Safety assesment of Bacillus clausii UBBC07, a spore forming probiotic

Oral toxicity evaluation of Bacillus clausii M31 isolated from the children's feces in the northern province of Vietnam

This study investigated the acute and repeated 28-day dose toxicity profiles of Bacillus clausii M31, isolated from children's feces, in Swiss rats and New Zealand rabbits. To investigate acute toxicity, rats were given varied doses of B. clausii M31 (1 × 1011 CFU/mL, 3 × 1011 CFU/mL, and 5 × 1011 CFU/mL) orally once daily for 14 days, in accordance with OECD recommendations No. 423. To evaluate toxicity, rabbits were given either a low dosage (1 × 1011 CFU/mL) or a high dose (5 × 1011 CFU/mL) during a 28-day period using the OECD Test Guideline 407 protocol. Neither death nor significant abnormalities were observed in the rats during the experiment. The microscopic examination of key organs revealed no substantial changes in organ morphology. Furthermore, analyses of serum biochemistry and hematological parameters did not reveal any treatment-associated variations. In sum, these findings suggest that the oral intake of B. clausii M31 at concentrations up to 5 × 1011 CFU/mL for 28 days poses no discernible risks.

Safety Assessment of Streptococcus salivarius UBSS-01 in Rats and Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Study in Healthy Individuals

Streptococcus salivarius is a common, harmless, and prevalent member of the oral microbiota in humans. In the present study, the safety of S. salivarius UBSS-01 was evaluated using in silico methods and preclinical and clinical studies. In an acute toxicity study, rats were administered with 5 g/kg (500 × 109 CFU) S. salivarius UBSS-01. The changes in phenotypic behaviors and hematological, biochemical, electrolytes, and urine analyses were monitored. No toxicity was observed at 14 days post-treatment. The no observable effects limit (NOEL) of S. salivarius UBSS-01 was >5 g/kg in rats. In a 28-day repeat dose toxicity study, rats were administered S. salivarius UBSS-01 once daily at doses of 0.1, 0.5, and 1 g/kg (10, 50, and 100 billion CFU/kg, respectively) body weight. S. salivarius UBSS-01 did not influence any of the hematology parameters and clinical chemistry parameters in plasma and serum samples after 28-day repeated administration. No structural abnormality was observed in the histological examination of organs. Whole genome analysis revealed the absence of virulence factors or genes that may transmit antibiotic resistance. In the double-blind study with 60 human participants (aged 18-60 years), consumption of S. salivarius UBSS-01 for 30 days was found to be safe and results were comparable with placebo treatment These findings indicate that S. salivarius UBSS-01 may be safe for human consumption.

In-vitro and preclinical testing of bacillus subtilis UBBS-14 probiotic in rats shows no toxicity

Introduction

Probiotics made from Bacillus subtilis provide a wide spread of health benefits, particularly in the treatment of diarrhea and gastrointestinal problems. Herein, we employed in vitro and in vivo paradigms to assess the potential adverse effects and toxicity of B. subtilis UBBS-14.

Materials and methods

According to Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) 423 and 407 requirements, a preclinical investigation was conducted in male and female Sprague-Dawley rats. Acute toxicity was examined following a single peroral (PO) administration of 5,000 mg/kg body weight (bw) i.e. equivalent to 500 billion colony-forming units (CFU) per kg bw. Single administration of B. subtilis UBBS-14 showed no mortality or adverse effects until the 14-day observation period, indicating LD50 is >5,000 mg/kg bw.

Results

Incubation of B. subtilis UBBS-14 with Caco2, HT29, and Raw 264.7 cell lines, showed no cytotoxic effects. This probiotic strain was also found responsive to the majority of antibiotics. For a 28-day repeated dose toxicity study, rats were administered 100, 500, and 1,000 mg/kg bw daily once (10, 50, and 100 billion CFU/kg bw/day, respectively) doses of B. subtilis UBBS-14. No notable changes were seen in the morphology, weight, and histopathology of the critical internal organs. The haematological, biochemical, electrolyte (sodium, potassium, chloride, and calcium), and urine analytical results were within the normal range and equivalent to the vehicle-treated group.

Conclusion

B. subtilis UBBS-14's no-observed-effect level (NOEL) was thus determined to be >1,000 mg/kg bw/day following a 28-day oral dosing.

