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Carbohydrate Polymers Sep 2023Bifidobacteria are among the most common bacteria used for their probiotic properties and their impact on the maturation and function of the immune system has been...
Bifidobacteria are among the most common bacteria used for their probiotic properties and their impact on the maturation and function of the immune system has been well-described. Recently, scientific interest is shifting from live bacteria to defined bacteria-derived biologically active molecules. Their greatest advantage over probiotics is the defined structure and the effect independent of the viability status of the bacteria. Here, we aim to characterize Bifidobacterium adolescentis CCDM 368 surface antigens that include polysaccharides (PSs), lipoteichoic acids (LTAs), and peptidoglycan (PG). Among them, Bad368.1 PS was observed to modulate OVA-induced cytokine production in cells isolated from OVA-sensitized mice by increasing the production of Th1-related IFN-γ and inhibition of Th2-related IL-5 and IL-13 cytokines (in vitro). Moreover, Bad368.1 PS (BAP1) is efficiently engulfed and transferred between epithelial and dendritic cells. Therefore, we propose that the Bad368.1 PS (BAP1) can be used for the modulation of allergic diseases in humans. Structural studies revealed that Bad368.1 PS has an average molecular mass of approximately 9,99 × 10 Da and it consists of glucose, galactose, and rhamnose residues that are creating the following repeating unit: →2)-β-D-Glcp-1→3-β-L-Rhap-1→4-β-D-Glcp-1→3-α-L-Rhap-1→4-β-D-Glcp-1→3-α-D-Galp-(1→.
Topics: Humans; Animals; Mice; Bifidobacterium adolescentis; Polysaccharides; Bifidobacterium; Peptidoglycan; Galactose; Tumor Suppressor Proteins; Ubiquitin Thiolesterase
PubMed: 37230638
DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2023.120980 -
Microorganisms Apr 2022The diversity and the stability of the microbial community are associated with microecological interactions between its members. Antagonism is one type of interaction,...
The diversity and the stability of the microbial community are associated with microecological interactions between its members. Antagonism is one type of interaction, which particularly determines the benefits that probiotics bring to host health by suppressing opportunistic pathogens and microbial contaminants in food. Mathematical models allow for quantitatively predicting intrapopulation relationships. The aim of this study was to create predictive models for bacterial contamination outcomes depending on the probiotic antagonism and prebiotic concentration. This should allow an improvement in the screening of synbiotic composition for preventing gut microbial infections. The functional model (fermentation) was based on a three-stage continuous system, and the distal colon section (N, pH 6.8, flow rate 0.04 h) was simulated. The strains ATCC 15703 and ATCC 9634 were chosen as the model probiotic and pathogen. Oligofructose Orafti P95 (OF) was used as the prebiotic at concentrations of 2, 5, 7, 10, 12, and 15 g/L of the medium. In the first stage, the system was inoculated with , and a dynamic equilibrium ( count, lactic, and acetic acids) was achieved. Then, the system was contaminated with a 3-day suspension (spores). The microbial count, as well as the concentration of acids and residual carbohydrates, was measured. A monoculture was studied as a control. The stationary count of in monoculture was markedly higher. An increase (up to 8 h) in the lag phase was observed for higher prebiotic concentrations. The specific growth rate in the exponential phase varied at different OF concentrations. Thus, the OF concentration influenced two key events of bacterial infection, which together determine when the maximal pathogen count will be reached. The mathematical models were developed, and their accuracies were acceptable for (relative errors ranging from 1.00% to 2.58%) and (relative errors ranging from 0.74% to 2.78%) count prediction.
PubMed: 35630373
DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10050929 -
BMC Microbiology Feb 2024The impact of probiotic strains on host health is widely known. The available studies on the interaction between bacteria and the host are focused on the changes induced...
BACKGROUND
The impact of probiotic strains on host health is widely known. The available studies on the interaction between bacteria and the host are focused on the changes induced by bacteria in the host mainly. The studies determining the changes that occurred in the bacteria cells are in the minority. Within this paper, we determined what happens to the selected Bifidobacterium adolescentis and Bifidobacterium longum ssp. longum in an experimental environment with the intestinal epithelial layer. For this purpose, we tested the bacteria cells' viability, redox activity, membrane potential and enzymatic activity in different environments, including CaCo-2/HT-29 co-culture, cell culture medium, presence of inflammatory inductor (TNF-α) and oxygen.
