Enterococcus faecium strain L-3 and glatiramer acetate ameliorate experimental allergic encephalomyelitis in rats by affecting different populations of immune cells

Evaluation of the Efficacy of Enterococcus faecium L3 as a Feed Probiotic Additive in Chicken

The study was devoted to the comparison of the probiotic effect of enterococcal Enterococcus faecium L3 to the antibiotic enramycin as a chicken feed additive. Two hundred and sixteen chickens were divided into three groups and tested by different parameters including weight gain, food consumption, blood biochemistry, immunology, and caecal microbiome at two checkpoints, 21 and 39 days after birth. By the end of the experiment, a group of chickens getting probiotic demonstrated weight gain of more than 100 g at the average relative to the control group with no additive in animal feed (P < 0.05). Blood serum biochemistry showed a significant increase in HDL level (P < 0.05) relative to the control group. The 16S RNA sequencing demonstrated the growth abundance of Lachnospiraceae and the decrease of Proteobacteria in probiotic fed group. On the contrary, the antibiotic fed group showed a noticeable increase in the abundance of Proteobacteria which included the genus Salmonella. Thus, probiotic E. faecium L3 being added to chicken food as a single additive may be considered as a possible replacement of antibiotic enramycin.

The effect of probiotics on immune responses and their therapeutic application: A new treatment option for multiple sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is known as a chronic inflammatory disease (CID) that affects the central nervous system and leads to nerve demyelination. However, the exact cause of MS is unknown, but immune system regulation and inhibiting the function of inflammatory pathways may have a beneficial effect on controlling and improving the disease. Studies show that probiotics can alter the gut microbiome, thereby improving and affecting the immune system and inflammatory responses in patients with MS. The results show that probiotics have a good effect on the recovery of patients with MS in humans and animals. The present study investigated the effect of probiotics and possible therapeutic mechanisms of probiotics on immune cells and inflammatory cytokines. This review article showed that probiotics could improve immune cells and inflammatory cytokines in patients with MS and can play an effective role in disease management and control.

Probiotics and Commensal Gut Microbiota as the Effective Alternative Therapy for Multiple Sclerosis Patients Treatment

The gut-brain axis (GBA) refers to the multifactorial interactions between the intestine microflora and the nervous, immune, and endocrine systems, connecting brain activity and gut functions. Alterations of the GBA have been revealed in people with multiple sclerosis (MS), suggesting a potential role in disease pathogenesis and making it a promising therapeutic target. Whilst research in this field is still in its infancy, a number of studies revealed that MS patients are more likely to exhibit modified microbiota, altered levels of short-chain fatty acids, and enhanced intestinal permeability. Both clinical and preclinical trials in patients with MS and animal models revealed that the administration of probiotic bacteria might improve cognitive, motor, and mental behaviors by modulation of GBA molecular pathways. According to the newest data, supplementation with probiotics may be associated with slower disability progression, reduced depressive symptoms, and improvements in general health in patients with MS. Herein, we give an overview of how probiotics supplementation may have a beneficial effect on the course of MS and its animal model. Hence, interference with the composition of the MS patient's intestinal microbiota may, in the future, be a grip point for the development of diagnostic tools and personalized microbiota-based adjuvant therapy.

Construction of the Enterococcal Strain Expressing Immunogenic Fragment of SARS-Cov-2 Virus

