1
|
Fusco V, Fanelli F, Chieffi D. Recent and Advanced DNA-Based Technologies for the Authentication of Probiotic, Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) and Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) Fermented Foods and Beverages. Foods 2023; 12:3782. [PMID: 37893675 PMCID: PMC10606304 DOI: 10.3390/foods12203782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2023] [Revised: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The authenticity of probiotic products and fermented foods and beverages that have the status of protected designation of origin (PDO) or geographical indication (PGI) can be assessed via numerous methods. DNA-based technologies have emerged in recent decades as valuable tools to achieve food authentication, and advanced DNA-based methods and platforms are being developed. The present review focuses on the recent and advanced DNA-based techniques for the authentication of probiotic, PDO and PGI fermented foods and beverages. Moreover, the most promising DNA-based detection tools are presented. Strain- and species-specific DNA-based markers of microorganisms used as starter cultures or (probiotic) adjuncts for the production of probiotic and fermented food and beverages have been exploited for valuable authentication in several detection methods. Among the available technologies, propidium monoazide (PMA) real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based technologies allow for the on-time quantitative detection of viable microbes. DNA-based lab-on-a-chips are promising devices that can be used for the on-site and on-time quantitative detection of microorganisms. PCR-DGGE and metagenomics, even combined with the use of PMA, are valuable tools allowing for the fingerprinting of the microbial communities, which characterize PDO and PGI fermented foods and beverages, and they are necessary for authentication besides permitting the detection of extra or mislabeled species in probiotic products. These methods, in relation to the authentication of probiotic foods and beverages, need to be used in combination with PMA, culturomics or flow cytometry to allow for the enumeration of viable microorganisms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Vincenzina Fusco
- Institute of Sciences of Food Production, National Research Council of Italy (CNR-ISPA), 70126 Bari, Italy; (F.F.); (D.C.)
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
2
|
Doar NW, Samuthiram SD. Qualitative Analysis of the Efficacy of Probiotic Strains in the Prevention of Antibiotic-Associated Diarrhea. Cureus 2023; 15:e40261. [PMID: 37440799 PMCID: PMC10335840 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.40261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/17/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Antibiotic-associated diarrhea is often managed by the withdrawal of the culprit antibiotics or the administration of alternative antibiotics when a Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is suspected, an infection that tends to be the most common causative agent of the disease. Probiotics are also gaining popularity as alternative therapies, and it was hypothesized in this article that a Lactobacillus strain is the most efficacious probiotic for the prevention of antibiotic-associated diarrhea. This article conducted a literature review investigating the relative efficacy of the Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, and Saccharomyces probiotic strains as effective alternative therapies for antibiotic-associated diarrhea. The literature searched was from the PubMed database. The inclusion filters were: random control trials (RCTs), clinical trials, meta-analysis, last 10 years, full-text articles available in English, and all articles published in peer-reviewed journals. All three probiotic genera had strains that demonstrated significant efficacy in the prevention of antibiotic-associated diarrhea. However, Saccharomyces boulardii I-745 tends to outperform all the strains as the most effective and the one with the fewest, if any, adverse effects. Whenever probiotics are considered for the prevention of antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD) in both pediatric and adult patients, S. boulardii I-745 should probably be prioritized.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nyier W Doar
- Medicine, Interfaith Medical Center, New York, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
3
|
Acosta-Rodríguez-Bueno CP, Abreu Y Abreu AT, Guarner F, Guno MJV, Pehlivanoğlu E, Perez M. Bacillus clausii for Gastrointestinal Disorders: A Narrative Literature Review. Adv Ther 2022; 39:4854-4874. [PMID: 36018495 PMCID: PMC9525334 DOI: 10.1007/s12325-022-02285-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2022] [Accepted: 07/26/2022] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
