Intestinal health
Transcription
Intestinal health
Development and documentation of products for intestinal health All ingested compounds are exposed to host digestion and intestinal bacteria Drugs Products for intestinal health • The major site of food digestion by the host. • Good probiotics retain their viability. • Drugs retain their activity. • Prebiotics and dietary fibres undigested. • Absorption of nutrient and most drugs by the host. • Host has mechanisms to slow down bacterial growth in nutrient rich digesta, but towards distal part bacterial growth accelerates. • Site of action for lactobacilli probiotics and other products preventing E. coli and Salmonella mediated diarrhoeas. Some live fed bacteria lose their viability and capability to colonise the target intestinal section. Stomach Active pharmaceuticals may be modified bacteria, potentially making them inactive or even harmful. Small intestine Colon • Bacterial fermentation of dietary compounds unavailable for the host. • Dietary prebiotics and fibres serve as growth substrates for beneficial saccharolytic bacteria, thus preventing putrefaction. • Site of action for bifidobacteria probiotics. Some oligosaccharides may become digested too rapidly in proximal colon leading to overproduction of lactic acid which causes discomfort. Gastrointestinal tract of man is populated by a bacterial population whose metabolic diversity vastly exceeds that of the host itself. Accordingly, all the dietary compounds within the reach of the host can be metabolized also by the intestinal microflora. Bypass / faeces Bacterial order Clostridiales dominates human intestinal microflora It has been known for long that human intestine harbours a complex microflora. In the past bacterial examination used culturing in the laboratory, whereas DNA based methods are widely used today. All methods have their inherent limitations. Culture based methods fail to capture many fastidious bacteria, whereas modern molecular methods alone provide little information on the activities of the bacteria. We have carried out bacterial surveys based on 16S rDNA sequencing to reveal the entire diversity of the human intestinal microbiota. Approximately half of bacteria in the human colon belong to the order Clostridiales. It should be noted that pathogenic clostridial species are few and restricted only to the genus Clostridium. In fact, it appears that most representatives of the Clostridial clusters are beneficial for intestinal health providing nutrients for the intestinal epithelium, and, act as a barrier against intestinal pathogens. Besides Clostridial clusters, human colon harbours two abundant bacterial genera, Bacteroides and Bifidobacterium. Bifidobacteria are saccharolytic and, therefore, supposedly better for the intestinal health than Bacteroides species, many of which ferment proteins leading to harmful end products. Today there are many products targeted to improve intestinal health. Probiotics, live fed bacteria, are intended to balance intestinal microflora either in the small intestine or colon. Prebiotics are carbohydrates that escape host digestion and support the growth of beneficial bacteria, mainly in the colon. Antimicrobial medicines suppress the growth of sensitive bacteria and enrich those resistant to the drug prescribed. This changes the structure of the microbial community, and, thus, the interplay between the man and the resident microflora. domain: Bacteria phylum: Firmicutes class: Clostridia order: Thermoanaerobacteriales order: Haloanaerobiales order: Clostridiales family: Lachnospiraceae family: Peptostreptococcaceae family: Eubacteriaceae family: Peptococcaceae family: Heliobacteriaceae family: Acidaminoc occaceae family: Syntrophomonadaceae family: Clostridiaceae genus: Acetivibrio genus: Acidaminobacter Clostridial genus: Alkaliphilus clusters I to XIX genus: Anaerobacter genus: Caloramator genus: Caloranaerobacter genus: Caminicella genus: Dorea genus: Natronincola genus: Sarcina genus: Sporobacter genus: Tepidibacter genus: Thermobrachium genus: Tindallia genus: Clostridium Our methods detect diet and drug mediated shifts in the intestinal bacterial composition Under normal circumstances intestinal microflora of a human subject is stable and changes little from day-to-day and month-to-month. In contrast, each human subject has a characteristic intestinal microflora, almost like a fingerprint. The bacterial profile reflects personal eating habits, the structure and rate of secretion of intestinal mucus, characteristics of the immunological defence, and possibly also genetic background of the subject. The balance of the intestinal microflora becomes most severely disturbed if there are major changes in the dietary habits or if one is treated with antibacterial drugs such as antibiotics. Colon microflora is metabolically extremely active and, therefore, significant changes in its composition and metabolism is likely to reflect to the wellbeing of the host. The accuracy of different methods to quantify changes in the total bacterial community vary. If, for example, a method fails to detect a major Clostridial cluster but captures everything else, the overall outcome will be strongly biased. At Alimetrics we start a bacterial survey by using methods that are totally unselective, thus capturing all bacteria present. From there we can zoom in and, if we want, specifically identify or type every single bacterial species. Antibiotic treatment changes the composition intestinal microflora Bacterial group Clostridial cluster IV Clostridial cluster XIVa Clostridial cluster XVIII Eubacterium Bacteroides Bifidobacterium Other groups Baseline During amoxicillin Change 7% 37% 7% 1% 19% 3% 26% 8% 15% 6% 0% 54% 0% 17% +1 –22 –1 –1 +35 –3 –9 Relative abundance Independent Research Partner in Microbial Management 20 30 40 50 60 70 60 70 60 70 Percent guanine + cytosine colon microflora in human subjects We used %G+C profiling to characterize microbial community in the gastrointestinal tract of three people that changed to the Atkins diet. Blue lines indicate microbial Relative abundance Atkins diet alters community structure just before the diet change and the red ones two weeks later. 