Minke Lu

Bio: Minke Lu is an academic researcher from Harbin Medical University. The author has contributed to research in topics: Metagenomics & Gut flora. The author has an hindex of 1, co-authored 2 publications receiving 6 citations.

gutMGene: a comprehensive database for target genes of gut microbes and microbial metabolites.

Abstract: gutMGene (http://bio-annotation.cn/gutmgene), a manually curated database, aims at providing a comprehensive resource of target genes of gut microbes and microbial metabolites in humans and mice. Metagenomic sequencing of fecal samples has identified 3.3 × 106 non-redundant microbial genes from up to 1500 different species. One of the contributions of gut microbiota to host biology is the circulating pool of bacterially derived small-molecule metabolites. It has been estimated that 10% of metabolites found in mammalian blood are derived from the gut microbiota, where they can produce systemic effects on the host through activating or inhibiting gene expression. The current version of gutMGene documents 1331 curated relationships between 332 gut microbes, 207 microbial metabolites and 223 genes in humans, and 2349 curated relationships between 209 gut microbes, 149 microbial metabolites and 544 genes in mice. Each entry in the gutMGene contains detailed information on a relationship between gut microbe, microbial metabolite and target gene, a brief description of the relationship, experiment technology and platform, literature reference and so on. gutMGene provides a user-friendly interface to browse and retrieve each entry using gut microbes, disorders and intervention measures. It also offers the option to download all the entries and submit new experimentally validated associations.

A comprehensive review for gut microbes: technologies, interventions, metabolites and diseases.

Abstract: Gut microbes have attracted much more attentions in the recent decade since their essential roles in the development of metabolic diseases, cancer and neurological diseases Considerable evidence indicates that the metabolism of gut microbes exert influences on intestinal homeostasis and human diseases Here, we first reviewed two mainstream sequencing technologies involving 16s rRNA sequencing and metagenomic sequencing for gut microbes, and data analysis methods assessing alpha and beta diversity Next, we introduced some observational studies reflecting that many factors, such as lifestyle and intake of diets, drugs, contribute to gut microbes' quantity and diversity Then, metabolites produced by gut microbes were presented to understand that gut microbes exert on host homeostasis in the intestinal epithelium and immune system Finally, we focused on the molecular mechanism of gut microbes on the occurrence and development of several common diseases In-depth knowledge of the relationship among interventions, gut microbes and diseases might provide new insights in to disease prevention and treatment

gutMGene: a comprehensive database for target genes of gut microbes and microbial metabolites.

Abstract: gutMGene (http://bio-annotation.cn/gutmgene), a manually curated database, aims at providing a comprehensive resource of target genes of gut microbes and microbial metabolites in humans and mice. Metagenomic sequencing of fecal samples has identified 3.3 × 106 non-redundant microbial genes from up to 1500 different species. One of the contributions of gut microbiota to host biology is the circulating pool of bacterially derived small-molecule metabolites. It has been estimated that 10% of metabolites found in mammalian blood are derived from the gut microbiota, where they can produce systemic effects on the host through activating or inhibiting gene expression. The current version of gutMGene documents 1331 curated relationships between 332 gut microbes, 207 microbial metabolites and 223 genes in humans, and 2349 curated relationships between 209 gut microbes, 149 microbial metabolites and 544 genes in mice. Each entry in the gutMGene contains detailed information on a relationship between gut microbe, microbial metabolite and target gene, a brief description of the relationship, experiment technology and platform, literature reference and so on. gutMGene provides a user-friendly interface to browse and retrieve each entry using gut microbes, disorders and intervention measures. It also offers the option to download all the entries and submit new experimentally validated associations.

Dysbiosis of Gut Microbiota in Patients With Acute Myocardial Infarction

Abstract: Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) continues as the main cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Interestingly, emerging evidence highlights the role of gut microbiota in regulating the pathogenesis of coronary heart disease, but few studies have systematically assessed the alterations and influence of gut microbiota in AMI patients. As one approach to address this deficiency, in this study the composition of fecal microflora was determined from Chinese AMI patients and links between gut microflora and clinical features and functional pathways of AMI were assessed. Fecal samples from 30 AMI patients and 30 healthy controls were collected to identify the gut microbiota composition and the alterations using bacterial 16S rRNA gene sequencing. We found that gut microflora in AMI patients contained a lower abundance of the phylum Firmicutes and a slightly higher abundance of the phylum Bacteroidetes compared to the healthy controls. Chao1 (P = 0.0472) and PD-whole-tree (P = 0.0426) indices were significantly lower in the AMI versus control group. The AMI group was characterized by higher levels of the genera Megasphaera, Butyricimonas, Acidaminococcus, and Desulfovibrio, and lower levels of Tyzzerella 3, Dialister, [Eubacterium] ventriosum group, Pseudobutyrivibrio, and Lachnospiraceae ND3007 group as compared to that in the healthy controls (P < 0.05). The common metabolites of these genera are mostly short-chain fatty acids, which reveals that the gut flora is most likely to affect the occurrence and development of AMI through the short-chain fatty acid pathway. In addition, our results provide the first evidence revealing remarkable differences in fecal microflora among subgroups of AMI patients, including the STEMI vs. NSTEMI, IRA-LAD vs. IRA-Non-LAD and Multiple (≥2 coronary stenosis) vs. Single coronary stenosis groups. Several gut microflora were also correlated with clinically significant characteristics of AMI patients, including LVEDD, LVEF, serum TnI and NT-proBNP, Syntax score, counts of leukocytes, neutrophils and monocytes, and fasting serum glucose levels. Taken together, the data generated enables the prediction of several functional pathways as based on the fecal microfloral composition of AMI patients. Such information may enhance our comprehension of AMI pathogenesis.

Alterations of the Gut Microbiota in Patients With Severe Chronic Heart Failure

Abstract: Chronic heart failure (CHF) is the final outcome of almost all forms of cardiovascular diseases, remaining the main cause of mortality worldwide. Accumulating evidence is focused on the roles of gut microbial community in cardiovascular disease, but few studies have unveiled the alterations and further directions of gut microbiota in severe CHF patients. Aimed to investigate this deficiency, fecal samples from 29 CHF patients diagnosed with NYHA Class III-IV and 30 healthy controls were collected and then analyzed using bacterial 16S rRNA gene sequencing. As a result, there were many significant differences between the two groups. Firstly, the phylum Firmicutes was found to be remarkably decreased in severe CHF patients, and the phylum Proteobacteria was the second most abundant phyla in severe CHF patients instead of phylum Bacteroides strangely. Secondly, the α diversity indices such as chao1, PD-whole-tree and Shannon indices were significantly decreased in the severe CHF versus the control group, as well as the notable difference in β-diversity between the two groups. Thirdly, our result revealed a remarkable decrease in the abundance of the short-chain fatty acids (SCFA)-producing bacteria including genera Ruminococcaceae UCG-004, Ruminococcaceae UCG-002, Lachnospiraceae FCS020 group, Dialister and the increased abundance of the genera in Enterococcus and Enterococcaceae with an increased production of lactic acid. Finally, the alternation of the gut microbiota was presumably associated with the function including Cell cycle control, cell division, chromosome partitioning, Amino acid transport and metabolism and Carbohydrate transport and metabolism through SCFA pathway. Our findings provide the direction and theoretical knowledge for the regulation of gut flora in the treatment of severe CHF.