Metagenome-wide analysis uncovers gut microbial signatures and implicates taxon-specific functions in end-stage renal disease.

Background: The gut microbiota plays a crucial role in regulating host metabolism and producing uremic toxins in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Our objective is to advance toward a holistic understanding of the gut ecosystem and its functional capacity in such patients, which is still lacking.

Results: Herein, we explore the gut microbiome of 378 hemodialytic ESRD patients and 290 healthy volunteers from two independent cohorts via deep metagenomic sequencing and metagenome-assembled-genome-based characterization of their feces.

Heat-Killed BBMN68 in Pasteurized Yogurt Alleviates Mugwort Pollen-Induced Allergic Airway Responses through Gut Microbiota Modulation in a Murine Model.

Many probiotic bacteria have been proven to prevent allergic airway responses through immunomodulation. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of heat-killed BBMN68 (BBMN68) in pasteurized yogurt on the alleviation of mugwort pollen (MP)-induced allergic inflammation. BALB/c mice aged 5-6 weeks were randomly assigned and fed pasteurized yogurt containing heat-killed BBMN68 for 27 days, followed by allergic sensitization and challenge with MP extract.

Effects of Fermented Milk Containing Subsp. MN-Gup (MN-Gup) and MN-Gup-Based Synbiotics on Obesity Induced by High Fat Diet in Rats.

Given the probiotic effects previously found in subsp. MN-Gup (MN-Gup) and its great application potential in dairy products, this study aimed to investigate the effects of fermented milk containing MN-Gup or MN-Gup-based synbiotics on high fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity in rats. Galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) and xylo-oligosaccharides (XOS) were selected as the tested prebiotics in MN-Gup-based synbiotics due to their promotion of MN-Gup growth in vitro.

Effects of Fermented Milk Containing Strain Shirota on Constipation in Patients with Depression: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial.

Probiotics have been shown to benefit patients with constipation and depression, but whether they specifically alleviate constipation in patients with depression remains unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of strain Shirota (LcS), formerly strain Shirota, on constipation in patients with depression with specific etiology and gut microbiota and on depressive regimens. Eighty-two patients with constipation were recruited.

Pomelo Peel Modified with Citrate as a Sustainable Adsorbent for Removal of Methylene Blue from Aqueous Solution.

An anionic adsorbent was prepared by grafting citrate onto pomelo peel (PPL) to remove methylene blue (MB) from aqueous solution. The PPL and modified pomelo peel (MPPL) were analyzed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The effects of dye concentration, contact time, and pH on adsorption were studied.