogenetic analysis. The CA-MRSA colonization rate among adults with CAP in China was 7.8 % (19/243). Antimicrobial resistance analysis revealed that the proportion of multidrug-resistant respiratory CA-MRSA isolates (100 %) was higher than that of intestinal CA-MRSA isolates (6.3 %). Among the 35 CA-MRSA isolates, 10 MLST types were identified and clustered into five clone complexes (CCs). CC5 (48.6 %) and CC88 (20 %) were predominant CA-MRSA clones. Notably, the CC5 clone ST764/ST6292-MRSA-II-t002 was identified as the major lineage causing respiratory tract infections in Chinese adults with CAP. The prevalence of CA-MRSA among Chinese adults with CAP is high and often involves ST764/ST6292-MRSA-II-t002 as the causal pathogen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antibiotic resistance poses a significant threat to the global health, food security, and environment. In poultry and livestock, antibiotics are beneficial since they improve poultry performance and are economically effective. Therefore, it is crucial to search for alternatives that can be environmentally safe and successful in treating these infections. In this study, we employed molecular docking to evaluate lemon peel phytochemical’s protein binding capability against various poultry pathogens. The nanoparticles (LP AgNPs) obtained from the lemon peel were characterized and tested for their antibacterial activity against more poultry pathogens. LP AgNPs were characterized by using UV–Visible absorption spectra, which revealed an absorption peak at a wavelength of 420–440 nm. The FT–IR analysis demonstrated that flavonoids and phenolic acids acted as capping, reducing, and stabilizing agents during the biosynthesis of AgNPs. EDAX showed a strong peak was observed at 3 keV which revealed the absorption of metallic silver nanoparticles. The mean diameter was from 2 to 20 nm through HRTEM. Zeta potential of the LP AgNps at − 17.2 mV showed the high stability of the green synthesized AgNps. Maximum inhibitory concentrations of LP AgNps against the isolated poultry pathogens were 50 μg/ml concentration. The toxicity tests were performed in the Vigna radiata seedlings and Artemia nauplii, which showed less toxic effects and eco-friendly nature of the LP AgNps. LP AgNps have the potential to treat antibiotic resistant poultry pathogens, thereby paving the way for the development of value-added novel products incorporated with nanoparticles for treating various infection caused by antibiotic-resistant poultry pathogens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to investigate the relationship between changes in intestinal aquaporins (AQPs) in piglets fed diets with different protein levels and nutritional diarrhoea in piglets. Briefly, 96 weaned piglets were randomly divided into four groups fed diets with crude protein (CP) levels of 18%, 20%, 22% and 24%. The small intestines and colons of the weaned piglets were collected, and several experiments were conducted. In the small intestine, AQP4 protein expression was higher in weaned piglets fed the higher‐CP diets (22% and 24% CP) than in those fed the 20% CP diet except at 72 h (p < 0.01). At 72 h, the AQP4 protein expression in the small intestine was lower in the 18% group than in the other three groups (p < 0.01). Under 20% CP feeding, AQP2, AQP4 and AQP9 protein expression in the colons of piglets peaked at certain time points. The AQP2 and AQP4 mRNA levels in the colon and the AQP4 and AQP4 mRNA levels in the distal colon were approximately consistent with the protein expression levels. However, the AQP9 mRNA content in the colon was highest in the 18% group, and the AQP2 mRNA content in the distal colon was significantly higher in the 24% group than in the 20% group. AQP2 and AQP4 were expressed mainly around columnar cells in the upper part of the smooth colonic intestinal villi, and AQP9 was expressed mainly on columnar cells and goblet cells in the colonic mucosa. In conclusion, 20% CP is beneficial to the normal expression of AQP4 in the small intestine, AQP2, AQP4 and AQP9 in the colon of weaned piglets, which in turn maintains the balance of intestinal water absorption and secretion in piglets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Along with the high demand for shrimp, the production challenges faced by practitioners are increasing in Indonesia, one of which is in Lampung region. Various basic monitoring techniques regarding the environment and farmed shrimp are needed to control production sustainability. This present study aimed to identify the bacterial community profile in the rearing pond water and intestinal tract of Pacific white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei. Illumina-based sequencing was chosen to determine the bacterial community using the V3-V4 