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    Characterizing the dynamics of the rumen microbiota, its metabolites, and blood metabolites across reproductive stages in Small-tailed Han sheep.
    (American Society for Microbiology, 2023-11-10) Sha Y; Liu X; Pu X; He Y; Wang J; Zhao S; Shao P; Wang F; Xie Z; Chen X; Yang W
    Different reproductive stages of mammals involve complex biological processes, and the intestinal microbiota, as an endocrine organ or an “invisible organ,” is involved in the regulation of hormone levels, immune function, and metabolism. However, the effects of the rumen microbiota, its metabolites, and blood metabolites on the reproductive performance of ruminants remain unclear. This study revealed that the Prevotella abundance increased significantly during pregnancy (P < 0.01); the Fibrobacter abundance increased significantly during lactation (P < 0.05); and rumen microbial carbohydrate metabolism, glucose biosynthesis, and metabolic functions were significantly enriched during pregnancy (P < 0.05). Microbial metabolic profile analysis showed that the differentially abundant microbial metabolites during pregnancy and lactation were mainly enriched in the biosynthesis of ubiquinone and other terpenoid quinones, and there was a certain correlation with the microbiota. Among them, sapindoside A was increased during pregnancy, nicotinamide riboside and β-cryptoxanthin were reduced during pregnancy, and L-tryptophan was significantly increased during lactation. In addition, the volatile fatty acid levels in lactation were significantly higher than those in non-pregnancy and pregnancy (P < 0.05), and the NH3-N content during pregnancy was significantly higher than that during lactation and non-pregnancy (P < 0.05). Moreover, there were differences in the serum metabolite levels at different reproductive stages, and similar metabolites existed when comparing the rumen metabolites, which were mainly enriched in arachidonic acid metabolism, vitamin B6 metabolism, and ABC transporter protein, resulting in significantly higher serum IgA and IgM levels during lactation than during non-pregnancy and pregnancy (P < 0.05).
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    Interaction between Rumen Epithelial miRNAs-Microbiota-Metabolites in Response to Cold-Season Nutritional Stress in Tibetan Sheep.
    (MDPI (Basel, Switzerland), 2023-09-23) Lv W; Sha Y; Liu X; He Y; Hu J; Wang J; Li S; Guo X; Shao P; Zhao F; Li M; Freking B
    Tibetan sheep are already well adapted to cold season nutrient stress on the Tibetan Plateau. Rumen, an important nutrient for metabolism and as an absorption organ in ruminants, plays a vital role in the cold stress adaptations of Tibetan sheep. Ruminal microbiota also plays an indispensable role in rumen function. In this study, combined multiomics data were utilized to comprehensively analyze the interaction mechanism between rumen epithelial miRNAs and microbiota and their metabolites in Tibetan sheep under nutrient stress in the cold season. A total of 949 miRNAs were identified in the rumen epithelium of both cold and warm seasons. A total of 62 differentially expressed (DE) miRNAs were screened using FC > 1.5 and p value < 0.01, and a total of 20,206 targeted genes were predicted by DE miRNAs. KEGG enrichment analysis revealed that DE miRNA-targeted genes were mainly enriched in axon guidance(ko04360), tight junction(ko04530), inflammatory mediator regulation of TRP channels(ko04750) and metabolism-related pathways. Correlation analysis revealed that rumen microbiota, rumen VFAs and DE miRNAs were all correlated. Further study revealed that the targeted genes of cold and warm season rumen epithelial DE miRNAs were coenriched with differential metabolites of microbiota in glycerophospholipid metabolism (ko00564), apoptosis (ko04210), inflammatory mediator regulation of TRP channels (ko04750), small cell lung cancer (ko05222), and choline metabolism in cancer (ko05231) pathways. There are several interactions between Tibetan sheep rumen epithelial miRNAs, rumen microbiota, and microbial metabolites, mainly through maintaining rumen epithelial barrier function and host homeostasis of choline and cholesterol, improving host immunity, and promoting energy metabolism pathways, thus enabling Tibetan sheep to effectively respond to cold season nutrient stress. The results also suggest that rumen microbiota have coevolved with their hosts to improve the adaptive capacity of Tibetan sheep to cold season nutrient stress, providing a new perspective for the study of cold season nutritional stress adaptation in Tibetan sheep.
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    Synergistic Responses of Tibetan Sheep Rumen Microbiota, Metabolites, and the Host to the Plateau Environment.
    (MDPI (Basel, Switzerland), 2023-10-03) Sha Y; Guo X; He Y; Li W; Liu X; Zhao S; Hu J; Wang J; Li S; Zhao Z; Hao Z; Miccheli A; Docea AO; Fukui H
    Plateau adaptation in animals involves genetic mechanisms as well as coevolutionary mechanisms of the microbiota and metabolome of the animal. Therefore, the characteristics of the rumen microbiome and metabolome, transcriptome, and serum metabolome of Tibetan sheep at different altitudes (4500 m, 3500 m, and 2500 m) were analyzed. The results showed that the rumen differential metabolites at 3500 m and 4500 m were mainly enriched in amino acid metabolism, lipid metabolism, and carbohydrate metabolism, and there was a significant correlation with microbiota. The differentially expressed genes and metabolites at middle and high altitudes were coenriched in asthma, arachidonic acid metabolism, and butanoate and propanoate metabolism. In addition, the serum differential metabolites at 3500 m and 4500 m were mainly enriched in amino acid metabolism, lipid metabolism, and metabolism of xenobiotics by cytochrome P450, and they were also related to microbiota. Further analysis revealed that rumen metabolites accounted for 7.65% of serum metabolites. These common metabolites were mainly enriched in metabolic pathways and were significantly correlated with host genes (p < 0.05). This study found that microbiota, metabolites, and epithelial genes were coenriched in pathways related to lipid metabolism, energy metabolism, and immune metabolism, which may be involved in the regulation of Tibetan sheep adaptation to plateau environmental changes.
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    Multi-omics revealed rumen microbiota metabolism and host immune regulation in Tibetan sheep of different ages
    (Frontiers Media S.A., 2024-02-13) Sha Y; Liu X; He Y; Zhao S; Hu J; Wang J; Li W; Shao P; Wang F; Chen X; Yang W; Xie Z; Chen Z
    The rumen microbiota and metabolites play an important role in energy metabolism and immune regulation of the host. However, the regulatory mechanism of rumen microbiota and metabolite interactions with host on Tibetan sheep's plateau adaptability is still unclear. We analyzed the ruminal microbiome and metabolome, host transcriptome and serum metabolome characteristics of Tibetan sheep at different ages. Biomarkers Butyrivibrio, Lachnospiraceae_XPB1014_group, Prevotella, and Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group were found in 4 months, 1.5 years, 3.5 years, and 6 years Tibetan sheep, respectively. The rumen microbial metabolites were mainly enriched in galactose metabolism, unsaturated fatty acid biosynthesis and fatty acid degradation pathways, and had significant correlation with microbiota. These metabolites further interact with mRNA, and are co-enriched in arginine and proline metabolism, metabolism of xenobiotics by cytochrome P450, propanoate metabolism, starch and sucrose metabolism, gap junction pathway. Meanwhile, serum metabolites also have a similar function, such as chemical carcinogenesis - reactive oxygen species, limonene and pinene degradation, and cutin, suberine and wax biosynthesis, thus participating in the regulation of the body's immune and energy-related metabolic processes. This study systematically revealed that rumen microbiota, metabolites, mRNA and serum metabolites of Tibetan sheep were involved in the regulation of fermentation metabolic function and immune level of Tibetan sheep at different ages, which provided a new perspective for plateau adaptability research of Tibetan sheep at different ages.
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    Gut-Brain Axis in the Early Postnatal Years of Life: A Developmental Perspective
    (Frontiers Media S.A., 2020-08-05) Jena A; Montoya CA; Mullaney JA; Dilger RN; Young W; McNabb WC; Roy NC; Cammarota M
    Emerging evidence suggests that alterations in the development of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract during the early postnatal period can influence brain development and vice-versa. It is increasingly recognized that communication between the GI tract and brain is mainly driven by neural, endocrine, immune, and metabolic mediators, collectively called the gut-brain axis (GBA). Changes in the GBA mediators occur in response to the developmental changes in the body during this period. This review provides an overview of major developmental events in the GI tract and brain in the early postnatal period and their parallel developmental trajectories under physiological conditions. Current knowledge of GBA mediators in context to brain function and behavioral outcomes and their synthesis and metabolism (site, timing, etc.) is discussed. This review also presents hypotheses on the role of the GBA mediators in response to the parallel development of the GI tract and brain in infants.
