Project description:Descriptions of the small intestinal microbiota are deficient and conflicting. We aimed to get a reliable description of the jejunal bacterial microbiota by investigating samples from two separate jejunal segments collected from the luminal mucosa during surgery. Sixty patients with morbid obesity selected for elective gastric bypass surgery were included in this survey. Samples collected by rubbing a swab against the mucosa of proximal and mid jejunal segments were characterized both quantitatively and qualitatively using a combination of microbial culture, a universal quantitative PCR and 16S deep sequencing. Within the inherent limitations of partial 16S sequencing, bacteria were assigned to the species level. By microbial culture, 53 patients (88.3%) had an estimated bacterial density of < 1600 cfu/ml in both segments whereof 31 (51.7%) were culture negative in both segments corresponding to a bacterial density below 160 cfu/ml. By quantitative PCR, 46 patients (76.7%) had less than 104 bacterial genomes/ml in both segments. The most abundant and frequently identified species by 16S deep sequencing were associated with the oral cavity, most often from the Streptococcus mitis group, the Streptococcus sanguinis group, Granulicatella adiacens/para-adiacens, the Schaalia odontolytica complex and Gemella haemolysans/taiwanensis. In general, few bacterial species were identified per sample and there was a low consistency both between the two investigated segments in each patient and between patients. The jejunal mucosa of fasting obese patients contains relatively few microorganisms and a core microbiota could not be established. The identified microbes are likely representatives of a transient microbiota and there is a high degree of overlap between the most frequently identified species in the jejunum and the recently described ileum core microbiota.
Project description:Obesity is associated with an increased risk of mucosal infections; however, the mechanistic basis of this phenomenon remains incompletely defined. Intestinal mucus barrier systems normally prevent infections, but are sensitive to changes in the luminal environment. Here we demonstrate that mice exposed to an obesogenic Western-style diet (WSD) suffer regiospecific failure of the mucus barrier in the small intestinal jejunum caused by diet-induced mucus condensation, which occurs independently of microbiota alterations. Mucus barrier disruption due to either WSD exposure or chromosomal Muc2 deletion results in collapse of the commensal jejunal microbiota, which in turn sensitises mice to atypical jejunal colonization by the enteric pathogen Citrobacter rodentium. We identify the jejunal mucus layer as a microbial habitat, and link the regiospecific mucus dependency of the microbiota to fundamental properties of the jejunal niche. Together, our data identifies a symbiotic mucus-microbiota relationship that normally prevents jejunal pathogen colonization, but is highly sensitive to disruption by exposure to a Western-style diet.
Project description:We profiled transcriptome and chromatin landscapes in jejunal mouse intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) from mice reared in the absence (Germ Free or GF) or presence (Conventionalized or CV) of microbiota. We show that microbiota colonization results in changes in histone modifications at hundreds of enhancers that are associated with microbiota-regulated genes. Furthermore, we show that microbiota colonization is associated with a drastic genome-wide reduction in Hnf4a and Hnf4g binding.
Project description:Intestinal failure (IF), following extensive anatomical or functional loss of small intestine (SI), hasdebilitating long-term consequences on children1. Priority of care is to increase the child’s length of functional intestine, jejunum in particular, to promote nutritional independence2. Here we construct autologous jejunal mucosal grafts using primary patient biomaterials. We show that organoids derived from patients can be expanded efficiently in vitro. In parallel, we generate decellularized human intestinal matrix with intact nanotopography, which form optimal biological scaffolds. Remarkably, proteomic and Raman spectroscopy analyses reveal highly analogous biochemical profiles of human SI and colon scaffolds, indicating that both can be used interchangeably as platforms for intestinal engineering. Indeed, seeding jejunal organoids onto either scaffold type reliably reconstructs grafts that exhibit several aspects of physiological jejunal function with potential to survive after transplantation. Our findings provide proof-of-concept data for engineering IF patient-specific jejunal grafts, ultimately aiding in restoration of nutritional autonomy.
Project description:Transcriptional profiling of mouse jejunal epithelia comparing Tcrbd-/-, DAOwt/wt mouse and Tcrbd-/-, DAOG181R/G181R Intestinal microbiota produce D-amino acids, which are bacteria-specific metabolites, for regulation of bacterial cell wall integrity. Host intestine releases D-amino acid oxidase (DAO) to degrade bacterial D-amino acids, which shapes gut microbial community. However, it is not clarified whether bacterial D-amino acids affect host s immunity. In the present study, we compared mRNA expression in ileal epithelial tissue of DAO null mice with that of control mice in the absence of both T cell receptor beta and delta (Tcrb/d). Transcriptome analysis revealed up-regulation of inflammatory cytokines such as TNFa, IL1b, and IFNg in the epithelial tissue. Up-regulation of such cytokines could promote survival of na ve B cells and increase IgA-producing plasma cells, which in turn results in enhancement of IgA production. These results indicate that DAO controls intestinal immune responses through regulation of na ve B cells and differentiation of mature B cells.
Project description:in vivo microarray study of transcriptional changes of jejunal scratchings (mucosa) obtained from pigs divergent in feed efficiency.