Microbiom

Salivary stones, known as sialoliths, form within the salivary ducts due to abnormal salivary composition and cause painful symptoms, for which surgical removal is the primary treatment. This study explored the role of the salivary microbial communities in the formation of sialoliths. We conducted a comparative analysis of microbial communities present in the saliva and salivary stones, and sequenced the 16S rRNA gene in samples obtained from patients with sialoliths and from healthy individuals. Although the diversity in the saliva was high, the essential features of the microbial environment in sialoliths were low diversity and evenness...

It has been suggested that gut microbiota influence Parkinson's disease (PD) via the gut-brain axis. Here, we examine associations between diet and gut microbiome composition and its predicted functional pathways in patients with PD. We assessed gut microbiota in fecal samples from 85 PD patients in central California using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Diet quality was assessed by calculating the Healthy Eating Index 2015 (HEI-2015) based on the Diet History Questionnaire II. We examined associations of diet quality, fiber, and added sugar intake with microbial diversity, composition, taxon abundance, and predicted metagenomic profiles, adjusting for age, sex, race/ethnicity, and sequencing platform...

The incidence of young-onset colorectal cancer (yCRC) has been increasing in recent decades, but little is known about the gut microbiome of these patients. Most studies have focused on old-onset CRC (oCRC), and it remains unclear whether CRC signatures derived from old patients are valid in young patients. To address this, we assembled the largest yCRC gut metagenomes to date from two independent cohorts and found that the CRC microbiome had limited association with age across adulthood. Differential analysis revealed that well-known CRC-associated taxa, such as Clostridium symbiosum, Peptostreptococcus stomatis, Parvimonas micra and Hungatella hathewayi were significantly enriched (false discovery rate <0...

The seed-endophytic bacterial community is a potentially beneficial and heritable fraction of the plant microbiome. Its utilization as a sustainable crop improvement strategy could be especially valuable for species such as hemp, where production is being scaled up and new challenges will be faced in managing crop productivity and health. However, little is known about the makeup and variation of the hemp seed microbiome. This study profiled the endophytic bacterial communities harboured by 16 hemp cultivars sourced from commercial suppliers in Europe...

Cocaine use disorder (CUD) is a global health problem with no approved medications. One potential treatment target is the gut microbiome, but it is unknown if cocaine induces long-lasting effects on gut microbes. A novel therapeutic candidate for CUD, cannabidiol (CBD), can improve gut function in rodent models. It is possible that protective effects of CBD against cocaine use are mediated by improving gut health. We examined this question in this experiment. Cocaine conditioned place preference (CPP) was conducted in adult male C57BL/6JArc mice...

The onset of depression commonly occurs in adolescence; therefore, depressive prevention and intervention are pivotal during this period. It is becoming evident that neurotransmitter imbalance and gut microbiota dysbiosis are prominent causes of depression. However, the underlying links and mechanisms remain poorly understood. In this study, with 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing, genus Coprococcus markedly differentiated between the healthy and unmedicated depressive adolescents. Based on this, transplantation of Coprococcus eutactus (C...

Less than ten years ago, evidence began to accumulate about association between the changes in the composition of gut microbiota and development of human synucleinopathies, in particular sporadic form of Parkinson's disease. We collected data from more than one hundred and thirty experimental studies that reported similar results and summarized the frequencies of detection of different groups of bacteria in these studies. It is important to note that it is extremely rare that a unidirectional change in the population of one or another group of microorganisms (only an elevation or only a reduction) was detected in the patients with Parkinson's disease...

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are legacy flame retardants that bioaccumulate in the environment. The gut microbiome is an important regulator of liver functions including xenobiotic biotransformation and immune regulation. We recently showed that neonatal exposure to polybrominated diphenyl ether-99 (BDE-99), a human breast milk-enriched PBDE congener, up-regulated pro-inflammation- and down-regulated drug metabolism-related genes predominantly in males in young adulthood. However, the persistence of dysregulation into late adulthood, differential impact of hepatic cell types, and the involvement of the gut microbiome from neonatal BDE-99 exposure remains unknown...

Intercropping-driven changes in nitrogen (N)-acquiring microbial genomes and functional expression regulate soil N availability and plant N uptake. However, present data seem to be limited to a specific community, obscuring the viewpoint of entire N-acquiring microbiomes and functions. Taking maize intercropped with legumes (peanut and soybean) and non-legumes (gingelly and sweet potato) as models, we studied the effects of intercropping on N transformations and N-acquiring microbiomes in rhizosphere soil across four maize growth stages...

Wuyi Rock Tea (WRT) has different characteristics of "rock flavor" due to different production areas. In this study, we investigated the flavor characteristics and key components of "rock flavor" and the influence of microorganisms on the substances by combining metabolomics and microbiomics with the Rougui WRTs from the Zhengyan, Banyan, and Waishan production areas. The results showed that Rougui has a strong floral and fruity aroma, which is mainly brought by hotrienol, and the sweet, smooth, and fresh taste is composed of epicatechin gallate, epigallocatechin, epigallocatechin gallate, caffeine, theanine, soluble sugar, and sweet and bitter amino acids...

