The gut microbiota plays a pivotal role in the conversion of dietary flavonoids, which can affect their bioavailability and bioactivity and thereby their health-promoting properties. The ability of flavonoids to metabolically-activate the microbiota has, however, not been systematically evaluated. In the present study, we used a fluorescence-based single-cell activity measure [biorthogonal non-canonical ammino acid-tagging (BONCAT)] combined with fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS) to determine which microorganisms are metabolically-active after amendment of the flavonoid rutin. We performed anaerobic incubations of human fecal microbiota amended with rutin and in the presence of the cellular activity marker L-azidohomoalanine (AHA) to detect metabolically-active cells. We found that 7.3% of cells in the gut microbiota were active after a 6 h incubation and 26.9% after 24 h. We then sorted BONCAT-positive cells and observed an enrichment of Lachnospiraceae (Lachnoclostridium and Eisenbergiella), Enterobacteriaceae, Tannerellaceae, and Erysipelotrichaceae species in the rutin-responsive fraction of the microbiota. There was marked inter-individual variability in the appearance of rutin conversion products after incubation with rutin. Consistent with this, there was substantial variability in the abundance of rutin-responsive microbiota among different individuals. Specifically, we observed that Enterobacteriaceae were associated with conversion of rutin into quercetin-3-glucoside (Q-glc) and Lachnospiraceae were associated with quercetin (Q) production. This suggests that individual microbiotas differ in their ability to metabolize rutin and utilize different conversion pathways.Copper (Cu) and Cobalt (Co) are among the most toxic heavy metals from mining and other industrial activities. Both are known to pose serious environmental concerns, particularly to water resources, if not properly treated. In recent years several filamentous fungal strains have been isolated, identified and assessed for their heavy metal biosorption capacity for potential application in bioremediation of Cu and Co wastes. Despite the growing interest in heavy metal removal by filamentous fungi, their exploitation faces numerous challenges such as finding suitable candidates for biosorption. Based on current findings, various strains of filamentous fungi have high metal uptake capacity, particularly for Cu and Co. Several works indicate that Trichoderma, Penicillium, and Aspergillus species have higher Cu and Co biosorption capacity compared to other fungal species such as Geotrichum, Monilia, and Fusarium. It is believed that far more fungal species with even higher biosorption capability are yet to be isolated. Furthermore, the application of filamentous fungi for bioremediation is considered environmentally friendly, highly effective, reliable, and affordable, due to their low technology pre-requisites. In this review, we highlight the capacity of various identified filamentous fungal isolates for biosorption of copper and cobalt from various environments, as well as their future prospects.Litter decomposition is the key link between material circulation and energy flow in ecosystems, resulting from the activity of resident microbes and various enzymes. This study investigated enzyme activity in litter and associated microbial community characteristics to help clarify the internal mechanisms associated with litter decomposition, while also providing researchers a scientific basis for soil remediation in mining areas. Results confirmed that the nutrient content of Bothriochloa ischaemum litter significantly increased as phytoremediation years progressed, while enzyme activities in litter varied over different phytoremediation years. During the litter decomposition process, cellulase predominated in the early phytoremediation stage and catalase predominated in the intermediate phytoremediation stage. Obvious differences were found in bacterial community structure and diversity over progressive phytoremediation years. Predominant bacterial genera mainly included Massilia, Sphingomonas, Curtobacterium, Amnibacterium, and Methylobacterium. Moreover, Methylorosula and Jatrophihabitans had relatively higher betweenness centrality, and played important roles in bacterial community positive interactions. Additionally, total nitrogen (TN) and total zinc in soil, sucrase and catalase activity in litter were the main environmental factors that affected the structural framework of bacteria in B. ischaemum litter. However, TN had the greatest overall effect on the structural framework of bacteria in litter. Results from this study can help our understanding of the role that litter plays in degraded ecosystems. Our results also provide a scientific basis for improving poor quality soil in areas affected by copper tailings while also amending ecological restoration efficiency.Obesity and related metabolic disorders are associated with intestinal microbiota dysbiosis, disrupted intestinal barrier and chronic inflammation. Shen-Yan-Fang-Shuai formula (SYFSF) is a traditional Chinese herbal formula composed of Astragali Radix, Radix Angelicae Sinensis, Rheum Officinale Baill, and four other herbs. In this study, we identified that SYFSF treatment prevented weight gain, low-grade inflammation and insulin resistance in high-fat diet (HFD)-fed mice. SYFSF also substantially improved gut barrier function, reduced metabolic endotoxemia, as well as systemic inflammation.  https://www.selleckchem.com/  Sequencing of 16S rRNA genes obtained from fecal samples demonstrated that SYFSF attenuated HFD-induced gut dysbiosis, seen an decreased Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes ratios. Microbial richness and diversity were also higher in the SYFSF-treated HFD group. Furthermore, similar therapeutic effects and changes in gut microbiota profile caused by SYFSF could be replicated by fecal microbiota transfer (FMT). Taken together, our study highlights the efficacy of SYFSF in preventing obesity and related metabolic disorders. Its therapeutic effect is associated with the modulation of gut microbiota, as a prebiotic.