region of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene. Sequence data revealed the differences in bacterial community structure between the rearing water and shrimp intestines. Proteobacteria was the most prevalent phylum in the rearing water (W.B), accounting for 45.29 %, followed by Cyanobacteria, Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Actinobacteria, and Fusobacteria. In the shrimp intestinal tract (S. B), Cyanobacteria (35.15 %) dominated the microbiota, followed by Proteobacteria, Saccharibacteria, Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Verrucomicrobia, TM6 (Dependentiae), and Firmicutes. Cyanobacteria were higher in the shrimp intestines (35.15 % ) than in the rearing water (26.63 % ) . In addition, Escherichia- Shigella was the most common genera in the rearing water and shrimp intestines with different relative abundance. Cyanobacteria and Escherichia-Shigella highly detected in the rearing water and shrimp' s intestines might indicate that pond water had been polluted. Further investigation is necessary on the correlation of Cyanobacteria in the shrimp intestines with water pollution, proven by the dominance of Cyanobacteria and Escherichia- Shigella. These findings provide basic information to enhance our understanding of the microbial community and their roles in the shrimp culture environment to improve the quantity and quality of the yield and support its sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY: This study investigated the effects of fulvic acid (FA) on the growth performance, intestinal function, and fecal ammonia excretion of broilers. A total of 480 1-day-old male broilers were randomly divided into 4 treatments: control (CON) treatment, and the treatment on a basal diet supplemented with 0.15, 0.3, or 0.5% FA. The addition of 0.5% FA increased the feed-to-gain ratio and average daily feed intake during the first 7 d of the experiment, whereas, 0.3% FA addition increased the feed-to-gain ratio at 15 to 21 d, but FA addition had no effect on growth performance at other times. Compared to the CON treatment, 0.5% FA addition increased the serum IgA content, amylase, and lipase activities in the jejunum, as well as the lipase activity and mucin 2 content in the ileum. Feeding broilers with 0.15% FA increased the occludin and zonula occluden-1 content in the ileum, elevated intestinal permeability markers such as diamine oxidase, lipopolysaccharide, and D-lactate dehydrogenase, and further enriched functional pathways including nitrogen metabolism and riboflavin metabolism. Also, FA addition (0.15, 0.3, or 0.5%) increased the jejunum mucin 2 content and maintained the relative stability of the cecal microbiota without detrimental changes to the microbiota composition. Importantly, FA addition decreased the fecal ammonia yield on 2, 4, and 5 d of the fecal ammonia determination in a dose-dependent manner and also lowered the urease activity on 1 and 3 d. Therefore, the addition of 0.15% FA was considered the most effective in maintaining the intestinal health and microbial composition of broilers.

Cellulose can reduce endogenous ammonia production of non-ruminant animals by altering intestinal microbiota structure. Although the utilization of cellulose in fish is limited, we speculate that cellulose has a potential role in regulating fish ammonia tolerance. Four experiment diets with different cellulose levels (Ctrl, 4.00%, 6.00% and 8.00%) were formulated and fed to yellow catfish for 84 days. This study found that dietary supplemented with 6.00% cellulose can improve growth performance (final body weight and weight gain rate), blood health (total protein, albumin and globulin), intestinal digestive enzyme activity (protease, lipase and cellulase), and ensure intestinal structure integrity (villi length), and maintain intestinal microbiota stability (Shannon and Chao1 indexes). After 96 h ammonia stress, serum ammonia content and cumulative mortality were negative correlated with Cetobacterium abundance. The activities of ammonia metabolism enzyme (glutamine synthetase, carbamyl phosphate synthetase, argininosuccinic acid synthase and arginase) and antioxidant enzyme (superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase) in 4.00% and 6.00% cellulose groups were higher than those in Ctrl and 8.00% cellulose groups. The highest mRNA expression levels of antioxidant-related genes (Cu/Zn-SOD, CAT, GPX and GR) and inflammation-related genes (IL1, IL 8 and TNFɑ) were found in 8.00% cellulose group. This study indicates dietary supplemented with cellulose can increase the Cetobacterium abundance in intestinal tract, which is closely related to ammonia tolerance of yellow catfish. The levels of 4.00–6.00% cellulose in dietary is recommended in juvenile yellow catfish.