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    Infant Complementary Feeding of Prebiotics for the Microbiome and Immunity
    (MDPI (Basel, Switzerland), 2019-02-09) McKeen S; Young W; Mullaney J; Fraser K; McNabb WC; Roy NC
    Complementary feeding transitions infants from a milk-based diet to solid foods, providing essential nutrients to the infant and the developing gut microbiome while influencing immune development. Some of the earliest microbial colonisers readily ferment select oligosaccharides, influencing the ongoing establishment of the microbiome. Non-digestible oligosaccharides in prebiotic-supplemented formula and human milk oligosaccharides promote commensal immune-modulating bacteria such as Bifidobacterium, which decrease in abundance during weaning. Incorporating complex, bifidogenic, non-digestible carbohydrates during the transition to solid foods may present an opportunity to feed commensal bacteria and promote balanced concentrations of beneficial short chain fatty acid concentrations and vitamins that support gut barrier maturation and immunity throughout the complementary feeding window.
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    Gut Microbial Metabolites and Biochemical Pathways Involved in Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Effects of Diet and Nutrition on the Microbiome
    (Elsevier Inc on behalf of the American Society for Nutrition, 2020-05) James SC; Fraser K; Young W; McNabb WC; Roy NC
    The food we consume and its interactions with the host and their gut microbiota affect normal gut function and health. Functional gut disorders (FGDs), including irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), can result from negative effects of these interactions, leading to a reduced quality of life. Certain foods exacerbate or reduce the severity and prevalence of FGD symptoms. IBS can be used as a model of perturbation from normal gut function with which to study the impact of foods and diets on the severity and symptoms of FGDs and understand how critical processes and biochemical mechanisms contribute to this impact. Analyzing the complex interactions between food, host, and microbial metabolites gives insights into the pathways and processes occurring in the gut which contribute to FGDs. The following review is a critical discussion of the literature regarding metabolic pathways and dietary interventions relevant to FGDs. Many metabolites, for example bile acids, SCFAs, vitamins, amino acids, and neurotransmitters, can be altered by dietary intake, and could be valuable for identifying perturbations in metabolic pathways that distinguish a "normal, healthy" gut from a "dysfunctional, unhealthy" gut. Dietary interventions for reducing symptoms of FGDs are becoming more prevalent, but studies investigating the underlying mechanisms linked to host, microbiome, and metabolite interactions are less common. Therefore, we aim to evaluate the recent literature to assist with further progression of research in this field.
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    Effects of Defatted Rice Bran-Fortified Bread on the Gut Microbiota Composition of Healthy Adults With Low Dietary Fiber Intake: Protocol for a Crossover Randomized Controlled Trial
    (JMIR Publications, 2024-08-29) Ng HM; Maggo J; Wall CL; Bayer SB; McNabb WC; Mullaney JA; Foster M; Cabrera DL; Fraser K; Cooney J; Trower T; Günther CS; Frampton C; Gearry RB; Roy NC
    BACKGROUND: Inadequate dietary fiber (DF) intake is associated with several human diseases. Bread is commonly consumed, and its DF content can be increased by incorporating defatted rice bran (DRB). OBJECTIVE: This first human study on DRB-fortified bread primarily aims to assess the effect of DRB-fortified bread on the relative abundance of a composite of key microbial genera and species in fecal samples. Secondary outcomes include clinical (cardiovascular risk profile), patient-reported (daily bread consumption and bowel movement, gut comfort, general well-being, and total DF intake), biological (fecal microbiota gene abundances, and fecal and plasma metabolites), and physiome (whole-gut and regional transit time and gas fermentation profiles) outcomes in healthy adults with low DF intake. METHODS: This is a 2-armed, placebo-controlled, double-blinded, crossover randomized controlled trial. The study duration is 14 weeks: 2 weeks of lead-in, 4 weeks of intervention per phase, 2 weeks of