The effect of cell immobilization on the antibacterial activity of Lactobacillus reuteri DPC16 cells during passage through a simulated gastrointestinal tract system

Abstract

Cell immobilization has the ability to influence the survival and functional characteristics of probiotic bacterial strains in harsh environments. This study investigated the effect of cell immobilization and passage through a simulated gastrointestinal tract (GI) on the antibacterial activity of Lactobacillus reuteri DPC16. Antibacterial activity, reuterin production and diol dehydratase activity were assayed in recovered isolates of L. reuteri that had been immobilized in Ca alginate-skim milk, and incubated in simulated GI fluids. Among all the recovered isolates tested, any that had undergone immobilization followed by immediate recovery of the cells without subsequent incubation in any fluids demonstrated the highest reuterin production, antimicrobial activity and diol dehydratase enzyme activity. L. reuteri DPC16 cells that had been immobilized, incubated in simulated GI fluids, and subsequently recovered from the beads often showed some loss of antimicrobial activity compared to the immobilized cells. The data confirm that the process of immobilization of L. reuteri in Ca alginate-skim milk, rather than the passage through simulated GI fluids, resulted in enhanced antibacterial activity. This is attributed to increased diol dehydratase activity, resulting in increased reuterin production.

Screening and In-Vitro Analysis of Lactobacillus reuteri Strains for Short Chain Fatty Acids Production, Stability and Therapeutic Potentials in Colorectal Cancer

“…The results also indicated that L. reuteri NCIMB -701359 and -702656 have the potential to effectively produce more produce SCFAs in the colonic environment than L. reuteri NCIMB 11951. In comparison with other studies using different media, this study found propionic acid produced in SIF to be double the amount produced by different L. reuteri isolates, whereas acetic and lactic acids levels were relatively low [49]. This study confirmed similar research which demonstrated L. reuteri to have the ability to increase SCFAs production and fermentation in human simulated digestive fluids [15].…”

Sensory, Microbiological and Physicochemical Characterisation of Functional Manuka Honey Yogurts Containing Probiotic Lactobacillus reuteri DPC16

“…The probiotic strain utilised in our study, Lactobacillus reuteri DPC16, has proven antimicrobial activity against certain pathogens by the mechanisms of producing reuterin and organic acids [7,8]. Previous studies, using immobilised cells, have reported low death rate on passage through the simulated gastrointestinal tract [9,10] and the inhibition of pathogen adhesion to epithelial cells [7,11].…”