How important are fatty acids in human health and can they be used in treating diseases?

Most of the short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) are produced by , , Lachnospiraceae, , , , and . Butyrate (CHO) supplies 70% of energy to intestinal epithelial cells (IECs), supports tight-junction protein formation, induces the production of inflammatory cytokines, and inhibits histone deacetylase (HDAC). Butyrate is also associated with the recovery of brain trauma, improvement of dementia, the alleviation of autoimmune encephalitis, and several intestinal disorders.

Cardiovascular Disease May Be Triggered by Gut Microbiota, Microbial Metabolites, Gut Wall Reactions, and Inflammation.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) may be inherited, as recently shown with the identification of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs or "snips") on a 250 kb DNA fragment that encodes 92 proteins associated with CVD. CVD is also triggered by microbial dysbiosis, microbial metabolites, metabolic disorders, and inflammatory intestinal epithelial cells (IECs). The epithelial cellular adhesion molecule (Ep-CAM) and trefoil factor 3 (TFF3) peptide keeps the gut wall intact and healthy.

Expression of Caseicin from Lacticaseibacillus casei and Lacticaseibacillus zeae Provides Insight into Antilisterial Class IIa Bacteriocins.

In this study, an in silico screening approach was employed to mine potential bacteriocin clusters in genome-sequenced isolates of Lacticaseibacillus zeae UD 2202 and Lacticaseibacillus casei UD 1001. Two putative undescribed bacteriocin gene clusters (Cas1 and Cas2) closely related to genes encoding class IIa bacteriocins were identified. No bacteriocin activity was recorded when cell-free supernatants of strains UD 2202 and UD 1001 were tested against Listeria monocytogenes.

Initial Characterization of the Viridisins' Biological Properties.

Viridisin A1 and A2 were previously heterologously expressed, purified, and characterized as ribosomally produced and post-translationally modified lanthipeptides. Such lanthipeptide operons are surprisingly common in Gram-negative bacteria, although their expression seems to be predominantly cryptic under laboratory conditions. However, the bioactivity and biological role of most lanthipeptide operons originating from marine-associated , such as XOM25T, have not been described.

Gut Bacteria Provide Genetic and Molecular Reporter Systems to Identify Specific Diseases.

With genetic information gained from next-generation sequencing (NGS) and genome-wide association studies (GWAS), it is now possible to select for genes that encode reporter molecules that may be used to detect abnormalities such as alcohol-related liver disease (ARLD), cancer, cognitive impairment, multiple sclerosis (MS), diabesity, and ischemic stroke (IS). This, however, requires a thorough understanding of the gut-brain axis (GBA), the effect diets have on the selection of gut microbiota, conditions that influence the expression of microbial genes, and human physiology. Bacterial metabolites such as short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) play a major role in gut homeostasis, maintain intestinal epithelial cells (IECs), and regulate the immune system, neurological, and endocrine functions.

Bacteriophage-Host Interactions and the Therapeutic Potential of Bacteriophages.

Healthcare faces a major problem with the increased emergence of antimicrobial resistance due to over-prescribing antibiotics. Bacteriophages may provide a solution to the treatment of bacterial infections given their specificity. Enzymes such as endolysins, exolysins, endopeptidases, endosialidases, and depolymerases produced by phages interact with bacterial surfaces, cell wall components, and exopolysaccharides, and may even destroy biofilms.

Exposure of Cryptococcus neoformans to low nitrogen levels enhances virulence.

Previous studies have shown a correlation between nitrogen levels and Cryptococcus neoformans pathogenicity. Here we report on the in vivo effects of cryptococcal pre-exposure to ecologically relevant nitrogen levels. C.

Our Mental Health Is Determined by an Intrinsic Interplay between the Central Nervous System, Enteric Nerves, and Gut Microbiota.

Bacteria in the gut microbiome play an intrinsic part in immune activation, intestinal permeability, enteric reflex, and entero-endocrine signaling. The gut microbiota communicates with the central nervous system (CNS) through the production of bile acids, short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), glutamate (Glu), γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), dopamine (DA), norepinephrine (NE), serotonin (5-HT), and histamine. A vast number of signals generated in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) reach the brain via afferent fibers of the vagus nerve (VN).

