Barfod, K. K. | Search bioRxiv

bioRxiv2023

Investigating the Rescue Potential of Fecal Microbiota Transplants in Anorexia Nervosa using Antibiotic-treated Mice in a Split Group Cross-Over Study

Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a complex and serious mental disorder, which may affect individuals of all ages and sex, but primarily affecting young women. The disease is characterized by a disturbed body image, restrictive eating behavior, and a lack of acknowledgment of low body weight. The underlying causes of AN remain largely unknown, and current treatment options are limited to psychotherapy and nutritional support. This paper investigates the impact of Fecal Microbiota Transplants (FMT) from AN patients on food intake, body weight, behavior, and gut microbiota in antibiotic-treated mice. Two rounds of FMT were performed using AN and control (CO) donors. During the second round of FMT, a subset of mice received FMT from a different donor type. This split-group cross-over design was chosen to demonstrate any recovery effect of FMT from a healthy donor. The first FMT, from AN donors, resulted in lower food intake in mice without affecting body weight. After FMT2, serum analysis revealed higher levels of appetite-influencing hormones (PYY and leptin) in mice receiving AN-GM. Gut microbiota analysis showed significant differences between AN and CO mice after FMT1, before cross-over. Specific bacterial genera and families Ruminococcaceae, Lachnospiraceae, and Faecalibacterium showed different abundances in AN and CO receiving mice. Behavioral tests showed decreased locomotor activity in AN mice after FMT1. Overall, the results suggest that AN-GM may contribute to altered food intake and appetite regulation, which can be ameliorated with FMT from a healthy donor potentially offering FMT as a supportive treatment for AN.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2020

Deep sequencing reveals Campylobacter in commercial meat chickens less than 8 days old.

Campylobacter from contaminated poultry meat is a major source of human gastroenteritis worldwide. To date, attempts to control this zoonotic infection with on-farm biosecurity measures have been inconsistent. A cornerstone of these efforts has been the detection of chicken infection with microbiological culture, which typically does not occur until birds are at least 21 days old. Using molecular methods for detecting Campylobacter presence, 16S microbiome analysis and deep sequencing of the Campylobacter porA gene, Campylobacter can be identified at very low levels in most or all flocks fewer than 8 days old. These young chicks exhibit a much greater diversity of porA types than older birds testing positive for Campylobacter by culture or qPCR. This suggests that, as the bacteria multiply sufficiently to be detected by culture methods, one or two strains, as indicated by porA type, dominate the infection. The findings that (i) most young chicks carry some Campylobacter and (ii) not all flocks become Campylobacter positive by culture, suggests that efforts to control infection should concentrate on how to maintain Campylobacter at low levels by the prevention of the overgrowth of single strains, which ultimately leads to the contamination of food.

microbiology↗