A single-cell nanocoating of probiotics for enhanced amelioration of antibiotic-associated diarrhea

Abstract

The gut microbiota represents a large community of microorganisms that play an important role in immune regulation and maintenance of homeostasis. Living bacteria receive increasing interest as potential therapeutics for gut disorders, because they inhibit the colonization of pathogens and positively regulate the composition of bacteria in gut. However, these treatments are often accompanied by antibiotic administration targeting pathogens. In these cases, the efficacy of therapeutic bacteria is compromised by their susceptibility to antibiotics. Here, we demonstrate that a single-cell coating composed of tannic acids and ferric ions, referred to as ‘nanoarmor’, can protect bacteria from the action of antibiotics. The nanoarmor protects both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria against six clinically relevant antibiotics. The multiple interactions between the nanoarmor and antibiotic molecules allow the antibiotics to be effectively absorbed onto the nanoarmor. Armored probiotics have shown the ability to colonize inside the gastrointestinal tracts of levofloxacin-treated rats, which significantly reduced antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD) resulting from the levofloxacin-treatment and improved some of the pre-inflammatory symptoms caused by AAD. This nanoarmor strategy represents a robust platform to enhance the potency of therapeutic bacteria in the gastrointestinal tracts of patients receiving antibiotics and to avoid the negative effects of antibiotics in the gastrointestinal tract.

Microbiome-based interventions to modulate gut ecology and the immune system

“…One such advancement is nanocoating of probiotics in a mixture of tannic acid and ferric ions confers some resistance to antibiotics. In mice, this allows the probiotic to colonise during antibiotic treatment, reducing adverse effects of antibiotic treatment such as weight loss and diarrhoea 305 . The evolutionary trajectory of gut microbes can also be directed via modification of the hosts immune response, such as stimulation of specific IgA responses 306 .…”

“…One such advancement is nanocoating of probiotics in a mixture of tannic acid and ferric ions confers some resistance to antibiotics. In mice, this allows the probiotic to colonise during antibiotic treatment, reducing adverse effects of antibiotic treatment such as weight loss and diarrhoea 305 .…”

The Short-Day Cycle Induces Intestinal Epithelial Purine Metabolism Imbalance and Hepatic Disfunctions in Antibiotic-Mediated Gut Microbiota Perturbation Mice

“…We also noticed that SD had a significant reduction in body mass and organ indexes in ABX mice compared with NC, which was consistent with a previous report [ 26 ], the reason may be that the infusion of antibiotics led to destroy the colonic barrier function and induce colitis, thus having the poor nutritional status in ABX mice [ 26 ]. Another possible reason of dehydration in ABX mice may be that infusion of antibiotics induced chronic diarrhea, which eventually led to malnourishment [ 30 ]. Overall, our data suggested that ABX treatment not only reduced the total mass of the gut microbes, but also altered their compositions.…”

Engineered Living Materials For Sustainability

“…(d) Armor-like metal-phenolic coating materials on the surface protects probiotics from various antibiotics. Reproduced with permission from ref . Copyright 2022 Springer Nature.…”