Combining prebiotics and probiotics to develop novel synbiotics that suppress oral pathogens

Abstract

ObjectiveSynbiotics, resulting from a synergistic combination of prebiotics and probiotics, is a new concept in clinical studies that is known to promote intestinal health. However, the beneficial effects of synbiotics on oral health have not been investigated. The present study attempted to develop new synbiotics against oral pathogens (bacterial and fungal). MethodsPrebiotic screening was carried out by sugar assimilation tests using 12 saccharides. About 40 strains of lactobacilli were used for probiotic screening. Standard in vitro assays were performed against oral pathogens, such as Candida albicans, Streptococcus mutans, and Porphyromonas gingivalis. Growth inhibition and biofilm formation assays were conducted for C. albicans using lactobacilli in co-culture or with the culture supernatant (-CS). Subsequently, the disc diffusion assay was used as a growth inhibitory test against P. gingivalis and the amount of insoluble glucan produced by S. mutans was determined by phenol-sulfate staining. ResultsThe results showed that arabinose, xylose, and xylitol are the saccharides with a strong potential to be used as prebiotics and five lactobacilli strains isolated from the oral cavity have the potential to be used as probiotics. These strains inhibited the growth of C. albicans and P. gingivalis, and had an inhibitory effect on the production of insoluble glucan by S. mutans. Lactobacilli strains isolated from dairy foods did not show a significant effect on human oral microbiota. ConclusionThe present study indicates that prebiotics and probiotics can potentially be developed into novel synbiotics against oral pathogens in future.