No abstract

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is mainly managed by pharmacological therapy (e.g., Benserazide and dopamine agonists). However, prolonged use of these drugs would gradually diminish their dopaminergic effect. Gut dysbiosis was observed in some patients with PD, suggesting close association between the gut microbiome and PD. Probiotics modulate the host’s gut microbiota beneficially. A 3-month randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial was conducted to investigate the beneficial effect of probiotic co-administration in patients with PD. Eighty-two PD patients were recruited and randomly divided into probiotic [n = 48; Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis Probio-M8 (Probio-M8), Benserazide, dopamine agonists] and placebo (n = 34; placebo, Benserazide, dopamine agonists) groups. Finally, 45 and 29 patients from Probio-M8 and placebo groups provided complete fecal and serum samples for further omics analysis, respectively. The results showed that Probio-M8 co-administration conferred added benefits by improving sleep quality, alleviating anxiety, and gastrointestinal symptoms. Metagenomic analysis showed that, after the intervention, there were significantly more species-level genome bins (SGBs) of Bifidobacterium animalis, Ruminococcaceae, and Lachnospira, while less Lactobacillus fermentum and Klebsiella oxytoca in Probio-M8 group (P < 0.05). Interestingly, Lactobacillus fermentum correlated positively with the scores of UPDRS-III, HAMA, HAMD-17, and negatively with MMSE. Klebsiella oxytoca correlated negatively with feces hardness. Moreover, co-administering Probio-M8 increased SGBs involved in tryptophan degradation, gamma-aminobutyric acid, short-chain fatty acids, and secondary bile acid biosynthesis, as well as serum acetic acid and dopamine levels (P < 0.05). Taken together, Probio-M8 synergized with the conventional regimen and strengthened the clinical efficacy in managing PD, accompanied by modifications of the host’s gut microbiome, gut microbial metabolic potential, and serum metabolites.

As an effective means to improve quality of life and prevent diseases, the demand for probiotics and related products has increased in recent years. However, it is still unclear whether a particular probiotic strain will have similar beneficial effects on healthy adults from different regions. In this study, the probiotic Lactobacillus casei Zhang (LCZ) was consumed by healthy adults from six different Asian regions and the changes in gut microbiota were compared using PacBio single molecule, real-time (SMRT) sequencing technology based on samples collected before, during and after consumption of LCZ. Our results reveal that the effect of LCZ consumption on individuals was closely related to the composition of that individual’s basal gut microbiota. A Gut Microbiota Variability Index (GMVI) was proposed to quantitatively compare the effects of LCZ on human gut microecology. Subjects from Xinjiang and Singapore regions had the highest and lowest GMVI, respectively. In general, consumption of LCZ increased the relative abundance of certain beneficial bacteria such as Lactobacillus, Roseburia, Coprococcus and Eubacterium rectale , while it inhibited growth of certain harmful bacteria such as Blautia and Ralstonia pickettii . In addition, consumption of LCZ was responsible for the conversion of some participants from Prevotella copri/Faecalibacterium prausnitzii (PF) enterotype to Faecalibacterium prausnitzii/Bacteroides dorei (FB) enterotype and consistently increased the abundance of lactic acid bacteria in the gut. It also increased/enhanced phosphate metabolic modules, amino acid transport systems, and isoleucine biosynthesis, but conversely decreased lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis. These changes could have health benefits for healthy adults.

Probiotics-induced potentially beneficial changes in the gut microbiota and its functional genes of diarrhoeal dogs, suggesting probiotics improve health through regulation of the gut microbiota.