Anti-Infective Activities of Lactobacillus Strains in the Human Intestinal Microbiota: from Probiotics to Gastrointestinal Anti-Infectious Biotherapeutic Agents

Abstract

SUMMARY A vast and diverse array of microbial species displaying great phylogenic, genomic, and metabolic diversity have colonized the gastrointestinal tract. Resident microbes play a beneficial role by regulating the intestinal immune system, stimulating the maturation of host tissues, and playing a variety of roles in nutrition and in host resistance to gastric and enteric bacterial pathogens. The mechanisms by which the resident microbial species combat gastrointestinal pathogens are complex and include competitive metabolic interactions and the production of antimicrobial molecules. The human intestinal microbiota is a source from which Lactobacillus probiotic strains have often been isolated. Only six probiotic Lactobacillus strains isolated from human intestinal microbiota, i.e., L. rhamnosus GG, L. casei Shirota YIT9029, L. casei DN-114 001, L. johnsonii NCC 533, L. acidophilus LB, and L. reuteri DSM 17938, have been well characterized with regard to their potential antimicrobial effects against the major gastric and enteric bacterial pathogens and rotavirus. In this review, we describe the current knowledge concerning the experimental antibacterial activities, including antibiotic-like and cell-regulating activities, and therapeutic effects demonstrated in well-conducted, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trials of these probiotic Lactobacillus strains. What is known about the antimicrobial activities supported by the molecules secreted by such probiotic Lactobacillus strains suggests that they constitute a promising new source for the development of innovative anti-infectious agents that act luminally and intracellularly in the gastrointestinal tract.

Breakthrough Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG bacteremia associated with probiotic use in an adult patient with severe active ulcerative colitis: case report and review of the literature

“…Case report We report on a case of bacteremia caused by L. rhamnosus GG in an adult patient affected by severe active ulcerative colitis under treatment with corticosteroids and mesalazine. Lactobacillus bacteremia was associated components of probiotic formulations [2], but their role as opportunistic pathogens, mostly following disruption of the intestinal mucosa, is also emerging [3,4].…”

Potential of Lactic Acid Bacteria Isolated from Dangke and Indonesian Beef as Hypocholesterolaemic Agent

“…One of probiotic properties of Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB) is its resistance to acid and bile salts (Liévin-Le Moal & Servin, 2014;Arief et al, 2015;Syah et al, 2016). The ability of gut microbes to promote de-conjugation of bile acids was considered as a probiotic activity.…”

In Situ Prebiotics for Weaning Piglets: In Vitro Production and Fermentation of Potato Galacto-Rhamnogalacturonan

“…It is also known that various strains of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium act as suppressors or inhibitors of infectious bacteria (11), likely due to production of antimicrobial peptides and organic acids (OAs), as thoroughly reviewed by Liévin-Le Moal and Servin (12). It could then be hypothesized that prebiotic intervention would increase piglet resilience against infection by competitive inhibition of pathogenic bacteria or general improvement of health status.…”