Assessment of adhesion properties of novel probiotic strains to human intestinal mucus

Design of a specific colonic mucus marker using a human commensal bacterium cell surface domain

Imaging living cells and organs requires innovative, specific, efficient, and well tolerated fluorescent markers targeting cellular components. Such tools will allow proceeding to the dynamic analysis of cells and the adaptation of tissues to environmental cues. In this study, we have identified and synthesized a novel non-toxic fluorescent marker allowing a specific fluorescent staining of the human colonic mucus. Our strategy to identify a molecule able to specifically bind to the human colonic mucus was on the basis of the mucus adhesion properties of commensal bacteria. We identified and characterized the mucus-binding property of a 70-amino acid domain (MUB(70)) expressed on the surface of Lactobacillus strains. The chemical synthesis of MUB(70) was achieved using the human commensal bacterium Lactobacillus reuteri AF120104 protein as a template. The synthesized Cy5-conjugated MUB(70) marker specifically stained the colonic mucus on fixed human, rabbit, and guinea pig tissues. Interestingly, murine tissue was not stained, suggesting significant differences in the composition of the murine colonic mucus. In addition, this marker stained the mucus of living cultured human colonic cells (HT29-MTX) and human colonic tissue explants. Using a biotinylated derivative of MUB(70), we demonstrated that this peptide binds specifically to Muc2, the most abundant secreted mucin, through its glycosylated moieties. Hence, Cy5-MUB(70) is a novel and specific fluorescent marker for mammalian colonic mucus. It may be used for live imaging analysis but also, as demonstrated in this study, as a marker for the diagnosis and the prognosis of colonic mucinous carcinomas.

Survival of Lactobacillus rhamnosus strains inoculated in cheese matrix during simulated human digestion

Survival of probiotic bacteria during transit through the gastrointestinal (GI) tract is influenced by a number of environmental variables including stomach acidity, bile salts, digestive enzymes and food matrix. This study assessed survival of seven selected Lactobacillus rhamnosus strains delivered within a model cheese system to the human upper GI tract using a dynamic gastric model (DGM). Good survival rates for all tested strains were recorded during both simulated gastric and duodenal digestion. Strains H12, H25 and N24 demonstrated higher survival capacities during gastric digestion than L. rhamnosus GG strain used as control, with H12 and N24 continuing to grow during duodenal digestion. Strains L. rhamnosus F17, N24 and R61 showed adhesion properties to both HT-29 and Caco-2 cells. The ability to attach to the cheese matrix during digestion was confirmed by scanning electron microscopy, also indicating production of extracellular polysaccharides as a response to acid stress.

Probiotic lactic acid bacteria in the gastro-intestinal tract: health benefits, safety and mode of action

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) have received considerable attention as probiotics over the past few years. This concept has grown from traditional dairy products to a profitable market of probiotic health supplements and functional foods. Extensive research is done on novel potential probiotic strains, with specific emphasis on their health benefits and mode of action. Criteria for the selection of probiotic strains have only recently been formulated by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the World Health Organization (FAO/WHO). Several in vitro techniques have been developed to evaluate the probiotic properties of strains. In many cases, this is followed by in vivo tests. Safety studies are also obligatory, as a few cases of bacteremia caused by LAB have been reported. This review focuses on the health benefits and safety of LAB probiotics, the criteria used to select a probiotic, mode of action and the impact these organisms have on natural microbiota in the gastro-intestinal tract.

The intestinal microbiota, gastrointestinal environment and colorectal cancer: a putative role for probiotics in prevention of colorectal cancer?

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer in the United States, and, even though 5-15% of the total CRC cases can be attributed to individual genetic predisposition, environmental factors could be considered major factors in susceptibility to CRC. Lifestyle factors increasing the risks of CRC include elevated body mass index, obesity, and reduced physical activity. Additionally, a number of dietary elements have been associated with higher or lower incidence of CRC. In this context, it has been suggested that diets high in fruit and low in meat might have a protective effect, reducing the incidence of colorectal adenomas by modulating the composition of the normal nonpathogenic commensal microbiota. In addition, it has been demonstrated that changes in abundance of taxonomic groups have a profound impact on the gastrointestinal physiology, and an increasing number of studies are proposing that the microbiota mediates the generation of dietary factors triggering colon cancer. High-throughput sequencing and molecular taxonomic technologies are rapidly filling the knowledge gaps left by conventional microbiology techniques to obtain a comprehensive catalog of the human intestinal microbiota and their associated metabolic repertoire. The information provided by these studies will be essential to identify agents capable of modulating the massive amount of gut bacteria in safe noninvasive manners to prevent CRC. Probiotics, defined as "live microorganisms which, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host" (219), are capable of transient modulation of the microbiota, and their beneficial effects include reinforcement of the natural defense mechanisms and protection against gastrointestinal disorders. Probiotics have been successfully used to manage infant diarrhea, food allergies, and inflammatory bowel disease; hence, the purpose of this review was to examine probiotic metabolic activities that may have an effect on the prevention of CRC by scavenging toxic compounds or preventing their generation in situ. Additionally, a brief consideration is given to safety evaluation and production methods in the context of probiotics efficacy.

