Project description:We have previously demonstrated that the gut microbiota can play a role in the pathogenesis of conditions associated with exposure to environmental pollutants. It is well accepted that diets high in fermentable fibers such as inulin can beneficially modulate the gut microbiota and lessen the severity of pro-inflammatory diseases. Therefore, we aimed to test the hypothesis that hyperlipidemic mice fed a diet enriched with inulin would be protected from the pro-inflammatory toxic effects of PCB 126.
Project description:Age-dependent changes of the gut-associated microbiome have been linked to increased frailty and systemic inflammation. This study found that age-associated changes of the gut microbiome of BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice could be reverted by co-housing of aged (22 months old) and adult (3 months old) mice for 30-40 days or faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) from adult into aged mice. This was demonstrated using high-throughput sequencing of the V3-V4 hypervariable region of bacterial 16S rRNA gene isolated from faecal pellets collected from 3-4 months old adult and 22-23 months old aged mice before and after co-housing or FMT.
Project description:Purpose: Gut microbiota is associated with the progression of brain tumor. However, the alterations in the gut microbiota during glioma growth and temozolomide (TMZ) therapy remains to be understood. Methods: C57BL/6 male mice were implanted with GL261 glioma cells. TMZ/sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (SCC) was administered by gavage for five consecutive days (from 8 to 12 days after implantation). Fecal samples were collected before (T0) and on days 7 (T1), 14 (T2), and 28 (T3) after implantation. The gut microbiota was analyzed using 16S ribosomal DNA sequencing followed by absolute and relative quantitation analyses. Results: Nineteen genera were altered during glioma progression with the most dramatic changes in Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes phyla. During glioma growth, Lactobacillus abundance decreased at the earlier stage of glioma development (T1), and then gradually increased (T2, T3); Intestinimonas abundance exhibited a persistent increase; Anaerotruncus showed a transient increase and then a subsequent decrease. Twenty genera altered following TMZ treatment. The enrichment of Akkermansia and Bifidobacterium was observed only at the early stage following TMZ treatment (T2), but not at the later stage (T3). Additionally, the decrease of Anaerotruncus was slighter in TMZ group at T3 comparing to the vehicle group. The abundance of Intestinimonas increased constantly during the progression of glioma, but was unaffected by TMZ. Conclusions: Glioma development and progression resulted in altered gut microbiota. TMZ reversed the decrease of Anaerotruncus in glioma at T3, and increased the abundance of Bifidobacterium with no influence on the increase of Intestinimonas. Short-term and long-term effects of TMZ treatment on the bacterial communities may be differential. This study will improve understanding the role of gut microbiota in glioma, and help develop gut microbiota as a potential therapeutic target.
Project description:Metagenomic analysis of viruses in toilet waste from long distance flights – A new procedure for global infectious disease surveillance
Project description:The microbiome plays a significant role in gut brain communication and is linked to several animal and human diseases. Hypertension is characterized by gut dysbiosis, and this study aimed to determine how the gut microbiome differed between male and female normotensive and hypertensive rodents. WKY is a genetic control for spontaneous hypertensive rats or SHR which is well documented to have elevated blood pressure at approximately 8 to 10 weeks. We compared the microbiome of normotensive and hypertensive rodents using a meta-genomics approach.
Project description:The Virochip microarray (version 4.0) was used to detect viruses in patients from North America with unexplained influenza-like illness at the onset of the 2009 H1N1 pandemic.