Introduction: Lactobacilli are well-documented probiotics that exert health benefits on their host. They exhibit characteristics that make them potential alternative treatments to address the antimicrobial resistance conundrum and diseases. Their mechanism of action varies with strain and species. Five lactobacilli strains previously isolated from the anogenital region were subjected to several assessments highlighted in the FAO/WHO document, ‘Guidelines for the Evaluation of Probiotics in Food’ to determine its suitability as potential probiotics. Methods: The five lactobacilli strains were subcultured onto Man de Rogosa agar (MRS). Their ability to auto- and co-aggregate was determined spectrophotometrically. Simultaneously, the cell surface hydrophobic properties of these strains towards xylene and toluene were evaluated using the microbial adhesion to hydrocarbon (MATH) test. The lactobacilli strains were also tested for their ability to withstand acid, bile and spermicide to determine their level of tolerance. Results: Lact. reuteri 29A, L. delbrueckii 45E and L. reuteri 29B exhibited the highest degree of auto- and co-aggregation properties. These lactobacilli strains also demonstrated high cell surface hydrophobicity, with the exception of L. delbrueckii 45E. Further tests to evaluate the isolated lactobacilli tolerance identified L. reuteri 29B as the most tolerant strain towards low pH (pH 2.5 for 4 h), high bile concentration (0.5% for 4 h) and high spermicides concentration (up to 10%). Conclusion: Out of the five lactobacilli strains which possessed high antimicrobial activities, L. reuteri 29B portrayed the best probiotic qualities with good auto- and co-aggregation abilities and high tolerance against acid, bile and spermicide
Probiotic

Aims: In this study, lactic acid bacteria (LAB) were isolated from 42 healthy infants and determined for probiotic properties. Twelve LAB isolates with potential probiotic properties were selected and screened for their feasibility of heterologous protein expression by selection of erythromycin sensitive isolates. Methodology and results: One of eleven erythromycin-sensitive LAB isolates identified and designated as Lactobacillus fermentum 47-7 was able to acquire and stable maintain the Escherichia coli-Lactobacillus shuttle vector, pRCEID-LC13.9. Further electrotransformation of L. fermentum 47-7 with the recombinant pLC13.9:LDH-PRO1:GFPuv containing green fluorescent protein (GFP) gene found that recombinant L. fermentum can express GFP. Conclusion, significance and impact of study: The probiotic L. fermentum isolate can be used as host for expression of heterologous proteins and could possibly be further developed as the alternate oral delivery system for various biomolecules for biotechnological application.
Probiotic ; Lactobacillus fermentum

No abstract available.
Probiotics*

No abstract available.
Probiotics

Many studies have shown that probiotic strains added to a number of probiotic products are not compatible to that of claimed. It is thus of note to validate probiotic strains added to probiotic products. In this study, three probiotic drinks, A, B and C, were cultured on MRS agar and the number of bacterial colonies was enumerated. The bacterial counts recovered from A (9.3 ± 6.9 log CFU/ml) and C (9.0 ± 6.9 log CFU/ml) were signifi cantly higher than B (5.2 ± 3.5 log CFU/ml) and achieved the minimal amount recommended for probiotic bacteria. All of the isolates appeared as gram positive rods microscopically and were proven to be catalase negative. However, there were only A1, A2, B4 and C1 that were highly tolerant to the gastrointestinal pH 3 to 6. The four isolates produced and secreted antimicrobial substances which inhibited the growth of Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). C1 showed the greatest growth inhibition by forming 17.50-mm and 17.85-mm inhibition zones against E. coli and S. aureus, respectively. The 16s rDNA sequencing and phylogenetic analysis were performed to further identify the twelve isolates. The twelve isolates were found to be Lactobacillus (L.), particularly L. casei and L. paracasei. However, the bacteria isolated from drink B were incompatible to the labelled ones. In conclusion, probiotic drinks are possible to contain different bacterial counts and probiotic strains from the labelled ones. These differences might affect health benefi ts rendered by probiotic strains to consumers.
Probiotics

BACKGROUND: Among critically ill pediatric patients, a common complication experienced is nosocomial pneumonia. One field that garnered special interests as an alternative and promising way of preventing infection is the utilization of Probiotics. But whether it can prevent occurrence of ventilatorassociated pneumonia (VAP) among critically ill pediatric patients remains unclear. OBJECTIVES: To determine whether probiotic supplementation will prevent the incidence of ventilatorassociated pneumonia among critically ill pediatric patients. METHODS: Literature search was conducted in PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, SciHub, Herdin, Google Scholar, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews to identify all relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published between 1980 and 2016. The reviewers extracted data and reviewed the quality of the studies independently. RESULTS: Three randomized controlled studies with a total of 327 pediatric patients admitted at the PICU were analyzed. Pooled analysis showed a statistically significant reduction in nosocomial pneumonia rates (odd ratio [OR] = 0.31, 95% CI 0.18 to 0.55, P< 0.0001, I 2 = 53%) and statistically significant difference was found regarding overall mortality (OR =0.51 , 95% CI 0.30 to 0.88, P = 0.01, I 2 = 0%) due to probiotics. However, no statistically significant difference was found between groups regarding duration of stay in the PICU (Mean Difference [MD] in days = 2.93, 95% CI 1.84 to 4.01, P < 0.00001, I2 = 97% ), and duration of stay in the hospital (MD = 4.33 days, 95% CI 2.85 to 5.81, P < .00001, I 2 = 97%). CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS The use of probiotics was associated with statistically significant reduction in the incidence of VAP in critically ill children. However, larger and well-designed, multi-center, RCTs are needed to further establish the effects of probiotic in the pediatric population of critically ill children who are at risk of developing nosocomial infection.
Probiotics

