The curated Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM genome provides insights into strain specificity and microevolution.

Background: The advent of next generation sequencing technologies has enabled a surge in the number of whole genome sequences in public databases, and our understanding of the composition and evolution of bacterial genomes. Besides model organisms and pathogens, some attention has been dedicated to industrial bacteria, notably members of the Lactobacillaceae family that are commonly studied and formulated as probiotic bacteria. Of particular interest is Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM, an extensively studied strain that has been widely commercialized for decades and is being used for the delivery of vaccines and therapeutics.

beyond muciniphila - emergence of new species sp. nov.

The human gut commensal is the most studied bacterial species within the Verrucomicrobiota phylum. It has been proposed as a beneficial next-generation probiotic for cardiometabolic and immune health. Efforts from various research groups have resulted in the recent discovery of new species and/or phylotypes of the genus .

Eight-Week Supplementation With Bifidobacterium lactis HN019 and Functional Constipation: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Probiotic supplementation may improve bowel movements. However, large, properly designed studies are lacking.

Objective: To evaluate the potential benefit of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp lactis HN019 on constipation, expressed as complete spontaneous bowel movements (CSBMs).

The Effect of subsp. Bl-04 on Influenza A Virus Infection in Mice.

Influenza A virus infection is a major global disease requiring annual vaccination. Clinical studies indicate that certain probiotics may support immune function against influenza and other respiratory viruses, but direct molecular evidence is scarce. Here, mice were treated with a placebo or subsp.

Efficacy and safety of Lpc-37® in students facing examination stress: A randomized, triple-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial (the ChillEx study).

Lpc-37 (Lpc-37) has previously shown to reduce perceived stress in healthy adults. The ChillEx study investigated whether Lpc-37 reduces stress in a model of chronic examination stress in healthy students. One hundred ninety university students (18-40 y) were randomized to take 1.

The Effect of Human Milk Oligosaccharides and subspecies Bi-26 on Simulated Infant Gut Microbiome and Metabolites.

Human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) shape the developing infant gut microbiota. In this study, a semi-continuous colon simulator was used to evaluate the effect of 2 HMOs-2'-fucosyllactose (2'-FL) and 3-fucosyllactose (3-FL)-on the composition of infant faecal microbiota and microbial metabolites. The simulations were performed with and without a probiotic subspecies Bi-26 (Bi-26) and compared with a control that lacked an additional carbon source.

A Healthy Vaginal Microbiota Remains Stable during Oral Probiotic Supplementation: A Randomised Controlled Trial.

The primary objective of this randomised, placebo-controlled, triple-blind study was to assess whether orally consumed La-14 (La-14) and HN001 (HN001) colonise a healthy human vagina. Furthermore, potential effects on vaginal microbiota and immune markers were explored. Fifty women devoid of vaginal complaints (Nugent score 0-3 and vaginal pH ≤ 4.

Identification and Characterization of a Novel Species of Genus with Metabolic Health Effects in a Diet-Induced Obesity Mouse Model.

is a well-known bacterium with the ability to degrade mucin. This metabolic capability is believed to play an important role in the colonization of this bacterium in the gut. In this study, we report the identification and characterization of a novel sp.

Effect of spp. Bl-04 on Rhinovirus-Induced Colds: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Single-Center, Phase II Trial in Healthy Volunteers.

Background: This study was designed to assess the efficacy of ssp. (Bl-04) for prevention of rhinovirus colds and to explore the interactions between the probiotic, the viral infection, the host response and the host microbiome.

Methods: The effect of ingestion of the probiotic Bl-04 was evaluated in a randomized, double-blinded rhinovirus (RV) challenge study.

Characterization of vaginal fungal communities in healthy women and women with bacterial vaginosis (BV); a pilot study.

The role of the vaginal fungal community, the mycobiota, in women's health is an emerging area of research. Utilization of novel molecular technology enables more in-depth characterization and identification of fungal diversity, and their potential associations to health. The present study is a substudy of a larger observational clinical trial investigating the vaginal microbiota composition before and after antibiotic treatment for Bacterial Vaginosis (BV) infection in comparison to the microbiota of healthy women (Clinicaltrials.

Metabolomics analysis of plasma and adipose tissue samples from mice orally administered with polydextrose and correlations with cecal microbiota.

Polydextrose (PDX) is a branched glucose polymer, utilized as a soluble dietary fiber. Recently, PDX was found to have hypolipidemic effects and effects on the gut microbiota. To investigate these findings more closely, a non-targeted metabolomics approach, was exploited to determine metabolic alterations in blood and epididymal adipose tissue samples that were collected from C57BL/6 mice fed with a Western diet, with or without oral administration of PDX.

Recovery of Vaginal Microbiota After Standard Treatment for Bacterial Vaginosis Infection: An Observational Study.

Vaginal microbiota dysbiosis and bacterial vaginosis (BV) affect negatively women's health. Understanding vaginal microbiota fluctuations in BV during and after antibiotic treatment would facilitate accurate decision-making on the treatment regimen, avoid unnecessary antibiotic use, and potentially mitigate recurrence. We investigated vaginal microbiota composition of 30 women with BV before and after 5-day metronidazole treatment and compared the results with 30 healthy women.

Assessment of Restored Kidney Transplantation Including the Use of Wider Criteria for Accepting Renal Donors After Cancer Excision.

Unlabelled: The transplantation of kidneys after cancer excision (restored kidney transplantation, RKT) warrants further evaluation as a source of kidneys for transplantation. We determined whether larger cancers can be safely transplanted, the risks of adverse events from RKT, and whether RKT confers a survival advantage for patients waiting for transplantation.

