Microbial Polysaccharides Research Articles

Microbial Polysaccharides as Functional Components of Packaging and Drug Delivery Applications.

This review examines microbial polysaccharides' properties relevant to their use in packaging and pharmaceutical applications. Microbial polysaccharides are produced by enzymes found in the cell walls of microbes. Xanthan gum, curdlan gum, pullulan, and bacterial cellulose are high-molecular-weight substances consisting of sugar residues linked by glycoside bonds. These polysaccharides have linear or highly branched molecular structures. Packaging based on microbial polysaccharides is readily biodegradable and can be considered as a renewable energy source with the potential to reduce environmental impact. In addition, microbial polysaccharides have antioxidant and prebiotic properties. The physico-chemical properties of microbial polysaccharide-based films, including tensile strength and elongation at break, are also evaluated. These materials' potential as multifunctional packaging solutions in the food industry is demonstrated. In addition, their possible use in medicine as a drug delivery system is also considered.

Structural identification and immunostimulatory effect of Bacillus velezensis GV1 polysaccharides via TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway in RAW264.7 macrophages

Microbial polysaccharides derived from bacterial sources possess unique properties because of their structural complexity contributing to exceptional characteristics, including potent immunostimulatory effects. In this study, we extracted crude polysaccharide from Bacillus velezensis GV1 (BPS) which was isolated from Korean ginseng vinegar, and subsequently characterized for sugar composition and functional groups using FT-IR and methylation method. Structural analysis indicated that BPS was composed of mannan and glucan in a ratio of 7.5:2.5. The immunostimulatory effect of BPS was investigated in RAW264.7 macrophages. The results revealed that BPS significantly increased NO production, as well as the secretion and expression of key cytokines, such as IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-1β. These effects were confirmed using a TLR4 antagonist (TAK-242). Moreover, BPS exhibited immunostimulatory potential by promoting the NF-κB signaling pathway. In conclusion, this study establishes a foundation for the potential application of BPS as an immunostimulatory adjuvant or alternative component in functional foods, particularly for enhancing innate immune responses.

Dairy liquid waste as substrate to obtain biotechnological chondroitin: A circular economy approach

Microbial polysaccharides have been gaining growing interest often as alternative to animal derived products or as sources of novel features for biotechnological applications. Process production costs, however, are still high. A possible solution to that exploits agri-food and dairy industrial byproducts as fermentation substrates. This approach also reduces the need for cost-intensive disposal treatments for these waste sources and supports green and circular economy policies. Therefore, as for other microbial glucuronic acid-based biopolymers (e.g. hyaluronic acid, alginate), in this perspective, wild type and engineered E. coli K4 were used in this work as cell factories to produce K4 capsular polysaccharide (CPS) from renewable sources. The backbone of the K4 CPS, chondroitin, is the precursor of chondroitin sulfate (CS), a glycosaminoglycan found in animal tissues that is extensively used for curing osteoarthritis and studied for several other emerging biomedical applications. Interestingly, also chondroitin showed promising bioactivity in vitro and in vivo. Due to its high availability from local companies, second cheese whey (SCW), a worldwide copious and polluting liquid waste, was used as fermentation substrate in this work. Results showed that SCW fully supports growth of wild type and recombinant E. coli K4 strains, and demonstrate, for the first time up to date, the production of K4 CPS from liquid waste as proof of principle. Batch processes in 3 L fermenters indicated a 100 % improvement of the polysaccharide yield and allowed the production of 1.1±0.1 g/L of product from the recombinant strain with very low accumulation of acetic acid, demonstrating that SCW by itself fully supports polysaccharide production.

The importance of acetate, pyruvate, and citrate feeding times in improving xanthan production by Xanthomonas citri.

Xanthan gum is a microbial polysaccharide produced by Xanthomonas and widely used in various industries. To produce xanthan gum, the native Xanthomonas citri-386 was used in a cheese-whey-based culture medium. The culture conditions were investigated in batch experiments based on the response surface methodology to increase xanthan production and viscosity. Three independent variables in this study included feeding times of acetate, pyruvate, and citrate. The maximum xanthan gum production and viscosity within 120 h by X. citri-386 using Box-Behnken design were 25.7g/l and 65 500 cP, respectively, with a 151% and 394% increase as compared to the control sample. Overall, the findings of this study recommend the use of X. citri-386 in the cheese-whey-based medium as an economical medium with optimal amounts of acetate, pyruvate, and citrate for commercial production of xanthan gum on an industrial scale. The adjustment of the pyruvate and acetate concentrations optimized xanthan gum production in the environment.

