Probiotic Bifunctionality of Bacillus subtilis—Rescuing Lactic Acid Bacteria from Desiccation and Antagonizing Pathogenic Staphylococcus aureus

Abstract

Live probiotic bacteria obtained with food are thought to have beneficial effects on a mammalian host, including their ability to reduce intestinal colonization by pathogens. To ensure the beneficial effects, the probiotic cells must survive processing and storage of food, its passage through the upper gastrointestinal tract (GIT), and subsequent chemical ingestion processes until they reach their target organ. However, there is considerable loss of viability of the probiotic bacteria during the drying process, in the acidic conditions of the stomach, and in the high bile concentration in the small intestine. Bacillus subtilis, a spore-forming probiotic bacterium, can effectively maintain a favorable balance of microflora in the GIT. B. subtilis produces a protective extracellular matrix (ECM), which is shared with other probiotic bacteria; thus, it was suggested that this ECM could potentially protect an entire community of probiotic cells against unfavorable environmental conditions. Consequently, a biofilm-based bio-coating system was developed that would enable a mutual growth of B. subtilis with different lactic acid bacteria (LAB) through increasing the ECM production. Results of the study demonstrate a significant increase in the survivability of the bio-coated LAB cells during the desiccation process and passage through the acidic environment. Thus, it provides evidence about the ability of B. subtilis in rescuing the desiccation-sensitive LAB, for instance, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, from complete eradication. Furthermore, this study demonstrates the antagonistic potential of the mutual probiotic system against pathogenic bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus. The data show that the cells of B. subtilis possess robust anti-biofilm activity against S. aureus through activating the antimicrobial lipopeptide production pathway.

Bacillus Subtilis Revives Conventional Antibiotics Against Staphylococcus Aureus Osteomyelitis

“…in the gastrointestinal tract of a mammalian host [20]. Accumulating evidence from animal and in vitro studies suggests that B. subtilis produces various substances, such as sufactins, iturins and fengycins, which may beni t anti-bacterial, anti-in ammatory and immunomodulatory applications [21,22].…”

Novel Strategies for Efficient Production and Delivery of Live Biotherapeutics and Biotechnological Uses of Lactococcus lactis: The Lactic Acid Bacterium Model

“…Probiotics are defined as “ live microorganisms that, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host ” ( Hill et al, 2014 ), playing an important role in overall health and for preventing infections ( Reid et al, 2003 ; Klaenhammer et al, 2005 ). Some of the beneficial effects of probiotic bacteria include: (i) they restore the intestinal microbiota ( Shi et al, 2017 ); (ii) they can eliminate pathogens ( Halder et al, 2017 ), they induce production of β-defensins by host Paneth cells ( Karacaer et al, 2017 ), they have antimicrobial activity, such as by organic acid production, modifying the pH ( Karacaer et al, 2017 ; Kimelman and Shemesh, 2019 ), they produce bioactive metabolites, such as hydrogen peroxide ( Karacaer et al, 2017 ), they produce bacteriocins and microcins ( Karacaer et al, 2017 ; Gaspar et al, 2018 ); (iii) they compete with pathogens for nutrients ( Deriu et al, 2013 ); (iv) they compete for host-cell adhesion receptors ( Walsham et al, 2016 ); (v) they can reduce the activity of pathogen-produced toxins ( Ripert et al, 2016 ); (vi) they produce molecules capable of interfering with Quorum Sensing and biofilm production ( Shokri et al, 2018 ; Wasfi et al, 2018 ), contributing to the elimination of bacteria that penetrate into the mucus layer ( Hooper and Macpherson, 2010 ); and (vii) they induce IgA production by the host ( Hemarajata and Versalovic, 2013 ).…”

Role of Bacillus species in biofilm persistence and emerging antibiofilm strategies in the dairy industry

“…Extracellular matrix production and the formation of beneficial biofilms can benefit the health of different host organisms . They can also be crucial for industrial processes such as wastewater treatment or food fermentation .…”

“…5,10 Extracellular matrix production and the formation of beneficial biofilms can benefit the health of different host organisms. [11][12][13][14] They can also be crucial for industrial processes such as wastewater treatment or food fermentation. 15,16 However, biofilms are often detrimental in a broad range of areas, and specifically in the food, environmental, and biomedical fields.…”