Bacteria colonization and gene expression related to immune function in colon mucosa is associated with growth in neonatal calves regardless of live yeast supplementation

Background As Holstein calves are susceptible to gastrointestinal disorders during the first week of life,understanding how intestinal immune function develops in neonatal calves is important to promote better intestinal health.Feeding probiotics in early life may contribute to host intestinal health by facilitating beneficial bacteria colonization and developing intestinal immune function.The objective of this study was to characterize the impact of early life yeast supplementation and growth on colon mucosa-attached bacteria and host immune function.Results Twenty Holstein bull calves received no supplementation(CON)or Saccharomyces cerevisiae boulardii(SCB)from birth to 5 d of life.Colon tissue biopsies were taken within 2 h of life(D0)before the first colostrum feeding and 3 h after the morning feeding at d 5 of age(D5)to analyze mucosa-attached bacteria and colon transcriptome.Metagenome sequencing showed that there was no difference inαandβdiversity of mucosa-attached bacteria between day and treatment,but bacteria related to diarrhea were more abundant in the colon mucosa on D0 compared to D5.In addition,q PCR indicated that the absolute abundance of Escherichia coli(E.coli)decreased in the colon mucosa on D5 compared to D0;however,that of Bifidobacterium,Lactobacillus,and Faecalibacterium prausnitzii,which could competitively exclude E.coli,increased in the colon mucosa on D5 compared to D0.RNA-sequencing showed that there were no differentially expressed genes between CON and SCB,but suggested that pathways related to viral infection such as“Interferon Signaling”were activated in the colon mucosa of D5 compared to D0.Conclusions Growth affected mucosa-attached bacteria and host immune function in the colon mucosa during the first 5 d of life in dairy calves independently of SCB supplementation.During early life,opportunistic pathogens may decrease due to intestinal environmental changes by beneficial bacteria and/or host immune function.Predicted activation of immune function-related pathways may be the result of host immune function development or suggest other antigens in the intestine during early life.Further studies focusing on the other antigens and host immune function in the colon mucosa are required to better understand intestinal immune function development.

Adding vortexing to the Maki technique provides no benefit for the diagnosis of catheter colonization or catheter-related bacteremia

BACKGROUND A previous study compared vortexing and Maki techniques for the diagnosis of catheter-related bloodstream infection(CRBSI),and concluded that vortexing was not superior to Maki method.AIM To determine whether the combined use of vortexing and Maki techniques provides profitability versus the Maki technique for the diagnosis of catheter tip colonization(CTC)and CRBSI.METHODS Observational and prospective study carried out in an Intensive Care Unit.Patients with suspected catheter-related infection(CRI)and with one central venous catheter for at least 7 days were included.The area under the curve(AUC)of the Maki technique,the vortexing technique and the combination of both techniques for the diagnosis of CTC and CRBSI were compared.RESULTS We included 136 episodes of suspected CRI.We found 21 cases of CTC of which 10 were also CRBSI cases.Of the 21 CTC episodes,18(85.7%)were diagnosed by Maki technique and vortexing technique,3(14.3%)only by the technique of Maki,and none only by technique of vortexing.Of the 10 CRBSI episodes,9(90.0%)were diagnosed by the techniques of Maki and vortexing,1(10.0%)was diagnosed only by the technique of Maki,and none only by the technique of vortexing.We no found differences in the comparison of AUC between the technique of Maki and the combination of Maki and vortexing techniques for the diagnosis of CTC(P=0.99)and CRBSI(P=0.99).CONCLUSION The novel finding of our study was that the combined use of vortexing and Maki techniques did not provide profitability to the technique of Maki alone to CRBSI diagnosis of.