For many years, it was generally accepted that melatonin and somatostatin have intracerebral sources of synthesis. Melatonin is produced in the pineal gland and somatostatin in the hypothalamus. However, there are very informative data regarding the extracerebral sources of melatonin and somatostatin synthesis in numerous literary sources published over the past 60 years. At the same time, the biological purpose of extracerebral somatostatin and melatonin has been insufficiently studied. This article presents the readers with an analysis of modern literature and the results of own researches on the biological role of melatonin and somatostatin produced in the pancreas and intestinal tract. Under experimental conditions on arginine-induced acute pancreatitis model in rats, structural and hormonal changes were studied in the pancreas, mucosa of the small and large intestines in regional pathological process using morphological, morphometric, immunomorphological and enzyme immunoassay methods. According to the morphological and morphometric analysis results, gross dystrophic changes in the pancreas and intestinal mucosa were observed at relatively early stages of the pathological process – in 2 and 24 hours after the arginine administration. Immunomorphological studies established that the content of melatonin-positive secretory cells noticeably decreased, especially in the areas of mucosal damage in this very period of the pathological process in pancreas, in the mucous membrane of the small and large intestines. At the same time, the content of somatotropin in blood serum and pancreas markedly increased during the indicated period of the experiment. Severe dystrophic processes on small intestinal mucosa, which are particularly expressed by inhibition of local melatonin-secreting cell function, apparently exclude the inhibitory effect of melatonin on somatostatin synthesis process in pancreas. It is not excluded that there is a directed activation of pancreatic delta cells responsible for the somatostatin synthesis at relatively early stages of “arginine pancreatitis”. Based on our own researches in context with available very informative literature data, we can conclude that extrapineal melatonin and extrahypothalamic somatostatin should be given an important role in the integrative activity of organ-digestive system – the pancreas and small intestine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eosinophils are a highly abundant cell type in the gastrointestinal tract during homeostatic conditions, where they have recently been reported to take on an activated phenotype following colonization by the bacterial microbiota. To date, there have been few studies investigating whether eosinophils respond to infection with enteric bacterial pathogens and/or investigating the requirements for eosinophils for effective bacterial pathogen control. In this study, we investigated the response of eosinophils to an acute enteric infection of mice with the bacterial pathogen Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium. We also assessed whether eosinophil deficiency impacted Salmonella burdens in the intestinal tract or impacted the systemic dissemination of Salmonella following an oral infection of littermate wild-type BALB/cJ and eosinophil-deficient ΔdblGATA BALB/cJ mice. We found comparable Salmonella burdens in the intestinal tract of wild-type and eosinophil-deficient mice and no significant differences in the levels of Salmonella disseminating to systemic organs within 3 days of infection. Despite our evidence suggesting that eosinophils are not an essential cell type for controlling bacterial burdens in this acute infection setting, we found higher levels of eosinophils in gut-draining lymph nodes following infection, indicating that eosinophils do respond to Salmonella infection. Our data contribute to the growing evidence that eosinophils are responsive to bacterial stimuli, yet the influence of and requirements for eosinophils during bacterial infection appear to be highly context-dependent., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

The supplementation of fish feed with fermented soybean meal (FSBM) as an additive is widely used to produce aquatic feed. However, the mechanism by which FSBM regulates gut microbes in fish are still largely unknown. In the present work, soybean meal fermented by Lactobacillus fermentum (Lactobacillus group), Bacillus natto (Bacillus group), and Saccharomyces cerevisiae (Saccharomyces group) was added to fish diets, and the effects of these diets on gut microbiota, growth performance [Weight gain rate (WGR) and Specific growth rate (SGR)], and immunity [superoxide dismutase (SOD), lysozyme (LSZ) and alkaline phosphatase (AKP)] of Nile tilapia was assessed. Compared with Nontreated group, Lactobacillus and Saccharomyces fermented soybean meal remarkably improved the WGR, SGR, AKP, and LSZ (p