Benefits and concerns of probiotics: an overview of the potential genotoxicity of the colibactin-producing Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 strain

Recently, the mounting integration of probiotics into human health strategies has gathered considerable attention. Although the benefits of probiotics have been widely recognized in patients with gastrointestinal disorders, immune system modulation, and chronic-degenerative diseases, there is a growing need to evaluate their potential risks. In this context, new concerns have arisen regarding the safety of probiotics as some strains may have adverse effects in humans. Among these strains, Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 (EcN) exhibited traits of concern due to a pathogenic locus in its genome that produces potentially genotoxic metabolites. As the use of probiotics for therapeutic purposes is increasing, the effects of potentially harmful probiotics must be carefully evaluated. To this end, in this narrative review article, we reported the findings of the most relevant in vitro and in vivo studies investigating the expanding applications of probiotics and their impact on human well-being addressing concerns arising from the presence of antibiotic resistance and pathogenic elements, with a focus on the polyketide synthase (pks) pathogenic island of EcN. In this context, the literature data here discussed encourages a thorough profiling of probiotics to identify potential harmful elements as done for EcN where potential genotoxic effects of colibactin, a secondary metabolite, were observed. Specifically, while some studies suggest EcN is safe for gastrointestinal health, conflicting findings highlight the need for further research to clarify its safety and optimize its use in therapy. Overall, the data here presented suggest that a comprehensive assessment of the evolving landscape of probiotics is essential to make evidence-based decisions and ensure their correct use in humans.

Acute and sub-acute toxicity study of anti-obesity herbal granules in Sprague Dawley rats

Abstract Toxicological studies are essential for developing novel medications in pharmaceutical industries including ayurvedic preparation. Hence, the present study is aimed to evaluate acute and 28-days repeated dose oral toxicity of anti-obesity polyherbal granules (PHG) in Sprague Dawley rats by OECD guidelines No 425 and 407, respectively. In an acute oral toxicity study, a single dose of 2 g/kg PHG was administered to rats and mortality, body weight, and clinical observations were noted for fourteen days. However, in the subacute oral toxicity study, the PHG was administered orally at doses of 0.3, 0.5 and 1 g/kg daily for 28 days to rats. Food intake and body weight were recorded weekly. On the 29th day, rats were sacrificed and subjected to haematological, biochemical, urine, necropsy, and histopathological analysis. In an acute oral toxicity study, no treatment-related, mortality, behavioral changes, and toxicity were found throughout fourteen days. Likewise, in the sub-acute toxicity study, no mortality and toxic effects were found in haematology, biochemical, urine, necropsy and histopathological analysis in rats for 28 days of treatment with PHG. Based on these results, the LD50 of PHG was found to be greater than 2 g/kg and the no-observed-adverse-effect level (NOAEL) of PHG for rats was found to be 0.5 g/kg/day. Thus, anti-obesity polyherbal granules showed a good safety profile in animal studies and can be considered an important agent for the clinical management of obesity.

Genetic and phenotypic assessments for the safety of probiotic Bacillus clausii 088AE

In this study, we report on whole genome sequence analysis of clinically documented, commercial probiotic Bacillus clausii 088AE and genome features contributing to probiotic properties. The whole genome sequence of B. clausii 088AE generated a single scaffold of 4,598,457 bp with 44.74 mol% G + C. This assembled genome sequence annotated by the RAST resulted in 4371 coding genes, 75 tRNAs, and 22 rRNAs. Gene ontology classification indicated 39.5% proteins with molecular function, 44.24% cellular component, and 16.25% proteins involved in biological processes. In taxonomic analysis, B. clausii 088AE shared 99% identity with B. clausii DSM 8716. The gene sequences related to safety and genome stability such as antibiotic resistance (840), virulence factors (706), biogenic amines (1), enterotoxin (0), emetic toxin (0), lanthipeptides (4), prophage (4) and clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) sequences (11), were identified and evaluated for safety and functions. The absence of functional prophage sequences and the presence of CRISPR indicated an advantage in genome stability. Moreover, the presence of genome features contributing to probiotic characteristics such as acid, and bile salt tolerance, adhesion to the gut mucosa, and environmental resistance ensure the strains survivability when consumed as a probiotic. In conclusion, the absence of risks associated with sequences/genes in the B. clausii 088AE genome and the presence of essential probiotic traits confirm the strain to be safe for use as a probiotic.

Qualitative Analysis of the Efficacy of Probiotic Strains in the Prevention of Antibiotic-Associated Diarrhea

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.

