The therapeutic potential of gut microbiota-derived metabolite 4-phenylbutyric acid in Escherichia coli (E.coli)-induced colitis

Escherichia coli (E. coli) is a widely distributed highly infectious pathogen that can cause varying degrees of zoonotic diseases, harm farm livestock, and result in economic losses. It has a wide range of transmission routes and mainly harms the intestines of animals, causing intestinal inflammation and damage. Due to genetic characteristics and excessive use of antibiotics, many drug-resistant strains have emerged. According to reports, the internal environment of gut microbiota can regulate the occurrence and development of various diseases, and probiotics can effectively protect gut health and enhance resistance to the outside world. The mechanism by which gut microbiota and its metabolites regulate E. coli infection is still limited. Our scientific hypothesis is based on the close relationship between intestinal damage and dysbiosis caused by E. coli infection and uninfected gut and microbiota. The aim of this project is to use a multi omics approach combining 16S rRNA sequencing and metabolomics to analyze and identify key gut microbiota and metabolites that affect the process of E. coli infection, and further elucidate the mechanism by which gut microbiota and their metabolites regulate intestinal inflammation caused by E. coli infection through the TLR4/MyD88/NF - κ B pathway. This will provide important guidance for the development of drugs for the treatment of E. coli disease.

The samples for this experiment are calf feces, including the diarrhea group and the healthy group (without obvious diarrhea), with 6 samples in each group. The samples was sourced from a large-scale dairy farm in Yunnan, China, and the sampling subjects were newborn cows aged 3-6 months. The collection method is as follows: after wearing personal protective equipment, use fully disinfected and cleaned tools (gloves, shovels, spoons, straws) to collect samples from fresh feces center, place them in a clean and sealed container, record the sampling date, time, calf number and other information, and record relevant data. After sampling, divide and store in the refrigerator for refrigeration.