Growth phase-associated changes in the proteome and transcriptome of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG in industrial-type whey medium

The growth phase during which probiotic bacteria are harvested and consumed can strongly influence their performance as health‐promoting agents. In this study, global transcriptomic and proteomic changes were studied in the widely used probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG during growth in industrial‐type whey medium under strictly defined bioreactor conditions. The expression of 636 genes (P ≤ 0.01) and 116 proteins (P < 0.05) changed significantly over time. Of the significantly differentially produced proteins, 61 were associated with alterations at the transcript level. The most remarkable growth phase‐dependent changes occurred during the transition from the exponential to the stationary growth phase and were associated with the shift from glucose fermentation to galactose utilization and the transition from homolactic to mixed acid fermentation. Furthermore, several genes encoding proteins proposed to promote the survival and persistence of L. rhamnosus GG in the host and proteins that directly contribute to human health showed temporal changes in expression. Our results suggest that L. rhamnosus GG has a highly flexible and adaptable metabolism and that the growth stage during which bacterial cells are harvested and consumed should be taken into consideration to gain the maximal benefit from probiotic bacteria.

Effect of food models and low-temperature storage on the adhesion of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG to Caco-2 cells

This study evaluated the effects of fat and sugar levels on the surface properties of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG during storage in food model systems, simulating yogurt and ice cream, and related them with the ability of the bacterial cells to adhere to Caco-2 cells. Freeze-dried L. rhamnosus GG cells were added to the model food systems and stored for 7 days. The bacterial cells were analyzed for cell viability, hydrophobicity, ζ potential, and their ability to adhere to Caco-2 cells. The results indicated that the food type and its composition affected the surface and adhesion properties of the bacterial cells during storage, with yogurt being a better delivery vehicle than ice cream in terms of bacterial adhesion to Caco-2 cells. The most important factor influencing bacterial adhesion was the storage time rather than the levels of fats and sugars, indicating that conformational changes were taking place on the surface of the bacterial cells during storage.

Lactobacillus adhesion to mucus

Mucus provides protective functions in the gastrointestinal tract and plays an important role in the adhesion of microorganisms to host surfaces. Mucin glycoproteins polymerize, forming a framework to which certain microbial populations can adhere, including probiotic Lactobacillus species. Numerous mechanisms for adhesion to mucus have been discovered in lactobacilli, including partially characterized mucus binding proteins. These mechanisms vary in importance with the in vitro models studied, which could significantly affect the perceived probiotic potential of the organisms. Understanding the nature of mucus-microbe interactions could be the key to elucidating the mechanisms of probiotic adhesion within the host.

Health benefits of probiotics: are mixtures more effective than single strains?

PURPOSE

Most studies on probiotics utilise single strains, sometimes incorporated into yoghurts. There are fewer studies on efficacy of mixtures of probiotic strains. This review examines the evidence that (a) probiotic mixtures are beneficial for a range of health-related outcomes and (b) mixtures are more or less effective than their component strains administered separately.

RESULTS

Mixtures of probiotics had beneficial effects on the end points including irritable bowel syndrome and gut function, diarrhoea, atopic disease, immune function and respiratory tract infections, gut microbiota modulation, inflammatory bowel disease and treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection. However, only 16 studies compared the effect of a mixture with that of its component strains separately, although in 12 cases (75%), the mixture was more effective.

CONCLUSION

Probiotic mixtures appear to be effective against a wide range of end points. Based on a limited number of studies, multi-strain probiotics appear to show greater efficacy than single strains, including strains that are components of the mixtures themselves. However, whether this is due to synergistic interactions between strains or a consequence of the higher probiotic dose used in some studies is at present unclear.

Manufacturing process influences properties of probiotic bacteria

Production and manufacturing methods and the food carrier may influence the properties of probiotic strains, and have an impact on the outcome of clinical intervention studies. The aim of the present study was to establish whether the properties of a specific probiotic strain, Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG, may differ depending on the product and source of the strain. In total, fifteen different L. rhamnosus isolates, among them fourteen labelled as L. rhamnosus GG, were isolated from specific probiotic products. The micro-organisms were phenotypically and genotypically characterised. Their adhesion properties were compared using the human intestinal mucus model, and the ability of the isolates to influence model pathogen adhesion to human colonic mucus was assessed. All L. rhamnosus isolates used were confirmed as members of the species L. rhamnosus. Except the reference strain OL, all L. rhamnosus isolates showed randomly amplified polymorphic DNA, enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis profiles identical to that of L. rhamnosus GG (ATCC 53103). All L. rhamnosus isolates showed similar tolerance to acid and were able to bind to human colonic mucus. However, pathogen exclusion by inhibition and competition varied significantly among the different L. rhamnosus isolates and pathogens tested. The results suggest that different sources of the same probiotic may have significantly altered strain properties. This should be considered in in vivo studies on human subjects and also for quality control of probiotic products.

