Commercial Probiotic Products Research Articles

Effect of commercial probiotics and antibiotics on the growth of Campylobacter isolated from chicken meat in Ho Chi Minh city markets

This study explores the antibiotic susceptibility of Campylobacter, a prominent foodborne pathogen, isolated in Ho Chi Minh city markets and the efficacy of commercial probiotics in inhibiting these bacteria for enhancing food safety and treating Campylobacter infections. Bacteria were isolated from chicken meat in modified coal deoxycholate cefoperazone agar (mCCD), followed by characterization as per standard procedures. Ten isolates with Gram negative, catalase positive and oxidase positive characteristics were collected. Antibiotic susceptibility is ascertained through the determination of the inhibited zone and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of five distinct antibiotics against Campylobacter on Muller Hinton agar plates, culminating in a comprehensive assessment after a 24-hour incubation duration. The antibiotic susceptibility results underscore substantial diversity in Campylobacter isolates among meat samples, thereby accentuating discernible distinctions among the various antibiotic products. The research also evaluated the suitability of 5 commercial probiotic products (re-named as A, B, C, D, and E for fair assessment) by examining their impact on the growth of Campylobacter colonies. The antimicrobial effect of probiotics against Campylobacter is assessed using the agar well diffusion assay and co-culture method. We obtained consistent results from two methods, indicating no variation in Campylobacter species among meat samples but significant variations among probiotic products. The outcomes of this research provide valuable insights into the antimicrobial potential of each probiotic and antibiotic on Campylobacter, informing recommendations for food hygiene practices and underscoring the role of both probiotics and antibiotics in combating Campylobacter infections.

Microbiological Quality and Antimicrobial Resistance of Commercial Probiotic Products for Food-Producing Animals.

Probiotics have been popularly used in livestock production as an alternative to antibiotics. This study aimed to investigate the microbiological quality and phenotypic and genotypic antimicrobial resistance of bacteria in probiotic products sold for food animals. A total of 45 probiotic products were examined for the number of viable cells, species, and antimicrobial susceptibility; the contamination of Escherichia coli and Salmonella; and the presence of 112 genes encoding resistance to clinically important antimicrobials and transferability of AMR determinants. The results showed that 29 of 45 products (64.4%) were incorrectly labeled in either number of viable cells or bacterial species. None of the tested products were contaminated with E. coli and Salmonella. A total of 33 out of 64 bacterial isolates (51.6%) exhibited resistance to at least one antimicrobial agent. Of the 45 products tested, 16 (35.5%) carried AMR genes. Almost all AMR genes detected in probiotic products were not correlated to the AMR phenotype of probiotic strains formulated in the products. Three streptomycin-resistant Lactobacillus isolates could horizontally transfer their AMR determinants. The findings demonstrated that the probiotic products could serve as reservoirs for the spread of AMR genes and may not yield benefits to animals as claimed. The need for the adequate quality control of probiotic products is highlighted.

Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assays for rapid on-site detection of Lacticaseibacillus casei, Lacticaseibacillus paracasei, and Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus in probiotic products

We developed the colorimetric loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) and a real-time LAMP with direct DNA extraction for the on-site detection of the three closely related Lacticaseibacillus species, such as Lacticaseibacillus casei, Lacticaseibacillus paracasei, and Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus in probiotic products. Species-specific LAMP primers were designed targeting a unique gene in each species through comparative genomic analysis. Each LAMP primer set amplified target species specifically, distinguishing between the closely related species within the Lacticaseibacillus species. Based on the designed LAMP primers, two LAMP-based assays with direct DNA extraction were compared; their limit of detection was 103 CFU/mL for the Lacticaseibacillus species. In addition, both methods were applied to 44 commercial probiotic products and obtained identical results; it took about 45 min from sample preparation to confirming the presence or absence of the Lacticaseibacillus species. Thus, these methods can be rapid and simple in-field tests to detect L. casei, L. paracasei, and L. rhamnosus in probiotic products.

The impact of dietary probiotic supplementation on welfare and growth performance of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus).

