Bifidobacterium Animalis Subsp Lactis Research Articles

Eight-Week Supplementation With Bifidobacterium lactis HN019 and Functional Constipation

Probiotic supplementation may improve bowel movements. However, large, properly designed studies are lacking. To evaluate the potential benefit of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp lactis HN019 on constipation, expressed as complete spontaneous bowel movements (CSBMs). This randomized triple-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial with 2 weeks of run-in and 8 weeks of intervention was conducted from December 25, 2020, to February 28, 2022, at 5 hospitals in Shanghai, China. Participants included healthy volunteers with functional constipation according to Rome III criteria, 18 to 70 years of age, and a body mass index (calculated as the weight in kilograms divided by the height in meters squared) of less than 30.0. Eligibility after the run-in phase required the randomized participants to have 3 or fewer CSBMs/wk. Data were analyzed from September 29, 2022, to March 23, 2023, and reported as intention to treat. Participants were randomized to receive probiotic (B lactis HN019, 7.0 × 109 colony forming units (CFU)/d in maltodextrin at the start of the study and 4.69 × 109 CFU/d at the end of the study or maltodextrin placebo once a day for 8 weeks. Primary outcome was change in CSBMs. Secondary outcomes included use of rescue medication, stool consistency, degree of straining for each bowel movement, abdominal pain, and bloating. Further, dietary habits and physical activity were recorded. Fecal samples were analyzed for moisture content, short-chain fatty acids, branched-chain fatty acids, microbiota composition, and calprotectin. Of the 283 individuals assessed for eligibility, 229 were randomized to either the placebo (n = 117) or the HN019 (n = 112) group. One participant in the placebo group discontinued due to COVID-19 restrictions. The 229 participants (194 [84.7% female) had a median age of 45 (38-52) years, mean (SD) BMI of 22.8 (2.5), and a mean (SD) of 0.77 (1.0) CSBM/wk. There was no difference in the change of weekly CSBMs from baseline to the end of study between the HN019 (least-square mean change, 0.80 [95% CI, 0.54-1.05]) and placebo (least-square mean change, 0.66 [95% CI, 0.41-0.90]) groups. Although probiotics have been reported to improve bowel function, this large, well-conducted randomized clinical trial did not confirm such results. Daily consumption of B lactis HN019 at the tested dose of 4.69 × 109 CFU did not outperform placebo to increase CSBMs. Chinese Clinical Trial Registry Identifier: ChiCTR2000029215.

Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus Probiotics and Gut Dysbiosis in Preterm Infants

The effects of probiotic interventions on colonization with resistant bacteria and early microbiome development in preterm infants remain to be clarified. To examine the efficacy of Bifidobacterium longum subsp infantis, Bifidobacterium animalis subsp lactis (BB-12), and Lactobacillus acidophilus (La-5) probiotics to prevent colonization with multidrug-resistant organisms or highly epidemic bacteria (MDRO+) and to shape the microbiome of preterm infants toward the eubiotic state of healthy full-term infants. The multicenter, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, group sequential, phase 3 Priming Immunity at the Beginning of Life (PRIMAL) randomized clinical trial, conducted from April 2018 to June 2020, included infants with gestational age of 28 to 32 weeks at 18 German neonatal units. Data analyses were conducted from March 2020 to August 2023. A total of 28 days of multistrain probiotics diluted in human milk/formula starting within the first 72 hours of life. Colonization with MDRO+ at day 30 of life (primary end point), late-onset sepsis and severe gastrointestinal complication (safety end points), and gut dysbiosis, ie, deviations from the microbiome of healthy, term infants (eubiosis score) based on 16-subunit ribosomal RNA and metagenomic sequencing. Among the 643 infants randomized until the stop of recruitment based on interim results, 618 (median [IQR] gestational age, 31.0 [29.7-32.1] weeks; 333 male [53.9%]; mean [SD] birth weight, 1502 [369] g) had follow-up at day 30. The interim analysis with all available data from 219 infants revealed MDRO+ colonization in 43 of 115 infants (37.4%) in the probiotics group and in 39 of 104 infants (37.5%) in the control group (adjusted risk ratio, 0.99; 95% CI, 0.54-1.81; P = .97). Safety outcomes were similar in both groups, ie, late-onset sepsis (probiotics group: 8 of 316 infants [2.5%]; control group: 12 of 322 infants [3.7%]) and severe gastrointestinal complications (probiotics group: 6 of 316 infants [1.9%]; control group: 7 of 322 infants [2.2%]). The probiotics group had higher eubiosis scores than the control group at the genus level (254 vs 258 infants; median scores, 0.47 vs 0.41; odds ratio [OR], 1.07; 95% CI, 1.02-1.13) and species level (96 vs 83 infants; median scores, 0.87 vs 0.59; OR, 1.28; 95% CI, 1.19-1.38). Environmental uptake of the B infantis probiotic strain in the control group was common (41 of 84 [49%]), which was highly variable across sites and particularly occurred in infants with a sibling who was treated with probiotics. Multistrain probiotics did not reduce the incidence of MDRO+ colonization at day 30 of life in preterm infants but modulated their microbiome toward eubiosis. German Clinical Trials Register: DRKS00013197.