RESULTS
We indicated that the external milieu impacts the viability and vitality of bacteria. Bifidobacterium adolescentis decrease the size of the live population in the cell culture medium with and without TNF-α (p < 0.001 and p < 0.01 respectively). In contrast, Bifidobacterium longum ssp. longum significantly increased survivability in contact with the eukaryotic cells and cell culture medium (p < 0.001). Bifidobacterium adolescentis showed significant changes in membrane potential, which was decreased in the presence of eukaryotic cells (p < 0.01), eukaryotic cells in an inflammatory state (p < 0.01), cell culture medium (p < 0.01) and cell culture medium with TNF-α (p < 0.05). In contrast, Bifidobacterium longum ssp. longum did not modulate membrane potential. Instead, bacteria significantly decreased the redox activity in response to milieus such as eukaryotic cells presence, inflamed eukaryotic cells as well as the culture medium (p < 0.001). The redox activity was significantly different in the cells culture medium vs the presence of eukaryotic cells (p < 0.001). The ability to β-galactosidase production was different for selected strains: Bifidobacterium longum ssp. longum indicated 91.5% of positive cells, whereas Bifidobacterium adolescentis 4.34% only. Both strains significantly reduced the enzyme production in contact with the eukaryotic milieu but not in the cell culture media.
CONCLUSION
The environmental-induced changes may shape the probiotic properties of bacterial strains. It seems that the knowledge of the sensitivity of bacteria to the external environment may help to select the most promising probiotic strains, reduce research costs, and contribute to greater reproducibility of the obtained probiotic effects.
Topics: Humans; Bifidobacterium adolescentis; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; Caco-2 Cells; Eukaryotic Cells; Reproducibility of Results; Probiotics; Bacteria; Bifidobacterium longum; Bifidobacterium
PubMed: 38373929
DOI: 10.1186/s12866-023-03179-z -
Microbial Cell Factories Mar 2022Bifidobacteria are gram-positive, probiotic, and generally regarded as safe bacteria. Techniques such as transformation, gene knockout, and heterologous gene expression...
BACKGROUND
Bifidobacteria are gram-positive, probiotic, and generally regarded as safe bacteria. Techniques such as transformation, gene knockout, and heterologous gene expression have been established for Bifidobacterium, indicating that this bacterium can be used as a cell factory platform. However, there are limited previous reports in this field, likely because of factors such as the highly anaerobic nature of this bacterium. Bifidobacterium adolescentis is among the most oxygen-sensitive Bifidobacterium species. It shows strain-specific gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) production. GABA is a potent bioactive compound with numerous physiological and psychological functions. In this study, we investigated whether B. adolesentis could be used for mass production of GABA.
RESULTS
The B. adolescentis 4-2 strain isolated from a healthy adult human produced approximately 14 mM GABA. It carried gadB and gadC, which encode glutamate decarboxylase and glutamate GABA antiporter, respectively. We constructed pKKT427::P-gadBC and pKKT427::P-gadBC plasmids carrying gadBC driven by the original gadB (ori) and gap promoters, respectively. Recombinants of Bifidobacterium were then constructed. Two recombinants with high production abilities, monitored by two different promoters, were investigated. GABA production was improved by adjusting the fermentation parameters, including the substrate concentration, initial culture pH, and co-factor supplementation, using response surface methodology. The optimum initial cultivation pH varied when the promoter region was changed. The ori promoter was induced under acidic conditions (pH 5.2:4.4), whereas the constitutive gap promoter showed enhanced GABA production at pH 6.0. Fed-batch fermentation was used to validate the optimum fermentation parameters, in which approximately 415 mM GABA was produced. The conversion ratio of glutamate to GABA was 92-100%.
CONCLUSION
We report high GABA production in recombinant B. adolescentis. This study provides a foundation for using Bifidobacterium as a cell factory platform for industrial production of GABA.
Topics: Bifidobacterium; Bifidobacterium adolescentis; Glutamate Decarboxylase; Glutamic Acid; Humans; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid
PubMed: 35255900
DOI: 10.1186/s12934-021-01729-6 -
Biomedicines Dec 2021The occurrence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is closely related to intestinal microbiota disturbance, and probiotics has become a new strategy to assist...