The usage of commercial probiotic products as alternatives to traditional antibiotics in fish culture is initiated to be a potential factor for Nile tilapia fish's welfare and growth. The purpose of the current study is to show the influence of commercial probiotics (Bacillus amyloliquefaciens) dietary supplementation at different levels on Nile tilapia welfare and growth. Apparently healthy fingerlings of Nile Tilapia with a total number of 120 with an average initial weight (26.2 ± 0.3 g) were distributed into four groups (each group had 30 fingerlings). The first group (G1) was given a basal diet without additional probiotics, while other groups [second group (G2), the third group (G3), and the fourth group (G4)] were given basal diets supplemented with different levels of commercial probiotics (1 g, 2 g, and 3 g of probiotics per kilogram of diet), respectively (15 fish in each sub group as replicate), in eight glass aquaria (30 × 40 × 100 cm) for 2 months as an experimental period. The results revealed that the probiotic-treated groups especially G4 (3 g probiotics/kg diet) showed a marked increase in the following behavioral patterns such as feeding and swimming behaviors, while G2 (1 g probiotic/kg diet) had an increase in the foraging behavior compared with G1 control group. While surfacing, body care, and aggressive behaviors with all patterns were the highest in the control group (G1) than all probiotics-treated groups. The crossing test showed that fish rose in the probiotic-treated groups (G3 and G4) were more active and could achieve the highest growth rates. While water quality was better in G4 (3 g probiotic /kg diet) than in other groups. Moreover, G4 (3 g probiotic/kg diet) showed a marked increase in all serum biochemical parameters than the control group (G1). The current study proved that the best level of commercial probiotics (B. amyloliquefaciens) was (3 g probiotic/kg diet) for achieving optimal Nile tilapia fingerlings' growth performance under these experimental conditions. Finally, this work confirms the significance of the addition of probiotics as a feed additive to enhance both growth performance and immunity response, improve water quality, and achieve the welfare of Nile tilapia fingerlings.

Impact of THIONIL® on reducing water and soil micro-pollutant and enhancement of growth, survival, anti-vibrio, immunity and health indices of Litopenaeus vannamei in pond trial.

There is an urgent requirement for the improvement of the white leg shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei; health-related indices; and immunity due to emerging diseases. Recently, probiotics have been playing an important role in L. vannamei health management. Therefore, the current pond trial was to evaluate the probiotic proficiency of commercial probiotic products of THIONIL (THIO) on the enhancement of the water, soil, growth, digestibility, survival, immune-related indices, and susceptibility of L. vannamei to infection. The study was carried out in the major shrimp culturing regions of Kavali, Nellore (Andhra Pradesh), and Ponneri (Tamil Nadu), India. Six groups (lacks/ha) of the experimental L. vannamei were allocated, including a control group (THIO 0%-untreated) and groups containing 2%, 4%, 6%, 8%, and 10% of THIO that were encapsulated with commercial feed (CP Aqua). Bioassays were performed on PLs/ shrimp at various days interval of 0, 5, 25, 50, 100, and 123th to assess productivity, anti-vibrio activity, and digestive enzyme for digestibility, histological and immunological indices, and cytotoxicity in Artemia nauplii. Significant differences were observed in the increased growth (35.71 ± 3.24g/shrimp) and digestive parameters in 10% THIO-fed shrimp. Although in contrast to the control group, the other THIO-fed prawn groups also displayed appreciable development. The findings showed that, in comparison to the control, the gill, hepatopancreas, and stomach had reduced tissue damage with 10% THIO. Furthermore, Vibrio parahaemolyticus (0.008 × 104cfu/g) and Vibrio harveyi (0.051 × 105cfu/g) (vibriosis) were potentially resistant to the 10% THIO-fed group. In addition, THIO-fed prawns (10%) showed significant improvements in immune-related expresses (proPO, SOD, and SOA) in comparison to the control. In conclusion, the findings showed that the THIO treatment prawns significantly improved the quality of their water (pH, ammonia, nitrogen dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, and DO) and soil (Pb, Cr, Hg, Mg, Cu, Fe, and Ni), increased and demonstrated protection against vibrio infections.

