Fecal Bacteria

The survival of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis OPB-1 in the gastrointestinal tract after its administration in a milk-free yogurt-like soybean product and effects on fecal microbiota in humans were determined. Twelve healthy volunteers were administered 100 g of yogurt-like soybean product for 3 weeks. The plate count method combined with specific PCR and quantitative real-time PCR were used to estimate the numbers of total Bifidobacterium and B. animalis subsp. lactis in fecal samples. B. animalis subsp. lactis was detected during the administration period but not before. The intake number of B. animalis subsp. lactis OPB-1 was 2.4 × 10 10 CFU/day by the plate count method and 4.2 × 10 13 copies/day by quantitative real-time PCR. However, the number of excreted B. animalis subsp. lactis per day was estimated to be more than 10 times the intake number, by both methods. The percentage of Bifidobacterium increased from 16.9 ± 21.8% to 34.1 ± 20.4% by the plate count method and 18.9 ± 13.4% to 27.8 ± 15.8% by the T-RFLP method after 3 weeks administration.

Sewage treatment plants (STPs) have repeatedly been suggested as "hotspots" for the emergence and dissemination of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. A critical question still unanswered is if selection pressures within STPs, caused by residual antibiotics or other co-selective agents, are sufficient to specifically promote resistance. To address this, we employed shotgun metagenomic sequencing of samples from different steps of the treatment process in three Swedish STPs. In parallel, concentrations of selected antibiotics, biocides and metals were analyzed. We found that concentrations of tetracycline and ciprofloxacin in the influent were above predicted concentrations for resistance selection, however, there was no consistent enrichment of resistance genes to any particular class of antibiotics in the STPs, neither for biocide and metal resistance genes. The most substantial change of the bacterial communities compared to human feces occurred already in the sewage pipes, m...

Information about hand hygiene and fecal hand contamination among the general public is limited. Hands are an important vector in transmission of various pathogenic bacteria. We found high (31%) prevalence of fecal hand contamination among healthy adults engaged in hiking. Hygiene

The inclusion of key environmental covariables in habitat quality models is crucial to improve the ability of indicators to predict the response of aquatic organisms to anthropogenic stress. The sensitivity of the freshwater blenny (Salaria fluviatilis) to anthropogenic factors was found to be inconsistent among studies, and this might have been because background environmental heterogeneity was not considered. The goal of this study was to assess whether the inclusion of key environmental variables in habitat models would improve the ability to detect the effects of anthropogenic stress on vulnerable fishes. We used a theoretical-information approach to rank different models intended to predict the relative abundance of freshwater blenny in 10 Corsican rivers based on a combination of environmental and anthropogenic indicators. The results show a clear relationship between water velocity and blenny abundance in the studied streams. When this key variable is taken into account in the model, anthropogenic variables such as Enterococcus spp. and Escherichia coli counts, which are indicators of fecal pollution, and the number of competitor species also explain a significant proportion of the variation in blenny abundance. This study reveals the importance of statistically accounting for natural environmental variability, which may conceal other effects, when modeling anthropogenic impacts on a species

L'objectif de ce projet mené dans le cadre du programme GESSOL 2 est de comprendre et modéliser la survie et la dynamique de transfert dans les déjections, les sols et les eaux, de contaminants fécaux bovins, en relation avec les pratiques pastorales et la variabilité des milieux. Les suivis sont centrés sur Escherichia coli et incluent des données sur les souches pathogènes STEC (Shiga-toxin producing E. coli). Des suivis complémentaires portant sur Pseudomonas spp fluorescents, populations typiques des sols, fournissent des éléments de comparaison importants. Les recherches sont réalisées dans un alpage des Alpes du nord, à l'échelle station-parcelle et bassin versant. L'article présente une vue d'ensemble de la démarche d'étude, des méthodologies et des résultats obtenus, puis se focalise sur les acquis concernant le comportement de E. coli dans les sols et sur les apports de la modélisation des transferts à l'échelle bassin versant. Les résultats sont discutés dans une double perspective, celle d'une synthèse présentant le fonctionnement du bassin versant pâturé comme un système de transfert de contaminants fécaux et celle de réflexions opérationnelles relatives à la gestion pastorale. mots clés Bactéries fécales, Escherichia coli, Bassin versant-Alpages.

This randomized, placebo-controlled, double blind, parallel dose-response study investigated the impact of 4-week commercial yoghurt consumption supplemented with Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis (BB-12) and Lactobacillus acidophilus (LA-5) on fecal bacterial counts of healthy adults. Fifty-eight volunteers were randomly assigned to three different groups: 1. placebo (no probiotic, no starter and no green tea extract); 2. Yoptimal (10 9 cfu/100 g of BB-12 and LA-5 and 40 mg of green tea extract) and 3. Yoptimal-10 (10 10 cfu/100 g of BB-12, 10 9 cfu/100 g of LA-5 and 40 mg of green tea extract). These yoghurt products also contained Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus (10 7 cfu/100 g) and Streptococcus thermophilus (10 10 cfu/100 g). The quantitative PCR (qPCR) results showed that there were significant increases (P = 0.02) in bifidobacteria counts with the Yoptimal treatment as compared to baseline. The fecal numbers of B. animalis subsp. lactis and LA-5 significantly increased in the two probiotic treatments compared to the placebo treatment. Viable counts of fecal lactobacilli were significantly higher (P = 0.05) and those of enterococci were significantly lower (P = 0.04) after the intervention when compared to placebo. No significant difference was observed between treatments in volunteers' weight, waist girth, blood pressure, fasting plasma triglyceride and HDL-C concentrations, as well as cholesterol/HDLcholesterol ratio. However, a significant increase in plasma cholesterol levels was observed in the placebo group (P = 0.0018) but the levels remained stable in the two probiotic yoghurt groups. These results show that probiotic strains supplemented in the form of yoghurt remain active during gut transit and are associated with an increase in beneficial bacteria and a reduction in potentially pathogenic bacteria. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT00730626.