Physicochemical, microbiological, and sensory properties of healthy juices containing aloe vera gel and probiotics and their antidiabetic effects on albino rats.

The consumption of fruit and vegetable juices is widely recognized as a healthy choice across all age groups. Orange, carrot, and aloe vera are renowned for their functional properties and health benefits. In this study, we investigated the potential incorporation of aloe vera gel into blended orange and carrot juices. We also evaluated the resulting mixed probiotic juices (chemical, microbiological, and sensory aspects) during a 14-day storage period at refrigerator temperature. The chemical composition and phytochemical structure of aloe vera gel were examined, followed by an assessment of the biological effects of these healthy juices on diabetic albino rats. The results indicated improvements in total soluble solids, reducing sugars, and total sugars with increasing storage duration. Furthermore, the study demonstrated that incorporating aloe vera into the natural mixed juices enhanced their phytochemical quality. The treatment supplemented with aloe vera gel gave the highest total content of phenolic and flavonoid substances, which were 310 mg of GAE/100 g and 175 mg of quercetin/100 g, respectively. Probiotic strains (Bifidobacterium animalis subsp lactis Bb12, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum 299V, and Lactobacillus acidophilus L10) exhibited good viable cell counts in orange and mixed orange and carrot probiotics juices with viable counts of 7.42-8.07 log CFU/mL. Regarding sensory attributes, the study found that increasing the ratio of orange juice improved the taste while increasing the ratio of carrot juice enhanced the color in juice mixtures. Incorporation of aloe vera into mixed natural juices also enhanced the reduction of blood glucose, triglyceride, cholesterol, LDL, creatinine, ALT, AST, and urea levels while increasing total protein and HDL levels in diabetic rats. Based on these findings, oranges, carrots, and aloe vera offer the potential to produce new, flavorful, nutritious, and appealing juices. Moreover, this study determined that a functional juice with favorable sensory properties can be created by blending 75% orange juice, 20% carrot juice, and 5% aloe vera gel. Additionally, aloe vera demonstrated greater efficacy as an antidiabetic agent in rats. Further research is suggested to explore the potential advantages of aloe vera gel and probiotic juices in mitigating diabetes and other metabolic syndromes.

The process of yak milk fermentation by polycomponent starter culture

The paper presents a comparative characteristic of the fermentation processes of yak and cow milk samples with a high fat content of 1.5% and 6% with a multicomponent starter culture, which includes Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bifidobacterium animalis subsp Lactis and Streptococcus thermophiles. Acid formation in the process of milk fermentation under the influence of the starter microflora was assessed by the dynamics of changing in titratable (Ac) and active (pH) acidity over time. The course of the formation of the structure of the resulting clot was monitored on a rheometer, fixing the viscosity characteristics of the fermented milk clot in dynamics. It has been established that the increase in acidity occurs more intensively in yak milk in comparison with cow's milk with a corresponding acceleration of the formation of a fermented milk clot. In conclusion, the resulting clots were subjected to sensory analysis with the identification of the best sample, which was fermented yak milk with a fat mass fraction of 6%.

Chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of the essential oil of oregano (Origanum floribundum Munby.) endemic to northern Algeria

This paper investigated the chemical composition of the essential oil (EO) of Origanum floribundum Munby. by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry and evaluated its antimicrobial activity. The compositional analysis identified 33 compounds representing 97.26% of the total composition, of which the majority component was carvacrol at 41.092%. The antimicrobial activity evaluated deduced that O. floribundum EO affects all tested strains, of which the most susceptible were Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans, with growth inhibition zones of 25.83 mm and 23.25 mm, respectively. A bactericidal effect was recorded on Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus cereus at 1.56 mg/mL and 3.125 mg/mL EO, respectively, and a fungistatic effect on Candida albicans at 1.56 mg/mL of EO. The intestinal microbiota strains, Bifidobacterium animalis subsp lactis and Lactobacillus rhamnosus LbRE-LSAS, were not affected by O. floribundum EO.

Effects Of Probiotics Supplementation On Aerobic Capacity And Inflammatory Markers In Male Soccer University Student-athletes

PURPOSE: The aims of the study was to determine the effect of 6 weeks probiotic supplementation on the aerobic capacity and inflammatory markers of athletes after strenuous exercise. METHODS: 30 male soccer university student-athletes from Beijing Sport University were recruited and randomly assigned into the prebiotic group (CG) and probiotic group (PG) (n = 15 per group). CG group supplemented daily with prebiotics (including galactose oligosaccharide, inulin, and maltitol), PG group supplemented with a multi-species probiotic (8 × 109 CFU), including Lactobacillus casei Zhang, Lactobacillus Plantarum P-8, and Bifidobacterium animalis subsp lactis V9. The height and weight were measured before and after supplementation. Maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) test and 12-minute running test were used to assess aerobic capacity. Venous blood samples were collected before and immediately after VO2max test. Serum inflammatory markers and salivary immunoglobulin A (SIgA) were detected by ELISA. During the 6 weeks, subjects were requested to completed a upper respiratory tract infections (URTI) questionnaire. RESULTS: The time to exhaustion was prolonged by 8.68% and the distance of 12-minute running was increased from 3101.33 ± 35.05 m to 3190.67 ± 28.00 m (P < 0.01) in PG group, while no obvious change in CG group. The incidence and duration of URTI during training significantly decreased by 56.10% (P < 0.01) and 33.26% (P < 0.05) in PG group vs. CG Group, respectively. In the basal state, the level of SIgA in PG group was significantly increased (from 7.63 ± 0.29 pg/mL to 8.72 ± 0.34 pg/mL, P < 0.05), while the level of C-reactive protein and interleukin-8 (IL-8) in CG group was markedly decreased by 37.90% and 23.40% (P < 0.05), respectively. Immediately after VO2max test, IL-4 increased by 58.60% in the PG group (P < 0.05), IL-10 increased from 152.10 ± 29.64 pg/mL to 219.28 ± 55.44 pg/mL (P < 0.05), and IL-6 decreased by 11.67% in the CG group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Probiotics supplementation showed improved aerobic capacity. Both prebiotics and probiotics supplementation had inhibitory effects on inflammation. Prebiotics have a better effect on the basal state, while probiotics is more capable immediately after VO2max test. Supported by the Special Funds for Basic Scientific Research Fees of Central Universities (2021TD002).

Oat, Buckwheat and Whole Brown Rice Flours as a Potential Prebiotic for Lactobacillus acidophilus (LA5), Lactobacillus casei and Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis (BB-12)

The object of this study was to determine whether oat, buckwheat and whole brown rice flours have a prebiotic effect on Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus acidophilus (LA5), and Bifidobacterium animalis subsp lactis (Bifidobacterium BB-12). In the study, skimmed milk was inoculated with the above-mentioned bacteria fortified with oat, buckwheat and whole brown rice flours. According to the results, oat and buckwheat flours stimulated all bacteria investigated, whereas whole brown rice flour had no prebiotic effect for L. casei.

Adjuvant use of multispecies probiotic in the treatment of peri-implant mucositis: A randomized controlled trial.

This randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial evaluated the effects of multispecies probiotic containing Lactobacillus rhamnosus HN001™, Lactobacillus paracasei Lpc-37®, and Bifidobacterium animalis subsp lactis HN019™ as an adjunct to mechanical debridement (MD) on changes in bleeding on probing (BOP) in edentulous patients with peri-implant mucositis (PiM). Patients were randomly assigned to test (probiotic) or control (placebo) groups. All sites with PiM received MD and topical gel application (probiotic or placebo) at baseline and 12 weeks. After initial MD, patients consumed probiotic or placebo capsules twice a day for 12 weeks. Clinical (modified sulcus bleeding index [mSBI]; modified plaque index [mPI]; probing depth [PD]; and BOP) and immunological parameters were collected at baseline and after 12 and 24 weeks. Data were statistically analysed (p < .05). Thirty-six patients with PiM were recruited. The test group presented higher prevalence (p< .05) of cases of restored peri-implant health at 24 weeks than did the control group (72.2% and 33.3%, respectively). No significant difference was observed between test (n= 18) and control (n= 18) groups for mPI and PD. mSBI %-score 0 was higher in the test group than in the control group at 24 weeks (p< .05). When compared with baseline, both groups presented reduced BOP at 12 and 24 weeks (p< .05). BOP was lower in the test group than in the control group at 12 (mean difference=-14.54%; 95% confidence interval [CI]=-28.87 to 0.22; p= .0163) and 24 (mean difference=-12.56%; 95% CI=-26.51 to 1.37; p= .0090) weeks. At 24 weeks, only the test group presented lower levels of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-8, and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α than those at baseline (p< .05). The multispecies probiotic (administered locally and systemically) containing L. rhamnosus HN001™, L. paracasei Lpc-37®, and B. lactis HN019™ as an adjunct to repeated MD promotes additional clinical and immunological benefits in the treatment of PiM in edentulous patients (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04187222).

Use of Highly Dispersed Silica in Biotechnology of Complex Probiotic Product Based on Bifidobacteria

Background. The probiotics immobilization technology is one of the most effective ways for controlled and continuous delivery of viable cells into the intestine. It is well known that multifaceted physiological roles of bifidobacteria are to normalize and stabilize the microbiocenosis, to form intestine colonization resistance, to synthesis amino acids, proteins and vitamins, to maintain non-specific resistance of the organism and so all. Such a wide range of positive effects on the macroorganism allows us to consider bifidobacteria as a basis for functional immobilized healthcare products development.&#x0D; Objective. Taxonomic position determination of the Bifidobacterium longum strain selected for immobilization, study of the viability of this bifidobacteria strain in a complex probionic product based on highly dispersed silica in simulated gastrointestinal tract's conditions and after freeze-drying.&#x0D; Methods. The production strain Bifidobacterium longum IMV B-7165 from the Institute of Food Resources of the National Academy of Agrarian Sciences of Ukraine collection of industrial strains has been used in the study. It was isolated from the healthy human infant's gastrointestinal tract.&#x0D; Commonly used bioinformatics, microbiological, biotechnological and statistical methods have been applied.&#x0D; Results. The best alignments for the sequence of bifidobacteria isolate "4202" 16S rRNA (it was previously deposited as Bifidobacterium longum IMV B-7165) and classic dendrograms based on these results were performed. According to the results of microscopic studies of samples of microorganisms with highly dispersed silica products ("Enterosgel", "Sillard P" and "Toxin.Net") it was found that the immobilization of the Streptococcus thermophilus and bifidobacteria cultures did not differ fundamentally. To study the immobilization effect on the bifidobacteria preservation and properties the following carriers were used: "Enterosgel", "Toxin.NET" and "Sillard P". The survival of immobilized bifidobacteria was further studied in simulated gastrointestinal conditions: immobilized cells are better protected from acid and bile, although with increasing acidity, survival decreases in both control and immobilized cells.&#x0D; Conclusions. The taxonomic position of a bifidobacterial isolate from the healthy human infants used in immobilization studies was clarificated (Bifidobacterium animalis subsp lactis). Under the simulated conditions of the upper gastrointestinal tract in the case of acid and bile impact, the best survival was demonstrated by immobilized cultures of bifidobacteria together with the Enterosgel sorbent (a content of 10% by weight of the culture). The survival of immobilized preparations after freeze-drying was slightly reduced in the case of immobilization on the "Enterosgel" and "Toxin.NET" samples of enterosorbents (a content from 15% to 25% by weight of the culture). The best results were observed in the case of immobilization of bifidobacteria with 5% content of the "Toxin.NET" enterosorbent (enterosgel + inulin).