Probiotic properties of Lactobacillus strains isolated from the feces of breast-fed infants and Taiwanese pickled cabbage

This study assessed potential probiotic Lactobacillus strains isolated from the feces of breast-fed infants and from Taiwanese pickled cabbage for their possible use in probiotic fermented foods by evaluating their (i) in vitro adhesive ability, resistance to biotic stress, resistance to pathogenic bacteria, and production of β-galactosidase; (ii) milk technological properties; and (iii) in vivo adhesive ability, intestinal survival and microbial changes during and after treatment. Five Lactobacillus isolates identified as Lactobacillus reuteri F03, Lactobacillus paracasei F08, Lactobacillus rhamnosus F14, Lactobacillus plantarum C06, and Lactobacillus acidophilus C11 that showed resistance to gastric juice and bile salts were selected for further evaluation of their probiotic properties. All the strains demonstrated the ability to adhere to Caco-2 cells, particularly, strain L. plantarum C06 and L. reuteri F03 showed satisfactory abilities, which were similar to that of the reference strain L. rhamnosus GG. The strains L. paracasei F08 and L. acidophilus C11 had the highest β-galactosidase activity. Most of the strains were resistant to aminoglycosides and vancomycin but sensitive to ampicillin, erythromycin, and penicillin. All the 5 strains elicited antibacterial activity against both Gram-positive (Bacillus cereus, Listeria monocytogenes and Staphylococcus aureus) and -negative (Escherichia coli and Salmonella enterica) pathogens. Moreover, the strains L. reuteri F03, L. paracasei F08, and L. plantarum C06 could grow rapidly in milk without nutrient supplementation and reached 10⁸ cfu/mL after 24 h of fermentation at 37 °C. The viable cell counts of the 3 strains remained above 10⁷ cfu/mL after 21 d of storage at 4 °C. In the animal feeding trial, the number of intestinal lactobacilli increased significantly after administration of milk fermented with the 3 strains, and the counts of fecal coliforms and Clostridium perfringens were markedly reduced. Lactobacillus strains could also survive in the ileal intestinal tissue of the treated rats. Technologically interesting Lactobacillus isolates may be used in the future as probiotic starter cultures for manufacturing novel fermented foods.

Strain-specific diversity of mucus-binding proteins in the adhesion and aggregation properties of Lactobacillus reuteri

Mucus-binding proteins (MUBs) have been revealed as one of the effector molecules involved in mechanisms of the adherence of lactobacilli to the host; mub, or mub-like, genes are found in all of the six genomes of Lactobacillus reuteri that are available. We recently reported the crystal structure of a Mub repeat from L. reuteri ATCC 53608 (also designated strain 1063), revealing an unexpected recognition of immunoglobulins. In the current study, we explored the diversity of the ATCC 53608 mub gene, and MUB expression levels in a large collection of L. reuteri strains isolated from a range of vertebrate hosts. This analysis revealed that the MUB was only detectable on the cell surface of two highly related isolates when using antibodies that were raised against the protein. There was considerable variation in quantitative mucus adhesion in vitro among L. reuteri strains, and mucus binding showed excellent correlation with the presence of cell-surface ATCC 53608 MUB. ATCC 53608 MUB presence was further highly associated with the autoaggregation of L. reuteri strains in washed cell suspensions, suggesting a novel role of this surface protein in cell aggregation. We also characterized MUB expression in representative L. reuteri strains. This analysis revealed that one derivative of strain 1063 was a spontaneous mutant that expressed a C-terminally truncated version of MUB. This frameshift mutation was caused by the insertion of a duplicated 13&emsp14;nt sequence at position 4867&emsp14;nt in the mub gene, producing a truncated MUB also lacking the C-terminal LPxTG region, and thus unable to anchor to the cell wall. This mutant, designated 1063N (mub-4867(i)), displayed low mucus-binding and aggregation capacities, further providing evidence for the contribution of cell-wall-anchored MUB to such phenotypes. In conclusion, this study provided novel information on the functional attributes of MUB in L. reuteri, and further demonstrated that MUB and MUB-like proteins, although present in many L. reuteri isolates, show a high genetic heterogeneity among strains.

Microbiote et probiotiques : impact en santé humaine

All accessible mucous membranes of the human body are colonized by an abundant and diversified microbial flora called microbiota. Recent studies have shown that these microorganisms, long regarded as purely commensal, have essential beneficial effects on human health. Thus, numerous human ailments are linked to dysbiosis; that is, imbalances in the microflora composition. The administration of probiotic microorganisms could, in some situations, provide substantial relief from such disorders. These live microorganisms, which, according to the definition, confer a health benefit to the host when administered in adequate amounts, are often derived from human flora and belong mostly to lactic acid bacteria, in particular to the genus Lactobacillus . The constant improvement of knowledge of the role of human microbiota and the growing popularity of probiotics are now opening the door to new prophylactic and therapeutic strategies in human health.

