Abstract
Probiotics are noninvasive, environmentally friendly alternatives for reducing infectious diseases in wildlife species. Our aim in the present study was to evaluate the potential of gut commensals such as lactic acid bacteria (LAB) as wildlife probiotics. The LAB selected for our analyses were isolated from European badgers (Meles meles), a wildlife reservoir of bovine tuberculosis, and comprised four different genera: Enterococcus, Weissella, Pediococcus, and Lactobacillus. The enterococci displayed a phenotype and genotype that included the production of antibacterial peptides and stimulation of antiviral responses, as well as the presence of virulence and antibiotic resistance genes; Weissella showed antimycobacterial activity owing to their ability to produce lactate and ethanol; and lactobacilli and pediococci modulated proinflammatory phagocytic responses that associate with protection against pathogens, responses that coincide with the presence of immunomodulatory markers in their genomes. Although both lactobacilli and pediococci showed resistance to antibiotics, this was naturally acquired, and almost all isolates demonstrated a phylogenetic relationship with isolates from food and healthy animals. Our results show that LAB display probiotic benefits that depend on the genus, and that lactobacilli and pediococci are probably the most obvious candidates as probiotics against infectious diseases in wildlife because of their food-grade status and ability to modulate protective innate immune responses.
Highlights
Preventing the transmission of infectious diseases in a context where wildlife populations are involved is challenging as it comprises very complex issues associated with economics and practicality, conservation ecology and public perception (Sus scrofa) and badgers (Meles meles) are the greatest sylvatic reservoir of a considerable number of zoonotic infectious diseases, including bovine tuberculosis 3
We monitored the safety of the isolates using markers that included: (i) genes related to antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and virulence; (ii) tolerance to antibiotics; and (iii) phylogenetic proximity to food-grade Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB); secondly, we evaluated their antimicrobial profile based on their antibacterial activity and the presence of bacteriocin gene clusters; and thirdly, we estimated their immunomodulatory potential according to: (i) the presence of genes associated with immune stimulation; (ii) their capability to activate NF-κB
The following twelve LAB isolates were selected to evaluate their potential as wildlife probiotics: pentosaceus B4; P. acidilactici E24; P. acidilactici F7; P. acidilactici I32; P. acidilactici M16; Weissella cibaria A23; W. paramesenteroides A37; and W. paramesenteroides N43
Summary
Preventing the transmission of infectious diseases in a context where wildlife populations are involved is challenging as it comprises very complex issues associated with economics and practicality, conservation ecology and public perception (Sus scrofa) and badgers (Meles meles) are the greatest sylvatic reservoir of a considerable number of zoonotic infectious diseases, including bovine tuberculosis (bTB) 3. Current strategies to reduce the transmission of microbial pathogens between domestic and wild animals include biosecurity measures, culling and vaccination 8. These control measures are limited in scope, longevity, practicality and acceptability 9. In this respect, the use of beneficial microbes, known as probiotic therapy, is emerging as a sustainable alternative in the field of wildlife infectious diseases 10. Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB) are gut commensals that contribute to the maintenance of gut homeostasis through a beneficial microbial balance. The gut immune system recognizes LAB via the ligation of microbe-associated molecular patterns (MAMPs) to pattern recognition receptors such as Toll-like receptors (TLRs) and intracellular NOD-like receptors (NLR)
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