A comparative review of microplastics and nanoplastics: Toxicity hazards on digestive, reproductive and nervous system

Probiotic strains are claimed to confer health benefits to human organisms when consumed in adequate amounts. Thus, over the last decades there has been an increased interest in the production of functional foods containing probiotic bacteria. However, in order to display optimal probiotic functionality, these bacteria should survive through the gastrointestinal tract (GI) in high populations, reaching 106-107cfu (colony-forming unit)/g or mL at the end of product's shelf life. The food products that can be used as probiotic bacteria carriers exhibit limitations concerning the viability of the cells, associated with parameters such as the acidity of the food matrices or their processing and storage conditions. Moreover, the acid environment of the GI system may be crucial for their survival. Thus, techniques such as microencapsulation and enrichment with prebiotic substances are proposed for their protection. Aim of this review is to present the bacterial strains exhibiting probiotic properties, the microencapsulation techniques which are applied for their protection, as well as their advantages and disadvantages. Finally, the characteristics of the most important food products that have been used as possible matrices for microencapsulated probiotic cells are described.

A review of the microencapsulation techniques for the incorporation of probiotic bacteria in functional foods

Circular bioeconomy and integrated biorefinery in the production of xylooligosaccharides from lignocellulosic biomass: A review

Objective Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a global disease characterised by chronic obstruction of lung airflow interfering with normal breathing. Although the microbiota of respiratory tract is established to be associated with COPD, the causality of gut microbiota in COPD development is not yet established. We aimed to address the connection between gut microbiota composition and lung COPD development, and characterise bacteria and their derived active components for COPD amelioration. Design A murine cigarette smoking (CS)-based model of COPD and strategies evaluating causal effects of microbiota were performed. Gut microbiota structure was analysed, followed by isolation of target bacterium. Single cell RNA sequencing, together with sera metabolomics analyses were performed to identify host responsive molecules. Bacteria derived active component was isolated, followed by functional assays. Results Gut microbiota composition significantly affects CS-induced COPD development, and faecal microbiota transplantation restores COPD pathogenesis. A commensal bacterium Parabacteroides goldsteinii was isolated and shown to ameliorate COPD. Reduction of intestinal inflammation and enhancement of cellular mitochondrial and ribosomal activities in colon, systematic restoration of aberrant host amino acids metabolism in sera, and inhibition of lung inflammations act as the important COPD ameliorative mechanisms. Besides, the lipopolysaccharide derived from P. goldsteinii is anti-inflammatory, and significantly ameliorates COPD by acting as an antagonist of toll-like receptor 4 signalling pathway. Conclusion The gut microbiota–lung COPD axis was connected. A potentially benefial bacterial strain and its functional component may be developed and used as alternative agents for COPD prevention or treatment.

Gut microbiota modulates COPD pathogenesis: role of anti-inflammatory Parabacteroides goldsteinii lipopolysaccharide.

The gut microbiota (GM) represents a diverse and dynamic population of microorganisms and about 100 trillion symbiotic microbial cells that dwell in the gastrointestinal tract. Studies suggest that the GM can influence the health of the host, and several factors can modify the GM composition, such as diet, drug intake, lifestyle, and geographical locations. Gut dysbiosis can affect brain immune homeostasis through the microbiota–gut–brain axis and can play a key role in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases, including dementia and Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The relationship between gut dysbiosis and AD is still elusive, but emerging evidence suggests that it can enhance the secretion of lipopolysaccharides and amyloids that may disturb intestinal permeability and the blood–brain barrier. In addition, it can promote the hallmarks of AD, such as oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, amyloid-beta formation, insulin resistance, and ultimately the causation of neural death. Poor dietary habits and aging, along with inflammatory responses due to dysbiosis, may contribute to the pathogenesis of AD. Thus, GM modulation through diet, probiotics, or fecal microbiota transplantation could represent potential therapeutics in AD. In this review, we discuss the role of GM dysbiosis in AD and potential therapeutic strategies to modulate GM in AD.

https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/13/2/690/pdf

Crosstalk between Gut and Brain in Alzheimer’s Disease: The Role of Gut Microbiota Modulation Strategies

