Modulation of the gut microbiota by prebiotic fibres and bacteriocins

Abstract

The gut microbiota is considered an organ that co-develops with the host throughout its life. The composition and metabolic activities of the gut microbiota are subject to a complex interplay between the host genetics and environmental factors, such as lifestyle, diet, stress and antimicrobials. It is evident that certain prebiotics, and antimicrobials produced by lactic acid bacteria (LAB), can shape the composition of the gut microbiota and its metabolic activities to promote host health and/or prevent diseases. In this review, we aim to give an overview of the impact of prebiotic fibres, and bacteriocins from LAB, on the gut microbiota and its activities, which affect the physiology and health of the host. These represent two different mechanisms in modulating the gut microbiota, the first involving exploitative competition by which the growth of beneficial bacteria is promoted and the latter involving interference competition by which the growth of pathogens and other unwanted bacteria is prevented. For interference competition in the gut, bacteriocins offer special advantages over traditional antibiotics, in that they can be designed to act towards specific unwanted bacteria and other pathogens, without any remarkable collateral effects on beneficial microbes sharing the same niche.

The effects of fermentation products of prebiotic fibres on gut barrier and immune functions in vitro

“…Other non-digestible complex carbohydrates that could potentially modulate the gut microbiota include resistant starch, cellulose, xylan, mannan, xyloglucan, β-glucan, and pectin. The impact of such prebiotic fibres on the modulation of the gut microbiota has been reviewed recently ( Dahiya et al, 2017 ; Gibson et al, 2017 ; Holscher, 2017 ; Umu, Rudi & Diep, 2017 ). While several studies have confirmed the ability of probiotics to reverse the leaky gut by enhancing the production of proteins constituting the tight junctions ( La Fata, Weber & Mohajeri, 2017 ; Mu et al, 2017 ), the effect of prebiotic fibres on gut epithelial barrier has not been investigated in detail.…”

Long-Term Dietary Intake of Chia Seed Is Associated with Increased Bone Mineral Content and Improved Hepatic and Intestinal Morphology in Sprague-Dawley Rats

“…Another aspect particularly associated with the chia diet that might have interfered with the different body weight phenotypes observed in the rats of our study is the potential of the chia seed, as a plant food, to regulate the intestinal microbiome. An increasing number of studies are showing that dietary fiber from plant foods impact gut microbial ecology, host physiology, and health [ 53 , 54 ]. A 2018 study demonstrated that the maturation and anatomy of the enteric nervous system of mice was modulated by the gut microbiota with modifications to the intestinal transit [ 55 ].…”

Lawsonia intracellularis: Revisiting the Disease Ecology and Control of This Fastidious Pathogen in Pigs

“…Prebiotics are prececal non-digestible contents present or added in the feed that act as a substrate for certain intestinal microbes, which in turn produce metabolites (such as short chain fatty acids) and bacteriocins that modulate the gut microbiota, gut morphology, immune system, and other beneficial effects ( 94 – 96 ). In addition, the non-digestible fibers are thought to physically prevent pathogen adhesion to host cells, a mechanism which could potentially prevent the adhesion of L. intracellularis to enterocytes.…”

“…Fructooligosccharides, inulin, and mannanoligosacchrides are some of the well-defined prebiotic feed additives ( 94 ). Other resistant starch and complex polysaccharides such as cellulose, hemicellulose, and pectin are known for their prebiotic activity ( 95 , 96 ). Feed trials in pigs show that insoluble β-glucans present in barley favor an increase in counts of gut bacteria such as Lactobacillus spp.…”