Bifidobacterium Longum Strains Research Articles

L. plantarum UBLP-40 Versus the Combined Formula of L. rhamnosus UBLP-58 and B. longum UBBL-64 in Excisional Wound Healing: A Cellular Perspective.

The utilization of probiotics in enhancing the active healing of skin wounds represents a burgeoning trend in contemporary medicine. Previous research has extensively explored wound healing mechanisms involving the strains of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum, Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus, and Bifidobacterium longum. This study seeks to compare and interpret cellular findings derived from immunohistochemical and pathological applications. Three groups (the control, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum (RO1) group, and Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus and Bifidobacterium longum (PRO2) group) underwent histological analysis, and microscopic cell counting were employed, offering insights into dynamic changes among neutrophils, lymphocytes, plasmacytes, mast cells, fibroblasts, and newly formed vessels across distinct treatment groups and temporal intervals. The neutrophil count was found to be elevated in PRO2 on day 2, while the same group resulted in the highest decline on day 15. The number of fibroblasts peaked on day 4 for the PRO1 group, compared to the other two groups, which peaked on day 8. The lymphocyte count was the highest in the control group, while they peaked on day 4 in PRO2. The mast cells and plasmacytes were variable and sparse among all groups and time frames. Neovascularization was promoted by PRO1 and PRO2 groups on day 4 and remained high on day 8 for PRO2. Probiotic strains can be beneficial to the human population and in assisting skin wound healing, each strain working differently and more effectively in different healing phases. Thus, a combined formula containing different probiotics to modulate various healing phases is desirable.

ANTIMICROBIAL, ANTIOXIDANT, AND OPTIMAL CONDITION FOR EXOPOLYSACCHARIDES SECRATED FROM NEW LOCAL STRAIN-ISOLATE Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis strain Iraq-Basrah 3

Metabolic products of exopolysaccharide (EPS) generated by LAB strains have several biomedical effects. Our study focused on the isolation of a new strain of Bifidobacterium spp. From the sources of children's feces, examining them to choose the best EPS-producing strain, studying all the optimal conditions to increase the efficiency of producing more EPS, knowing the stage of their production, and finally introducing them into biomedical applications to test their antimicrobial and antioxidant activities. EPS is secreted by the most efficient new local strain Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis strain Iraq-Basrah 3 was extracted and purified, resulting in the highest production (2.08±0.41 g/L) in 1% (w/v) starch, which is the best carbon source with the best inoculum size of 1% (v/v) in 18 h at 37 °C and a pH value of 6.5. Coinciding with the best production phase, the generation time for the new strain was 32.2 min, and maximum production occurred after 16 h (2,45 g/L) to 20 h (2.14 g/L) between the end of the logarithmic phase and the early stationary phase. EPS exhibited antimicrobial activity, where S. aureus (17.24±1.2 mm) and E. coli (16.6±0.94 mm) were immediately resistant to EPS. In contrast, other pathogens were resistant to EPS, whereas strong antioxidant activity was observed at a concentration of 1500 µg/ml (84.43±0.95%). Through this study, we have proven that optimal conditions directly affect the quantity and production of EPS and that it has an inhibitory effect on some microbes in addition to being a natural antioxidant for DPPH free radicals.

Investigation of Effects of Novel Bifidobacterium longum ssp. longum on Gastrointestinal Microbiota and Blood Serum Parameters in a Conventional Mouse Model.

Representatives of the genus Bifidobacterium are widely used as probiotics to modulate the gut microbiome and alleviate various health conditions. The action mechanisms of probiotics rely on their direct effect on the gut microbiota and the local and systemic effect of its metabolites. The main purpose of this animal experiment was to assess the biosafety of the Bifidobacterium longum strain BIOCC1719. Additional aims were to characterise the influence of the strain on the intestinal microbiota and the effect on several health parameters of the host during 15- and 30-day oral administration of the strain to mice. The strain altered the gut microbial community, thereby altering luminal short-chain fatty acid metabolism, resulting in a shift in the proportions of acetic, butyric, and propionic acids in the faeces and serum of the test group mice. Targeted metabolic profiling of serum revealed the possible ability of the strain to positively affect the hosts' amino acids and bile acids metabolism, as the cholic acid, deoxycholic acid, aspartate, and glutamate concentration were significantly higher in the test group. The tendency to increase anti-inflammatory polyamines (spermidine, putrescine) and neuroprotective 3-indolepropionic acid metabolism and to lower uremic toxins (P-cresol-SO4, indoxyl-SO4) was registered. Thus, B. longum BIOCC1719 may exert health-promoting effects on the host through modulation of the gut microbiome and the host metabolome via inducing the production of health-promoting bioactive compounds. The health effects of the strain need to be confirmed in clinical trials with human volunteers.