20 30 40 50 Relative abundance Percent guanine + cytosine 20 30 40 50 Percent guanine + cytosine We measure bacteria and bacterial metabolites that are true indicators of human health The use of molecular techniques has enabled us to detect the species richness and shifts caused by interventions in intestinal microbial communities. We constantly learn about the activities of individual bacteria and entire communities. It is obvious that bacterial functions in the human digestive tract affect the health of intestine itself. However, growing evidence suggests that a wide range of bacterial metabolites and modified drugs are absorbed, and hence, mediate health effects to the entire human body. The range of microbial health indicators grows parallel to the advancement of science of intestinal microbiology. Our scientists are actively involved in the discovery process and include established health indicators into our research service portfolio. We help our clients to discover new health products which beneficially affect the recognised health indicators, and, to benchmark their present products against the competing ones. Butyric acid Many gastrointestinal bacteria, e.g. Clostridial clusters IV and XIVa, produce butyric acid. Butyric acid is highly beneficial as it is a preferred energy source for intestinal epithelial cells and inhibits growth of aberrant cells thus likely suppressing the development of bowel cancer. Sulphate reducing bacteria A taxonomically heterogeneous but metabolically homogenous group of strictly anaerobic bacteria use sulphate in their anaerobic respiration. This leads to formation of hydrogen sulphide which is highly toxic to all eukaryotic cells. Putrefaction products Colon bacteria preferably metabolise carbohydrates. Once the carbohydrates are depleted protein fermentation starts. Threfore, the presence of slowly degraded dietary carbohydrates such as prebiotics and dietary fibres supporting saccharolytic metabolism inhibits putrefaction. Protein fermentation produces toxic and potentially carcinogenic compounds such as indole, skatole, cresol and ammonia. Probiotic bacteria Species of lactic acid producing bacteria, Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium have gained a good reputation of being beneficial for intestinal health, and therefore, they are essential elements in many probiotic products. However, according to our experience, many of the characteristics are not species, but strain specific. Pathogens Recognised pathogen is a bacterium with proven adverse effects on the health of the host. Pathogens produce toxins that damage intestinal epithelium of the host, utilise substrates leaking from degrading tissues, and, actually penetrate the tissues. Colonisation of pathogenic strains of Escherichia coli and Salmonella enterica is aided by their adherence on intestinal epithelium, whereas Campylobacter jejuni is able to move upstream with a strong flagellum. Laboratory simulations provide good statistical power and possibility to test multiple compounds Targeted laboratory simulations provide a rational way to start developing second generation health products. With Alimetrics it is possible to start screening from tens or hundreds of different bacterial strains, pharmaceuticals, product preforms or process variants. Exact selection criteria chosen depend on the product type and the intended physiological target. Test panels and simulations are always adjusted to reveal the product characteristics agreed in the confidential discussions with the client. All simulations are designed to accurately mimic physicochemical and microbial conditions prevailing in the target site. Typical outcome of the simulation project is a ranking of the tested products according to their potential to access the target site in active form and to produce the desired physiological effect. Authentic simulation material Simulation of pathogen attachment Intestinal tract with food digest is a complex habitat Intestinal mucus plays an important role in bacterial for the resident microflora. The range of carbon colonisation. Intestinal epithelium is constantly sources, nutrients and cofactors available for covered with mucus produced by goblet cells. bacterial growth is vast and beyond our knowledge. This serves as a barrier against intestinal pathogens, We believe that it is not possible to mimic this but attachment to mucus is most likely also the step nutrient base by providing intestinal bacteria with preceding the penetration of intestinal pathogens a mixture of defined man-made chemicals. into epithelial cells. We simulate the adherence Therefore, we mainly use authentic intestinal of intestinal pathogens on mucus. For this purpose