Stimulation of Butyrate Production by Gluconic Acid in Batch Culture of Pig Cecal Digesta and Identification of Butyrate-Producing Bacteria

Abstract

Gluconic acid reaches the large intestine to stimulate lactic acid bacteria. However, the fermentation pattern of gluconic acid has yet to be elucidated. Accordingly, we examined the fermentation properties induced by gluconic acid in the pig cecal digesta in vitro. We also tested sorbitol and glucose, substrates for which the fermentation rate and patterns are known. The gluconic acid-utilizing bacteria were further isolated from pig cecal digesta and identified to examine the effect of gluconic acid on hind gut fermentation. Gluconic acid was fermented more slowly than were the other two substrates. Gluconic acid stimulated butyrate production; the butyrate molar percentage reached 26%, which is considered a high butyrate production. The majority of gluconic acid fermenters were identified as lactic acid bacteria, such as Lactobacillus reuteri and L. mucosae, and acid-utilizing bacteria, such as Megasphaera elsdenii and Mitsuokella multiacida. The gluconic acid fermented by lactic acid bacteria, and the lactate and acetate that were produced were used to form butyrate by acid-utilizing bacteria, such as M. elsdenii. Gluconic acid may be useful as a prebiotic to stimulate butyrate production in the large intestine.

Screening and In-Vitro Analysis of Lactobacillus reuteri Strains for Short Chain Fatty Acids Production, Stability and Therapeutic Potentials in Colorectal Cancer

“…Importantly, administration of L. reuteri strains was shown to alter the levels of fecal SCFAs in animals [30,31] and in fermentation systems [10]. In addition, L. reuteri bacteria haves been shown to affect the colonic fermentation of fibers and to stimulate the production profile of SCFAs [34] in simulated intestinal conditions [31]. This supports our hypothesis that L. reuteri produces SCFAs which kills cancer cells.…”

“…Until now, L. reuteri bacteria exhibited few features related to colon health by altering the levels of fecal SCFAs [30,31]. In this study, we screened and characterized five strains of L. reuteri bacteria according to their effects on colon cancer cell inhibition and SCFAs production.…”

“…After propionate/butyrate treatment, and G0/G1 cell cycle arrest and activated caspases were induced, leading to increased apoptotic cell death [33]. Importantly, administration of L. reuteri strains was shown to alter the levels of fecal SCFAs in animals [30,31] and in fermentation systems [10]. In addition, L. reuteri bacteria haves been shown to affect the colonic fermentation of fibers and to stimulate the production profile of SCFAs [34] in simulated intestinal conditions [31].…”

Diverse Tetracycline Resistance Genotypes of Megasphaera elsdenii Strains Selectively Cultured from Swine Feces

“…This anaerobic bacterium contributes to the overall metabolism that takes place in those microbial ecosystems (2,5,13,15). M. elsdenii has been the focus of both prebiotic and probiotic applications for improving animal health (10,12,19,27).In a recent study of intestinal bacteria resistant to tetracycline, we detected resistant M. elsdenii strains at high population levels (approximately 10 7 CFU/g) in cecal samples from healthy swine (24). Eight strains were isolated and characterized.…”

“…This anaerobic bacterium contributes to the overall metabolism that takes place in those microbial ecosystems (2,5,13,15). M. elsdenii has been the focus of both prebiotic and probiotic applications for improving animal health (10,12,19,27).…”