Probiotics strains

More recently, work of Scharek et al. (2005) has shown that supplementing the feed of pregnant sows and piglets with a probiotic strain of E. faecium produces an immune-stimulatory effect. Also, Davis et al. (2006) described... 

TABLE 1.1 A list of potential probiotic strains and their observed beneficial effects... 

Recently, Pridmore and co-workers (2008) have examined the production of hydrogen peroxide by the human gastrointestinal isolate Lactobacillus johnsonii NCC533. Through in silico analysis of the genome of this potential probiotic strain they identified the means by which hydrogen peroxide is synthesized. Furthermore, they demonstrated that the strain actively produced hydrogen peroxide in vitro at levels that were inhibitory for S. Typhimurium. 

Indeed, human studies indicate that specific probiotic strains can reduce symptoms of IBS through immunomodulation (Kajander et ah, 2008 O Mahony et ah, 2001) and may have promise for the treatment of... 

A potential mechanism of action by which potential probiotic strains may impede pathogens is through the modulation of gene and/or protein expression patterns through bacterial signaling mechanisms. Interestingly, cell-free supernatants of L. acidophilus have been shown to inhibit... 

Collado, M. C., Isolauri, E., and Salminen, S. (2008). Specific probiotic strains and their combinations counteract adhesion of Enterobacter sakazakii to intestinal mucus. FEMS Microbiol. Lett. [Epub ahead of print]. 

Salminen, S., Laine, M., von Wright, A., Vuopio-Varkila, J., Korhonen, T., and Mattila-Sandholm, T. 1996. Development of selection criteria for probiotic strains to assess their potential in functional foods A Nordic and European approach. Biosci. Microflora 15, 61-67. 

Each potential probiotic strain should be documented. 

A critical criterion of selection is that the probiotic strain must be tolerated by the immune system and should not provoke the formation of antibodies against the probiotic. This latter property, in conjunction with the ability of some LAB to survive and colonize in the gut, has given rise to further applications, which involve their use as live vectors for oral immunization, i.e., introducing antigens targeting the GALT and aiming to induce a mucosal immune response (Marteau and Rambaud, 1993). 

A number of benefits in the ingestion of probiotics have been reported. According to Vaughan et al. (1999), the beneficial effects of probiotic strains — demonstrated and proposed — are the following ... 

One of the most interesting aspects of probiotic supplementation is directed toward immune responses. Orally administered probiotic strains of LAB exert a positive impact on nonspecific and specific host immune responses. Nonspecific immune responses constitute the first line of host defense. 

Further information concerning the molecular basis of probiotic strains can have an impact on the development of strains with safe and effective novel probiotic effects. There is enormous potential for metabolic engineering, as has already been demonstrated for several LAB. Indigenous bacteria vectors, such as Lactobacillus, might be considered safer than the Salmonella and virus vectors presently considered for these purposes. 

The use of prebiotics in association with useful probiotics may be a worthwhile approach, as prebiotics preferentially stimulate some probiotic strains. Combination of probiotic and prebiotic as synbiotic can also enhance probiotic effectiveness. 

Saxelin, M., Lactobacillus GG a human probiotic strain with thorough clinical documentation, Food Rev. Int., 13, 293, 1997. 

Reid, G. 1999. The scientific basis for probiotic strains of Lactobacillus. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 65 3763-3766. 

In 2004 the PROSAFE collection of probiotic lactic acid bacteria was established. This is an E.U.-funded project with the objective to investigate the biosafety of LAB intended for human consumption. The collection comprised 907 LAB strains of nutritional or human origin and included the genera Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, and Enterococcus. Most probiotic strains were received as lactobacilli or bifidobacteria (Vankerckhoven et al., 2004). 

In the first clinical demonstration of specific probiotic strains modifying the changes related to allergic inflammation (i.e. tertiary prevention), a randomised double-blind controlled trial was carried out in Finland. A small number of infants who manifested atopic eczema while exclusively breast-feeding were weaned to probiotic supplemented Bifidobacterium lactis or Lactobacillus) extensively hydrolysed whey formulas, or to the same formula without probiotics. A significant improvement in skin condition occurred in patients given probiotic-supplemented formulas. The concentration of soluble CD4 in serum and eosinophilic protein X in urine were reduced, indicating that probiotics may counteract inflammatory responses beyond the intestinal milieu [186(Ib)]. 

Kalliomaki M, Kirjavainen P, Eerola E, et al Distinct patterns of neonatal gut microflora in infants in whom atopy was and was not developing. J Allergy Clin Immrmol 2001 107 129—134. Larkin M Probiotics strain for credibility. Lancet 1999 354 1884. 

Gosselink, M.R, Schouten, W.R., van Lieshout, L.M., Hop, W.C., Laman, J.D., and Ruseler-van Embden, J.G. Delay of the first onset of pouchitis by oral intake of the probiotic strain Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG, Dis. Colon Rectum, 47,876,2004. 

Administration of the probiotic E. faecium strain probably leads to the competition with and elimination of pathogenic bacteria from the intraepithelial niche. Therefore it can be considered that application of non-pathogenic E. faecium can be a promising method for elimination of pathogenic bacteria in the case of inflammatory bowel disease and colon cancer. The same strain of E. faecium was nsed also for the prevention of febrile neutropenia in lenkemic patients. Tolerance of therapy was excellent without significant adverse effects. However, the administration of the enterococcal strain was not effected in the prevention of febrile neutropenia bnt no febrile episode or infection provoked by the probiotic strain E. faecium was noticed (Mego et al. 2005a, 2006). 

Favourable effect of E. faecium M-74 emiched with organic selenium on chronic hepatic encephalopathy was also demonstrated (Boca et al. 2004). The blood ammonia levels as well as the results from the number-connecting test after 8-9 weeks significantly approached the normal pattern. EEG results were improved and they were often normalised. In another clinical study, the administration of E. faecium M-74 probiotic strain was associated with reduction of serum cholesterol concentrations by 12% after 56 weeks of oral administration (HUvak et al. 2005). 

The probiotic strain E. faecium PR88 was studied in clinical trial (Allen et al. 1996). The consumption of this strain led to alleviation of the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome in humans. The efficacy and safety of live combmedBifidobacterium, Lactobacillus and Enterococcus capsules in treatment of irritable bowel syndrome was also demonstrated (Fan et al. 2006). E. faecium functions as a probiotic strain inhibiting biofilm formation by Streptococcus mutants, which is an etiological agent for dental caries (Kumada et al. 2008). 

Harwood VJ, Delahoya NC, Ulrich RM, Kramer ME, Whitlock JE, Garey JR, Lim DV (2004) Molecular confirmation of Enterococcus faecalis and E. faecium from chnical, faecal and environmental sources. Lett Appl Microbiol 38 476 82 Hlivak P, Odraska J, Ferenctk M, Ebringer L, Jahnova E, Mikes Z (2005) One year application of probiotic strain Enterococcus faecium M74 decreases serum cholesterol levels. Bratisl Lek Listy 106 67-72... 

Mego M, Majek J, Koncekova R, Ebringer L, Ciernikova S, Rauko P, Kovac M, Trupl J, Slezak P, Zajac V (2005b) Intramucosal bacteria in colon cancer and their elimination by probiotic strain Enterococcus faecium M-74 with organic selenium. Folia Microbiol... 

Pollmann M, Nordhoff M, Pospisdul A, Tedin K, Wider LH (2005) Effect of a probiotic strain of Enterococcus faecium on the rate of natural chlamydia infection in swine. Infect Immun 73 4346 353... 

---