extracts as substrates to simulate intestinal we have a selection of mucus samples from various fermentations. The most common source of extract animals and man. The attachment simulation is is swine fed with the relevant human diet. a powerful tool for studying products aimed to inhibit the initial step of pathogenesis. We use fresh, authentic and complete microbial community as an inoculum in our simulations because missing bacteria and bacterium-tobacterium interactions would significantly affect the outcome of the fermentation processes. Statistical considerations It is important to use sufficient replication in every Physicochemical aspects phase of the simulation to achieve sufficient Physicochemical conditions have a major impact on statistical power. Most commonly we aim at bacterial growth and metabolism. Therefore, we experimental arrangement that is able to carefully mimic authentic conditions prevailing in demostrate 5% effects in each parameter for the target site to make sure that the resident bacteria the tested products at 95% confidence level. meet the same growth factors and constraints that However, the detection limit is always adjusted they would meet in the authentic environment. to meet the demands of our clients. Simulation is a practical and easy-to-replicate test arrangement that can be used to rank multiple product candidates by using a set of relevant quantifiable parameters. Why to test products in simulators? • In practice it is not possible to test many products in clinical trials • Due to the large subject-to-subject variation, testing in vivo requires a very high number of study subjects for acceptable detection limit • In vitro simulations have a low variation, and therefore, small effects of products can be reliably detected • Validated simulations are more likely to reveal the true mode of action of products than clinical studies • Screening in simulators is rapid • Less animal and human studies are required, which offers ethical and financial benefits • The outcome is a rationally developed and well-documented product which has a good possibility to succeed Intestinal responses can be verified and documented in clinical trials Simulation systems provide a high throughput screening tool for ranking of product candidates. However, even the best in vitro simulations are always compromises mimicking accurately only selected aspects of the true system. Therefore, the most promising candidates from the screening process should be tested in live animals and finally in clinical studies using human subjects. Careful trial design with proper power calculations, accurate analytical capabilities and adequate data analysis are crucial for successful product documentation in clinical trials. We arrange small to medium size clinical trials. For the clinical studies arranged by us or by the client we provide the analysis of faecal microbial communities, any single bacterial group or species, and microbial metabolites. Furthermore, we offer all analyses common in clinical practice. Shifting microbial fermentation from putrefactive to saccharolytic The results of the colon simulation study are visualized in principal component analysis where points that cluster together are positively correlated while the points that locate on opposite sides of the origin (O) are negatively correlated. The results reveal that both xylan and polydextrose (PDX) significantly shift microbial fermentation towards saccharolytic metabolism thus reducing the production of harmful protein fermentation products. This can be concluded from the measured drop in pH and reduction of branched chain fatty acids and skatole. Alimetrics can manage complete clinical trial packages: • Optimising the trial design to fulfil the needs of the client • Arranging ethical committee approval • Recruiting subjects and running the study • Analysing more than one hundred clinically relevant parameters from faeces, serum and urine • Carrying out the data management, statistical analyses and mathematical modelling • Providing the customer with conclusive report and marketing material Alimetrics Ltd Alimetrics is an independent contract research company that provides tailored project-type services for the life sciences, including food, feed and healthcare industries. Alimetrics designs, executes and reports small projects and comprehensive research programmes sponsored by the client. Along with simple analyses, Alimetrics provides leading edge technologies in the area of microbiology, biological simulations and biomathematics. We are proud of our short delivery times, punctuality, high scientific standards, good reproducibility, and the value we have created for our multinational clients. Alimetrics research technology packages for several product groups for different target hosts Host specific technology packages are composed of many advanced methods Bacterial attachment HUMANOMETRICS Probiotics Batch simulations Mycotoxin binding VFA analysis RUMINOMETRICS 16S rDNA based surveys Statistical designs Enzymes Microbial community analysis AVIAMETRICS Prebiotics Data analysis Identification of bacteria SWINOMETRICS Dynamic simulations Bacterial enumeration Pharma products Dry matter digestibility AQUAMETRICS Design of specific Q-PCR assays Putrefaction analysis Specific Q-PCR analyses Contact information Alimetrics Ltd Helsinki, Finland E-mail: [email protected] Phone: +358 9 50605 651 Fax: +358 9 50605 652 www.alimetrics.com