Future challenge on probiotics uses from fermented milk on the endocrine disorder in human

More than fifty different probiotics have been identified with different structures and modes of action. This study aimed to offer an overview of the evidence on the clinical microbiology activity of the probiotics group derived from fermented milk. We conducted a framework for reporting probiotics activity using the MICRO (Microbiology Investigation Criteria for Reporting Objectively) checklist. Two electronic databases (Pubmed and EMBASE) were used to conduct this study. The initial search discovered 22 references (Pubmed 8 and EMBASE 16). We included human study, clinical trial study, English written, and full articles in this review. Of all these original articles, only six articles were included in the review. These included articles reported the testing phase on the pre-analytical and analytical phases. This review found that probiotics such as Lactobacillus acidophilus La-5 and Bifidobacterium animalis subsp lactis BB-12 are beneficial in humans’ endocrine disorder therapy. This activity includes maintaining serum insulin levels in pregnant women and reducing weight in healthy obese men and women. Thus, probiotics, with their several features, may advance their candidacy as therapeutic agents. However, there is more effort to do. For example, finishing the analytical phase, especially on quality assurance and avoiding bias.

Xylo-oligosaccharide alleviates Salmonella induced inflammation by stimulating Bifidobacterium animalis and inhibiting Salmonella colonization.

Xylo-oligosaccharide (XOS), which is considered as a potential prebiotic, exhibits multiple beneficial effects on modulation of gut microbiota, strength of intestinal barrier, and inhibition of intestinal inflammation. The objective of this study is to investigate whether XOS protects against Salmonella infection by modulating gut microbiota, enhancing the intestinal barrier, and resisting colonization. C57BL/6 male mice received water supplementation with 5% XOS for 14 days before Salmonella Typhimurium infection. The results showed that XOS suppressed the Salmonella-induced inflammation, but had limited effects on tight junction molecules and mRNA expression of mucus proteins, except for claudin-1 in the colon. Data of 16S rDNA sequencing indicated that XOS modulated gut microbiota composition by significantly stimulating Bifidobacterium animalis (B. animalis), and reducing Salmonella counts. Therefore, the potential protective effects of B. animalis against Salmonella challenge were investigated as well. Bifidobacterium animalis subsp lactis BB-12 (BB12), which could markedly increase in XOS, was selected to treat mice. Similarly, Salmonella-induced inflammatory reactions were alleviated by BB12 but tight junction molecules and mucin proteins in the colonic tissues were not affected. Administration of BB12 remarkably decreased the copies of Salmonella in cecal digesta post Salmonella infection. Additionally, the decrease concentrations of cecal propionate and total short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in Salmonella-infected mice were reversed by BB12 treatment, and propionate performed a strong inhibitory effect on Salmonella growth in vitro. Besides that, BB12 could directly restrict Salmonella proliferation in vitro. Moreover, BB12 reduced the adhesion ability of Salmonella on the Caco-2 cells model. Our results suggest that XOS could be considered as a candidate of functional food to protect against Salmonella infection by stimulating Bifidobacterium, which then resists Salmonella colonization by maintaining the intestinal SCFAs levels and suppressing adhesibility.

Production of traditional milk jam with improved functional properties via probiotic and prebiotic

