Probiotic Potential of Lactobacillus and Enterococcus Strains Isolated From the Faecal Microbiota of Critically Endangered Hangul Deer (Cervus hanglu hanglu): Implications for Conservation Management.

The mammalian gut microbiota plays a crucial role in promoting host health, and lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are commonly employed as probiotics for their beneficial effects. The Hangul deer (Cervus hanglu hanglu), a critically endangered red deer subspecies found in the Indian subcontinent, requires meticulous health management for its conservation. This pioneering study aimed to isolate, identify, and evaluate the in-vitro probiotic functional properties of LAB strains from the faeces of Hangul deer. A total of 27 LAB strains were isolated and identified using 16S rDNA gene sequencing, followed by comprehensive probiotic characterization and safety assessment. Remarkably, four species exhibited robust resistance and survivability against varying pH levels and bile salts, along with high aggregation and co-aggregation capacities. Notably, Lactobacillus acidophilus and Enterococcus mundtii strains displayed antibacterial activities. Safety assessment revealed the absence of hemolytic activity and virulence genes in all four strains. Antibiotic susceptibility testing showed that Lactobacillus acidophilus and Enterococcus casseliflavus were susceptible to all tested antibiotics, while Enterococcus mundtii exhibited resistance to clindamycin, and Enterococcus gallinarum exhibited resistance to erythromycin. These findings suggest that the isolated LAB strains possess advantageous probiotic characteristics and hold potential as dietary supplements for promoting the health and disease management of Hangul deer.

Viability-PCR for the selective detection of Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium bifidum in live bacteria-containing products.

To exert their beneficial effects, microorganisms used in live bacteria-containing products must be viable and present in certain amounts. In this study, we developed a viability assay based on quantitative PCR coupled with propidium monoazide for the identification and enumeration of viable Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium bifidum. In order to optimize the protocol, the thermal inactivation conditions for the two target microorganisms and the PMA concentration inhibiting DNA amplification from the dead cells while allowing it from the live cells were first determined. The viability-PCR protocol was then applied to analyze a commercial product containing the two microorganisms. The quantities of both microorganisms determined using viability-PCR in the tested product were significantly higher than those obtained using the standard plate count, suggesting the presence of bacteria in a viable but non-culturable physiological state. Moreover, lower amounts of the two microorganisms were detected using viability-PCR compared to those achieved using quantitative PCR, possibly because of the presence of dead cells in the samples. Our results suggest that the viability-PCR method proposed here is a suitable alternative for rapid and accurate quantification and assessment of the viability of L. acidophilus and B. bifidum and could be easily adopted in the quality control screening of live bacteria-containing products.

Effect of tablets containing a paraprobiotic strain and the cranberry extract on caries incidence in preschool children: A randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Preand probiotics may help restore a dysbiotic oral ecosystem. The first years of life provide a window of opportunity to modulate the composition of the oral microbiota and prevent disease. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of a tablet containing inactivated Ligilactobacillus salivarius CECT 5317 and the cranberry extract on the development of caries in cariesactive preschool children. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study employed a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind design. Preschool children (N = 73) with at least one active carious lesion were enrolled and randomly assigned to the test group or the placebo group. The intervention period was 3 months. Caries was assessed according to the International Caries Detection and Assessment System (ICDAS) II criteria at baseline and after 9 months, and oral hygiene was evaluated with the simplified oral hygiene index (OHI-S). The salivary counts of Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus spp. were determined at baseline, and then after 3 and 9 months through the conventional cultivation on TYCSB and MRS agar, respectively. RESULTS: Sixty children completed the trial (a dropout rate of 19%). The baseline caries prevalence was high in both groups (~71%) and there were no major differences between the groups with regard to background variables. The 9-month incidence of initial carious lesions (ICDAS 1+2) was significantly lower in the test group as compared to the placebo group (p < 0.05). The plaque levels, and the salivary counts of S. mutans and Lactobacillus spp. remained unchanged in both groups throughout the study. CONCLUSIONS: A daily intake of a tablet containing a paraprobiotic and the cranberry extract reduced the 9-month incidence of initial non-cavitated carious lesions in caries-active preschool children. The present study is one of the first to show the impact of synbiotics on the development of caries in children.

Protective Effects of Laminaria japonica Polysaccharide Composite Microcapsules on the Survival of Lactobacillus plantarum during Simulated Gastrointestinal Digestion and Heat Treatment.