Comparison of the relative impacts of acute consumption of an inulin-enriched diet, milk kefir or a commercial probiotic product on the human gut microbiome and metabolome

It has been established that the human gut microbiota is central to health, and, consequently, there has been a growing desire to positively modulate its composition and/or function through, for example, the use of fermented foods, prebiotics or probiotics. Here, we compare the relative impact of the daily consumption of an inulin-enriched diet (n = 10), a commercial probiotic-containing fermented milk product (FMP) (n = 10), or a traditional kefir FMP (n = 9), over a 28-day period on the gut microbiome and urine metabolome of healthy human adults. None of the treatments resulted in significant changes to clinical parameters or biomarkers tested. However, shotgun metagenomic analysis revealed that kefir consumption resulted in a significant change in taxonomy, in the form of an increased abundance of the sub-dominant FMP-associated species Lactococcus raffinolactis, which further corresponded to shifts in the urine metabolome. Overall, our results indicated that daily consumption of a single portion of kefir alone resulted in detectable changes to the gut microbiota and metabolome of consumers.

Tejsavbaktérium-izolátumok egyes probiotikus tulajdonságainak in vitro vizsgálata

Bacteria carrying genes responsible for antibiotic resistance cannot be used in food production. For this reason,exploring the antibiotic resistance profile of probiotic candidates and the antimicrobial substances theyproduce are essential for probiotic strain selection. The aim of this study was to develop and evaluate additionalelements of a complex in vitro test system for rapid and efficient selection of a large number of putativeprobiotic isolates. In a previous work, we had tested bacterial strains (n=217) isolated from Transylvanian rawsheep milk, cultured sheep milk, and sheep cheese samples and we reduced the sample number to a totalof six Gram-positive, non-hemolytic, catalase-negative, well-aggregating, good acid and bile acid toleratingstrains. In this research, we investigated the antibiotic resistance and antimicrobial production capacity of thepre-selected strains (n=6). The antimicrobial activity of the isolates was determined by the agar well diffusionassay. Strains E15, E66, E173, E198, and E216 were found to inhibit the growth of both Salmonella EnteridisATCC 13076 and the control strain (i.e., Lactobacillus acidophilus ATCC 4356). Antibiotic resistance testswere performed by the agar disk diffusion method. All six isolates belonging to the species of Levilactobacillusbrevis and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum were found to be resistant to several antibiotics and, therefore,cannot be used for the manufacture of commercial probiotic products. In conclusion, our in vitro test systemproved to be capable of effectively screening out unsafe isolates.

In Vitro Evaluation of Commercial Probiotic Products Containing Streptococcus salivarius K12 by Assessment of Probiotic Viability and Inhibitory Potency against Respiratory Pathogens

Upper respiratory infections (URI) are the most frequent illnesses, especially in children. The majority of those infections are prescribed broad-spectrum antibiotics, which are associated with various side effects and with the increase in multi-drug-resistant strains. A promising alternative approach is the administration of the probiotic strain Streptococcus salivarius K12 (SSK12) that colonizes the upper respiratory tract (URT) and produces the salivaricins A2 and B, which strongly antagonize the growth of key respiratory pathogens. However, since for food supplements no quality controls of the active probiotic ingredient are mandatory, the efficacy of commercial products containing SSK12 may vary. This study aimed to investigate the in vitro efficacy of several commercial SSK12-containing probiotics, positioned for the prevention of respiratory infections. The parameters evaluated to determine the in vitro efficacy included the viability of the probiotic bacterial strain and the minimum inhibitory dilution (MID) of the probiotic, determined by the agar spot method, against the pathogenic/potential pathogenic bacterial strains Streptococcus pyogenes FF22 and Micrococcus luteus T18. All tests were carried out both 12 and 24 months after manufacturing (AM) for each commercial product. The viability ranged from 9 × 108 to 4.4 × 109 CFU/serving at 12 months AM and from 8.5 × 107 to 2.8 × 109 CFU/serving at 24 months AM. The MID was, in general, positively correlated with the probiotic bacterium viability and varied between the commercial products, ranging from 10−5 to 10−7 at 12 months AM and from 10−4 to 10−7 at 24 months AM. Moreover, the inhibition zones related to the two indicator strains were variable in diameter for different products. The high variation of the in vitro efficacy of commercial products containing SSK12 may explain the different results reported in the literature regarding the clinical benefits of these preparations, and the determination of this parameter may be useful to evaluate the quality of probiotic products containing this bacterial strain.

