-
1.
Effects of Loigolactobacillus coryniformis K8 CECT 5711 on the Immune Response of Elderly Subjects to COVID-19 Vaccination: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
Fernández-Ferreiro, A, Formigo-Couceiro, FJ, Veiga-Gutierrez, R, Maldonado-Lobón, JA, Hermida-Cao, AM, Rodriguez, C, Bañuelos, O, Olivares, M, Blanco-Rojo, R
Nutrients. 2022;(1)
Abstract
Elderly people are particularly vulnerable to COVID-19, with a high risk of developing severe disease and a reduced immune response to the COVID-19 vaccine. A randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial to assess the effect of the consumption of the probiotic Loigolactobacillus coryniformis K8 CECT 5711 on the immune response generated by the COVID-19 vaccine in an elderly population was performed. Two hundred nursing home residents >60 yrs that had not COVID-19 were randomized to receive L. coryniformis K8 or a placebo daily for 3 months. All volunteers received a complete vaccination schedule of a mRNA vaccine, starting the intervention ten days after the first dose. Specific IgG and IgA antibody levels were analyzed 56 days after the end of the immunization process. No differences between the groups were observed in the antibody levels. During the intervention, 19 subjects had COVID-19 (11 receiving K8 vs. 8 receiving placebo, p = 0.457). Subgroup analysis in these patients showed that levels of IgG were significantly higher in those receiving K8 compared to placebo (p = 0.038). Among subjects >85 yrs that did not get COVID-19, administration of K8 tended to increase the IgA levels (p = 0.082). The administration of K8 may enhance the specific immune response against COVID-19 and may improve the COVID-19 vaccine-specific responses in elderly populations.
-
2.
Characterization of Lactobacilli isolated from carious dentin after selective caries removal and cavity sealing.
Damé-Teixeira, N, Ev, LD, Bitello-Firmino, L, Soares, VK, Dalalba, RS, Rup, AG, Maltz, M, Parolo, CCF
Archives of oral biology. 2021;:104988
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To characterize lactobacilli isolated from residual carious dentin after selective caries removal (SCR), by observing the changes detected in their prevalence, diversity, and cariogenic potential after starvation stress caused by cavity sealing (CS). DESIGN Lactobacilli were cultured from carious dentin lesions (n = 16 patients) treated in a clinical trial, three months before and after CS. Presumptive lactobacilli were selected, isolated, and analyzed by Gram staining. Housekeeping gene sequences were used to identify the species (groEL, rpoA, pheS, and 16S rRNA). RESULTS N = 86 Lactobacillus spp. (n = 41 before and n = 45 after sealing) were genotyped by AP-PCR and analyzed for their cariogenic potential (acid production and acid tolerance). The proportion of lactobacilli to the total anaerobic counts was high, and a significant decrease was observed after sealing (median before sealing = 78.9; 25th-75th = 60.25-97.35; median after sealing = 0.00; 25th-75th = 0.00-77.08; p = 0.001). L. paracasei was the most prevalent species of lactobacilli in carious dentin (p = 0.02). L. rhamnosus prevalence increased to a proportion similar to L. paracasei after CS (p = 0.001). A total of 28 and 14 different genotypes were found before and after CS, respectively. There was no difference between the L. paracasei and the L. rhamnosus isolated from carious dentin, neither regarding acid production nor acid tolerance. CONCLUSIONS Although there was a significant reduction in lactobacilli in the residual carious dentin after SCR, some strains were capable of surviving after three months of CS. However, the sealed available nutrients are low and not sufficient for caries progression. Also, we believe that a longer follow up period may eliminate all the residual lactobacilli. L. paracasei prevailed in carious dentin in a proportion similar to L. rhamnosus in the sealed dentin. Characterization of lactobacilli after SCR and sealing may help the understanding the importance of genotyping of lactobacilli in carious microbiota.
-
3.
Lactobacillus Kefiri LKF01 (Kefibios®) for Prevention of Diarrhoea in Cancer Patients Treated with Chemotherapy: A Prospective Study.