washout, and 2 weeks of follow-up. Overall, 60 healthy adults with low DF intake (<18 g [female individuals] or <22 g [male individuals] per day) were recruited in Christchurch, New Zealand, between June and December 2022. Randomly assigned participants consumed 3 (female individuals) or 4 (male individuals) slices of DRB-fortified bread per day and then placebo bread, and vice versa. The DRB-fortified bread provided 8 g (female individuals) or 10.6 g (male individuals) of total DF, whereas the placebo (a matched commercial white toast bread) provided 2.7 g (female individuals) or 3.6 g (male individuals) of total DF. Before and after each intervention phase, participants provided fecal and blood samples to assess biological responses; completed a 3-day food diary to assess usual intakes and web-based questionnaires to assess gut comfort, general and mental well-being, daily bread intake, and bowel movement via an app; underwent anthropometry and blood pressure measurements; and drank blue food dye to assess whole-gut transit time. Additionally, 25% (15/60) of the participants ingested Atmo gas-sensing capsules to assess colonic gas fermentation profile and whole-gut and regional transit time. Mean differences from baseline will be compared between the DRB and placebo groups, as well as within groups (after the intervention vs baseline). For metabolome analyses, comparisons will be made within and between groups using postintervention values. RESULTS: Preliminary analysis included 56 participants (n=33, 59% female; n=23, 41% male). Due to the large dataset, data analysis was planned to be fully completed by the last quarter of 2024, with full results expected to be published in peer-reviewed journals by the end of 2024. CONCLUSIONS: This first human study offers insights into the prospect of consuming DRB-fortified bread to effectively modulate health-promoting gut microbes, their metabolism, and DF intake in healthy adults with low DF intake. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12622000884707; https://www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=383814. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): DERR1-10.2196/59227.
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    Effects of Different Protein Sources on Amino Acid Absorption and Plasma Appearance of Tryptophan, Large Neutral Amino Acids, and Tryptophan Metabolites in Pigs
    (Elsevier Inc on behalf of American Society for Nutrition, 2024-07-15) Giezenaar C; Montoya CA; Kreutz K; Hodgkinson S; Roy NC; Mace LJ; Fraser K; Fernstrom JD; McNabb WC; Moughan PJ
    BACKGROUND: Absorption of tryptophan (TRP) across the gut epithelium is potentially modulated by competing large neutral amino acids (LNAAs), which could affect the appearance of TRP and its metabolites in the bloodstream. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to determine, in a growing pig model of an adult human, the absorption of TRP and other LNAAs from the gastrointestinal tract, and plasma appearance of TRP, LNAAs, and TRP metabolites, in response to dietary proteins varying in TRP content. METHODS: Pigs were adapted for 7 d to each of 4 diets that differed in their protein source and TRP content: 1) alpha-lactalbumin (AL; 9.95 mg TRP/g diet DM), 2) whey protein (6.59 mg TRP/g), 3) casein (3.73 mg TRP/g), or 4) zein (0.14 mg TRP/g). On day 8, pigs were euthanised after a 12-h fast (baseline), or 1, 2, 3, 4, or 6 h after they received a test meal consisting of 45 g protein, or a protein-free meal (n = 6 pigs at each time in each meal group). Tryptophan and LNAA absorption from the small intestine, and appearance of TRP, LNAAs, and TRP metabolites (melatonin, serotonin, kynurenine pathway metabolites), in the portal vein and systemic circulation, were determined. RESULTS: AL intake resulted in sustained elevated plasma TRP concentrations after an overnight fast. The amount of TRP absorbed was dose-dependently related to protein TRP content (P = 0.028), with fastest rates for pigs fed AL (371 mg/h). Portal and systemic plasma TRP, TRP/LNAA, and the TRP metabolites were highest (P ≤ 0.05) after AL intake, and remained above baseline levels for ∼4 h postprandially. Absorption rates of TRP correlated with postprandial plasma TRP and TRP metabolites (P ≤ 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In adult humans, postprandial plasma TRP and TRP metabolite concentrations can likely be modulated by the TRP content of the meal.