Effect of the oral intake of probiotic Pediococcus acidilactici BA28 on Helicobacter pylori causing peptic ulcer in C57BL/6 mice models

Controlling Intestinal Infections and Digestive Disorders Using Probiotics

After consumption, probiotics provide health benefits to the host. Probiotics and their metabolites have therapeutic and nutritional properties that help to alleviate gastrointestinal, neurological, and cardiovascular problems. Probiotics strengthen host immunity through various mechanisms, including improved gut barrier function, receptor site blocking, competitive exclusion of pathogens, and the production of bioactive molecules. Emerging evidence suggests that intestinal bowel diseases can be fatal, but regular probiotic consumption can alleviate disease symptoms. The use and detailed description of the health benefits of probiotics to consumers in terms of reducing intestinal infection, inflammation, and digestive disorders are discussed in this review. The well-designed and controlled studies that examined the use of probiotics to reduce life-threatening activities caused by intestinal bowel diseases are also covered. This review discussed the active principles and potency of probiotics as evidenced by the known effects on host health, in addition to providing information on the mechanism of action.

Renoprotective Effect of Pediococcus acidilactici GKA4 on Cisplatin-Induced Acute Kidney Injury by Mitigating Inflammation and Oxidative Stress and Regulating the MAPK, AMPK/SIRT1/NF-κB, and PI3K/AKT Pathways

Acute kidney injury (AKI) describes a sudden loss of kidney function and is associated with a high mortality. Pediococcus acidilactici is a potent producer of bacteriocin and inhibits the growth of pathogens during fermentation and food storage; it has been used in the food industry for many years. In this study, the potential of P. acidilactici GKA4 (GKA4) to ameliorate AKI was investigated using a cisplatin-induced animal model. First, mice were given oral GKA4 for ten days and intraperitoneally injected with cisplatin on the seventh day to create an AKI mode. GKA4 attenuated renal histopathological alterations, serum biomarkers, the levels of inflammatory mediators, and lipid oxidation in cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity. Moreover, GKA4 significantly decreased the expression of inflammation-related proteins and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) in kidney tissues. Eventually, GKA4 also increased the levels of related antioxidant enzymes and pathways. Consistently, sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) upregulated the level of autophagy-related proteins (LC3B, p62, and Beclin1). Further studies are needed to check our results and advance our knowledge of the mechanism whereby PI3K inhibition (wortmannin) reverses the effect of GKA4 on cisplatin-treated AKI. Taken together, GKA4 provides a therapeutic target with promising clinical potential after cisplatin treatment by reducing oxidative stress and inflammation via the MAPK, AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)/SIRT1/nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT) axes.

Antibacterial Effects of Bacteriocin PLNC8 against Helicobacter pylori and Its Potential Mechanism of Action

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a bacterium that can cause a variety of gastric diseases. Most bacteriocins have gained popularity due to their non-toxic effects on cells and antibacterial effects against a wide range of pathogenic bacteria. In this study, the chemical synthesis of the bipeptide bacteriocin PLNC8 was used to investigate its possible action mechanism against H. pylori ZJC03 in vitro. Results showed that PLNC8 had significant anti-H. pylori ZJC03 potential, which resulted in a significant reduction in urease activity and a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 80 μM. PLNC8 inhibited the growth of H. pylori ZJC03, disrupting its structure as observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). In addition, PLNC8 decreased the ATP level and hydrogen peroxide sensitivity of H. pylori ZJC03. In conclusion, PLNC8 disrupts the ability of H. pylori ZJC03 to alter the host environment, providing a new avenue for the prevention and control of H. pylori infection, providing a theoretical foundation for further elucidation of its regulatory mechanism.

Probiotics for the Treatment of Gastric Diseases

Common gastric diseases include chronic gastritis, gastric ulcers and gastric cancer. The etiology of gastric diseases is complicated, including genetics, diet, excessive smoking and drinking, environmental factors, and bacterial infections. As live microorganisms, probiotics can confer health benefits to the host. At present, probiotics have been widely used in the preparation of foods, health products, and medicines. Due to their positive effects in improving diarrhea, constipation, alleviating allergies, enhancing immunity, and maintaining intestinal homeostasis, studies worldwide have focused on whether probiotics also provide therapeutic effects on gastric diseases. Thus, this review summarizes the possible mechanism of probiotics in the treatment of gastric diseases and provides a reference for expanding not only their application but also that of other microecological agents.

Probiotics as the live microscopic fighters against Helicobacter pylori gastric infections

Background

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is the causative agent of stomach diseases such as duodenal ulcer and gastric cancer, in this regard incomplete eradication of this bacterium has become to a serious concern. Probiotics are a group of the beneficial bacteria which increase the cure rate of H. pylori infections through various mechanisms such as competitive inhibition, co-aggregation ability, enhancing mucus production, production of bacteriocins, and modulating immune response.