Mycoprotein nanoparticles in agriculture

A32 kDa protein from fungi can be used to produce nanoparticles which might be use as nanofertilisers needed by plants. There are large numbers of fungi which can be used for the efficient synthesis of nanofertiliser particles. Generally, the formation of nanoparticles by fungi involves metal capture, enzymatic reduction and capping on their surface. Metal ions are located either on the outer surface or inside fungal cells and then chemically reduced to nanoparticles in the presence of fungal enzymes. The best way to apply fungus-synthesised nanoparticles/nanofertiliser is to foliage but they can also be applied to soil or through seed soaking. They may also apply through drip, sprinkler, hydroponic, aeroponic and aquaponic. The major effects of nanoparticles as nanofertilisers are on the elevation of antioxidant enzyme activities and photosynthetic pigments. They help to improve in plant tolerance to stresses and defence against pest and diseases after retaining important physiological and biochemical functions. The net results are increased seed germination, vigour index, chlorophyll level, hormonal regulation, photosynthetic rate, electrolytic levels, plant biomass and crop yields. Mycoprotein nanoparticles may alter plant metabolic pathways, regulating energy dissipation, and improved membrane permeability and stability, at the same time as increasing plant health and growth kinetic traits. They are also known to trigger to produce more microbial polysaccharide from polysaccharide secreting fungi that help in soil aggregation, moisture retention, carbon build - up. However, they should be applied only in recommended doses to avoid adverse effects on plant growth and toxicity

Xanthan gum ink based on Lycium ruthenicum anthocyanin as an indicator of color change for monitoring freshness of cold fresh meat

The continuous development of intelligent food packaging has led to an increased focus on using freshness-indicating inks, which could provide a high level of quality control and consumer experience. This study aimed to further promote the application of xanthan gum ink in food freshness indication by optimizing its performance in screen printing. A novel freshness-indicating ink was prepared using Lycium ruthenicum anthocyanin (LRA) as the core indicator, glucose as the pigment carrier, soybean oil as the linker, and xanthan gum (XG) as the thickener. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) demonstrated that the ink was uniformly distributed on paper using screen printing. Rheological and particle size analyses revealed that the incorporation of XG significantly enhanced the interaction force between droplets in the ink system. Further tests on viscosity, fineness, and initial dryness indicated that XG, a natural microbial polysaccharide with excellent stability, could effectively improve the flowability of the ink. Specifically, at a 0.3 % XG content, the ink exhibited a unimodal particle size distribution with an average particle size of 851.02 nm and a zeta potential of −27 mV. This indicated the ink system was stable and uniform, with optimal rheological properties and printing suitability. Furthermore, the printed freshness indication labels exhibited a significant change in color as the freshness of the refrigerated meat changed. This study develops a natural and safe method for monitoring the freshness of refrigerated meat and provides an optimized idea for applying indicator inks.

Microbial Polysaccharides Extracted from Different Mature Muds of the Euganean Thermal District Show Similar Anti-Inflammatory Activity In Vivo.

The Euganean Thermal District, situated in North-East Italy, is one of Europe's largest and oldest thermal centres. The topical application of its therapeutic thermal muds is recognised by the Italian Health System as a beneficial treatment for patients suffering from arthro-rheumatic diseases. Polysaccharides produced by the mud microbiota have been recently identified as anti-inflammatory bioactive molecules. In this paper we analysed the efficacy of Microbial-Polysaccharides (M-PS) derived from mature muds obtained at different maturation temperatures, both within and outside the codified traditional mud maturation range. M-PSs were extracted from six mature muds produced by five spas of the Euganean Thermal District and investigated for their chemical properties, monosaccharide composition and in vivo anti-inflammatory potential, using the zebrafish model organism. Additionally, mature muds were characterized for their microbiota composition using Next-Generation Sequencing. The results showed that all M-PSs exhibit similar anti-inflammatory potential, referable to their comparable chemical composition. This consistency was observed despite changes in cyanobacteria populations, suggesting a possible role of the entire microbial community in shaping the properties of these biomolecules. These findings highlight the importance of scientific research in untangling the origins of the therapeutic efficacy of Euganean Thermal muds in the treatment of chronic inflammatory conditions.