Ghidini, M, Nicoletti, M, Ratti, M, Tomasello, G, Lonati, V, Ghilardi, M, Parati, MC, Borgonovo, K, Cabiddu, M, Petrelli, F
Nutrients. 2021;(2)
Abstract
Diarrhoea is one of the main side effects that cancer patients face. The literature showsthat the incidence of chemotherapy (CT)-induced diarrhoea (grade 3-4) in treated patients is in the range of 10-20%, particularly after 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) bolus or some combination therapies of irinotecan and fluoropyrimidines. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of Lactobacillus kefiri LKF01 (Kefibios®) in the prevention or treatment of CT-related diarrhoea in the cancer population. We conducted a prospective observational study. Patients enrolled were adults treated for at least four months with 5-FU-based CT. Kefibios® was administered to patients every day. The primary outcome was the evaluation of the incidence of grade 3-4 CT-induced diarrhoea. We included 76 patients in the final analysis. A 6.6% incidence of high-grade diarrhoea was found in the evaluated population (4.7% of patients treated with 5-FU-based therapy and 8.5% of patients treated with capecitabine-based CT). The overall incidence of high-grade diarrhoea observed was higher in the 1st and 2nd cycles (3.9%), with a subsequent sharp reduction from the 3rd cycle (1.3%) and negativisation from the 5th cycle. Lactobacillus kefiri LKF01 (Kefibios®) is safe and effective in preventing severe diarrhoea in cancer patients receiving 5-FU or capecitabine-based treatment.
-
4.
Regulation of Alcohol and Acetaldehyde Metabolism by a Mixture of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium Species in Human.
Jung, SJ, Hwang, JH, Park, EO, Lee, SO, Chung, YJ, Chung, MJ, Lim, S, Lim, TJ, Ha, Y, Park, BH, et al
Nutrients. 2021;(6)
Abstract
Excessive alcohol consumption is one of the most significant causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Alcohol is oxidized to toxic and carcinogenic acetaldehyde by alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and further oxidized to a non-toxic acetate by aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH). There are two major ALDH isoforms, cytosolic and mitochondrial, encoded by ALDH1 and ALDH2 genes, respectively. The ALDH2 polymorphism is associated with flushing response to alcohol use. Emerging evidence shows that Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium species encode alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and acetaldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) mediate alcohol and acetaldehyde metabolism, respectively. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover clinical trial was designed to study the effects of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium probiotic mixture in humans and assessed their effects on alcohol and acetaldehyde metabolism. Here, twenty-seven wild types (ALDH2*1/*1) and the same number of heterozygotes (ALDH2*2/*1) were recruited for the study. The enrolled participants were randomly divided into either the probiotic (Duolac ProAP4) or the placebo group. Each group received a probiotic or placebo capsule for 15 days with subsequent crossover. Primary outcomes were measurement of alcohol and acetaldehyde in the blood after the alcohol intake. Blood levels of alcohol and acetaldehyde were significantly downregulated by probiotic supplementation in subjects with ALDH2*2/*1 genotype, but not in those with ALDH2*1/*1 genotype. However, there were no marked improvements in hangover score parameters between test and placebo groups. No clinically significant changes were observed in safety parameters. These results suggest that Duolac ProAP4 has a potential to downregulate the alcohol and acetaldehyde concentrations, and their effects depend on the presence or absence of polymorphism on the ALDH2 gene.
-
5.
A randomised controlled study shows supplementation of overweight and obese adults with lactobacilli and bifidobacteria reduces bodyweight and improves well-being.
