Sporeformers as Human Probiotics: Bacillus, Sporolactobacillus, and Brevibacillus

Abstract

The value of exogenously supplied live bacteria for the maintenance of health in humans has been recognized both scientifically in the published literature and commercially in the availability of probiotic products. Although many bacteria characterized as probiotics are strains of Lactobacillus or Bifidobacterium, sporeforming bacteria, primarily of the genus Bacillus and related genera, have also been studied and commercialized as probiotics. This article reviews the characterization, efficacy, and safety of sporeformers used as probiotics.

Physicochemical Properties and Excipient Compatibility Studies of Probiotic Bacillus coagulans Spores

“…One of the reasons is the substantially low viable count against the label claim, resulting in compromised therapeutic benefit. [5] has a long history of use as a probiotic. Apart from dietary supplement, bacillus probiotics are used as a therapeutic product for the treatment of gastrointestinal and urinary tract infections.…”

Antiviral Levans from Bacillus spp. Isolated from Honey

“…Levan is non-gelling, non-swelling in water, Stivala, and Bahary 1978;Huber et al, 1994) and an unusual polysaccharide due to its relatively low intrinsic viscosity compared to other molecules of similarly high molecular weights. Levan can be used as food or a feed additive with prebiotic and hypocholesterolemic effects (Sanders, et al, 2003). Subsequently, there are a variety of potential industrial applications for levan such as a surfactant for household use due to its excellent surfaceactive properties, a glycol/levan aqueous two-phase system for the partitioning of proteins, etc.…”

Changes in biotin levels during production of natto, Japanese fermented soybean

“…It has been eaten in Japan for approximately 1,000 years and is known as a functional food. Natto is a probiotic (Hosoi & Kiuchi, 2008;Sanders, Morelli, & Tompkins, 2003), and abundantly contains nattokinase (Sumi et al, 1987), vitamin K2 (menaquinone) (Kaneki et al, 2001;MEXT, 2015), poly-γ-glutamic acid (Fujii, 1963), isoflavones (Esaki et al, 1990;Shimakage et al, 2006), etc. Nattokinase is a fibrinolytic enzyme whose thrombolytic activity is stronger than plasmin (Fujita et al, 1995), and alsopossess antioxidant effects (Iwai et al, 2002a;Iwai et al, 2002b), estrogenic activity (Santell et al, 1997), antitumor effects (Ravindranath et al, 2004), and preventive effects on bone loss (Toda et al, 1999).…”