Chen Y

Microorganism changes in the gut of surviving for the long term in forests.

Alpha-galactosides (oligosaccharides) in nectar and pollen cause honey bee larval rot and worker bloats. Honey bee colonies surviving in forests for a long period have low rates of larval rot and worker bloats; however, the mechanism of oligosaccharide metabolism is unclear. In this study, we used metagenomics and metabolomics to investigate the structure and function of the gut flora and the digestion characteristics of oligosaccharides in the gut of foragers (CN group) that had been in the forest for a long period (continuously for 14 years), and those that had not been pollinated with (N group) after 24 h of consumption of honey. The results revealed that the abundance of up to 24.08%, which can metabolize α-galactoside (α-Gal), was significantly higher ( < 0.05) in the gut of foragers in the CN group than in the N group. Additionally, the gut flora of foragers in the CN group carried a significantly higher ( < 0.05) abundance of genes encoding α-galactosidase (Glycoside hydrolase family 4, GH4) than the N group. Similarly, metabolomic results indicated that the three toxic oligosaccharides in honey were lower in the gut of CN group foragers. These results suggest that the gut flora of , which inhabits oil tea forests for long periods of time, changes and adapts to the predominant ecological niche, enhancing the host's ability to metabolize toxic oligosaccharides. This important discovery provides positive guidance for the subsequent directions for breeding of ( enrichment and GH4 upregulation), specialized in pollinating .

Correspondence to "Oral immunotherapy in alpha-gal red meat allergy: Could specific IgE be a potential biomarker in monitoring management?".

Administration of nicotinamide mononucleotide improves oocyte quality of obese mice.

Obesity has become a common health concern around the world. Maternal obesity could cause poor reproductive outcomes due to chronic ovarian inflammation and decreased oocyte quality. However, the strategies to improve the poor reproductive outcomes of obese females have not been fully studied. In this study, we aimed to explore the effects and underlying mechanisms of nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) on oocyte quality and reproductive performance of obese mice. The obese mouse model was established by feeding high-fat diet which was confirmed by body weight record, fasting blood glucose test and oral glucose tolerance test. The expression of ovary development related genes and inflammation related genes, including Lhx8, Bmp4, Adgre1, Ccl2, TNF-α, Gal-3, Clec10a and IL-10 in ovaries and the expression of Bax and Sod1 in oocytes were detected using quantitative reverse transcription PCR (RT-qPCR). The adipose size of abdominal fat tissue was determined with haematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining. Immunofluorescence staining was performed to measure the ROS level, spindle/chromosome structure, mitochondrial function, actin dynamics and DNA damage of oocytes. The administration of NMN restored ovarian weight and reduced the adipose size of abdominal fat tissue and ovarian inflammation in high fat diet (HFD) mice. Furthermore, NMN treatment improved the oocytes quality partially by restoring the mitochondrial function and actin dynamics, reducing meiotic defects, DNA damage and ROS level and lipid droplet distribution of oocytes in HFD mice. On the long-term effect, NMN restored offspring body weight of HFD mice. NMN could improve the oocyte quality of HFD-induced obese mice.