With the ban on the use of antibiotics in poultry feed, it is required to produce alternative substances to maintain poultry health and performance. The present study was carried out to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation at various levels of bamboo vinegar (BV) on performance, egg quality, and fecal bacterial population of laying ducks. One hundred and five 50-week-old crossbred laying ducks (Khaki Campbell × Native) were randomly allocated into five treatment groups, each with seven replicates of three ducks. The experimental ducks were fed a basal diet (antibiotic-free diet) supplemented with BV at the levels of 0%, 0.2%, 0.4%, 0.6%, or 0.8% of diet until 62 weeks of age. For the overall period (from 50 to 62 weeks of age), the dietary supplementation of BV at the levels of 0.4% and 0.6% of diet increased egg production and egg mass, and improved feed efficiency of laying ducks (p<0.01). Supplementation of BV at the level of 0.8% in the diet decreased feed intake (p<0.01). Egg quality parameters were not significantly affected by supplementation of BV (p>0.05). The population of fecal Escherichia coli was significantly decreased in the experimental ducks fed diet supplemented with BV at the levels of 0.4%, 0.6%, and 0.8% compared to the control group (p<0.01), while the population of Lactobacillus spp. remained unchanged. The present results indicate that a level of 0.4% BV supplementation in laying duck diet is sufficient for reducing fecal E. coli and improves productive performance of egg laying ducks.

Nine hundred and eighty-one fluid specimens were analysed by culture and by gas chromatography. The presence of obligate anaerobes was best predicted if one or more of the volatile acids iso. butyric, butyric, isovaleric, valeric, isocaproic or caproic acid were detected in the specimen. Propionic acid was not a good indicator of the presence of obligate anaerobes. The agreement between gas chromatography and culture for obligate anaerobes in the main study (841 specimens, 232 culture positive) was: co-positivity 82%; co-negativity 92%. Falsely negative specimens contained anaerobes which had probably not produced sufficient of their characteristic volatile fatty acids to be detected. When it was the sole infecting anaerobe, Bacteroidesfragilis seemed especially likely to be missed by gas chromatography. Forty-five of the 51 falsely positive specimens probably represented failure to culture anaerobes rather than spurious volatile fatty acid detection.

Water and sediment samples were collected in the Bluff Hill Cove area of Point Judith Pond from 12 stations along three parallel transects, and eelgrass samples were taken at two sites per transect. Fecal enterococci (FE) in the water samples exceeded USEPA regulatory limit of 100 MPN/100 mL for safe recreational and shellfish harvesting use in 24 out of 41 samples. Sediment samples had the lowest FE counts, whereas eelgrass had the highest counts. Using qPCR, H. pylori was detected in 8 out of 41 samples, but E. coli O157:H7 was not detected. Overall, higher levels of H. pylori were detected in 33% of the eelgrass samples and 33% of the sediment samples as compared to 9% in the water column. Microbial source tracking, using the Bacteroides marker HF183, indicated the presence of human fecal bacteria in 7 out of 41 samples, four of which were positive for H. pylori.

Soils are typically considered to be suboptimal environments for enteric organisms, but there is increasing evidence that Escherichia coli populations can become resident in soil under favorable conditions. Previous work reported the growth of autochthonous E. coli in a maritime temperate Luvic Stagnosol soil, and this study aimed to characterize, by molecular and physiological means, the genetic diversity and physiology of environmentally persistent E. coli isolates leached from the soil. Molecular analysis (16S rRNA sequencing, enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus PCR, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, and a multiplex PCR method) established the genetic diversity of the isolates ( n = 7), while physiological methods determined the metabolic capability and environmental fitness of the isolates, relative to those of laboratory strains, under the conditions tested. Genotypic analysis indicated that the leached isolates do not form a single genetic grouping but that multipl...

Fifty patients with anaerobic sepsis were treated with intravenous and oral metronidazole. In 26 cases this was combined with other antimicrobial agents. Highly satisfactory clinical results were obtained in most patients, though in many surgical drainage was also essential. No side effects or thrombophlebitis were seen. Mixed growths of anaerobic and aerobic bacteria were isolated from all except five patients, who produced only anaerobes. Metronidazole is the only available antimicrobial agent providing selective activity against anaerobic organisms. It is effective and safe and is usually the drug of choice for treating severe anaerobic sepsis.

Some dominant bacterial divisions of the intestines have been linked to metabolic diseases such as overweight and diabetes. A pilot study aimed to evaluate the relations between the culturable intestinal bacteria with body mass index (BMI) and some principal cellular and metabolic markers of blood in people older than 65. Altogether 38 generally healthy elderly people were recruited: ambulatory (n=19) and orthopedic surgery (n=19). Questionnaires on general health, anthropometric measurements, routine clinical and laboratory data, and quantitative composition of cultivable gut microbiota were performed. Blood glucose level was positively correlated with BMI (r=0.402; p=0.014). Higher blood glucose level had negative correlation with relative share of intestinal anaerobic bacteria such as bacteroides (r=-0.434; p=0.0076) and gram-positive anaerobic cocci (r=-0.364; p=0.027). In contrast, the relative share of bifidobacteria (r=0.383; p=0.019) and staphylococci (r=0.433; p=0.008) was ...

Urban development in coastal areas is intense and leads to the increase of sewage outfall and other negative impacts as consequences. Thus, stringent regulations establishing limits to the microbiological contamination of water and seafood are needed. The objective of this study is to evaluate the usefulness of Enterococci and Thermotolerant Coliform densities in the flesh of mussels Perna perna as an alternative tool for monitoring the microbiological quality of coastal waters. The study also considers allometric relations applied to clearance rates to understand rates of bacterial concentration. Bacterial loads obtained in mussels&#39; flesh were from 50 to 4,300 times greater than in the water sampled in the vicinity of the mussels and some were considered inappropriate for consumption even when the water presented no restrictions. The mean clearance rate obtained for Enterococci retention was 317.7 ml h-1 and this rate (CR) is related to the mussels&#39; size (L) by the equation...