Modern Aspects of Probiotic Microorganisms’ Microencapsulation

Numerous studies in recent years have shown that the gut microbiome plays an important role in maintaining various physiological processes in the body, including digestion, metabolism, immune system function, defense against pathogens, biosynthesis of unique metabolites, elimination of toxins, and regulation of the function of the gut-brain axis. The gut microbiota is influenced by the way of birth, child’s feeding, genetic background, and lifestyle, including diet, exercises, medication, stress, and general host’s health. Intestinal microbial populations can vary significantly from person to person, including healthy individuals. Unfavorable changes in the microbial composition and in its functions are characteristic of dysbiosis and indicate pathological disorders in the body. The introduction of pro-, pre-, synbiotics and their other derivatives into the body, as well as transplantation of fecal microbiota, can restore the disturbed microbiota of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT). There is now a growing interest in functional innovative foods as ideal carriers for probiotics. However, many commercial probiotic products are ineffective because the beneficial bacteria they contain do not survive food processing, storage, and passage through the upper GIT. Th erefore, modern effective strategies are needed to improve the stability of probiotic microorganisms. One of the such strategies is a modern microencapsulation method. Using this technology in the manufacture of functional foods allows maintaining the stability of probiotic microorganisms during storage, protects them from the aggressive conditions of the GIT, and promotes their colonization on the mucous membrane of the large intestine. To achieve better protection and controlled release of probiotics, alginate microgels are most widely used as microcapsule shells.

Potential influence of antimicrobial resistance gene content in probiotic bacteria on the gut resistome ecosystems.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a substantial threat to human health. The commensal bacteria of the gut microbiome were shown to serve as a reservoir of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), termed the gut resistome, which has the potential to transfer horizontally to pathogens and contribute to the emergence of drug-resistant bacteria. Namely, AMR traits are generally linked with mobile genetic elements (MGEs), which apart from disseminating vertically to the progeny, may cross horizontally to the distantly related microbial species. On the other hand, while probiotics are generally considered beneficiary to human health, and are therefore widely consumed in recent years most commonly in conjunction with antibiotics, the complexities and extent of their impact on the gut microbiome and resistome have not been elucidated. By reviewing the latest studies on ARG containing commercial probiotic products and common probiotic supplement species with their actual effects on the human gut resistome, this study aims to demonstrate that their contribution to the spread of ARGs along the GI tract merits additional attention, but also indicates the changes in sampling and profiling of the gut microbiome which may allow for the more comprehensive studying of the effects of probiotics in this part of the resistome.

Probiotics in dermatological and cosmetic products – application and efficiency

The term “probiotics” has first been used in 1907 by Elie Metchnikoff. Since then, probiotics have been part of research not only in regards of digestive health, but also inflammatory diseases. Lately, there has been an increased interest of probiotic’s effects in skincare. The management of atopic dermatitis, acne, psoriasis, photo aging, skin cancer, intimate care, oral care, wound healing is getting harder each passing day, due to increased antibiotic resistance and other side effects of conventional therapy. Therefore, new ingredients have been investigated and probiotics have been proved to be effective in treating various skin conditions. This review aims to evaluate the scientific evidence on topical and oral probiotics, and to evaluate the efficacy of cosmetic and dermatological products containing probiotics. Many studies have shown that skin and gut microbiome alterations have an important role in skin health. Although this is a new topic in dermatology and cosmetology, there have been some promising results in lots of research studies that the use of probiotics in cosmetic products may help improve the patient’s outcome. While oral probiotics have been shown to promote gut health, which influences the host immune system and helps treat different skin diseases, the mechanism of action of topical probiotics is not yet fully understood. Although the number of commercial probiotic cosmetic products released in the market is increasing and most of the studies have not shown any serious side effect of probiotics, further studies, in larger and heterogeneous groups are needed.