To improve probiotics' survivability during gastrointestinal digestion and heat treatment, Lactobacillus plantarum was microencapsulated by spray-drying using Laminaria japonica polysaccharide/sodium caseinate/gelatin (LJP/SC/GE) composites. Thermogravimetry and differential scanning calorimetry results revealed that the denaturation of LJP/SC/GE microcapsules requires higher thermal energy than that of SC/GE microcapsules, and the addition of LJP may improve thermal stability. Zeta potential measurements indicated that, at low pH of the gastric fluid, the negatively charged LJP attracted the positively charged SC/GE, helping to maintain an intact microstructure without disintegration. The encapsulation efficiency of L. plantarum-loaded LJP/SC/GE microcapsules reached about 93.4%, and the survival rate was 46.9% in simulated gastric fluid (SGF) for 2 h and 96.0% in simulated intestinal fluid (SIF) for 2 h. In vitro release experiments showed that the LJP/SC/GE microcapsules could protect the viability of L. plantarum in SGF and release probiotics slowly in SIF. The cell survival of LJP/SC/GE microcapsules was significantly improved during the heat treatment compared to SC/GE microcapsules and free cells. LJP/SC/GE microcapsules can increase the survival of L. plantarum by maintaining the lactate dehydrogenase and Na+-K+-ATPase activity. Overall, this study demonstrates the great potential of LJP/SC/GE microcapsules to protect and deliver probiotics in food and pharmaceutical systems.

Pasteurized form of a potential probiotic lactobacillus brevis IBRC-M10790 exerts anti-inflammatory effects on inflammatory bowel disease in vitro.

BACKGROUND: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic, relapsing inflammatory disorder of the gastrointestinal system. So far, no treatment has been identified that can completely cure IBD. Lactobacillus brevis is hypothesized to be beneficial in preventing inflammation. This study aimed to evaluate the potential probiotic effects of live and pasteurized L. brevis IBRC-M10790 on the in vitro cell co-culture model of IBD. METHODS: An in vitro intestinal model was established using a transwell co-culture system of Caco-2 intestinal epithelial cells and RAW264.7 macrophages. Inflammatory conditions were induced in RAW264.7 cells using lipopolysaccharide. The effects of live and pasteurized L. brevis IBRC-M10790 on inflammatory mediators and epithelial barrier markers were investigated. RESULTS: L. brevis IBRC-M10790 was able to significantly decrease the proinflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-1ß, and TNF-α) and increase the anti-inflammatory cytokine (IL-10) in the in vitro co-culture system. In addition, L. brevis increased adherens and tight junction (TJ) markers (ZO-1, E-cadherin, and Occludin) in Caco-2 intestinal epithelial cells. Based on the results, pasteurized L. brevis showed a higher protective effect than live L. brevis. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that live and pasteurized forms of L. brevis possess probiotic properties and can mitigate inflammatory conditions in IBD.

Impact of Spirulina platensis biomass on the viability of Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus strain during the freeze-drying process.

In this work, we evaluated the protective capacity of Spirulina platensis biomass in preserving Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus WDCM 00102. The L. bulgaricus strain was freeze-dried in the presence of S. platensis biomass and the freeze-dried samples were then stored at 5 and 25°C for varying periods. Subsequently, the samples were rehydrated and bacterial plate counts were determined. The results indicate that a concentration of 12% S. platensis biomass was highly effective in preserving L. bulgaricus. Commercial products with higher S. platensis biomass content exhibited greater protective capacity. While S. platensis biomass is well-known for its prebiotic properties, its protective role has not been previously reported or thoroughly explored. This study demonstrates the protective capacity of S. platensis biomass in preserving L. bulgaricus, a strain particularly sensitive to preservation processes.

Microencapsulated Lactobacillus plantarum promotes intestinal development through gut colonization of layer chicks.

The effects of Lactobacillus plantarum in microencapsulation (LPM) on intestinal development in layer chicks were investigated in this study, as well as the colonization of L. plantarum in the gut. A total of 480 healthy Hy-Line Brown layer chicks at 0 d old were randomly divided into 4 groups (8 replicates each treatment), and the diets of these birds were supplemented with nothing (control), L. plantarum (0.02 g/kg feed; 109 CFU/kg feed), LPM (1.0 g/kg feed; 109 CFU/kg feed) and wall material of LPM (WM; 0.98 g/kg feed), respectively. Compared to control, LPM improved growth performance and intestinal development of layer chicks, evidenced by significantly increased body weight, average daily gain, average daily feed intake, villus height, villus height/crypt depth, as well as weight and length of the duodenum, jejunum and ileum (P < 0.05). These results could be attributed to the increased colonization of L. plantarum in the gut, which was verified by significant increases in lactic acid content, viable counts in chyme and mucosa (P < 0.05), as well as a visible rise in number of strains labeled with fluorescein isothiocyanate. Meanwhile, the relative abundances of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium significantly increased in response to microencapsulated L. plantarum supplementation (P < 0.05), accompanied by the significant up-regulation of colonization related genes (P < 0.05), encoding solute carrier family, monocarboxylate transporter, activin A receptor, succinate receptor and secretogranin II. To sum up, microencapsulated L. plantarum supplementation promoted intestinal development, which could be attributed to the enhancement of L. plantarum colonization in the intestine through the mutual assistance of Bifidobacterium and interactions with colonization related transmembrane proteins.