Bacillus subtilis isolates from camel milk as probiotic candidates

Recently Bacillus spp. has gained much attention as potential probiotics due to the production of resistant cells. So, this research is purposeful for evaluation of probiotic characteristics of Bacillus isolates from camel milk as a suitable source for growth and isolation of microorganisms that can be candidate to be used as probiotic. First, forty-eight colonies were screened by using morphological and biochemical analysis. Among the isolates, two of them were recognized as Bacillus subtilis CM1 and CM2 by partial 16SrRNA sequencing that, probiotic potentials of them were evaluated. Both of them, in the preliminary safety screening, were found negative for hemolysis and lecithinase activity. Also, in vitro characteristics such as acid, bile salts and artificial gastric juice resistant, cell surface hydrophobicity, auto-aggregation, antioxidant characteristics, and adherent capability to HT-29 cells were determined for them approximately in the range of other probiotic strains. Two strains were susceptible to various antibiotics and enterotoxigenic activities were not detected by PCR which means isolated Bacillus strains could be classified as safe. Altogether, results demonstrate that Bacillus CM1 and CM2 strains could have the potential of consideration as probiotics, however more extensive in vitro/vivo studies are needed.

Preliminary in vitro assessment of probiotic properties of Bacillus subtilis GM1, a spore forming bacteria isolated from goat milk

Background

Species of the Bacillus genus have a long history of use in biotechnology. Some Bacillus strains have recently been identified for food applications and industrial as safe bacteria, which mostly have been recognized as probiotic strains.

Aims

The primary purpose of the current study was to evaluate the probiotic characteristics of Bacillus subtilis strains isolated and identified from the goat milk samples.

Methods

After sampling from 40 goat milk and cultivation, suspected colonies were subjected to biochemical and molecular identification. Then, the confirmed isolate was assessed for in vitro probiotic tests, including hemolysis and lecithinase properties, bile salt, acid, and artificial gastric juice resistance, antioxidant activity, antibiotics susceptibility, enterotoxin genes detection, and attachment capacity to the HT-29 cells.

Results

Among 11 suspected isolates evaluated, only one isolate was identified as B. subtilis. In vitro tests for this strain showed similar results to other probiotic strains. The B. subtilis strain was susceptible to various antibiotics. The enterotoxin genes were not detected based on PCR assay. Concerning its probiotic characteristics assessment, especially tolerance to bile salts and acidic conditions, the Bacillus strain could have the potential to consider as a probiotic.

Conclusion

Goat milk can be recommended as a source of Bacillus isolates. Also, the isolated strain showed high adaptability to the gastrointestinal environment, relatively equal percentages of adhesion properties, and some safety aspects, having the potential to be considered as an appropriate probiotic.

Bacillus clausii UBBC-07 in the symptom management of upper respiratory tract infections in children: a double blind, placebo-controlled randomised study

In children, upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) are one of the most common causes of infections which often require outpatient consultations with the doctor. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of probiotic Bacillus clausii UBBC-07 on symptom management of URTIs in children. In this double blind, randomised, placebo-controlled study, 90 children (age 4-7 years) with URTIs were equally divided into two groups, the probiotic and placebo. The children were instructed to take B. clausii UBBC-07 spores (2×109 per 5 ml vial) or placebo suspension daily twice for three months. The total duration of the study was 6 months, 3 months treatment and 3 months follow-up period. The parameters assessed were the mean number of URTIs, duration and severity of URTIs, absenteeism from school/childcare and immunity parameters, such as immunoglobulin (Ig)M, IgG, IgE and salivary IgA levels. At the end of treatment, there was a significant decrease in the number, duration and severity of URTIs in the probiotic treated group as compared to the baseline and placebo. IgE levels were significantly decreased and salivary IgA levels were significantly increased in the probiotic treated group suggesting probiotic mediated Th1/Th2 immune homeostasis to alleviate URTIs in children. In conclusion, B. clausii UBBC-07 may help in the reduction of symptoms of URTIs. The trial was registered prospectively with the Clinical Trial Registry of India (CTRI Reg. No: CTRI/2018/08/015282).

Role of a probiotic strain in the modulation of gut microbiota and cytokines in inflammatory bowel disease

OBJECTIVE

To assess the effect of a probiotic strain Bacillus clausii UBBC-07 on gut microbiota and cytokines in IBD patients.

METHOD

Patients were randomly allocated to either placebo or probiotic Bacillus clausii UBBC-07 for four weeks along with the standard medical treatment (SMT). Enrolled patients were evaluated before and after intervention for presence of the given probiotic, change in gut microbiota, change in serum cytokines, serotonin and dopamine, symptoms of disease, physical, behavioral and psychological parameters.

RESULTS

Probiotic strain Bacillus clausii UBBC-07 showed good survival in IBD patients in the treatment group (p < 0.01) without any reported adverse event. Metagenomic analysis showed that the given probiotic strain was able to modulate the gut microbiota in treated group. Phylum Firmicutes was increased and phylum Bacteroidetes was decreased in the probiotic treated group. A significant increase was observed in the abundance of anaerobic bacterial genera Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium and Faecalibacterium in the probiotic treated group (p < 0.01) as compared to placebo group. Significant increase was observed in IL-10 (p < 0.05) and variable decrease in the secretion of IL-1β, TNF- α, IL-6, IL -17 and IL -23 in probiotic treated group. In the treatment group a significant decrease in the symptoms of IBD and improvement in the psychological parameter to various degrees was noted.