A scientist and a world-class personality: Nikolai Petrovich Elinov (1928–2017)

The essay is dedicated to Nikolai Petrovich Elinov, an eminent scientist with a global reputation, who has made a substantial contribution to the development of medical microbiology, mycology, and biotechnology in the Russian Federation. N. P. Elinov is a professor, Doctor of Biological Sciences, Honored Scientist of the RSFSR, and rector of the Leningrad Chemical-Pharmaceutical Institute. He is an active member of the St. Petersburg Engineering Academy and the New York Academy of Sciences, author of 10 textbooks, 8 handbooks, 10 monographs, over 400 articles in domestic and foreign journals, and holds 70 patents for inventions. Professor N. P. Elinov is widely recognized in the scientific community for his work in areas such as biology of aposporous yeast, chemistry and biotechnology of microbial polysaccharides, and others. He has established a school of students and followers, including 50 candidates and 9 Doctors of Science. Under his guidance, the microbiology department laid the foundations for engineering and microbiological training of specialists. As the rector of LCFI, Nikolai Petrovich contributed to the organization of the country’s only faculty for training biotechnology engineers, leading the university to top positions in preparing specialists for the pharmaceutical industry. In 1968, Nikolai Petrovich became a member of the International Commission on Yeast Organisms of the International Union of Microbiological Societies. His name was included in the book “2000 Outstanding Scientists of the Late 20th Century” (1998) by the Cambridge International Biographical Center (UK), where he was recognized as a specialist in microbiology and biotechnology. This essay, based on archival materials, publications, articles, and colleagues’ memories, reveals the key milestones in the life and scientific achievements of Nikolai Petrovich Elinov.

Molecular characterization of a short-chained pentraxin gene from kuruma shrimp Marsupenaeus japonicus hemocytes

Pentraxins (PTXs) are a family of pattern recognition proteins (PRPs) that play a role in pathogen recognition during infection via pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs). Here, we characterized a short-chained pentraxin isolated from kuruma shrimp (Marsupenaeus japonicus) hemocytes (MjPTX). MjPTX contains the pentraxin signature HxCxS/TWxS (where x can be any amino acid), although the second conserved residue of this signature differed slightly (L instead of C). In the phylogenetic analysis, MjPTX clustered closely with predicted sequences from crustaceans (shrimp, lobster, and crayfish) displaying high sequence identities exceeding 52.67 %. In contrast, MjPTX showed minimal sequence identity when compared to functionally similar proteins in other animals, with sequence identities ranging from 20.42 % (mouse) to 28.14 % (horseshoe crab). MjPTX mRNA transcript levels increased significantly after artificial infection with Vibrio parahaemolyticus (48 h), White Spot Syndrome Virus (72 h) and Yellow Head Virus (24 and 48 h). Assays done in vitro revealed that recombinant MjPTX (rMjPTX) has an ability to agglutinate Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria and to bind microbial polysaccharides and bacterial suspensions in the presence of Ca2+. Taken together, our results suggest that MjPTX functions as a classical pattern recognition protein in the presence of calcium ions, that is capable of binding to specific moieties present on the surface of microorganisms and facilitating their clearance.

Gellan Gum as a Unique Microbial Polysaccharide: Its Characteristics, Synthesis, and Current Application Trends.

Gellan gum (GG) is a linear, negatively charged exopolysaccharide that is biodegradable and non-toxic. When metallic ions are present, a hard and transparent gel is produced, which remains stable at a low pH. It exhibits high water solubility, can be easily bio-fabricated, demonstrates excellent film/hydrogel formation, is biodegradable, and shows biocompatibility. These characteristics render GG a suitable option for use in food, biomedical, and cosmetic fields. Thus, this review paper offers a concise summary of microbial polysaccharides. Moreover, an in-depth investigation of trends in different facets of GG, such as biosynthesis, chemical composition, and physical and chemical properties, is emphasized. In addition, this paper highlights the process of extracting and purifying GG. Furthermore, an in-depth discussion of the advantages and disadvantages of GG concerning other polysaccharides is presented. Moreover, the utilization of GG across different industries, such as food, medicine, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, etc., is thoroughly examined and will greatly benefit individuals involved in this field who are seeking fresh opportunities for innovative projects in the future.