Proteome profiling, biochemical and histological analysis of diclofenac-induced liver toxicity in Yersinia enterocolitica and Lactobacillus fermentum fed rat model: a comparative analysis.

Diclofenac is a hepatotoxic non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that affects liver histology and its protein expression levels. Here, we studied the effect of diclofenac on rat liver when co-administrated with either Yersinia enterocolitica strain 8081 serotype O:8 biovar 1B (D*Y) or Lactobacillus fermentum strain 9338 (D*L). Spectroscopic analysis of stool samples showed biotransformation of diclofenac. When compared with each other, D*Y rats lack peaks at 1709 and 1198 cm-1, while D*L rats lack peaks at 1411 cm-1. However, when compared to control, both groups lack peaks at 1379 and 1170 cm-1. Assessment of serum biomarkers of hepatotoxicity indicated significantly altered activities of AST (D*Y: 185.65 ± 8.575 vs Control: 61.9 ± 2.607, D*L: 247.5 ± 5.717 vs Control: 61.9 ± 2.607), ALT (D*Y: 229.8 ± 6.920 vs Control: 70.7 ± 3.109, D*L: 123.75 ± 6.068 vs Control: 70.7 ± 3.109), and ALP (D*Y: 276.4 ± 18.154 vs Control: 320.6 ± 9.829, D*L: 298.5 ± 12.336 vs Control: 320.6 ± 9.829) in IU/L. The analysis of histological alterations showed hepatic sinusoidal dilation with vein congestion and cell infiltration exclusively in D*Y rats along with other histological changes that are common to both test groups, thereby suggesting more pronounced alterations in D*Y rats. Further, LC-MS/MS based label-free quantitation of proteins from liver tissues revealed 74.75% up-regulated, 25.25% down-regulated in D*Y rats and 51.16% up-regulated, 48.84% down-regulated in D*L experiments. The proteomics-identified proteins majorly belonged to metabolism, apoptosis, stress response and redox homeostasis, and detoxification and antioxidant defence that demonstrated the potential damage of rat liver, more pronounced in D*Y rats. Altogether the results are in favor that the administration of lactobacilli somewhat protected the rat hepatic cells against the diclofenac-induced toxicity.

Investigating the role of membrane lipid composition differences on spray drying survival in Lactobacillus bulgaricus using non-targeted Lipidomics.

The cell membrane, consisting of a phospholipid bilayer, is an important defense system of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) against adverse conditions. However, this membrane gets damaged during the process of spray drying of LAB into powder. In this study, two strains of Lactobacillus bulgaricus L9-7 and L4-2-12 with significantly different survival rates of about 22.49% and 0.43% after spray drying were explored at the cell membrane level. A total of 65 significantly different lipid species were screened from the cell membranes of two strains, with cardiolipin (CL) 15:1_22:6_24:0_28:0 being the crucial lipid species affecting membrane resistance. Finally, the KEGG enrichment analysis revealed that glycerophospholipid metabolism was the most predominant pathway, and eleven lipid species were annotated, including CL. Overall, this paper provides valuable insights into enhancing the heat tolerance of LAB.

Microplastic co-exposure elevates cadmium accumulation in mouse tissue after rice consumption: Mechanisms and health implications.

