2-O-β-D-Glucopyranosyl-L-ascorbic acid,an ascorbic acid derivative isolated from the fruits of Lycium barbarum L.,ameliorates high fructose-induced neuroinflammation in mice:involvement of gut microbiota and leaky gut

Western diet(rich in highly refined sugar and fat)can induce a range of metabolic dysfunctions in animals and humans,including neuroinflammation and cognitive function decline.Neuroinflammation and cognitive impairment,two critical pathological characteristics of Alzheimer’s disease,have been closely associated with microbial alteration via the gut-brain axis.Thus,the present study aimed to investigate the influence of 2-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-L-ascorbic acid(AA-2βG)isolated from the fruits of Lycium barbarum on preventing the high-fructose diet(HFrD)induced neuroinflammation in mice.It was found that AA-2βG prevented HFr D-induced cognitive deficits.AA-2βG also predominantly enhanced the gut barrier integrity,decreased lipopolysaccharide entry into the circulation,which subsequently countered the activation of glial cells and neuroinflammatory response.These beneficial effects were transmissible by horizontal fecal microbiome transplantation,transferring from AA-2βG fed mice to HFr D fed mice.Additionally,AA-2βG exerted neuroprotective effects involving the enrichment of Lactobacillus and Akkermansia,potentially beneficial intestinal bacteria.The present study provided the evidence that AA-2βG could improve indices of cognition and neuroinflammmation via modulating gut dybiosis and preventing leaky gut.As a potential functional food ingredient,AA-2βG may be applied to attenuate neuroinflammation associated with Western-style diets.

Comparative analysis of the gut microbiota of wild adult rats from nine district areas in Hainan,China

BACKGROUND Wild rats have the potential to hold zoonotic infectious agents that can spread to humans and cause disease.AIM To better understand the composition of gut bacterial communities in rats is essential for preventing and treating such diseases.As a tropical island located in the south of China,Hainan province has abundant rat species.Here,we examined the gut bacterial composition in wild adult rats from Hainan province.METHODS Fresh fecal samples were collected from 162 wild adult rats,including three species(Rattus norvegicus,Leopoldamys edwardsi,and Rattus losea),from nine regions of Hainan province between 2017-2018.RESULTS We analyzed the composition of gut microbiota using the 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing.We identified 4903 bacterial operational taxonomic units(30 phyla,175 families,and 498 genera),which vary between samples of different rat species in various habitats at various times of the year.In general,Firmicutes were the most abundant phyla,followed by Bacteroidetes(15.55%),Proteobacteria(6.13%),and Actinobacteria(4.02%).The genus Lactobacillus(20.08%),unidentified_Clostridiales(5.16%),Romboutsia(4.33%),unidentified_Ruminococcaceae(3.83%),Bacteroides(3.66%),Helicobacter(2.40%)and Streptococcus(2.37%)were dominant.CONCLUSION The composition and abundance of the gut microbial communities varied between rat species and locations.This work provides fundamental information to identify microbial communities useful for disease control in Hainan province.

Microbiome therapeutics:exploring the present scenario and challenges

Human gut-microbiome explorations have enriched our understanding ofmicrobial colonization,maturation,and dysbiosis in health-and-disease subsets.The enormousmetabolic potential of gutmicrobes and their role in themaintenance of human health is emerging,with new avenues to use themas therapeutic agents to overcome human disorders.Microbiome therapeutics are aimed at engineering the gutmicrobiome using additive,subtractive,ormodulatory therapy with an application of native or engineeredmicrobes,antibiotics,bacteriophages,and bacteriocins.This approach could overcome the limitation of conventional therapeutics by providing personalized,harmonized,reliable,and sustainable treatment.Its huge economic potential has been shown in the global therapeuticsmarket.Despite the therapeutic and economical potential,microbiome therapeutics is still in the developing stage and is facing various technical and administrative issues that require research attention.This review aims to address the current knowledge and landscape ofmicrobiome therapeutics,provides an overview of existing health-and-disease applications,and discusses the potential future directions ofmicrobiomemodulations.