Bifidobacterium longum Subsp. infantis Promotes IgA Level of Growing Mice in a Strain-Specific and Intestinal Niche-Dependent Manner.

Throughout infancy, IgA is crucial for maintaining gut mucosal immunity. This study aims to determine whether supplementing newborn mice with eight different strains of Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis might regulate their IgA levels. The strains were gavaged to BALB/C female (n = 8) and male (n = 8) dams at 1-3 weeks old. Eight strains of B. longum subsp. infantis had strain-specific effects in the regulation of intestinal mucosal barriers. B6MNI, I4MI, and I10TI can increase the colonic IgA level in females and males. I8TI can increase the colonic IgA level in males. B6MNI was also able to significantly increase the colonic sIgA level in females. B6MNI, I4MI, I8TI, and I10TI regulated colonic and Peyer's patch IgA synthesis genes but had no significant effect on IgA synthesis pathway genes in the jejunum and ileum. Moreover, the variety of sIgA-coated bacteria in male mice was changed by I4MI, I5TI, I8TI, and B6MNI. These strains also can decrease the relative abundance of Escherichia coli. These results indicate that B. longum subsp. infantis can promote IgA levels but show strain specificity. Different dietary habits with different strains of Bifidobacterium may have varying effects on IgA levels when supplemented in early infancy.

The Anti-Inflammatory and Curative Exponent of Probiotics: A Comprehensive and Authentic Ingredient for the Sustained Functioning of Major Human Organs.

Several billion microorganisms reside in the gastrointestinal lumen, including viruses, bacteria, fungi, and yeast. Among them, probiotics were primarily used to cure digestive disorders such as intestinal infections and diarrhea; however, with a paradigm shift towards alleviating health through food, their importance is large. Moreover, recent studies have changed the perspective that probiotics prevent numerous ailments in the major organs. Probiotics primarily produce biologically active compounds targeting discommodious pathogens. This review demonstrates the implications of using probiotics from different genres to prevent and alleviate ailments in the primary human organs. The findings reveal that probiotics immediately activate anti-inflammatory mechanisms by producing anti-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-4, IL-10, IL-11, and IL-13, and hindering pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1, IL-6, and TNF-α by involving regulatory T cells (Tregs) and T helper cells (Th cells). Several strains of Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus reuteri, Bifidobacterium longum, and Bifidobacterium breve have been listed among the probiotics that are excellent in alleviating various simple to complex ailments. Therefore, the importance of probiotics necessitates robust research to unveil the implications of probiotics, including the potency of strains, the optimal dosages, the combination of probiotics, their habitat in the host, the host response, and other pertinent factors.

A Novel Bifidobacterium longum ssp. longum Strain with Pleiotropic Effects.

Postbiotics are gaining increasing interest among the scientific community as well as at the level of food processing enterprises. The aim of this preliminary study was to characterise the metabolic diversity of a novel Bifidobacterium longum strain, BIOCC 1719, of human origin. The change after 24 h cultivation in three media was assessed using a metabolomic approach. Milk-based substrates favoured the activity of the strain, promoting the production of B vitamins, essential amino acids, bile acids, and fatty acids. Vitamins B1, B2, B6, B7, and B12 (with an average increase of 20-30%) were produced in both whole milk and whey; the increased production in the latter was as high as 100% for B7 and 744% for B12. The essential amino acids methionine and threonine were produced (>38%) in both milk and whey, and there was an increased production of leucine (>50%) in milk and lysine (126%) in whey. Increases in the content of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) by 20%, deoxycholic acid in milk and whey (141% and 122%, respectively), and cholic acid (52%) in milk were recorded. During the preliminary characterisation of the metabolic diversity of the novel B. longum strain, BIOCC 1719, we identified the bioactive compounds produced by the strain during fermentation. This suggests its potential use as a postbiotic ingredient to enrich the human diet.

