Growing evidence has shown that exercise can affect the gut microbiota. The effects of exercise frequency on the gut microbiota in elderly individuals are still largely unknown. In the present study, samples from 897 elderly and 1,589 adult individuals (18–60 years old) from the American Gut Project were screened. Microbial diversity and composition were analyzed by QIIME2, and microbial function was predicted by PICRUSt2. The outcomes were further analyzed by STAMP. The analysis showed that the α‐diversity of gut microbiota increased with increasing age, and regular exercise reshaped the alterations in microbial composition and function induced by aging. Moreover, the α‐diversity of gut microbiota was higher in overweight elderly individuals than in normoweight elderly individuals, and regular exercise significantly affected the microbial composition and function in overweight elderly individuals. In conclusion, we revealed that regular exercise benefits elderly individuals, especially overweight elderly individuals, by modulating the gut microbiota.

Recently, the role of gut microbiota in the development of obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) has been highlighted. We performed an 8-week administration protocol on T2DM (C57BL/6J db-/db-) mice and fecal samples were collected. Comparisons of fecal bacterial communities were performed between db-/db- mice and normal mice (DB/DB) and between the db-/db mice treated and untreated with AOE using next-generation sequencing technology. Our results showed that the db-/db-AOE group had improved glycemic control and renal function compared with the db-/db-H₂O group. Compared with the db-/db-H₂O group, AOE administration resulted in significantly increased ratio of Bacteroidetes-to-Firmicutes in db-/db- mice. In addition, the abundance ofAkkermansiawas significantly increased, whileHelicobacterwas significantly suppressed in the db-/db-AOE group compared with the db-/db-H₂O group. Our data suggest that AOE treatment decreased blood glucose levels and significantly reduced damage of renal pathology in the T2DM mice by modulating gut microbiota composition.

In Arabidopsis thaliana, there exist many typical responses to low phosphate (LP) stress, such as inhibition of primary root elongation, proliferation of lateral roots and accumulation of anthocyanin in leaves. The physiological, genetic and molecular mechanisms of these developmental responses remain undefined. We have isolated a phosphorus starvation-insensitive (psi) mutant. The mutant shows impaired inhibition of primary root growth, reduction of root hair growth and reduction of anthocyanin accumulation compared with the wild-type (WT) plants under an LP level. CycB1;1::GUS (cyclin B1;1::β-glucuronidase) staining suggests that the mutant has a higher ability to maintain cell elongation and cell division than the WT. The genetic analysis and gene cloning indicate that psi is a new allele of lpr1 and that an AC-repeat element in the promoter plays important roles in controlling the expression of LPR1. The psi mutant also shows less sensitivity to auxin treatment compared with the WT and the mutant has an enhanced higher ability to maintain the auxin response in the root tip under LP. However, enhancing the auxin response in the quiescent center cannot mimic the mutant phenotype. These observations suggest that LPR1 is involved in the regulation of the auxin response to Pi starvation and auxin is probably not the only factor affected for maintaining the long-root phenotype under LP stress. Our results also indicate that the function of LPR1 is probably independent of SUMO E3 ligase SIZ1 in response to Pi starvation. The insensitive response of the psi mutant to brefeldin A suggests that LPR1 and PDR2 (Pi Deficiency Response 2) function in opposite ways in regulating the root growth response to Pi starvation in the endoplamic reticulum.

Tremendous progress has been made in understanding the functions of the GLUTAMATE RECEPTOR-LIKE (GLR) family in Arabidopsis. Still, the functions of OsGLRs in rice, especially the ion channel activities, are largely unknown. Using the aequorin-based luminescence imaging system, we screened the specificity of amino acids involved in the induction of Ca2+ flux in rice roots. Of all the amino acids tested, glutamate (Glu) was the only one to trigger Ca2+ flux significantly in rice roots. Detailed analysis showed a dose response of Ca2+ increase to different concentrations of Glu. In addition, the Ca2+ spike response to Glu was rapid, within 20 s after the application. A desensitization assay and pharmacological tests showed that the Glu-triggered Ca2+ flux is mediated by OsGLRs. Whole genome analysis identified 13 OsGLR genes in rice, and these genes have various expression patterns in different tissues. Subcellular localization studies showed that all the OsGLRs examined are likely localized to the plasma membrane. Bacteria growth assays showed that at least OsGLR2.1 and OsGLR3.2 have the potential to mediate ion uptake in bacteria. Further analysis using Fura-2-based Ca2+ imaging revealed a Glu-triggered Ca2+ increase in OsGLR2.1-expressing human embryonic kidney (HEK) cells. Our work provides a molecular basis for investigating mechanisms of Glu-triggered Ca2+ flux in rice.

Background: Akkermansia muciniphila, as a probiotic, is negatively linked to IBD, obesity, and T2DM. The aim of this study was to comprehensively assess the research status of Akkermansia muciniphila over the past decade and explore the relationships between this bacterium and various health-related aspects.Methods: Tools VOSviewer, Bibliometrix, and CiteSpace were used to analyze various aspects including publication metrics, contributors, institutions, geography, journals, funding, and keywords.Results: Over the past decade, research on Akkermansia muciniphila has demonstrated a consistent annual growth in the number of publications, with a notable peak in 2021. China led in the number of publications, totaling 151, whereas the United States exhibited a higher centrality value. Among the 820 institutions involved in the research, the University of California (from the United States) and the Chinese Academy of Sciences (from China) occupied central positions. Willem M. De Vos ranked at the top, with 12 publications and 1,108 citations. The journal GUT, which had 5,125 citations and an Impact Factor of 23.0 in 2024, was the most highly cited. The most cited articles deepened the understanding of the bacterium’s impact on human health, spanning from basic research to translational medicine. Thirty-nine high-frequency keywords were grouped into five clusters, illustrating Akkermansia muciniphila’s associations with metabolic diseases, chronic kidney disease, the gut-brain axis, intestinal inflammation, and Bacteroidetes-Firmicutes shifts.Conclusion: Given Akkermansia muciniphila’s anti-inflammatory and gut-barrier-strengthening properties, it holds promise as a therapeutic for obesity, metabolic disorders, and inflammatory conditions. Therefore, future research should explore its potential further by conducting clinical trials, elucidating its mechanisms of action, and investigating its efficacy and safety in diverse patient populations.