Objective: In this study, 3% Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Bifidobacterium animalis subsp lactis BB-12 as probiotics and 8% hazelnut paste and banana pulp as prebiotics were added to milk jam samples to produce functional milk jam. Physical, chemical, sensorial and microbiological properties of milk jam samples were discussed during 30 days of storage. Materials and Methods: The milk jam samples were stored at +4 °C for 30 days. Physicochemical (proximate analysis, acidity, hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), total sugar, viscosity), sensorial and microbiological analysis (Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Bifidobacterium animalis subsp lactis BB-12 counts) of milk jam samples were carried out on 1st, 15th and 30th days of storage. Results: During storage, acidity, HMF, total sugar and L. rhamnosus and B. lactis BB-12 of samples were found to be 0,2-0,22%, 18,46-21,56 mg/L, 28,18 g/100 mL, 7,44-7,54 (log CFU/g) and 5,4-6,65 (log CFU/g) for control samples; 0,16-0,2%, 18,41-25,5 mg/L, 26,61 g/100mL, 7,44-7,58 (log CFU/g) and 5,6-6,54 (log CFU/g) for hazelnut paste added samples and 0,15-0,2 %, 13,6-28,65 mg/L, 24,47 g/100 mL, 7,3-7,67 (log CFU/g) and 5-6,3 (log CFU/g) for banana pulp added samples, respectively. Hazelnut paste added probiotic milk jam samples had the highest overall acceptability score (6,01) given by panellists. Conclusion: It has been determined that probiotic microorganisms in milk jam which has high sugar content maintain probiotic effect level during 30 days storage, hazelnut added as prebiotic source contributes to viability of probiotics and ensures that products are approved and consumed.

A genome guided evaluation of the Lab4 probiotic consortium

Draft genome sequences of the Lab4 probiotic consortium were deposited in Genbank: Bifidobacterium animalis subsp lactis CUL34 (PRJNA482550), Bifidobacterium bifidum CUL20 (PRJNA559984), Lactobacillus acidophilus CUL60 (PRJNA482335), Lactobacillus acidophilus CUL21 (PRJNA482434). Probiogenomic analyses confirmed existing taxonomies and identified putative gene sequences that were functionally related to the performance of each organism during in vitro assessments of bile and acid tolerability, adherence to enterocytes and susceptibility to antibiotics. Genomic stability predictions identified no significant risk of gene acquisition of both antibiotic resistance and virulence genes. These observations were supported by acute phase and repeat dose tolerability studies in Wistar rats. High doses of Lab4 did not result in mortalities, clinical/histopathological abnormalities nor systemic toxicity. Increased faecal numbers of Lab4 in supplemented rats implied survival through the gastrointestinal tract and/or impact the intestinal microbiota composition. In summary, this study provides multifaceted support for probiotic functionality and the safety of the Lab4 consortium.

Culture of Lactic Acid Bacteria in Natural Environments Based on Dates

Introduction: Lactic acid bacteria are used in the food industry and have restrictive criteria for probiotic potential. The most common growth media used for lactic acid bacteria is de Man, Rogosa, and Sharpe culture medium (MRS). Methods: In this study, three culture media were developed (date powder DP, date core DC and date core associated with lentils CL) based on locally available plant materials with a low market value to obtain a less expensive culture medium compared to the reference medium MRS for the growth of lactic acid bacteria. Four lactic strains were used (Lactobacillus acidophilus LbA-CECT4529, Lactobacillus plantarum LbP-CECT 748, Bifidobacterium animalis subsp lactis Bb12 and Bifidobacterium bifidum Bb 443). The growth and acidification kinetics of the tested strains were evaluated. The content sugar was determinate with HPLC. Results: All lactic bacteria were able to grow on all culture media, but the best results were obtained with MRS and DP media. No significant difference (p <0.05) was observed between DP and MRS medium. The consumption of sugars and proteins in the DP medium was good with all tested bacteria (70.87 to 81.96% and 71.42 to 80.90%, respectively). After the analysis of sugar content of DP medium before and after fermentation with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), fructose was the only sugar detected (45.28μg/ml ± 0.24). After fermentation, 83% of fructose was consumed by Bb12. Conclusion: The present data allow us to conclude that date medium promotes the growth of lactic bacteria and can be considered as MRS standard medium substitute.

Optimizing the composition of the medium for the viable cells of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis JNU306 using response surface methodology.

This research improved the growth potential of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp lactis strain JNU306, a commercial medium that is appropriate for large-scale production, in yeast extract, soy peptone, glucose, L-cysteine, and ferrous sulfate. Response surface methodology (RSM) was used to optimize the components of this medium, using a central composite design and subsequent analyses. A second-order polynomial regression model, which was fitted to the data at first, significantly lacked fitness. Thus, through further analyses, the model with linear and quadratic terms plus two-way, three-way, and four-way interactions was selected as the final model. Through this model, the optimized medium composition was found as 2.8791% yeast extract, 2.8030% peptone soy, 0.6196% glucose, 0.2823% L-cysteine, and 0.0055% ferrous sulfate, w/v. This optimized medium ensured that the maximum biomass was no lower than the biomass from the commonly used blood-liver (BL) medium. The application of RSM improved the biomass production of this strain in a more cost-effective way by creating an optimum medium. This result shows that B. animalis subsp lactis JNU306 may be used as a commercial starter culture in manufacturing probiotics, including dairy products.

