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Microorganisms
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Probiotics and Intestinal Health
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Probiotics and Intestinal Health

A special issue of Microorganisms (ISSN 2076-2607). This special issue belongs to the section "Gut Microbiota".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 February 2022) | Viewed by 22782

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Lorenzo Morelli

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Microbiology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, 20123 Milan, Italy
Interests: food microbiology; pathogens; probiotics; functional food; gut microbiota; nutrition; food safety; food processing and engineering

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

A healthy status of the human gut is essential for human well-being; intestinal microbiota composition is, in turn, essential for gut health.

In the last 20 years, several thousands of papers have been published dealing with one of the tools used to manage this ecosystem: probiotics. This term is frequently used and sometimes misused to cover a wide range of applications of bacteria supposed to be beneficial to the gut ecosystem. Recent research has exploited the use of genomics and metabolomics to assess the action of probiotics. It is therefore important to provide an overview of the most recent updates about the use of probiotics for human beings. This Special Issue aims to collect the latest research regarding viable probiotics, administered as food, food supplement or pharma products.

Original research articles as well as review articles are invited. We also welcome small reviews including history, opinions on future perspectives, and unique case reports.

Prof. Dr. Lorenzo Morelli
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Microorganisms is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • gut health
  • intestinal microbiota
  • probiotics
  • functional food
  • genomics
  • metabolomics

Published Papers (6 papers)

