The use of bacterial spore formers as probiotics: Table 1

Abstract

The field of probiosis has emerged as a new science with applications in farming and aqaculture as alternatives to antibiotics as well as prophylactics in humans. Probiotics are being developed commercially for both human use, primarily as novel foods or dietary supplements, and in animal feeds for the prevention of gastrointestinal infections, with extensive use in the poultry and aquaculture industries. The impending ban of antibiotics in animal feed, the current concern over the spread of antibiotic resistance genes, the failure to identify new antibiotics and the inherent problems with developing new vaccines make a compelling case for developing alternative prophylactics. Among the large number of probiotic products in use today are bacterial spore formers, mostly of the genus Bacillus. Used primarily in their spore form, these products have been shown to prevent gastrointestinal disorders and the diversity of species used and their applications are astonishing. Understanding the nature of this probiotic effect is complicated, not only because of the complexities of understanding the microbial interactions that occur within the gastrointestinal tract (GIT), but also because Bacillus species are considered allochthonous microorganisms. This review summarizes the commercial applications of Bacillus probiotics. A case will be made that many Bacillus species should not be considered allochthonous microorganisms but, instead, ones that have a bimodal life cycle of growth and sporulation in the environment as well as within the GIT. Specific mechanisms for how Bacillus species can inhibit gastrointestinal infections will be covered, including immunomodulation and the synthesis of antimicrobials. Finally, the safety and licensing issues that affect the use of Bacillus species for commercial development will be summarized, together with evidence showing the growing need to evaluate the safety of individual Bacillus strains as well as species on a case by case by basis.

Screening and selection of novel animal probiotics isolated from bovine chyme

“…Antibiotic susceptibility is considered as one of the most important characteristics for probiotic bacteria, since the resistance genes could be transferred to pathogenic bacteria in the intestinal tract and thus contribute to the creation of multidrugresistant pathogens (Patel et al 2009;Schwarz et al 2001;Hong et al 2005;Barbosa et al 2005). This transfer mostly occurs by plasmid-borne resistance genes (Schwarz et al 2001).…”

Effects of dietary addition of synbiotic on the performance, carcass traits, and serum parameters of Japanese quails

“…Probiotics are alternative living biological agents for antibiotics that suppress pathogen microorganisms with bacteriocin secretion, decrease the intestine pH (Gillor et al, 2008), and improve microbial balance (Fuller, 1989), positively affecting the digestive system. It has been reported in the literature that the use of preprobiotics in poultry improves the intestinal flora (Gibson and Roberfroid, 1995), strengthens the immune system (Hong et al, 2005), increases the digestibility of nutrients (Li et al, 2008a;Yasar and Akıncı, 2014), and enhances growth performance (Bolacali and Irak, 2017;Pelícia et al, 2004;Yasar and Akıncı, 2014).…”

Uso de probióticos na produção de pós-larvas de camarão-rosa

“…Probióticos baseados em bactérias gram-positivas do gênero Bacillus são uma alternativa à terapia antibiótica contra Vibrio (Rengpipat et al, 2000;Hong et al, 2005). Essas bactérias competem por nutrientes e, portanto, inibem o rápido crescimento de Vibrio e de outras bactérias, o que permite que bactérias resistentes não se multipliquem e não transfiram genes de resistência (Hong et al, 2005).…”