Application of RBGR--a simple way for screening of oxygen tolerance in probiotic bacteria

Utilizing Probiotics for the Prevention and Treatment of Gastrointestinal Diseases

Probiotics are heavily advertised to promote a healthy gastrointestinal tract and boost the immune system. This review article summarizes the history and diversity of probiotics, outlines conventional in vitro assays and in vivo models, assesses the pharmacologic effects of probiotic and pharmaceutical co-administration, and the broad impact of clinical probiotic utilization for gastrointestinal disease indications.

Oxidative stress tolerance and antioxidant capacity of lactic acid bacteria as probiotic: a systematic review

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are the most frequently used probiotics in fermented foods and beverages and as food supplements for humans or animals, owing to their multiple beneficial features, which appear to be partially associated with their antioxidant properties. LAB can help improve food quality and flavor and prevent numerous disorders caused by oxidation in the host. In this review, we discuss the oxidative stress tolerance, the antioxidant capacity related herewith, and the underlying mechanisms and signaling pathways in probiotic LAB. In addition, we discuss appropriate methods used to evaluate the antioxidant capacity of probiotic LAB. The aim of the present review is to provide an overview of the current state of the research associated with the oxidative stress tolerance and antioxidant capacity of LAB.

Antagonistic activity of Lactobacillus isolates against Salmonella typhi in vitro

Background. Enteric fever is a global health problem, and rapidly developing resistance to various drugs makes the situation more alarming. The potential use of Lactobacillus to control typhoid fever represents a promising approach, as it may exert protective actions through various mechanisms. Methods. In this study, the probiotic potential and antagonistic activities of 32 Lactobacillus isolates against Salmonella typhi were evaluated. The antimicrobial activity of cell free supernatants of Lactobacillus isolates, interference of Lactobacillus isolates with the Salmonella adherence and invasion, cytoprotective effect of Lactobacillus isolates, and possibility of concurrent use of tested Lactobacillus isolates and antibiotics were evaluated by testing their susceptibilities to antimicrobial agents, and their oxygen tolerance was also examined. Results. The results revealed that twelve Lactobacillus isolates could protect against Salmonella typhi infection through interference with both its growth and its virulence properties, such as adherence, invasion, and cytotoxicity. These Lactobacillus isolates exhibited MIC values for ciprofloxacin higher than those of Salmonella typhi and oxygen tolerance and were identified as Lactobacillus plantarum. Conclusion. The tested Lactobacillus plantarum isolates can be introduced as potential novel candidates that have to be subjected for in vivo and application studies for treatment and control of typhoid fever.

The potential of bifidobacteria as a source of natural folate

AIMS

To screen 19 strains of bifidobacteria for main folate forms composition in synthetic folate-free and complex folate-containing media.

METHODS AND RESULTS

HPLC was used to analyse deconjugated folates extracted from bacterial biomass. Most strains had a total folate content above 4000 μg per 100 g dry matter (DM). The highest value of 9295 μg per 100 g DM was found in Bifidobacterium catenulatum ATCC 27539 and the lowest in Bifidobacterium animalis ssp. animalis ATCC 25527 containing 220 μg per 100 g DM. Ten strains grew in a synthetic folate-free medium (FFM), showing folate autotrophy and suggesting folate auxotrophy of the remaining nine. In the autotrophic strains, a consistently higher folate level was found in FFM as compared to a more complex folate-containing medium, suggesting reduced requirements for folates in the presence of growth factors otherwise requiring folates for synthesis. The contents of total folate, 5-CH(3) -H(4) folate and H(4) folate were strain dependent. 5-CH(3) -H(4) folate dominated in most strains.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results show that bifidobacteria folate content and composition is dynamic, is strain specific and depends on the medium. Suitable selection of the growth conditions can result in high levels of folate per cell unit biomass.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

This suggests that certain bifidobacteria may contribute to the folate intake, either directly in foods, such as fermented dairy products, or in the intestine as folate-trophic probiotics or part of the natural microbiota.

Isolation and characterisation of an oxygen, acid and bile resistant Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis Qq08

BACKGROUND

Currently, bifidobacteria are recognised as one of the most important bacteria used as probiotics, which promote human health. However, their commercial application has been limited by their anaerobic nature. The purpose of this study was to select an oxygen, acid and bile resistant strain of bifidobacterium for use as a new probiotic.

RESULTS

A total of 10 strains of bifidobacteria from different sources were analysed for their relative bacterial growth ratio (RBGR) in different oxygen concentrations. Three strains with high RBGR values were selected and their survival rates in acid environment and bile salt conditions were investigated in vitro. One strain showed high tolerance to low pH, giving a survival rate of 84% at pH 2 after 4 h incubation, and high tolerance to bile, more than 90% after 4.5 h incubation at 0.01 g mL(-1) bile concentration. This strain was identified as Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis strain Qq08 based on polyphasic taxonomy approaches, such as phenotype analysis and 16S rRNA and 16S to 23S internally transcribed spacer sequence analyses.

CONCLUSION

We isolated an aerotolerant bifidobacterium and identified it as Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis Qq08. This strain has characteristics more favourable than the commercial probiotic strain, Bifidobacterium lactis Bb12.

Intrinsic tolerance of Bifidobacterium species to heat and oxygen and survival following spray drying and storage

AIMS

This study examined the tolerance of various species of the genus Bifidobacterium to heat and oxygen and evaluated the survival of selected strains following spray drying and during storage.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Nine Bifidobacterium species were considered to be relatively tolerant to both heat and oxygen and mostly segregated into two clusters within the 16S rDNA phylogenetic tree. Four species were tolerant to oxygen and 12 species were considered sensitive to oxygen and heat. Using a skimmed milk-based carrier good survival following spray drying and storage at 4 degrees C correlated with tolerance to heat and oxygen. Viability was inversely related to storage temperature and at 15 degrees C and 25 degrees C, a significant decline was observed for all species. The inclusion of gum acacia had no significant affect on survival or viability. However, using a fluidized-bed spray dryer viability was greatly improved.

CONCLUSIONS

A group of closely related species tolerant to heat and oxygen had high survival following spray drying and maintained viability during prolonged storage at 4 degrees C.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

Spray drying is a suitable method for the production of skimmed milk powder enriched with high numbers of viable bifidobacteria.

Metabolic and biochemical responses of probiotic bacteria to oxygen

The interaction between oxygen and probiotic bacteria was studied by growing Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium spp. in 0, 5, 10, 15, and 21% oxygen in a hypoxic glove box. The metabolic responses of each probiotic strain in the different oxygen environments were monitored by measuring the levels of lactic acid and determining the lactate-to-acetate ratio. Biochemical changes induced by oxygen were examined by monitoring the specific activities of NADH oxidase, NADH peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase. In addition, the ability to decompose hydrogen peroxide and the sensitivity of each strain to hydrogen peroxide was also determined. With an increase in oxygen percentage, levels of lactic acid in L. acidophilus strains decreased, whereas the lactate-to-acetate ratio reduced in all the bifidobacteria tested. At 21% oxygen, the specific activities of NADH oxidase and NADH peroxidase, and the hydrogen peroxide decomposing ability of five probiotic strains was significantly higher than at 0% oxygen. The sensitivity of the probiotic strains to hydrogen peroxide however, remained unaffected in all the different oxygen percentages. Superoxide dismutase levels did not reveal any conclusive trend. In both L. acidophilus and Bifidobacterium spp., NADH oxidase and NADH peroxidase functioned optimally at pH 5. Growth in the various oxygen environments did not change this optimum pH.