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％     

聚合酶链反应检测实验动物弓形虫核酸的研究

建立弓形虫动物模型，常规方法提取肝、脾、肾、肺等组织DNA，应用聚合酶链反应（PCR）扩增，产物经电泳检测显示199bp的弓形虫特异带谱。并以γ－32p标记克隆的弓形虫特异DNA片段为探针，对扩增产物行Southern印迹分析，结果上述4种标本均出现阳性杂交带，进一步证实扩增条带是弓形虫特异DNA顺序。同时用酶标法检测显示鼠血清弓形虫抗体IgG；阳性。组织病理学检查结果，肝组织损伤较严重，肝细胞肿大，肝窦消失，脾、肾、肺组织可见轻微的病理改变。另外本文介绍一种简单PCR方法[1]，取鼠尾静脉血2μl直接进行扩增，结果与酚-氯仿法提取的DNA扩增结果一致。     

Serological studies of monoclonal RH1(D) antibodies with RH1(D) variants

In this paper we chose to emphasize three aspects of our work. First we underlined that “low grade and high grade” D weak red blood cells studied at the DNA level could, when monoclonal antibodies were used, give patterns of positive and negative reactions like partial RH1(D) cells. Secondly, we showed the importance of the technical conditions of the study which are essential for establishing a pattern of reactivity defining an epitope. It appears that the use of papain treated cells at room temperature can be misleading for the definition of epitope especially with IgM antibodies. Lastly we pointed out the interest of Rh variant cells, defined at the gene level, to study the expression of RH1(D) epitopes on the external part of the membrane.     

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。     

Molecular cloning of a novel human gene (SIRP-B2) which encodes a new member of the SIRP/SHPS-1 protein family

A full-length cDNA encoding a novel protein was isolated and sequenced from a human placental cDNA library. This cDNA consists of 1735 base pairs and has a predicted open reading frame (ORF) encoding 354 amino acids. It possesses a putative signal sequence, a long extracellular domain, a transmembrane region, a short intracellular domain, and no catalytic domain, which is highly homologous to signal-regulatory protein (SIRP)-β, suggesting that it seems to be a new member of the SIRP family. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based mapping with both a monochromosomal hybrid panel and radiation hybrid cell panels placed the gene to human chromosome 20p13 near the marker D20S906. Received: August 11, 2000 / Accepted: September 21, 2000     

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.