The gut microbiota is intrinsically linked to human health; disturbances in microbial homeostasis are implicated in both intestinal and extraintestinal disorders. Probiotics are "live microorganisms that, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host," and many commercial preparations comprising a diverse range of species are available. While probiotics have been much researched, better understanding of the probiotic effects and applications of species such as Bacillus clausii is warranted. In this narrative literature review, we review the characteristics and mechanisms of action supporting B. clausii as a probiotic and discuss the evidence from clinical studies evaluating B. clausii probiotics for the management of a variety of gastrointestinal disorders and symptoms in children and adults. Finally, we highlight the challenges of future research and the need for more robust and diverse clinical evidence to guide physicians in the clinical application of probiotics for gastrointestinal disorders and other conditions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Mary Jean V Guno
- Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health, Pasig City, Metro Manila, Philippines
| | | | - Marcos Perez
- Sanofi, Industriepark Höchst, Bldg. K607, Room 5327, 65926, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Kharwar A, Bazaz MR, Dandekar MP. Quantitative and qualitative characterization of commercially available oral suspension of probiotic products containing Bacillus Clausii spores. BMC Microbiol 2022; 22:217. [PMID: 36114449 PMCID: PMC9482283 DOI: 10.1186/s12866-022-02631-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2022] [Accepted: 09/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Probiotics contain beneficial live bacteria that confer several health benefits to the host. For the past 50 years, spore-forming Bacillus species have been used in the form of probiotics. Among these, Bacillus clausii strains are used for the management of acute and antibiotic-associated diarrhoea. In the present work, we have evaluated the asserted label information on randomly chosen commercial Bacillus clausii spore suspension of probiotic products. The quality and number of viable bacteria were evaluated based on the colony count, antibiotic resistance, and hemolytic activity assays. The colony fingerprinting and 16S rRNA gene-sequencing techniques were used to confirm the presence of a univariate strain (Bacillus clausii). Our results corroborated the label count of 2 × 109 CFU/5 mL in BACIPRO®, ENTEROGERMINA®, and TUFPRO® products. However, vegetative spore count was not found to match with the given label count in BENEGUT®, PROALANA-B®, β-LOCK®, and PROCILLUS® Bacillus clausii brands. In the hemolytic activity assay, except for β-LOCK®, the other 6 products showed gamma-hemolysis activity. Bacillus clausii isolated from all 7 probiotic products demonstrated resistance to several broad-spectrum antibiotics. The 16S rRNA gene-sequencing data detected genera of Bacillus and Bacillus clausii strain in the BACIPRO®, ENTEROGERMINA®, PROALANA-B®, BENEGUT®, and TUFPRO® products; however, Ralstonia mannitolilytica and Paenibacillus dendritiformis species were identified in β-LOCK® and PROCILLUS®, respectively. As correct label information was observed only in BACIPRO®, ENTEROGERMINA®, and TUFPRO® products, it is proposed that a more stringent quality check would minimize the possibility of mismatch concerning the label information.
Collapse
|
5
|
Current Progress and Future Perspectives on the Use of Bacillus clausii. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10061246. [PMID: 35744764 PMCID: PMC9230978 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10061246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2022] [Revised: 05/30/2022] [Accepted: 05/31/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacillus clausii is a probiotic that benefits human health. Its key characteristics include the ability to form spores; the resulting tolerance to heat, acid, and salt ensures safe passage through the human gastrointestinal tract with no loss of cells. Although B. clausii has been widely used for many decades, the beneficial properties of other probiotics, such as Lactobacillus spp. and Bifidobacterium spp., are better disseminated in the literature. In this review, we summarize the physiological, antimicrobial, and immunomodulatory properties of probiotic B. clausii strains. We also describe findings from studies that have investigated B. clausii probiotics from the perspective of quality and safety. We highlight innovative properties based on biochemical investigations of non-probiotic strains of B. clausii, revealing that B. clausii may have further health benefits in other therapeutic areas.