Kefir fermented milk as starter culture in Minas Frescal cheese production

The present work aimed to produce Minas Frescal cheese with the replacement of the commercial lactic culture by fermented kefir milk with kefir (FKM) and verify some of its physicochemical characteristics, aiming mainly at the development of a new commercial probiotic dairy product with low production cost as compared to the use of commercial probiotic cultures. Kefir grains were added to whole UHT milk and fermented at 22ºC/24 hours in an incubator, after fermentation the grains were separated and the FKM was used in the manufacture of cheeses with the addition of 1, 3 or 5% of the total volume of milk. They were analysed the concentrations of fat and protein in the milk used in cheese manufacturing; the acidity of FKM, milk, FKM-added milk, whey and cheeses; in those ones their total solids (TS), fat and fat in the total solids (FTS) and manufacturing yields were evaluated. The results obtained indicated that it was possible to produce Minas cheeses using KFM in all of the tested concentrations because the results for all treatments were close to those found in the literature with the use of commercial lactic cultures and among the treatments only the acidity had significant differences, however more studies should be carried out mainly aiming at the standardization of kefir cultures for the industrial process of manufacturing these cheeses.

Влияние пробиотика «Энзимспорин» на морфофизиологические показатели гибрида ленского осетра и белуги при выращивании в аквакультуре

The use of probiotics is recommended for sustainable growth, increased resistance and efficiency of feed assimilation. Currently, there are commercial probiotic products prepared from the bacteria Bacillus sp., Lactobacillus sp., Enterococcus sp., Carnobacterium sp. The use of the probiotic supplement “Enzimsporin” in fish farming is in its infancy. However, information is available on the effectiveness of its use in rainbow trout. In this regard, an urgent task is to study the effect of the probiotic “Enzimsporin” on the morphophysiological parameters of the juvenile hybrid of Lena sturgeon and beluga (Lenbel) under existing cultivation conditions. At the initial stage, the fish were divided into 8 groups of 50 fish each according to the principle of pairs of analogues. Large and small individuals were divided into four groups: control and experimental with a dose of Enzimsporin of 1 g/kg, 1.5 g /kg and 2 g/kg of feed, respectively. The duration of the experiment was 60 days. Total catches were made at the beginning and end of the experiment, and intermediate catches were made every 15 days, individually weighing 25–35% of the total number of fish in the pool. The physiological state and immune status of Lenbel were assessed by hematological and cytochemical parameters. Blood for analysis was collected from the caudal vein of fish in vivo. Leukocyte composition and the proportion of immature cell types were determined in Pappenheim-stained peripheral blood smears under a digital microscope. The phagocytic activity of fish neutrophils was evaluated by a lysosomal cation test using a cytochemical method with bromophenol blue. During the two months of the experiment, the main hydrochemical parameters (pH, nitrites, nitrates, ammonium), water temperature and the dissolved oxygen content were within the technological norms. The best absolute and relative growth rates were obtained in the experimental groups receiving a probiotic at a dose of 1.5 g/kg of feed. These fish had high indicators: absolute and relative growth, absolute and relative growth rate, mass accumulation coefficient. The best survival rate was recorded in the group of small yearlings of Lenbel at a probiotic dose of 2 g/kg of feed. In large fish, the maximum survival rate (80%) was recorded at a dose of 1 g/kg of “Enzimsporin”. There is significantly more lysosomal cationic protein in the blood neutrophils of the experimental groups – activation of cellular immunity.

Spray Drying Encapsulation of Pediococcus acidilactici at Different Inlet Air Temperatures and Wall Material Ratios.

Pediococcus acidilactici has gained research and commercial interest due to its outstanding probiotic properties, yet its survival during storage and consumption requires improvement. This study aims to enhance P. acidilactici survival using spray drying encapsulation. Different inlet air temperatures (120 °C, 150 °C, and 170 °C) and whey protein isolate (WPI):gum arabic (GA) ratios (1:1, 3:1, 1:3) were tested. Cell viability was significantly (p < 0.05) affected by the inlet temperature but not the WPI:GA ratio. Increasing the inlet temperature to 170 °C significantly decreased P. acidilactici viability by 1.36 log cycles, from 8.61 log CFU/g to 7.25 log CFU/g. The inlet temperature of 150 °C resulted in a powder yield (63.12%) higher than at 120 °C (58.97%), as well as significantly (p < 0.05) lower moisture content (5.71%) and water activity (aw 0.21). Viable cell counts in all encapsulated P. acidilactici were maintained at 5.24−6.75 log CFU/g after gastrointestinal tract (GIT) simulation, with WPI:GA of 3:1 and inlet temperature 150 °C having the smallest log reduction (0.3 log cycles). All samples containing different WPI:GA ratios maintained sufficient viability (>7 log CFU/g) during the first three weeks of storage at 25 °C. These results could provide insights for further developing P. acidilactici as commercial probiotic products.

