Showing papers by "Patrizia Brigidi published in 2015"

The effect of short-chain fatty acids on human monocyte-derived dendritic cells

Abstract: The gut microbiota is essential for human health and plays an important role in the pathogenesis of several diseases. Short-chain fatty acids (SCFA), such as acetate, butyrate and propionate, are end-products of microbial fermentation of macronutrients that distribute systemically via the blood. The aim of this study was to investigate the transcriptional response of immature and LPS-matured human monocyte-derived DC to SCFA. Our data revealed distinct effects exerted by each individual SCFA on gene expression in human monocyte-derived DC, especially in the mature ones. Acetate only exerted negligible effects, while both butyrate and propionate strongly modulated gene expression in both immature and mature human monocyte-derived DC. An Ingenuity pathway analysis based on the differentially expressed genes suggested that propionate and butyrate modulate leukocyte trafficking, as SCFA strongly reduced the release of several pro-inflammatory chemokines including CCL3, CCL4, CCL5, CXCL9, CXCL10, and CXCL11. Additionally, butyrate and propionate inhibited the expression of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced cytokines such as IL-6 and IL-12p40 showing a strong anti-inflammatory effect. This work illustrates that bacterial metabolites far from the site of their production can differentially modulate the inflammatory response and generally provides new insights into host-microbiome interactions.

Gut microbiota trajectory in pediatric patients undergoing hematopoietic SCT.

Abstract: Acute GvHD (aGvHD) is the main complication of hematopoietic SCT (HSCT) during the treatment of hematological disorders. We carried out the first longitudinal study to follow the gut microbiota trajectory, from both the phylogenetic and functional points of view, in pediatric patients undergoing HSCT. Gut microbiota trajectories and short-chain fatty acid production profiles were followed starting from before HSCT and through the 3–4 months after transplant in children developing and not developing aGvHD. According to our findings, HSCT procedures temporarily cause a structural and functional disruption of the gut microbial ecosystem, describing a trajectory of recovery during the following 100 days. The onset of aGvHD is associated with specific gut microbiota signatures both along the course of gut microbiota reconstruction immediately after transplant and, most interestingly, prior to HSCT. Indeed, in pre-HSCT samples, non-aGvHD patients showed higher abundances of propionate-producing Bacteroidetes, highly adaptable microbiome mutualists that showed to persist during the HSCT-induced ecosystem disruption. Our data indicate that structure and temporal dynamics of the gut microbial ecosystem can be a relevant factor for the success of HSCT and opens the perspective to the manipulation of the pre-HSCT gut microbiota configuration to favor mutualistic persisters with immunomodulatory properties in the gut.

Microbes Central to Human Reproduction

Abstract: As studies uncover the breadth of microbes associated with human life, opportunities will emerge to manipulate and augment their functions in ways that improve health and longevity. From involvement in the complexities of reproduction and fetal/infant development, to delaying the onset of disease, and indeed countering many maladies, microbes offer hope for human well-being. Evidence is emerging to suggest that microbes may play a beneficial role in body sites traditionally viewed as being sterile. Although further evidence is required, we propose that much of medical dogma is about to change significantly through recognition and understanding of these hitherto unrecognized microbe–host interactions. A meeting of the International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics held in Aberdeen, Scotland (June 2014), presented new views and challenged established concepts on the role of microbes in reproduction and health of the mother and infant. This article summarizes some of the main aspects of these discussions.

Dynamic efficiency of the human intestinal microbiota.

Abstract: The emerging dynamic dimensions of the human intestinal microbiota (IM) are challenging the traditional definition of healthy gut microbiota, principally based on the static concepts of phylogenetic and functional core. On the other hand, recent researches are revealing that the microbiota plasticity is strategic for several aspects of our biology, addressing the different immunological and metabolic needs at various ages, and adjusting the ecosystem services in response to different lifestyle, physiological states or diets. In light of these studies, we propose to revise the traditional concept of healthy human IM, including its degree of plasticity among the fundamental requisites for providing host health. In order to make a model taking into account the relative importance of IM core functions and plasticity for the maintenance of host health, we address to Economics, where the efficiency of a productive system is measured by computing static and dynamic parameters.

Development of a Microarray-Based Tool To Characterize Vaginal Bacterial Fluctuations and Application to a Novel Antibiotic Treatment for Bacterial Vaginosis

Abstract: The healthy vaginal microbiota is generally dominated by lactobacilli that confer antimicrobial protection and play a crucial role in health. Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is the most prevalent lower genital tract infection in women in reproductive age and is characterized by a shift in the relative abundances of Lactobacillus spp. to a greater abundance of strictly anaerobic bacteria. In this study, we designed a new phylogenetic microarray-based tool (VaginArray) that includes 17 probe sets specific for the most representative bacterial groups of the human vaginal ecosystem. This tool was implemented using the ligase detection reaction-universal array (LDR-UA) approach. The entire probe set properly recognized the specific targets and showed an overall sensitivity of 6 to 12 ng per probe. The VaginArray was applied to assess the efficacy of rifaximin vaginal tablets for the treatment of BV, analyzing the vaginal bacterial communities of 22 BV-affected women treated with rifaximin vaginal tablets at a dosage of 25 mg/day for 5 days. Our results showed the ability of rifaximin to reduce the growth of various BV-related bacteria (Atopobium vaginae, Prevotella, Megasphaera, Mobiluncus, and Sneathia spp.), with the highest antibiotic susceptibility for A. vaginae and Sneathia spp. Moreover, we observed an increase of Lactobacillus crispatus levels in the subset of women who maintained remission after 1 month of therapy, opening new perspectives for the treatment of BV.

Metabonomics and Gut Microbial Paradigm in Healthy Aging

Abstract: Metabonomics, aiming to characterize the pattern of low molecular weight metabolites participating in metabolic pathways, is a valuable tool to detect changes in metabolic regulation and subsequently link them to the health outcome, emerging as a powerful technology to capture the complexity of human aging. The growing interest of the research community in this field is demonstrated by a large number of recently published researches, here summarized, that aim to associate complex metabolic regulations with age-related biological processes. The involvement of the gut microbiota, our “forgotten organ” with its impressive metabolic capability, is a natural extension of this interest, even if still largely unexplored. In this chapter, we aim to summarize the potential of metabonomics in exploring the impact of the combined metabolism of human host and gut microbiota on aging, as well as on the health outcome of age-related processes and the probability to attain longevity.

Identification de bactéries vaginales

Abstract: La presente invention concerne un procede permettant de diagnostiquer des infections vaginales et evaluer l'efficacite de traitement d'une infection vaginale par la detection de presence ou d'absence d'un ou de plusieurs bacteries vaginale dans un echantillon de fluide vaginal. Le procede est egalement utilise pour evaluer la rechute apres la fin d'un traitement aux antibiotiques.