Collapse
|
6
|
Todorov SD, Ivanova IV, Popov I, Weeks R, Chikindas ML. Bacillus spore-forming probiotics: benefits with concerns? Crit Rev Microbiol 2021; 48:513-530. [PMID: 34620036 DOI: 10.1080/1040841x.2021.1983517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Representatives of the genus Bacillus are multifunctional microorganisms with a broad range of applications in both traditional fermentation and modern biotechnological processes. Bacillus spp. has several beneficial properties. They serve as starter cultures for various traditional fermented foods and are important biotechnological producers of enzymes, antibiotics, and bioactive peptides. They are also used as probiotics for humans, in veterinary medicine, and as feed additives for animals of agricultural importance. The beneficial effects of bacilli are well-reported and broadly acknowledged. However, with a better understanding of their positive role, many questions have been raised regarding their safety and the relevance of spore formation in the practical application of this group of microorganisms. What is the role of Bacillus spp. in the human microbial consortium? When and why did they start colonizing the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) of humans and other animals? Can spore-forming probiotics be considered as truly beneficial organisms, or should they still be approached with caution and regarded as "benefits with concerns"? In this review, we not only hope to answer the above questions but to expand the scope of the conversation surrounding bacilli probiotics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Iskra Vitanova Ivanova
- Department of General and Applied Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Igor Popov
- Center for Agrobiotechnology, Don State Technical University, Rostov-on-Don, Russia
| | - Richard Weeks
- Health Promoting Naturals Laboratory, School of Environmental and Biological Sciences, Rutgers State University, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
| | - Michael Leonidas Chikindas
- Center for Agrobiotechnology, Don State Technical University, Rostov-on-Don, Russia.,Health Promoting Naturals Laboratory, School of Environmental and Biological Sciences, Rutgers State University, New Brunswick, NJ, USA.,I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Mazzantini D, Calvigioni M, Celandroni F, Lupetti A, Ghelardi E. Spotlight on the Compositional Quality of Probiotic Formulations Marketed Worldwide. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:693973. [PMID: 34354690 PMCID: PMC8329331 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.693973] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2021] [Accepted: 06/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
On the worldwide market, a great number of probiotic formulations are available to consumers as drugs, dietary supplements, and functional foods. For exerting their beneficial effects on host health, these preparations should contain a sufficient amount of the indicated living microbes and be pathogen-free to be safe. Therefore, the contained microbial species and their amount until product expiry are required to be accurately reported on the labels. While commercial formulations licensed as drugs are subjected to rigorous quality controls, less stringent regulations are generally applied to preparations categorized as dietary supplements and functional foods. Many reports indicated that the content of several probiotic formulations does not always correspond to the label claims in terms of microbial identification, number of living organisms, and purity, highlighting the requirement for more stringent quality controls by manufacturers. The main focus of this review is to provide an in-depth overview of the microbiological quality of probiotic formulations commercialized worldwide. Many incongruences in the compositional quality of some probiotic formulations available on the worldwide market were highlighted. Even if manufacturers carry at least some of the responsibility for these inconsistencies, studies that analyze probiotic products should be conducted following recommended and up-to-date methodologies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Diletta Mazzantini
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Marco Calvigioni
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Francesco Celandroni
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Antonella Lupetti
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Emilia Ghelardi
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.,Research Center Nutraceuticals and Food for Health-Nutrafood, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Milanović V, Cardinali F, Belleggia L, Garofalo C, Pasquini M, Tavoletti S, Riolo P, Ruschioni S, Isidoro N, Osimani A, Aquilanti L. Exploitation of Tenebrio molitor larvae as biological factories for human probiotics, an exploratory study. J Funct Foods 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jff.2021.104490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
|
9
|
Khatri I, Sharma G, Subramanian S. Composite genome sequence of Bacillus clausii, a probiotic commercially available as Enterogermina ®, and insights into its probiotic properties. BMC Microbiol 2019; 19:307. [PMID: 31888501 PMCID: PMC6937992 DOI: 10.1186/s12866-019-1680-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2019] [Accepted: 12/11/2019] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Some of the spore-forming strains of Bacillus probiotics are marketed commercially as they survive harsh gastrointestinal conditions and bestow health benefits to the host. RESULTS We report the composite genome of Bacillus clausii ENTPro from a commercially available probiotic Enterogermina® and compare it with the genomes of other Bacillus probiotics. We find that the members of B. clausii species harbor high heterogeneity at the species as well as genus level. The genes conferring resistance to chloramphenicol, streptomycin, rifampicin, and tetracycline in the B. clausii ENTPro strain could be identified. The genes coding for the bacteriocin gallidermin, which prevents biofilm formation in the pathogens Staphylococcus aureus and S. epidermidis, were also identified. KEGG Pathway analysis suggested that the folate biosynthesis pathway, which depicts one of the important roles of probiotics in the host, is conserved completely in B. subtilis and minimally in B. clausii and other probiotics. CONCLUSIONS We identified various antibiotic resistance, bacteriocins, stress-related, and adhesion-related domains, and industrially-relevant pathways, in the genomes of these probiotic bacteria that are likely to help them survive in the harsh gastrointestinal tract, facilitating adhesion to host epithelial cells, persistence during antibiotic treatment and combating bacterial infections.