With the ban on the use of antibiotics in poultry feed, it is required to produce alternative substances to maintain poultry health and performance. The present study was carried out to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation at various levels of bamboo vinegar (BV) on performance, egg quality, and fecal bacterial population of laying ducks. One hundred and five 50-week-old crossbred laying ducks (Khaki Campbell × Native) were randomly allocated into five treatment groups, each with seven replicates of three ducks. The experimental ducks were fed a basal diet (antibiotic-free diet) supplemented with BV at the levels of 0%, 0.2%, 0.4%, 0.6%, or 0.8% of diet until 62 weeks of age. For the overall period (from 50 to 62 weeks of age), the dietary supplementation of BV at the levels of 0.4% and 0.6% of diet increased egg production and egg mass, and improved feed efficiency of laying ducks (p<0.01). Supplementation of BV at the level of 0.8% in the diet decreased feed intake (p<0.01). Egg quality parameters were not significantly affected by supplementation of BV (p>0.05). The population of fecal Escherichia coli was significantly decreased in the experimental ducks fed diet supplemented with BV at the levels of 0.4%, 0.6%, and 0.8% compared to the control group (p<0.01), while the population of Lactobacillus spp. remained unchanged. The present results indicate that a level of 0.4% BV supplementation in laying duck diet is sufficient for reducing fecal E. coli and improves productive performance of egg laying ducks.

Due to insufficient operation efficiency, the studied treatment plant has undergone modernization. The aim of this study was to assess whether this modernization improved quality of the STP effluent and water quality in the receiver. The research period of fifty months covered time before and after the modernization. Samples were collected in four sites – upstream and downstream of the STP and by the sewage discharge. Electrolytic conductivity, water temperature and pH were measured onsite. Chemical analyzes were based on ion chromatography and determined the concentration of NH&lt;sub&gt;4&lt;/sub&gt;&lt;sup&gt;+&lt;/sup&gt;, NO&lt;sub&gt;3&lt;/sub&gt;&lt;sup&gt;-&lt;/sup&gt;, NO&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;&lt;sup&gt;-&lt;/sup&gt;, PO&lt;sub&gt;4&lt;/sub&gt;&lt;sup&gt;3-&lt;/sup&gt;, TDS. Microbiological analysis comprised serial dilutions to assess the number of mesophilic and psychrophilic bacteria and membrane filtration to enumerate &lt;i&gt;E. faecalis&lt;/i&gt;, total and fecal c...

Three strains of Enterococcus faecalis, three of Lactobacillus casei and two of Enterobacter aerogenes, isolated from commercial Palmita-type cheese were cultured in peptone-yeast extract broth with glucose (PYG), lactose (PYL), or citrate (PYC) added as the main carbon sources. The short-chain volatile and non-volatile organic acids were extracted and their concentration determined by GC with a FID detector. The identity of the acids was determined by their retention times and confirmed by GC mass spectral (MS) analysis. Only acetic acid and propionic acid among the volatile acids, and lactic and succinic acids among the non-volatile acids, were found. Results showed that all the strains produced high concentrations of lactic acid from lactose (130-730 rag%); differences were mainly found among enterococci strains. Lactobacilli produced considerably higher quantities of lactic acid from glucose (1200-1300 rag%) compared to enterococci and Enterobacter strains. Acetic acid was produced in PYL only by enterococci strains and at very low concentrations (6-9 rag%). Both enterococci and Enterobacter strains produced relatively high concentrations of acetic acid in PYC (65-120 rag%). Succinic acid was only produced by the Ea2 strain of E. aerogenes in both PYL (45 rag%) and PYC (40 rag%). Propionic acid was only produced in PYC (16 mg%) by the Ea2 strain.

The gut microbiota plays a pivotal role in the maintenance of human health. Numerous factors, including the mode of delivery, impact early gut colonization in newborns. Recent research focuses on the use of probiotics in the prevention of gut dysbiosis in newborns delivered by cesarean section (CS). The objective of this study was to determine whether a probiotic supplement given to newborns delivered by CS during their stay in the maternity ward alters the pattern of early gut colonization by lactic acid bacteria versus potential pathogens. A prospective, randomized trial was conducted. In total, 150 newborns, born at 38–40 weeks gestational age and delivered by CS, were included in the study. They were randomized into the intervention group, supplemented orally with a probiotic containing Bifidobacterium breve PB04 and Lactobacillus rhamnosus KL53A, and the control group. Stool samples were obtained on days 5 and 6 of life and after one month of life and were analyzed for the pres...

The interaction between the mucosal immune system and the commensal microflora of the colon Waaij, Laurens Anthonie van der IMPORTANT NOTE: You are advised to consult the publisher's version (publisher's PDF) if you wish to cite from it. Please check the document version below.

Due to insufficient operation efficiency, the studied treatment plant has undergone modernization. The aim of this study was to assess whether this modernization improved quality of the STP effluent and water quality in the receiver. The research period of fifty months covered time before and after the modernization. Samples were collected in four sites – upstream and downstream of the STP and by the sewage discharge. Electrolytic conductivity, water temperature and pH were measured onsite. Chemical analyzes were based on ion chromatography and determined the concentration of NH&lt;sub&gt;4&lt;/sub&gt;&lt;sup&gt;+&lt;/sup&gt;, NO&lt;sub&gt;3&lt;/sub&gt;&lt;sup&gt;-&lt;/sup&gt;, NO&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;&lt;sup&gt;-&lt;/sup&gt;, PO&lt;sub&gt;4&lt;/sub&gt;&lt;sup&gt;3-&lt;/sup&gt;, TDS. Microbiological analysis comprised serial dilutions to assess the number of mesophilic and psychrophilic bacteria and membrane filtration to enumerate &lt;i&gt;E. faecalis&lt;/i&gt;, total and fecal c...