Lactic acid bacteria efficiently protect human and animal intestinal epithelial and immune cells from enteric virus infection

This study aimed to examine the potential antiviral activity of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) using animal and human intestinal and macrophage cell line models of non tumor origin. To this end, LAB strains selected on the basis of previous in vitro trials were co-incubated with cell line monolayers, which were subsequently challenged with rotavirus (RV) and transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV). In order to elucidate the possible mechanism responsible for the antiviral activity, the induction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) release as well as the attachment ability of LAB on the cell lines was investigated. Various strains were found to exhibit moderate to complete monolayer protection against viral RV or TGEV disruption. Highest protection effects were recorded with the known probiotics Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG and Lactobacillus casei Shirota against both RV and TGEV, while notable antiviral activity was also attributed to Enterococcus faecium PCK38, Lactobacillus fermentum ACA-DC179, Lactobacillus pentosus PCA227 and Lactobacillus plantarum PCA236 and PCS22, depending on the cell line and virus combination used. A variable increase (of up to 50%) on the release of NO(-) and H(2)O(2) (ROS) was obtained when LAB strains were co-incubated with the cell lines, but the results were found to be LAB strain and cell line specific, apart from a small number of strains which were able to induce strong ROS release in more than one cell line. In contrast, the ability of the examined LAB strains to attach to the cell line monolayers was LAB strain but not cell line specific. Highest attachment ability was observed with L. plantarum ACA-DC 146, L. paracasei subsp. tolerans ACA-DC 4037 and E. faecium PCD71. Clear indications on the nature of the antiviral effect were evident only in the case of the L. casei Shirota against TGEV and with L. plantarum PCA236 against both RV and TGEV. In the rest of the cases, each interaction was LAB-cell line-virus specific, barring general conclusions. However, it is probable that more than one mechanism is involved in the antiviral effect described here. Further investigations are required to elucidate the underlying mode of action and to develop a cell line model as a system for selection of probiotic strains suited for farm animal applications.

Surface and adhesion properties of lactobacilli

The surface properties of lactobacilli are of significant technological importance as they determine the interaction of the bacterial cells with the gastrointestinal mucosa, and therefore influence their location in the gut and their functionality. Studying the surface of the bacteria is critical for understanding the adhesion process better. This review compiles the knowledge from studies on the characterization Lactobacillus surfaces and evaluates the potential relationship between the cells' physicochemical characteristics and their adhesive abilities. It also discusses the effect that the production processes, such as fermentation and drying, can exert on the surface properties and adhesion abilities of lactobacilli.

Mucosal adhesion properties of the probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG SpaCBA and SpaFED pilin subunits

Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG is a well-established Gram-positive probiotic strain, whose health-benefiting properties are dependent in part on prolonged residence in the gastrointestinal tract and are likely dictated by adherence to the intestinal mucosa. Previously, we identified two pilus gene clusters (spaCBA and spaFED) in the genome of this probiotic bacterium, each of which contained the predicted genes for three pilin subunits and a single sortase. We also confirmed the presence of SpaCBA pili on the cell surface and attributed an intestinal mucus-binding capacity to one of the pilin subunits (SpaC). Here, we report cloning of the remaining pilin genes (spaA, spaB, spaD, spaE, and spaF) in Escherichia coli, production and purification of the recombinant proteins, and assessment of the adherence of these proteins to human intestinal mucus. Our findings indicate that the SpaB and SpaF pilin subunits also exhibit substantial binding to mucus, which can be inhibited competitively in a dose-related manner. Moreover, the binding between the SpaB pilin subunit and the mucosal substrate appears to operate through electrostatic contacts and is not related to a recognized mucus-binding domain. We conclude from these results that it is conceivable that two pilin subunits (SpaB and SpaC) in the SpaCBA pilus fiber play a role in binding to intestinal mucus, but for the uncharacterized and putative SpaFED pilus fiber only a single pilin subunit (SpaF) is potentially responsible for adhesion to mucus.