A metabolomics-driven model for early remission prediction following vedolizumab treatment in patients with moderate-to-severe active ulcerative colitis

To predict early remission following anti-integrin therapy (vedolizumab [VDZ]) in patients with moderate-to-severe active ulcerative colitis (UC) using non-invasive biomarkers. The clinical data of a cohort of 33 patients with moderate-to-severe active UC admitted to the Department of Gastroenterology at Suzhou Municipal Hospital between January 2021 and December 2022 were collected. Of these, 9 patients declined VDZ treatment, and 21 received VDZ at doses of 300 mg weeks 0, 2, and 6, each administered within a 30-minute infusion period. The treatment regimen aimed to induce remission of clinical symptoms; hence, the same dose was administered every 8 weeks. At weeks 0 and 14, serum C-reactive protein (CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate were measured using a modified Mayo score. In addition to clinical assessment, stool samples at baseline and weeks 14 were collected and evaluated using 16SrRNA gene sequencing and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS). Clinical remission was determined based on the clinical symptoms and partial Mayo scores. In patients who received VDZ, the strains of bifidobacterium longum (P = 0.022) and bacteroides sartorii (P = 0.039) significantly increased after treatment than before treatment. GC–MS analysis showed that taurine (P = 0.047) and putrescine (P = 0.035) significantly decreased after treatment. Furthermore, while acetamide exhibited a notable increase (P = 0.001), arachidic acid (P < 0.001) and behenic acid (P = 0.005) demonstrated statistically significant elevations. The combined prediction model of acetamide, taurine, and putrescine demonstrated a high predictive value of early remission in patients with moderate-to-severe active UC following VDZ treatment (area under the curve = 0.911, P = 0.014).

Alternative Fermented Soy-Based Beverage: Impact of Inulin on the Growth of Probiotic Strains and Starter Culture

The number of people with dietary restrictions on dairy products has increased significantly due to lactose intolerance/allergy or adoption of vegan diets. Organic acid-producing probiotics have been used in fermented beverages, such as those based on soy, with good results. Such molecules have in fact been described for their role in sensory analyses and benefits to human health. Therefore, this study suggested the evaluation of an alternative soy extract-based beverage that could act as a functional food. For this purpose, products and biomass concentrations were monitored throughout soy extract fermentation through acidification kinetics and cell count. The effect of inulin on the growth of the probiotic strains Bifidobacterium longum and Lactobacillus acidophilus in co-culture with Streptococcus thermophilus and Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus was evaluated (technical replicates). It was observed that the addition of inulin reduced the time of fermentation by L. acidophilus, while no statistically significant effect was observed in the post-acidification period. In B. longum fermentation, the process did not change in the presence of inulin, but there was a significant increase in viability and survival in the post-acidification period. Therefore, it can be concluded that the strains studied can be used in the formulation of soy-based drinks and that inulin positively influenced the viability of both probiotics in fermented drinks tested.

Modulation of microbiota as a target in the management of patients with irritable bowel syndrome

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is one of the most common diseases of the digestive tract. IBS negatively affects the quality of life and work ability of patients. It is generally accepted that IBS is an important medical and social problem associated with high financial costs both on the part of the patient and the public health system. The pathophysiology of the disease involves the participation of many factors (genetic, dietary, psychosocial, infectious) and the mechanisms of their implementation, including disruption of interaction along the functional “gut-brain axis”, visceral hypersensitivity, changes in motility, low-grade inflammation, increased permeability of the epithelial intestinal barrier, modulation of microbiota, changes in neurohumoral regulation and processes of central processing of peripheral stimuli. Research shows an important role for gut microbiota in the development of IBS. Modulation of the intestinal microbiota through diet, the use of pre- and probiotics or fecal microbiota transplantation is considered as a promising target for disease therapy. A reduction in the number of bacteria of the genus Bifidobacterium is described as a universal change in the microbiota in IBS, regardless of the clinical course and severity of the disease and the possibility of using different strains of Bifidobacterium in treatment regimens for the disease is of particular interest. This article provides a review of the literature on modern approaches to prescribing probiotics for IBS. Using our own clinical observations as an example, we demonstrated the effectiveness and safety of prolonged administration of the probiotic strain Bifidobacterium longum 35624® for up to 12 weeks.

Supplementation with the Probiotic Strains Bifidobacterium longum and Lactiplantibacillus rhamnosus Alleviates Glucose Intolerance by Restoring the IL-22 Response and Pancreatic Beta Cell Dysfunction in Type 2 Diabetic Mice.