Result

In this study, according to the received articles, the anti-H. pylori activities of probiotics were reviewed. Based on studies, administration of standard antibiotic therapy combined with probiotics plays an important role in the effective treatment of H. pylori infection. According to the literature, Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus reuteri, Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG, and Saccharomyces boulardii can effectively eradicate H. pylori infection. Our results showed that in addition to decrease gastrointestinal symptoms, probiotics can reduce the side effects of antibiotics (especially diarrhea) by altering the intestinal microbiome.

Conclusion

Nevertheless, antagonist activities of probiotics are H. pylori strain-specific. In general, these bacteria can be used for therapeutic purposes such as adjuvant therapy, drug-delivery system, as well as enhancing immune system against H. pylori infection.

Potential utility of nano-based treatment approaches to address the risk of Helicobacter pylori

INTRODUCTION

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) has occupied a significant place among infectious pathogens and it has been documented as a leading challenge due to its higher resistance to the commonly used drugs, higher adaptability, and lower targeting specificity of the available drugs.

AREAS COVERED

New treatment strategies are urgently needed in order to improve the current advancement in modern medicine. Nanocarriers have gained an advantage of drug encapsulation and high retention time in the stomach with a prolonged drug release rate at the targeted site. This article aims to highlight the recent advances in nanotechnology with special emphasis on metallic, polymeric, lipid, membrane coated, and target-specific nanoparticles (NPs), as well as, natural products for treating H. pylori infection. We discussed a comprehensive approach to understand H. pylori infection and elicits to rethink about the increasing threat posed by H. pylori and its treatment strategies.

EXPERT OPINION

To address these issues, nanotechnology has got huge potential to combat H. pylori infection and has made great progress in the field of biomedicine. Moreover, combinatory studies of natural products and probiotics in conjugation with NPs have proven efficiency against H. pylori infection, with an advantage of lower cytotoxicity, minimal side effects, and stronger antibacterial potential.[Figure: see text].

Update of Probiotics in Human World: A Nonstop Source of Benefactions till the End of Time

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are known for their biotechnological potential. Moreover, LAB are distinguished by amazing criteria: Adjusting the intestinal environment, inhibiting pathogenic microbes in the gastrointestinal tract, ability to reduce pathogen adhesion activity, improving the balance of the microbiota inside the intestine, capabilities of regulating intestinal mucosal immunity, and maintaining intestinal barrier function. The escalating number of research and studies about beneficial microorganisms and their impact on promoting health has attracted a big interest in the last decades. Since antiquity, various based fermented products of different kinds have been utilized as potential probiotic products. Nevertheless, the current upsurge in consumers' interest in bioalternatives has opened new horizons for the probiotic field in terms of research and development. The present review aims at shedding light on the world of probiotics, a continuous story of astonishing success in various fields, in particular, the biomedical sector and pharmaceutical industry, as well as to display the importance of probiotics and their therapeutic potential in purpose to compete for sturdy pathogens and to struggle against diseases and acute infections. Shadows and future trends of probiotics use are also discussed.

In vitro and in vivo anti-clostridial activity of newly isolated Pediococcus acidilactici SPM138 against Clostridium difficile

Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) has become a growing health concern, as evident from the increase in the mortality rate among elderly or hospitalized patients. Treatment of CDI is usually based on antibiotics (metronidazole and vancomycin), but it has some limitations, including cost and antibiotic resistance. Probiotics could offer an effective remedy to prevent CDI and could be an auxiliary agent in treatment CDI. Here, the anti-clostridial activity of a newly isolated probiotic strain, Pediococcus acidilactici SPM138 (SPM138) was evaluated. The cultivation of C. difficile (CD) with SPM138, inhibited the growth of CD and significantly reduced CD toxins level. The result of MTT assay showed that, incubation with 25% CD culture supernatant decreased the survival rate of HT-29 cells to less than 20%. However, the survival rate of these cells increased to 98% in the presence of the 25% CD + SPM138 supernatant. The mRNA expression of IL-6, IL-8 and PTGS2 in HT-29 cells decreased by more than 60% upon incubation with CD + SPM138 co-cultures as compared to the levels observed after treatment with CD supernatant only. The concentration of IL-8 also decreased by more than 60% upon treatment with CD + SPM138 co-culture supernatant. In a C. difficile PCR ribotype 027-infected mouse model, the concentration of CD toxin in stool samples of SPM138-fed mice was only 37% of that reported in C. difficile 027-infected group. These findings show that P. acidilactici SPM138 may be a promising probiotic in CDI.