Infantile functional gastrointestinal disorders are common in the first months of life. Their pathogenesis remains unknown although evidences suggest multiple independent causes, including gut microbiota modifications. Feeding type, influencing the composition of intestinal microbiota, could play a significant role in the pathogenesis. Previous studies supported probiotic supplementation success against colics, however mainly Lactobacillus spp. were tested. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness against functional gastrointestinal disorders of a Bifidobacterium breve based probiotic formulation including in the study both breast-fed and bottle-fed subjects. Two hundred and sixty-eight newborns were enrolled within 15 days from birth. One hundred and fifty-five of them effectively entered the study and were randomized in probiotic and placebo group, receiving the formulation for 90 days. The probiotic formulation consists of a 1:1 mixture of 2 strains of B. breve prepared in an oily suspension and administered in a daily dosage of 5 drops containing 10 8 CFU of each strain. Absolute quantification of selected microbial groups in the faeces was performed using qPCR. Anthropometric data, daily diary minutes of crying, number of regurgitations, vomits and evacuations, and colour and consistency of stools were evaluated before and after treatment. The study confirmed the positive role of breast milk in influencing the counts of target microbial groups, in particular the bifidobacteria community. No adverse events upon probiotic administration were reported, suggesting the safety of the product in this regimen. B. breve counts increased significantly in all administered newborns (p < 0.02). The study demonstrates that a 3 months treatment with B. breve strains in healthy breast-fed newborns helps to prevent functional gastrointestinal disorders, in particular reducing 56% of daily vomit frequency (p < 0.03), decreasing 46.5% of daily evacuation over time (p < 0.03), and improving the stool consistency (type 6 at the Bristol Stool chart instead of type 5) in those at term (p < 0.0001). Moreover, a significant reduction (8.65 vs. 7.98 LogCFU/g of feces, p < 0.03) of B. fragilis in the bottle-fed group receiving the probiotic formulation was observed.

Macropores are the primary mechanism by which fecal bacteria from surface-applied manure can be transported into subsurface drains or shallow groundwater bypassing the soil matrix. Limited research has been performed investigating fecal bacteria transport through specific macropores identified in the field. The objective of this research was to better understand how fecal bacteria, using Escherichia coli (E. coli) as an indicator organism, are transported through naturally occurring macropores and potential interactions between the macropore and soil matrix domains in the field under controlled experimental conditions. Direct injection/infiltration tests were conducted in two naturally occurring, surface-connected macropores (biopores) that penetrated to the subsurface drain depth, as identified by smoke tests. Data included total drain flow rate (baseflow rate and biopore flow rate), biopore inflow rate, and Rhodamine WT and E. coli concentrations in the drains. Analysis techniques included determining increases in subsurface drain flow rates due to the infiltration tests and percentage of the injected concentration reaching the subsurface drains after dilution with the drain baseflow. In the absence of data for mechanistic models, empirically based rational polynomial models were compared to the more commonly utilized lognormal distribution for modeling the load rate breakthrough curves. Load estimates were derived from integrated forms of these empirical functions, and percent reductions were calculated for Rhodamine WT and E. coli. Peak total drain flow rates increased nearly twofold due to direct injection into the biopores. Less than 25% of the initial concentrations injected into the biopores reached the drain after dilution with the baseflow in the drain. Lognormal distributions best fit the Rhodamine WT load rate breakthrough curves (R2 = 0.99 for both biopores) and the E. coli load rate data for one of the biopores (R2 = 0.98). A rational fractional polynomial model that tailed off more slowly best fit the E. coli load rate data for the other biopore (R2 = 0.98). Approximately one log reduction was estimated for E. coli loads due to interaction with the soil profile as water flowed through the tortuous path of the biopores; in other words, the soil surrounding the biopore filtered approximately 90% of the E. coli load that entered the biopore compared to approximately 75% for Rhodamine WT. Considering that applied animal manure can contain millions of bacteria per mL, high concentrations and loads are still possible in the subsurface drain flow if macropores are present.

The concentrations of Escherichia coli , F-specific RNA bacteriophage (FRNA bacteriophage), and norovirus genogroup I (NoV GI) and norovirus genogroup II (NoV GII) in wastewater were monitored weekly over a 1-year period at a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) providing secondary wastewater treatment. A total of 49 samples of influent wastewater and wastewater that had been treated by primary and secondary wastewater treatment processes (primary and secondary treated wastewater) were analyzed. Using a real-time reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR), the mean NoV GI and NoV GII concentrations detected in effluent wastewater were 2.53 and 2.63 log 10 virus genome copies 100 ml −1 , respectively. The mean NoV concentrations in wastewater during the winter period (January to March) ( n = 12) were 0.82 (NoV GI) and 1.41 (NoV GII) log units greater than the mean concentrations for the rest of the year ( n = 37). The mean reductions of NoV GI and GII during treatment were 0.80 an...

Fecal microbial pollution of recreational and shellfishing waters is a major human health and economic issue. Microbial pollution sourced from stormwater runoff is especially widespread, and strongly associated with urbanization. However, non-point source nutrient pollution is also problematic, and may come from sources different from fecalderived pollution (i.e. fertilization of farm fields, lawns and gardens, and ornamental urban areas). Fecal bacteria require nutrients; thus the impact of such nutrient loading on survival and abundance of fecal coliform bacteria in ambient waters was experimentally investigated in a constructed wetland in coastal North Carolina, USA. A series of nutrientaddition bioassays testing impacts of inorganic and organic nitrogen and phosphorus demonstrated that additions of neither organic nor inorganic nitrogen stimulated fecal coliform bacteria. However, phosphorus additions provided significant stimulation of fecal coliform growth at times; on other occasions such additions did not. Dilution bioassays combined with nutrient additions were subsequently devised to assess potential impacts of microzooplankton grazing on the target fecal bacteria populations. Results demonstrated grazing to be a significant bacterial reduction factor in 63% of tests, potentially obscuring nutrient effects. Thus, combining dilution experiments with nutrient addition bioassays yielded simultaneous information on microzooplankton grazing rates on fecal bacteria, fecal bacterial growth rates, and nutrient limitation. Overall, when tested against a non-amended control, additions of either organic or inorganic phosphorus significantly stimulated fecal coliform bacterial growth on 50% of occasions tested, with organic phosphorus generally providing greater stimulation. The finding of significant phosphorus stimulation of fecal bacteria indicates that extraneous nutrient loading can, at times, augment the impacts of fecal microbial pollution of shellfishing and human contact waters.

