Abstract
We isolated several strains of human and animal origin, focusing on the genera Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium. Samples of cow colostrum, feces and saliva of calves and piglets, and infant feces were acquired, bacterial strains were isolated and identified, and twenty strains of lactobacilli and bifidobacteria were shortlisted for further in vitro analysis of adhesion capacity to human cells, surface hydrophobicity, and auto-aggregation. Adhesion capacity was evaluated using a mixture of Caco-2 and HT-29-MTX cells and hydrophobicity was measured using the microbial adhesion to the hydrocarbon method. Lactobacillus reuteri was the most frequently isolated species, followed by L. casei subsp. paracasei and L. gasseri; all strains were isolated from infant feces. Bifidobacteria were represented by the species B. longum (infant feces), and B. thermophilum and B. pseudolongum (calves, piglets). All twenty strains showed good adhesion capacities to the mixed cell culture (17.7–37.2%), particularly, L. reuteri isolates K7 and K14 (37.2% and 35.5%, respectively). In hydrophobicity and auto-aggregation assays, strain-specific differences irrespective of the origin or taxonomic group were observed. Hydrophobicity values varied considerably (from 6.1% to 87.4%), whereas auto-aggregation ability ranged from 21.7% to 69.7%. No relation was observed between hydrophobicity and adhesion capacity; instead, auto-aggregation was apparently related with adhesion.
Highlights
Many probiotic products containing a variety of probiotic microorganisms are available in the market, and they are enjoying increasing popularity
Bifidobacteria were represented by the species Bifidobacterium longum of which two strains were found in infant feces and one in calf saliva
The species L. gasseri, L. fermentum, and L. casei subsp. paracasei were isolated from all types of specimens tested, i.e., infant feces, calf and piglet feces, as well as colostrum
Summary
Many probiotic products containing a variety of probiotic microorganisms are available in the market, and they are enjoying increasing popularity. Probiotics are defined as live microorganisms that when administered in adequate amounts confer a health benefit on the host [1]. To designate microorganisms as probiotic microorganisms, a number of criteria must be met. The microorganisms must be alive in an adequate number when administered, they must be genetically identified, and designated and classified using the latest terminology [2]. Probiotics must be tested for their pathogenicity, tolerance to bile and acids present in the gastrointestinal tract, and the ability to adhere to the intestinal mucosa [3]. A large number of bacterial strains, especially from the genera
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