Lactobacillus casei Exerts Anti-Proliferative Effects Accompanied by Apoptotic Cell Death and Up-Regulation of TRAIL in Colon Carcinoma Cells

Potential of Synbiotics and Probiotics as Chemopreventive Agent

Cancer remains a global problem, with millions of new cases diagnosed yearly and countless lives lost. The financial burden of cancer therapy, along with worries about the long-term safety of existing medicines, necessitates the investigation of alternative approaches to cancer prevention. Probiotics generate chemopreventive compounds such as bacteriocins, short-chain fatty acids (SCFA), and extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), which have demonstrated the ability to impede cancer cell proliferation, induce apoptosis, and bolster the expression of pro-apoptotic genes. On the other hand, prebiotics, classified as non-digestible food ingredients, promote the proliferation of probiotics within the colon, thereby ensuring sustained functionality of the gut microbiota. Consequently, the synergistic effect of combining prebiotics with probiotics, known as the synbiotic effect, in dietary interventions holds promise for potentially mitigating cancer risk and augmenting preventive measures. The utilization of gut microbiota in cancer treatment has shown promise in alleviating adverse health effects. This review explored the potential and the role of probiotics and synbiotics in enhancing health and contributing to cancer prevention efforts. In this review, the applications of functional probiotics and synbiotics, the mechanisms of action of probiotics in cancer, and the relationship of probiotics with various drugs were discussed, shedding light on the potential of probiotics and synbiotics to alleviate the burdens of cancer treatment.

The protective role of prebiotics and probiotics on diarrhea and gut damage in the rotavirus-infected piglets

Rotavirus is one of the pathogenic causes that induce diarrhea in young animals, especially piglets, worldwide. However, nowadays, there is no specific drug available to treat the disease, and the related vaccines have no obvious efficiency in some countries. Via analyzing the pathogenesis of rotavirus, it inducing diarrhea is mainly due to disturb enteric nervous system, destroy gut mucosal integrity, induce intracellular electrolyte imbalance, and impair gut microbiota and immunity. Many studies have already proved that prebiotics and probiotics can mitigate the damage and diarrhea induced by rotavirus infection in hosts. Based on these, the current review summarizes and discusses the effects and mechanisms of prebiotics and probiotics on rotavirus-induced diarrhea in piglets. This information will highlight the basis for the swine production utilization of prebiotics and probiotics in the prevention or treatment of rotavirus infection in the future.

Synergistic Brilliance: Engineered Bacteria and Nanomedicine Unite in Cancer Therapy

Engineered bacteria are widely used in cancer treatment because live facultative/obligate anaerobes can selectively proliferate at tumor sites and reach hypoxic regions, thereby causing nutritional competition, enhancing immune responses, and producing anticancer microbial agents in situ to suppress tumor growth. Despite the unique advantages of bacteria-based cancer biotherapy, the insufficient treatment efficiency limits its application in the complete ablation of malignant tumors. The combination of nanomedicine and engineered bacteria has attracted increasing attention owing to their striking synergistic effects in cancer treatment. Engineered bacteria that function as natural vehicles can effectively deliver nanomedicines to tumor sites. Moreover, bacteria provide an opportunity to enhance nanomedicines by modulating the TME and producing substrates to support nanomedicine-mediated anticancer reactions. Nanomedicine exhibits excellent optical, magnetic, acoustic, and catalytic properties, and plays an important role in promoting bacteria-mediated biotherapies. The synergistic anticancer effects of engineered bacteria and nanomedicines in cancer therapy are comprehensively summarized in this review. Attention is paid not only to the fabrication of nanobiohybrid composites, but also to the interpromotion mechanism between engineered bacteria and nanomedicine in cancer therapy. Additionally, recent advances in engineered bacteria-synergized multimodal cancer therapies are highlighted.

Growth Suppression of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cells by Lactobacillus Acidophilus

OBJECTIVES

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a highly aggressive form of oral cancer. Probiotic lactobacilli have demonstrated anticancer effects, whilst their interaction with Streptococcus mutans in this context remains unexplored. The objective of this study was to investigate the antiproliferative effect of Lactobacillus acidophilus on OSCC and to understand the effect of S mutans on OSCCs and whether it affects the antiproliferative potential of L acidophilus when co-exposed to OSCC.

METHODS

The human head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cells of the oral cavity (HNO97 cell line) were exposed to cultures of L acidophilus and S mutans separately and in combination. Further, 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay was performed to assess the viability of HNO97 cells. Bacterial adhesion to HNO97 cells was examined by confocal microscopy and apoptosis by Nexin staining. To understand the underlying mechanism of apoptosis, expression of the tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) gene and protein were determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction and quantitative enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively.

RESULTS

A significant decrease (53%-56%) in the viability of HNO97 cells on exposure to L acidophilus, S mutans, and the 2 species together demonstrated the antiproliferative activity of L acidophilus and S mutans. Both bacteria showed adhesion to HNO97 cells. The expression of the TRAIL gene increased 5-fold in HNO97 cells on treatment with L acidophilus and S mutans, which further increased to ∼17-fold with both species present. Expression levels of the TRAIL protein were significantly (P < .05) increased in bacteria-treated cell lysates. Further, bacteria-treated HNO97 cells exhibited lower live and intact cell percentages with higher proportions of cells in early and late apoptotic stages.

CONCLUSIONS

L acidophilus exhibits the antiproliferative activity against OSCC cells possibly partially via a TRAIL-induced mechanism of apoptosis, which is not affected by the presence of S mutans. These findings may encourage further investigation into the possible therapeutic application of probiotic L acidophilus in OSCC.

Engineering Microorganisms for Cancer Immunotherapy

Cancer immunotherapy presents a promising approach to fight against cancer by utilizing the immune system. Recently, engineered microorganisms have emerged as a potential strategy in cancer immunotherapy. These microorganisms, including bacteria and viruses, can be designed and modified using synthetic biology and genetic engineering techniques to target cancer cells and modulate the immune system. This review delves into various microorganism-based therapies for cancer immunotherapy, encompassing strategies for enhancing efficacy while ensuring safety and ethical considerations. The development of these therapies holds immense potential in offering innovative personalized treatments for cancer.

Cytotoxic activity and apoptosis induction by supernatant of Lentilactobacillus buchneri on HT-29 colon cancer cells

Background and Objectives

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the fourth most commonly diagnosed cancer and the third most deadly cancer in the world. According to recent experimental reports, probiotics and their derivatives protect CRC patients from treatment-related side effects. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the cytotoxic impact of the cell-free supernatant (CFS) of Lentilactobacillus buchneri on the HT-29 cancer cell line.

Materials and Methods

In the current study, we used the L. buchneri CFS, which was well isolated and identified in our previous investigation from traditional yogurt in the Arak region of Iran. The apoptosis induction in HT-29 cancer cells was assessed by cell cytotoxicity, flow cytometry, and qRT-PCR.

Results

L. buchneri CFS inhibited the proliferation of HT-29 cancer cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner. The apoptotic effect of CFS was further supported by the flow cytometry data, which showed that the maximum incidence of apoptosis was observed in HT-29 cancer cells treated with the IC50 concentration of CFS after 72 hours. CFS of L. buchneri also exerted the up-regulating effect on the expression of pro-apoptotic genes including BAX, CASP9, and CASP3. L. buchneri CFS at an IC50 dose induced cell cycle arrest in the G0/G1 phase in HT-29 cells.

Conclusion

This study indicates that L. buchneri CFS can prevent colorectal cancer (CRC) development in patients by inducing cancer cell apoptosis. This finding suggests that the CFS of L. buchneri could be used as a therapeutic agent for the control of CRC.

Crosstalk between COVID-19 and the gut-brain axis: a gut feeling

The microbes in the gut are crucial for maintaining the body's immune system and overall gut health. However, it is not fully understood how an unstable gut environment can lead to more severe cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection. The gut microbiota also plays a role in the gut-brain axis and interacts with the central nervous system through metabolic and neuroendocrine pathways. The interaction between the microbiota and the host's body involves hormonal, immune, and neural pathways, and any disruption in the balance of gut bacteria can lead to dysbiosis, which contributes to pathogen growth. In this context, we discuss how dysbiosis could contribute to comorbidities that increase susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2. Probiotics and fecal microbiota transplantation have successfully treated infectious and non-infectious inflammatory-related diseases, the most common comorbidities. These treatments could be adjuvant therapies for COVID-19 infection by restoring gut homeostasis and balancing the gut microbiota.