Epidemiology of carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii colonization in neonatal intensive care units:A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND The rising prevalence of carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii(CRAB)in neonatal intensive care units(NICUs)represents an escalating challenge in healthcare settings,particularly in managing hospital-acquired infections(HAIs).Studies across various World Health Organization regions have documented a significant incidence of CRAB-related HAIs,with rates as high as 41.7 cases per 1000 patients in ICUs,accounting for 13.6%of all HAIs.These infections pose a doubled mortality risk compared to infections with carbapenem-susceptible Acinetobacter baumannii.A particularly concerning aspect of CRAB colonization is its asymptomatic nature,enabling its transmission through healthcare workers(HCWs)or the NICU environment to vulnerable neonates with developing immune systems.AIM To explore the prevalence of CRAB colonization in NICUs,focusing on neonates,healthcare workers,and the environmental samples,to enhance epidemiological understanding and inform targeted interventions.METHODS We conducted according to PRISMA 2020 checklist guidelines,a comprehensive literature search across multiple databases including MEDLINE(Ovid),EMBASE(Ovid),Global Health(Ovid),Web of Science,and Global Index Me-dicus.Studies were selected based on predetermined criteria,primarily involving neonates,HCWs,and environmental swabs,using culture or molecular methods to detect CRAB colonization.We excluded studies that did not specifically focus on NICUs,were duplicates,or lacked necessary data.The study selection and quality assessment were conducted independently by two reviewers.Data extraction involved collecting comprehensive details about each study.Our statistical analysis used a random-effects model to calculate the pooled prevalence and confidence intervals,stratifying results by regional location.We assessed study heterogeneity using Cochran's Q statistic and I²statistic,with regression tests employed to evaluate potential publication bias.RESULTS We analyzed 737 records from five databases,ultimately including 13 studies from ten countries.For neonates,the pooled prevalence was 4.8%(95%CI:1.1%to 10.5%)with the highest rates observed in South-East Asia(10.5%;95%CI:2.4%to 23.3%).Among HCWs,a single Indian study reported a 3.3%prevalence.Environmental samples showed a prevalence of 2.3%(95%CI:0%to 9.3%),with the highest rates in South-East Asia(10%;95%CI:4.2%to 17.7%).Significant heterogeneity was found across studies,and no publication bias was detected.CONCLUSION This systematic review highlights a significant prevalence of CRAB colonization in neonates across various regions,particularly in South-East Asia,contrasting with lower rates in high-income countries.The study reveals a gap in research on HCWs colonization,with only a single study from India reporting moderate prevalence.Environmental samples indicate moderate levels of CRAB contamination,again higher in South-East Asia.These findings underscore the need for more extensive and focused research on CRAB colonization in NICUs,including exploring the roles of HCWs and the environment in transmission,understanding antimicrobial resistance patterns,and developing effective prevention measures.

Poorly controlled type Ⅱ diabetes mellitus significantly enhances postoperative chemoresistance in patients with stage Ⅲ colon cancer

BACKGROUND Type Ⅱ diabetes mellitus(T2DM)has been associated with increased risk of colon cancer(CC)and worse prognosis in patients with metastases.The effects of T2DM on postoperative chemoresistance rate(CRR)and long-term disease-free survival(DFS)and overall survival(OS)in patients with stage Ⅲ CC who receive curative resection remain controversial.AIM To investigate whether T2DM or glycemic control is associated with worse postoperative survival outcomes in stage Ⅲ CC.METHODS This retrospective cohort study included 278 patients aged 40-75 years who underwent surgery for stage Ⅲ CC from 2018 to 2021.Based on preoperative T2DM history,the patients were categorized into non-DM(n=160)and DM groups(n=118).The latter was further divided into well-controlled(n=73)and poorly controlled(n=45)groups depending on the status of glycemic control.DFS,OS,and CRR were compared between the groups and Cox regression analysis was used to identify risk factors.RESULTS Patients in the DM and non-DM groups demonstrated similar DFS,OS,and CRR(DFS:72.03%vs 78.75%,P=0.178;OS:81.36%vs 83.12%,P=0.638;CRR:14.41%vs 7.5%,P=0.063).Poorly controlled DM was associated with a significantly worse prognosis and higher CRR than well-controlled DM(DFS:62.22%vs 78.07%,P=0.021;OS:71.11%vs 87.67%,P=0.011;CRR:24.40%vs 8.22%,P=0.015).High preoperative fasting plasma glucose[DFS:Hazard ratio(HR)=2.684,P<0.001;OS:HR=2.105,P=0.019;CRR:HR=2.214,P=0.005]and glycosylated hemoglobin levels(DFS:HR=2.344,P=0.006;OS:HR=2.119,P=0.021;CRR:HR=2.449,P=0.009)indicated significantly poor prognosis and high CRR,while T2DM history did not(DFS:HR=1.178,P=0.327;OS:HR=0.933,P=0.739;CRR:HR=0.997,P=0.581).CONCLUSION Increased preoperative fasting plasma glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin levels,but not T2DM history,were identified as risk factors associated with poor postoperative outcomes and high CRR in patients with stage Ⅲ CC.