Urban development in coastal areas is intense and leads to the increase of sewage outfall and other negative impacts as consequences. Thus, stringent regulations establishing limits to the microbiological contamination of water and seafood are needed. The objective of this study is to evaluate the usefulness of Enterococci and Thermotolerant Coliform densities in the flesh of mussels Perna perna as an alternative tool for monitoring the microbiological quality of coastal waters. The study also considers allometric relations applied to clearance rates to understand rates of bacterial concentration. Bacterial loads obtained in mussels&#39; flesh were from 50 to 4,300 times greater than in the water sampled in the vicinity of the mussels and some were considered inappropriate for consumption even when the water presented no restrictions. The mean clearance rate obtained for Enterococci retention was 317.7 ml h-1 and this rate (CR) is related to the mussels&#39; size (L) by the equation...

Licorice is one of the oldest and most frequently used prescribed traditional Chimese medicines. However, the route and metabolites of liquiritin by human intestinal microflora are not well understood and its metabolites may accumulate to exert physiological effects. Therefore, our objective was to screen the ability of the bacteria to metabolize liquiritin and assess the effect of this compound on the intestinal bacteria. Finally, six strains, comprising Bacteroides sp. 22 and sp.57, Veillonella sp. 31 and sp.48, Bacillus sp. 46 and Clostridium sp. 51, were isolated and their abilities to convert liquiritin studied. A total of five metabolites were identified using ultra performance liquid chromatography/quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry in human incubated solution. The results indicated that hydrolysis, hydrogenation, methylation, deoxygenation and acetylation were the major routes of metabolism of liquiritin. On the other hand, effect of liquiritin on different strains of intestinal bacteria growth was detected using an Emax precision microplate reader. Growth of certain pathogenic bacteria, such as Enterobacter, Enterococcus, Clostridium and Bacteroides, was significantly repressed by liquiritin, while growth of commensal probiotics such as Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium was less severely affected. Our observation provided further evidence for the importance of intestinal bacteria in the metabolism, and the potential activity of liquiritin in human health and disease.

Tea is rich in polyphenols and other phenolics that have been widely reported to have beneficial health effects. However, dietary polyphenols are not completely absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract and are metabolized by the gut microflora so that they and their metabolites may accumulate to exert physiological effects. In this study, we investigated the influence of the phenolic components of a tea extract and their aromatic metabolites upon bacterial growth. Fecal homogenates containing bacteria significantly catalyzed tea phenolics, including epicatechin, catechin, 3-O-methyl gallic acid, gallic acid and caffeic acid to generate aromatic metabolites dependent on bacterial species. Different strains of intestinal bacteria had varying degrees of growth sensitivity to tea phenolics and metabolites. Growth of certain pathogenic bacteria such as Clostridium perfringens, Clostridium difficile and Bacteroides spp. was significantly repressed by tea phenolics and their derivatives, while commensal anaerobes like Clostridium spp., Bifidobacterium spp. and probiotics such as Lactobacillus sp. were less severely affected. This indicates that tea phenolics exert significant effects on the intestinal environment by modulation of the intestinal bacterial population, probably by acting as metabolic prebiotics. Our observations provide further evidence for the importance of colonic bacteria in the metabolism, absorption and potential activity of phenolics in human health and disease. The bioactivity of different phenolics may play an important role in the maintenance of gastrointestinal health.

The gut microbiota plays a pivotal role in the maintenance of human health. Numerous factors, including the mode of delivery, impact early gut colonization in newborns. Recent research focuses on the use of probiotics in the prevention of gut dysbiosis in newborns delivered by cesarean section (CS). The objective of this study was to determine whether a probiotic supplement given to newborns delivered by CS during their stay in the maternity ward alters the pattern of early gut colonization by lactic acid bacteria versus potential pathogens. A prospective, randomized trial was conducted. In total, 150 newborns, born at 38–40 weeks gestational age and delivered by CS, were included in the study. They were randomized into the intervention group, supplemented orally with a probiotic containing Bifidobacterium breve PB04 and Lactobacillus rhamnosus KL53A, and the control group. Stool samples were obtained on days 5 and 6 of life and after one month of life and were analyzed for the pres...

Garlic is traditionally believed to have many health benefits including prevention of gastrointestinal diseases. One of the major components, garlic fructan (GF), was evaluated for its prebiotic effectiveness on human intestinal microflora. Garlic fructans A (DP 16) and B (DP 21) were prepared by ethanol fractionation precipitation. Then, they were added to an in vitro fermentation system as the sole carbon source inoculated with human fecal suspension. The total anaerobic bacteria, Bacteroides and Bifidobacteria, were enumerated by plate counting on selective media. Terminal restriction fragment length polymerization (tRFLP) was used to analyze DNA extracted from the in vitro cultures. The results indicated that the log CFUs of both Bacteroides (GF A 6.96, GF B 7.15) and Bifidobacteria (GF A 7.74, GF B 7.74) grown in the GF cultures at 24 h were significantly higher than those at 0 h (Bacteroides 4.93, Bifidobacteria 4.78) (P < 0.05). Terminal restriction fragments (TRFs) 256-258 bp (ascribed to Bifidobacterium) in the profiles were also observed higher in the TRFLP profiles from the garlic fructans' cultures. In this study, GFs were found to selectively stimulate the growth of beneficial Bifidobacteria from human fecal microflora. The prebiotic effectiveness of GFs supports the use of garlic as a way to prevent some gastrointestinal diseases.

Purpose Parents often present their infant for chiropractic care. In the therapeutic encounter there are often questions about the use of probiotics for their baby. There has been considerable research in the area of probiotics for infant colic. The goal of this opinion piece is to explore and interpret the research literature and help to clarify when probiotics may best serve the baby and mother.

Purpose Parents often present their infant for chiropractic care. In the therapeutic encounter there are often questions about the use of probiotics for their baby. There has been considerable research in the area of probiotics for infant colic. The goal of this opinion piece is to explore and interpret the research literature and help to clarify when probiotics may best serve the baby and mother.

