Bacteria Raw sequence reads

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic, non-specific inflammatory condition of the colon, characterized by recurrent flare-ups and a conspicuous absence of efficacious pharmacological treatments. Chlorella pyrenoidosa (CP), a natural product with widespread occurrence, exerts prebiotic-like properties and has been long incorporated as both a nutraceutical and a therapeutic agent for a multitude of symptoms. Despite its usage, the remedial effects of CP on UC remain incompletely delineated, with the precise mechanisms yet to be decoded. In this investigation, we employed dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced mice to assess the therapeutic potential of CP against UC and to demystify the mechanisms through the lens of intestinal microecology. Our findings delineate a spectrum of therapeutic advantages imparted by CP in managing UC, which included the amelioration of weight loss, retardation of disease evolution, diminution in colonic shortening, and the alleviation of inflammatory insults within colonic structures. Mechanistically, the salutary effects of CP appeared intimately associated with the restoration of intestinal microecology, as evidenced by the normalization of intestinal mucosal architecture, immunological functions, microbial composition, and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) production, particularly butyric acid, accompanied by metabolic adjustments that inhibit apoptosis. In essence, our study highlights the prebiotic potential of CP and the intentional manipulation of intestinal microecology as promising strategies for UC therapy.