Correlations of the expression of Cx43,SCF^(FBXW7),p-cyclin E1(Ser73),p-cyclin E1(Thr77)and p-cyclin E1(Thr395)in colon cancer tissues

BACKGROUND Previous cellular studies have demonstrated that elevated expression of Cx43 promotes the degradation of cyclin E1 and inhibits cell proliferation through ubiquitination.Conversely,reduced expression results in a loss of this capacity to facilitate cyclin E degradation.The ubiquitination and degradation of cyclin E1 may be associated with phosphorylation at specific sites on the protein,with Cx43 potentially enhancing this process by facilitating the phosphorylation of these critical residues.AIM To investigate the correlation between expression of Cx43,SKP1/Cullin1/F-box(SCF)FBXW7,p-cyclin E1(ser73,thr77,thr395)and clinicopathological indexes in colon cancer.METHODS Expression levels of Cx43,SCF^(FBXW7),p-cyclin E1(ser73,thr77,thr395)in 38 clinical colon cancer samples were detected by immunohistochemistry and were analyzed by statistical methods to discuss their correlations.RESULTS Positive rate of Cx43,SCF^(FBXW7),p-cyclin E1(Ser73),p-cyclin E1(Thr77)and p-cyclin E1(Thr395)in detected samples were 76.32%,76.32%,65.79%,5.26%and 55.26%respectively.Positive expressions of these proteins were not related to the tissue type,degree of tissue differentiation or lymph node metastasis.Cx43 and SCF^(FBXW7)(r=0.749),p-cyclin E1(Ser73)(r=0.667)and p-cyclin E1(Thr395)(r=0.457),SCF^(FBXW7) and p-cyclin E1(Ser73)(r=0.703)and p-cyclin E1(Thr395)(0.415)were correlated in colon cancer(P<0.05),and expressions of the above proteins were positively correlated in colon cancer.CONCLUSION Cx43 may facilitate the phosphorylation of cyclin E1 at the Ser73 and Thr195 sites through its interaction with SCF^(FBXW7),thereby influencing the ubiquitination and degradation of cyclin E1.

Clinicopathological and radiological characteristics and prediction of survival in colon cancer

There are various histological characteristics which have been proposed to predict the survival rate in colon cancer.However,there is no definitive model to accurately predict the survival.Therefore,it is important to find out one model for the prediction of survival in colon cancer which may also include the preoperative,and operative factors in addition to histopathology.

Comparative study of cylindrical vs circular ring magnets for colonic anastomosis in rats

BACKGROUND Magnetic compression anastomosis(MCA)offers a simple and reliable technique for inducing anastomoses at any point along the digestive tract.Evidence regarding whether the design of the MCA device influences the anastomosis effect is lacking.AIM To investigate any difference in the side-to-side colonic anastomosis effect achieved with cylindrical vs circular ring magnets.METHODS We designed cylindrical and circular ring magnets suitable for side-to-side colonic anastomosis in rats.Thirty Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into a cylindrical group,circular ring group,and cylindrical–circular ring group(n=10/group).Side-to-side colonic anastomosis was completed by transanal insertion of the magnets without incision of the colon.Operation time,perioperative complications,and magnet discharge time were recorded.Rats were euthanized 4 weeks postoperatively,and anastomotic specimens were obtained.The burst pressure and anastomotic diameter were measured sequentially,and anastomosis formation was observed by naked eye.Histological results were observed by light microscopy.RESULTS In all 30 rats,side-to-side colonic anastomosis was completed,for an operation success rate of 100%.No postoperative complications of bleeding and intestinal obstruction occurred,and the postoperative survival rate were 100%.The operation time,magnet discharge time,anastomotic bursting pressure,and anastomotic diameter did not differ significantly among the three designs(P>0.05).Healing was similar across the groups,with gross specimens showing good anastomotic healing and good mucosal continuity observed on histological analysis.CONCLUSION This study found no significant difference in the establishment of rat side-to-side colonic anastomosis with the use of cylindrical vs circular ring magnets.

Prognosis in stage II colon cancer:Expanding the horizons of risk factors

we critically review the authors’perspective and analyze the relevance of the results obtained in the original article of clinical research by Liu et al.We consider that additional factors associated with colon cancer progression have recently been described in extensive clinical research,and should be included in this analysis to achieve a more accurate prognosis.These factors include inflammation,gut microbiota composition,immune status and nutritional balance,as they influence the post-surgical survival profile of patients with stage II colorectal cancer.We also address the clinical implementation and limitations of these analyses.Evaluation of the patient´s entire context is essential for selection of the most appropriate therapy.