A new approach, called hydrograph-based approach, is proposed for predicting bacterial concentrations in rivers. The new approach is relatively simple and efficient in terms of data requirements. It uses widely available hydrographs as the main input data for estimating flow and sediment transport parameters responsible for bacterial transport under varying flow conditions. The major component of the hydrograph-based approach is a new model, called VARTBacT model which is an extension of the Variable Residence Time (VART) model by including effects of unsteady flow, sediment transport, and bacterial decay/growth processes on bacterial transport and fate in rivers. The applicability of the new hydrograph-based approach is demonstrated through three case studies, each with distinct sediment and flow conditions: (1) steady low flow without sediment transport, (2) flood events with significant sediment transport due to watershed inputs, and (3) sediment resuspension from the streambed. While the sediment resuspension from streambed may be an important process for bacterial transport during high flows, results from this study indicate that the most important mechanism responsible for bacterial transport in streams is watershed loading during flood events and hyporheic exchange during low flow periods.

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are fastidious microorganisms that have specific nutritional requirements. The de Man, Rogosa, and Sharpe (MRS) is an expensive standard growth medium for LAB to produce lactic acid, and the industry is always looking for an alternative low-cost medium. The date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) is naturally full of essential nutrients that lead to stimulate or promote the growth of Lactobacillus spp. The date fruit industries generate a large amount of unwanted date by-product. Thus, the objective of this study was to examine the effect of different nitrogen sources on the growth of Lactobacillus reuteri grown in a date base medium. In this study, date palm fruit was pressed, and the fiber was blended with distilled water, centrifuged, and the supernatant was autoclaved to obtain date palm extract (DPE). The date palm medium (DPM) was formed by mixing the DPE with buffer solution. The DPM was then supplemented with different concentrations of different nitrog...

Objectives: The etiology of infantile colic has remained unknown. The present study aimed to identify possible differences in the fecal microbial composition and metabolic end products between colicky and non-colicky infants and to examine whether an orally administered probiotic supplementation has any effect on the microbiota and relief in colicky symptoms. Subjects and methods: The study population consisted of nine colicky and nine non-colicky infants. Five colicky infants received probiotic supplementation (Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG, Lactobacillus rhamnosus LC705, Bifidobacterium breve Bbi99, and Propionibacterium freudenreichii ssp. shermanii JS) and four colicky infants received placebo for 2 weeks. Fecal microbiota of all infants was studied by culture, cellular fatty acid (CFA) analysis, and gas and short chain fatty acid (SCFA) production in 48 h fermentation. Microbial parameters and crying profiles were compared between the cases and controls at baseline and between the probiotic and placebo supplementation after 2 weeks. Results: Although SCFA and gas production and bacterial total counts were similar, the prevalence of indole-producing coliforms was significantly higher in colicky infants compared with controls (89% vs 33%), while many aerobic genera present in controls were not detected in colicky infants. CFA composition reflected the differences, since 2% of the CFAs were present exclusively in the colicky group. After probiotic supplementation, the total counts of anaerobic bacteria, especially lactobacilli and bifidobacteria, increased significantly. Fermentation parameters were not extensively affected; however, acetic and lactic acid production tended to increase and hydrogen production tended to decrease. No significant difference was observed in crying patterns between the probiotic and placebo group. Conclusion: The composition of the intestinal microbiota differs between colicky and noncolicky infants. Although no apparent relief in colicky symptoms was achieved, the probiotic supplementation seems to increase the bacterial diversity and strengthen the succession towards a balanced commensal gut microbiota.

INTRODUCTION. Intestinal microflora is a well-known source of hormonally active substances and/or mutagenic compounds which could play a certain role in the pathogenesis of cancer (1). Oestrogens undergo enterohepatic circulation ; modifications of the intestinal ecosystem may have an effect on the amount of the circulating oestrogens and other sex steroids hormones and their metabolites (2). Since the intestinal microflora is a metabolically active system that produces enzymes that mediate different reactions, we studied 1) the composition of faecal flora ; 2) the faecal enzymatic activity in breast cancer patients and in control group of healthy women. MATERIALS AND METHODS. 28 patients with breast cancer (BC) and 45 healty women were admitted to our study. Diet was based mainly on mediterranean food .

Background/Purpose(s): We conducted an in vivo experiment to investigate the effect of hyperbarometric air pressure on the quantity and composition of the cultivable microflora of the large intestine. Methods: Using selective culture-based methods, we enumerated from the large intestine total aerobes and total anaerobes, and indicator bacteria such as Escherichia coli, other Enterobacteriaceae, Bifidobacterium spp., Lactobacillus spp. and Clostridium perfringens, and studied their quantitative variation. Results: Total aerobes and facultative anaerobes (E. coli and other Enterobacteriaceae) were increased with an increase in air pressure, whereas the increase caused a drastic reduction in the numbers of total anaerobes and Clostridium perfringens. Bifidobacterium spp. and Lactobacillus spp. were affected slightly by the altered air pressures. Variation in the numbers of these groups of bacteria was correlated to dose and duration of hyperbaric treatment. Conclusion: We conclude from our results that air pressure is an important exogenous factor that strongly modulates bacterial colonization of the large intestine and the composition of the intestinal microflora, and that the occurrence of gastrointestinal disorders during hyperbarism is a result of alteration in the indigenous microflora.

Aquatic sediments have been shown to be a significant reservoir for fecal bacteria and at concentations two to three orders of magnitude higher than the waters directly above them. These bacteria represent a potentially serious health threat to humans using these waters. This study was conducted to determine the abundance of fecal bacteria within tidal creek sediments of Bradley Creek and determine if their residence or growth may be limited by concentrations of sediment phosphorus (P), sediment carbon (C), salinity, and water temperature. Sediment fecal coliforms had a mean of 179 CFU/cm 2 (std. dev. = 411, range = 0-3230) for samples collected monthly at 6 stations over the course of this study. Were the bacteria and sediments to be suspended through a 100 cm water column this value would be the equivalent of 179 CFU/100ml which is just below the water quality standard for human contact (200 CFU/100ml). Such disturbances could easily be produced by natural or human activities. Samples for enterococcus had a mean of 285 CFU/cm 2 (std. dev. = 473, range = 0-1730). If these sediments and bacteria were similarly suspended they would equate to 285 CFU/100ml and greatly exceede the standard for human contact in the water column (33 CFU/100ml). Overall, only fecal coliform bacteria were correlated to sediment C, however, the signal from bioavailable C was probably masked by the presence of insoluble C from detrital cellulose. Neither bacteria were correlated to sediment P concentrations which were found to be greater in Bradley Creek sediments than limiting concentrations for coliforms in sediments concluded by previous research. Sediments were a significant reservoir of P as concentrations were recorded as high as 4-5 orders of magnitude greater than in overlying waters. Sediment fecal coliforms were shown to be negatively correlated with salinity and positively correlated with temperature conforming to patterns established by previous research. However, fecal enterococcus was not shown to have a v