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Indu Khatri
- CSIR-Institute of Microbial Technology, Sector-39A, Chandigarh, 160036, India.,Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Gaurav Sharma
- CSIR-Institute of Microbial Technology, Sector-39A, Chandigarh, 160036, India.,Institute of Bioinformatics and Applied Biotechnology, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
| | | |
Collapse
|
10
|
Microbiological Assessment of the Quality of Some Commercial Products Marketed as Lactobacillus crispatus-Containing Probiotic Dietary Supplements. Microorganisms 2019; 7:microorganisms7110524. [PMID: 31684185 PMCID: PMC6921017 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms7110524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2019] [Revised: 10/29/2019] [Accepted: 10/31/2019] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
In the last decade, many authors have reported low viability for probiotic products. Investigators commonly find they are not meeting claimed active counts and/or incorrect species and/or strains have been identified. We have therefore decided to verify viability, the real dose and species correspondence in nine probiotic products (seven nutritional supplements and two medical devices) collected from the Italian and French markets claiming to contain at least one strain of L. crispatus among the different species/strain included in the formulation. In fact, the medical relevance of L. crispatus strains has recently grown., as evaluating the possible dominance clusters typical of the vaginal microbiota, the Community State Type I, the one dominated by L. crispatus, appears to be “protective” in terms of infections, fertility and gestational duration of pregnancy. The results obtained demonstrate the generally poor quality of probiotics. Out of nine products, only two definitely contained viable Lactobacillus crispatus cells with a daily dose of at least 1 × 109 CFU/g and with an acceptable correspondence with what is declared on the label. Among these two, only one was found to be formulated with a strain (M247) that has been scientifically documented.
Collapse
|
11
|
Mora D, Filardi R, Arioli S, Boeren S, Aalvink S, de Vos WM. Development of omics-based protocols for the microbiological characterization of multi-strain formulations marketed as probiotics: the case of VSL#3. Microb Biotechnol 2019; 12:1371-1386. [PMID: 31402586 PMCID: PMC6801179 DOI: 10.1111/1751-7915.13476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2019] [Revised: 07/30/2019] [Accepted: 07/31/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The growing commercial interest in multi-strain formulations marketed as probiotics has not been accompanied by an equal increase in the evaluation of quality levels of these biotechnological products. The multi-strain product VSL#3 was used as a model to setup a microbiological characterization that could be extended to other formulations with high complexity. Shotgun metagenomics by deep Illumina sequencing was applied to DNA isolated from the commercial VSL#3 product to confirm strains identity safety and composition. Single-cell analysis was used to evaluate the cell viability, and β-galactosidase and urease activity have been used as marker to monitor the reproducibility of the production process. Similarly, these lots were characterized in detail by a metaproteomics approach for which a robust protein extraction protocol was combined with advanced mass spectrometry. The results identified over 1600 protein groups belonging to all strains present in the VSL#3 formulation. Of interest, only 3.2 % proteins showed significant differences mainly related to small variations in strain abundance. The protocols developed in this study addressed several quality criteria that are relevant for marketed multi-strain products and these represent the first efforts to define the quality of complex probiotic formulations such as VSL#3.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Diego Mora
- Department of Food Environmental and Nutritional Sciences (DeFENS)University of MilanMilanItaly
| | - Rossella Filardi
- Department of Food Environmental and Nutritional Sciences (DeFENS)University of MilanMilanItaly
| | - Stefania Arioli
- Department of Food Environmental and Nutritional Sciences (DeFENS)University of MilanMilanItaly
| | - Sjef Boeren
- Laboratory of BiochemistryWageningen UniversityWageningenThe Netherlands
| | - Steven Aalvink
- Laboratory of MicrobiologyWageningen UniversityWageningenThe Netherlands
| | - Willem M. de Vos
- Laboratory of MicrobiologyWageningen UniversityWageningenThe Netherlands
- Human Microbiome Research Program Unit, Faculty of MedicineUniversity of HelsinkiHelsinkiFinland