Incorporation of human β-defensin-1 into immunoliposomes to facilitate targeted autophagy therapy of colon carcinoma

Based on the discovery that humanβ-defensin-1(hBD-1)triggers autophagy in colon cancer cells and inhibits proliferation,we proposed the consideration of its druggability.As a protein,its stability,targetability and bioavailability must be improved.Compared with the traditional medicinal chemistry technology,nano-technology is more economical for increasing the druggability of hBD-1 and can be readily scaled up.Here,we propose an immunoliposome system containing hBD-1 to improve its stability and bioavailability.To enhance its targetability,anti-epidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR)antibodies were conjugated to the liposomal bilayer to produce immunoliposomes that can target EGFR,which is highly expressed in colon cancer cells.Although more studies are needed to su-pport clinical trials and large-scale manufacturing,these immunoliposomes have great potential as therapeutics.Thus,immunoliposomes are suitable nanovesicles to improve the druggability of hBD-1;however,additional basic and translational research of these systems is warranted.

LncRNA PCAT6 promotes progression and metastasis of colonic neuroendocrine carcinoma via MAPK pathway

BACKGROUND Colonic neuroendocrine carcinomas(NECs)are highly malignant and invasive with poor prognosis.Long noncoding RNAs(LncRNAs)participate in the tumorigenesis and metastasis of multiple cancers AIM To detect the roles and mechanisms of lncRNA prostate cancer associated transcript 6(PCAT6)in the progression of colonic NEC.METHODS Human NEC and adjacent normal samples were collected for immunohistochemistry staining of CgA and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction(RT-qPCR)of PCAT6 mRNA level.Subcutaneous xenograft tumor model and lung metastasis model were established in nude mice.The lung tissues were stained by hematoxylin and eosin to assess pulmonary metastasis.The expression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition(EMT)-related markers and pathway-related genes was measured by RT-qPCR and western blotting.CD56 expression was assessed by immunofluorescence staining.The biological functions of PCAT6 were examined by cell counting kit-8,colony formation assays,Transwell assays and wound healing assays.The interaction between PCAT6 and its potential downstream target was verified by luciferase reporter assays.RESULTS LncRNA PCAT6 was upregulated in human NEC samples and LCC-18 cells,and its high expression was positively correlated with poor prognosis in patients with colonic NEC.Additionally,the expression of PCAT6 was positively associated with the proliferation,migration,invasion,and EMT of LCC-18 cells.Moreover,PCAT6 facilitated tumor growth,lung metastasis and EMT in xenografts.Mechanistically,PCAT6 promoted the activation of MAPK to enhance the EMT in colonic NEC by targeting miR-326.CONCLUSION In conclusion,lncRNA PCAT6 accelerates the process of colonic NEC by activating ERK/p38 MAPK signaling through targeting miR-326.These results might provide useful information for exploring the potential therapeutic targets in colonic NEC.

Ultra-processed food,obesity,and colon cancer:A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND Recently,there has been a significant increase in the consumption of ultraprocessed foods worldwide.However,the association between the consumption of ultra-processed food,obesity,and the prevalence of colon cancer remains controversial.AIM To find out the association between the consumption of ultra-processed food,obesity,and the prevalence of colon cancer.METHODS A comprehensive systematic literature search of PubMed,Scopus,Web of Science,and Google Scholar for grey literature was done for articles published before 8th March 2023.The search was done to retrieve potential peer-reviewed articles that explored the association between the consumption of ultra-processed food,obesity,and the prevalence of colon cancer.RESULTS Of the 246 potential articles assessed,17 met the inclusion criteria.Meta-analysis results demonstrated that high consumption of ultra-processed food is associated with an increased risk of obesity[odds ratio(OR):1.65;95%CI:1.07-2.45;P<0.05].Consequently,there is a positive association between obesity and an increased risk of colon cancer(OR 1.48;95%CI:0.77-2.87;P>0.05).CONCLUSION Consuming ultra-processed foods increases the risk of obesity and colon cancer.

Colonization Pattern of Azospirillum brasilense Yu62 on Maize Roots

Plasmid pVK1001 which carried the gfp gene of GFPmut2, a mutant of GFP, was introduced into Azospirillum brasilense Yu62 by electroporation. Maize seedlings were inoculated with the GFP-labelled baeteria and grown gnotobiotically in flask with semi-solid agar medium. Observations were performed with confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) and electron microscopy, respectively, at 8 d and 12 d after inoculation. Confocal laser scanning microscopy showed that A. brasilense Yu62 could penetrate into the cortex tissue, colonizing in the intercellular spaces of the parenchyma cells of the cortex tissue. Transmission and scanning electron microscopy (TEM) showed that the majority of the bacteria colonized on the root surface and only a minority of them resided in the root interior.