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is known as adult-onset diabetes, but recently, T2D has increased in the number of younger people, becoming a major clinical burden in human society. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of Bifidobacterium and Lactiplantibacillus strains derived from the feces of 20 healthy humans on T2D development and to understand the mechanism underlying any positive effects of probiotics. We found that Bifidobacterium longum NBM7-1 (Chong Kun Dang strain 1; CKD1) and Lactiplantibacillus rhamnosus NBM17-4 (Chong Kun Dang strain 2; CKD2) isolated from the feces of healthy Korean adults (n = 20) have anti-diabetic effects based on the insulin sensitivity. During the oral gavage for 8weeks, T2D mice were supplemented with anti-diabetic drugs (1.0-10mg/kg body weight) to four positive and negative control groups or four probiotics (200 uL; 1 × 109CFU/mL) to groups separately or combined to the four treatment groups (n = 6 per group). While acknowledging the relatively small sample size, this study provides valuable insights into the potential benefits of B. longum NBM7-1 and L. rhamnosus NBM17-4 in mitigating T2D development. The animal gene expression was assessed using a qRT-PCR, and metabolic parameters were assessed using an ELISA assay. We demonstrated that B. longum NBM7-1 in the CKD1 group and L. rhamnosus NBM17-4 in the CKD2 group alleviate T2D development through the upregulation of IL-22, which enhances insulin sensitivity and pancreatic functions while reducing liver steatosis. These findings suggest that B. longum NBM7-1 and L. rhamnosus NBM17-4 could be the candidate probiotics for the therapeutic treatments of T2D patients as well as the prevention of type 2 diabetes.

Anti-Melanogenic and Antioxidant Activity of Bifidobacterium longum Strain ZJ1 Extracts, Isolated from a Chinese Centenarian.

Melanin produced by melanocytes protects our skin against ultraviolet (UV) radiation-induced cell damage and oxidative stress. Melanin overproduction by hyperactivated melanocytes is the direct cause of skin hyperpigmentary disorders, such as freckles and melasma. Exploring natural whitening agents without the concern of toxicity has been highly desired. In this study, we focused on a Bifidobacterium longum strain, ZJ1, isolated from a Chinese centenarian, and we evaluated the anti-melanogenic activity of the distinctive extracts of ZJ1. Our results demonstrated that whole lysate (WL) and bacterial lysate (BL) of ZJ1 ferments efficiently reduce α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH)-induced melanin production in B16-F10 cells as well as the melanin content in zebrafish embryos. BL and WL downregulate melanogenesis-related gene expression and indirectly inhibit intracellular tyrosinase activity. Furthermore, they both showed antioxidant activity in a menadione-induced zebrafish embryo model. Our results suggest that ZJ1 fermentation lysates have application potential as therapeutic reagents for hyperpigmentary disorders and whitening agents for cosmetics.

Structural changes of polysaccharides from Astragulus after honey processing and their bioactivities on human gut microbiota.

Astragali Radix (also known as Astragulus) is a traditional medicinal and edible homologous plant for tonifying Qi. Honey-processed Astragalus is a dosage form of Astragali Radix processed with honey, which exhibited better efficacy of tonifying Qi than the raw product. Polysaccharides are their main active components. APS2a and HAPS2a were initially isolated from Astragulus and honey-processed Astragulus. Both of them are highly branched acidic heteropolysaccharides containing ɑ-configuration and β-configuration glycosidic bonds. The molecular weight and the molecular dimension of HAPS2a decreased and the GalA contained in APS2a was converted to Gal in HAPS2a. The α-configuration galactose residue 1,3,4-α-Galp in the backbone of APS2a was converted to the corresponding β-configuration galactose residue 1,3,4-β-Galp in the backbone of HAPS2a and the uronic acid residue T-α-GalpA in the sidechain of APS2a was converted to the corresponding neutral residue T-α-Galp in the side chain of HAPS2a. Bioactivity results showed that HAPS2a had better probiotic effects on Bacteroides ovatus, Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron, Bifidobacterium longum and Lactobacillus rhamnosus strains than APS2a. After degradation, the molecular weights of HAPS2a and APS2a decreased with the changes in their monosaccharide composition. The contents of total short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and other organic acids in HAPS2a group were higher than APS2a group. Two novel high-molecular-weight polysaccharides named APS2a and HAPS2a had different probiotic activities in vitro, which might be due to their structural differences before and after honey processing. Both of them might be possibly used as an immunopotentiator in healthy foods or dietary supplement. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

Chinese expert consensus on the application of live combined Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, and Enterococcus powder/capsule in digestive system diseases (2021).

