The Algal Polysaccharide Ulvan and Carotenoid Astaxanthin Both Positively Modulate Gut Microbiota in Mice
Kunal Pratap,
Marwan E. Majzoub,
Aya C. Taki,
Socorro Miranda Hernandez,
Marie Magnusson,
Christopher R. K. Glasson,
Rocky de Nys,
Torsten Thomas,
Andreas L. Lopata,
Sandip D. Kamath
Affiliations
Kunal Pratap
Molecular Allergy Research Laboratory, Discipline of Molecular and Cell Biology, College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
Marwan E. Majzoub
Centre for Marine Science and Innovation, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
Aya C. Taki
Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
Socorro Miranda Hernandez
Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
Marie Magnusson
Te Aka Mātuatua—School of Science, Environmental Research Institute, University of Waikato, Tauranga 3110, New Zealand
Christopher R. K. Glasson
Te Aka Mātuatua—School of Science, Environmental Research Institute, University of Waikato, Tauranga 3110, New Zealand
Rocky de Nys
School of Marine Science and Tropical Biology, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
Torsten Thomas
Centre for Marine Science and Innovation, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
Andreas L. Lopata
Molecular Allergy Research Laboratory, Discipline of Molecular and Cell Biology, College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
Sandip D. Kamath
Molecular Allergy Research Laboratory, Discipline of Molecular and Cell Biology, College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
The intestinal microbial community (microbiota) is dynamic and variable amongst individuals and plays an essential part in gut health and homeostasis. Dietary components can modulate the structure of the gut microbiota. In recent years, substantial efforts have been made to find novel dietary components with positive effects on the gut microbial community structure. Natural algal polysaccharides and carotenoids have been reported to possess various functions of biological relevance and their impact on the gut microbiota is currently a topic of interest. This study, therefore, reports the effect of the sulfated polysaccharide ulvan and the carotenoid astaxanthin extracted and purified from the aquacultured marine green macroalgae Ulva ohnoi and freshwater green microalgae Haematococcus pluvialis, respectively, on the temporal development of the murine gut microbiota. Significant changes with the increase in the bacterial classes Bacteroidia, Bacilli, Clostridia, and Verrucomicrobia were observed after feeding the mice with ulvan and astaxanthin. Duration of the treatments had a more substantial effect on the bacterial community structure than the type of treatment. Our findings highlight the potential of ulvan and astaxanthin to mediate aspects of host-microbe symbiosis in the gut, and if incorporated into the diet, these could assist positively in improving disease conditions associated with gut health.