Identification of exopolysaccharide synthesizing genes in bacteria isolated from Bonny River in Rivers State, Nigeria

Microbial polysaccharide is the most important biopolymer secreted either by bacteria, fungi, or yeast as natural non-toxic, biodegradable and renewable sugar monomers. Microbial EPS owing to their interesting physicochemical and rheological properties has a wide range of industrial application such as in pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, food and Microbial enhanced oil recovery. This study was aimed to identify exopolysaccharide synthesizing genes in three bacterial isolates from Bonny River in Rivers State, Nigeria. The bacterial isolates were identified using the 16S rRNA gene sequence of the strains which carefully studied by making reference to the GenBank database using a BLAST search as Bacillus xiamensis, Bacillus safensis and Exiguobacterium aurantiacum using 16S rRNA PCR technique. Two priming Gylcosyltranferase genes (pGT) rfbp and cpsD were probed in the genome of the isolates after identification of the isolates. Two isolates Bacillus safensis and Exiguobacterium aurantiacum had both rfbp and cpsD genes while Bacillus xiamensis had only rfbp gene but no cpsD gene. The three isolates were examined for the Exopolysaccharide production on a minimal medium that contained g/l: KH2PO4 0.2, K2HPO4 1.5, MgSO4.7H2O 0.2, CaSO4.2H2O 0.1, FeCl3 0.002, yeast extract 0.5 and sucrose 20 and all three isolates produced EPS. At Optimum biomass of 0.15g/10 ml, the highest EPS yield of 10.20 g/l was obtained from Bacillus safenis. Exiguobacterium aurantiacum had optimum biomass of 0.11g/10ml with an EPS yield of 6.15g/l. The least biomass of 0.08g/10ml and EPS yield of 3.62 g/10ml was observed in Bacillus xiamensis. The biomass production was determined at Optical Density (OD) of 600nm while the EPS production was quantified by the Phenol Sulphuric acid method using glucose as a standard.

New Horizons in Probiotics: Unraveling the Potential of Edible Microbial Polysaccharides through In Vitro Digestion Models.

In vitro digestion models, as innovative assessment tools, possess advantages such as speed, high throughput, low cost, and high repeatability. They have been widely applied to the investigation of food digestion behavior and its potential impact on health. In recent years, research on edible polysaccharides in the field of intestinal health has been increasing. However, there is still a lack of systematic reviews on the application of microbial-derived edible polysaccharides in in vitro intestinal models. This review thoroughly discusses the limitations and challenges of static and dynamic in vitro digestion experiments, while providing an in-depth introduction to several typical in vitro digestion models. In light of this, we focus on the degradability of microbial polysaccharides and oligosaccharides, with a particular emphasis on edible microbial polysaccharides typically utilized in the food industry, such as xanthan gum and gellan gum, and their potential impacts on intestinal health. Through this review, a more comprehensive understanding of the latest developments in microbial polysaccharides, regarding probiotic delivery, immobilization, and probiotic potential, is expected, thus providing an expanded and deepened perspective for their application in functional foods.

Characteristic analysis and fermentation optimization of a novel Aureobasidium pullulans RM1603 with high pullulan yield

A high-yielding microbial polysaccharide-producing strain, named RM1603, was isolated from rhizosphere soil and identified by morphological and phylogenetic analysis. The extracellular polysaccharides (EPS) were identified by thin-layer chromatography and infrared spectroscopy. The fermentation conditions were optimized by single factor experiments in shake flasks and a 5-L fermentor. The results of morphological and phylogenetic tree analysis showed that RM1603 was a strain of Aureobasidium pullulans. Its microbial polysaccharide was identified as pullulan, and the EPS production capacity reached 33.07 ± 1.03gL-1 in shake flasks. The fermentation conditions were optimized in a 5-L fermentor, and were found to encompass an initial pH of 6.5, aeration rate of 2 vvm, rotor speed of 600rpm, and inoculum size of 2%. Under these conditions, the pullulan yield of RM1603 reached 62.52 ± 0.24gL-1. Thus, this study contributes RM1603 as a new isolation with high-yielding pullulan and potential application value in biotechnology.