The occurrence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is closely related to intestinal microbiota disturbance, and probiotics has become a new strategy to assist in alleviating NAFLD. In order to investigate the effect of on NAFLD and the possible pathway, a NAFLD model was established by using a high-fat diet (HFD) for 18 weeks. Fourteen strains of were selected (seven and seven ) for intervention. The effects of different bifidobacteria on NAFLD were evaluated from liver cell injury, liver fat deposition, liver inflammatory state and liver histopathology, and were taken as entry points to explore the mitigation approaches of bifidobacteria through energy intake, lipid metabolism, glucose metabolism and intestinal permeability. The results showed that exerts species-specific effects on NAFLD. exerted these effects mainly through regulating the intestinal microbiota, increasing the relative abundance of and , decreasing the relative abundance of , , , and , and further increasing the contents of propionic acid and butyric acid, regulating lipid metabolism and intestinal permeability, and ultimately inhibiting liver inflammation and fat accumulation to alleviate NAFLD. exerted its effects mainly through changing the intestinal microbiota, increasing the content of propionic acid, regulating lipid metabolism and ultimately inhibiting liver inflammation to alleviate NAFLD.
PubMed: 35052765
DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10010084 -
Nutrients Jan 2011Probiotic bacteria, mostly belonging to the genera Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, confer a number of health benefits to the host, including vitamin production. With... (Review)
Review
Probiotic bacteria, mostly belonging to the genera Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, confer a number of health benefits to the host, including vitamin production. With the aim to produce folate-enriched fermented products and/or develop probiotic supplements that accomplish folate biosynthesis in vivo within the colon, bifidobacteria and lactobacilli have been extensively studied for their capability to produce this vitamin. On the basis of physiological studies and genome analysis, wild-type lactobacilli cannot synthesize folate, generally require it for growth, and provide a negative contribution to folate levels in fermented dairy products. Lactobacillus plantarum constitutes an exception among lactobacilli, since it is capable of folate production in presence of para-aminobenzoic acid (pABA) and deserves to be used in animal trials to validate its ability to produce the vitamin in vivo. On the other hand, several folate-producing strains have been selected within the genus Bifidobacterium, with a great variability in the extent of vitamin released in the medium. Most of them belong to the species B. adolescentis and B. pseudocatenulatum, but few folate producing strains are found in the other species as well. Rats fed a probiotic formulation of folate-producing bifidobacteria exhibited increased plasma folate level, confirming that the vitamin is produced in vivo and absorbed. In a human trial, the same supplement raised folate concentration in feces. The use of folate-producing probiotic strains can be regarded as a new perspective in the specific use of probiotics. They could more efficiently confer protection against inflammation and cancer, both exerting the beneficial effects of probiotics and preventing the folate deficiency that is associated with premalignant changes in the colonic epithelia.
Topics: 4-Aminobenzoic Acid; Animals; Bifidobacterium; Feces; Folic Acid; Humans; Intestines; Lactobacillus; Lactobacillus plantarum; Rats
PubMed: 22254078
DOI: 10.3390/nu3010118 -
Applied and Environmental Microbiology Apr 2022Over the last decade, the genomes of several strains have been sequenced, delivering valuable insights into their genetic makeup. However, bifidobacterial genomes have...