Ileal microbiota of growing pigs fed different dietary calcium phosphate levels and phytase content and subjected to ileal pectin infusion

Two experiments with growing pigs were conducted to determine the effects of dietary P and Ca levels, phytase supplementation, and ileal pectin infusion on changes in bacterial populations in the ileum and on ileal and fecal fermentation patterns. Growing pigs (BW 30.1 +/- 1.3 kg) were fitted with simple T-cannulas at the distal ileum and were fed a low-P corn-soybean meal control diet (3 g of P/kg), or the control diet supplemented with either 15 g of monocalcium phosphate (MCP)/kg (Exp. 1) or 1,000 phytase units of phytase/kg (Exp. 2). Daily infusion treatments consisted of either 60 g of pectin dissolved in 1.8 L of demineralized water or 1.8 L of demineralized water as a control infusion, infused via the ileal cannula. In each experiment, 8 barrows were assigned to 4 dietary treatments according to a double incomplete 4 x 2 Latin square design. The dietary treatments in Exp. 1 were the control diet with water infusion, the control diet with pectin infusion, the MCP diet with water infusion, or the MCP diet with pectin infusion. In Exp. 2, the pigs received the same control treatments as in Exp. 1 and the phytase diet in combination with water or pectin infusion. Gene copy numbers of total bacteria, Lactobacillus spp., Lactobacillus reuteri, Lactobacillus amylovorus/Lactobacillus sobrius, Lactobacillus mucosae, Enterococcus spp., Enterococcus faecium, Enterococcus faecalis, bifidobacteria, the Clostridium coccoides cluster, the Clostridium leptum cluster, the Bacteroides-Prevotella-Porphyrmonas group, and Enterobacteriaceae were determined by quantitative PCR in DNA extracts of ileal digesta. In Exp. 1, addition of MCP reduced ileal gene copy numbers of Enterococcus spp. (P = 0.048), E. faecium (P = 0.015), and the C. leptum cluster (P = 0.028), whereas pectin infusion enhanced (P = 0.008) ileal d-lactate concentration. In Exp. 2, supplemental phytase led to greater ileal gene copy numbers of the C. coccoides (P = 0.041) and C. leptum (P = 0.048) clusters and the Bacteroides-Prevotella-Porphyrmonas group (P = 0.033), whereas it reduced (P = 0.027) fecal n-butyrate concentration. Pectin infusion reduced (P = 0.005) ileal gene copy number of the C. leptum cluster. In conclusion, ileal bacterial populations and fermentation patterns are susceptible to changes in the intestinal availability of Ca and P as well as to the supply of pectin as a fermentable substrate. Greater intestinal Ca availability decreased the numbers of some gram-positive bacteria, whereas greater P availability in the small intestine caused by phytase activity enhanced the growth of strictly anaerobic bacteria.

Crystal structure of a mucus-binding protein repeat reveals an unexpected functional immunoglobulin binding activity

Lactobacillus reuteri mucus-binding protein (MUB) is a cell-surface protein that is involved in bacterial interaction with mucus and colonization of the digestive tract. The 353-kDa mature protein is representative of a broadly important class of adhesins that have remained relatively poorly characterized due to their large size and highly modular nature. MUB contains two different types of repeats (Mub1 and Mub2) present in six and eight copies, respectively, and shown to be responsible for the adherence to intestinal mucus. Here we report the 1.8-A resolution crystal structure of a type 2 Mub repeat (184 amino acids) comprising two structurally related domains resembling the functional repeat found in a family of immunoglobulin (Ig)-binding proteins. The N-terminal domain bears striking structural similarity to the repeat unit of Protein L (PpL) from Peptostreptococcus magnus, suggesting binding in a non-immune Fab-dependent manner. A distorted PpL-like fold is also seen in the C-terminal domain. As with PpL, Mub repeats were able to interact in vitro with a large repertoire of mammalian Igs, including secretory IgA. This hitherto undetected activity is consistent with the current model that antibody responses against commensal flora are of broad specificity and low affinity.

Characterization of a fibronectin-binding protein from Lactobacillus casei BL23

AIMS

To characterize the functionality of the Lactobacillus casei BL23 fbpA gene encoding a putative fibronectin-binding protein.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Adhesion tests showed that L. casei BL23 binds immobilized and soluble fibronectin in a protease-sensitive manner. A mutant with inactivated fbpA showed a decrease in binding to immobilized fibronectin and a strong reduction in the surface hydrophobicity as reflected by microbial adhesion to solvents test. However, minor effects were seen on adhesion to the human Caco-2 or HT-29 cell lines. Purified 6X(His)FbpA bound to immobilized fibronectin in a dose-dependent manner. Western blot experiments with FbpA-specific antibodies showed that FbpA could be extracted from the cell surface by LiCl treatment and that protease digestion of the cells reduced the amount of extracted FbpA. Furthermore, surface exposition of FbpA was detected in other L. casei strains by LiCl extraction and whole-cell ELISA.

CONCLUSIONS

FbpA can be found at the L. casei BL23 surface and participates in cell attachment to immobilized fibronectin. We showed that FbpA is an important, but not the only, factor contributing to fibronectin binding in BL23 strain.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

This is the first report showing the involvement of FbpA in fibronectin binding in L. casei BL23 and represents a new contribution to the study of attachment factors in probiotic bacteria.