Disturbance of gut microbiota is associated with pathological change in multiple diseases. Probiotics can improve symptoms and exert clinical effects via regulation of gastrointestinal microecological environments, and a probiotic product commonly dispensed by Chinese physicians is a combination of live Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, and Enterococcus in powder/capsule form. It contains three strains-of Bifidobacterium longum, Lactobacillus acidophilus, and Enterococcus faecalis-which can act synergistically to balance the microbiome, regulate immunity, and repair the gut barrier. Although this product has been proven safe and effective in clinical practice, uncertainty remains regarding its use to treat digestive system diseases. To date, there have been no reference standards to guide clinical practice and no relevant expert consensus on this product, in China. Following a literature search, evidence was graded and classified according to the grading of recommendations assessment, development, and evaluation (GRADE) system and consensus was secured from a panel of 52 experts. An expert consensus has been formed, on the clinical application of live combined Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, and Enterococcus in various digestive system diseases, to provide reference for its clinical use. Bifidobacterium triple viable powder/capsule may offer benefits, by regulating the balance of intestinal microecology. It can be used for the treatment and prevention of various digestive system diseases with good overall safety; further research is needed to confirm its application in other contexts. The recommendations in this consensus will be confirmed or refined in light of future research and clinical practice.

Synbiotics production using Lactobacillus reuteri EC01, a strain that produces alternan-type exopolysaccharide

Alternan is an α-glucan polysaccharide with a unique structure that has promise for use as a prebiotic. In this study, we isolated a novel strain of Lactobacillus reuteri BR120 that produces abundant exopolysaccharides (EPSs). Monosaccharide analysis and NMR spectroscopy confirmed the major EPS had an alternan-type structure (α-D-glucan with α-1,6 and α-1,3 linkages), with an average molecular weight of 9.3 × 106 Da. L. reuteri EC01, obtained through gamma-ray mutagenesis of L. reuteri BR120, had a 1.3-fold increased production of alternan-type compound. The prebiotic effect of the alternan-type EPS was similar to that of fructans, metabolized by strains of Bifidobacterium longum and B. breve. Additionally, L. reuteri EC01 had various probiotic activities, with anti-inflammatory, radical scavenging, acid tolerance, bile tolerance, and intestinal adhesion effects. L. reuteri EC01 produced 54.3 g/L of the alternan-type EPS through fed-batch fermentation without aeration at 37 °C, 50 rpm, and pH 5.5. The productivity was 0.91 g/L/h, and the conversion yield was 0.279 g alternan-type EPS/g sucrose. This report describes the highest reported production of an alternan-type EPS from fermentation of Lactobacillus spp. The results suggest the cell biomass and EPS derived from fermentation of L. reuteri EC01 have potential use as synbiotics.

Fermented food products for gastrointestinal health and related diseases

The incidence of lifestyle diseases such as inflammatory bowel diseases is increasing due to unhealthy eating habits and modern lifestyles, resulting in a growing demand for fermented foods worldwide due to their scientifically proven functional and nutritional attributes. Fermented foods are obtained by controlled microbial growth and enzymatic degradation of food constituents. These foods have a good amount of probiotic bacteria and bioactive peptides that benefit human health. Bioactive peptides are formed by either fermentation or enzymatic hydrolysis of food proteins. Fermented foods and beverages i.e., dahi, yogurt, kefir, kimchi, sourdough bread, pickles play a significant role in gut microbiota balance and mental health. Starter culture used in the fermentation of food products provide various health-promoting activities to fermented foods like anti-oxidant activity, anti-hypertensive activity, probiotic activity and improves protein digestibility. Several groups of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strains produce Exopolysaccharides (EPS) such as  and - glucans, galactans, fructans, and gluco- and fructo-oligosaccharides. EPS produced by LAB has a positive impact on gut health. In addition, probiotic bacteria have proven to be a beneficial ingredient for any gut disorder (inside or outside the GI tract). They regulate the level of immunoglobulins (IgA) and inflammatory cytokines and improve gut barrier activity. Symbiotic yogurt (made with bacterial strains of Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium longum) helps raise high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and also changes the ratio of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) to HDL. Consumption of kefir inhibits the pathogen's action by the production of acids and bacteriocins. Isolation and pharmaceutical applications of health-promoting bioactive peptides from fermented foods have been emerging in dairy and food research areas.

