Project description:The gut microbiota is closely associated with digestion, metabolism, immunity, and host health. The imbalance of the microbial community in livestock directly affects their well-being and, consequently, productivity. The composition and diversity of the gut microbiota are influenced not only by host genetics but also by environmental factors such as the microbial complexity of the rearing environment, feeds, and antibiotics. Here, we focus on the comparison of gut microbial communities in miniature pigs developed for xenotransplantation in specific pathogen-free (SPF) and conventional (non-SPF) facilities. To identify the disparities in gut microbial composition and functionality between these two environments, 16S RNA metagenome sequencing was conducted using fecal samples. The results revealed that the non-SPF pigs had higher gut microbiota diversity than the SPF pigs. The genera Streptococcus and Ruminococcus were more abundant in SPF pigs than in non-SPF pigs. Blautia, Bacteroides, and Roseburia were exclusively observed in SPF pigs, whereas Prevotella was exclusively found in non-SPF pigs. Carbohydrate and nucleotide metabolism, as well as environmental information processing, were predicted to be enriched in SPF pigs. In addition, energy and lipid metabolism, along with processes related to genetic information, cellular communication, and diseases, were predicted to be enriched in non-SPF pigs. This study makes an important contribution to elucidating the impact of environments harboring a variety of microorganisms, including pathogens, on the gut microbiota of miniature pigs. Furthermore, we sought to provide foundational data on the characteristics of the gut microbiota in genetically modified pigs, which serve as source animals for xenotransplantation.
Project description:To characterize the effect of microbiota on global gene expression in the distal small intestine during postnatal gut development we employed mouse models with experimental colonization by intestinal microbiota. Using microarray analysis to assess global gene expression in ileal mucosa at the critical stage of intestinal development /maturation associated with weaning, and asking how expression is affected by microbial colonization In the study presented here, preweaned and postweaned GF, SPF mouse small intestinal total RNAs were used. Also, 3-week-old gnotobiotic mouse as well as GF mouse small intestinal RNAs were used.
Project description:This experiment was investigating how gut commensal bacteria and intestinal inflammation affect miRNA expression. We analyzed miRNA expression of spleen and intestine from specific pathogen free (SPF) B6 mice, germ-free (GF) B6 mice, and IL-10 knockout mice which have severe colitis by microarray. Thus we have total 6 samples: GF spleen; GF intestines; SPF spleen; SPF intestine; IL-10 KO spleen and IL-10 KO intestine. We directly isolated RNA from whole spleens or intestines without any treatments, and then did microarray analysis.
Project description:Gender bias and the role of sex hormones in autoimmune diseases are well established. In specific-pathogen free (SPF) non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice females have 1.3-4.4 times higher incidence of Type 1 diabetes (T1D). Germ-free (GF) mice lose the gender bias (female/male ratio 1.1-1.2). Gut microbiota differed in males and females, a trend reversed by male castration, confirming that androgens influence gut microbiota. Colonization of GF NOD mice with defined microbiota revealed that some but not all lineages overrepresented in male mice supported a gender bias in T1D, and protection did not correlate with androgen levels. However, hormone-supported selective microbial lineage variation may work as a positive feedback mechanism contributing to the sexual dimorphism of autoimmune diseases. Gene expression analysis suggested pathways involved in protection of males from T1D by microbiota. We compared gene expression patterns in the pancreatic lymph nodes (PLNs) between four groups of mice (two genders in SPF and GF conditions, respectively). PLNs were isolated from 9-10 week old GF and SPF male and female NOD mice with 3 mice in each group, for a total of 12 samples.
Project description:This study employed low and high-fat purified diets containing two levels of added dietary cholesterol in conventionally raised, specific-pathogen free (SPF) mice harboring a full microbial community as compared to germ-free (GF) mice raised in complete absence of gut microbes on disease outcomes. It was hypothesized that FF-diets would lead to an earlier onset of gut dysbiosis, corresponding with elevated biomarkers of NAFLD and NASH. In the present study, we aimed to dissect the role of FF diet induced gut dysbiosis in order to mechanistically identify the underlying mechanism that influences gut-liver crosstalk between specific diet-induced bacterial populations and hepatic tissue to drive NAFLD/NASH onset and progression
Project description:Purpose: Gut microbiota-derived metabolites play a pivotal role in the maintenance of local gut homeostasis and can even induce systemic effects via accumulation in the bloodstream. Here, we demonstrate that mono-colonization of germ-free (GF) mice with Clostridium sporogenes protects mice from inflamation and death induced by DSS colitis. Method: 8-12-week-old male mice (GF, SPF and GF colonized with C. sporogenes (CS)) were treated with 2.5% DSS in drinking water for 5 days and colon tissue was isolated on day 7. RNA was isolated from the colon tissue and RNA sequenzing was performed. Results: Mono-colonization of GF mice with Clostridium sporogenes protected the mice from DSS colitis induced death, while producing high amounts of indole-3-propionic acid (IPA), branched chain (BCFA) and short-chain (SCFA) fatty acids. In comparison to CS mice, SPF mice showed much higher levels of inflammatory related genes and a worse histological score. Conclusion: Histological stainings and the RNAseq both showed high levels of protection of C. sporogenes colonized mice in colitis, compared to SPF and GF animals. The data provide evidence for a therapeutic potential of C. sporogenes for IBD patients.
Project description:We analyzed the transcriptional profile of colon and small-intestinal (SI) tissues in response to ex-vivo colonization with members of the gut microbiota. Tissues were dissected from SPF or GF mice, and connected to the ex-vivo gut organ culture system. Then, microbial cultures or fecal samples were infused into the lumen, and tissues were processed in different time points, as indicated below.
Project description:In this study we performed MeRIP-Seq to study N6-methyl adenosine (m6A) and and N6,2′ -O-dimethyladenosine (m6Am) modification of mRNA. We investigated the effect of the microbiota on the transcriptome and epitranscriptomic modifications in murine liver and cecum. We compared m6A/m modification profiles in cecum of conventionally raised (CONV) and germ-free (GF) mice. We additionally included GF mice colonised with the flora of CONV mice for four weeks (ex-GF), for which show that they exhibit similar patterns of the most abundant genera of gut bacteria as CONV mice. We added mice treated with several antibiotics to deplete the gut flora (abx)and vancomycin treated mice in which the genera Akkermansia, Escherichia/Shigella and Lactobacillus were enriched. Furthermore, we included GF mice colonised with the commensal bacterium Akkermansia muciniphila (Am), Lactobacillus plantarum (Lp) and Escherichia coli Nissle (Ec) and analysed their m6A/m modification profiles. In addition, we analysed changes in m6A/m- modified liver RNA for CONV, GF, and Am, Lp and Ec mice.
Project description:To investigate the impact of gut microbiota deleting and colonizing on hypothalamic health and function, the tissue samples from the germ-free (GF) pigs and the GF pigs colonized gut microbiota (CG) are used to perform whole RNA-seq for gene expression analysis We then performed long RNAs and small RNAs expression profiling analysis using data obtained from the RNA-seq of 3 different hypothalamus samples from the two groups of pigs