Bifidobacterium animalis subsp lactis HN019 presents antimicrobial potential against periodontopathogens and modulates the immunological response of oral mucosa in periodontitis patients.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the effects of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis HN019 (HN019) on clinical periodontal parameters (plaque accumulation and gingival bleeding), on immunocompetence of gingival tissues [expression of beta-defensin (BD)-3, toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), cluster of differentiation(CD)-57 and CD-4], and on immunological properties of saliva (IgA levels) in non-surgical periodontal therapy in generalized chronic periodontitis (GCP) patients. Adhesion to buccal epithelial cells (BEC) and the antimicrobial properties of HN019 were also investigated.Materials and methodsThirty patients were recruited and monitored clinically at baseline (before scaling and root planing—SRP) and after 30 and 90 days. Patients were randomly assigned to Test (SRP+Probiotic, n = 15) or Control (SRP+Placebo, n = 15) group. Probiotic lozenges were used for 30 days. Gingival tissues and saliva were immunologically analyzed. The adhesion of HN019 with or without Porphyromonas gingivalis in BEC and its antimicrobial properties were investigated in in vitro assays. Data were statistically analyzed (p<0.05).ResultsTest group presented lower plaque index (30 days) and lower marginal gingival bleeding (90 days) when compared with Control group. Higher BD-3, TLR4 and CD-4 expressions were observed in gingival tissues in Test group than in Control group. HN019 reduced the adhesion of P. gingivalis to BEC and showed antimicrobial potential against periodontopathogens.ConclusionImmunological and antimicrobial properties of B. lactis HN019 make it a potential probiotic to be used in non-surgical periodontal therapy of patients with GCP.Clinical relevanceB. lactis HN019 may be a potential probiotic to improve the effects of non-surgical periodontal therapy.Name of the registry and registration number (ClinicalTrials.gov): “Effects of probiotic therapy in the treatment of periodontitis”—NCT03408548.

Effect of Probiotic Use on Antibiotic Administration Among Care Home Residents

Probiotics are frequently used by residents in care homes (residential homes or nursing homes that provide residents with 24-hour support for personal care or nursing care), although the evidence on whether probiotics prevent infections and reduce antibiotic use in these settings is limited. To determine whether a daily oral probiotic combination of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG and Bifidobacterium animalis subsp lactis BB-12 compared with placebo reduces antibiotic administration in care home residents. Placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial of 310 care home residents, aged 65 years and older, recruited from 23 care homes in the United Kingdom between December 2016 and May 2018, with last follow-up on October 31, 2018. Study participants were randomized to receive a daily capsule containing a probiotic combination of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG and Bifidobacterium animalis subsp lactis BB-12 (total cell count per capsule, 1.3 × 1010 to 1.6 × 1010) (n = 155), or daily matched placebo (n = 155), for up to 1 year. The primary outcome was cumulative antibiotic administration days for all-cause infections measured from randomization for up to 1 year. Among 310 randomized care home residents (mean age, 85.3 years; 66.8% women), 195 (62.9%) remained alive and completed the trial. Participant diary data (daily data including study product use, antibiotic administration, and signs of infection) were available for 98.7% randomized to the probiotic group and 97.4% randomized to placebo. Care home residents randomized to the probiotic group had a mean of 12.9 cumulative systemic antibiotic administration days (95% CI, 0 to 18.05), and residents randomized to placebo had a mean of 12.0 days (95% CI, 0 to 16.95) (absolute difference, 0.9 days [95% CI, -3.25 to 5.05]; adjusted incidence rate ratio, 1.13 [95% CI, 0.79 to 1.63]; P = .50). A total of 120 care home residents experienced 283 adverse events (150 adverse events in the probiotic group and 133 in the placebo group). Hospitalizations accounted for 94 of the events in probiotic group and 78 events in the placebo group, and deaths accounted for 33 of the events in the probiotic group and 32 of the events in the placebo group. Among care home residents in the United Kingdom, a daily dose of a probiotic combination of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG and Bifidobacterium animalis subsp lactis BB-12 did not significantly reduce antibiotic administration for all-cause infections. These findings do not support the use of probiotics in this setting. ISRCTN Identifier:16392920.