Over the last decade, the genomes of several strains have been sequenced, delivering valuable insights into their genetic makeup. However, bifidobacterial genomes have not yet been systematically mined for genes associated with stress response functions and their regulation. In this work, a list of 76 genes related to stress response in bifidobacteria was compiled from previous studies. The prevalence of the genes was evaluated among the genome sequences of 171 strains. Although genes of the protein quality control and DNA repair systems appeared to be highly conserved, genome-wide screening for consensus sequences of putative regulators suggested that the regulation of these systems differs among phylogenetic groups. Homologs of multiple oxidative stress-associated genes are shared across species, albeit at low sequence similarity. Bee isolates were confirmed to harbor unique genetic features linked to oxygen tolerance. Moreover, most studied Bifidobacterium adolescentis and all Bifidobacterium angulatum strains lacked a set of reactive oxygen species-detoxifying enzymes, which might explain their high sensitivity to oxygen. Furthermore, the presence of some putative transcriptional regulators of stress responses was found to vary across species and strains, indicating that different regulation strategies of stress-associated gene transcription contribute to the diverse stress tolerance. The presented stress response gene profiles of strains provide a valuable knowledge base for guiding future studies by enabling hypothesis generation and the identification of key genes for further analyses. Bifidobacteria are Gram-positive bacteria that naturally inhabit diverse ecological niches, including the gastrointestinal tract of humans and animals. Strains of the genus are widely used as probiotics, since they have been associated with health benefits. In the course of their production and administration, probiotic bifidobacteria are exposed to several stressors that can challenge their survival. The stress tolerance of probiotic bifidobacteria is, therefore, an important selection criterion for their commercial application, since strains must maintain their viability to exert their beneficial health effects. As the ability to cope with stressors varies among strains, comprehensive understanding of the underlying stress physiology is required for enabling knowledge-driven strain selection and optimization of industrial-scale production processes.
Topics: Animals; Bees; Bifidobacterium; Gastrointestinal Tract; Oxygen; Phylogeny; Probiotics
PubMed: 35311508
DOI: 10.1128/aem.02251-21 -
MSystems Apr 2022Accumulating evidence suggests that gut dysbiosis may play a role in cardiovascular problems like coronary artery disease (CAD). Thus, target steering the gut... (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
Accumulating evidence suggests that gut dysbiosis may play a role in cardiovascular problems like coronary artery disease (CAD). Thus, target steering the gut microbiota/metabolome via probiotic administration could be a promising way to protect against CAD. A 6-month randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial was conducted to investigate the added benefits and mechanism of the probiotic strain, Bifidobacterium lactis Probio-M8, in alleviating CAD when given together with a conventional regimen. Sixty patients with CAD were randomly divided into a probiotic group ( = 36; received Probio-M8, atorvastatin, and metoprolol) and placebo group ( = 24; placebo, atorvastatin, and metoprolol). Conventional treatment significantly improved the Seattle Angina Questionnaire (SAQ) scores of the placebo group after the intervention. However, the probiotic group achieved even better SAQ scores at day 180 compared with the placebo group ( < 0.0001). Moreover, Probio-M8 treatment was more conducive to alleviating depression and anxiety in patients ( < 0.0001 versus the placebo group, day 180), with significantly lower serum levels of interleukin-6 and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol ( < 0.005 and < 0.001, respectively). In-depth metagenomic analysis showed that, at day 180, significantly more species-level genome bins (SGBs) of Bifidobacterium adolescentis, Bifidobacterium animalis, Bifidobacterium bifidum, and Butyricicoccus porcorum were detected in the probiotic group compared with the placebo group, while the abundances of SGBs representing Flavonifractor plautii and Parabacteroides johnsonii decreased significantly among the Probio-M8 receivers ( < 0.05). Furthermore, significantly more microbial bioactive metabolites (e.g., methylxanthine and malonate) but less trimethylamine-N-oxide and proatherogenic amino acids were detected in the probiotic group than placebo group during/after intervention ( < 0.05). Collectively, we showed that coadministering Probio-M8 synergized with a conventional regimen to improve the clinical efficacy in CAD management. The mechanism of the added benefits was likely achieved via probiotic-driven modulation of the host's gut microbiota and metabolome, consequently improving the microbial metabolic potential and serum metabolite profile. This study highlighted the significance of regulating the gut-heart/-brain axes in CAD treatment. Despite recent advances in therapeutic strategies and drug treatments (e.g., statins) for coronary artery disease (CAD), CAD-related mortality and morbidity remain high. Active bidirectional interactions between the gut microbiota and the heart implicate that probiotic application could be a novel therapeutic strategy for CAD. This study hypothesized that coadministration of atorvastatin and probiotics could synergistically protect against CAD. Our results demonstrated that coadministering Probio-M8 with a conventional regimen offered added benefits to patients with CAD compared with conventional treatment alone. Our findings have provided a wide and integrative view of the pathogenesis and novel management options for CAD and CAD-related diseases.