CONCLUSION

These results indicated that probiotic strain B clausii UBBC-07 affected the gut microbiota and cytokine secretion and shown efficacy in IBD patients.

Quantitative and qualitative characterization of commercially available oral suspension of probiotic products containing Bacillus Clausii spores

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.

Current Progress and Future Perspectives on the Use of Bacillus clausii

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.

Functional and health-promoting properties of probiotics' exopolysaccharides; isolation, characterization, and applications in the food industry

Exopolysaccharides (EPS) are extracellular sugar metabolites/polymers of some slim microorganisms and, a wide variety of probiotics have been broadly investigated for their ability to produce EPS. EPS originated from probiotics have potential applications in food, pharmaceutical, cosmetology, wastewater treatment, and textiles industries, nevertheless slight is recognized about their function. The present review purposes to comprehensively discuss the structure, classification, biosynthesis, extraction, purification, sources, health-promoting properties, techno-functional benefits, application in the food industry, safety, toxicology, analysis, and characterization methods of EPS originated from probiotic microorganisms. Various studies have shown that probiotic EPS used as stabilizers, emulsifiers, gelling agents, viscosifiers, and prebiotics can alter the nutritional, texture, and rheological characteristics of food and beverages and play a major role in improving the quality of these products. Numerous studies have also proven the beneficial health effects of probiotic EPS, including antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, anticancer, antidiabetic, antibiofilm, antiulcer, and antitoxin activities. Although the use of probiotic EPS has health effects and improves the organoleptic and textural properties of food and pharmaceutical products and there is a high tendency for their use in related industries, the production yield of these products is low and requires basic studies to support their products in large scale.

Efficacy of Bacillus clausii UBBC - 07 spores in the amelioration of oral mucositis in head and neck cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy

BACKGROUND

The natural flora of healthy mucosa offer protection to the host. The loss of this barrier during radiotherapy enhances insults from physical, chemical and microbial agents.

METHODOLOGY

A randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled, parallel study on forty-six patients who underwent radiotherapy for head and neck cancers was undertaken. Patients were randomized either to standard treatment plus Bacillus clausii UBBC07 or standard treatment plus placebo. Bacillus clausii UBBC07 was given as an oral suspension of 2 billion spores twice every day for 30 days or until completion of total fractions of radiation. Grading of the mucositis was performed using CTCAE v.4.03 severity scale. The time taken for the appearance, resolution and severity of mucositis was evaluated.

RESULTS

There was a significant increase (p < 0.01) in median time for the onset of mucositis i.e., 10 days in test and 8 days in control groups respectively. The median time for remission was found to be 12 days in test and 14 days in the control group (p < 0.05). Grade IV mucositis was observed in no patients in test group and 2 patients in the control group (p < 0.05). No adverse events attributed to the Bacillus clausii were seen. Bacillus clausii UBBC07 therapy delayed the onset, decreased the time to remission and displayed strong impact on suppressing the occurrence of high-grade mucositis amongst the test group.

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides a positive trend that probiotics like Bacillus clausii UBBC07 spores could act as a tool to ameliorate oral mucositis.

Bacteremia after Bacillus clausii administration for the treatment of acute diarrhea: A case report

Bacillus clausii is a gram-positive rod used as a probiotic to treat diarrhea and the side effects of antibiotics such as pseudomembranous colitis. We report a case of B. clausii bacteremia in a non-immunocompromised patient with active peptic ulcer disease and acute diarrhea. The probiotic was administered during the patient's hospitalization due to diarrhea of infectious origin. B. clausii was identified in the bloodstream of the patient through Matrix- Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization-Time of Flight (MALDI-TOF) days after her discharge. Given the wide use of probiotics, we alert clinicians to consider this microorganism as a causative agent when signs of systemic infection, metabolic compromise, and hemodynamic instability establish after its administration and no pathogens have been identified that could explain the clinical course.