Contemporary SARS-Cov-2 pandemic, besides its dramatic global influence on the human race including health care systems, economies, and political decisions, opened a window for the global experiment with human vaccination employing novel injectable vaccines providing predominantly specific IgG response with little knowledge of their impact on the mucosal immunity. However, it is widely accepted that protection against the pathogens at the gates of the infection - on mucosal surfaces—predominantly rely on an IgA response. Some genetically modified bacteria, including probiotics, represent attractive vehicles for oral or nasal mucosal delivery of therapeutic molecules. Probiotic-based vaccines for mucous membranes are easy to produce in large quantities; they have low cost, provide quite a long T-cell memory, and gut IgA response to oral vaccines is highly synchronized and strongly oligoclonal. Here we present a study demonstrating construction of the novel SARS-Cov-2 vaccine candidate employing the gene fragment of S1 SARS-Cov-2 gene. This DNA fragment was inserted in frame into major pili protein gene with d2 domain of enterococcal operon encoding for pili. The DNA sequencing proved the presence of the insert in enterococcal genome. RNA transcription, immunoprecipitation, and immune electron microscopy with human sera obtained from the SARS-Cov-2 patients demonstrated expression of SARS-Cov-2 antigens in bacteria. Taken together the data obtained allowed considering this genetically modified probiotic strain as an interesting candidate for vaccine against SARS-Cov-2.

Construction of the Enterococcal Strain Expressing Immunogenic Fragment of SARS-Cov-2 Virus

Contemporary SARS-Cov-2 pandemic, besides its dramatic global influence on the human race including health care systems, economies, and political decisions, opened a window for the global experiment with human vaccination employing novel injectable vaccines providing predominantly specific IgG response with little knowledge of their impact on the mucosal immunity. However, it is widely accepted that protection against the pathogens at the gates of the infection - on mucosal surfaces—predominantly rely on an IgA response. Some genetically modified bacteria, including probiotics, represent attractive vehicles for oral or nasal mucosal delivery of therapeutic molecules. Probiotic-based vaccines for mucous membranes are easy to produce in large quantities; they have low cost, provide quite a long T-cell memory, and gut IgA response to oral vaccines is highly synchronized and strongly oligoclonal. Here we present a study demonstrating construction of the novel SARS-Cov-2 vaccine candidate employing the gene fragment of S1 SARS-Cov-2 gene. This DNA fragment was inserted in frame into major pili protein gene with d2 domain of enterococcal operon encoding for pili. The DNA sequencing proved the presence of the insert in enterococcal genome. RNA transcription, immunoprecipitation, and immune electron microscopy with human sera obtained from the SARS-Cov-2 patients demonstrated expression of SARS-Cov-2 antigens in bacteria. Taken together the data obtained allowed considering this genetically modified probiotic strain as an interesting candidate for vaccine against SARS-Cov-2.

The efficacy of probiotics in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (an animal model for MS): a systematic review and meta-analysis

Probiotics immunomodulatory properties and their beneficial effects for diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS) are reported by several studies. The current systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to investigate the favourable effects of probiotics in improving experimental autoimmune/allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) as an animal model of MS. We systematically searched Scopus, Web of Sciences (ISI), and PubMed databases to identify relevant studies from the inception of these databases to December 2019. A total of 15 animal studies met the inclusion criteria, while no human study met the inclusion criteria. The association between consumption of probiotics and each sign was calculated using the producing pooled odd ratios (95% confidence interval [95% CI]) in a random effect model. The meta-analysis revealed the significant effect of probiotics on the incidence of EAE, weight gain, and clinical symptoms. However, the effects of probiotics on the duration of the disease varied by probiotic strain. The administration of probiotics was associated with a significant reduction in the risk of mortality only in female animals. Moreover, the meta-analysis revealed the promising effects of probiotics on the prevention and management of EAE.

What Is Wrong with Enterococcal Probiotics?

Enterococci, being the common part of indigenous human microbiota and present in numerous fermented food products and probiotics, are often positioned as health-threatening bacterial pathogens. This makes medical community, especially part of it which is not involved in microbiology research, in an uncertainty regarding the legitimacy of using enterococcal probiotics in medical practice or even consuming them in foods such as cheese or salami. However, the difference between the clinical strains and strains used as probiotics is more than significant. The present paper tries to shed light on enterococci based on the contemporary knowledge of molecular microbiology.

