Hiroaki Konishi, Koji Yamamoto, Aki Sakatani, Tatsuya Dokoshi, Yutaka Makizaki, Yoshiki Tanaka, Hiroshi Ohno, Kentaro Moriichi, Mikihiro Fujiya
{"title":"Peptidoglycan from <i>Bifidobacterium bifidum</i> G9-1 induces IgA secretion in Peyer's patch-derived cells.","authors":"Hiroaki Konishi, Koji Yamamoto, Aki Sakatani, Tatsuya Dokoshi, Yutaka Makizaki, Yoshiki Tanaka, Hiroshi Ohno, Kentaro Moriichi, Mikihiro Fujiya","doi":"10.12938/bmfh.2025-040","DOIUrl":"10.12938/bmfh.2025-040","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Immunoglobulin A (IgA) plays a key role in mucosal immunity. We investigated the IgA-inducing capacity of heat-killed <i>Bifidobacterium bifidum</i> G9-1 (BBG9-1) using Peyer's patch (PP)-derived cells. Heat-killed BBG9-1, but not its culture supernatant, significantly enhanced IgA secretion and cell aggregation. Compared with other Gram-positive bacteria, BBG9-1 showed a stronger IgA-inducing effect. Component analysis revealed that peptidoglycan (PG), but not lipoteichoic acid (LTA), isolated from BBG9-1 significantly stimulated IgA secretion. These findings suggest that PG from BBG9-1 is a key factor in IgA induction, supporting its potential application in modulating mucosal immune responses.</p>","PeriodicalId":93908,"journal":{"name":"Bioscience of microbiota, food and health","volume":"45 1","pages":"79-83"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12765531/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145907283","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
María Guadalupe Juárez-Pérez, Francisco J Alarcón-Aguilar, J Iván Jasso-Villagómez, M Margarita Canales-Martínez, Jorge E Campos-Contreras, Héctor Escalona-Buendía, Francisco J Fernández
{"title":"Effect of a fructooligosaccharides fraction from <i>Psacalium decompositum</i> on the intestinal bacterial microbiota of rats.","authors":"María Guadalupe Juárez-Pérez, Francisco J Alarcón-Aguilar, J Iván Jasso-Villagómez, M Margarita Canales-Martínez, Jorge E Campos-Contreras, Héctor Escalona-Buendía, Francisco J Fernández","doi":"10.12938/bmfh.2025-032","DOIUrl":"10.12938/bmfh.2025-032","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><i>Psacalium decompositum</i> is a shrub indigenous to northern Mexico and Arizona and New Mexico in the USA. It has been utilized in traditional medicine for the treatment of many ailments, including rheumatic disorders, pain, and diabetes. A chemical analysis of a hexane extract from the rhizomes of <i>P. decompositum</i> revealed the presence of sesquiterpenes, including cacalol, cacalone, maturin, and maturinone, among others. Furthermore, its aqueous fraction was subjected to isolation, resulting in the identification of linear fructooligosaccharides with an eight-unit polymerisation degree (LFOS8). The objective of this study was to ascertain the impact of LFOS8 derived from <i>P. decompositum</i> on the intestinal microbiota of rats through 16S rRNA gene sequencing and bioinformatics analysis. Male Wistar rats were randomly assigned to the following groups (n=8): a control group administered an isotonic saline solution, positive control group treated with chicory inulin (a prebiotic), and experimental group treated with LFOS8 fraction. The positive control and experimental groups of animals demonstrated alterations in their gut microbiota, resulting in an increase in the growth of beneficial bacteria, including bacteria that are considered probiotics and produce butyrate. This research provides insights into the potential therapeutic benefits of <i>P. decompositum</i>.</p>","PeriodicalId":93908,"journal":{"name":"Bioscience of microbiota, food and health","volume":"45 1","pages":"1-8"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12765533/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145907229","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Source-dependent antimicrobial activity of plant-derived lactic acid bacteria against periodontal pathogens.","authors":"Yuji Tsujikawa, Junya Yamamoto, Mami Naito, Iwao Sakane","doi":"10.12938/bmfh.2025-055","DOIUrl":"10.12938/bmfh.2025-055","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Periodontal disease is a prevalent inflammatory condition linked to tooth loss and systemic disorders. Plant-derived lactic acid bacteria (LAB) have emerged as promising probiotics for oral health. In this study, 80 LAB strains were isolated from tea leaves, young barley leaves, carrots, and fermented vegetables, and their antimicrobial effects against key periodontal pathogens were evaluated. Various assays, including biofilm inhibition, growth inhibition, disk diffusion, and RT-qPCR, were employed to assess activity. LAB strains from tea leaves and young barley leaves exhibited significantly stronger anti-biofilm activity and growth inhibition against <i>Porphyromonas gingivalis</i> than those from carrots and fermented vegetables. These strains also demonstrated notable antimicrobial activity against <i>P. gingivalis</i> and <i>Fusobacterium nucleatum</i> and significantly downregulated key virulence-related genes, including <i>fimA</i>, <i>kgp</i>, and <i>rgpA</i> in <i>P. gingivalis</i>. The results suggest that the antimicrobial efficacy of LAB is dependent on their plant source. Tea and barley-derived LAB strains may serve as potent candidates for probiotic development aimed at preventing periodontal disease. Further investigation is warranted.