This study was performed to identify changes to microbial composition after treatment with synbiotics in patients with functional constipation and to define the key microbiota in the pathogenesis of functional constipation. Fecal samples from 53 patients diagnosed with chronic functional constipation according to the Rome III criteria were analyzed using 16S rRNA sequencing. After treatment with synbiotics for 1 month, fecal samples were collected from 36 patients; after a total of 3 months, fecal samples were collected from 15 patients. The outcomes were compared with the intestinal microbiota profiles of 53 healthy community volunteers. The microbiota in the constipation group differed from that in the treatment group and healthy group. After synbiotic treatment for 1 and 3 months, the abundance of Escherichia/Shigella decreased, whereas that of Prevotella_9 and Lactococcus increased. Comparison of the microbiota among the three groups showed that Prevotella_9 was the characteristic bacteria that decreased in the constipation group and increased in the treatment group. Synbiotic treatment can improve the microbiota in patients with constipation. Identification of the key bacterial genus is important to reveal the mechanism and provide a reliable theoretical basis of synbiotic treatment. It will also promote relevant research of microbiota treatment and individualized treatments.
Three clinical strains of Escherichia coli (p168, p517 and p667) were collected in 2006 from three hospitals in Anhui Province (China). PCR and DNA sequencing revealed that E. coli p168 carried a novel extended-spectrum b-lactamase (ESBL), which was designated CTX-M-87. The extended-spectrum b-lactamase which was carried by E. coli p517 and E. coli p667 was previously named CTX-M-65. The deduced amino acid sequence of CTX-M-87, with pI 9.1, differed from that of CTX-M-14 by the substitutions Ala77AVal and Pro167ALeu. Like CTX-M-14, CTX-M-87 had a more potent hydrolytic activity against cefotaxime than against ceftazidime and had high affinity for cefuroxime and cefotaxime. These data show that mutations at position 167 in CTX-M do not always affect catalytic activity and substrate preference.
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