This randomized, placebo-controlled, double blind, parallel dose-response study investigated the impact of 4-week commercial yoghurt consumption supplemented with Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis (BB-12) and Lactobacillus acidophilus (LA-5) on fecal bacterial counts of healthy adults. Fifty-eight volunteers were randomly assigned to three different groups: 1. placebo (no probiotic, no starter and no green tea extract); 2. Yoptimal (10 9 cfu/100 g of BB-12 and LA-5 and 40 mg of green tea extract) and 3. Yoptimal-10 (10 10 cfu/100 g of BB-12, 10 9 cfu/100 g of LA-5 and 40 mg of green tea extract). These yoghurt products also contained Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus (10 7 cfu/100 g) and Streptococcus thermophilus (10 10 cfu/100 g). The quantitative PCR (qPCR) results showed that there were significant increases (P = 0.02) in bifidobacteria counts with the Yoptimal treatment as compared to baseline. The fecal numbers of B. animalis subsp. lactis and LA-5 significantly increased in the two probiotic treatments compared to the placebo treatment. Viable counts of fecal lactobacilli were significantly higher (P = 0.05) and those of enterococci were significantly lower (P = 0.04) after the intervention when compared to placebo. No significant difference was observed between treatments in volunteers' weight, waist girth, blood pressure, fasting plasma triglyceride and HDL-C concentrations, as well as cholesterol/HDLcholesterol ratio. However, a significant increase in plasma cholesterol levels was observed in the placebo group (P = 0.0018) but the levels remained stable in the two probiotic yoghurt groups. These results show that probiotic strains supplemented in the form of yoghurt remain active during gut transit and are associated with an increase in beneficial bacteria and a reduction in potentially pathogenic bacteria. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT00730626.

Objectives: The etiology of infantile colic has remained unknown. The present study aimed to identify possible differences in the fecal microbial composition and metabolic end products between colicky and non-colicky infants and to examine whether an orally administered probiotic supplementation has any effect on the microbiota and relief in colicky symptoms. Subjects and methods: The study population consisted of nine colicky and nine non-colicky infants. Five colicky infants received probiotic supplementation (Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG, Lactobacillus rhamnosus LC705, Bifidobacterium breve Bbi99, and Propionibacterium freudenreichii ssp. shermanii JS) and four colicky infants received placebo for 2 weeks. Fecal microbiota of all infants was studied by culture, cellular fatty acid (CFA) analysis, and gas and short chain fatty acid (SCFA) production in 48 h fermentation. Microbial parameters and crying profiles were compared between the cases and controls at baseline and between the probiotic and placebo supplementation after 2 weeks. Results: Although SCFA and gas production and bacterial total counts were similar, the prevalence of indole-producing coliforms was significantly higher in colicky infants compared with controls (89% vs 33%), while many aerobic genera present in controls were not detected in colicky infants. CFA composition reflected the differences, since 2% of the CFAs were present exclusively in the colicky group. After probiotic supplementation, the total counts of anaerobic bacteria, especially lactobacilli and bifidobacteria, increased significantly. Fermentation parameters were not extensively affected; however, acetic and lactic acid production tended to increase and hydrogen production tended to decrease. No significant difference was observed in crying patterns between the probiotic and placebo group. Conclusion: The composition of the intestinal microbiota differs between colicky and noncolicky infants. Although no apparent relief in colicky symptoms was achieved, the probiotic supplementation seems to increase the bacterial diversity and strengthen the succession towards a balanced commensal gut microbiota.

Water and sediment samples were collected in the Bluff Hill Cove area of Point Judith Pond from 12 stations along three parallel transects, and eelgrass samples were taken at two sites per transect. Fecal enterococci (FE) in the water samples exceeded USEPA regulatory limit of 100 MPN/100 mL for safe recreational and shellfish harvesting use in 24 out of 41 samples. Sediment samples had the lowest FE counts, whereas eelgrass had the highest counts. Using qPCR, H. pylori was detected in 8 out of 41 samples, but E. coli O157:H7 was not detected. Overall, higher levels of H. pylori were detected in 33% of the eelgrass samples and 33% of the sediment samples as compared to 9% in the water column. Microbial source tracking, using the Bacteroides marker HF183, indicated the presence of human fecal bacteria in 7 out of 41 samples, four of which were positive for H. pylori.

Bacteria isolated from infant feces were immobilized in polysaccharide gel beads (2.5% gellan gum, 0.25% xanthan gum) using a two-phase dispersion process. A 52day continuous culture was carried out in a single-stage chemostat containing precolonized beads and fed with a medium formulated to approximate the composition of infant chyme. Different dilution rates and pH conditions were tested to simulate the proximal (PCS), transverse (TCS), and distal (DCS) colons. Immobilization preserved all nine bacterial groups tested with survival rates between 3 and 56%. After 1 week fermentation, beads were highly colonized with all populations tested (excepted Staphylococcus spp. present in low numbers), which remained stable throughout the 7.5 weeks of fermentation, with variations below 1 log unit. However, free-cell populations in the circulating liquid medium, produced by immobilized cell growth, cell-release activity from gel beads, and free-cell growth, were altered considerably by culture conditions. Compared to the stabilization period, PCS was characterized by a considerable and rapid increase in Bifidobacterium spp. concentrations (7.4 to 9.6 log CFU/mL), whereas Bifidobacterium spp., Lactobacillus spp., and Clostridium spp. concentrations decreased and Staphylococcus spp. and coliforms increased during TCS and DCS. Under pseudo-steady-state conditions, the community structure developed in the chemostat reflected the relative proportions of viable bacterial numbers and metabolites generally encountered in infant feces. This work showed that a complex microbiota such as infant fecal bacteria can be immobilized and used in a continuous in vitro intestinal fermentation model to reproduce the high bacterial concentration and bacterial diversity of the feces inocu-lum, at least at the genera level, with a high stability during long-term experiment.