Review of antimicrobial peptides with anti-Helicobacter pylori activity

BACKGROUND

The emergence of antibiotic-resistant Helicobacter pylori strains in recent years has increased the need for finding an alternative in the post-antibiotic era. One of the fields being considered for this purpose is antimicrobial peptides. The aim of this review was to provide an obvious scheme from the studied anti-H. pylori peptides and to investigate their common features.

METHOD

First, all of the antimicrobial peptides with their anti-H. pylori effects have been proved up to September 2018 were selected and their information including structure, mechanism of action, and function was reviewed. To achieve this, three databases of PubMed, Scopus, and Web of science were used.

RESULTS

A total of 9 groups containing 22 antimicrobial peptides were found with demonstrated anti-H. pylori effects. The nine groups included pexiganan, tilapia piscidins, epinecidin-1, cathelicidins, defensins, bicarinalin, odorranain-HP, PGLa-AM1, and bacteriocins. Most of the antimicrobial peptides, not all, had common features such as the ability to kill antibiotic-resistant strains, having α-helical structure, being cationic, with high positive charge and isoelectric point.

CONCLUSION

Antimicrobial peptides with anti-H. pylori effects have the potential to replace the antibiotics, especially in the post-antibiotic era, if a rapid and low-cost production method would be found.

Probiotic therapy in Helicobacter pylori infection: a potential strategy against a serious pathogen?

Helicobacter pylori is a highly prevalent human pathogen responsible for chronic inflammation of the gastric tissues, gastroduodenal ulcers, and cancer. The treatment includes a pair of antibiotics with a proton pump inhibitor PPI. Despite the presence of different treatments, the infection rate is still increasing both in developed and developing states. The challenge of treatment failure is greatly due to the resistance of H. pylori to antibiotics and its side effects. Probiotics potential to cure H. pylori infection is well-documented. Probiotics combined with conventional treatment regime appear to have great potential in eradicating H. pylori infection, therefore, provide an excellent alternative approach to manage H. pylori load and its threatening disease outcome. Notably, anti-H. pylori activity of probiotics is strain specific,therefore establishing standard guidelines regarding the dose and formulation of individual strain is inevitable. This review is focused on probiotic's antagonism against H. pylori summarizing their three main potential aspects: their efficiency (i) as an alternative to H. pylori eradication treatment, (ii) as an adjunct to H. pylori eradication treatment and (iii) as a vaccine delivery vehicle.

Biopreservation potential of antimicrobial protein producing Pediococcus spp. towards selected food samples in comparison with chemical preservatives

The present study elucidates biopreservation potential of an antimicrobial protein; bacteriocin, producing Pediococcus spp. isolated from dairy sample and enhancement of their shelf life in comparison with two chemical preservatives. The antimicrobial protein producing Pediococcus spp. was isolated from selected diary samples and characterised by standard microbiology and molecular biology protocols. The cell free supernatant of Pediococcus spp. was applied on the selected food samples and monitored on daily basis. Antimicrobial potential of the partially purified protein from this bacterium was tested against clinical isolates by well diffusion assay. The preservation efficiency of bacteriocin producing isolate at various concentrations was tested against selected food samples and compared with two chemical preservatives such as sodium sulphite and sodium benzoate. The bacteriocin was partially purified and the microbiological qualities of the biopreservative treated food samples were assessed. The present study suggested that 100 μg/l of bacteriocin extract demonstrated antimicrobial potential against E. coli and Shigella spp. The treatment with the Pediococcus spp. showed enhanced preservation at 15 mL/kg of selected samples for a period of 15 days in comparison with sodium sulphite and sodium benzoate. The microbiological quality of food samples treated with biopreservative showed lesser total bacterial count (CFU/g) in comparison with the food samples applied with chemicals (p ≤ 0.05). Thus, the present study suggests that bacteriocin producing Pediococcus probably provides enhanced shelf life to the selected food samples and can be used as biopreservatives.

Probiotic supplementation with Lactobacillus plantarum and Pediococcus acidilactici for Helicobacter pylori therapy: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the safety, tolerability and efficacy of a probiotic supplementation for Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) eradication therapy.

DESIGN

Consecutive adult naive patients with a diagnosis of H. pylori infection who were prescribed eradication therapy according to clinical practice (10-day triple or nonbismuth quadruple concomitant therapy) randomly received probiotics (1 × 10⁹ colony-forming units each strain, Lactobacillus plantarum and Pediococcus acidilactici) or matching placebo. Side effects at the end of the treatment, measured through a modified De Boer Scale, were the primary outcome. Secondary outcomes were compliance with therapy and eradication rates.