Comparative effectiveness of probiotic strains for the treatment of pediatric atopic dermatitis: A systematic review and network meta-analysis.

The current evidence on the use of probiotics in treating atopic dermatitis is inconclusive. This study determined the comparative effectiveness of the different types of probiotic strains in treating pediatric atopic dermatitis. Systematic and manual search for all randomized controlled trials available from inception until January 31, 2020, was done. Two independent authors conducted the search, screening, appraisal, and data abstraction. Network meta-analysis was conducted using STATA 14 software. Twenty-two studies involving 28 different probiotic strains were included. The top three ranked probiotic strains in terms of efficacy are Mix1 (Bifidobacterium animalis subsp lactis CECT 8145, Bifidobacterium longum CECT 7347, and Lactobacillus casei CECT 9104); Lactobacillus casei DN-114001; and Mix6 (Bifidobacterium bifidum, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus casei, and Lactobacillus salivarius). Compared with placebo, Mix1 reduces atopic dermatitis symptoms with high certainty evidence (SMD -1.94, 95% CI -2.65 to -1.24; 47 participants). Mix6 compared with placebo probably reduces atopic dermatitis symptoms based on moderate certainty evidence (SMD -0.85, 95% CI -1.50 to -0.20; 40 participants). Lactobacillus casei DN-114001 compared with placebo may reduce atopic dermatitis symptoms based on low certainty evidence (SMD -1.35, 95% CI -2.04 to -0.65). In terms of safety, the highest ranked strain is Lactobacillus fermentum VRI-003, while the lowest ranked strain is Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG. Certain probiotic preparations show benefit in reducing allergic symptoms in pediatric atopic dermatitis.

Probiotics and carriage of Streptococcus pneumoniae serotypes in Danish children, a double-blind randomized controlled trial

This study examined the carriage of Streptococcus pneumoniae in healthy Danish children aged 8–19 months and assessed the effect of the probiotics Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG and Bifidobacterium animalis subsp lactis on the pneumococcal carriage during daycare enrolment. Potential risk factors of pneumococcal carriage were analysed and the carriage study was compared with registered invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) data. This study is a part of the ProbiComp study, which was a double-blind, randomized controlled trial, including 290 children allocated to probiotics or placebo for 6 months and recruited during two autumn seasons (2014/2015). Pneumococci were identified by optochin sensitivity, bile solubility, α-hemolysis and/or capsular reaction. Serotyping was performed by latex agglutination kit and Quellung reaction. The carriage rate of S. pneumoniae was 26.0% at baseline and 67.4% at the end of intervention. No significant difference was observed between the placebo group and the probiotics group (p = 0.508). Children aged 8–19 months were carriers of non-pneumococcal vaccine serotypes causing IPD in children aged 0–4 years. However, serotypes causing most IPD cases in Danish elderly were either not found or found with low prevalence suggesting that children are not the main reservoir of those serotypes and other age groups need to be considered as carriers.

Identification and characterisation of bifidobacteria in infant formula milk powder obtained from the Chinese market

Strains of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis (BAL) are the most commonly added probiotic strains in infant formulas on the Chinese market. In this study, four genotyping methods, 16S rRNA sequencing, multilocus sequence typing, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis and single nucleotide polymorphism-insertion deletion polymorphism were used to determine the 30 isolates from 20 commercial products at the species and strain levels. A combination of the label analysis, quantification and identification results showed that the label claims from the 20 samples had an overall accuracy of 80%. This study was the first to use molecular techniques to identify bifidobacteria strains in probiotic infant formulas on the Chinese market. The results demonstrated that the combination of genotyping methods can effectively identify commonly used commercial BAL strains with similar genetic backgrounds and highlight the importance of accurate strain identification by manufacturers to ensure product legitimacy and to avoid potential health risks.