Antimicrobial activity of selected synbiotics targeted for the elderly against pathogenic Escherichia coli strains

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of two synbiotic combinations, Lactobacillus fermentum with short-chain fructooligosaccharides (FOS-LF) and Bifidobacterium longum with isomaltooligosaccharides (IMO-BL), against enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157:H7 and enteropathogenic E. coli O86. Antimicrobial activity was determined (1) by co-culturing the synbiotics and pathogens in batch cultures, and (2) with the three-stage continuous culture system (gut model), inoculated with faecal slurry from an elderly donor. In the co-culture experiments, IMO-BL was significantly inhibitory to both E. coli strains, while FOS-LF was slightly inhibitory or not inhibitory. Factors other than acid production appeared to play a role in the inhibition. In the gut models, both synbiotics effectively inhibited E. coli O157 in the first vessel, but not in vessels 2 and 3. E. coli O86 was not significantly inhibited.     

Role of intestinal bifidobacteria in the pathogenesis of gut-derived bacteria/endotoxin translocation and the effect of bifidobacterial supplement on gut barrier function following burns

Early multiple organ dysfunction syndrome appears to be facilitated with bacterial translocation in severely burn injury, yet the mechanisms of bacterial translocation remains in dispute. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential role of intestinal bifidobacteria in the pathogenesis of gut-derived bacteria/endotoxin translocation following burns and the effects of bifidobacterial supplement on gut barrier. Methods: Wistar rats were randomly divided into burn group (Burn, n=60),sham burn group (SB, n=10) in experiment Ⅰ , and burn + saline group (BS, n=30), burn + bifidobacteria group (BB, n=30), and sham-burn + saline group (SS, n= 10) in experiment Ⅱ. Animals in BB group were fed bifidobacterial preparation (5 × 109 CFU/ml) after burns, 1.5ml,twice daily. Animals in BS and SS were fed saline. Samples were taken on days 1, 3, and 5 in burn groups, and on day 3 in sham-burn groups. The incidence of bacteria/endotoxin translocation and counts of Bifidobacterium, Fungi and Escherichia coli in gut mucosa were determined with standard methods. The levels of sIgA in mucus of small intestine were measured by RIA. The positive sIgA expression in lamina propria and ileum mucosal injury was evaluated light microscopically by blinded examiners. Results: Our results showed that the incidence of bacterial translocation was increased after burns, which was accompanied by significant decrease in number of bifidobacteria but significant increase in E. coli and fungi in gut mucosa, and elevation of levels of plasma endotoxin and IL-6 (P<0. 001).The incidence of bacterial translocation was markedly reduced after 3- and 5-day supplementation of bifidobacteria compared with control group (P<0.05). The counts of mucosal bifidobacteria were increased by 4- to 40-fold,while E. coli and fungi were decreased by 2- to 30-fold and 10- to 150-fold, respectively, after bifidobacterial supplementation in contrast to control group. The damage of mucosa tended to be less pronounced after 3-day bifidobacteria-supplemented formula compared with control group [grade 2(0-6) vs. grade 4(3-6), P<0.05]. Moreover, the expression and release of sIgA was markedly augmented after 3-day bifidobacteria-supplementation formula and it returned to normal range on day 5. Conclusion: The decrease in counts and proportion of bifidobacteria in mucous membrane flora may play an important role in the development of bacteria/endotoxin translocation following thermal injury. The supplement of exogenous bifidobacteria could per se improve gut barriers, and attenuate bacteria/endotoxin translocation secondary to major burns.     

重庆市正常人群肠道双歧杆菌的定量调查

本文介绍了一种双歧杆菌的选择鉴别培养基,并用该培养基对重庆市正常人群肠道双歧杆菌进行了定量分析,进而确定了正常值,为进一步研究双歧杆菌与人类的健康和疾病以及生态学防治提供了科学依据.同时也显示了正常人类肠道中双收杆菌的含量与年龄及性别无显著差异.     