Link et al. conducted a controlled study comparing the impacts of ketogenic and vegan diets on energy intake and immune function in humans. Deep -omics analyses revealed distinct effects of each diet on the immune system, including changes in cell populations and blood transcriptomes indicative of diet-induced shifts between adaptive and innate immunity. The study highlights the potentially significant, rapid impact of diet on immune function and health.

Given the escalating global crisis in feed protein availability, Jatropha curcas L. cake has attracted significant interest as a viable alternative protein source in animal feed. This experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of fermented Jatropha curcas L. cake (FJCC) as a protein feed in the diet of pigs. A total of 96 growing pigs with an average weight of 27.60 ± 1.59 kg were divided into three dietary groups with varying FJCC inclusion levels (0, 2.5, and 5%) for a 28 d trial...

Soil microbial communities impact carbon sequestration and release, biogeochemical cycling, and agricultural yields. These global effects rely on metabolic interactions that modulate community composition and function. However, the physicochemical and taxonomic complexity of soil and the scarcity of available isolates for phenotypic testing are significant barriers to studying soil microbial interactions. Corrinoids-the vitamin B12 family of cofactors-are critical for microbial metabolism, yet they are synthesized by only a subset of microbiome members...

Cover crops, a soil conservation practice, can contribute to reducing disease pressure caused by Pseudomonas syringae, considered one of the most important bacterial plant pathogens. We recently demonstrated that phyllosphere (leaf surface) bacterial community structure changed when squash (Cucurbita pepo) was grown with a rye (Secale cereale) cover crop treatment, followed by a decrease of angular leaf spot (ALS) disease symptoms on squash caused by P. syringae pv. lachrymans. Application of biocontrol agents is a known agricultural practice to mitigate crop losses due to microbial disease...

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common endocrine anomalies among females of reproductive age, highlighted by hyperandrogenism. PCOS is multifactorial as it can be associated with obesity, insulin resistance, low-grade chronic inflammation, and dyslipidemia. PCOS also leads to dysbiosis by lowering microbial diversity and beneficial microbes, such as Faecalibacterium, Roseburia, Akkermenisa, and Bifidobacterium, and by causing a higher load of opportunistic pathogens, such as Escherichia/Shigella, Fusobacterium, Bilophila, and Sutterella...

This study delves into the aroma characteristics and microbial composition of filler tobacco leaves (FTLs) sourced from six distinct cigar-growing regions within Yunnan, China, following standardized fermentation. An integrated approach using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), electronic nose (E-nose), and microbiome analysis was employed for comprehensive profiling. Results derived from Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA) using E-nose data confirmed the presence of notable variability in flavor substance profiles among the FTLs from six regions...

The intestinal microbiome harbors fungi that pose a significant risk to human health as opportunistic pathogens and drivers of inflammation. Inflammatory and autoimmune diseases are associated with dysbiotic fungal communities and the expansion of potentially pathogenic fungi. The gut is also the main reservoir for disseminated fungal infections. Immune interactions are critical for preventing commensal fungi from becoming pathogenic. Significant strides have been made in defining innate and adaptive immune pathways that regulate intestinal fungi, and these discoveries have coincided with advancements in our understanding of the fungal molecular pathways and effectors involved in both commensal colonization and pathogenesis within the gut...

UNLABELLED: Biofilms within drinking water distribution systems serve as a habitat for drinking water microorganisms. However, biofilms can negatively impact drinking water quality by causing water discoloration and deterioration and can be a reservoir for unwanted microorganisms. In this study, we investigated whether indicator organisms for drinking water quality, such as coliforms, can settle in mature drinking water biofilms. Therefore, a biofilm monitor consisting of glass rings was used to grow and sample drinking water biofilms...

Peritonsillar abscesses (PTAs) are typically caused by group A Streptococcus or mixed oral flora. Gardnerella vaginalis is a part of the normal vaginal microbiome, and overgrowth can cause bacterial vaginosis. We present a case of recurrent PTA with G. vaginalis superinfection, which occurred after the patient performed oral sex on a female after incision and drainage of her initial PTA. The patient continued to have recurrent PTAs until G. vaginalis was identified, and antibiotic coverage was broadened to cover both group A Streptococcus and G...

BACKGROUND: Gut microbial disturbance has been widely confirmed in mood disorders. However, little is known about whether gut microbial characteristics can distinguish major depressive disorder (MDD), bipolar depression (BP-D), and bipolar mania (BP-M). METHODS: This was a prospective case-control study. The composition of gut microbiota was profiled using 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene sequencing of fecal samples and compared between healthy controls (HC; n = 46), MDD (n = 51), BP-D (n = 44), and patients with BP-M (n = 45)...