In vitro investigations of the effect of probiotics and prebiotics on selected human intestinal pathogens

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of selected probiotic microorganisms, in combination with prebiotics, on certain human intestinal food-borne pathogens. Probiotics grown with different carbohydrate sources were observed to inhibit growth of Escherichia coli, Campylobacter jejuni and Salmonella enteritidis, with the extent of inhibition varying according to the carbohydrate source provided. Prebiotics identified as being preferentially utilised by the probiotics tested were oligofructose (FOS), inulin, xylo-oligosaccharide (XOS), and mixtures of inulin:FOS (80:20 w/w) and FOS:XOS (50:50 w/w). Two of the probiotics, Lactobacillus plantarum and Bifidobacterium bifidum were selected for further co-culture experiments. Each was combined with the selected prebiotics, and was observed to inhibit pathogen growth strongly. Results suggested that acetate and lactate were directly conferring antagonistic action, which was not necessarily related to a lowering of culture pH.

Oral <i>Lactobacillus plantarum</i> NCIMB 8825 Inhibits Adhesion, Invasion and Metabolism of <i>Neisseria meningitidis</i> Serogroup B and Affords Anti-Inflammatory and Cytotoxic Protection to Nasopharyngeal Epithelial Cells

“…NmB growth was also inhibited by L. plantarum but only in planktonic culture. It was not observed in agar overlays, in contrast to other studies of intestinal pathogens [50] and Neisseria gonnorhoea [51], suggesting phase-dependent inhibition of NmB.…”

To DGC or not to DGC: oxygen guarding in the termite Zootermopsis nevadensis (Isoptera: Termopsidae)

“…Benefits conferred by microorganisms in other insect taxa may not be as dramatic, but are likely to be significant, as is the case with higher vertebrates (Hooper and Gordon, 2001;Fooks and Gibson, 2002;Guarner and Malagelada, 2003). We suggest that the selective advantages of gut bug guarding, or supplying an hypoxic environment to gut symbionts, may in part explain tracheal oxygen guarding, and may be a hitherto unrecognized adaptive factor in the evolution of insect gas exchange.…”

Inulin and oligofructose as prebiotics in the prevention of intestinal infections and diseases

“…According to these authors, the antagonistic activity of bifidobacteria against pathogenic Gram-negative bacteria appears to be widespread among the bifidobacteria. Other co-culture experiments performed by Fooks & Gibson (2002) with bifidobacteria or lactobacilli in the presence of enteropathogens such as E. coli, Campylobacter jejuni and S. enteritidis again showed an inhibition of the growth of these pathogens when either oligofructose or inulin was added to the medium. Particularly, the combination of B. bifidum Bb12 or L. plantarum with oligofructose was very effective, with the latter causing a 6-log decrease in the numbers of E. coli and compromising the growth of C. jejuni and S. enteritidis to undetectable levels (Fooks & Gibson, 2002).…”

“…Fig. 2 shows the inhibition of enteropathogens by L. plantarum in coculture experiments in the presence of oligofructose or starch (data from the latter are added for comparison) (Fooks & Gibson, 2002).…”