Aims: Lactobacillus sp. has capability of producing an array of bioactive metabolites that exhibit probiotic effects. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the cytotoxicity effect of proteinaceous postbiotic metabolites (PPM) produced by Lactobacillus plantarum I-UL4 cultivated in different media composition on MCF-7 breast cancer cell. Methodology and results: L. plantarum I-UL4 was cultivated in yeast extract and modified de Man, Rogosa and Sharpe broth containing Tween 80 (CRMRS+T80) or without Tween-80 (CRMRS-T80). Human breast adenocarcinoma cell (MCF-7) was employed as cancer cell in this study. Cytotoxicity and antiproliferative effects of PPM were determined using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl Tetrazolium Bromide assay and Trypan Blue Dye Exclusion assay, whereas Acridine Orange/Propidium Iodide staining was employed to determine the cytotoxicity mechanism. PPM produced in CRMRS+T80 exerted cytotoxicity in a time and dose dependent manner that was selective towards MCF-7 cancer cell. Profound cytotoxicity with the lowest IC50 concentration of 10.83 µg was detected at 72 h of incubation, whereas the most potent antiproliferative effect revealed by the lowest viable cell population was observed at 24 h of incubation. PPM cultivated in CRMRS+T80 induced 80.87% of apoptotic MCF-7 cells at 48 h of incubation. Conclusion, significance and impact of study: PPM of L. plantarum I-UL4 cultivated in different media composition induced different levels of MCF-7 cancer cell death. The percentage of apoptotic MCF-7 cells treated with PPM cultivated in CRMRS+T80 increased significantly (p < 0.05) from 24 to 48 h of incubation. The results obtained in this study have revealed the potential of PPM produced by L. plantarum I-UL4 as human health supplement and as anticancer preventive agent. Keywords: Lactobacillus plantarum I-UL4; cytotoxic effect; proteinaceous postbiotic metabolites; media composition; breast cancer
Lactobacillus ; Probiotics

No abstract available.
Constipation* ; Microbiota* ; Probiotics*

In the last 11 years recently the contaminated rate was very low (291/6382 samples). 0.45% and decreased dramatically in the past 3 years (2000-2003 period). The most common contaminated germs were primarily gram(+) bacteria (60% - 195/320 samples). 4.6% of samples were contamined with fungi (15/320), which should be erradicated completely
Biochemistry ; Bacillus subtilis ; Probiotics

Aims: Dietary intake of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) by human is insufficient to exhibit properties of anti-cancer, antiinflammatory, anti-atherosclerosis, anti-obesity and enhancing immune system. Thus, enrichment of CLA in chicken by bacteria is a suggestion to solve the problem. It would be an advantage to have bacteria capable of producing CLA and has probiotic potential in chicken. Thus, probiotic properties of CLA-producing bacteria were accessed in this study. Methodology and results: In this study, 47 lactic acid bacteria (LAB) isolated from gastrointestinal tract of chickens were screened for conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) production. Lactobacillus salivarius strain P2, Enterococcus faecium strain P1 and Lactobacillus agilis strain P3 were shown to produce 21.97, 23.35 and 31.08 µg/mL of CLA in MRS broth containing free linoleic acid (0.5 mg/mL) and 2% (w/v) Tween 80, respectively. Lactobacillus salivarius strain P2, E. faecium strain P1 and L. agilis strain P3 were found to be able to tolerate 0.3% oxgall (Difco, France) and pH 2.5. Lactobacillus agilis strain P3 and L. salivarius strain P2 showed better acid tolerance compared to E. faecium strain P1. Besides that, L. agilis strain P3 and L. salivarius strain P2 were resistant to two out of eight types of antibiotics tested, able to produce 220.04 mM lactic acid and 200.17 mM of lactic acid, respectively. Enterococcus faecium strain P1 was resistant to five out of eight types of antibiotic tested, produced 90.39 mM lactic acid and showed hemolytic activity. Only L. agilis strain P3 can produce acetic acid at a concentration of 2.71 mM. Conclusion, significance and impact of study: These results showed that the CLA-producing L. salivarius strain P2 and L. agilis strain P3 could be potential probiotic bacteria for chickens, which may eventually lead to production of chicken with better meat quality.
Linoleic Acids, Conjugated ; Probiotics