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Lee NK, Kim WS, Paik HD. Bacillus strains as human probiotics: characterization, safety, microbiome, and probiotic carrier. Food Sci Biotechnol 2019; 28:1297-1305. [PMID: 31695928 PMCID: PMC6811671 DOI: 10.1007/s10068-019-00691-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 145] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2019] [Revised: 09/16/2019] [Accepted: 09/20/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Both spore and vegetative forms of Bacillus species have been used as probiotics, and they have high stability to the surrounding atmospheric conditions such as heat, gastric conditions, and moisture. The commercial Bacillus probiotic strains in use are B. cereus, B. clausii, B. coagulans, B. licheniformis, B. polyfermenticus, B. pumilus, and B. subtilis. These strains have antimicrobial, anticancer, antioxidant, and vitamin production properties. However, Bacillus probiotics can also produce toxins and biogenic amines and transfer antibiotic resistance genes; therefore, their safety is a concern. Studies on the microbiome using probiotic Bacillus strains are limited in humans. Most microbiome research has been conducted in chicken, mouse, and pig. Some Bacillus probiotics are used as fermentation starters in plant and soybean and dietary supplement of baking foods as a probiotic carrier. This review summarizes the characterization of Bacillus species as probiotics for human use and their safety, microbiome, and probiotic carrier.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Na-Kyoung Lee
- Department of Food Science and Biotechnology of Animal Resource, Konkuk University, Seoul, 05029 Republic of Korea
| | - Won-Suck Kim
- College of Medical and Life Sciences, Silla University, Busan, 46958 Republic of Korea
| | - Hyun-Dong Paik
- Department of Food Science and Biotechnology of Animal Resource, Konkuk University, Seoul, 05029 Republic of Korea
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Vinderola G, Reinheimer J, Salminen S. The enumeration of probiotic issues: From unavailable standardised culture media to a recommended procedure? Int Dairy J 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.idairyj.2019.04.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
|
14
|
Celandroni F, Vecchione A, Cara A, Mazzantini D, Lupetti A, Ghelardi E. Identification of Bacillus species: Implication on the quality of probiotic formulations. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0217021. [PMID: 31107885 PMCID: PMC6527297 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0217021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2019] [Accepted: 05/02/2019] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Spores of several Bacillus species have long history of consumption and safe use as probiotics and a variety of formulations containing these organisms are available in the global market. Considering the difficulties in the identification of Bacillus species and the poor microbiological quality of many probiotic formulations, we used three up-to-date methodological approaches for analyzing the content of ten formulations marketed in Italy and labeled to contain Bacillus spores. We compared the performance of biochemical tests based on the BCL Vitek2 card and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry, using 16S rDNA sequencing as the reference technique. The BCL card performed well in identifying all Bacillus probiotic strains as well as the Bruker’s MALDI Biotyper. Nevertheless, the MALDI score values were sometimes lower than those indicated by the manufacturer for correct species identification. Contaminant bacteria (Lysinibacillus fusiformis, Acinetobacter baumannii, Bacillus cereus, Brevibacillus choshinensis, Bacillus licheniformis, Bacillus badius) were detected in some formulations. Characterization of the B. cereus contaminant showed the potential pathogenicity of this strain. Microbial enumeration performed by the plate count method revealed that the number of viable cells contained in many of the analyzed products differed from the labeled amount. Overall, our data show that only two of the ten analyzed formulations qualitatively and quantitatively respect what is on the label. Since probiotic properties are most often strain specific, molecular typing of isolates of the two most common Bacillus species, B. clausii and B. coagulans, was also performed. In conclusion, the majority of the analyzed products do not comply with quality requirements, most likely leading to reduced/absent efficacy of the preparation and representing a potential infective risk for consumers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Celandroni
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Alessandra Vecchione
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Alice Cara
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Diletta Mazzantini
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Antonella Lupetti
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Emilia Ghelardi
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
- Research Center Nutraceuticals and Food for Health-Nutrafood, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Sniffen JC, McFarland LV, Evans CT, Goldstein EJC. Choosing an appropriate probiotic product for your patient: An evidence-based practical guide. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0209205. [PMID: 30586435 PMCID: PMC6306248 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0209205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 116] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2018] [Accepted: 11/30/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Clinicians and patients face a daunting task when choosing the most appropriate probiotic for their specific needs. Available preparations encompass a diverse and continuously expanding product base, with most available products lacking evidence-based trials that support their use. Even when evidence exists, not all probiotic products are equally effective for all disease prevention or treatment indications. At this point in time, drug regulatory agencies offer limited assistance with regard to guidance and oversight in most countries, including the U.S. METHODS We reviewed the current medical literature and sources on the internet to survey the types of available probiotic products and to determine which probiotics