</p>","PeriodicalId":93908,"journal":{"name":"Bioscience of microbiota, food and health","volume":"45 2","pages":"149-157"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13083155/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147724964","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Fernando Suárez-Sánchez, Luis Fernando Alvarado-Vera, Valentina Tremaroli, Graciela Castro-Escarpulli, Jesús Peralta-Romero, Miguel Cruz-López
{"title":"An altered gut microbiota is associated with anthropometric and biochemical changes in a prediabetes Mexican cohort.","authors":"Fernando Suárez-Sánchez, Luis Fernando Alvarado-Vera, Valentina Tremaroli, Graciela Castro-Escarpulli, Jesús Peralta-Romero, Miguel Cruz-López","doi":"10.12938/bmfh.2025-036","DOIUrl":"10.12938/bmfh.2025-036","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>An altered gut microbiota is considered to be an environmental factor contributing to the pathogenesis of various diseases, including metabolic disorders. In this study, we identified changes in the composition of the fecal microbiota of Mexican individuals with prediabetes and analyzed their influences on variables related to this metabolic disorder. Bacterial DNA was extracted from feces of normoglycemic and prediabetes individuals, followed by sequencing of the V4 16S rDNA. Clinical variables were correlated with bacterial abundance and diversity indexes. LEfSe analysis was used to identify relevant bacteria in normoglycemic and prediabetes individuals. Relationships between bacterial clusters and clinical data were assessed with weighted correlation network analysis (WGCNA). Bacterial diversity was positively correlated with anthropometric variables in the control group, while in individuals with prediabetes, it was negatively correlated with the insulin concentration and homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). We also observed that the microbiota in prediabetes individuals had a higher prevalence of <i>Ralstonia</i> and was enriched with bacteria belonging to the family <i>Lachnospiraceae</i>, as well as <i>Eubacterium biforme</i> and <i>Gemmiger formicilis</i>, while in controls, we found higher abundances of <i>Coprococcus</i> and <i>Bifidobacterium bifidum</i> (abs(linear discriminant analysis (LDA) score) >2). These results identify changes in the microbiota in Mexican adults with prediabetes. Remarkably, the genus <i>Ralstonia</i> was only found in prediabetes individuals. Higher insulin concentrations and HOMA-IR in those individuals were correlated with lower microbiota diversity.</p>","PeriodicalId":93908,"journal":{"name":"Bioscience of microbiota, food and health","volume":"45 1","pages":"19-26"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12765534/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145907261","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Le Dinh Phung, Pham Hoang Son Hung, Le Duc Thao, Ho Thi Dung, Nguyen Thi Hoa, Bui Thi Hien, Anjan Mondal, Victor Nsereko, Nguyen VAN Chao
{"title":"Effect of supplementing a <i>Saccharomyces cerevisiae</i>-fermentation-derived postbiotic in sow diet on pathogenic and antibiotic-resistant bacteria in a production system with high biosecurity.","authors":"Le Dinh Phung, Pham Hoang Son Hung, Le Duc Thao, Ho Thi Dung, Nguyen Thi Hoa, Bui Thi Hien, Anjan Mondal, Victor Nsereko, Nguyen VAN Chao","doi":"10.12938/bmfh.2025-038","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.12938/bmfh.2025-038","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study evaluated the effects of <i>Saccharomyces cerevisiae</i>-fermentation-derived postbiotic (SCFP) on pathogenic and antimicrobial-resistant (AMR) bacteria in sows within a high biosecurity system. Thirty sows were divided into three groups: a standard basal diet (CON group), CON with 1.0 kg/MT beta-glucan 50% (BG-50 group), and CON with 2.0 kg/MT SCFP (SCFP group). Fecal samples were collected at day 0, 60 days of gestation, and farrowing for enumeration of <i>Escherichia coli</i> and isolation of <i>Salmonella</i>. Isolates were assessed for AMR and antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) using disk diffusion and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methods. The results showed that <i>E. coli</i> counts (log10 CFU/g) were significantly reduced in the SCFP group compared with the CON group (p=0.03). The SCFP decreased the frequency of <i>E. coli</i> isolates with resistance to chloramphenicol and tetracycline (p<0.05), while BG-50 reduced resistance to chloramphenicol, doxycycline, erythromycin, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, and tetracycline (p<0.05). The mean inhibition zone for most antimicrobials against <i>E. coli</i> increased with gestation (p<0.05). Overall, dietary SCFP supplementation alleviated <i>E. coli</i> counts and the frequency of <i>Salmonella</i>. In addition, the effect of dietary SCFP and BG-50 supplementation on the level of AMR in <i>E. coli</i> and <i>Salmonella</i> was observed.