Lactobacillus fermentum and Lactobacillus plantarum increased gut microbiota diversity and functionality, and mitigated Enterobacteriaceae, in a mouse model

Abstract

Probiotics should bring ‘balance’ to the intestinal microbiota by stimulating beneficial bacteria, whilst mitigating adverse ones. Balance can also be interpreted as high alpha-diversity. Contrary, Escherichia coli is often regarded as an adverse component of the resident intestinal microbiota. The aim of the present study was to implement a mouse model for in vivo screening of Lactobacillus-strains for ability to increase gut-microbiota diversity and to mitigate E. coli. Mice were divided into six groups, two dietary control-groups and four groups administered strains of Lactobacillus fermentum and/or Lactobacillus plantarum. All animals were pre-treated with antibiotics, and E. coli in order to equalise the microbiota from the start. After 7 weeks of Lactobacillus administration, the animals were sacrificed: DNA was extracted from caecum tissue, and the microbiota composition was analysed with terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) and 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The diversity of the caecal microbiota decreased when the dietary carbohydrate source was limited to corn starch. Conversely, the diversity was restored by Lactobacillus-supplements. The tested combinations of two Lactobacillus strains exerted different influences, not only on the taxonomic level, but also on the inferred microbiome functions. The mixture of L. fermentum GOS47 and L. fermentum GOS1 showed potential for anti-inflammatory activity and short chain fatty acid production. On the other hand, co-administration of L. fermentum GOS57 and L. plantarum GOS42 significantly decreased the viable count of Enterobacteriaceae. These results warrant further investigation of the tested strains as candidates for probiotics. Furthermore, the findings demonstrated that the current experimental animal model is suitable for in vivo studies of the effect of bacterial supplements on the gut-microbiota.

The Potential of Lactobacillus spp. for Modulating Oxidative Stress in the Gastrointestinal Tract

“…have been extensively reported in recent years. Apart from their contribution to diversity and functionality of the gut microbiota, it has also been reported that they are associated with improved physiological function and cognitive ability [ 12 , 77 , 78 ]. In addition, the ameliorative impact of Lactobacillus spp.…”

“…regarding the balance they are able to bring to the gut microbiota. For example, supplementations of different combinations of L. fermentum and L. plantarum have been reported to affect diversity and functionality of the gut microbiota in mice [ 12 ]. According to 16S rRNA (ribonucleic acid)-gene compositional data, the combination of two L. fermentum strains (GOS47 and GOS1) may contribute to the enhanced anti-inflammatory activity of gut microbiota.…”

High-fat Diet Induced Dysbiosis & Amelioration by Astaxanthin

“…It is also able to mitigate liver damage and weakened intestinal permeability of the intestines caused by obesity. Additionally, L. plantarum has been reported to increase the diversity of the enteric flora 39,40 , reduce the severity of colitis 41,42 , and it has also demonstrated anti-tumor effects 43 . Lactobacillus rhamnosus has been shown to decrease the amount of colon aberrant crypt foci and reduce pro-carcinogenic biomarkers in a rat model 44 , lower cholesterol 45 , and improve insulin resistance and obesity induced by high-fat diet 46 .…”

The Potential of Probiotics to Eradicate Gut Carriage of Pathogenic or Antimicrobial-Resistant Enterobacterales

“…A mixture of probiotics showed more efficient eradication of pathogenic Enterobacterales in vivo. In mice, the mixture of L. fermentum GOS47 and L. fermentum GOS1 significantly decreased the viable count of Enterobacterales with potential anti-inflammatory activity and short-chain fatty acid production [ 27 ]. Thus, the favorable effect of probiotic supplements on at least the partial elimination of pathogenic Enterobacterales , ex vivo and in vivo, has promoted their application in clinical diseases.…”