Factors that mediate colonization of the human stomach by Helicobacter pylori

Helicobacter pylori(H.pylori)colonizes the stomach of humans and causes chronic infection.The majority of bacteria live in the mucus layer overlying the gastric epithelial cells and only a small proportion of bacteria are found interacting with the epithelial cells.The bacteria living in the gastric mucus may act as a reservoir of infection for the underlying cells which is essential for the development of disease.Colonization of gastric mucus is likely to be key to the establishment of chronic infection.How H.pylori manages to colonise and survive in the hostile environment of the human stomach and avoid removal by mucus flow and killing by gastric acid is the subject of this review.We also discuss how bacterial and host factors may together go some way to explaining the susceptibility to colonization and the outcome of infection in different individuals.H.pylori infection of the gastric mucosa has become a paradigm for chronic infection.Understanding of why H.pylori is such a successful pathogen may help us understand how other bacterial species colonise mucosal surfaces and cause disease.

Maternal imprinting of the neonatal microbiota colonization in intrauterine growth restricted piglets:a review

Early colonization of intestinal microbiota during the neonatal stage plays an important role on the development of intestinal immune system and nutrients absorption of the host.Compared to the normal birth weight(NBW)piglets,intrauterine growth restricted(IUGR)piglets have a different intestinal microbiota during their early life,which is related to maternal imprinting on intestinal microbial succession during gestation,at birth and via suckling.Imbalanced allocation of limited nutrients among fetuses during gestation could be one of the main causes for impaired intestinal development and microbiota colonization in neonatal IUGR piglets.In this review,we summarized the potential impact of maternal imprinting on the colonization of the intestinal microbiota in IUGR piglets,including maternal undernutrition,imbalanced allocation of nutrients among fetuses,as well as vertical microbial transmission from mother to offspring during gestation and lactation.At the same time,we give information about the current maternal nutritional strategies(mainly breastfeeding,probiotics and prebiotics)to help colonization of the advantageous intestinal microbiota for IUGR piglets.

Natural Colonization of Rice by Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi in Different Production Areas

Interactions between plants and soil microorganisms can influence the other interactions in which plants participate, including interactions with herbivores. Many fungi, including arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi(AMF), form symbiotic relationships with the roots they inhabit, and potentially alter defense against pests. The objective of this study was to document the extent of root colonization by AMF on non-flooded rice plants grown under conditions typical of commercial fields. We hypothesized that AMF naturally colonized rice plants in different rice producing field locations. Rice plant samples were collected from areas across the southern United States, including Texas, Mississippi, Arkansas and two research stations in Louisiana. We quantified the amount of AMF colonization in insecticide-free rice plants over three consecutive years(2014–2016). The results revealed natural colonization of AMF in all rice producing areas. In all the three years of survey, rice-AMF associations were the greatest in Arkansas followed by Mississippi and Texas. This research will help draw attention to natural colonization of AMF in rice producing areas that can impact future rice research and production by facilitating agricultural exploitation of the symbiosis.

Non-thermal Plasma Suppresses Bacterial Colonization on Skin Wound and Promotes Wound Healing in Mice

The present study evaluated the effect of non-thermal plasma on skin wound healing in BalB/c mice.Two 6-mm wounds along the both sides of the spine were created on the back of each mouse（n=80） by using a punch biopsy.The mice were assigned randomly into two groups,with 40 animals in each group：a non-thermal plasma group in which the mice were treated with the non-thermal plasma;a control group in which the mice were left to heal naturally.Wound healing was evaluated on postoperative days（POD） 4,7,10 and 14（n=5 per group in each POD） by percentage of wound closure.The mice was euthanized on POD 1,4,7,10,14,21,28 and 35（n=1 in each POD）.The wounds were removed,routinely fixed,paraffin-embedded,sectioned and HE-stained.A modified scoring system was used to evaluate the wounds.The results showed that acute inflammation peaked on POD 4 in non-thermal plasma group,earlier than in control group in which acute inflammation reached a peak on POD 7,and the acute inflammation scores were much lower in non-thermal group than in control group on POD 7（P0.05）.The amount of granular tissue was greater on POD 4 and 7 in non-thermal group than in control group（P0.05）.The re-epithelialization score and the neovasularization score were increased significantly in non-thermal group when compared with control group on POD 7 and 10（P0.05 for all）.The count of bacterial colonies was 103 CFU/mL on POD 4 and 20 CFU/mL on POD 7,significantly lower than that in control group（109 CFU/mL on POD 4 and 1012 CFU/mL on the POD 7）（P0.05）.It was suggested that the non-thermal plasma facilitates the wound healing by suppressing bacterial colo-nization.