Safety assessment of Lactobacillus brevis KB290 as a probiotic strain

Lactobacillus brevis KB290 (KB290), a plant-derived probiotic lactic acid bacterium, reportedly improves gut health and stimulates immune function. Here we extensively investigated the geno-, acute, subacute, and subchronic toxicity of KB290 and its bacterial translocation potential. KB290 was non-mutagenic in the bacterial reverse mutation assay by the preincubation method. In the single oral dose toxicity test, KB290 at 10(9) cfu/ml was nontoxic at maximum capacity (20 ml/kg). When 10(8), 10(9), or 10(10) cfu/kg was administered daily to rats by gavage for 2 weeks (subacute assay), we observed no clear treatment-related effect and no evidence of bacterial translocation from the gastrointestinal tract. When it was administered for 13 weeks (subchronic assay), we again observed no clear treatment-related effect and no significant toxicological effect. Based on those results, we consider 10(10) cfu/kg per day, the highest dose tested, to be the no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL). These results suggest that KB290 is safe for human consumption.

Temporal gene expression and probiotic attributes of Lactobacillus acidophilus during growth in milk

Lactic acid bacteria have been used as starter strains in the production of fermented dairy products for centuries. Lactobacillus acidophilus is a widely recognized probiotic bacteria commonly added to yogurt and used in dietary supplements. In this study, a whole genome microarray was employed to monitor gene expression of L. acidophilus NCFM cells propagated in 11% skim milk during early, mid and late logarithmic phase, and stationary phase. Approximately 21% of 1,864 open reading frames were differentially expressed at least in one time point. Genes differentially expressed in skim milk included several members of the proteolytic enzyme system. Expression of prtP (proteinase precursor) and prtM (maturase) increased over time as well as several peptidases and transport systems. Expression of Opp1 (oligopeptide transport system 1) was highest at 4 h, whereas gene expression of Opp2 increased over time reaching its highest level at 12 h, suggesting that the 2 systems have different specificities. Expression of a 2-component regulatory system, previously shown to regulate acid tolerance and proteolytic activity, also increased during the early log and early stationary phases of growth. Expression of the genes involved in lactose utilization increased immediately (5 min) upon exposure to milk. The acidification activity, survival under storage conditions, and adhesion to mucin and Caco-2 tissue culture cells of selected mutants containing insertionally inactivated genes differentially expressed in the wild-type strain during growth in milk were examined for any potential links between probiotic properties and bacterial growth and survival in milk. Some of the most interesting genes found to be expressed in milk were correlated with signaling (autoinducer-2) and adherence to mucin and intestinal epithelial cells, in vitro.

Potential of enterococci isolated from horses

Faecal samples of 122 horses (from farms in Slovakia) were examined to select enterococci to study their probiotic potential for their further use as additives. Each gram of faeces contained 1.0-5.0 cfu (log 10) of enterococci. Of the 43 isolates, 25 (58.1%) were identified as Enterococcus faecium, 3 strains were (6.9%) Enterococcus mundtii and one strain was identified as E. faecalis. Fourteen isolates were not characterized further. A significant proportion of the isolates were resistant to kanamycin, vancomycin and gentamicin. Low urease activity of enterococci dominated. The values of lactic acid ranged from 0.98 to 1.91 mmol/L. Porcine fibronectectin and bovine lactoferrin were bound weakly by tested enterococci, while bovine fibrinogen was bound more strongly. Enterococci from horses did not bind bovine apotransferrin. The isolates adhered with the same ability to human as well as to canine mucus. At least one enterocin gene was detected among 16 analyzed isolates. Ent B gene was detected in all strains tested (16, 100%), followed by the genes ent A, ent P and ent L50B. Three suitable candidates-the strains of E. faecium EF 412, EF 462 and EF 491 were selected for further detail studies and possibilities to be used as additives.

The adhesion of putative probiotic lactobacilli to cultured epithelial cells and porcine intestinal mucus

AIMS

To investigate the adhesion of lactobacilli and their subsequent competitive exclusion ability against pathogens.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Four species of putative probiotic lactobacilli were studied for their adhesion abilities. First, the adhesion to Caco-2 cells was examined by light and electron microscopy. The four species were then labelled by [methyl-(3)H] thymidine and their adhesion to porcine intestinal mucus was determined by radioactivity. The tested lactobacilli showed best adhesion on ileal mucus compared with duodenal and jejunal mucus. Oxidative compound pre-treatment (NaIO(3) and NaIO(4)) dramatically decreased the adhesion of the lactobacilli to mucus. Pre-treating mucus with proteolytic enzymes (proteinase K and trypsin) resulted in the increase of adhesion in Lactobacillus serotype Reuteri I2021, but the results in the other species were variable. Lactobacillus serotype Fermentum I5007 showed greatest adhesion potential and exerted the best competitive exclusion against Salmonella and Escherichia.