had evidence-based efficacy data. Standard medical databases from inception to June 2018 were searched and discussions with experts in the field were conducted. We graded the strength of the evidence for probiotics having multiple, randomized controlled trials and developed a guide for the practical selection of current probiotic products for specific uses. RESULTS We found the efficacy of probiotic products is both strain-specific and disease-specific. Important factors involved in choosing the appropriate probiotic include matching the strain(s) with the targeted disease or condition, type of formulation, dose used and the source (manufacturing quality control and shelf-life). While we found many probiotic products lacked confirmatory trials, we found sufficient evidence for 22 different types of probiotics from 249 trials to be included. For example, several types of probiotics had strong evidence for the prevention of antibiotic-associated diarrhea [Saccharomyces boulardii I-745, a three-strain mixture (Lactobacillus acidophilus CL1285, L. casei Lbc80r, L. rhamnosus CLR2) and L. casei DN114001]. Strong evidence was also found for four types of probiotics for the prevention of a variety of other diseases/conditions (enteral-feed associated diarrhea, travellers' diarrhea, necrotizing enterocolits and side-effects associated with H. pylori treatments. The evidence was most robust for the treatment of pediatric acute diarrhea based on 59 trials (7 types of probiotics have strong efficacy), while an eight-strain multi-strain mixture showed strong efficacy for inflammatory bowel disease and two types of probiotics had strong efficacy for irritable bowel disease. Of the 22 types of probiotics reviewed, 15 (68%) had strong-moderate evidence for efficacy for at least one type of disease. CONCLUSION The choice of an appropriate probiotic is multi-factored, based on the mode and type of disease indication and the specific efficacy of probiotic strain(s), as well as product quality and formulation. TRIAL REGISTRATION This review was registered with PROSPERO: CRD42018103979.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jason C. Sniffen
- Department of Internal Medicine, Infectious Disease Section, Florida Hospital Orlando, Orlando, FL, United States of America
| | - Lynne V. McFarland
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle, Washington United States of America
| | - Charlesnika T. Evans
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Center for Healthcare Studies, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, United States of America
- Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Center of Innovation of Complex Chronic Healthcare (CINCCH), Edward Hines, Jr. VA Hospital, Hines, IL, United States of America
| | - Ellie J. C. Goldstein
- RM Alden Research Laboratory and David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Poojary A, Rohra S, Bari AK. WITHDRAWN: Response to the article "Microbiological and molecular characterization of commercially available probiotics containing Bacillus clausii from India and Pakistan". Int J Food Microbiol 2018:107944. [PMID: 29934106 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2018.06.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2018] [Accepted: 06/10/2018] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Aruna Poojary
- Dept. of Pathology & Microbiology, Breach Candy Hospital Trust, India.
| | - Seema Rohra
- Dept. of Pathology & Microbiology, Breach Candy Hospital Trust, India
| | - Anurag Kumar Bari
- Dept. of Pathology & Microbiology, Breach Candy Hospital Trust, India
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Vecchione A, Celandroni F, Mazzantini D, Senesi S, Lupetti A, Ghelardi E. Compositional Quality and Potential Gastrointestinal Behavior of Probiotic Products Commercialized in Italy. Front Med (Lausanne) 2018; 5:59. [PMID: 29564327 PMCID: PMC5845905 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2018.00059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2017] [Accepted: 02/19/2018] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent guidelines indicate that oral probiotics, living microorganisms able to confer a health benefit on the host, should be safe for human consumption, when administered in a sufficient amount, and resist acid and bile to exert their beneficial effects (e.g., metabolic, immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, competitive). This study evaluated quantitative and qualitative aspects and the viability in simulated gastric and intestinal juices of commercial probiotic formulations available in Italy. Plate counting and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry were used to enumerate and identify the contained organisms. In vitro studies with two artificial gastric juices and pancreatin-bile salt solution were performed to gain information on the gastric tolerance and bile resistance of the probiotic formulations. Most preparations satisfied the requirements for probiotics and no contaminants were found. Acid resistance and viability in bile were extremely variable depending on the composition of the formulations in terms of contained species and strains. In conclusion, this study indicates good microbiological quality but striking differences in the behavior in the presence of acids and bile for probiotic formulations marketed in Italy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra Vecchione
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Francesco Celandroni
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Diletta Mazzantini
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Sonia Senesi
- Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Antonella Lupetti
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Emilia Ghelardi
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy,Research Center Nutraceuticals and Food for Health-Nutrafood, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy,*Correspondence: Emilia Ghelardi,
| |
Collapse
|