Therapeutic efficacy of probiotic Alkalihalobacillus clausii 088AE in antibiotic-associated diarrhea: A randomized controlled trial

The use of probiotics in gastrointestinal ailments has shown therapeutic effects. The imbalance of the microbiota caused by antibiotic treatment or others has been shown to be restored to normal with probiotic treatment. In this study, a genomically and phenotypically safe probiotic Alkalihalobacillus clausii 088AE has been evaluated for ameliorating antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD) in pediatrics (PE, n = 60, 2-10 years), adolescent and adults (AA, n = 60, 11-65 years) through a randomized controlled clinical trial. A. clausii 088AE was administered for seven days (PE, 4 and AA, 6 billion/day) and primary and secondary endpoints were evaluated on different visits. Compared to the respective placebo arms, A. clausii 088AE improved the diarrheal (time to last unformed stool and diarrheal frequency) conditions in children, adolescents and adults. A. clausii 088AE treatment decreased AAD-severity score on visit 5 in both pediatric (0.12 ± 0.33, 12.39 folds), adult and adolescent (0.54 ± 0.36, 2.34 folds) groups compared to those respective placebo arm (p < 0.05). A. clausii 088AE was well tolerated, did not cause significant changes in vital and clinical safety parameters and subjects reported no adverse effects or serious adverse reactions. A. clausii 088AE is safe and therapeutically effective against AAD, reducing onset of diarrhea and related severity symptoms including abdominal discomfort and pain, bloating and flatulence. A. clausii 088AE may be recommended as a live bio-therapeutic agent for improving clinical pathophysiology of gastrointestinal ailments, in particular antibiotic-associated diarrhea and related symptoms.

Presence and Germination of the Probiotic Bacillus subtilis DE111® in the Human Small Intestinal Tract: A Randomized, Crossover, Double-Blind, and Placebo-Controlled Study

Spore-based probiotics offer important advantages over other probiotics as they can survive the harsh gastric conditions of the stomach and bile salts in the small intestine, ultimately germinating in the digestive tract. A novel clinical trial in 11 ileostomy participants was conducted to directly investigate the presence and germination of the probiotic strain Bacillus subtilis DE111^® in the small intestine. Three hours following ingestion of DE111^®, B. subtilis spores (6.4 × 10⁴ ± 1.3 × 10⁵ CFU/g effluent dry weight) and vegetative cells (4.7 × 10⁴ ± 1.1 × 10⁵ CFU/g effluent dry weight) began to appear in the ileum effluent. Six hours after ingestion, spore concentration increased to 9.7 × 10⁷ ± 8.1 × 10⁷ CFU/g and remained constant to the final time point of 8 h. Vegetative cells reached a concentration of 7.3 × 10⁷ ± 1.4 × 10⁸ CFU/g at 7 h following ingestion. These results reveal orally ingested B. subtilis DE111^® spores are able to remain viable during transit through the stomach and germinate in the small intestine of humans within 3 h of ingestion.

Therapeutic Prospective of a Spore-Forming Probiotic-Bacillus clausii UBBC07 Against Acetaminophen-Induced Uremia in Rats

To screen Bacillus clausii UBBC07 as a putative probiotic strain and to examine the protective effect of probiotic-B. clausii UBBC07 spore on uremia on rats induced by acetaminophen. In vitro tests performed to screen potential probiotic strains were gastric and bile acid resistance and ability to reduce pathogen adhesion to surfaces. An in vivo study was performed on rats (n = 18) which were randomly divided into three groups: group I, control-receives normal food and water, groups II and III receive acetaminophen i.p. at the dose of 550 mg/kg/day for 10 days, groups III was treated with B. clausii UBBC07 at a dose of 1 × 10⁹ CFU/day for 15 days. Urea, creatinine, malondialdehyde (MDA), and GSH levels and antioxidant enzymes like super oxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase activity were considered to analyze renal failure. Plasma urea and creatinine levels (p < 0.05) significantly increase and SOD, catalase, and GSH activity level significantly decrease in group II as compared with the control group. After treatment with probiotic, there was a significant increase in SOD and catalase (p < 0.05) and a significant decrease in serum urea, creatinine, and MDA (p < 0.05) in group III in response to group II. The results also revealed that probiotic was able to tolerate pH 3.0-9.0 and 0.3% bile salt. The present study suggests that B. clausii UBBC07 could be used as a novel alternative natural therapy for uremia, a major syndrome of CKD.

Comparative accounts of probiotic properties of spore and vegetative cells of Bacillus clausii UBBC07 and in silico analysis of probiotic function

In this study, the spores and vegetative cells of B. clausii were independently evaluated for probiotic properties such as acid, gastric juice, bile, and intestinal fluid tolerance, adhesion to solvents/mucin and zeta potential. In addition, in silico identification of genome features contributing to probiotic properties were investigated. The results showed that spores were highly stable at gastric acidity and capable to germinate and multiply under intestinal conditions as compared to vegetative cells. The higher hydrophobicity of spores, compared to vegetative cells, is advantageous for colonization and persistence in the intestine. Furthermore, the presence of F ₀ F ₁ ATP synthase, amino acid decarboxylase, bile acid symporter, mucin/collagen/fibronectin-binding proteins, heat/cold shock proteins, and universal stress proteins suggests that the strain is able to survive stress. In conclusion, the results demonstrate that B. clausii UBBC07 spores show significantly higher survival and adhesion in in vitro gastrointestinal conditions as compared to vegetative cells. Besides, this study provides a comparative analysis of the in vitro probiotic properties of spores and vegetative cells of Bacillus clausii UBBC07.