Probiotics for the Chemoprotective Role Against the Toxic Effect of Cancer Chemotherapy

BACKGROUND

The processes of chemo- and radiation therapy-based clinical management of different types of cancers are associated with toxicity and side effects of chemotherapeutic agents. So, there is always an unmet need to explore agents to reduce such risk factors. Among these, natural products have generated much attention because of their potent antioxidant and antitumor effects. In the past, some breakthrough outcomes established that various bacteria in the human intestinal gut are bearing growth-promoting attributes and suppressing the conversion of pro-carcinogens into carcinogens. Hence, probiotics integrated approaches are nowadays being explored as rationalized therapeutics in the clinical management of cancer.

METHODS

Here, published literature was explored to review chemoprotective roles of probiotics against toxic and side effects of chemotherapeutics.

RESULTS

Apart from excellent anti-cancer abilities, probiotics are bearing and alleviate toxicity and side effects of chemotherapeutics, with a high degree of safety and efficiency.

CONCLUSION

Preclinical and clinical evidence suggested that due to the chemoprotective roles of probiotics against side effects and toxicity of chemotherapeutics, their integration in chemotherapy would be a judicious approach.

Efficacy of probiotics in multiple sclerosis: a systematic review of preclinical trials and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Preliminary evidence shows the potential role of probiotics in ameliorating multiple sclerosis (MS); however, the effects of probiotics on MS remain unclear.

Probiotic and commensal gut microbial therapies in multiple sclerosis and its animal models: a comprehensive review

The need for alternative treatments for multiple sclerosis (MS) has triggered copious amounts of research into microbial therapies focused on manipulating the microbiota-gut-brain axis. This comprehensive review was intended to present and systematically evaluate the current clinical and preclinical evidence for various probiotic and commensal gut microbial therapies as treatments for MS, using the Bradford Hill criteria (BHC) as a multi-parameter assessment rubric. Literature searches were performed to identify a total of 37 relevant studies (6 human, 31 animal), including 28 probiotic therapy and 9 commensal therapy studies. In addition to presenting qualitative summaries of these findings, therapeutic evidence for each bacterial formulation was assessed using the BHC to generate summative scores. These scores, which encompassed study quality, replication, and other considerations, were used to rank the most promising therapies and highlight deficiencies. Several therapeutic formulations, including VSL#3, Lactobacillus paracasei, Bifidobacterium animalis, E. coli Nissle 1917, and Prevotella histicola, emerged as the most promising. In contrast, a number of other therapies were hindered by limited evidence of replicable findings and other criteria, which need to be addressed by future studies in order to harness gut microbial therapies to ultimately provide cheaper, safer, and more durable treatments for MS.

Prevotella histicola, A Human Gut Commensal, Is as Potent as COPAXONE® in an Animal Model of Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a demyelinating disease of the central nervous system. We and others have shown that there is enrichment or depletion of some gut bacteria in MS patients compared to healthy controls (HC), suggesting an important role of the gut bacteria in disease pathogenesis. Thus, specific gut bacteria that are lower in abundance in MS patients could be used as a potential treatment option for this disease. In particular, we and others have shown that MS patients have a lower abundance of Prevotella compared to HC, whereas the abundance of Prevotella is increased in patients that receive disease-modifying therapies such as Copaxone® (Glatiramer acetate-GA). This inverse correlation between the severity of MS disease and the abundance of Prevotella suggests its potential for use as a therapeutic option to treat MS. Notably we have previously identified a specific strain, Prevotella histicola (P. histicola), that suppresses disease in the animal model of MS, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) compared with sham treatment. In the present study we analyzed whether the disease suppressing effects of P. histicola synergize with those of the disease-modifying drug Copaxone® to more effectively suppress disease compared to either treatment alone. Treatment with P. histicola was as effective in suppressing disease as treatment with Copaxone®, whereas the combination of P. histicola plus Copaxone® was not more effective than either individual treatment. P. histicola-treated mice had an increased frequency and number of CD4⁺FoxP3⁺ regulatory T cells in periphery as well as gut and a decreased frequency of pro-inflammatory IFN-γ and IL17-producing CD4 T cells in the CNS, suggesting P. histicola suppresses disease by boosting anti-inflammatory immune responses and inhibiting pro-inflammatory immune responses. In conclusion, our study indicates that the human gut commensal P. histicola can suppress disease as efficiently as Copaxone® and may provide an alternative treatment option for MS patients.