Colonization of Rice Roots by a Green Fluorescent Protein-Tagged Isolate of Ustilaginoidea virens

The fungus U. virens is the causal agent of rice false smut disease. The green fluorescent protein (GFP) was used to mark this fungus in order to visualize and analyze the colonization and infection processes in vivo. Using epifluorescence microscopy colonization and infection on rice roots were visualized in vivo. After inoculation for 2 to 15 d, it was observed that the conidia and their germ-tubes had penetrated into epidermis of young roots. The hyphae were found inside the root xylem 18 d after inoculation. Generally, the transformed fungus colonized the rhizosphere, the cortex as well as the vascular tissues with symptoms of root necrosis observed. The results of this work show that U. virens colonize not only rice panicles but also the roots.

Bacterial colonization and intestinal mucosal barrier development

The intestinal tract is colonized soon after birth with a variety of ingested environmental and maternal microflora. This process is influenced by many factors including mode of delivery, diet, environment, and the use of antibiotics. Normal intestinal microflora provides protection against infection, ensures tolerance to foods, and contributes to nutrient digestion and energy harvest. In addition, enteral feeding and colonization with the normal commensal flora are necessary for the maintenance of intestinal barrier function and play a vital role in the regulation of intestinal barrier function. Intestinal commensal microorganisms also provide signals that foster normal immune system development and influence the ensuing immune responses. There is increasingly recognition that alterations of the microbial gut flora and associated changes in intestinal barrier function may be related to certain diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. This review summarizes recent advances in understanding the complex ecosystem of intestinal microbiota and its role in regulating intestinal barrier function and a few common pediatric diseases. Disruption in the establishment of a stable normal gut microflora may contribute to the pathogenesis of diseases including inflammatory bowel disease, nosocomial infection, and neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis.

Bacterial Colonization of the Equine Gut;Comparison of Mare and Foal Pairs by PCR-DGGE

Horses, like all animals, are born without the symbiotic microbes that occupy the gastrointestinal tracts of mature animals. As grazing animals, horses rely on these microbes to fully utilize the grasses and other cellulosic feeds that they consume. Thus, colonization of the foal's gastrointestinal tract must occur between birth and weaning. The feces of nine mare and foal pairs were sampled from the day of parturition until 12 weeks of age, and the samples were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction amplification of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE). The gels from feces of day (d) 0 foals had no or very few ( x = 3, n = 6) bands, which indicates that species richness was low. The number of bands increased during the first 4 days of life, and by d 14 the foals and mares had similar numbers of bands ( x = 28, n = 23). Some bands were present in young foals, but not in mares or in foals on d 42 or d 84, which indicated succession of bacterial species. When the PCR-DGGE profiles were compared with Dice's algorithm, all mare-foal pairwise similarities on d 14 and later were as great as the pairwise similarities between mares. These results are consistent with the idea that foals are born with a sterile gut, colonization proceeds rapidly, and a mature microbial community is present in the first few weeks of life.

Celecoxib inhibits Helicobacter pylori colonization-related factors

AIM:To investigate the effect of celecoxib,a selective COX-2 inhibitor,on Helicobacter pylori(H.pylori) colonization-related factors and its mechanism.METHODS:After co-incubation with celecoxib,morphology of H.pylori strain 26695 was observed under a transmission electron microscope.Flagella motility was assessed by stab agar motility test.Adherence of H.pylori to AGS cells was determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay.Levels of mRNA expression in flagellar genes(flaA,flaB),urease genes(ureA,ureB)and adhesin genes(babA,sabA,alpA,alpB,hpaA,hopZ)were measured by real-time polymerase chain reaction.RESULTS:Separation and non-integrity of bacterial cell wall,rarefaction and asymmetry of cytoplasm,and even lysis of H.pylori were observed in the presence of celecoxib.When H.pylori strains were incubated in the presence of celecoxib,their flagellar motility and adherence to AGS cells were inhibited.The expression of ureA,ureB,babA,sabA,alpA,alpB,hpaA,hopZ was up-regulated while the expression of flaA,flaB was down-regulated in the presence of celecoxib.CONCLUSION:Celecoxib inhibits flagellar motility and adherence of H.pylori to AGS cells,and destructs their normal structure in vitro.