Effects of Bacillus cereus and coumarin on growth performance, blood biochemical parameters, and meat quality in broilers

Background and Aim:

Progressive antibiotic resistance has become the primary threat to public health. The search for alternative substances with similar effects is now a global challenge for poultry farming. The aim of this study was to investigate the action of the probiotic Bacillus cereus (BC) and coumarin (CO) on broiler productivity, biochemical indicators of blood, and muscular and liver tissues.

Materials and Methods:

The trial of this study included Arbor Acres cross broiler chickens that were grown up to the age of 42 days. The experiment was conducted on 200 broiler chickens divided into four experimental groups of 50 individuals each: The control group received ration without additives (main ration [MR]), the first experimental group received MR+BC, the second received MR+CO, and the third received −MR+BC+CO. A biochemical and hematological analyzer was used to estimate elemental concentrations using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry.

Results:

Inclusion of CO and CO+BC in the diet improved growth rates and reduced feed consumption (FC) per kg of live weight gain. Decreased white blood cell count, increased creatinine and triglycerides (CO), changes in aminotransferase and transpeptidase activity, and increases in chemical elements in the liver and pectoral muscles (BC+CO) were observed. The inclusion of BC+CO in the diet contributed to increases in a greater number of chemical elements in the liver (calcium [Ca], K, magnesium, Mn, Si, and Zn) and the pectoral muscles (Ca, Na, Co, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, and Zn).

Conclusion:

The inclusion of CO and CO+BC in the diet improves growth rates and reduces FC in broilers against a background of the absence of mortality during the experiment.

Isolation of a Highly Efficient Antigenic-Protein-Degrading Bacillus amyloliquefaciens and Assessment of Its Safety

Simple Summary

Soybean meal (SBM), a byproduct of soybean oil extraction, is a commonly used dietary protein in the poultry and swine feed industries because of its high quality protein and relatively well-balanced amino acids. However, major antigenic proteins in SBM, glycinin and β-conglycinin, can trigger allergic reactions, including intestine villus atrophy and other malabsorption syndromes, in newborn animals. Microbial fermentation is considered an economically viable processing technique to reduce the content of antigenic proteins, and improve the nutritional quality of SBM. The kind of microorganism used in fermentation is one of the major factors affecting the nutritional value of SBM. In this study, a highly efficient Bacillus. amyloliquefaciens strain was successfully isolated with convenient and effective plate tests, and used in a fermentation experiment. Fermentation with B. amyloliquefaciens for 24 h effectively degraded the glycinin and β-conglycinin in SBM, significantly improved the crude protein content and acid soluble protein concentration, and increased the total amino acid content. Furthermore, B. amyloliquefaciens had no adverse effects on animal health. These results indicate that the B. amyloliquefaciens strain isolated in this study is safe for animal use and can be widely used in SBM fermentation.

Abstract

The aims of this study were to screen and isolate a highly efficient strain from the rumen of a cow that can degrade the antigenic soy proteins in soybean meal (SBM) and improve the nutritional value of SBM by fermenting it with this strain. The safety of this strain was investigated with an acute oral toxicity test. A Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain was successfully screened with plate tests and fermentation. After solid state fermentation of SBM with B. amyloliquefaciens for 24 h, the amounts of glycinin and β-conglycinin, two major antigenic proteins in SBM, decreased by 92.32% and 85.05%, respectively. The crude protein content in the fermented soybean meal (FSBM) increased by 17.54% compared with that in SBM. Notably, the trichloroacetic-acid-soluble protein (TCA-SP) content, particularly small peptides and free amino acids, was 9.97-fold higher in FSBM than in SBM. The in vitro dry matter digestibility and digestible energy of SBM increased from 62.91% to 72.52% and from 10.42 MJ/kg to 13.37 MJ/kg (dry matter basis), respectively, after fermentation. The acute oral toxicity test suggested that the strain exerted no harmful effects on the relative organ weights, the morphological tissue structure, or the health of mice. These results indicate that the B. amyloliquefaciens strain isolated in this study is a safe strain for animals, and could be used to improve the nutritional quality of SBM by solid-state fermentation.