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16 pages, 1733 KiB  
Article
In Vitro Probiotic Modulation of the Intestinal Microbiota and 2′Fucosyllactose Consumption in Fecal Cultures from Infants at Two Months of Age
by Alicja M. Nogacka, Silvia Arboleya, Naghmeh Nikpoor, Jeremie Auger, Nuria Salazar, Isabel Cuesta, Jorge R. Alvarez-Buylla, Laura Mantecón, Gonzalo Solís, Miguel Gueimonde, Thomas A. Tompkins and Clara G. de los Reyes-Gavilán
Microorganisms 2022, 10(2), 318; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/microorganisms10020318 - 29 Jan 2022
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3533
Abstract
2′-fucosyllactose (2′FL) is one of the most abundant oligosaccharides in human milk, with benefits on neonatal health. Previous results point to the inability of the fecal microbiota from some infants to ferment 2′FL. We evaluated a probiotic formulation, including the strains Lactobacillus helveticus [...] Read more.
2′-fucosyllactose (2′FL) is one of the most abundant oligosaccharides in human milk, with benefits on neonatal health. Previous results point to the inability of the fecal microbiota from some infants to ferment 2′FL. We evaluated a probiotic formulation, including the strains Lactobacillus helveticus Rosell®-52 (R0052), Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis Rosell®-33 (R0033), and Bifidobacterium bifidum Rosell®-71 (R0071), individually or in an 80:10:10 combination on the microbiota and 2′FL degradation. Independent batch fermentations were performed with feces from six full-term infant donors of two months of age (three breastfed and three formula-fed) with added probiotic formulation or the constituent strains in the presence of 2′FL. Microbiota composition was analyzed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Gas accumulation, pH decrease and 2′FL consumption, and levels of different metabolites were determined by chromatography. B. bifidum R0071 was the sole microorganism promoting a partial increase of 2′FL degradation during fermentation in fecal cultures of 2′FL slow-degrading donors. However, major changes in microbiota composition and metabolic activity occurred with L. helveticus R0052 or the probiotic formulation in cultures of slow degraders. Further studies are needed to decipher the role of the host intestinal microbiota in the efficacy of these strains. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Probiotics and Intestinal Health)
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15 pages, 2563 KiB  
Article
Biodiversity and Physiological Characteristics of Novel Faecalibacterium prausnitzii Strains Isolated from Human Feces
by Wenbing Hu, Wenyu Gao, Zongmin Liu, Zhifeng Fang, Jianxin Zhao, Hao Zhang, Wenwei Lu and Wei Chen
Microorganisms 2022, 10(2), 297; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/microorganisms10020297 - 26 Jan 2022
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 4611
Abstract
Faecalibacterium prausnitzii is prevalent in the human gut and is a potential candidate for next-generation probiotics (NGPs) or biotherapeutics. However, the biodiversity and physiological characteristics of Faecalibacterium prausnitzii remain unclear. This study isolated 26 novel F. prausnitzii strains from human feces using a [...] Read more.
Faecalibacterium prausnitzii is prevalent in the human gut and is a potential candidate for next-generation probiotics (NGPs) or biotherapeutics. However, the biodiversity and physiological characteristics of Faecalibacterium prausnitzii remain unclear. This study isolated 26 novel F. prausnitzii strains from human feces using a combination of negative screening and prime-specific PCR amplification (NSPA). Based on a 16S rRNA gene analysis, F. prausnitzii strains can be classified into two main phylogroups (phylogroups I and II), which were further clustered into five subgroups (I-A, II-B, II-C, II-D, and II-E). The ultrastructure, colony morphology, growth performance, and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs)-producing ability were found to be variable among these F. prausnitzii isolates. The optimal pH for the isolates growth ranged between 6.0 and 7.0, while most isolates were inhibited by 0.1% of bile salts. Antimicrobial resistance profiles showed that all F. prausnitzii isolates were susceptible to vancomycin, whereas >80% were kanamycin and gentamicin resistant. Additionally, all strains can utilize maltose, cellulose, and fructose but not xylose, sorbose, and 2′-FL. Overall, our work provides new insights into the biodiversity and physiological characteristics of F. prausnitzii, as well as the choices of strains suitable for NGPs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Probiotics and Intestinal Health)
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16 pages, 10311 KiB  
Article
In-Vitro Characterization of Growth Inhibition against the Gut Pathogen of Potentially Probiotic Lactic Acid Bacteria Strains Isolated from Fermented Products
by Ji Young Jung, Sang-Soo Han, Z-Hun Kim, Myung Hoo Kim, Hye Kyeong Kang, Hyun Mi Jin and Mi Hwa Lee
Microorganisms 2021, 9(10), 2141; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/microorganisms9102141 - 13 Oct 2021
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3115
Abstract
Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are probiotic candidates that may restore the balance of microbiota populations in intestinal microbial ecosystems by controlling pathogens and thereby promoting host health. The goal of this study was to isolate potential probiotic LAB strains and characterize their antimicrobial [...] Read more.
Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are probiotic candidates that may restore the balance of microbiota populations in intestinal microbial ecosystems by controlling pathogens and thereby promoting host health. The goal of this study was to isolate potential probiotic LAB strains and characterize their antimicrobial abilities against pathogens in intestinal microbiota. Among 54 LAB strains isolated from fermented products, five LAB strains (NSMJ15, NSMJ16, NSMJ23, NSMJ42, and NFFJ04) were selected as potential probiotic candidates based on in vitro assays of acid and bile salt tolerance, cell surface hydrophobicity, adhesion to the intestinal epithelium, and antagonistic activity. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA genes showed that they have high similarities of 99.58–100% to Lacticaseibacillus paracasei strains NSMJ15 and NFFJ04, Lentilactobacillus parabuchneri NSMJ16, Levilactobacillus brevis NSMJ23, and Schleiferilactobacillus harbinensis NSMJ42. To characterize their antimicrobial abilities against pathogens in intestinal microbiota, the impact of cell-free supernatant (CFS) treatment in 10% (v/v) fecal suspensions prepared using pooled cattle feces was investigated using in vitro batch cultures. Bacterial community analysis using rRNA amplicon sequencing for control and CFS-treated fecal samples at 8 and 16 h incubation showed the compositional change after CFS treatment for all five LAB strains. The changed compositions were similar among them, but there were few variable increases or decreases in some bacterial groups. Interestingly, as major genera that could exhibit pathogenicity and antibiotic resistance, the members of Bacillus, Escherichia, Leclercia, Morganella, and Vagococcus were decreased at 16 h in all CFS-treated samples. Species-level classification suggested that the five LAB strains are antagonistic to gut pathogens. This study showed the probiotic potential of the five selected LAB strains; in particular, their antimicrobial properties against pathogens present in the intestinal microbiota. These strains would therefore seem to play an important role in modulating the intestinal microbiome of the host. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Probiotics and Intestinal Health)
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12 pages, 1530 KiB  
Article
Bacillus licheniformis and Bacillus subtilis, Probiotics That Induce the Formation of Macrophage Extracellular Traps