Rice cadmium (Cd) and microplastics are prevalent contaminants, posing a co-exposure threat to humans by means of dietary intake. To assess whether co-exposure of microplastics affects the bioavailability of rice Cd, mice were exposed to Cd-contaminated rice with microplastic co-exposure. We found that polyethylene (PE), polystyrene (PS), polypropylene (PP), and polyamide (PA) microplastic co-exposure via diet consumption (2 µg g-1) caused 1.17-1.38-fold higher Cd accumulation in tissue of mice fed by Cd-rice. For mice with co-exposure of PE microplastics, the higher rice-Cd bioavailability corresponded to colonization of Lactobacillus reuteri (38.9 % vs 17.5 %) in the gut compared to control mice, which caused higher production of gut metabolites particularly peptides, likely causing a 'side effect' of elevating Cd solubility in the intestinal lumen. In addition, abundance of sphingosine 1-phosphate in the gut of mice was reduced under PE microplastic exposure, which may reduce intracellular calcium ions (Ca2+) in enterocytes and form a weaker competition in pumping of intracellular Ca2+ and Cd2+ across the basolateral membrane of enterocytes, leading to higher Cd2+ transport efficiency. The results suggest elevated Cd exposure risk from rice consumption with microplastic co-exposure at environmentally relevant low concentrations.

Effect of Lactobacillus gasseri BIO6369 and Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus BIO5326 on Gastric Carcinogenesis Induced by Helicobacter pylori Infection.

BACKGROUND: Helicobacter pylori infection-associated gastric adenocarcinoma is influenced by various factors, including the digestive microbiota. Lactic acid bacteria role in digestive carcinogenesis has been discussed, and some Lactobacillaceae family species have been shown to act against H. pylori-induced inflammation and colonization. However, their effects on H. pylori-related carcinogenesis have not yet been studied. Lactobacillaceae family effects on the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), emergence of cells with cancer stem cell (CSC) properties and the pro-inflammatory response of gastric epithelial cells to H. pylori infection were investigated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A co-culture model of AGS gastric epithelial cells infected with a carcinogenic strain of H. pylori associated with 18 different probiotic strains candidates were used. Different EMT indicators and CSC properties were studied, including quantification of the mesenchymal phenotype, tumorsphere formation, EMT marker expression, and tight junction evaluation with immunofluorescence microscopy. The effect of the strains on the pro-inflammatory response to H. pylori was also evaluated by quantifying interleukin-8 (IL-8) production using ELISA. RESULTS: Among the strains tested, Lactobacillus gasseri BIO6369 and Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus BIO5326 induced a 30.6% and 38.4% reduction in the mesenchymal phenotype, respectively, caused a significant decrease in Snail and Zeb1 EMT marker expression and prevented the loss of tight junctions induced by H. pylori infection. A separate co-culture with a Boyden chamber maintained the effects induced by the two strains. H. pylori-induced IL-8 production was also significantly reduced in the presence of L. gasseri BIO6369 and L. rhamnosus BIO5326. CONCLUSION: Lactobacillus gasseri BIO6369 and L. rhamnosus BIO5326 strains decreased epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and inflammation induced by H. pylori infection, suggesting that these species may have a protective effect against H. pylori-induced gastric carcinogenesis.

Implications of microbe-derived ɣ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in gut and brain barrier integrity and GABAergic signaling in Alzheimer's disease.

The gut microbial ecosystem communicates bidirectionally with the brain in what is known as the gut-microbiome-brain axis. Bidirectional signaling occurs through several pathways including signaling via the vagus nerve, circulation of microbial metabolites, and immune activation. Alterations in the gut microbiota are implicated in Alzheimer's disease (AD), a progressive neurodegenerative disease. Perturbations in gut microbial communities may affect pathways within the gut-microbiome-brain axis through altered production of microbial metabolites including ɣ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), the primary inhibitory mammalian neurotransmitter. GABA has been shown to act on gut integrity through modulation of gut mucins and tight junction proteins and may be involved in vagus nerve signal inhibition. The GABAergic signaling pathway has been shown to be dysregulated in AD, and may be responsive to interventions. Gut microbial production of GABA is of recent interest in neurological disorders, including AD. Bacteroides and Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB), including Lactobacillus, are predominant producers of GABA. This review highlights how temporal alterations in gut microbial communities associated with AD may affect the GABAergic signaling pathway, intestinal barrier integrity, and AD-associated inflammation.

Involvement of the gut microbiota in cancer cachexia.

Cancer cachexia, or the unintentional loss of body weight in cancer patients, is a multi-organ and multi-factorial syndrome with a complex and largely unknown etiology; however, metabolic dysfunction and inflammation remain hallmarks of cancer-associated wasting. While cachexia manifests with muscle and adipose tissue loss, perturbations to the gastrointestinal tract may serve as the front line for both impaired nutrient absorption and immune activating gut dysbiosis. Investigations into the gut microbiota have exploded within the past 2 decades, demonstrating multiple gut-tissue axes; however, the link between adipose and skeletal muscle wasting and the gut microbiota with cancer is only beginning to be understood. Further, the most used anti-cancer drugs (e.g. chemotherapy, immune checkpoint inhibitors) negatively impact gut homeostasis, potentially exacerbating wasting and contributing to poor patient outcomes and survival. In this current review, we 1) highlight our current understanding of the microbial changes that occur with cachexia, 2) discuss how microbial changes may contribute to adipose and skeletal muscle wasting, and 3) outline study design considerations needed when examining the role of the microbiota in cancer-induced cachexia.