Topics: Humans; Adjuvants, Immunologic; Adjuvants, Pharmaceutic; Atorvastatin; Bifidobacterium animalis; Brain; Coronary Artery Disease; Metoprolol
PubMed: 35343796
DOI: 10.1128/msystems.00100-22 -
Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy Sep 2023The role of gut microbiota in modulating the durability of COVID-19 vaccine immunity is yet to be characterised. In this cohort study, we collected blood and stool...
The role of gut microbiota in modulating the durability of COVID-19 vaccine immunity is yet to be characterised. In this cohort study, we collected blood and stool samples of 121 BNT162b2 and 40 CoronaVac vaccinees at baseline, 1 month, and 6 months post vaccination (p.v.). Neutralisation antibody, plasma cytokine and chemokines were measured and associated with the gut microbiota and metabolome composition. A significantly higher level of neutralising antibody (at 6 months p.v.) was found in BNT162b2 vaccinees who had higher relative abundances of Bifidobacterium adolescentis, Bifidobacterium bifidum, and Roseburia faecis as well as higher concentrations of nicotinic acid (Vitamin B) and γ-Aminobutyric acid (P < 0.05) at baseline. CoronaVac vaccinees with high neutralising antibodies at 6 months p.v. had an increased relative abundance of Phocaeicola dorei, a lower relative abundance of Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, and a higher concentration of L-tryptophan (P < 0.05) at baseline. A higher antibody level at 6 months p.v. was also associated with a higher relative abundance of Dorea formicigenerans at 1 month p.v. among CoronaVac vaccinees (Rho = 0.62, p = 0.001, FDR = 0.123). Of the species altered following vaccination, 79.4% and 42.0% in the CoronaVac and BNT162b2 groups, respectively, recovered at 6 months. Specific to CoronaVac vaccinees, both bacteriome and virome diversity depleted following vaccination and did not recover to baseline at 6 months p.v. (FDR < 0.1). In conclusion, this study identified potential microbiota-based adjuvants that may extend the durability of immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 vaccines.
Topics: Humans; COVID-19 Vaccines; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; BNT162 Vaccine; Cohort Studies; COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; Antibodies, Neutralizing
PubMed: 37743379
DOI: 10.1038/s41392-023-01629-8 -
Food & Nutrition Research 2022Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) can be caused by abnormal bowel movements, altered brain-gut axis, gut microbiota change, and low levels of inflammation or immune...
BACKGROUND
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) can be caused by abnormal bowel movements, altered brain-gut axis, gut microbiota change, and low levels of inflammation or immune activation. The intake of food containing much fiber and lactic acid bacteria (LABs) can alleviate IBS.
OBJECTIVE
This study was undertaken to confirm the alleviative effect of kimchi on symptoms of IBS.
DESIGN
Three types of kimchi (standard kimchi, SK; dead nano-sized nF1 (nLp) added to standard kimchi, nLpSK; or functional kimchi, FK) were given to 30 individuals in each of three groups, that is, the SK group ( = 30), the nLpSK group ( = 30), or the FK group ( = 30) at 210 g a day for 12 weeks. Food intake records, serum levels of inflammatory factors, fecal levels of harmful enzymes, and microbiome changes were investigated over the 12-week study period.
RESULTS
After intervention, dietary fiber intake was increased in all groups. Typical IBS symptoms (abdominal pain or inconvenience, desperation, incomplete evacuation, and bloating), defecation time, and stool type were also improved. In serum, all groups showed reductions in tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α ( < 0.001) levels. In addition, serum IL-4 ( < 0.001), IL-10 ( < 0.001), and IL-12 ( < 0.01) were significantly reduced in the nLpSK and FK groups, and serum monocyte chemotactic protein (MCP)-1 ( < 0.05) was significantly reduced in the nLpSK group. Furthermore, activities of fecal β-glucosidase and β-glucuronidase were significantly decreased in all three groups, and these reductions were greatest in the nLpSK group. Gut microbiome analysis showed that kimchi consumption increased Firmicutes populations at the expense of Bacteroidetes and Tenericutes populations. In addition, the population increased significantly in the FK group ( = 0.026).
CONCLUSION
Kimchi intake helps alleviate IBS by increasing dietary fiber intake and reducing serum inflammatory cytokine levels and harmful fecal enzyme activities. Notably, nLp improved the immune system, and several functional ingredients in FK promoted the growth of in gut.
PubMed: 35721806
DOI: 10.29219/fnr.v66.8268