Biofilm Formation of , Toxin Production and Alternatives to Conventional Antibiotics in the Treatment of CDI.

is considered a nosocomial pathogen that flares up in patients exposed to antibiotic treatment. However, four out of ten patients diagnosed with infection (CDI) acquired the infection from non-hospitalized individuals, many of whom have not been treated with antibiotics. Treatment of recurrent CDI (rCDI) with antibiotics, especially vancomycin (VAN) and metronidazole (MNZ), increases the risk of experiencing a relapse by as much as 70%.

Use of the mCherry fluorescent protein to optimize the expression of class I lanthipeptides in Escherichia coli.

Background: Lanthipeptides are a rapidly expanding family of ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified natural compounds with diverse biological functions. Lanthipeptide structural and biosynthetic genes can readily be identified in genomic datasets, which provides a substantial repository for unique peptides with a wide range of potentially novel bioactivities. To realize this potential efficiently optimized heterologous production systems are required.

Heterologous Expression of Plantaricin 423 and Mundticin ST4SA in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Antimicrobial peptides or bacteriocins are excellent candidates for alternative antimicrobials, but high manufacturing costs limit their applications. Recombinant gene expression offers the potential to produce these peptides more cost-effectively at a larger scale. Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a popular host for recombinant protein production, but with limited success reported on antimicrobial peptides.

Thermophilin 13: In Silico Analysis Provides New Insight in Genes Involved in Bacteriocin Production.

Bacteriocins are a large family of ribosomally synthesised proteinaceous toxins that are produced by bacteria and archaea and have antimicrobial activity against closely related species to the producer strain. Antimicrobial proteinaceous compounds are associated with a wide range of applications, including as a pathogen inhibitor in food and medical use. Among the several lactic acid bacteria (LAB) commonly used in fresh and fermented food preservation, is well known for its importance as a starter culture for yoghurt and cheese.

Recent advances in genetic tools for engineering probiotic lactic acid bacteria.

Synthetic biology has grown exponentially in the last few years, with a variety of biological applications. One of the emerging applications of synthetic biology is to exploit the link between microorganisms, biologics, and human health. To exploit this link, it is critical to select effective synthetic biology tools for use in appropriate microorganisms that would address unmet needs in human health through the development of new game-changing applications and by complementing existing technological capabilities.

Unusual Class I Lanthipeptides from the Marine Bacteria .

A novel class I lanthipeptide produced by the marine bacterium XOM25 was identified using genome mining. The putative lanthipeptides were heterologously coexpressed in as GFP-prepeptide fusions along with the operon-encoded class I lanthipeptide modification machinery VdsCB. The core peptides, VdsA1 and VdsA2, were liberated from GFP using the NisP protease, purified, and analyzed by collision-induced tandem mass spectrometry.

How does Quorum Sensing of Intestinal Bacteria Affect Our Health and Mental Status?

The human gut is host to almost 3000 microbial species, of which 90% are bacteria. Quorum sensing (QS) molecules generated by intestinal bacteria are important in establishing species- and strain-level structures within the gut microbiome but are also used to communicate with the host. Although we do not know which QS molecules have the most direct interaction with intestinal and sensory neurons, it is clear they affect our physiological and mental health.

Gut Bacteria and Neurotransmitters.

Gut bacteria play an important role in the digestion of food, immune activation, and regulation of entero-endocrine signaling pathways, but also communicate with the central nervous system (CNS) through the production of specific metabolic compounds, e.g., bile acids, short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), glutamate (Glu), γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), dopamine (DA), norepinephrine (NE), serotonin (5-HT) and histamine.

Do Bacteria Provide an Alternative to Cancer Treatment and What Role Does Lactic Acid Bacteria Play?

Cancer is one of the leading causes of mortality and morbidity worldwide. According to 2022 statistics from the World Health Organization (WHO), close to 10 million deaths have been reported in 2020 and it is estimated that the number of cancer cases world-wide could increase to 21.6 million by 2030.