The Beneficial Effects of a Multispecies Probiotic Supplement on Glycaemic Control and Metabolic Profile in Adults with Type 1 Diabetes: A Randomised, Double-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled Pilot-Study.

In this pilot-study, the effects of a multispecies probiotic supplement on glycaemic control and metabolic parameters in adults with type 1 diabetes (T1DM) were explored. A total of 50 T1DM patients were enrolled and randomly placed into a group receiving capsules containing multi-probiotic strains (Bifidobacterium longum, Lactobacterium bulagricumi, Streptococcus thermophilus) and insulin (probiotics group, n =27) or a group receiving a placebo and insulin (placebo group, n = 23). All patients underwent continuous glucose monitoring at baseline and 12 weeks after intervention. The primary outcomes were determined by comparing factors such as changes in fasting blood glucose (FBG) and haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) between the groups. Probiotic supplementation significantly reduced FBG (-1.0±4.7 vs 1.8±4.7mmol/L, p = 0.048), 30 min postprandial glucose (-0.5 ± 4.6 vs 1.9 ± 3.3 mmol/L, p = 0.0495), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (-0.07 ± 0.45 vs 0.32±0.78mmol/L, p =0.0413), compared with the placebo. Althoughnotstatisticallysignificant, probiotic supplementation also lowered HbA1c levels by 0.49% (-5.33 mmol/mol, p = 0.310). Besides, no significant difference was observed in the continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) parameters between the two groups. Further subgroup analysis revealed a significant reduction in mean sensor glucose (MSG; -0.75 (-2.11, 0.48) mmol/L vs 1.51 (-0.37, 2.74)mmol/L, p = 0.010) and time above range (TAR; -5.47 (-20.1, 3.04)% vs 18.9 (-1.11, 35.6)%, p =0.006), as well as an greater improvement in the time in range (TIR; 9.32 (-4.84, 16.6)% vs -19.9 (-31.4, 0.69)%, p =0.005) in male patients than female patients in the probiotics group. Multispecies probiotics exerted beneficial effects on fasting and postprandial glucose and lipid profiles in adult T1DM patients, especially for male patients and those with higher baseline FBG levels.

Sharing of Moonlighting Proteins Mediates the Symbiotic Relationship among Intestinal Commensals.

The human gastrointestinal tract is inhabited by trillions of symbiotic bacteria that form a complex ecological community and influence human physiology. Symbiotic nutrient sharing and nutrient competition are the most studied relationships in gut commensals, whereas the interactions underlying homeostasis and community maintenance are not fully understood. Here, we provide insights into a new symbiotic relationship wherein the sharing of secreted cytoplasmic proteins, called "moonlighting proteins," between two heterologous bacterial strains (Bifidobacterium longum and Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron) was observed to affect the adhesion of bacteria to mucins. B. longum and B. thetaiotaomicron were cocultured using a membrane-filter system, and in this system the cocultured B. thetaiotaomicron cells showed greater adhesion to mucins compared to that shown by monoculture cells. Proteomic analysis showed the presence of 13 B. longum-derived cytoplasmic proteins on the surface of B. thetaiotaomicron. Moreover, incubation of B. thetaiotaomicron with the recombinant proteins GroEL and elongation factor Tu (EF-Tu)-two well-known mucin-adhesive moonlighting proteins of B. longum-led to an increase in the adhesion of B. thetaiotaomicron to mucins, a result attributed to the localization of these proteins on the B. thetaiotaomicron cell surface. Furthermore, the recombinant EF-Tu and GroEL proteins were observed to bind to the cell surface of several other bacterial species; however, the binding was species dependent. The present findings indicate a symbiotic relationship mediated by the sharing of moonlighting proteins among specific strains of B. longum and B. thetaiotaomicron. IMPORTANCE The adhesion of intestinal bacteria to the mucus layer is an important colonization strategy in the gut environment. Generally, the bacterial adhesion process is a characteristic feature of the individual cell surface-associated adhesion factors secreted by a particular bacterium. In this study, coculture experiments between Bifidobacterium and Bacteroides show that the secreted moonlighting proteins adhere to the cell surface of coexisting bacteria and alter the adhesiveness of the bacteria to mucins. This finding indicates that the moonlighting proteins act as adhesion factors for not only homologous strains but also for coexisting heterologous strains. The presence of a coexisting bacterium in the environment can significantly alter the mucin-adhesive properties of another bacterium. The findings from this study contribute to a better understanding of the colonization properties of gut bacteria through the discovery of a new symbiotic relationship between them.