Gut microbiome maintains local gut integrity and systemic host homeostasis, where optimal control of intestinal lipopolysaccharides (LPS) activity may play an important role. LPS mainly produced from gut microbiota are a group of lipid-polysaccharide chemical complexes existing in the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria. Traditionally, LPS mostly produced from Proteobacteria are well known for their ability in inducing strong inflammatory responses (proinflammatory LPS, abbreviated as P-LPS), leading to septic shock or even death in animals and humans. Although the basic structures and chemical properties of P-LPS derived from different bacterial species generally show similarity, subtle and differential immune activation activities are observed. On the other hand, frequently ignored, a group of LPS molecules mainly produced by certain microbiota bacteria such as Bacteroidetes show blunt or even antagonistic activity in initiating pro-inflammatory responses (anti-inflammatory LPS, abbreviated as A-LPS). In this review, besides the immune activation properties of P-LPS, we also focus on the description of anti-inflammatory effects of A-LPS, and their potential antagonistic mechanism. We address the possibility of using native or engineered A-LPS for immune modulation in prevention or even treatment of P-LPS induced chronic inflammation related diseases. Understanding the exquisite interactive relationship between structure-activity correlation of P- and A-LPS not only contributes to molecular understanding of immunomodulation and homeostasis, but also re-animates the development of novel LPS-based pharmacological strategy for prevention and therapy of chronic inflammation related diseases.

/pdf/like-cures-like-pharmacological-activity-of-anti-2sh40n1do6.pdf

Like Cures Like: Pharmacological Activity of Anti-Inflammatory Lipopolysaccharides From Gut Microbiome.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has been extensively used to ameliorate diseases in Asia for over thousands of years. However, owing to a lack of formal scientific validation, the absence of information regarding the mechanisms underlying TCMs restricts their application. After oral administration, TCM herbal ingredients frequently are not directly absorbed by the host, but rather enter the intestine to be transformed by gut microbiota. The gut microbiota is a microbial community living in animal intestines, and functions to maintain host homeostasis and health. Increasing evidences indicate that TCM herbs closely affect gut microbiota composition, which is associated with the conversion of herbal components into active metabolites. These may significantly affect the therapeutic activity of TCMs. Microbiota analyses, in conjunction with modern multiomics platforms, can together identify novel functional metabolites and form the basis of future TCM research.

/pdf/role-of-gut-microbiota-in-identification-of-novel-tcm-44qnn6stv2.pdf

Role of gut microbiota in identification of novel TCM-derived active metabolites.

The roles of newly identified, non-conventional, native gut microbiota bacteria for promotion of health and even therapeutic purposes have rapidly attracted much more attention in contrast to the traditional probiotics. Detailed physiological and molecular evidences on isolation, identification and functional characterization of these various bacteria are rapidly gathering. These potentially beneficial bacteria are gradually grouped to form the next generation probiotics (NGP). Many bacterial species and strains belonging to Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes and Verrucomicrobia are gradually highlighted. Notably, NGP may have the potential of being treated as drugs (live biotherapeutic products, LBP); therefore, the requirements for grouping of NGP are much more stringent than traditional probiotics. Comprehensive understandings of effectiveness on amelioration of diseases, safety, physiological, genomic, and metabolomics characteristics, the drug susceptibility pattern and transfer of drug resistance genes, and potential virulence factors are mandatory. Besides, how NPG interact with the host to maintain intestinal integrity and host homeostasis has to be addressed. While most NGP products are currently not commercially available yet, this present review emphasizes the requirements of grouping newly identified microbiota bacteria as NGP. Furthermore, selection of specific functional bacteria to the strain level is essential. We also provide an overview of the potential NGP candidates that could be applied for targeted therapy on specific inflammation related diseases.

Hsin-Chih Lai

Papers

Like Cures Like: Pharmacological Activity of Anti-Inflammatory Lipopolysaccharides From Gut Microbiome.

Role of gut microbiota in identification of novel TCM-derived active metabolites.

Investiture of next generation probiotics on amelioration of diseases – Strains do matter

Corrigendum to “Investiture of next generation probiotics on amelioration of diseases – Strains do matter” [Med Microecol 1–2 (2019)]