New Aspects in the Study of Lactobacillus iners.

A cultural microbiological study of the vaginal microbiota of patients of reproductive age was carried out to isolate the species Lactobacillus iners with subsequent study of phenotypic features. The presence of two phenotypically different species variants was found in patients with bacterial vaginosis.

Lactobacillus rhamnosus NKU FL1-8 Isolated from Infant Feces Ameliorates the Alcoholic Liver Damage by Regulating the Gut Microbiota and Intestinal Barrier in C57BL/6J Mice.

Alcoholic liver damage is caused by long-term or heavy drinking, and it may further progress into alcoholic liver diseases (ALD). Probiotic supplements have been suggested for the prevention or improvement of liver damage. This study was designed to consider the ameliorative effects of Lactobacillus rhamnosus NKU FL1-8 isolated from infant feces against alcoholic liver damage. The mice were gavaged with a 50% ethanol solution and treated with 109 CFU of L. rhamnosus NKU FL1-8 suspension. The factors for liver function, oxidative stress, inflammation, gut microbiota composition, and intestinal barrier integrity were measured. The results showed that L. rhamnosus NKU FL1-8 could decrease the levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) to 61% and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) to 50% compared with ethanol given by gavage. It could inhibit the expression level of malondialdehyde (MDA), increase superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GSH) to relieve oxidative stress, and down-regulate the cytokines to decrease hepatic inflammation. After treatment, the level of triglycerides was reduced, and the expression levels of adenosine 5'-monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and the peroxisome proliferators-activated receptor-α (PPAR-α) pathway were up-regulated. Additionally, the 16S rRNA sequencing analysis showed that L. rhamnosus NKU FL1-8 increased the relative abundance of Lactobacillus, Ruminococcaceae, etc. At the same time, L. rhamnosus NKU FL1-8 could significantly reduce lipopolysaccharides (LPS) and enhance intestinal tight junction proteins. These results demonstrated that L. rhamnosus NKU FL1-8 could reduce the level of oxidative stress, fat accumulation, and liver inflammation caused by alcohol in the host. The underlying mechanism could be that L. rhamnosus NKU FL1-8 inhibits LPS by regulating the gut microbiota and repairing the intestinal barrier. Thereby, these findings support L. rhamnosus NKU FL1-8 as a potential functional food for the relief of ALD.

Age-specific composition of milk microbiota in Tibetan sheep and goats.

This study investigates the dynamic changes in milk nutritional composition and microbial communities in Tibetan sheep and goats during the first 56 days of lactation. Milk samples were systematically collected at five time points (D0, D7, D14, D28, D56) post-delivery. In Tibetan sheep, milk fat, protein, and casein contents were highest on D0, gradually decreased, and stabilized after D14, while lactose and galactose levels showed the opposite trend. Goat milk exhibited similar initial peaks, with significant changes particularly between D0, D7, D14, and D56. 16S rRNA gene sequencing revealed increasing microbial diversity in both species over the lactation period. Principal coordinates analysis identified distinct microbial clusters corresponding to early (D0-D7), transitional (D14-D28), and mature (D56) stages. Core phyla, including Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, and Actinobacteria, dominated the milk microbiota, with significant temporal shifts. Core microbes like Lactobacillus, Leuconostoc, and Streptococcus were common in both species, with species-specific taxa observed (e.g., Pediococcus in sheep, Shewanella in goats). Furthermore, we observed a highly shared core microbiota in sheep and goat milk, including Lactobacillus, Leuconostoc, and Streptococcus. Spearman correlation analysis highlighted significant relationships between specific microbial genera and milk nutrients. For instance, Lactobacillus positively correlated with total solids, non-fat milk solids, protein, and casein, while Mannheimia negatively correlated with protein content. This study underscores the complex interplay between milk composition and microbial dynamics in Tibetan sheep and goats, informing strategies for livestock management and nutritional enhancement. KEY POINTS: • The milk can be classified into three types based on the microbiota composition • The changes of milk microbiota are closely related to the variations in nutrition • Filter out microbiota with species specificity and age specificity in the milk.

Beneficial Effect of Synbiotic Combination of Limosilactobacillus fermentum FS-10, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum Lp1-IC and Short-Chain Fructooligosaccharides in Colitis Murine Model.

Therapies targeting gut microbiota are being extensively researched for colitis patients. In this study, we have tested the efficacy of indigenously isolated strains Lactiplantibacillus plantarum Lp1-IC and Limosilactobacillus fermentum FS-10 and their combination with short-chain fructooligosaccharides (sc-FOS) in mice models of DSS-induced colitis. For a desired efficacy, a synbiotic should be very meticulously formulated with the right choice of prebiotic and probiotic. Therefore, the ability of lactobacilli to utilize scFOS for growth was first tested by culturing the strains in a specially designed minimal media supplemented with scFOS as carbon source. The bacteria utilized scFOS and produced metabolites such as acetate and lactate. Thereafter, the in vitro anti-inflammatory effect was tested on markers such as TNF-alpha (TNF-α), nitric oxide and IL-10 in human monocyte (THP-1) and mouse macrophage (Raw 264.7) cell lines. The in vivo efficacy was studied in mice model of DSS-induced colitis, and the effect on the systemic and localized inflammatory markers was assessed in serum and colon tissue samples respectively. Administration of DSS elicited predominant clinical signs of weight loss, diarrhoea, faecal occult blood, increase in inflammatory markers and extensive damage of colon tissue. These symptoms were significantly reversed in all the treatment groups; however, the combination of lactobacilli and scFOS performed better than the individual ingredients. The study highlights the potential of the indigenous lactobacilli strains, scFOS and their combination for management of gut inflammation in colitis patients.

Sickle Cell Disease and Gut Health: The Influence of Intestinal Parasites and the Microbiome on Angolan Children.

Parasitic infections are a common problem in developing countries and can intensify morbidity in patients with sickle cell disease (SCD), increasing the severity of anemia and the need for transfusions. It has been demonstrated that both helminths and protozoa can affect gut microbiome composition. On the other hand, the presence of specific bacterial communities can also influence parasite establishment. Considering this, our aim was to associate the presence of intestinal parasites with the results of hematological analyses and microbiome composition evaluations in a population of Angolan children with and without SCD. A total of 113 stool samples were collected, and gut microbiome analysis was performed using 16S sequencing and real-time PCR to detect eight different intestinal parasites. In our population, more than half of children (55%) had at least one parasitic infection, and of these, 43% were co-infected. Giardia intestinalis and Ascaris lumbricoides were more frequently found in children from the rural area of Bengo. Moreover, SCD children with ascariasis exhibited higher values of leukocytes and neutrophils, whereas the total hemoglobin levels were lower. In regards to the gut microbiome, the presence of intestinal parasites lowered the prevalence of some beneficial bacteria, namely: Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, Cuneatibacter, Bacteroides uniformis, Roseburia, and Shuttleworthia. This study presents the prevalence of several intestinal parasites in a high-risk transmission area with scarce information and opens new perspectives for understanding the interaction between parasites, the microbiome, and SCD.

Study of alginate-encapsulated phycoerythrin in promoting the biological activity of synbiotic ice cream with Lactobacillus casei.

This study examines the effect of phycoerythrin (PE) from a cyanobacterial Nostoc strain encapsulated with alginate as a potential prebiotic to produce synbiotic ice cream products with Lactobacillus casei. It was found that the addition of the encapsulated PE affected, mostly favourably, the physicochemical properties, antioxidant activity, probiotic survival, volatile compound contents, and sensory acceptability of the synbiotic ice cream samples before and after aging at the freezing periods of one day to eight weeks. Thus, it confirms the prebiotic potential of PE for synbiotic ice creams with L. casei.

Roles of flavoprotein oxidase and the exogenous heme- and quinone-dependent respiratory chain in lactic acid bacteria.

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are a type of bacteria that convert carbohydrates into lactate through fermentation metabolism. While LAB mainly acquire energy through this anaerobic process, they also have oxygen-consuming systems, one of which is flavoprotein oxidase and the other is exogenous heme- or heme- and quinone-dependent respiratory metabolism. Over the past two decades, research has contributed to the understanding of the roles of these oxidase machineries, confirming their suspected roles and uncovering novel functions. This review presents the roles of these oxidase machineries, which are anticipated to be critical for the future applications of LAB in industry and comprehending the virulence of pathogenic streptococci.