Effects of probiotics and antibiotics on the intestinal homeostasis in a computer controlled model of the large intestine

Abstract

BackgroundAntibiotic associated diarrhea and Clostridium difficile infection are frequent complications of broad spectrum antibiotic therapy. Probiotic bacteria are used as therapeutic and preventive agents in these disorders, but the exact functional mechanisms and the mode of action are poorly understood. The effects of clindamycin and the probiotic mixture VSL#3 (containing the 8 bacterial strains Streptococcus thermophilus, Bifidobacterium breve, Bifidobacterium longum, Bifidobacterium infantis, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus paracasei and Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. Bulgaricus) consecutively or in combination were investigated and compared to controls without therapy using a standardized human fecal microbiota in a computer-controlled in vitro model of large intestine. Microbial metabolites (short chain fatty acids, lactate, branched chain fatty acids, and ammonia) and the intestinal microbiota were analyzed.ResultsCompared to controls and combination therapy, short chain fatty acids and lactate, but also ammonia and branched chain fatty acids, were increased under probiotic therapy. The metabolic pattern under combined therapy with antibiotics and probiotics had the most beneficial and consistent effect on intestinal metabolic profiles. The intestinal microbiota showed a decrease in several indigenous bacterial groups under antibiotic therapy, there was no significant recovery of these groups when the antibiotic therapy was followed by administration of probiotics. Simultaneous application of anti- and probiotics had a stabilizing effect on the intestinal microbiota with increased bifidobacteria and lactobacilli.ConclusionsAdministration of VSL#3 parallel with the clindamycin therapy had a beneficial and stabilizing effect on the intestinal metabolic homeostasis by decreasing toxic metabolites and protecting the endogenic microbiota from destruction. Probiotics could be a reasonable strategy in prevention of antibiotic associated disturbances of the intestinal homeostasis and disorders.

Discordant temporal development of bacterial phyla and the emergence of core in the fecal microbiota of young children

“…The result is in line with previous studies showing that antibiotics reduce microbiota stability and diversity (Rehman et al, 2012;Panda et al, 2014). We found that the abundance of Clostridium cluster XIVa was significantly decreased in the next sample after antibiotic course.…”

Effect of multispecies probiotics on irritable bowel syndrome: A randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled trial

“…Several studies demonstrated that the probiotic supplement including Lactobacilli and Streptococcus species induced the increase of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in colon lumen and then decreased fecal pH. 23,24 The change of SCFA and fecal pH are considered to contribute the improvement of gut motility. We assumed that L. rhamnosus and S. thermophilus in the probiotics group could improve IBS symptoms by the change of SCFA and fecal pH.…”

African fermented foods and probiotics

“…As these consist of three components (epithelia, immune cells and microbiota) the models are closer to the in vivo situation and are thus better suited for studying probiotic activities such as adhesion or host/beneficial bacteria/pathogen interaction (Cencic and Langerholc, 2010), as well as for assessing aspects of strain safety. Validated, in vitro gastrointestinal models such as the TIM-1/TIM-2 or the (M)SHIME models, are also excellent tools to study probiotic activities such as potential survival in the gastrointestinal tract and their effect on the gut microbiota homeostasis after antibiotic treatment (Rehman et al, 2012;Venema and van den Abbeele, 2013).…”