</p>","PeriodicalId":93908,"journal":{"name":"Bioscience of microbiota, food and health","volume":"45 2","pages":"100-114"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13083193/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147725001","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Gut microbiota: a potential therapeutic target for hyperuricemia and gout.","authors":"Jiahui Tang, Yaxi Liu, Nianwei Wu, Jie Lu, Yuwei Zhang, Nanwei Tong, Qingguo Lü","doi":"10.12938/bmfh.2025-042","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.12938/bmfh.2025-042","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The prevalence of hyperuricemia (HUA) and gout has increased in recent decades. Current therapeutic approaches for HUA/gout are often limited by potential risks, necessitating the exploration of safer and more effective treatment options. Emerging evidence highlights the gut microbiota as a pivotal regulator of uric acid (UA) homeostasis. This review synthesizes current advances in microbiota-targeted interventions for HUA/gout, focusing on mechanistic insights and translational potential. We aim to provide a roadmap for optimizing microbiota-based therapies in HUA/gout management by bridging mechanistic discoveries with clinical translation. Gut microbiota can mitigate HUA/gout through several mechanisms, including regulating UA and purine metabolism, alleviating inflammation and modulating immune response, and enhancing the integrity of the intestinal barrier. Therapeutic strategies targeting gut microbiota include probiotics, prebiotics, traditional Chinese medicine, and fecal microbiota transplantation, which offer multi-target and multi-pathway benefits. While these microbiota-targeted therapies offer advantages over conventional drugs, several challenges remain. Future research should prioritize mechanistic elucidation, personalized microbiota modulation, and large-scale trials to optimize therapeutic paradigms for HUA/gout.</p>","PeriodicalId":93908,"journal":{"name":"Bioscience of microbiota, food and health","volume":"45 2","pages":"85-99"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13083157/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147724979","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Corrigendum: Probiotic-derived extracellular vesicles: a novel weapon against viral infections.","authors":"","doi":"10.12938/bmfh.2025-027c","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.12938/bmfh.2025-027c","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>[This corrects the article on p. 4 in vol. 44 PMC12490874.].</p>","PeriodicalId":93908,"journal":{"name":"Bioscience of microbiota, food and health","volume":"45 1","pages":"84"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12775793/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145936742","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Probiotic-derived extracellular vesicles: a novel weapon against viral infections.","authors":"Yangqian Shi, Sihang Li, Shuo Yang","doi":"10.12938/bmfh.2025-027","DOIUrl":"10.12938/bmfh.2025-027","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Viral diseases remain a significant global challenge. Although vaccination is the primary strategy for preventing viral infections, the rapid evolution of viruses and their divergence from existing vaccines limit vaccine efficacy. Therefore, novel and safe alternatives to combat viral infections are urgently needed. Probiotic-derived extracellular vesicles (PEVs), lipid bilayer-enclosed nanoparticles, exhibit potential as safe alternatives to live bacteria for treating viral diseases. These vesicles deliver antiviral molecules through mechanisms such as blocking viral adsorption/invasion and modulating host immune responses. This review systematically summarizes the biological characteristics of PEVs, their antiviral mechanisms, and their potential applications against respiratory, enteric, and enveloped viruses. Additionally, recent advances in engineering strategies, clinical translation challenges, and future directions for PEVs are discussed.