Methods: In a retrospective cohort study, 23 dialysis patients awaiting transplant underwent RKT at John Hunter Hospital, Australia between 2008 and 2015.

Hypocholesterolemic Effect of the Lignin-Rich Insoluble Residue of Brewer's Spent Grain in Mice Fed a High-Fat Diet.

Insoluble residue (INS) is a lignin-rich fraction of brewer's spent grain (BSG) that also contains β-glucan and arabinoxylan, the major constituents of dietary fiber. We investigated the effects of INS in diet-induced obese mice in terms of lipid metabolism and metabolic diseases. Male mice (C57bl6) were fed a high-fat diet (HFD), a HFD + 20% INS, a HFD + 20% cellulose (CEL), a HFD with a combination of 20% INS-CEL (1:1), or a control diet for 14 weeks.

Probiotic or synbiotic alters the gut microbiota and metabolism in a randomised controlled trial of weight management in overweight adults.

The gut microbiota contributes to host energy metabolism, and altered gut microbiota has been associated with obesity-related metabolic disorders. We previously reported that a probiotic alone or together with a prebiotic controls body fat mass in healthy overweight or obese individuals in a randomised, double-blind, placebo controlled clinical study (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01978691).

Nasal microbiota clusters associate with inflammatory response, viral load, and symptom severity in experimental rhinovirus challenge.

The role of nasal and fecal microbiota in viral respiratory infections has not been established. We collected nasal swabs and washes, and fecal samples in a clinical study assessing the effect of probiotic Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis Bl-04 on experimental rhinovirus infection.

Functional significance and risk factors for lymphocele formation after renal transplantation.

Background: Lymphocele development following renal transplantation is a significant adverse event. It may cause acute graft dysfunction or venous obstruction. There are no consistent risk factors reported in literature.

Metabolic Fate of C-Labeled Polydextrose and Impact on the Gut Microbiome: A Triple-Phase Study in a Colon Simulator.

The present study introduces a novel triple-phase (liquids, solids, and gases) approach, which employed uniformly labeled [U-C] polydextrose (PDX) for the selective profiling of metabolites generated from dietary fiber fermentation in an in vitro colon simulator using human fecal inocula. Employing C NMR spectroscopy, [U-C] PDX metabolism was observed from colonic digest samples. The major C-labeled metabolites generated were acetate, butyrate, propionate, and valerate.

Intestinal microbiota is altered in patients with colon cancer and modified by probiotic intervention.

Objective: The colonic microbiota is altered in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). We investigated the microbiota composition of patients with colon cancer compared with controls devoid of neoplastic or inflammatory disease and the potential to modify the colonic microbiota with probiotics.

Design: Biopsy samples were obtained from the normal mucosa and tumour during colonoscopy from 15 patients with colon cancer.

Polydextrose changes the gut microbiome and attenuates fasting triglyceride and cholesterol levels in Western diet fed mice.

Obesity and dyslipidemia are hallmarks of metabolic and cardiovascular diseases. Polydextrose (PDX), a soluble fiber has lipid lowering effects. We hypothesize that PDX reduces triglycerides and cholesterol by influencing gut microbiota, which in turn modulate intestinal gene expression.

Genotyping by PCR and High-Throughput Sequencing of Commercial Probiotic Products Reveals Composition Biases.

Recent advances in microbiome research have brought renewed focus on beneficial bacteria, many of which are available in food and dietary supplements. Although probiotics have historically been defined as microorganisms that convey health benefits when ingested in sufficient viable amounts, this description now includes the stipulation "well defined strains," encompassing definitive taxonomy for consumer consideration and regulatory oversight. Here, we evaluated 52 commercial dietary supplements covering a range of labeled species using plate counting and targeted genotyping.

Probiotic approach to prevent antibiotic resistance.

Probiotics are live microorganisms, mainly belonging to the genera Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, although also strain of other species are commercialized, that have a beneficial effect on the host. From the perspective of antibiotic use, probiotics have been observed to reduce the risk of certain infectious disease such as certain types of diarrhea and respiratory tract infection. This may be accompanied with a reduced need of antibiotics for secondary infections.

Interaction between castanospermine an immunosuppressant and cyclosporin A in rat cardiac transplantation.

Aim: To investigate the interaction between castanospermine and cyclosporin A (CsA) and to provide an explanation for it.

Methods: The alkaloid castanospermine was prepared from the seeds of Castanospermum austral consistently achieving purity. Rat heterotopic cardiac transplantation and mixed lymphocyte reactivity were done using genetically inbred strains of PVG (donor) and DA (recipient).

Soy Protein Compared with Milk Protein in a Western Diet Increases Gut Microbial Diversity and Reduces Serum Lipids in Golden Syrian Hamsters.

Background: Diet is a major factor influencing the composition and metabolic activity of the gut microbiota.

Objective: This study investigated the effect of soy compared with dairy protein on the gut microbiota of hamsters to determine whether changes in microbiota could account for soy protein's lipid lowering properties.

Methods: Thirty-two 6- to 8-wk-old, male Golden Syrian hamsters were fed a Western diet containing 22% (%wt) milk protein isolate (MPI) as the single protein source for 3 wk followed by 6 wk of one of 4 diets containing either [22% protein (%wt)]: MPI, soy protein concentrate (SPC), partially hydrolyzed soy protein isolate (SPI1), or intact soy protein isolate.