母乳中双歧因子的研究

本文用J.L.Reissig等人的方法对母乳中双歧因子进行了定性定量测定,并对不同时期母乳中双歧因子含量进行了比较,该法加样回收率为100.40％,RSD1.1％     

双歧杆菌脂磷壁酸延缓脾脏衰老的研究

目的　研究双歧杆菌表面分子脂磷壁酸 (LTA)在D 半乳糖诱导的衰老小鼠体内 ,对脾脏指数和脾细胞DNA损伤的影响。方法　在建立D 半乳糖诱导的衰老小鼠模型的同时 ,注射双歧杆菌LTA ;然后测定模型对照组、正常对照组、试验组小鼠的脾脏指数 ,并以单细胞凝胶电泳试验检测脾脏淋巴细胞DNA氧化损伤的情况。结果　与正常对照组相比 ,模型对照小鼠的脾脏指数显著升高 (P <0 .0 5 ) ,脾淋巴细胞DNA受到了较严重的损伤 (P <0 .0 5 ) ;用双歧杆菌LTA处理后 ,试验小鼠的脾脏指数明显下降 (P <0 .0 5 ) ,脾淋巴细胞DNA的损伤程度显著降低 (P <0 .0 5 )。结论　双歧杆菌LTA能显著抑制衰老小鼠脾脏淋巴细胞DNA的氧化损伤 ,这可能与双歧杆菌抗衰老有关。     

Bifidobacterium adolescentis Isolated from Different Hosts Modifies the Intestinal Microbiota and Displays Differential Metabolic and Immunomodulatory Properties in Mice Fed a High-Fat Diet

The incidence of obesity, which is closely associated with the gut microbiota and chronic inflammation, has rapidly increased in the past 40 years. Therefore, the probiotic-based modification of the intestinal microbiota composition has been developed as a strategy for the treatment of obesity. In this study, we selected four Bifidobacterium adolescentis strains isolated from the feces of newborn and elderly humans to investigate whether supplementation with B. adolescentis of various origins could alleviate obesity in mice. Male C57BL/6J mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD, 60% energy as fat) received one of the following 14-week interventions: (i) B. adolescentis N4_N3, (ii) B. adolescentis Z25, (iii) B. adolescentis 17_3, (iv) B. adolescentis 2016_7_2, and (v) phosphate-buffered saline. The metabolic parameters, thermogenesis, and immunity of all treated mice were measured. Cecal and colonic microbial profiles were determined by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Intestinal concentrations of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) were measured by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The B. adolescentis strains isolated from the feces of elderly humans (B. adolescentis Z25, 17_3, and 2016_7_2) decreased the body weight or weight gain of mice, whilst the strain isolated from the newborn (B. adolescentis N4_N3) increased the body weight of mice. The B. adolescentis strains isolated from the elderly also increased serum leptin concentrations and induced the expression of thermogenesis- and lipid metabolism-related genes in brown adipose tissue. All the B. adolescentis strains alleviated inflammations in the spleen and brain and modified the cecal and colonic microbiota. Particularly, all strains reversed the HFD-induced depletion of Bifidobacterium and reduced the development of beta-lactam resistance. In addition, the B. adolescentis strains isolated from the elderly increased the relative abundances of potentially beneficial genera, such as Bacteroides, Parabacteroides, and Faecalibaculum. We speculate that such increased abundance of commensal bacteria may have mediated the alleviation of obesity, as B. adolescentis supplementation decreased the intestinal production of SCFAs, thereby reducing energy delivery to the host mice. Our results revealed that certain strains of B. adolescentis can alleviate obesity and modify the gut microbiota of mice. The tested strains of B. adolescentis showed different effects on lipid metabolism and immunity regulation, with these effects related to whether they had been isolated from the feces of newborn or elderly humans. This indicates that B. adolescentis from different sources may have disparate effects on host health possibly due to the transmission of origin-specific functions to the host.     