Screening of Bifidobacteria with Probiotic Potential from Healthy Infant Feces by Using 2'-Fucosyllactose.

Using 2'-fucosyllactose (2'-FL) as the sole carbon source can be an efficient way to screen bifidobacteria with superior probiotic capabilities since 2'-FL is a key element in promoting the growth of intestinal bifidobacteria in newborns. This approach was used in this work to screen eight bifidobacteria strains, including one strain of Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis BI_Y46 and seven strains of Bifidobacterium bifidum (BB_Y10, BB_Y30, BB_Y39, BB_S40, BB_H4, BB_H5 and BB_H22). Studies on their probiotic properties showed that BI_Y46 had a unique morphology with pilus-like structure, a high resistance to bile salt stimulation and a potent inhibitory action on Escherichia coli ATCC 25922. Similarly, BB_H5 and BB_H22 produced more extracellular polysaccharides and had a higher protein content than other strains. In contrast, BB_Y22 displayed considerable auto-aggregation activity and a high resistance to bile salt stimulation. Interestingly, BB_Y39 with weak self-aggregation ability and acid resistance had very excellent bile salt tolerance, extracellular polysaccharides (EPS) production and bacteriostatic ability. In conclusion, 2'-FL was used as sole carbon source to identify eight bifidobacteria with excellent probiotic properties.

Hypoxia-tolerant apical-out intestinal organoids to model host-microbiome interactions

Microbiome is an integral part of the gut and is essential for its proper function. Imbalances of the microbiota can be devastating and have been linked with several gastrointestinal conditions. Current gastrointestinal models do not fully reflect the in vivo situation. Thus, it is important to establish more advanced in vitro models to study host-microbiome/pathogen interactions. Here, we developed for the first time an apical-out human small intestinal organoid model in hypoxia, where the apical surface is directly accessible and exposed to a hypoxic environment. These organoids mimic the intestinal cell composition, structure and functions and provide easy access to the apical surface. Co-cultures with the anaerobic strains Lactobacillus casei and Bifidobacterium longum showed successful colonization and probiotic benefits on the organoids. These novel hypoxia-tolerant apical-out small intestinal organoids will pave the way for unraveling unknown mechanisms related to host-microbiome interactions and serve as a tool to develop microbiome-related probiotics and therapeutics.

Evaluation of treatment in acute gastroenteritis: A comparative study.

To compare the efficacy of only dietary recommendations, zinc, probiotics and combination therapies in children admitted with acute gastroenteritis. The comparative, prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was conducted from October 2020 to April 2021 at the Paediatric Emergency Service after approval from the ethics review committee of Diyarbakir Gazi Yasargil Training and Research Hospital, Turkey, and comprised infants with a diagnosis of acute gastroenteritis who were divided into four groups. Only appropriate dietary recommendations were given to the control group 1, while group 2 was given a single probiotic containing bifidobacterium breve, bifidobacterium bifidum, bifidobacterium infantis and bifidobacterium longum strains. Group 3 was given zinc and group 4 was given probiotics and zinc. Demographic data of the patients, admission complaints, physical examination findings, dehydration degrees, and laboratory findings were recorded and analysed. Of the 132 subjects, 79 (59.8%) were males. The overall mean age was 27.5±3.6 months. There were 22 (16.7%) patients in group 1, 34 (25.8%) in group 2, 28 (21.2%) in group 3, and 48 (36.4%) in group 4. The mean duration time to diarrhoea termination was 84.5±10.7 hours (range: 79-89 hours) in group 1, 73.05±6.8 hours (range: 70.5-75.4 hours) in group 2, 80.1±10.3 hours (range: 76-84 hours) in group 3, and 43.5±9.6 hours (range: 46-48 hours) in group 4. Group 4 outcome was statistically significant (p<0.001). The efficiency of combined treatment with probiotics and zinc was found to be significantly better in the treatment of childhood acute gastroenteritis.