Isolation and Characterization of Lytic Virus 309.

is frequently associated with complicated urinary tract infections (UTIs) and is the main cause of catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs). Treatment of such infections is complicated and challenging due to the biofilm forming abilities of . If neglected or mistreated, infections may lead to life-threating conditions such as cystitis, pyelonephritis, kidney failure, and bacteremia that may progress to urosepsis.

Could the COVID-19-Driven Increased Use of Ivermectin Lead to Incidents of Imbalanced Gut Microbiota and Dysbiosis?

The microfilaricidal anthelmintic drug ivermectin (IVM) has been used since 1988 for treatment of parasitic infections in animals and humans. The discovery of IVM's ability to inactivate the eukaryotic importin α/β1 heterodimer (IMPα/β1), used by some viruses to enter the nucleus of susceptible hosts, led to the suggestion of using the drug to combat SARS-CoV-2 infection. Since IVM has antibacterial properties, prolonged use may affect commensal gut microbiota.

Colour of heterorhabditis zealandica-infected-Galleria mellonella dependent on the Photorhabdus symbiont, with two new nematode-symbiotic associations reported.

Bacterial symbionts associated with entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) play an important role in terms of the insecticidal properties of nematodes in pest control. Galleria mellonella larvae, shortly after being infected with three different strains of Heterorhabditis zealandica, which were isolated from South African soil, changed from pale white to steel grey-blue (blue), bright red, and yellow with a green tint (green), respectively. The genetic relatedness of the bacterial symbionts that were isolated from the three strains of H.

Gut Bacteria and Neuropsychiatric Disorders.

Bacteria in the gut microbiome plays an intrinsic part in immune activation, intestinal permeability, enteric reflex, and entero-endocrine signaling. Apart from physiological and structural changes brought about by gut bacteria on entero-epithelial cells and mucus layers, a vast number of signals generated in the gastro-intestinal tract (GIT) reaches the brain via the vagus nerve. Research on the gut-brain axis (GBA) has mostly been devoted to digestive functions and satiety.

Double-Barrel Shotgun: Probiotic Lactic Acid Bacteria with Antiviral Properties Modified to Serve as Vaccines.

Contrary to the general belief that the sole function of probiotics is to keep intestinal microbiota in a balanced state and stimulate the host's immune response, several studies have shown that certain strains of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) have direct and/or indirect antiviral properties. LAB can stimulate the innate antiviral immune defence system in their host, produce antiviral peptides, and release metabolites that prevent either viral replication or adhesion to cell surfaces. The SARS-CoV (COVID-19) pandemic shifted the world's interest towards the development of vaccines against viral infections.

Manganese Privation-Induced Transcriptional Upregulation of the Class IIa Bacteriocin Plantaricin 423 in Lactobacillus plantarum Strain 423.

Plantaricin 423 is produced by Lactobacillus plantarum 423 using the biosynthetic operon located on the 8,188-bp plasmid pPLA4. As with many class IIa bacteriocin operons, the operon carries biosynthetic genes (, precursor peptide; , immunity; , accessory; and , ABC transporter) but does not carry local regulatory genes. Little is known about the regulatory mechanisms involved in the expression of the apparently regulationless class IIa bacteriocins, such as plantaricin 423.

Therapeutic Application of Lantibiotics and Other Lanthipeptides: Old and New Findings.

Lanthipeptides are ribosomally synthesized and posttranslationally modified peptides, with modifications that are incorporated during biosynthesis by dedicated enzymes. Various modifications of the peptides are possible, resulting in a highly diverse group of bioactive peptides that offer a potential reservoir for use in the fight against a plethora of diseases. Their activities range from the antimicrobial properties of lantibiotics, especially against antibiotic-resistant strains, to antiviral activity, immunomodulatory properties, antiallodynic effects, and the potential to alleviate cystic fibrosis symptoms.

Profiling the Production of Antimicrobial Secondary Metabolites by J194 Under Different Culturing Conditions.

Species from the genus endosymbiotic bacteria of nematodes, produce several antibacterial and antifungal compounds, some of which are anti-parasitic. In this study, we report on the effect growth conditions have on the production of antimicrobial compounds produced by J194. The strain was cultured in aerated and non-aerated broth, respectively, and on solid media.