STUDY OF IN-VITRO PROBIOTIC PROPERTIES AND ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE IN LACTOBACILLI ISOLATED FROM COMMERCIAL PROBIOTIC PRODUCTS IN PAKISTAN

The aim of the study was analysis of in-vitro probiotic properties and antibiotic resistance in lactobacilli isolated from commercial probiotic products from Pakistan. Lactobacilli were identified by biochemical testing and genus specific polymerase chain reaction. Probiotic properties including tolerance to low pH and bile salts, auto-aggregation, co-aggregation and antimicrobialactivity, and antibiotic resistance pattern of all isolates was determined. A total of 14 lactobacilli isolates were recovered from nine products while three products had no lactobacilli. All isolates except AB6 were tolerant to acidic condition (pH: 2). All isolates except AB13 showed growth in presence of bile salts (0.5%). Lactobacilli showed variable auto-aggregation (01-97%) and co-aggregation with E. coli and S. enteritidis (37.5±7.7-92.4±7.3 and 31.6±6.4-95.8±4.0, respectively). Nine isolates showed activity against S. enteritidis while six isolates had activity against E. coli. Lactobacilli showed higher level of resistance to meropenem (100%), imipenem (92.85%), polymyxin B (92.85%), kanamycin (92.85%) and aztreonam (78.75%), intermediate level of resistance to vancomycin (64.2%), gentamycin (57.14%) and ciprofloxacin (42.85%), low level of resistance to ampicillin (35.71%), bacitracin (35.71%), penicillin (28.5%) and tetracycline (28.50%), and no resistance to erythromycin and chloramphenicol. It was concluded that transferable antibiotic resistance is present in commercial probiotics which may pose a threat to public safety.

An Integrated Analytical Approach for the Characterization of Probiotic Strains in Food Supplements

Research surrounding health benefits from probiotics is becoming popular because of the increasing demand for safer products with protective and therapeutic effects. Proven benefits are species- or genus-specific; however, no certified assays are available for their characterization and quantification at the strain level in the food supplement industry. The objective of this study was to develop a strain-specific Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR)-based method to be implemented in routine tests for the identification and quantification of Bifidobacterium longum, Bifidobacterium animalis spp. lactis, Lactobacillus paracasei, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Lactobacillus casei, Bifidobacterium breve, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus plantarum, and Lactobacillus helveticus, starting from a powder mixture of food supplements. The method optimization was carried out in combination with flow cytometry to compare results between the two strategies and implement the analytical workflow with the information also regarding cell viability. These assays were validated in accordance with the International Council for Harmonization of Technical Requirements for Pharmaceuticals for Human Use (ICH) criteria using the plate count enumeration as the gold standard reference. Briefly, probiotic DNAs were extracted from two powder food supplements. Strain-specific primers targeting unique sequence regions of 16S RNA were identified and amplified by RT-qPCR. Primers were tested for specificity, sensitivity, and efficiency. Both RT-qPCR and flow-cytometry methods described in our work for the quantification and identification of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium strains were specific, sensitive, and precise, showing better performances with respect to the morphological colony identification. This work demonstrated that RT-qPCR can be implemented in the quality control workflow of commercial probiotic products giving more standardized and effective results regarding species discrimination.