Intestinal infections caused by methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) have posed a great challenge for clinical treatments. In recent years, the intestinal carriage rates of MSSA have risen steadily in hospital settings in China. However, the epidemiology and molecular characteristics of MSSA from the intestinal tracts of Chinese adult patients remain unknown. In the present study, a total of 80 S. aureus isolates, including 64 MSSA and 16 methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), were recovered from 466 fecal swabs in adult patients between 2019 and 2021 in China. The MSSA isolates exhibited high resistance to penicillin (92.2%) and erythromycin (45.3%). In addition, a higher proportion of MSSA isolates (14.1%) were multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains than that of MRSA isolates (1.3%). Among the 64 MSSA isolates, we identified 17 MLST types, of which ST398 and ST15 were the most predominant types. The most frequently detected resistance genes were blaZ (87.5%) and erm(C) (21.9%). The hemolysin genes (hla, hld, hlgA, hlgB, hlgC) were detected in all the MSSA isolates, but the Panton–Valentine leucocidin (pvl) gene was identified in 1.7% of the MSSA isolates. Our findings indicated that the prevalence and antimicrobial resistance of intestinal MSSA was a serious concern among adult patients in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many countries in the world are stepping into the aging society with the challenge of the increasing agin gpopulation. The physiological functions of the human body begins to decline with aging, and the intestinal tract as the most important digestive organ will also be aging. How to relieve or reverse aging is an important scientific problem.The aging model in vivo and in vitro was established. Western-blot, indirect immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry were carried out to explore the anti-aging effect of uridine.In the current study, we examined the anti-aging effect of uridine in vivo and in vitro experiments. In vitro cell model, we found that the aging level of intestinal tract was significantly reduced by uridine, uridine treatment down-regulated the Sa-β-gal-positive cells. Furthermore, the levels of inflammation and oxidative stress were also significantly reduced by uridine treatment. On this basis, in vivo experiments, we found that the aging level of mice fed with uridine was significantly lower than that of the control group as demonstrated by immunohistochemistry and Western blot analyses.In conclusion, our current research indicates that uridine shows a good anti-aging effect,which suggests that uridine is expected to be used as a health food or clinical drug to treat intestinal aging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a study on the microbial status of different fish species and their habitats in the Bulgarian Black Sea area. The samples were collected in the period of January 2021 until March 2021. The fish species we used in this study were Black Sea turbot (Scophthalmus maximus), round goby (Neogobius melanostomus), shore rockling (Gaidropsarus mediterraneus) and European anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus). The BIOLOG system was used for microbiological determination. From the different fish species, different species of microorganisms were isolated (using selective nutrient media). From the torbut, we isolated species Enterococcus villorum with 24 × 103 cells in 1 ml, Moraxella nonliquefaciens with 70 × 103 cells in 1 ml and Pseudomonas synxantha with 123 × 103 cells. Pseudomonas putida was isolated from the round goby with 20 × 103 cells in 1 ml. The species Streptococcus entericus with 123 × 103 cells in 1 ml was isolated from the shore rockling. Pseudomonas fulva with 60 × 103 cells in 1 ml was isolated from the European anchovy. A total of 223 × 103 cells in 1 ml of Pseudomonas agarici were isolated from Trachinus draco. Pseudomonas tolaasii with 145 × 103 cells in 1 ml were isolated from Merlangius merlangus. A different species of bacteria of the genus Pseudomonas was found for each of the investigated species of Black Sea fish. Apparently, the species Pseudomonas is characteristic of marine Teleostei and is important for the life and metabolism of these vertebrates. These microorganisms probably are resident species and developed not as result of pollution or environmental