Impact of changes in biofilm composition response following chlorine and chloramine disinfection on nitrogenous disinfection byproduct formation and toxicity risk in drinking water distribution systems

In practical drinking water treatment, chlorine and chloramine disinfection exhibit different mechanisms that affect biofilm growth. This study focused on the influence of biofilm composition changes, especially extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) fractions, on the potential formation and toxicity of nitrogenous disinfection by-products (N-DBP). Significant differences in microbial diversity and community structure were observed between the chlorine and chloramine treatments. Notably, the biofilms from the chloramine-treated group had higher microbial dominance and greater accumulation of organic precursors, as evidenced by the semi-quantitative confocal laser-scanning microscopy assay of more concentrated microbial aggregates and polysaccharide proteins in the samples. Additionally, the chloramine-treated group compared with chlorine had a higher EPS matrix content, with a 13.5 % increase in protein. Furthermore, the protein distribution within the biofilm differed; in the chlorine group, proteins were concentrated in the central region, whereas in the chloramine group, proteins were primarily located at the water–biofilm interface. Notably, functional prediction analyses of protein fractions in biofilms revealed specific functional regulation patterns and increased metabolism-related abundance of proteins in the chlorine-treated group. This increase was particularly pronounced for proteins such as dehydrogenases, reductases, transcription factors, and acyl-CoA dehydrogenases. By combining the Fukui function and density functional calculations to further analyse the effect of biofilm component changes on N-DBP production under chlorine/chloramine and by assessing the toxicity risk potential of N-DBP, it was determined that chloramine disinfection is detrimental to biofilm control and the accumulation of protein precursors has a higher formation potential of N-DBPs and toxicity risk, increasing the health risk of drinking water.

Commercial Utilization of Microbial Polysaccharides: A Brief Global Perspective

Microbial polysaccharides are the water soluble renewable biopolymers which comprise a variety of polysaccharides produced by bacteria, fungi and yeast. These microbial polysaccharides have unusual molecular structure and peculiar conformations rendering them with unique and potentially interesting properties. In recent years, demand of natural polymers for various industrial applications has led to an increased attention towards production of microbial polysaccharides. Since the microbial origin polysaccharides have properties identical to the currently used gums they have been widely used as an alternative in various food, pharmaceutical, and cosmeceutical industries as emulsifiers, binders, gelling agents and suspending agents. There has been an increase in the adoption of microbially sourced polysaccharides and this surge in demand has resulted in the manufacturers to now focus on enhancing their production capacity. The current review deals with the worldwide commercial utilization of the microbial polysaccharides and their present status in the polysaccharide market.

Use of Reductive Amination to Produce Capsular Polysaccharide-Based Glycoconjugates.

Reductive amination is a relatively simple and convenient strategy for coupling purified polysaccharides to carrier proteins. Following their synthesis, glycoconjugates can be used to assess the protective capacity of specific microbial polysaccharides in animal models of infection and/or to produce polyclonal antiserum and monoclonal antibodies for a variety of immune assays. Here, we describe a reproducible method for chemically activating the 6-deoxyheptan capsular polysaccharide (CPS) from Burkholderia pseudomallei and covalently linking it to recombinant CRM197 diphtheria toxin mutant (CRM197) to produce the glycoconjugate, CPS-CRM197. Similar approaches can also be used to couple other types of polysaccharides to CRM197 with little to no modification of the protocol.

Antioxidant Activity of Polysaccharides From Natural Sources

Oxidative stress is associated with the development of many diseases, such as chronic inflammation, cardiovascular disease and cancer. Antioxidants can scavenge free radicals in the body, reduce the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and effectively prevent oxidative stress. Polysaccharide is a antioxidants that widely found in natural resources, which is a kind of high molecular polymer with antioxidant activity. It can prevent oxidative stress and play a role in disease prevention through various mechanisms. In this paper, the different types of polysaccharides were summarized, such as plant polysaccharides, algal polysaccharides, microbial polysaccharides and animal polysaccharides, and their antioxidant mechanism and application in the treatment of disease were also discussed. we hope this review can offer some theoretical basis and inspiration for the antioxidant activity study and application of polysaccharides from natural resources.