Objectives: The etiology of infantile colic has remained unknown. The present study aimed to identify possible differences in the fecal microbial composition and metabolic end products between colicky and non-colicky infants and to examine whether an orally administered probiotic supplementation has any effect on the microbiota and relief in colicky symptoms. Subjects and methods: The study population consisted of nine colicky and nine non-colicky infants. Five colicky infants received probiotic supplementation (Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG, Lactobacillus rhamnosus LC705, Bifidobacterium breve Bbi99, and Propionibacterium freudenreichii ssp. shermanii JS) and four colicky infants received placebo for 2 weeks. Fecal microbiota of all infants was studied by culture, cellular fatty acid (CFA) analysis, and gas and short chain fatty acid (SCFA) production in 48 h fermentation. Microbial parameters and crying profiles were compared between the cases and controls at baseline and between the probiotic and placebo supplementation after 2 weeks. Results: Although SCFA and gas production and bacterial total counts were similar, the prevalence of indole-producing coliforms was significantly higher in colicky infants compared with controls (89% vs 33%), while many aerobic genera present in controls were not detected in colicky infants. CFA composition reflected the differences, since 2% of the CFAs were present exclusively in the colicky group. After probiotic supplementation, the total counts of anaerobic bacteria, especially lactobacilli and bifidobacteria, increased significantly. Fermentation parameters were not extensively affected; however, acetic and lactic acid production tended to increase and hydrogen production tended to decrease. No significant difference was observed in crying patterns between the probiotic and placebo group. Conclusion: The composition of the intestinal microbiota differs between colicky and noncolicky infants. Although no apparent relief in colicky symptoms was achieved, the probiotic supplementation seems to increase the bacterial diversity and strengthen the succession towards a balanced commensal gut microbiota.

Objectives: The etiology of infantile colic has remained unknown. The present study aimed to identify possible differences in the fecal microbial composition and metabolic end products between colicky and non-colicky infants and to examine whether an orally administered probiotic supplementation has any effect on the microbiota and relief in colicky symptoms. Subjects and methods: The study population consisted of nine colicky and nine non-colicky infants. Five colicky infants received probiotic supplementation (Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG, Lactobacillus rhamnosus LC705, Bifidobacterium breve Bbi99, and Propionibacterium freudenreichii ssp. shermanii JS) and four colicky infants received placebo for 2 weeks. Fecal microbiota of all infants was studied by culture, cellular fatty acid (CFA) analysis, and gas and short chain fatty acid (SCFA) production in 48 h fermentation. Microbial parameters and crying profiles were compared between the cases and controls at baseline and between the probiotic and placebo supplementation after 2 weeks. Results: Although SCFA and gas production and bacterial total counts were similar, the prevalence of indole-producing coliforms was significantly higher in colicky infants compared with controls (89% vs 33%), while many aerobic genera present in controls were not detected in colicky infants. CFA composition reflected the differences, since 2% of the CFAs were present exclusively in the colicky group. After probiotic supplementation, the total counts of anaerobic bacteria, especially lactobacilli and bifidobacteria, increased significantly. Fermentation parameters were not extensively affected; however, acetic and lactic acid production tended to increase and hydrogen production tended to decrease. No significant difference was observed in crying patterns between the probiotic and placebo group. Conclusion: The composition of the intestinal microbiota differs between colicky and noncolicky infants. Although no apparent relief in colicky symptoms was achieved, the probiotic supplementation seems to increase the bacterial diversity and strengthen the succession towards a balanced commensal gut microbiota.

This paper presents analytical test cases for tracer advection-diffusion-decay problems. The test cases are used to validate a finite element, unstructured grid fecal bacteria transport model. The test cases include the following domains: one-dimensional infinitely long river, two-dimensional half plane and two-dimensional infinitely long channel. In this work the bacteria are considered to enter the domain only through point sources. Analytical solutions are derived using either a Dirac delta function or a variable-width Gaussian function as a point source. Both analytical derivations and numerical simulations suggest that the error is maximised at the source. We present formulae for estimating the error caused by replacing a Dirac source with a Gaussian function in the numerical model. Furthermore, numerical simulations suggest that the best approximation for a Dirac source is a Gaussian whose width parameter is one third of the local mesh size.

This randomized, placebo-controlled, double blind, parallel dose-response study investigated the impact of 4-week commercial yoghurt consumption supplemented with Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis (BB-12) and Lactobacillus acidophilus (LA-5) on fecal bacterial counts of healthy adults. Fifty-eight volunteers were randomly assigned to three different groups: 1. placebo (no probiotic, no starter and no green tea extract); 2. Yoptimal (10 9 cfu/100 g of BB-12 and LA-5 and 40 mg of green tea extract) and 3. Yoptimal-10 (10 10 cfu/100 g of BB-12, 10 9 cfu/100 g of LA-5 and 40 mg of green tea extract). These yoghurt products also contained Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus (10 7 cfu/100 g) and Streptococcus thermophilus (10 10 cfu/100 g). The quantitative PCR (qPCR) results showed that there were significant increases (P = 0.02) in bifidobacteria counts with the Yoptimal treatment as compared to baseline. The fecal numbers of B. animalis subsp. lactis and LA-5 significantly increased in the two probiotic treatments compared to the placebo treatment. Viable counts of fecal lactobacilli were significantly higher (P = 0.05) and those of enterococci were significantly lower (P = 0.04) after the intervention when compared to placebo. No significant difference was observed between treatments in volunteers' weight, waist girth, blood pressure, fasting plasma triglyceride and HDL-C concentrations, as well as cholesterol/HDLcholesterol ratio. However, a significant increase in plasma cholesterol levels was observed in the placebo group (P = 0.0018) but the levels remained stable in the two probiotic yoghurt groups. These results show that probiotic strains supplemented in the form of yoghurt remain active during gut transit and are associated with an increase in beneficial bacteria and a reduction in potentially pathogenic bacteria. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT00730626.