In Vitro Qualitative Assessment of Tolerance to Simulated Gastric Juice, Bile, Fructose, Glucose and Lactose for Different Probiotic Bacteria

&#x0D; Probiotics are live microorganisms that confer a health benefit to the host when administered in adequate amounts, with the main site of action at the intestinal level. In order to have a maximal effect, probiotic bacteria have to prove a high tolerance for the conditions present in the upper gastro-intestinal tract. The aim of the present study was to assess, from a qualitative point of view, the tolerance of different probiotic bacterial strains and combinations to simulated gastric juice, bile, fructose, lactose and glucose. Also, the influence of food on the bacterial growth after artificial digestion was analyzed. A bacteriologic assessment was realized for three different commercial probiotic products (Bacillus subtilis + Bacillus licheniformis + Pediococcus acidilactici; Enterococcus faecium; Bacillus subtilis + B. licheniformis + B.coagulans + B.indicus + B. clausii), simulating different conditions (artificial digestion method in the absence/presence of food, presence of bile, fructose, glucose, lactose). The obtained results suggested that the tolerance to simulated gastric juice is higher if the food is present in the moment of digestion, regardless of the probiotic bacterial strain or combination. Also, the tolerance to bile was different from one combination to another. The influence of fructose, lactose and glucose are not remarkable from a qualitative point of view. Moreover, the growth of different probiotic bacterial strains is influenced by the simulated gastro-intestinal conditions, sporulated bacteria presenting a slightly higher tolerance compared with non-sporulated strains.&#x0D;

Long-Read 16S rRNA Amplicon and Metagenomic Data of Swine Feed-Additive Probiotics Product.

ABSTRACTSwine feed-additive probiotics products play a major role in swine performance and welfare by promoting gut health. Here, we present two types of data, including a full-length 16S rRNA amplicon sequence data and a long-read metagenomic sequence data obtained from the same commercial probiotic product.

Optimization of industrial (3000 L) production of Bacillus subtilis CW-S and its novel application for minituber and industrial-grade potato cultivation

A commercial plant probiotic product was developed employing Bacillus subtilis CW-S in submerged fermentation. The effects of molasses and urea on cell growth were investigated with the goal of low-cost manufacturing. Plackett–Burman and Central-Composite Design (CCD) were utilized to optimize production parameters to maximize productivity. The stability of the formulated product and its efficacy in cultivating minituber in aeroponics and industrial-grade potatoes in the field were assessed. The results showed that the medium BS10 (molasses and urea) produced satisfactory cell density (7.19 × 108 CFU/mL) as compared to the control (1.51 × 107 CFU/mL) and BS1-BS9 (expensive) media (1.84 × 107–1.37 × 109 CFU/mL). According to validated CCD results, optimized parameters fitted well in pilot (300 L; 2.05 × 109 CFU/mL) and industrial (3000 L; 2.01 × 109 CFU/mL) bioreactors, resulting in a two-fold increase in cell concentration over laboratory (9.84 × 108 CFU/mL) bioreactors. In aeroponics, CW-S produced excellent results, with a significant increase in the quantity and weight of minitubers and the survival rate of transplanted plantlets. In a field test, the yield of industrial-grade (> 55 mm) potatoes was increased with a reduction in fertilizer dose. Overall, the findings suggest that CW-S can be produced commercially utilizing the newly developed media and optimized conditions, making plant probiotics more cost-effective and accessible to farmers for crop cultivation, particularly in aeroponic minituber and industrial-grade potato production.

More than Our Enemy: Making Space for the Microbiome in Pharmacy Education.

The microbiome is the collection of commensal microorganisms along with their genomes inhabiting the human body. Despite the many known beneficial effects of these microbes on human health, the 2016 ACPE Standards for Doctor of Pharmacy curricula describe Medical Microbiology in Appendix 1 with a pathogen-centered focus. Over the last twenty years, evolving biotechnology has enabled a deeper understanding of the microbiome in the context of both wellness and disease. Retail stores are allocating increasing shelf space to commercial probiotic products, while the approach to PharmD training on the selection and use of these natural care products remains static, creating a disproportionate footprint between PharmD curricula and consumer markets. Looking to the future of patient care, we brief pharmacy educators on the current evidence and invite discussion around a proposed revision to the 2025 ACPE Standards that would add language recognizing the beneficial role of the commensal microbiota and expanding therapeutic applications of microbiome supplementation. We suggest a variety of opportunities within Doctor of Pharmacy curricula as leverage points for including relevant aspects of the microbiome in the training of future pharmacists.