Dextran of Diverse Molecular-Configurations Used as a Blood-Plasma Substitute, Drug-Delivery Vehicle and Food Additive Biosynthesized by Leuconostoc, Lactobacillus and Weissella

Dextran, a microbial metabolite of diverse molecular configurations, can be biosynthesized employing selected strains of characterized species of bacteria. Dextran molecules are secreted as an extracellular polysaccharide in the culture medium of the bacterial fermentation system. This microbially produced polymer of glucose possesses multi-faceted characteristics such as its solubility in different solvents and formation of dextran solutions of needed viscosity. Several preparations can be formulated for the desired thermal and rheological properties. Due to such multifunctional characteristics, dextran with different structural specifications is a desired polysaccharide for clinical, pharmaceutical, and food industry commercial applications. Dextran and its derivative products with various molecular weights, in a range of high and low, have established their uses in drug delivery and in analytical devices using columns packed with polysaccharide gel. Therefore, being a neutral raw material, the resourcefulness of dextran preparations of different molecular weights and linkages in their polymer configuration is important. For this purpose, several studies have been performed to produce this commercially important polysaccharide under optimized bacterial cultivation processes. This article aims to overview recently published research reports on some significant applications of dextran in the pharmaceutical and food industries. Studies conducted under optimized conditions in fermentation processes for the biosynthesis of dextran of diverse molecular configurations, which are responsible for its multifunctional properties, have been summarized. Concise information has been presented in three separate tables for each group of specific bacterial species employed to obtain this extracellular microbial polysaccharide.

A New Exopolysaccharide of Marine Coral-Associated Aspergillus pseudoglaucus SCAU265: Structural Characterization and Immunomodulatory Activity.

Recent studies have found that many marine microbial polysaccharides exhibit distinct immune activity. However, there is a relative scarcity of research on the immunomodulatory activity of marine fungal exopolysaccharides. A novel water-soluble fungal exopolysaccharide ASP-1 was isolated from the fermentation broths of marine coral-associated fungus Aspergillus pseudoglaucus SCAU265, and purified by Diethylaminoethyl-Sepharose-52 (DEAE-52) Fast Flow and Sephadex G-75. Structural analysis revealed that ASP-1 had an average molecular weight of 36.07 kDa and was mainly composed of (1→4)-linked α-D-glucopyranosyl residues, along with highly branched heteropolysaccharide regions containing 1,4,6-glucopyranosyl, 1,3,4-glucopyranosyl, 1,4,6-galactopyranosyl, T(terminal)-glucopyranosyl, T-mannopyranosyl, and T-galactopyranosyl residues. ASP-1 demonstrated significant effects on the proliferation, nitric oxide levels, and the secretion of cytokines TNF-α and IL-6 in macrophage RAW264.7 cells. Metabolomic analysis provided insights into the potential mechanisms of the immune regulation of ASP-1, suggesting its involvement in regulating immune function by modulating amino acid anabolism, particularly arginine synthesis and metabolism. These findings provide fundamental scientific data for further research on its accurate molecular mechanism of immunomodulatory activity.

A synbiotic made of an autochthonous Enterococcus durans strain and microbial polysaccharides improves broiler chicken health

PurposeThe gastrointestinal tract (GI) of organically fed desi chickens fosters a microbiota that can exclude pathogens and be potentially probiotic for improving the gut health of commercial chickens. MethodsA panel of strains were selectively cultured from desi chicken intestine and screened for their antagonism towards specific pathogens. Treating the culture free supernatant (CFS) of such strains with NaOH and proteases gives a picture of the antibacterial compound's biochemistry and determining its minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) provides a measure of potency. The most strongly antagonistic strains were tested in vitro for surviving the chicken GIT. Safety was examined using mucin degradation, gelatin liquefaction, hemolysis, antibiotic susceptibility and biogenic amine production. An in vivo trial was done on young male Ross chickens to evaluate the performance of a bespoke synbiotic formulation comprising of an Enterococcus durans strain (1x108 CFUg−1) with prebiotics Dextran or Levan (0.1% w/v) and with both and assessing its impact on broiler gut microbiota, body and carcass weight, histopathology of organ tissues, and biochemical markers. ResultsA panel of Enterococcus spp. (NPL1315-NPL1334) was obtained and the selected strains (NLP-1319, 20, 24, 27, 34) showed good bile, acid and phenol survival, and cell surface hydrophobicity but not autoaggregation and none of them were deemed unsafe. The synbiotic-fed chickens were significantly heavier, with lowered serum cholesterol, triglycerides and glucose levels and a lesser load of pathogens than the controls. ConclusionDesi chicken intestine can be a viable source of probiotics with good antagonistic potential capable of replacing antibiotics in poultry feed.