change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Songwei Yang1 1, Min Yu2 2 1Key Laboratory for Biorheological Science and Technology of Ministry of Education (Chongqing University), Chongqing University Cancer Hospital, Chongqing, 400030, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of General Surgery, Xinqiao Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, 400037, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Songwei Yang; Min Yu Tel/Fax +8623-653-10296; +8623-687-55705Email yangsongwei01@126.com; yumimianbao@163.comAbstract: Goblet cells and the mucus they secrete serve as an important barrier, preventing pathogens from invading the mucosa to cause intestinal inflammation. The perspective regarding goblet cells and mucus has changed, with current evidence suggesting that they are not passive but play a positive role in maintaining intestinal tract immunity and mucosal homeostasis. Goblet cells could obtain luminal antigens, presenting them to the underlying antigen-presenting cells (APCs) that induces adaptive immune responses. Various immunomodulatory factors can promote the differentiation and maturation of goblet cells, and the secretion of mucin. The abnormal proliferation and differentiation of goblet cells, as well as the deficiency synthesis and secretion of mucins, result in intestinal mucosal barrier dysfunction. This review provides an extensive outline of the signaling pathways that regulate goblet cell proliferation and differentiation and control mucins synthesis and secretion to elucidate how altering these pathways affects goblet functionality. Furthermore, the interaction between mucins and goblet cells in intestinal mucosal immunology is described. Therefore, the contribution of goblet cells and mucus in promoting gut defense and homeostasis is illustrated, while clarifying the regulatory mechanisms involved may allow the development of new therapeutic strategies for intestinal disorders.Keywords: goblet cell, intestinal tract, intestinal barrier, mucosal immunity, cytokine, Mucin2

Colonization of the extremely preterm infant's gastrointestinal tract and skin begins in utero and is influenced by a variety of factors, the most important including gestational age and environmental exposures. The composition of the intestinal and skin microbiota influences the developing innate and adaptive immune responses with short-term and long-term consequences including altered risks for developing necrotizing enterocolitis, sepsis, and a wide variety of microbe-related diseases of children and adults. Alteration of the composition of the microbiota to decrease disease risk is particularly appealing for this ultra-high-risk cohort that is brand new from an evolutionary standpoint.

The gut microbiota is a complex ecosystem that is essential for the metabolism, immunity and health of the host. The gut microbiota also plays a critical role in nutrient absorption and metabolism, and nutrients can influence the growth and composition of the gut microbiota. To gain a better understanding of the relationship between the gut microbial composition and nutrient metabolism, we used a pig model by collecting the contents of the different intestinal locations from six pigs to investigate microbial composition in different intestinal locations based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing and the concentrations of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), amino acids, fat, and crude ash in different intestinal locations using gas chromatography and chemical analysis. The results showed that the richness and diversity of intestinal microbial communities gradually increased from the small intestine to the large intestine. The relative abundance of Proteobacteria was higher in the jejunum and ileum, whereas the proportion of Firmicutes was higher in the cecum and colon. The concentrations of SCFAs were higher in the cecum and colon (P < 0.05). The concentrations of amino acids were higher in the small intestine than in the large intestine, while the amino acid content was significantly higher in the ascending colon than in the transverse colon and descending colon. The correlation analysis revealed that Ruminococcaceae UCG-005, Coriobacteriaceae_uncultured, [Eubacterium] hallii group, Mogibacterium and Lachnospiraceae AC2044 group had a higher positive correlation with SCFAs, crude ash and fat but had a negative correlation with amino acids in different gut locations of pigs. These findings may serve as fundamental data for using nutrient metabolism to regulate human and animal gut microbes and health and provide guidance for exploring host-microbe bidirectional interaction mechanisms and driving pathways.