Lactobacillus reuteri Reduces the Severity of Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis in Mice by Modulating Gut Microbiota

The gut microbiome plays an important role in immune function and has been implicated in multiple sclerosis (MS). However, how and if the modulation of microbiota can prevent or treat MS remain largely unknown. In this study, we showed that probiotic Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 (L. reuteri) ameliorated the development of murine experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), a widely used animal model of MS, a model which is primarily mediated by T_H17 and T_H1 cells. We discovered that L. reuteri treatment reduced T_H1/T_H17 cells and their associated cytokines IFN-γ/IL-17 in EAE mice. We also showed that the loss of diversity of gut microbiota induced by EAE was largely restored by L. reuteri treatment. Taxonomy-based analysis of gut microbiota showed that three “beneficial” genera Bifidobacterium, Prevotella, and Lactobacillus were negatively correlated with EAE clinical severity, whereas the genera Anaeroplasma, Rikenellaceae, and Clostridium were positively correlated with disease severity. Notably, L. reuteri treatment coordinately altered the relative abundance of these EAE-associated taxa. In conclusion, probiotic L. reuteri changed gut microbiota to modulate immune responses in EAE, making it a novel candidate in future studies to modify the severity of MS.

Influence of monostrain and multistrain probiotics on immunity, intestinal ultrastructure and microbiota in experimental dysbiosis

The biological effects of three probiotic strains Lactobacillus rhamnosus K32, Bifidobacterium longum GT15, Enterococcus faecium L3 and their mixture were studied using a model of dysbiosis induced in rats by antibiotics. It was found that after taking different probiotics intestinal microbiota changed in a strain-specific manner. The maximal activity against pathogens was revealed after the administration of a mixture of bacterial strains under study or a single strain of enterococci. The strain E. faecium L3 showed the most activity against both Klebsiella spp. and Bacteroides fragilis. It helped to restore the original content of Faecalibacterium prausnitzii. The number of Klebsiella spp. was the same in the group receiving L. rhamnosus K32 and the group of animals, which was not consuming probiotics. Different probiotic strains included in the composition had various immunological effects. Probiotic bifidobacteria, enterococci and the mixture of three probiotics stimulated of mRNA expression of interleukin (IL)-10 in mesenteric lymph nodes. The changes in microbiota after consuming an enterococcal probiotic correlated with an increase in transforming growth factor (TGF)-β and IL-10 content in blood serum and an increase of the intestinal mucus layer. Consumption of L. rhamnosus K32 led to the stimulation of IL-8 expression in mesenteric lymph nodes. Control group not receiving probiotics was characterised by expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, damage of epithelial cells and the destruction of their tight junctions. The damage to the ultrastructure of the mucosa was prevented in all the groups taking probiotics.

Immunoregulatory effect of mast cells influenced by microbes in neurodegenerative diseases

When related to central nervous system (CNS) health and disease, brain mast cells (MCs) can be a source of either beneficial or deleterious signals acting on neural cells. We review the current state of knowledge about molecular interactions between MCs and glia in neurodegenerative diseases such as Multiple Sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, Epilepsy. We also discuss the influence on MC actions evoked by the host microbiota, which has a profound effect on the host immune system, inducing important consequences in neurodegenerative disorders. Gut dysbiosis, reduced intestinal motility and increased intestinal permeability, that allow bacterial products to circulate and pass through the blood-brain barrier, are associated with neurodegenerative disease. There are differences between the microbiota of neurologic patients and healthy controls. Distinguishing between cause and effect is a challenging task, and the molecular mechanisms whereby remote gut microbiota can alter the brain have not been fully elucidated. Nevertheless, modulation of the microbiota and MC activation have been shown to promote neuroprotection. We review this new information contributing to a greater understanding of MC-microbiota-neural cells interactions modulating the brain, behavior and neurodegenerative processes.