RESULTS

A total of 209 patients (33% triple therapy, 66% non-bismuth quadruple therapy) were included [placebo (n = 106) or probiotic (n = 103)]. No differences were observed regarding side effects at the end of the treatment between groups (β -0.023, P 0.738). Female gender (P < 0.001) and quadruple therapy (P 0.007) were independent predictors of side effects. No differences in compliance were observed, regardless of the study group or eradication therapy. Eradication rates were similar between groups [placebo 95% (95% confidence interval (CI), 89% to 98%) vs probiotic 97% (95% CI, 92% to 99%), P 0.721]. There were no relevant differences in cure rates (>90% in all cases) between triple and quadruple concomitant therapy.

CONCLUSION

Probiotic supplementation containing Lactobacillus Plantarum and Pediococcus acidilactici to H. pylori treatment neither decreased side effects nor improved compliance with therapy or eradication rates.

Helicobacter pylori-induced gastric pathology: insights from in vivo and ex vivo models

Gastric colonization with Helicobacter pylori induces diverse human pathological conditions, including superficial gastritis, peptic ulcer disease, mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma, and gastric adenocarcinoma and its precursors. The treatment of these conditions often relies on the eradication of H. pylori, an intervention that is increasingly difficult to achieve and that does not prevent disease progression in some contexts. There is, therefore, a pressing need to develop new experimental models of H. pylori-associated gastric pathology to support novel drug development in this field. Here, we review the current status of in vivo and ex vivo models of gastric H. pylori colonization, and of Helicobacter-induced gastric pathology, focusing on models of gastric pathology induced by H. pylori, Helicobacter felis and Helicobacter suis in rodents and large animals. We also discuss the more recent development of gastric organoid cultures from murine and human gastric tissue, as well as from human pluripotent stem cells, and the outcomes of H. pylori infection in these systems.

Bacteriocins: antibiotics in the age of the microbiome

Antibiotics have revolutionised the treatment of infectious disease and improved the lives of billions of people worldwide over many decades. With the rise in antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and corresponding lack of antibiotic development, we find ourselves in dire need of alternative treatments. Bacteriocins are a class of bacterially produced, ribosomally synthesised, antimicrobial peptides that may be narrow or broad in their spectra of activity. Animal models have demonstrated the safety and efficacy of bacteriocins in treating a broad range of infections; however, one of the principal drawbacks has been their relatively narrow spectra when compared with small-molecule antibiotics. In an era where we are beginning to appreciate the role of the microbiota in human and animal health, the fact that bacteriocins cause much less collateral damage to the host microbiome makes them a highly desirable therapeutic. This review makes a case for the implementation of bacteriocins as therapeutic antimicrobials, either alone or in combination with existing antibiotics to alleviate the AMR crisis and to lessen the impact of antibiotics on the host microbiome.

Probiotics as an adjuvant treatment in Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy

Over 80% of individuals infected with Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) are asymptomatic. Increased resistance to antibiotics and decreased compliance to the therapeutic regimens have led to the failure of eradication therapy. Probiotics, with direct and indirect inhibitory effects on H. pylori in both animal models and clinical trials, have recently been used as a supplementary treatment in H. pylori eradication therapy. Probiotics have been considered useful because of the improvements in H. pylori eradication rates and therapy-related side effects although treatment outcomes using probiotics are controversial due to the heterogeneity of species, strains, doses and therapeutic duration of probiotics. Thus, despite the positive role of probiotics, several factors need to be further considered during their applications. Moreover, adverse events of probiotic use need to be noted. Further investigations into the safety of adjuvant probiotics to H. pylori eradication therapy are required.

Microorganisms with claimed probiotic properties: an overview of recent literature

Probiotics are defined as live microorganisms, which when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host. Health benefits have mainly been demonstrated for specific probiotic strains of the following genera: Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, Saccharomyces, Enterococcus, Streptococcus, Pediococcus, Leuconostoc, Bacillus, Escherichia coli. The human microbiota is getting a lot of attention today and research has already demonstrated that alteration of this microbiota may have far-reaching consequences. One of the possible routes for correcting dysbiosis is by consuming probiotics. The credibility of specific health claims of probiotics and their safety must be established through science-based clinical studies. This overview summarizes the most commonly used probiotic microorganisms and their demonstrated health claims. As probiotic properties have been shown to be strain specific, accurate identification of particular strains is also very important. On the other hand, it is also demonstrated that the use of various probiotics for immunocompromised patients or patients with a leaky gut has also yielded infections, sepsis, fungemia, bacteraemia. Although the vast majority of probiotics that are used today are generally regarded as safe and beneficial for healthy individuals, caution in selecting and monitoring of probiotics for patients is needed and complete consideration of risk-benefit ratio before prescribing is recommended.