Abstract
The present study combines the theory and the experimental data to predict the changes on intestinal bacterial populations during ingestion of beneficial probiotic bacteria. Our proposed model is a modified version of the Lotka-Volterra model, which takes the probiotic administration into account. Using the linear stability analysis of the model, the conditions for coexistence of the probiotics with other bacteria are established. Using the model fitted to the data of C. coccoides species and Bifidobacterium species, the effects of oral probiotics on autochthonous bacterial cultures is investigated. The estimated parameter values suggest that C. coccoides and Bifidobacterium facilitate each other during the probiotics administration, whereas they compete in the absence of the probiotics administration. This may suggest the beneficial effect of probiotic administration as it promotes the growth of C. coccoides species. The results also confirm prior studies showing that once probiotic supplementation is discontinued, the probiotic population and the promoting effect within the digestive tract will diminish.
Highlights
Probiotics are live microorganisms which are thought to confer a health benefit on the host, when administered in adequate amounts [1]
The estimated parameter values suggest that C. coccoides and Bifidobacterium facilitate each other during the probiotics administration, whereas they compete in the absence of the probiotics administration
Using a mathematical modeling approach and the collected data, this paper investigates the potential interactions between the Bifidobacterium and C. coccoides species, and we posit that such interactions exist because several studies suggest that bacteria populations within the intestines interact with each other [19] [20]
Summary
Probiotics are live microorganisms which are thought to confer a health benefit on the host, when administered in adequate amounts [1]. Probiotic bacteria have been studied for their potential beneficial effects upon. Probiotics are believed to affect the abundance of autochthonous intestinal bacteria by competing with pathogenic bacteria for host binding sites [5]. By reducing the permeability of the intestinal wall, probiotics may protect against the invasion of other bacteria [5]. Other studies have shown that probiotics can reduce the frequency of respiratory infections [6], prevent a high number of antibiotic-associated diarrhea cases [7], help maintain remission of inflammatory bowel diseases [5], may reduce the occurrence of diarrhea and yeast infections in AIDS patients [8], and significantly reduces high cholesterol levels [9]. Other benefits of probiotics include fewer infections, fewer antibiotics prescribed, and shorter hospital stay [10]
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