Michael, DR, Jack, AA, Masetti, G, Davies, TS, Loxley, KE, Kerry-Smith, J, Plummer, JF, Marchesi, JR, Mullish, BH, McDonald, JAK, et al
Scientific reports. 2020;(1):4183
Abstract
In an exploratory, block-randomised, parallel, double-blind, single-centre, placebo-controlled superiority study (ISRCTN12562026, funded by Cultech Ltd), 220 Bulgarian participants (30 to 65 years old) with BMI 25-34.9 kg/m2 received Lab4P probiotic (50 billion/day) or a matched placebo for 6 months. Participants maintained their normal diet and lifestyle. Primary outcomes were changes in body weight, BMI, waist circumference (WC), waist-to-height ratio (WtHR), blood pressure and plasma lipids. Secondary outcomes were changes in plasma C-reactive protein (CRP), the diversity of the faecal microbiota, quality of life (QoL) assessments and the incidence of upper respiratory tract infection (URTI). Significant between group decreases in body weight (1.3 kg, p < 0.0001), BMI (0.045 kg/m2, p < 0.0001), WC (0.94 cm, p < 0.0001) and WtHR (0.006, p < 0.0001) were in favour of the probiotic. Stratification identified greater body weight reductions in overweight subjects (1.88%, p < 0.0001) and in females (1.62%, p = 0.0005). Greatest weight losses were among probiotic hypercholesterolaemic participants (-2.5%, p < 0.0001) alongside a significant between group reduction in small dense LDL-cholesterol (0.2 mmol/L, p = 0.0241). Improvements in QoL and the incidence rate ratio of URTI (0.60, p < 0.0001) were recorded for the probiotic group. No adverse events were recorded. Six months supplementation with Lab4P probiotic resulted in significant weight reduction and improved small dense low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (sdLDL-C) profiles, QoL and URTI incidence outcomes in overweight/obese individuals.
-
6.
Critical insights into antibiotic resistance transferability in probiotic Lactobacillus.
Das, DJ, Shankar, A, Johnson, JB, Thomas, S
Nutrition (Burbank, Los Angeles County, Calif.). 2020;:110567
Abstract
Probiotics are live microorganisms that, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host, with respect to metabolism, immune function, and nutrition. Any perturbation of these beneficial microbes leads to gut dysbiosis, which triggers the development of various disorders in the gastrointestinal system. Probiotics play a key role in resolving the dysbiosis posed by external factors such as antibiotics, other substances, or interventions. Supplementing probiotics with antibiotics is favorable in reducing the harmful effects of antibiotics on gut flora. These microbes also possess specific intrinsic drug resistance mechanisms that aid their survival in the internal environment. According to US Food and Drug Administration reports, species belonging to Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium genera are the most common probiotics consumed by humans through commercial products. However, various studies have reported the tendency of microbes to acquire specific drug resistance, in recent years, through various mechanisms. The reports on transferable resistance among probiotics are of major concern, of which minimal information is available to date. The aim of this review was to describe the pros and cons of drug resistance among these beneficial microorganisms with emphasis on the recommended selection criteria for specific probiotics, devoid of transferable drug resistance genes, suitable for human consumption.
-
7.
Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of sourdoughs containing selected Lactobacilli strains are retained in breads.
Luti, S, Mazzoli, L, Ramazzotti, M, Galli, V, Venturi, M, Marino, G, Lehmann, M, Guerrini, S, Granchi, L, Paoli, P, et al
Food chemistry. 2020;:126710
Abstract
Sourdough fermentation influences several properties of leavened baked goods also because Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and yeasts produce bioactive peptides with a positive effect on human health. In an early study, three Lactobacilli strains (L. farciminis H3 and A11 and L. sanfranciscensis I4) possessing different proteolytic activities were used to produce sourdoughs containing peptides equipped with anti-inflammatory and/or antioxidant properties. This work was aimed to assess whether these properties could be retained after cooking. The selected LABs were used to produce breads from which low molecular weight (LMW-) peptides were extracted. The results provide solid proofs of keeping both antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of peptides from cooked products. Sequences of LMW-peptides either from doughs and breads were determined by mass spectrometry: differences have been noticed in amino acidic composition and in sequences, however, all the strains produce peptides equipped with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities.
-
8.
Extremely preterm neonates have more Lactobacillus in meconium than very preterm neonates - the in utero microbial colonization hypothesis.