双歧杆菌对实验性大肠癌的预防及诱导细胞凋亡的作用

目的　探讨青春型双歧杆菌对实验性大肠癌的预防作用及其防瘤机制。方法　以裸鼠大肠癌移植瘤为动物模型,预先用双歧杆菌注射于裸鼠腹腔,观察移植瘤的生长速度,同时利用透射电镜、原位末端标记技术及免疫组化技术观察大肠癌裸鼠移植瘤的超微结构、凋亡细胞密度以及ｂｃｌ２、ｂａｘ 蛋白表达率及其阳性细胞密度。结果　双歧杆菌预防组大肠癌移植瘤的生长速度显著慢于对照组; 此外双歧杆菌预防组移植瘤组织中可见多量处于不同凋亡时期的瘤细胞,其凋亡细胞密度、ｂａｘ 蛋白表达率以及阳性细胞密度均显著高于肿瘤对照组,而ｂｃｌ２ 蛋白的表达情况则相反。结论　青春型双歧杆菌能显著预防大肠癌的发生与发展,并能诱导其细胞凋亡。     

Early administration of Bifidobacterium breve to preterm infants: randomised controlled trial

AIM—To investigate the colonisation with Bifidobacterium breve of the bowels of very low birthweight (VLBW) infants.METHODS—The adverse effects of B breve were examined in 66 VLBW infants (preliminary study). A prospective randomised clinical study of 91 VLBW infants was also completed and these infants were followed up for three years. Precise viable bacterial counts of serial stool specimens were examined for the first eight weeks after birth in 10 infants. The colonisation rates of administered bacteria were examined using immunohistochemical staining of stool specimens with a B breve specific monoclonal antibody.RESULTS—In the preliminary study there were no side effects attributable to the bacteria. Immunohistochemical staining of stool specimens showed that the colonisation rates of the administered bacteria were 73% at 2 weeks of age, but only 12% in the control group. Early administration of B breve significantly decreased aspirated air volume from the stomach and improved weight gain.CONCLUSIONS—B breve can colonise the immature bowel very effectively and is associated with fewer abnormal abdominal signs and better weight gain in VLBW infants, probably as a result of stabilisation of their intestinal flora and accelerated feeding schedules.     

双歧杆菌脂磷壁酸体外诱导胃癌细胞凋亡的研究

目的 探讨双歧杆菌表面分子脂磷壁酸（LTA）的抗肿瘤作用及其机制.方法 应用MTT法、透射电镜及流式细胞术等方法观察双歧杆菌LTA对胃癌细胞BGC823的增殖抑制作用及其对细胞形态和细胞周期的影响,并用免疫细胞化学染色法检测LTA处理前后细胞凋亡相关蛋白表达的变化.结果 双歧杆菌LTA对体外培养的BGC823细胞具有明显的生长抑制作用,且具有剂量和时间依赖性.经LTA处理的BGC823细胞超微结构改变,出现凋亡小体,同时细胞周期发生变化,细胞被阻滞于G0/G1期.免疫细胞化学染色结果显示,LTA能下调Bcl-2蛋白和c-myc蛋白的表达,同时上调p53蛋白和c-fos蛋白的表达.结论 双歧杆菌LTA能抑制胃癌细胞BGC823的增长,其机制可能是通过调节凋亡相关蛋白的表达变化,将细胞阻滞在G0/G1期并诱导细胞凋亡.     

双歧杆菌对NOD小鼠胰岛Fas和FasL表达的影响

目的观察口服双歧杆菌对NOD小鼠1型糖尿病和胰岛炎发生情况的影响以及口服双歧杆菌后胰岛Fas和FasL表达的情况。方法将4周龄雌性NOD小鼠40只,随机分为两组:实验组(20只)给予双歧杆菌0.25mg/g体重/天(制备成活菌悬液0.5ml),对照组(20只)给予等容积的磷酸盐缓冲液(PBS)。4周龄开始给药至30周龄,于15周龄时各组分别处死6只小鼠,取胰腺组织HE染色进行胰岛炎评分,采用免疫组化方法观察口服双歧杆菌后NOD小鼠胰岛组织Fas和FasL的改变情况。其余小鼠30周龄时观察发病率,同时观察胰岛炎、Fas和FasL的变化。结果双歧杆菌明显减轻NOD小鼠胰岛炎,减少糖尿病的发生(P<0.05),双歧杆菌组胰岛Fas的表达少于对照组(P<0.01);FasL的表达也有显著差异(P<0.01)。结论早期应用双歧杆菌可以减少NOD小鼠胰岛炎和延缓糖尿病的发生,其机制与Fas/FasL系统介导的胰岛β细胞凋亡有关。