</p>","PeriodicalId":93908,"journal":{"name":"Bioscience of microbiota, food and health","volume":"44 4","pages":"245-250"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12490874/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145234404","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Bile acid is a responsible host factor for high-fat diet-induced gut microbiota alterations in rats: proof of the \"bile acid hypothesis\".","authors":"Masamichi Watanabe, Yuki Fujita, Masahito Hagio, Satoshi Ishizuka, Yoshitoshi Ogura, Tetsuya Hayashi, Satoru Fukiya, Atsushi Yokota","doi":"10.12938/bmfh.2024-042","DOIUrl":"10.12938/bmfh.2024-042","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>High-fat diet (HFD)-induced alterations in gut microbiota may be associated with host pathophysiology, prompting increased interest in elucidating their causal relationships. However, the mechanisms by which HFDs induce these alterations require further clarification. Our previous study using cholic acid (CA)-fed rats suggested that bile acid drives the HFD-induced microbiota alterations as a host factor, a concept termed the \"bile acid hypothesis\". We analyzed the alterations in the cecal microbiota and bile acid composition in HFD-fed rats and compared the results with those of rats on a CA-supplemented diet. In both cases, the concentrations of total bile acids, including highly bactericidal deoxycholic acid (DCA), increased, concomitant with the increases in the Firmicutes (Bacillota)/Bacteroidetes (Bacteroidota) ratio. Operational taxonomic units (OTUs), accounting for 63.39% of the cecal microbiota of control rats, showed a significant correlation with the total bile acid concentration in HFD-fed rats. A DCA sensitivity test conducted in Firmicutes isolates, corresponding to the predominant OTUs from the HFD-fed rats, exhibited significantly higher DCA resistance compared with Bacteroidetes. The top 12 most abundant OTUs of Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes showing positive or negative correlations with the total bile acid concentration were selected from the HFD-fed rats, and their dynamics were compared with those in the CA-fed rats. Of the 24 OTUs, 18, which constituted 48.28% of the cecal population in the control rats, were altered in the same direction (increase or decrease) in the HFD- and CA-supplemented diet groups. Therefore, approximately half of the cecal populations in the control rats were affected by bile acids, substantiating the bile acid hypothesis microbiologically and quantitatively.</p>","PeriodicalId":93908,"journal":{"name":"Bioscience of microbiota, food and health","volume":"44 2","pages":"110-121"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11957759/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143766088","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Efficacy of sclareol based on 16S rDNA sequencing in modulating gut microbiota composition in estradiol-treated mice.","authors":"Yun-Ju Huang, Jennifer Wong, Yi-Fen Chiang, Ko-Chieh Huang, Hsin-Yuan Chen, Tsung-Sheng Cheng, Mohamed Ali, Tzong-Ming Shieh, Shih-Min Hsia","doi":"10.12938/bmfh.2024-129","DOIUrl":"10.12938/bmfh.2024-129","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Dysmenorrhea, the most prevalent gynecologic complaint among adolescent females, often has unclear underlying causes. However, it is widely recognized that the accumulation of estrogen and prostaglandins mediates inflammatory responses, leading to uterine ischemia and pelvic pain. Emerging evidence highlights the significant role of intestinal flora as a key regulator of circulating estrogens, linking it to estrogen-modulated diseases. Our laboratory previously demonstrated that sclareol effectively alleviates uterine proliferation and mitigates pain. Nonetheless, the relationship between sclareol's effects and gut microbiota modulation in dysmenorrhea remains unverified. To investigate this, we employed a mouse model induced with high doses of estradiol (1 mg/kg, IP) and administered sclareol (50 mg/kg, gavage) for five days. Fecal samples were subjected to 16S rDNA sequencing to analyze gut microbial composition. While no significant changes in alpha or beta diversity were observed, this study provides pioneering insights into sclareol's impact on specific gut microbiota. Notably, sclareol treatment increased the abundances of <i>Ruminococcus_1</i>, <i>Ruminococcaceae_UCG_013</i>, <i>Ruminococcaceae_UCG_014</i>, and <i>Streptococcus</i> while reducing the abundances of <i>Anaerotruncus</i> and <i>Lactobacillus</i> at the genus level. These effects may be associated with alterations in short-chain fatty acids, β-glucuronidase activity, and overall intestinal health. In conclusion, this study identifies sclareol as a potential functional food candidate for the prevention and management of estrogen-modulated diseases through gut microbiota modulation. Further research is warranted to elucidate the underlying mechanisms and therapeutic applications.</p>","PeriodicalId":93908,"journal":{"name":"Bioscience of microbiota, food and health","volume":"44 3","pages":"235-244"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12236188/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144602539","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}