Morais, J, Marques, C, Teixeira, D, Durão, C, Faria, A, Brito, S, Cardoso, M, Macedo, I, Pereira, E, Tomé, T, et al
Gut microbes. 2020;(1):1785804
-
-
Free full text
-
Abstract
Growing evidence suggests that maternal microbiota can influence the neonates' gut colonization. However, the mechanisms of vertical bacterial transmission remain poorly defined. We believed that the first colonizers of the newborn come from the mother's gut and vagina during pregnancy and that this is independent of the mode of delivery. We conducted an observational longitudinal study to evaluate the link between the maternal gut microbiota and the meconium's microbiota in extremely and very preterm neonates. Bacterial DNA was extracted from samples and specific bacterial groups were quantified by RT-PCR. In this cohort of 117 preterm neonates, we detected bacterial DNA in 88% of meconium samples. Meconium microbiota of neonates born after 28 gestational weeks (very preterm neonates) showed stronger correlations with their mothers' fecal microbiota. However, neonates born before 28 gestational weeks (extremely preterm neonates) had more Lactobacillus - genus that dominated the vaginal microbiota - than very preterm neonates, regardless of the mode of delivery. Collectively, these data support the hypothesis that maternal bacteria from the gut and vagina can play a role in shaping neonates' gut microbiota and that mother-to-infant bacterial transmission is a controlled and time-specific process. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03663556.
-
9.
Probiotic Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium Strains Counteract Adherent-Invasive Escherichia coli (AIEC) Virulence and Hamper IL-23/Th17 Axis in Ulcerative Colitis, but Not in Crohn's Disease.
Leccese, G, Bibi, A, Mazza, S, Facciotti, F, Caprioli, F, Landini, P, Paroni, M
Cells. 2020;(8)
Abstract
Hypersecretion of proinflammatory cytokines and dysregulated activation of the IL-23/Th17 axis in response to intestinal microbiota dysbiosis are key factors in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). In this work, we studied how Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium strains affect AIEC-LF82 virulence mechanisms and the consequent inflammatory response linked to the CCR6-CCL20 and IL-23/Th17 axes in Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) patients. All Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium strains significantly reduced the LF82 adhesion and persistence within HT29 intestinal epithelial cells, inhibiting IL-8 secretion while not affecting the CCR6-CCL20 axis. Moreover, they significantly reduced LF82 survival within macrophages and dendritic cells, reducing the secretion of polarizing cytokines related to the IL-23/Th17 axis, both in healthy donors (HD) and UC patients. In CD patients, however, only B. breve Bbr8 strain was able to slightly reduce the LF82 persistence within dendritic cells, thus hampering the IL-23/Th17 axis. In addition, probiotic strains were able to modulate the AIEC-induced inflammation in HD, reducing TNF-α and increasing IL-10 secretion by macrophages, but failed to do so in IBD patients. Interestingly, the probiotic strains studied in this work were all able to interfere with the IL-23/Th17 axis in UC patients, but not in CD patients. The different interaction mechanisms of probiotic strains with innate immune cells from UC and CD patients compared to HD suggest that testing on CD-derived immune cells may be pivotal for the identification of novel probiotic strains that could be effective also for CD patients.
-
10.
Exopolysaccharides from probiotic bacteria and their health potential.
Angelin, J, Kavitha, M
International journal of biological macromolecules. 2020;:853-865
-
-
Free full text
-
Abstract
Exopolysaccharides (EPS) are extracellular macromolecules excreted as tightly bound capsule or loosely attached slime layer in microorganisms. They play most prominent role against desiccation, phagocytosis, cell recognition, phage attack, antibiotics or toxic compounds and osmotic stress. In the last few decades, natural polymers have gained much attention among scientific communities owing to their therapeutic potential. In particular the EPS retrieved from probiotic bacteria with varied carbohydrate compositions possess a plenty of beneficial properties. Different probiotic microbes have unique behavior in expressing their capability to display significant health promoting characteristics in the form of polysaccharides. In this new era of alternative medicines, these polysaccharides are considered as substitutes for synthetic drugs. The EPS finds applications in various fields like textiles, cosmetics, bioremediation, food and therapeutics. The present review is focused on sources, chemical composition, biosynthetic pathways of EPS and their biological potential. More attention has been given to the scientific investigations on antimicrobial, antitumor, anti-biofilm, antiviral, anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory activities.