CONCLUSIONS

Adhesion ability in lactobacilli is species-specific. Lactobacilli with higher adhesion index have better competitive exclusion ability.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

This study suggests that there is a positive correlation between adhesion and competitive exclusion ability of lactobacilli. Additionally, the in vitro adhesion assay is a feasible way to screen unknown lactobacilli, potentially for future industrial applications.

In vitro study on bacteriocin production of Enterococci associated with chickens

In recent years, the approach of using innovative strategies such as probiotics or bacteriocins for the prevention or treatment of bacterial infections has come into focus. The present study was undertaken to check in vitro ability of Enterococci-isolated from the gastrointestinal tract of chickens-to produce a bacteriocin-like substance and to describe some further probiotic properties in five selected Enterococcus faecium strains. All strains (n=17) were found to produce bacteriocin-like substances against 14 out of 20 indicator bacteria of animal, food or environmental origin. Selected E. faecium strains expressed sufficient survival by pH 3.0 after 3h, in the presence of 1% bile after 24h and they were sensitive to most of antimicrobials tested. All tested strains adhere to the human, canine and porcine intestinal mucus (between 1.5% and 9.2%). However, better adhesion ability was observed for the canine mucus. PCR detection of enterocin structural genes determined presence of enterocins A and P genes in all selected strains. Characterization of bacteriocin substance in detail was performed in E. faecium EF55. The EF55 strain produced a bacteriocin-like substance (during the late logarithmic and early stationary growth phase) with inhibitory activity mostly against Gram-positive bacteria (100-51,200 AU/mL) including Listeria monocytogenes. Proteinaceous character of the bacteriocin substance was confirmed (its inhibitory activity was lost after its treatment with proteases), it was found to be stable after heating (100 degrees C 10 min) and during 12 months storage at -20 degrees C. The highest inhibitory activity of bacteriocin produced by EF55 strain (growing in MRS) broth was achieved between pH 7.0 and 9.0.

Strain- and matrix-dependent adhesion of Lactobacillus plantarum is mediated by proteinaceous bacterial compounds

AIMS

The ability of 31 Lactobacillus plantarum strains to adhere to biological matrixes was evaluated, and the molecules involved in adherence were studied.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Mucin, basement membrane proteins and Caco-2 cells were used in adhesion tests. These in vitro assays, together with a yeast agglutination test, were found to be discriminative for screening Lact. plantarum strains for adhesion. Some strains, such as 299v, CBE, BMCM12, Col4S and T25, were shown to possess interesting adhesion properties in at least two models. The adhesion of these strains was strongly inhibited when the bacterial cells were pretreated with trypsin. Lithium chloride and methyl-alpha-D-mannoside also inhibited adhesion to a lower extent.

CONCLUSIONS

The adhesion of Lact. plantarum depends on both the model and the strain used. The chemical and enzymatic pretreatments applied to the bacterial cells suggested that lectin-like adhesins and other proteinaceous cell-surface structures are involved in adhesion of these strains.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

We found a great diversity in the adhesion properties between Lact. plantarum strains. Based upon the adhesive property of these strains interesting candidates were identified, that will undergo further study as potential probiotics.

Adherence factors of Lactobacillus in the human gastrointestinal tract

Despite the increasing number of scientific reports describing adhesion of Lactobacillus to components of the human intestinal mucosa, information on the surface molecules mediating this adhesion and their corresponding receptors is fragmentary. This MiniReview compiles present knowledge of the genetically and functionally characterized Lactobacillus factors responsible for mediating adhesion to different components of the human gastrointestinal tract. In addition, for the proteins among these factors, the domain structure is discussed, and where appropriate the results of in silico analyses are reported.

The effect of calcium ions on adhesion and competitive exclusion of Lactobacillus ssp. and E. coli O138

The adhesion abilities of 11 strains of Lactobacillus were determined in vitro using the IPEC-J2 cell line as a model system. Bacteria cultures included the probiotic strains L. rhamnosus GG, L. reuteri ATCC 55730, L. johnsonii NCC 533 and L. reuteri DSM 12246, and new isolates of Lactobacillus ssp. Adhesion was quantified by scintillation counting of radiolabelled bound bacteria. The highest adhesion of 38%, was determined for L. reuteri DSM 12246 followed by L. plantarum Q47 with an adhesion level of 24%. Other strains showed moderate to low binding of less than 16%. Competitive adhesion experiments on IPEC-J2 cells demonstrated that strongly adhesive strains, as L. reuteri DSM 12246 and L. plantarum Q47, significantly reduced the attachment of the less adhesive strains, such as L. rhamnosus GG and L. johnsonii NCC 533, both under condition of co-incubation and in displacement assays, indicating that bacteria may share the same binding sites for attachment to intestinal cells. Furthermore, it was revealed that calcium ions significantly increased the binding of tested lactobacilli to IPEC-J2 cells; and therefore, added calcium may be useful in enhancing the adhesion of normally weakly adhesive probiotic cultures. In contrast, no significant change in adhesion of lactobacilli was observed in the presence of Mg and Zn ions. Displacement assays performed with pathogenic E. coli O138 showed that all tested Lactobacillus strains reduced the attachment of E. coli O138 to IPEC-J2 by more than 2-fold both in the presence and the absence of calcium ions. The strains of Lactobacillus did not differ significantly in the extent of their inhibition of E. coli O138 adhesion, indicating that the reduced adhesion of E. coli O138 was due to steric hindrance of the binding sites rather than to specific interactions.