Survival and Germination of Bacillus clausii UBBC07 Spores in in vitro Human Gastrointestinal Tract Simulation Model and Evaluation of Clausin Production

Bacillus clausii UBBC07 is a commercial spore probiotic known to reduce diarrhea in children and adults. In the present study, survival and germination of UBBC07 spores were investigated under fed and fasted conditions in Simulator of Human Intestinal Microbial Ecosystem. Besides this, lantibiotic production, purification, and characterization were performed. The agar plate analysis showed that spores were 100% tolerant to fed and fasted gastrointestinal tract (GIT) conditions. Simultaneously, flow cytometry revealed that at the end of small intestinal incubation, 120% (fed) and 133% (fasted) spores were in viable germinating state. The transformation of viable germinating spores into viable vegetative cells was observed at 3 h of incubation under fasted GIT conditions. In antimicrobial evaluation, UBBC07 produced low-molecular-weight (2107.94 Da) class I lantibiotic clausin. The presence of lanB, lanC, and lanD genes confirms the clausin production. Clausin is stable at proteases (pepsin, proteinase K, and trypsin), temperature (up to 100°C), and pH (up to 11). Furthermore, the antimicrobial activity toward Gram-positive bacteria including Clostridium difficile is advantageous. In conclusion, B. clausii UBBC07 spore probiotic is capable of surviving and germinating under in vitro upper GIT conditions. The clausin production justifies strain applicability in diarrhea.

Evaluation of the probiotic attributes of Bacillus strains isolated from traditional fermented African locust bean seeds (Parkia biglobosa), “daddawa”

Background

The involvement of probiotic cultures in food fermentation guarantees enhanced organoleptic properties and maximum consumer health benefits. In this study, isolated Bacillus cultures used in the fermentation of African locust bean seeds “Parkia biglobosa” into the food condiment “daddawa” were evaluated for probiotic attributes. Bacillus cereus strains BC1 and BC2 were tested for tolerance to acid, common salt (NaCl), and bile salt. Auto-aggregation and adhesion to epithelial cells, antibiotic sensitivity profile, hemolytic pattern, and antibacterial activity were also evaluated. To demonstrate further health benefit, spores of strain BC1 were investigated for anti-inflammatory potential employing the rat paw edema technique.

Results

Both Bacillus cereus strains showed antagonistic activity against pathogenic Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. BC1 was more acid-stress tolerant than BC2, maintaining 107.6% viability after 3 h incubation in MRS broth of pH 2.5. However, at 97.74% viability after incubation for 3 h, BC2 was more tolerant to 0.4 % bile salt. The Bacillus cereus strains were susceptible to all antibiotics tested with the exception of norfloxacin and thrived under high saline stress. Both strains were protease producers and non-hemolytic on sheep blood agar. The edema inhibition study revealed that spores of Bacillus cereus strain BC1 had anti-inflammation potential and produced no physiological toxicity on the animals.

Conclusion

These results indicate that the Bacillus cultures for “daddawa” production are good candidates for probiotics and have the potential for application in both animal and human formulations for increased health benefit to consumers.

Composite genome sequence of Bacillus clausii, a probiotic commercially available as Enterogermina®, and insights into its probiotic properties

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.

Frequency of hemolysin BL and non-hemolytic enterotoxin complex genes of Bacillus cereus in raw and cooked meat samples in Zanjan, Iran

Food safety has emerged as an important global issue with international trade and public health implications. Bacillus cereus is an important cause of food poisoning worldwide. A total of 200 individual meat samples were collected from meat retail outlets and restaurants and investigated the frequency of B. cereus and hemolysin BL (Hbl), non-hemolytic enterotoxin (Nhe) complex genes. The meat samples were immediately homogenized and cultured on Bacillus cereus selective agar and subjected for confirmatory biochemical tests and molecular detection of gyrB, hblA, hblC, hblD, nheA, nheB and nheC genes. A total of 29 (14.5 %) meat samples were positive for the presence of B. cereus. The frequency of B. cereus in raw meat (14.1 %) was similar to cooked beef samples (15 %) (P >  0.05). Twenty six (89.6 %) isolates carried at least one or more enterotoxin genes. We found nheA (58.6 %) and hblD (51.7 %) genes with higher frequency than others. Hemolysin BL complex genes were found in lower frequency than Nhe complex (P >  0.05). Detection of enterotoxigenic B. cereus in meat samples shows a probable risk for public health. Therefore, the reliable molecular methods for monitoring of potentially pathogenic B. cereus are strongly recommended for the routine food examination.