by Carol M. Romo-Barrera, Laura E. Castrillón-Rivera, Alejandro Palma-Ramos, Jorge I. Castañeda-Sánchez and Julieta Luna-Herrera
Microorganisms 2021, 9(10), 2027; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/microorganisms9102027 - 25 Sep 2021
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 4465
Abstract
Probiotics are considered living microorganisms that help preserve the health of the host who uses them. Bacillus are a genus of Gram-positive bacteria used as probiotics for animal and human consumption. They are currently distributed in various commercial forms. Two of the species [...] Read more.
Probiotics are considered living microorganisms that help preserve the health of the host who uses them. Bacillus are a genus of Gram-positive bacteria used as probiotics for animal and human consumption. They are currently distributed in various commercial forms. Two of the species used as probiotics are B. licheniformis and B. subtilis. Macrophages are central cells in the immune response, being fundamental in the elimination of microbial pathogens, for which they use various mechanisms, including the formation of extracellular traps (METs). There have been very few studies carried out on the participation of macrophages in response to the interaction of probiotics of the genus Bacillus with the host. In this work, we used macrophages from the J774A mouse cell line.1, and we found that they are susceptible to infection by the two Bacillus species. However, both species were eliminated as the infection progressed. Using confocal microscopy, we identified the formation of METs from the first hours of infection, which were characterized by the presence of myeloperoxidase (MPO) and citrullinated histone (Hit3Cit). Quantitative data on extracellular DNA release were also obtained; release was observed starting in the first hour of infection. The induction of METs by B. licheniformis caused a significant decrease in the colony-forming units (CFU) of Staphylococcus aureus. The induction of METS by bacteria of the Bacillus genus is a mechanism that participates in controlling the probiotic and potentially pathogenic bacteria such as S. aureus. The induction of METs to control pathogens may be a novel mechanism that could explain the beneficial effects of probiotics of the genus Bacillus. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Probiotics and Intestinal Health)
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15 pages, 3966 KiB  
Article
The Cooperation of Bifidobacterium longum and Active Vitamin D3 on Innate Immunity in Salmonella Colitis Mice via Vitamin D Receptor
by Fu-Chen Huang and Shun-Chen Huang
Microorganisms 2021, 9(9), 1804; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/microorganisms9091804 - 25 Aug 2021
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2444
Abstract
Salmonella spp. remains a major public health problem for the whole world. Intestinal epithelial cells serve as an essential component of the mucosal innate immune system to defend against Salmonella infection. Our in vitro studies showed probiotics and active vitamin D have similar [...] Read more.
Salmonella spp. remains a major public health problem for the whole world. Intestinal epithelial cells serve as an essential component of the mucosal innate immune system to defend against Salmonella infection. Our in vitro studies showed probiotics and active vitamin D have similar effects on innate immunity in Salmonella-infected intestinal epithelial cells, including antimicrobial peptide and inflammatory responses, to protect the host against infection while downregulating detrimental overwhelming inflammation. Hence, we investigated the synergistic effects of probiotics and active vitamin D on Salmonella colitis and translocation to liver and spleen by in vitro and in vivo studies. The Salmonella colitis model is conducted with 6–8 w/o male C57BL/6 mice: Streptomycin (20 mg/mouse p.o.)-pretreated C57BL/6 mice are mock infected with sterile PBS or infected orally with 1 × 108 CFU of a S. Typhimurium wild-type strain SL1344 for 48 h. The mice in the treated groups received 1, 25D daily (0.2 ug/25 g/d) and/or 1 × 108 CFU of probiotics, Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) and Bifidobacterium longum (BL) by intragastric administration for 14 days. The in vivo study demonstrated the combination of probiotic Bifidobacterium longum and active vitamin D3 had the synergistic effects on reducing the severity of Salmonella colitis and body weight loss in C57BL/6 mice by reducing cecal inflammatory mIL-6, mIL-8, mTNF-α and mIL-1β mRNA responses, blocking the translocation of bacteria while enhancing the antimicrobial peptide mhBD-3 mRNA in comparison to the infection only group. However, LGG did not have the same synergistic effects. It suggests the synergistic effects of Bifidobacterium longum and active vitamin D on the antibacterial and anti-inflammatory responses in Salmonella colitis. Therefore, our in vivo studies demonstrated that the combination of probiotic Bifidobacterium longum and active vitamin D3 has the synergistic effects on reducing the severity of Salmonella colitis via the suppression of inflammatory responses, and blocking the translocation of bacteria through the enhancement of antimicrobial peptides. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Probiotics and Intestinal Health)
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18 pages, 2040 KiB  
Case Report
Assessing Gut Microbiota in an Infant with Congenital Propionic Acidemia before and after Probiotic Supplementation
by Andrea Bordugo, Elisa Salvetti, Giulia Rodella, Michele Piazza, Alice Dianin, Angela Amoruso, Giorgio Piacentini, Marco Pane, Sandra Torriani, Nicola Vitulo and Giovanna E. Felis
Microorganisms 2021, 9(12), 2599; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/microorganisms9122599 - 16 Dec 2021
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2726
Abstract
Propionic Acidemia (PA) is a rare inherited metabolic disorder caused by the enzymatic block of propionyl-CoA carboxylase with the consequent accumulation of propionic acid, which is toxic for the brain and cardiac cells. Since a considerable amount of propionate is produced by intestinal [...] Read more.
Propionic Acidemia (PA) is a rare inherited metabolic disorder caused by the enzymatic block of propionyl-CoA carboxylase with the consequent accumulation of propionic acid, which is toxic for the brain and cardiac cells. Since a considerable amount of propionate is produced by intestinal bacteria, interest arose in the attempt to reduce propionate-producing bacteria through a monthly antibiotic treatment of metronidazole. In the present study, we investigated the gut microbiota structure of an infant diagnosed at 4 days of life through Expanded Newborn Screening (NBS) and treated the child following international guidelines with a special low-protein diet, specific medications and strict biochemical monitoring. Microbiota composition was assessed during the first month of life, and the presence of Bacteroides fragilis, known to be associated with propionate production, was effectively decreased by metronidazole treatment. After five antibiotic therapy cycles, at 4 months of age, the infant was supplemented with a daily mixture of three bifidobacterial strains, known not to be propionate producers. The supplementation increased the population of bifidobacteria, with Bifidobacterium breve as the dominating species; Ruminococcus gnavus, an acetate and formate producer, was also identified. Metabarcoding analysis, compared with low coverage whole metagenome sequencing, proved to capture all the microbial biodiversity and could be the elected tool for fast and cost-effective monitoring protocols to be implemented in the follow up of rare metabolic disorders such as PA. Data obtained could be a possible starting point to set up tailored microbiota modification treatment studies in the attempt to improve the quality of life of people affected by propionic acidemia. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Probiotics and Intestinal Health)
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