Probiotic properties of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium strains isolated from porcine gastrointestinal tract

One strain of Lactobacillus salivarius, two strains of Lactobacillus reuteri and Lactobacillus amylovorus, and two strains of Bifidobacterium thermacidophilum with antagonistic effect against Clostridium perfringens were isolated from porcine gastrointestinal tract. Isolates were assayed for their ability to survive in synthetic gastric juice at pH 2.5 and were examined for their ability to grow on agar plate containing porcine bile extract. There was a large variation in the survival of the isolates in gastric juice and growth in the medium containing 0.3% (w/v) bile. L. salivarius G11 and L. amylovorus S6 adhered to the HT-29 epithelial cell line. Cell-free supernatant of L. amylovorus S6 showed higher antagonistic activity as effective as the antibiotics such as neomycin, chlortetracycline, and oxytetracycline against bacterial pathogens including C. perfringens, Salmonella typhimurium, Staphylococcus aureus, Vibrio cholerae, Edwardsiella tarda, and Aeromonas salmonicida subsp. salmonicida.

Probiotics in marine larviculture

Owing to the problem of antibiotic resistance and subsequent reluctance of using antibiotics, the use of probiotics in larviculture is becoming increasingly popular. During the early stages of development, manipulation of the larval digestive system seems possible through the addition of probiotics either through the culture water or via the livefood. Well-studied probiotics used in human medicine and terrestrial agriculture have proved to be successful in aquaculture and therefore reduce the need for extensive biosafety trials. The selection of probiotics requires various in vitro screening experiments, which assay for the production of antagonist compounds, their growth in and attachment to fish intestinal mucus, and the production of other beneficial compounds such as vitamins, fatty acids and digestive enzymes. Further information regarding probiont suitability can be obtained from its identification, interaction with livefood and host pathogenicity. Finally, pilot-scale in vivo tests need be performed, after which a production cost-benefit analysis to determine its economic viability needs to be undertaken.

Human fecal water modifies adhesion of intestinal bacteria to Caco-2 cells

The aqueous phase of feces (fecal water) has been suggested to mediate the effects of diet on colon carcinogenesis. We determined whether human fecal water samples, of varying genotoxic potential, had the capacity to alter adhesion of intestinal bacteria to intestinal (Caco-2) cells. Genotoxicity of fecal water samples was measured using the single-cell gel electrophoresis assay ("comet" assay), and bacterial adhesion was measured using a well-established model system. Fecal water genotoxicity was found to correlate positively with inhibition of adhesion of Escherichia coli strains, Salmonella species, and Enterococcus faecium to Caco-2 cells. The presence of fecal water samples did not interfere with adhesion of Bacteroides and Lactobacillus species. Inhibition of adhesion by fecal water was not due to cytotoxicity to Caco-2 cells as cytotoxicities of most fecal water samples were similar, nor was the inhibitory effect due to bacteriotoxicity as toxicity of fecal waters in the 10 strains of bacteria studied was not detected. Results indicate that components in fecal water may alter adhesion of intestinal bacteria to intestinal cell surfaces and that this effect may be correlated to the genotoxic potential of fecal water. This may have consequences for dietary effects on colon carcinogenesis.

Application of potential probiotic Lactobacillus fermentum AD1 strain in healthy dogs

Probiotic utilization is becoming increasingly popular in veterinary medicine. However, only few probiotic products are available commercially for use in dogs in our market. Therefore, the aim of our study was to determine the properties of new potential probiotic Lactobacillus fermentum AD1 strain-own canine isolate and to investigate its effect on several microbiological and biochemical parameters in healthy dogs. The strain expressed in vitro survival by pH 3.0 after 3h (86.8%) and in the presence of 1% bile (75.4%). The AD1 strain adhered to the canine and human intestinal mucus. It was sensitive to commonly used antimicrobials. Fifteen healthy dogs were supplemented with 10(9)L. fermentum AD1 for 7 days. At the end of AD1 strain application, numbers of faecal lactobacilli and enterococci increased significantly in the canine faeces. Significant increase of total protein and total lipid and significant reduction of glucose in serum of dogs were noted. These data indicate that L. fermentum AD1 survive transit through the canine gastrointestinal tract, and populate the colon and probably increased absorption of some nutrients. Whether longer time of its application lead to the same results as well as its potential to improve immune function in dogs remains to be determined.