Bacillus clausii UBBC-07 reduces severity of diarrhoea in children under 5 years of age: a double blind placebo controlled study

Acute diarrhoea is one of the leading causes of mortality in infants and young children. Evidence suggests that probiotics can reduce diarrhoea duration. As the effects of probiotics are strain specific, the effect of Bacillus clausii UBBC-07, a safe probiotic strain in the treatment of acute diarrhoea in children was studied. The double blind, randomised, placebo-controlled, parallel group multicentric study was conducted at two outpatient facility sites in Lucknow, India. Children aged six months to five years suffering from acute diarrhoea, were randomly assigned to receive either probiotic (B. clausii UBBC-07) spore suspension or placebo suspension twice daily apart from oral rehydration solution (ORS). The duration of treatment was for five days with a follow -up until the 10^th day. Outcomes evaluated were duration and frequency of diarrhoea, consistency of stool, fever and vomiting. The duration of diarrhoea was significantly shorter (P<0.05) in patients who received B. clausii suspension (75.66±13.23 h) than in placebo treated group (81.6±15.43 h). The average daily number of stools (frequency) was 8.67±3.42 at baseline in treatment group receiving B. clausii and 8.53±3.19 in placebo group. By day 4, there was a significant reduction (P<0.01) in frequency of stools in probiotic treated group (3.46±0.66) as compared to placebo group (4.57±1.59). Improvement in stool consistency was also observed in the probiotic treated group as compared to the placebo group. There was no effect on vomiting and duration of fever. B. clausii UBBC-07 significantly decreased the duration and frequency of diarrhoea as compared to placebo indicating effectiveness of strain in the treatment of acute diarrhoea in children and could be a safe alternative to antibiotics.

Microbiological evaluation of infant foods quality and molecular detection of Bacillus cereus toxins relating genes

A 205 samples representing eight different infant foods with various based materials were collected and analyzed for their microbiological properties. The contamination rate by aerobic spore formers was achieved 100% in milk based infant food with fruit, vegetables, honey, rice and infant milk powder. While, it was detected in 95, 60 and 65% of the infant food with wheat milk based, ready to use (infant food with fruit) and ready to use (infant food with vegetables), respectively. Biochemical Identification and API 50 CHB used to identify the obtained isolates and revealed that B. subtilis was the most frequently occurring Bacillus spp. Followed by B. licheniformis and B. circulans. While B. cereus was detected in 10.20% of the total isolates. Moreover, B. cereus was confirmed in 21.2% of milk based fruit, vegetables (15.7%), honey (17.2%), rice (14.1%) and wheat (12%) and vanished in the infant milk powder samples. Although, B. cereus noted in lower percentage but this strain is considered as the more harmful one in lower numbers. For that, the following part is focused on B. cereus. Forty five isolates obtained from B. Cereus contaminating samples were screened for prevalence of 3 important virulent enterotoxigenic genes using PCR technique. The CYTK gene had the highest presence which detected in 43 isolates (95.5%), followed by NHEC gene detected in 32 isolates. However, the HBLA gene was detected in just 5 isolates. So, many processes should be applied for controlling of pathogens to preserve infant lives.

Update of the list of QPS-recommended biological agents intentionally added to food or feed as notified to EFSA 8: suitability of taxonomic units notified to EFSA until March 2018

The qualified presumption of safety (QPS) was developed to provide a harmonised generic pre‐evaluation procedure to support safety risk assessments of biological agents performed by EFSA's Scientific Panels. The identity, body of knowledge, safety concerns and antimicrobial resistance of valid taxonomic units were assessed. Safety concerns identified for a taxonomic unit are, where possible and reasonable in number, reflected by ‘qualifications’ which should be assessed at the strain level by the EFSA's Scientific Panels. During the current assessment, no new information was found that would change the previously recommended QPS taxonomic units and their qualifications. The Panel clarified that the qualification ‘for production purpose only’ implies the absence of viable cells of the production organism in the final product and can also be applied for food and feed products based on microbial biomass. Between September 2017 and March 2018, the QPS notification list was updated with 46 microorganisms from applications for market authorisation. From these, 28 biological agents already had QPS status, 15 were excluded of the QPS exercise from the previous QPS mandate (10 filamentous fungi and one bacteriophage) or from further evaluations within the current mandate (two notifications of Streptomyces spp. and one of Escherichia coli), and one was excluded where confirmatory data for the risk assessment of a plant protection product (PPP) was requested (Pseudomonas sp.). Three taxonomic units were (re)evaluated: Paracoccus carotinifaciens and Paenibacillus lentus had been previously evaluated in 2008 and 2014, respectively, and were now re‐evaluated within this mandate, and Yarrowia lipolytica, which was evaluated for the first time. P. carotinifaciens and P. lentus cannot be granted QPS status due to lack of scientific knowledge. Y. lipolytica is recommended for QPS status, but only for production purpose.