Adhesion Properties of Lactic Acid Bacteria on Intestinal Mucin

Abstract

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are Gram-positive bacteria that are natural inhabitants of the gastrointestinal (GI) tracts of mammals, including humans. Since Mechnikov first proposed that yogurt could prevent intestinal putrefaction and aging, the beneficial effects of LAB have been widely demonstrated. The region between the duodenum and the terminal of the ileum is the primary region colonized by LAB, particularly the Lactobacillus species, and this region is covered by a mucus layer composed mainly of mucin-type glycoproteins. The mucus layer plays a role in protecting the intestinal epithelial cells against damage, but is also considered to be critical for the adhesion of Lactobacillus in the GI tract. Consequently, the adhesion exhibited by lactobacilli on mucin has attracted attention as one of the critical factors contributing to the persistent beneficial effects of Lactobacillus in a constantly changing intestinal environment. Thus, understanding the interactions between Lactobacillus and mucin is crucial for elucidating the survival strategies of LAB in the GI tract. This review highlights the properties of the interactions between Lactobacillus and mucin, while concomitantly considering the structure of the GI tract from a histochemical perspective.

Exploring the influence of surface proteins on probiotic activity of Lactobacillus pentosus HC-2 in Litopenaeus vannamei midgut via Label-free quantitative proteomic analysis

“…Recent studies have indicated that the attachment of bacteria including the hydrophobicity and self-agglutination of the bacterial surface, lipoteichoicacid (LTA), exopolysaccharides (EPS) and related cell surface proteins to mucosal surfaces is the initial event in intestinal adhesion and colonization [38, 16]. Meanwhile, there are many surface proteins that mediate adhesion in lactobacillus have been reported, such as CmbA/Lar_0958, EF-Tu, GAPDH, GroEL, Lam29, MapA, MBF, Msa, Mub (Mub family), Pili, 32-Mmubp, FbpA and GroEL, etc [39-41]. Probiotics adhere to host intestinal mucus, intestinal epithelial cells, extracellular stroma by means of its surface proteins, and/or other bacteria lipodesmoic acid to effectively prevent pathogenic infection [42-44].…”

Quantifying and engineering mucus adhesion of probiotics

“…Another commonly used clinical probiotic is Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (ATCC 53103), which has been reported to have strong mucoadhesion primarily through SpaCBA pilus-mediated interactions 74 . Notably, both EcN and L. rhamnosus GG show moderate mucus-binding ability and use moonlighting proteins with the secondary function of mucus adhesion but have quite different binding characteristics.…”

<em>Lactobacillus</em> Strains as Opportunistic Pathogens. A Review

“…Efficacy of lactobacilli as probiotics derives from their ability to tolerate very low pH values, which allows them to survive transit through the stomach, and adhere to the mucus layer by surface structures such as pili and cell-wall anchored proteins [30]. Some of their beneficial activities are favouring GIT health by inhibiting the growth of pathogenic organisms with the production of lactic acid and other metabolites.…”