The strain-dependent cytostatic activity of Lactococcus lactis on CRC cell lines is mediated through the release of arginine deiminase

BACKGROUND

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers, posing a serious public health challenge that necessitates the development of new therapeutics, therapies, and prevention methods. Among the various therapeutic approaches, interventions involving lactic acid bacteria (LAB) as probiotics and postbiotics have emerged as promising candidates for treating and preventing CRC. While human-isolated LAB strains are considered highly favorable, those sourced from environmental reservoirs such as dairy and fermented foods are also being recognized as potential sources for future therapeutics.

RESULTS

In this study, we present a novel and therapeutically promising strain, Lactococcus lactis ssp. lactis Lc4, isolated from dairy sources. Lc4 demonstrated the ability to release the cytostatic agent - arginine deiminase (ADI) - into the post-cultivation supernatant when cultured under conditions mimicking the human gut environment. Released arginine deiminase was able to significantly reduce the growth of HT-29 and HCT116 cells due to the depletion of arginine, which led to decreased levels of c-Myc, reduced phosphorylation of p70-S6 kinase, and cell cycle arrest. The ADI release and cytostatic properties were strain-dependent, as was evident from comparison to other L. lactis ssp. lactis strains.

CONCLUSION

For the first time, we unveil the anti-proliferative properties of the L. lactis cell-free supernatant (CFS), which are independent of bacteriocins or other small molecules. We demonstrate that ADI, derived from a dairy-Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) strain of L. lactis, exhibits anti-proliferative activity on cell lines with different levels of argininosuccinate synthetase 1 (ASS1) expression. A unique feature of the Lc4 strain is also its capability to release ADI into the extracellular space. Taken together, we showcase L. lactis ADI and the Lc4 strain as promising, potential therapeutic agents with broad applicability.

Chemoprotective and immunomodulatory potential of Lactobacillus reuteri against cadmium chloride-induced breast cancer in mice

INTRODUCTION

The current study aimed to investigate the role of probiotic Lactobacillus reuteri for the treatment and prevention of breast cancer.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Breast cancer was induced by using Cadmium Chloride (Cd) (2 mg/kg) in group II. Tamoxifen was administered to group III. Group IV was treated with Lactobacillus reuteri. Group V was treated with Cd for one month and divided into three subgroups including VA, VB, and VC which were treated with tamoxifen, Lactobacillus reuteri, and tamoxifen + Lactobacillus reuteri, respectively.

RESULTS

Significantly higher levels of TNF-α (40.9 ± 4.2 pg/mL), IL-6 (28.0 ± 1.5 pg/mL), IL-10 (60.2 ± 2.0 pg/mL), IFN-γ (60.2 ± 2.0 pg/mL), ALAT (167.2 ± 6.2 U/l), ASAT (451.6 ± 13.9 U/l), and MDA (553.8 ± 19.6 U/l) was observed in Cd group. In comparison, significantly lower levels of TNF-α (18.0 ± 1.1 pg/mL), IL-6 (9.4 ± 0.4 pg/mL), IL-10 (20.8 ± 1.1 pg/mL), IFN-γ (20.8 ± 1.1 pg/mL), ALAT (85.2 ± 3.6 U/l), ASAT (185 ± 6.9 U/l), and MDA (246.0 ± 7.5 U/l) were observed in group Cd + Tam + LR. Liver histopathology of the Cd group showed hemorrhage and ductal aberrations. However, mild inflammation and healthier branched ducts were observed in treatment groups. Furthermore, the renal control group showed normal glomerular tufts, chronic inflammation from the Cd group, and relatively healthier glomerulus with mild inflammation in treatment groups.

CONCLUSION

Hence, the preventive and anticancerous role of probiotic Lactobacillus reuteri is endorsed by the findings of the current study.

The Microbiome Modulates the Immune System to Influence Cancer Therapy

The gut microbiota composition can affect the tumor microenvironment and its interaction with the immune system, thereby having implications for treatment predictions. This article reviews the studies available to better understand how the gut microbiome helps the immune system fight cancer. To describe this fact, different mechanisms and approaches utilizing probiotics to improve advancements in cancer treatment will be discussed. Moreover, not only calorie intake but also the variety and quality of diet can influence cancer patients' immunotherapy treatment because dietary patterns can impair immunological activities either by stimulating or suppressing innate and adaptive immunity. Therefore, it is interesting and critical to understand gut microbiome composition as a biomarker to predict cancer immunotherapy outcomes and responses. Here, more emphasis will be given to the recent development in immunotherapies utilizing microbiota to improve cancer therapies, which is beneficial for cancer patients.

Techniques, procedures, and applications in microbiome analysis

Microbiota is a complex community of microorganisms living in a defined environment. Until the 20th century, knowledge of microbiota was partial, as the techniques available for their characterization were primarily based on bacteriological culture. In the last twenty years, the development of DNA sequencing technologies, multi-omics, and bioinformatics has expanded our understanding of microorganisms. We have moved from mainly considering them isolated disease-causing agents to recognizing the microbiota as an essential component of host biology. These techniques have shown that the microbiome plays essential roles in various host phenotypes, influencing development, physiology, reproduction, and evolution. This chapter provides researchers with a summary of the primary concepts, sample collection, experimental techniques, and bioinformatics analysis commonly used in microbiome research. The main features, applications in microbiome studies, and their advantages and limitations are included in each section.

Probiotics intervention in colorectal cancer: From traditional approaches to novel strategies

ABSTRACT

The intestine harbors a large population of microorganisms that interact with epithelial cells to maintain host healthy physiological status. These intestinal microbiota engage in the fermentation of non-digestible nutrients and produce beneficial metabolites to regulate host homeostasis, metabolism, and immune response. The disruption of microbiota, known as dysbiosis, has been implicated in many intestinal diseases, including colorectal cancer (CRC). As the third most common cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide, CRC poses a significant health burden. There is an urgent need for novel interventions to reduce CRC incidence and improve clinical outcomes. Modulating the intestinal microbiota has emerged as a promising approach for CRC prevention and treatment. Current research efforts in CRC probiotics primarily focus on reducing the incidence of CRC, alleviating treatment-related side effects, and potentiating the efficacy of anticancer therapy, which is the key to successful translation to clinical practice. This paper aims to review the traditional probiotics and new interventions, such as next-generation probiotics and postbiotics, in the context of CRC. The underlying mechanisms of probiotic anti-cancer effects are also discussed, including the restoration of microbial composition, reinforcement of gut barrier integrity, induction of cancer cell apoptosis, inactivation of carcinogens, and modulation of host immune response. This paper further evaluates the novel strategy of probiotics as an adjuvant therapy in boosting the efficacy of chemotherapy and immunotherapy. Despite all the promising findings presented in studies, the evaluation of potential risks, optimization of delivery methods, and consideration of intra-patient variability of gut microbial baseline must be thoroughly interpreted before bench-to-bedside translation.

Evaluation of Fasting and Probiotics in Reducing Postweaning Stress in Rabbits: Study of their Effects on Biochemical and Gene expression Patterns

Postweaning stress in mammalian in vivo models leads to significant oxidative stress in the body as well as inducing hormonal disturbance. In this study, we assessed progressive alterations in reactive oxygen species (ROS), which at high levels can show oxidative stress, in addition to oxidative damage to the DNA structure of rabbits. Different groups of rabbits were fasted for 48 h per week for 3 weeks, fed a commercial diet with probiotics added (200 mg of Bacillus licheniformis and Bacillus subtilis), and fasted while being treated with probiotics. The results showed that weaning induced a significant elevation in oxidative stress markers, such as the ROS-related genes malate dehydrogenase 1 (MDH1) and flavin-containing monooxygenase 2 (FMO2), DNA damage, and hormonal disturbance. However, probiotic treatment resulted in significant decreases in the levels of malondialdehyde, cortisol, and triiodothyronine (T3); DNA damage; and apoptosis, as well as changes in the expression of ROS-related genes. On the other hand, supplementation with probiotics reduced these postweaning stress signs in fasted animal models by elevating the genes encoding catalase and superoxide dismutase as well as increasing glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), glutathione-s-transferase, alkaline phosphatase, glucose, and thyroxin (T4) levels. The results suggest that supplementation with probiotics accompanied by a fasting program could decrease oxidative stress, ROS genes, and genomic DNA damage and improve the hormonal status that is induced by postweaning stress in mammalian in vivo models.

Probing the Potential: Exploring Probiotics as a Novel Frontier in Cancer Prevention and Therapeutics

Cancer has emerged as one of the most prevalent diseases worldwide, with a consistent rise in the number of cases observed over the past few decades. The rising mortality rates associated with cancer have transformed it into a significant global challenge. Despite the presence of various anti-cancer drugs, the complete eradication of cancer remains an elusive goal. The numerous undesirable effects associated with cancer therapy further emphasize the importance of developing an alternative technique of cancer treatment. Recent research has established the beneficial effects of a probiotic diet or supplementation against cancer without displaying any detrimental consequences. An alteration in the gut microbiome balance in humans can result in the development of various diseases, including cancer. Probiotics play a pivotal role in restoring the balance of gut flora, potentially contributing to cancer prevention. Furthermore, they have the capacity to curb the invasion and dissemination of infections that carry the risk of triggering cancer. Probiotics can combat cancer in various ways, such as by eliciting and boosting the immune response, secreting metabolites, preventing cancer cells from metastasizing, inhibiting carcinogenic chemicals, and mitigating their toxicity, etc. The present review intends to outline the significance of probiotics and their underlying mechanisms in combating various cancer types. Additionally, this review highlights the benefits of probiotic use in pre- and post-operative cancer patients.

Postbiotics: Functional Food Materials and Therapeutic Agents for Cancer, Diabetes, and Inflammatory Diseases

Postbiotics are (i) "soluble factors secreted by live bacteria, or released after bacterial lysis, such as enzymes, peptides, teichoic acids, peptidoglycan-derived muropeptides, polysaccharides, cell-surface proteins and organic acids"; (ii) "non-viable metabolites produced by microorganisms that exert biological effects on the hosts"; and (iii) "compounds produced by microorganisms, released from food components or microbial constituents, including non-viable cells that, when administered in adequate amounts, promote health and wellbeing". A probiotic- and prebiotic-rich diet ensures an adequate supply of these vital nutrients. During the anaerobic fermentation of organic nutrients, such as prebiotics, postbiotics act as a benevolent bioactive molecule matrix. Postbiotics can be used as functional components in the food industry by offering a number of advantages, such as being added to foods that are harmful to probiotic survival. Postbiotic supplements have grown in popularity in the food, cosmetic, and healthcare industries because of their numerous health advantages. Their classification depends on various factors, including the type of microorganism, structural composition, and physiological functions. This review offers a succinct introduction to postbiotics while discussing their salient features and classification, production, purification, characterization, biological functions, and applications in the food industry. Furthermore, their therapeutic mechanisms as antibacterial, antiviral, antioxidant, anticancer, anti-diabetic, and anti-inflammatory agents are elucidated.

Recombinant p40 Protein Promotes Expression of Occludin in HaCaT Keratinocytes: A Brief Communication

The ability of epithelial barriers to perform as the first defense line against external damage derives from tight junctions, protein complexes that block microorganisms through the paracellular space. Indeed, disturbances of barrier permeability caused by bacterial metabolites and other inflammatory stimuli are the consequence of changes in protein expression in these complexes. Postbiotics, molecules derived from bacteria with beneficial effects on the host, improve barrier function through the activation of survival pathways in epithelial cells. Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus GG secretes the muramidase p40, which protects intestinal barriers through an EGFR-dependent pathway. In this work, we cloned, expressed, and purified the recombinant p40 protein from L. rhamnosus GR-1 to evaluate its effect on cell viability, cell cytotoxicity, TEER, and protein levels of tight junctions, as well as EGFR activation via Western blot on HaCaT keratinocytes subjected to LPS. We found a novel mutation at residue 368 that does not change the structure of p40. Our protein also reduces the LPS-induced increase in cell cytotoxicity when it is added prior to this stimulus. Furthermore, although LPS did not cause changes in barrier function, p40 increased TEER and occludin expression in HaCaT, but unlike previous work with p40 from LGG, we found that recombinant p40 did not activate EGFR. This suggests that recombinant p40 enhances epithelial barrier function through distinct signaling pathways.

The Current and Future Perspectives of Postbiotics

With the emphasis on intestinal health, probiotics have exploded into a vast market potential. However, new scientific evidence points out that the beneficial health benefits of probiotics are not necessarily directly related to viable bacteria. However, the metabolites or bacterial components of the live bacteria are the driving force behind health promotion. Therefore, scientists gradually noticed that the beneficial effects of probiotics are based on bacteria itself, metabolites, or cell lysates, and these factors are officially named "postbiotics" by the ISAPP. Postbiotic components are diverse and outperform live probiotics in terms of technology, safety, and cost due to their good absorption, metabolism, and organismal distribution. Postbiotics have been shown to have bioactivities such as antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-proliferative, and immunomodulation. Moreover, numerous studies have revealed the significant potential of postbiotics for disease treatment. This paper first presents the production and classification of postbiotics with examples from lactic acid bacteria (LAB), followed by the mechanisms of action with the most recent pre-clinical and clinical studies and the wide range of non-clinical and clinical applications of postbiotics. Furthermore, the current and future prospects of the postbiotic market with commercial available products are discussed. Finally, we comment on the knowledge gaps and future clinical applications with several examples.

Exploration of Antidiabetic, Cholesterol-Lowering, and Anticancer Upshot of Probiotic Bacterium Pediococcus pentosaceus OBK05 Strain of Buttermilk

Chronic metabolic disorders such as hyperglycemia (diabetes), hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol), and cancer have become catastrophic diseases worldwide. Accordingly, probiotic intervention is a new approach for alleviating catastrophic diseases. In the present study, Pediococcus pentosaceus OBK05 was investigated as a potential probiotic bacterium for antidiabetic, cholesterol-lowering, and anticancer activities by in vitro and in vivo studies. Cell-free supernatant (CFS) of OBK05 showed potent antidiabetic activity by inhibition of α-amylase (72 ± 0.9%) and α-glucosidase (61 ± 0.8%) activity in vitro when compared to that of acarbose as standard (86 ± 0.9%). Furthermore, the in vivo cholesterol-lowering activity of OBK05 was studied using cholesterol-fed hypercholesterolemic mice. When compared to the cholesterol-fed group, the OBK05-intervened cholesterol-fed mice group had significantly lowered the levels of lipids and showed significantly lower lipid droplet accumulation in the histology of hepatocytes. Similarly, CFS exhibited higher anticancer activity (87.57 ± 1.27%) against HT-29 cells with an IC50 of 54.51 ± 1.8. Fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) analysis revealed that CFS induced the cell cycle arrest by inhibiting the G1 to S phase transition. Further, in vivo anticancer activities were confirmed in BALB/c mice models, which were divided into four groups and held for 16 weeks. HT-29 cells (5×109/mice) were injected subcutaneously twice (0 and 2nd week), and OBK05 (3 ×105 CFU/mL) was given orally to the respective groups. The OBK05-intervened HT-29 cell-induced mice group showed significant improvement at the histological level and alleviated the degree of atypia in the intestine.

Postbiotics as Potential Detoxification Tools for Mitigation of Pesticides

Pesticides possess a pivotal role in the realm of agriculture and food manufacturing, as they effectively manage the proliferation of weeds, insects, plant pathogens, and microbial contaminations. They are valuable in some ways, but if misused, they can cause health issues like cancer, reproductive toxicity, neurological illnesses, and endocrine system disturbances. In this regard, practical methods for reducing pesticide residue in food should be used. For reducing pesticide residue in food processing, some strategies have been suggested. Recent research has been done on detoxification processes, including microorganisms like probiotics and their metabolites. The term "postbiotics" describes soluble substances, such as peptides, enzymes, teichoic acids, muropeptides generated from peptidoglycans, polysaccharides, proteins, and organic acids that are secreted by living bacteria or released after bacterial lysis. Due to their distinct chemical makeup, safe dosage guidelines, lengthy shelf lives, and presence of various signaling molecules that may have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-obesogenic, immunomodulatory, anti-hypertensive, and immunomodulatory effects, these postbiotics have attracted interest. They also can detoxify heavy metals, mycotoxins, and pesticides. Hydrolytic enzymes have been proposed as a potential mechanism for pesticide degradation. Postbiotics can also reduce reactive oxygen species production, enhance gastrointestinal barrier function, reduce inflammation, and modulate host xenobiotic metabolism. This review highlights pesticide residues in food products, definitions and safety aspect of postbiotics, as well as their biological role in detoxification of pesticides and the protective role of these compounds against the adverse effects of pesticides.

Use of Postbiotic as Growth Promoter in Poultry Industry: A Review of Current Knowledge and Future Prospects

Health-promoting preparations of inanimate microorganisms or their components are postbiotics. Since probiotics are sensitive to heat and oxygen, postbiotics are stable during industrial processing and storage. Postbiotics boost poultry growth, feed efficiency, intestinal pathogen reduction, and health, making them acceptable drivers of sustainable poultry production. It contains many important biological properties, such as immunomodulatory, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory responses. Postbiotics revealed promising antioxidant effects due to higher concentrations of uronic acid and due to some enzyme's production of antioxidants, e.g., superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide oxidases and peroxidases. Postbiotics improve intestinal villi, increase lactic acid production, and reduce Enterobacteriaceae and fecal pH, all of which lead to a better immune reaction and health of the gut, as well as better growth performance. P13K/AKT as a potential target pathway for postbiotics-improved intestinal barrier functions. Similarly, postbiotics reduce yolk and plasma cholesterol levels in layers and improve egg quality. It was revealed that favorable outcomes were obtained with various inclusion levels at 1 kg and 0.5 kg. According to several studies, postbiotic compounds significantly increased poultry performance. This review article presents the most recent research investigating the beneficial results of postbiotics in poultry.

Lactobacillus plantarum Zhang-LL Inhibits Colitis-Related Tumorigenesis by Regulating Arachidonic Acid Metabolism and CD22-Mediated B-Cell Receptor Regulation

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a significant health concern and is the third most commonly diagnosed and second deadliest cancer worldwide. CRC has been steadily increasing in developing countries owing to factors such as aging and epidemics. Despite extensive research, the exact pathogenesis of CRC remains unclear, and its causes are complex and variable. Numerous in vitro, animal, and clinical trials have demonstrated the efficacy of probiotics such as Lactobacillus plantarum in reversing the adverse outcomes of CRC. These findings suggest that probiotics play vital roles in the prevention, adjuvant treatment, and prognosis of CRC. In this study, we constructed a mouse model of CRC using an intraperitoneal injection of azomethane combined with dextran sodium sulfate, while administering 5-fluorouracil as well as high- and low-doses of L. plantarum Zhang-LL live or heat-killed strains. Weight changes and disease activity indices were recorded during feeding, and the number of polyps and colon length were measured after euthanasia. HE staining was used to observe the histopathological changes in the colons of mice, and ELISA was used to detect the expression levels of IL-1β, TNF-α, and IFN-γ in serum. To investigate the specific mechanisms involved in alleviating CRC progression, gut microbial alterations were investigated using 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing and non-targeted metabolomics, and changes in genes related to CRC were assessed using eukaryotic transcriptomics. The results showed that both viable and heat-killed strains of L. plantarum Zhang-LL in high doses significantly inhibited tumorigenesis, colon shortening, adverse inflammatory reactions, intestinal tissue damage, and pro-inflammatory factor expression upregulation. Specifically, in the gut microbiota, the abundance of the dominant flora Acutalibacter muris and Lactobacillus johnsonii was regulated, PGE2 expression was significantly reduced, the arachidonic acid metabolism pathway was inhibited, and CD22-mediated B-cell receptor regulation-related gene expression was upregulated. This study showed that L. plantarum Zhang-LL live or heat-inactivated strains alleviated CRC progression by reducing the abundance of potentially pathogenic bacteria, increasing the abundance of beneficial commensal bacteria, mediating the arachidonic acid metabolism pathway, and improving host immunogenicity.

An Update on the Pivotal Roles of Probiotics, Their Components, and Metabolites in Preventing Colon Cancer

Diet, lifestyle, and gut microbiota composition are key risk factors for the progression of colon cancer. Probiotics are living microorganisms that can offer health benefits to the parasitifer when ingested in competent quantities. Several in vivo, in vitro, and clinical studies have demonstrated that probiotics can prevent and mitigate the development of colon cancer. The anti-colon cancer mechanisms of probiotics include the suppression of cell proliferation and the promotion of cancer cell apoptosis, immunomodulation, the modulation of intestinal microorganisms and their metabolism, strengthening the intestinal barrier, and antioxidant effects. This article describes the pathogenesis of colon cancer and the available therapeutic options. In addition, this paper reviews the mechanisms by which probiotics mitigate colon cancer as well as the mitigating effects of probiotic components and metabolites on colon cancer.

Comparison of the effects of probiotic strains (Lactobacillus gasseri, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus acidophilus, and Limosilactobacillus fermentum) isolated from human and food products on the immune response of CT26 tumor-bearing mice

This study aimed to compare the effects of the probiotic bacteria, L. gasseri (52b), L. plantarum (M11), L. acidophilus (AC2), and L. fermentum (19SH), isolated from human source and traditional food products on the modulation of the immune system and inflammatory response on BALB/c mouse model bearing CT26 tumor. Five groups of female inbred BALB/c mice were orally administered with the probiotics and their mixes (MIX, at a 1:1 ratio) at varying dosages (1.5 × 108 cfu/ml and 1.2 × 109 cfu/ml) before and after the injection of a subcutaneous CT26 tumor over the course of 38 days via gavage. Finally, their effects on the tumor apoptosis and the cytokine levels in spleen cell cultures were analyzed and compared. M11, MIX, and 52b groups had the greatest levels of interleukin-12 (IL-12) and interferon gamma (IFN-γ) production. The highest production level of granzyme B (GrB) was related to the MIX and 52b groups. Moreover, these groups showed the lowest production level of (IL-4) and transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β). Furthermore, the groups of MIX and 52b demonstrated the greatest amount of lymphocyte proliferation of spleen cells in response to the tumor antigen. The delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) response significantly increased in the groups of MIX and 52b compared with the control (p < 0.05). The findings demonstrated that the oral treatment of the human strain (52b) and the combination of these bacteria generated strong T helper type 1 (Th1) immune responses in the tumor tissue of the tumor-bearing mice, which led to the suppression of the tumor development.

Antiproliferative effects of mesenchymal stem cells carrying Newcastle disease virus and Lactobacillus Casei extract on CT26 Cell line: synergistic effects in cancer therapy

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Colorectal Cancer (CRC) is a frequent malignancy with a high mortality rate. Specific inherited and environmental influences can affect CRC. Oncolytic viruses and bacteria in treating CRC are one of the innovative therapeutic options. This study aims to determine whether mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) infected with the Newcastle Disease Virus (NDV) in combination with Lactobacillus casei extract (L. casei) have a synergistic effects on CRC cell line growth.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

MSCs taken from the bone marrow of BALB/c mice and were infected with the 20 MOI of NDV. Then, using the CT26 cell line in various groups as a single and combined treatment, the anticancer potential of MSCs containing the NDV and L. casei extract was examined. The evaluations considered the CT26 survival and the rate at which LDH, ROS, and levels of caspases eight and nine were produced following various treatments.

RESULTS

NDV, MSCs-NDV, and L. casei in alone or combined treatment significantly increased apoptosis percent, LDH, and ROS production compared with the control group (P˂0.05). Also, NDV, in free or capsulated in MSCs, had anticancer effects, but in capsulated form, it had a delay compared with free NDV. The findings proved that L. casei primarily stimulates the extrinsic pathway, while NDV therapy promotes apoptosis through the activation of both intrinsic and extrinsic apoptosis pathways.

CONCLUSIONS

The results suggest that MSCs carrying oncolytic NDV in combination with L. casei extract as a potentially effective strategy for cancer immunotherapy by promoting the generation of LDH, ROS, and apoptosis in the microenvironment of the CT26 cell line.

Probiotic-Derived Bioactive Compounds in Colorectal Cancer Treatment

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a multifactorial disease with increased morbidity and mortality rates globally. Despite advanced chemotherapeutic approaches for the treatment of CRC, low survival rates due to the regular occurrence of drug resistance and deleterious side effects render the need for alternative anticancer agents imperative. Accumulating evidence supports that gut microbiota imbalance precedes the establishment of carcinogenesis, subsequently contributing to cancer progression and response to anticancer therapy. Manipulation of the gut microbiota composition via the administration of probiotic-derived bioactive compounds has gradually attained the interest of scientific communities as a novel therapeutic strategy for CRC. These compounds encompass miscellaneous metabolic secreted products of probiotics, including bacteriocins, short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), lactate, exopolysaccharides (EPSs), biosurfactants, and bacterial peptides, with profound anti-inflammatory and antiproliferative properties. This review provides a classification of postbiotic types and a comprehensive summary of the current state of research on their biological role against CRC. It also describes how their intricate interaction with the gut microbiota regulates the proper function of the intestinal barrier, thus eliminating gut dysbiosis and CRC development. Finally, it discusses the future perspectives in precision-medicine approaches as well as the challenges of their synthesis and optimization of administration in clinical studies.

Mucin Binding Protein of Lactobacillus casei Inhibits HT-29 Colorectal Cancer Cell Proliferation

Many Lactobacillus casei strains are reported to exhibit anti-proliferative effects on colorectal cancer cells; however, the mechanism remains largely unknown. While there has been considerable interest in bacterial small metabolites such as short chain fatty acids, prior reports suggested that larger-sized molecules mediate the anti-proliferative effect of L. casei. Here, other possible ways of communication between gut bacteria and its host are investigated. LevH1 is a protein displayed on the surface of L. casei, and its mucin binding domain is highly conserved. Based on previous reports that the cell-free supernatant fractions decreased colorectal cell proliferation, we cloned the mucin binding domain of the LevH1 protein, expressed and purified this mucin binding protein (MucBP). It has a molecular weight of 10 kDa, is encoded by a 250 bp gene, and is composed primarily of a β-strand, β-turns, and random coils. The amino acid sequence is conserved while the 36th amino acid residue is arginine in L. casei CAUH35 and serine in L. casei IAM1045, LOCK919, 12A, and Zhang. MucBP^36R exhibited dose-dependent anti-proliferative effects against HT-29 cells while a mutation of 36S abolished this activity. Predicted structures suggest that this mutation slightly altered the protein structure, thus possibly affecting subsequent communication with HT-29 cells. Our study identified a novel mode of communication between gut bacteria and their host.

Gut microbiota in colorectal cancer development and therapy

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the commonest cancers globally. A unique aspect of CRC is its intimate association with the gut microbiota, which forms an essential part of the tumour microenvironment. Research over the past decade has established that dysbiosis of gut bacteria, fungi, viruses and Archaea accompanies colorectal tumorigenesis, and these changes might be causative. Data from mechanistic studies demonstrate the ability of the gut microbiota to interact with the colonic epithelia and immune cells of the host via the release of a diverse range of metabolites, proteins and macromolecules that regulate CRC development. Preclinical and some clinical evidence also underscores the role of the gut microbiota in modifying the therapeutic responses of patients with CRC to chemotherapy and immunotherapy. Herein, we summarize our current understanding of the role of gut microbiota in CRC and outline the potential translational and clinical implications for CRC diagnosis, prevention and treatment. Emphasis is placed on how the gut microbiota could now be better harnessed by developing targeted microbial therapeutics as chemopreventive agents against colorectal tumorigenesis, as adjuvants for chemotherapy and immunotherapy to boost drug efficacy and safety, and as non-invasive biomarkers for CRC screening and patient stratification. Finally, we highlight the hurdles and potential solutions to translating our knowledge of the gut microbiota into clinical practice.

Tumor-targeted induction of intrinsic apoptosis in colon cancer cells by Lactobacillus plantarum and Lactobacillus rhamnosus strains

BACKGROUND

Colorectal cancer is one of the widespread and lethal types of malignancies. Recently, antineoplastic attributes of probiotics have attracted lots of attention. Here, we investigated anti-proliferative potential of the non-pathogenic strains Lactobacillus plantarum ATCC 14,917 and Lactobacillus rhamnosus ATCC 7469 on human colorectal adenocarcinoma-originated Caco-2 cells.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Caco-2 and HUVEC control cells were treated with ethyl acetate extracts of the two Lactobacillus strains to assess cell viability by MTT assay. Annexin/PI staining flow cytometry, and caspase-3, -8 and - 9 activity assays were performed to determine the type of cell death induced in extract-treated cells. Expression levels of apoptosis-related genes were evaluated by RT-PCR. Extracts from both L. plantarum and L. rhamnosus specifically targeted the Caco-2 cells and not HUVEC controls, and significantly affected the viability of the colon cancer cell line in a time- and dose-dependent manner. This effect was shown to occur through activation of the intrinsic apoptosis pathway, as indicated by the increased caspase-3 and - 9 activities. While there are limited and conflicting data about the mechanisms underlying the specific antineoplastic attributes of Lactobacillus strains, we clarified the overall induced mechanism. The Lactobacillus extracts specifically down-regulated the expression of the anti-apoptotic bcl-2 and bcl-xl, and simultaneously up-regulated the pro-apoptotic bak, bad, and bax genes in treated Caco-2 cells.

CONCLUSIONS

Ethyl acetate extracts of L. plantarum and L. rhamnosus strains could be considered as targeted anti-cancer treatments specifically inducing the intrinsic apoptosis pathway in colorectal tumor cells.

A Probiotic Formula for Modulation of Colorectal Cancer Risk via Reducing CRC-Associated Bacteria

Gut microbiota dysbiosis with increased pathogenic bacteria and decreased beneficial bacteria is associated with colorectal cancer (CRC) development. This study examined the effect of a newly developed probiotic formula in modulating CRC-related bacteria. We developed a probiotic formula containing three bifidobacteria (B. adolescentis, B. longum, and B. bifidum) based on the identification of bacterial species that showed significant correlations with CRC-related bacteria including Fusobacterium nucleatum (Fn), Lachnoclostridium sp. m3, Clostridium hathewayi (Ch), and Bacteroides clarus (Bc). We co-cultured Fn with each bifidobacterium or the combined formula and examined the growth of Fn by qPCR. The three individual bifidobacteria significantly inhibited the growth of Fn compared to the control treatment (24~65% inhibition; all p < 0.001). The combination of the three bifidobacteria showed a greater inhibitory effect on Fn growth (70% inhibition) than the individual bifidobacteria (all p < 0.05). We further examined the effect of the probiotic formula in a pilot study of 72 subjects (40 on probiotics; 32 with no intervention) for 4 weeks and followed them up for 12 weeks. The relative fecal abundances of the bifidobacteria in the formula and the CRC-related markers (Fn, m3, Ch, and Bc) were quantitated by qPCR before and after the intervention, and the combined CRC risk score (4Bac; Fn, m3, Ch, and Bc) was evaluated. Subjects with probiotics intervention showed significantly increased abundances of the bifidobacteria from week 2 to week 5 compared to baseline (p < 0.05), and the abundances dropped to baseline levels after the cessation of the intervention. There were significant decreases in the levels of CRC-related markers (Fn and m3) and the CRC risk score (4Bac) from week 2 to week 12 compared to baseline levels (p < 0.05) in the intervention group but not in the control group. A novel probiotic formula containing B. adolescentis, B. longum, and B. bifidum was effective in inhibiting the growth of F. nucleatum in vitro and improving the gut microbial environment against CRC development.

Combination of vitamin D and probiotics inhibits chemically induced colorectal carcinogenesis in Wistar rats

The modulation of inflammatory elements, cell differentiation and proliferation by vitamin D and the role of probiotics in the intestinal microbiota and immunogenic response have sparked interest in the application of both in chemotherapeutics and chemoprevention of colorectal tumors.

AIMS

The present study aimed to investigate the effects of isolated and/or combined treatment of vitamin D3 and probiotics on colorectal carcinogenesis.

MAIN METHODS

Pre-neoplastic lesions were induced with 1,2-dimethylhydrazine in the colon of Wistar rats, which were treated with probiotics and/or vitamin D in three different approaches (simultaneous, pre-, and post-treatment). We investigated the frequency of aberrant crypt foci (ACF) and aberrant crypt (AC) in the distal colon, fecal microbiome composition, gene and protein expression through immunohistochemical and RT-PCR assays, and general toxicity through water consumption and weight gain monitoring.

KEY FINDINGS

Results confirm the systemic safety of treatments, and show a protective effect of vitamin D and probiotics in all approaches studied, as well as in combined treatments, with predominance of different bacterial phyla compared to controls. Treated groups show different levels of Nrf2, GST, COX2, iNOS, β-catenin and PCNA expression.

SIGNIFICANCE

These experimental conditions explore the combination of vitamin D and probiotics supplementation at low doses over pathways involved in distinct stages of colorectal carcinogenesis, with results supporting its application in prevention and long-term strategies.

Living Gut Bacteria Functionalized with Gold Nanoclusters and Drug for Facile Cancer Theranostics

Bacbots are potent self-propelling vehicles for targeted therapy that can be guided by chemical and biochemical stimuli of the host. In addition, they can be guided externally by the use of magnetic field or other physical forces. The challenge is to incorporate drugs and diagnostic tools in living bacteria with retention of theranostic activity until reaching the targets and easy clearance of the remainder following the treatment. We report that living Lactobacillus rhamnosus, when functionalized with photoluminescent Au nanoclusters and the anticancer drug methotrexate, was cytotoxic to monolayer and spheroids of cancer cells (HeLa and HT29) even at a low dose of bacteria used (10⁷ cfu/mL). The observed cell death was nearly 90% in HeLa spheroids and 70% in HT29 spheroids. Further, functionalization of the bacterial surface with the nanoclusters helped incorporate the drug onto their cell surfaces. The drug and nanocluster-loaded bacteria annihilated the cells and the spheroids in a rather short time (6 h) that revealed the specificity and effectiveness of the bacbots. The bacbots exhibited synergistic toxicity on the cells as their effect was more than the drug and the bacteria individually. This higher toxicity could be associated with elevated levels of reactive oxygen species generated in the bacbot-treated cells. The multifunctional bacbots reported here provide an option for guided therapy with the natural variant of the human gut-friendly living bacteria without the need for attenuation or genetic modification.

Evaluation of the Anti-Inflammatory Properties of Mastic Oil Extracted from Pistacia lentiscus var. chia

Mastic oil (MO) is extracted from the resin of the bark of Pistacia lentiscus var. chia, a tree abundantly grown in the Greek island of Chios. Various biological activities, such as antimicrobial, anticancer and antioxidant, have been associated with the dietary intake of MO. However, little is known about MO’s potential anti-inflammatory effects, while some of its main chemical constituents were reported to exert significant anti-inflammatory activity. This study aims to assay the bioactivity of MO on in vitro and in vivo experimental inflammation models, in particular on LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages, murine primary peritoneal macrophages and a model of zymosan-induced peritonitis in BALB/c mice. The per os administration of MO inhibited the recruitment of macrophages into the peritoneal cavity of zymosan-treated mice, but did not affect neutrophil mobilisation or the levels of IL-6 or TNF-α in the peritoneal fluid. Similarly, IL-6 and TNF-α secretion in primary LPS-stimulated macrophages was not affected by MO, but the levels of phosphoproteins that activate inflammation in macrophages were differentially regulated. Finally, MO and some of its individual constituents reduced nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin E2 and TNF-α levels in supernatants of LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells and inhibited their phagocytosis rate. Our data imply that MO may promote an anti-inflammatory transition in macrophages due to the combined bioactivities of its individual constituents. Thus, as a mixture of various compounds, MO seems to affect multiple molecular mechanisms that are involved in the development of inflammation. Therefore, more research, focusing on MO’s individual constituents and employing various pre-clinical inflammation models that activate different mechanisms, is required for a detailed investigation of the oil’s potential anti-inflammatory activity.

L. reuteri JMR-01 adjuvant 12C6+ irradiation exerts anti-colon carcinoma effects by modulating the gut microbiota in mice

BACKGROUND

Probiotics such as Lactobacillus could modulate the intestinal microbiota and have been considered as an effective strategy for ameliorating colon carcinoma. Nevertheless, its efficiency remains the biggest challenge.

METHODS

We investigated the therapeutic efficacy of Lactobacillus reuteri JMR-01 adjuvant ¹²C⁶⁺ irradiation on CT-26 syngeneic mouse models. Meanwhile, intestinal flora and innate immunity were examined to outline mechanisms.

RESULTS

Anti-proliferation effect of live probiotic combined with inactivated probiotic JMR-01 (LP + IP) on CT-26 reached a maximum of 39.55% among other experiment groups at 24 h when the ratio of cell to CFU was 1:1 in vitro. These activities have been fully validated in vivo, tumor-bearing mice treated by ¹²C⁶⁺ irradiation combining with living and inactivated probiotics JMR-01 (IR + LP + IP) for 50-day held the highest survival rate (71.4%) and complete remission rate (14.3%). We also demonstrated significant fluctuation in gut microbiota, including the decreased abundance of Bacteroides fragilis and Clostridium perfringens related to tumorigenesis and development, and the increased abundance of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium closely associated with health restoration in fecal of mice treated with JMR-01 LP + IP adjuvant ¹²C⁶⁺ irradiation (IR + LP + IP). Similarly, the decreasing nitroreductase activities and increasing short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) concentrations were observed in IR + LP + IP group compared with tumor control group, which further confirmed the changes of gut microbiota. Additionally, we found that the strongest stimulation index of splenocyte (2.47) and the phagocytosis index peritoneal macrophage (3.68) were achieved by LP + IP compared with single live JMR-01 (LP) and inactivated JMR-01 (IP).

CONCLUSIONS

JMR-01 LP + IP adjuvant ¹²C⁶⁺ irradiation could mitigate cancer progression by modulating innate immunity as well as intestinal flora.

Ultrasound Attenuation Improves Some Surface Properties of the Probiotic Strain Lacticaseibacillus casei ATCC 393

Ultrasound attenuation has been recently proposed as a tool to modulate probiotic metabolism. The study aimed to characterize the response of the probiotic Lacticaseibacillus casei ATCC 393 to sonication. Two ultrasound treatments were tested (57 W, duty cycle 50%, 6 or 8 min). Attenuation was assessed as a pH decrease in MRS broth after 6 and 24 h of incubation at 37 °C. Cultivability was evaluated by plate count immediately after sonication and by growth index on overnight cultures. Surface changes were determined by auto-aggregation, hydrophobicity, biofilm production tests, and by membrane damages. The 6 min treatment induced a temporary attenuation, while a prolongated exposure to sonic waves caused major attenuation effects (ΔpH 0.97 after 24 h). Both sonication treatments affected probiotic cultivability with a significant (p < 0.05) reduction of plate counts and an alteration of the growth index. Although auto-aggregation was negatively affected upon sonication, the hydrophobicity and biofilm production were improved with no significant differences (p > 0.05) between the sonicated samples. Moreover, sonicated L. casei ATCC 393 resulted in increased membrane permeability. These results suggest that ultrasound technology can be successfully used to modulate the L. casei ATCC 393 fermentative metabolism and to improve its surface properties.

Gut microbiome in tumorigenesis and therapy of colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the malignant tumor with the highest incidence in the digestive system, and the gut microbiome plays a crucial role in CRC tumorigenesis and therapy. The gastrointestinal tract is the organ harboring most of the microbiota in humans. Changes in the gut microbiome in CRC patients suggest possible host-microbe interactions, thereby hinting the potential tumorigenesis, which provides new perspective for preventing, diagnosing, or treating CRC. In this review, we discuss the effects of gut microbiome dysbiosis on CRC, and reveal the mechanisms by which gut microbiome dysbiosis leads to CRC. Gut microbiome modulation with the aim to reverse the established gut microbial dysbiosis is a novel strategy for the prevention and treatment of CRC. In addition, this review summarizes that probiotic antagonize CRC tumorigenesis by protecting intestinal barrier function, inhibiting cancer cell proliferation, resisting oxidative stress, and enhancing host immunity. Finally, we highlight clinical applications of the gut microbiome, such as gut microbiome analysis-based biomarker screening and prediction, and microbe modulation-based CRC prevention, treatment enhancement, and treatment side effect reduction. This review provides the reference for the clinical application of gut microbiome in the prevention and treatment of CRC.

Development and characterization of probiotic (co)encapsulates in biopolymeric matrices and evaluation of survival in a millet yogurt formulation

The formulation of probiotics-enriched products still remains a challenge for the food industry due to the loss of viability, mainly occurring upon consumption and during storage. To tackle this challenge, the current study investigated the potential of using sodium alginate and inulin (SIN) in combination with various encapsulating materials such as skim milk (SKIM), whey protein concentrate (WPC), soy protein concentrate (SPC), and flaxseed oil (FS) to increase the viability of Lactobacillus casei upon freeze-drying, under simulated gastrointestinal conditions, during 28 days of storage at 4°C, and in a formulation of millet yogurt. Microstructural properties of microcapsules and co-microcapsules by SEM, oxidative stability of flaxseed oil in co-microcapsules, and physicochemical and sensory analysis of the product were performed. The produced microcapsules (SIN-PRO-SKIM, SIN-PRO-WP, and SIN-PRO-SP) and co-microcapsules (SIN-PRO-FS-SKIM, SIN-PRO-FS-WP, and SIN-PRO-FS-SP) had a high encapsulation rate >90%. Moreover, encapsulated and co-encapsulated strains exhibited a high in vitro viability accounting for 9.24 log10 CFU/g (SIN-PRO-SKIM), 8.96 log10 CFU/g (SIN-PRO-WP), and 8.74 log10 CFU/g (SIN-PRO-SP) for encapsulated and 10.08 log10 CFU/g (SIN-PRO-FS-SKIM), 10.03 log10 CFU/g (SIN-PRO-FS-WP), and 10.14 log10 CFU/g (SIN-PRO-FS-SP) for co-encapsulated. Moreover, encapsulated and co-encapsulated cells showed higher survival upon storage than free cells. Also, the SEM analysis showed spherical particles of 77.92-230.13 µm in size. The physicochemical and sensory analysis revealed an interesting nutritional content in the millet yogurt. The results indicate that the SIN matrix has significant promise as probiotic encapsulating material as it may provide efficient cell protection while also providing considerable physicochemical and nutritional benefits in functional foods.

Moxibustion attenuates liver metastasis of colorectal cancer by regulating gut microbial dysbiosis

The liver metastasis is the primary factor attributing to the poor prognosis of colorectal cancer (CRC). Moxibustion has been used clinically against multiple malignancies. In this study, we explored the safety, efficacy, and the potential functional mechanisms of moxibustion in modulating the liver metastasis of CRC by using GFP-HCT116 cells-derived CRC liver metastasis model in Balb/c nude mice. The tumor bearing mice were randomly divided into model control and treatment groups. Moxibustion was applied to the BL18 and ST36 acupoints. CRC liver metastasis was measured by fluorescence imaging. Furthermore, feces from all mice were collected, and 16S rRNA analysis was used to assess their microbial diversity, which was analyzed for its correlation with liver metastasis. Our results indicated that the liver metastasis rate was decreased significantly by moxibustion treatment. Moxibustion treatment also caused statistically significant changes in the gut microbe population, suggesting that moxibustion reshaped the imbalanced gut microbiota in the CRC liver metastasis mice. Therefore, our findings provide new insights into the host-microbe crosstalk during CRC liver metastasis and suggest moxibustion could inhibit CRC liver metastasis by remolding the structure of destructed gut microbiota community. Moxibustion may serve as a complementary and alternative therapy for the treatment of patients with CRC liver metastasis.

Chemopreventive role of probiotics against cancer: a comprehensive mechanistic review

Probiotics use different mechanisms such as intestinal barrier improvement, bacterial translocation and maintaining gut microbiota homeostasis to treat cancer. Probiotics' ability to induce apoptosis against tumor cells makes them more effective to treat cancer. Moreover, probiotics stimulate immune function through an immunomodulation mechanism that induces an anti-tumor effect. There are different strains of probiotics, but the most important ones are lactic acid bacteria (LAB) having antagonistic and anti-mutagenic activities. Live and dead probiotics have anti-inflammatory, anti-proliferative, anti-oxidant and anti-metastatic properties which are useful to fight against different diseases, especially cancer. The main focus of this article is to review the anti-cancerous properties of probiotics and their role in the reduction of different types of cancer. However, further investigations are in progress to improve the efficiency of probiotics in cancer treatment.

Probiotics and Postbiotics as the Functional Food Components Affecting the Immune Response

The food market is one of the most innovative segments of the world economy. Recently, among consumers there is a forming trend of a healthier lifestyle and interest in functional foods. Products with positive health properties are a good source of nutrients for consumers' nutritional needs and reduce the risk of metabolic diseases such as diabetes, atherosclerosis, or obesity. They also seem to boost the immune system. One of the types of functional food is "probiotic products", which contain viable microorganisms with beneficial health properties. However, due to some technical difficulties in their development and marketing, a new alternative has started to be sought. Many scientific studies also point to the possibility of positive effects on human health, the so-called "postbiotics", the characteristic metabolites of the microbiome. Both immunobiotics and post-immunobiotics are the food components that affect the immune response in two ways: as inhibition (suppressing allergies and inflammation) or as an enhancement (providing host defenses against infection). This work's aim was to conduct a literature review of the possibilities of using probiotics and postbiotics as the functional food components affecting the immune response, with an emphasis on the most recently published works.

The Role of the Microbiome on the Pathogenesis and Treatment of Colorectal Cancer

The gut microbiome has long been known to play a role in various aspects of health modulation, including the pathogenesis of colorectal cancer (CRC). With immunotherapy recently emerging as a successful treatment in microsatellite instability high (MSI-high) CRC, and with a newly demonstrated involvement of the gut microbiome in the modulation of therapeutic responses, there has been an explosion of research into the mechanisms of microbial effects on CRC. Harnessing and reprogramming the microbiome may allow for the expansion of these successes to broader categories of CRC, the prevention of CRC in high-risk patients, and the enhancement of standard treatments. In this review, we pull together both well-documented phenomena and recent discoveries that pertain to the microbiome and CRC. We explore the microbial mechanisms associated with CRC pathogenesis and progression, recent advancements in CRC systemic therapy, potential options for diagnosis and prevention, as well as directions for future research.

Contribution of Lactobacilli on Intestinal Mucosal Barrier and Diseases: Perspectives and Challenges of Lactobacillus casei

The intestine barrier, the front line of normal body defense, relies on its structural integrity, microbial composition and barrier immunity. The intestinal mucosal surface is continuously exposed to a complex and dynamic community of microorganisms. Although it occupies a relatively small proportion of the intestinal microbiota, Lactobacilli has been discovered to have a significant impact on the intestine tract in previous studies. It is undeniable that some Lactobacillus strains present probiotic properties through maintaining the micro-ecological balance via different mechanisms, such as mucosal barrier function and barrier immunity, to prevent infection and even to solve some neurology issues by microbiota-gut-brain/liver/lung axis communication. Notably, not only living cells but also Lactobacillus derivatives (postbiotics: soluble secreted products and para-probiotics: cell structural components) may exert antipathogenic effects and beneficial functions for the gut mucosal barrier. However, substantial research on specific effects, safety and action mechanisms in vivo should be done. In clinical application of humans and animals, there are still doubts about the precise evaluation of Lactobacilli's safety, therapeutic effect, dosage and other aspects. Therefore, we provide an overview of central issues on the impacts of Lactobacillus casei (L. casei) and their products on the intestinal mucosal barrier and some diseases and highlight the urgent need for further studies.

The role of nutrition in harnessing the immune system: a potential approach to prevent cancer

Cancer is a vital barrier to increase the life expectancy and the foremost cause of death globally. The initial diagnosis and proper management of cancer can expand the survival rate of individuals. This review provides an in-depth investigation of cancer causes symptoms, types of cancer, and worldwide distribution of cancer. The relation between nutrition (i.e., various food items) and cancer is also emphasized to offer a framework of nutrition management in different cancer types. The microbiota is closely associated with the occurrence of cancer. Thus, genomics of intestinal microbes and nutrigenomics have been discussed based on the reported meta-analysis studies. A dramatic increase in cancer rates has been observed due to intake of alcohol, microbial infections, and deficiency of nutrition. Malnutrition is a substantial problem in cancer patients linked with improper treatment and increased morbidity. The detail studies of cancer and nutrigenomics are an eminent approach to comprehend the relation between microbes and the consumption of certain food types which can further reduce the cancer risk. The incorporation of specific nutrients and probiotics improved the gut microbial health, increased life expectancy, and also decreased the incidence of tumorigenesis in individuals.

Anti-cancer activity of human gastrointestinal bacteria

Malignant neoplasm is one of the most incurable diseases among inflammatory diseases. Researchers have been studying for decades to win over this lethal disease and provide the light of hope to humankind. The gastrointestinal bacteria of human hold a complex ecosystem and maintain homeostasis. One hundred trillion microbes are residing in the gastrointestinal tract of human. Disturbances in the microbiota of human's gastrointestinal tract can create immune response against inflammation and also can develop diseases, including cancer. The bacteria of the gastrointestinal tract of human can secrete a variety of metabolites and bioproducts which aid in the preservation of homeostasis in the host and gut. During pathogenic dysbiosis, on the other hand, numerous microbiota subpopulations may increase and create excessive levels of toxins, which can cause inflammation and cancer. Furthermore, the immune system of host and the epithelium cell can be influenced by gut microbiota. Probiotics, which are bacteria that live in the gut, have been protected against tumor formation. Probiotics are now studied to see if they can help fight dysbiosis in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy or radiotherapy because of their capacity to maintain gut homeostasis. Countless numbers of gut bacteria have demonstrated anti-cancer efficiency in cancer treatment, prevention, and boosting the efficiency of immunotherapy. The review article has briefly explained the anti-cancer immunity of gut microbes and their application in treating a variety of cancer. This review paper also highlights the pre-clinical studies of probiotics against cancer and the completed and ongoing clinical trials on cancers with the two most common and highly effective probiotics Lactobacillus and Bacillus spp.

The effect of a postbiotic produced by stabilized non-viable Lactobacilli on the health, growth performance, immunity, and gut status of colisepticaemic broiler chickens

This work was designed to evaluate the efficacy of a postbiotic compound produced by stabilized non-viable Lactobacilli on the health, growth performance, immunity, and gut status against Escherichia coli (E. coli) challenge of broiler chickens. A total of 400, day-old broiler chicks were allocated into 4 equal groups (1–4) consisting of 100; each assigned into 2 equal replicates (50 each). Chickens in the 1st group were received the dry form of the compound at doses of 1 kg and 0.5 kg/ton feed for starter and grower, and the finisher diets, respectively. Chickens in the 2nd group were given the aqueous form of the compound in a dose of 4 mL/L of the drinking water during the first 3 days of life and at a day before and after each vaccination. Feed and water treatment regimens were administered to chickens in the 3rd group. Group 4 was kept without treatment. Each bird in the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th group was challenged with E. coli (O78) at 1-week-old. All groups were kept under observation till 5-week-old. Statistical analysis included one-way ANOVA and other methods as described with significant differences at P ≤ 0.05. The results indicated that feed and water treatments with the postbiotic compound induced more significant (P ≤ 0.05) amelioration of a disease picture, enhancement of growth performance, boosting of immune response, improvement of bursa of Fabricius/body weight ratio, and reduction of intestinal coliform count in challenged chickens when compared with challenged non-treated chickens. In conclusion, the postbiotic compound either in a dry and/or an aqueous form is recommended for improving the health, performance, and immunity of colisepticaemic broiler chickens.

Co-Microencapsulation of Anthocyanins from Cornelian Cherry (Cornus mas L.) Fruits and Lactic Acid Bacteria into Antioxidant and Anti-Proliferative Derivative Powders

Driven by the modern lifestyle, the consumers are interested in healthier and balanced diets, including both probiotics and natural antioxidants. The beneficial health effects of probiotics are mainly due to their capacity of modulating the human intestinal microbiota, although achieving at least a 6 log of viable cells at the targeted site is still challenging. Therefore, in this study, an attempt to improve the bioaccessibility of Lacticaseibacillus casei (L. casei) 431^® through a co-microencapsulation by complex coacervation and freeze-drying, using an extract from Cornelian cherry and two biopolymeric matrices, whey protein isolates and casein (WPI-CN) and inulin (WPI-I), was studied. The powders showed a comparable anthocyanin content of around 32.00 mg cyanidin-3-rutinoside (C3R)/g dry matter (DM) and a microbial load of about 10 Log CFU/g DM. A high stability of the lactic acid bacteria was assessed throughout 90 days of storage, whereas the anthocyanins’ degradation during storage followed a first order kinetic model, allowing the estimation of a half-time of 66.88 ± 1.67 days for WPI-CN and 83.60 ± 2.46 days for WPI-I. The in vitro digestion showed a high stability of anthocyanins in the simulated gastric juice, whereas the release in the simulated intestinal juice was favored in the variant with inulin (up to 38%). The use of casein permitted to obtain finer spherosomes, with smaller diameters, whereas a double encapsulation was obvious in both variants, thus explaining the high resistance in the gastric environment. The anti-proliferative effect against the human colon cancer cell line (HT-29) was also demonstrated. No cytotoxicity has been found for the concentrations between 1 and 25 μg/mL for the WPI-I variant, whereas a cell proliferation effect was observed at low concentrations of 1–5 μg/mL.

Therapeutic approaches to colorectal cancer via strategies based on modulation of gut microbiota

Colorectal cancer (CRC) ranks third in terms of global incidence and second in terms of death toll among malignant tumors. Gut microbiota are involved in the formation, development, and responses to different treatments of CRC. Under normal physiological conditions, intestinal microorganisms protect the intestinal mucosa, resist pathogen invasion, and regulate the proliferation of intestinal mucosal cells via a barrier effect and inhibition of DNA damage. The composition of gut microbiota and the influences of diet, drugs, and gender on the composition of the intestinal flora are important factors in the early detection of CRC and prediction of the results of CRC treatment. Regulation of gut microbiota is one of the most promising new strategies for CRC treatment, and it is essential to clarify the effect of gut microbiota on CRC and its possible mechanisms to facilitate the prevention and treatment of CRC. This review discusses the role of gut microbiota in the pathogenesis of CRC, the potential of gut microbiota as biomarkers for CRC, and therapeutic approaches to CRC based on the regulation of gut microbiota. It might provide new ideas for the use of gut microbiota in the prevention and treatment of CRC in the near future and thus reduce the incidence of CRC.

Impact of a novel probiotic Lactobacillus strain isolated from the bee gut on GABA content, antioxidant activity, and potential cytotoxic activity against HT-29 cell line of rice bran

Rice bran was fermented with Lactobacillus apis, isolated from the bee gut as a novel probiotic strain, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae to investigate the relationship between its metabolites and antioxidant activity, nutraceutical value, and cytotoxic activity against the HT-29 cell line. The findings showed that L. apis improved the antioxidant activity (DPPH of 37.73%) and antioxidant capacity (ABTS of 37.62 mg Trolox/g,), as well as, hydroxyl radical-scavenging activity (91.55%) of rice bran compared to S. cerevisiae. The metabolic analysis of volatile compounds revealed an increase of alcohols and lactones in the samples fermented with S. cerevisiae. While the samples fermented with L. apis displayed an increase of ketones, esters, and thiazoles. On the other hand, L. apis and S. cerevisiae exhibited a significant ability to increase γ-aminobutyric acid during different fermentation times. Compared with non-fermented samples (18.54%), L. apis increased the cytotoxic activity of rice bran against the HT-29 cell line to 34.17%, and S. cerevisiae to 31.34%. These results suggest that the fermentation of rice bran with S. cerevisiae and L. apis provides a promising strategy to improve the antioxidant activity and nutraceuticals of rice bran, and a potential source for plant-based pharmaceutical products.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13197-022-05512-2.