Abrupt suspension of probiotics administration may increase host pathogen susceptibility by inducing gut dysbiosis.

Zhi Liu,Zhigang Zhou,Chao Ran,Jun Hu,Wenshu Liu

doi:10.1038/srep23214

Zhi Liu, Zhigang Zhou + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1038/srep23214

Copy DOI

Abstract

In this study, we investigated the risk associated with suspension of probiotics administration in tilapia, an animal model that may mimic immune-compromised conditions in humans. Tilapias were fed for 14 days using a probiotics-supplemented diet, followed by a three-day suspension of probiotics treatment and a subsequent challenge by Aeromonas hydrophila. Unexpectedly, the suspension of a probiotic strain Lactobacillus plantarum JCM1149 significantly triggered susceptibility of the host to A. hydrophila. We further observed that suspension of JCM1149 resulted in host gut microbiota dysbiosis and the subsequent disorder in the intestinal metabolites (bile acids, amino acids, and glucose) and damage in the intestinal epithelium, giving rise to a condition similar to antibiotics-induced gut dysbiosis, which collectively impaired tilapia’s gut health and resistance to pathogenic challenges. Additionally, we determined that JCM1149 adhered relatively poorly to tilapia intestinal mucosa and was rapidly released from the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) after suspension, with the rapid loss of probiotic strain probably being the direct cause of gut dysbiosis. Finally, three other probiotic Lactobacillus strains with low intestinal mucosa binding activity showed similar rapid loss phenotype following administration suspension, and induced higher host susceptibility to infection, indicating that the risk is a generic phenomenon in Lactobacillus.

Highlights

Once gut microbiome homeostasis disrupted, dysbiosis occurs, often leading to conditions that are favorable for pathogenic introduction and induction of virulence activity of native conditional pathobionts[16]
Probiotics administration suspension induced tilapia susceptibility to the A. hydrophila NJ-1 pathogen. We demonstrated that both Lactobacillus plantarum (L. p) JCM1149 and Lactobacillus brevis (L. b) JCM1170 can protect tilapia against A. hydrophila NJ-1 infection following continuous consumption[26,27]
We confirmed that control specimens that were continuously administered probiotics demonstrated significantly increased host resistance against A. hydrophila NJ-1 (Fig. 1A)

Summary

Introduction

Once gut microbiome homeostasis disrupted, dysbiosis occurs, often leading to conditions that are favorable for pathogenic introduction and induction of virulence activity of native conditional pathobionts[16]. The use of probiotics often involves ingestion of vast numbers of live microorganisms[18,22], which maintains a newly established stability of the intestinal microbiota In this regard, the abrupt suspension of probiotics consumption may have potentials in destroying this homeostasis of host GIT microbiota, especially in immunocompromised groups, who are more prone to gut microbiota dysbiosis under environmental perturbation[23]. We propose that weak mucosa-binding probiotics are associated with safety risks in that the rapid release of these probiotics after administration suspension (including cessation) may lead to host gut dysbiosis and amplify the risk of infections by opportunistic pathogens

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion