N. 1998. The Lactobacillus flora of the rectal and oral mucosa was sampled from 42 healthy volunteers. Species identification was carried out by numerically comparing API 50CH fermentation patterns with type strains, using an S J -similarity cut-off level of 79%. For the largest groups, identity was further confirmed by DNA-DNA hybridizations against the type strain of the species. Seventeen lactobacilli clusters were defined, of which most were found both on rectal and oral mucosa. The largest taxa were Lactobacillus plantarum, Lact. rhamnosus and Lact. paracasei ssp. paracasei, which were isolated from 52%, 26% and 17% of the individuals, respectively. Most isolates were tested for their capacity to adhere to the human colonic cell line HT-29 in the absence and presence of methyl-a-D-mannoside. Mannose-sensitive adherence to HT-29 cells was encountered in two-thirds of the Lact. plantarum isolates, but infrequently among isolates of other taxa. The results suggest that Lact. plantarum is a major colonizer of the human gastrointestinal mucosa, and that its capacity to adhere to mannosecontaining receptors may be of some ecological importance.

The results of the study indicate that the administration of Lb. plantarum with known probiotic properties decreased pain and flatulence in patients with IBS. The fiber content of the test solution was minimal and it is unlikely that the fiber content could have had any effect. This type of probiotic therapy warrants further studies in IBS patients.

The results of the study indicate that the administration of Lb. plantarum with known probiotic properties decreased pain and flatulence in patients with IBS. The fiber content of the test solution was minimal and it is unlikely that the fiber content could have had any effect. This type of probiotic therapy warrants further studies in IBS patients.

In vivo colonization by different Lactobacillus strains on human intestinal mucosa of healthy volunteers was studied together with the effect of Lactobacillus administration on different groups of indigenous bacteria. A total of 19 test strains were administered in fermented oatmeal soup containing 5 x 10(6) CFU of each strain per ml by using a dose of 100 ml of soup per day for 10 days. Biopsies were taken from both the upper jejunum and the rectum 1 day before administration was started and 1 and 11 days after administration was terminated. The administration significantly increased the Lactobacillus counts on the jejunum mucosa, and high levels remained 11 days after administration was terminated. The levels of streptococci increased by 10- to 100-fold in two persons, and the levels of sulfite-reducing clostridia in the jejunum decreased by 10- to 100-fold in three of the volunteers 1 day after administration was terminated. In recta, the anaerobic bacterium counts and the gram-negative anaerobic bacterium counts decreased significantly by the end of administration. Furthermore, a decrease in the number of members of the Enterobacteriaceae by 1,000-fold was observed on the rectal mucosa of two persons. Randomly picked Lactobacillus isolates were identified phenotypically by API 50CH tests and genotypically by the plasmid profiles of strains and by restriction endonuclease analysis of chromosomal DNAs.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

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