Lactic Acid Bacteria and Lactic Acid for Skin Health and Melanogenesis Inhibition

Probiotic Insights from the Genomic Exploration of Lacticaseibacillus paracasei Strains Isolated from Fermented Palm Sap

This study focused on L. paracasei strains isolated from fermented palm sap in southern Thailand that exhibit potential probiotic characteristics, including antibiotic susceptibility, resistance to gastrointestinal stresses, and antimicrobial activity against various pathogens. However, a thorough investigation of the whole genome sequences of L. paracasei isolates is required to ensure their safety and probiotic properties for human applications. This study aimed to sequence the genome of L. paracasei isolated from fermented palm sap, to assess its safety profile, and to conduct a comprehensive comparative genomic analysis with other Lacticaseibacillus species. The genome sizes of the seven L. paracasei strains ranged from 3,070,747 bp to 3,131,129 bp, with a GC content between 46.11% and 46.17% supporting their classification as nomadic lactobacilli. In addition, the minimal presence of cloud genes and a significant number of core genes suggest a high degree of relatedness among the strains. Meanwhile, phylogenetic analysis of core genes revealed that the strains possessed distinct genes and were grouped into two distinct clades. Genomic analysis revealed key genes associated with probiotic functions, such as those involved in gastrointestinal, oxidative stress resistance, vitamin synthesis, and biofilm disruption. This study is consistent with previous studies that used whole-genome sequencing and bioinformatics to assess the safety and potential benefits of probiotics in various food fermentation processes. Our findings provide valuable insights into the potential use of seven L. paracasei strains isolated from fermented palm sap as probiotic and postbiotic candidates in functional foods and pharmaceuticals.

Skin Deep: The Potential of Microbiome Cosmetics

The interplay between the skin microbiome and its host is a complex facet of dermatological health and has become a critical focus in the development of microbiome cosmetics. The skin microbiome, comprising various microorganisms, is essential from birth, develops over the lifespan, and performs vital roles in protecting our body against pathogens, training the immune system, and facilitating the breakdown of organic matter. Dysbiosis, an imbalance of these microorganisms, has been implicated in a number of skin conditions such as acne, atopic dermatitis, and skin cancer. Recent scientific findings have spurred cosmetic companies to develop products that preserve and enhance the skin's microbial diversity balance. These products may incorporate elements like prebiotics, probiotics, and postbiotics, which are beneficial for the skin microbiome. Beyond topical products, there's increasing interest in ingestible beauty supplements (i.e. oral probiotics), highlighting the connection between the gut and skin. This review examines the influence of the microbiome on skin health and the emerging trends of microbiome skincare products.

MLFLHMDA: predicting human microbe-disease association based on multi-view latent feature learning

Introduction

A growing body of research indicates that microorganisms play a crucial role in human health. Imbalances in microbial communities are closely linked to human diseases, and identifying potential relationships between microbes and diseases can help elucidate the pathogenesis of diseases. However, traditional methods based on biological or clinical experiments are costly, so the use of computational models to predict potential microbe-disease associations is of great importance.

Methods

In this paper, we present a novel computational model called MLFLHMDA, which is based on a Multi-View Latent Feature Learning approach to predict Human potential Microbe-Disease Associations. Specifically, we compute Gaussian interaction profile kernel similarity between diseases and microbes based on the known microbe-disease associations from the Human Microbe-Disease Association Database and perform a preprocessing step on the resulting microbe-disease association matrix, namely, weighting K nearest known neighbors (WKNKN) to reduce the sparsity of the microbe-disease association matrix. To obtain unobserved associations in the microbe and disease views, we extract different latent features based on the geometrical structure of microbes and diseases, and project multi-modal latent features into a common subspace. Next, we introduce graph regularization to preserve the local manifold structure of Gaussian interaction profile kernel similarity and add L p , q -norms to the projection matrix to ensure the interpretability and sparsity of the model.

Results

The AUC values for global leave-one-out cross-validation and 5-fold cross validation implemented by MLFLHMDA are 0.9165 and 0.8942+/-0.0041, respectively, which perform better than other existing methods. In addition, case studies of different diseases have demonstrated the superiority of the predictive power of MLFLHMDA. The source code of our model and the data are available on https://github.com/LiangzheZhang/MLFLHMDA_master.

Quality improvement of soybean meal by yeast fermentation based on the degradation of anti-nutritional factors and accumulation of beneficial metabolites

BACKGROUND

Soybean meal (SBM) is the main protein source for animal diets but its anti-nutritional constituents affect animal growth and immunity. The yeast culture of soybean meal (SBM-YC) that fermented with yeast and hydrolyzed by protease simultaneously could reduce anti-nutritional factors effectively and accumulate beneficial metabolites.

RESULTS

The crude protein and acid-soluble protein content of SBM-YC reached 542.5 g kg-1 and 117.2 g kg-1 , respectively, and the essential amino acid content increased by 17.9%. Raffinose and stachyose decreased over 95.0%, and the organic acid content such as acetic acid, butyric acid, citric acid, lactic acid, succinic acid, and propionic acid produced by fermentation reached 6.1, 3.8, 3.6, 2.5, 1.2, and 0.4 g kg-1 , respectively. As biomarkers of yeast culture, nucleosides and their precursors reached 1.7 g kg-1 ; in particular, the inosine content increased from 0 to 0.3 g kg-1 . The total antioxidant capacity, 2,2'-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) free radical activity, metal chelating ability, and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging ability were increased by 50.3%, 46.1%, 43.9%, and 20.6%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

This study established a diversified evaluation index, which could lay the foundations for the production and quality control of SBM-YC in the future. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

Valorization of shrimp processing waste-derived chitosan into anti-inflammatory chitosan-oligosaccharides (CHOS)

Bioconversion of chitosan into soluble anti-inflammatory chitosan oligosaccharides (CHOS) using a Bacillus chitosanase, BsCsn46A, was investigated, including food-grade approaches. After 48 h of enzymatic reaction, most of the final products were dimers and trimers. None of the CHOS products showed toxicity to human fibroblasts. Analysis of CHOS bioactivity against LPS-induced inflammation of human macrophages indicated that CHOS generated from different bioconversion processes have anti-inflammatory activity, the magnitude of which depends on the type of substrate and production process. Both lactic acid and HCl can be used to dissolve chitosan; however, the product generated from lactic acid solution was highly hygroscopic after lyophilization, hence not suitable for long-term storage. Downstream processes, i.e., centrifugation and filtration, affect its anti-inflammatory activity. Analysis of standard CHOS with known structure showed that an acetyl group at the reducing end and the degree of polymerization (DP) are critical for biological activity. Importantly, when applied at levels above the optimal concentrations, certain standard CHOS and CHOS mixtures could induce inflammation. These results support the potential of CHOS as anti-inflammatory agents but reveal batch-to-batch variation and possible side effects, indicating that careful quality assurance of CHOS preparations is essential.

A proof of concept: Clinical anti-aging efficacy and safety of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum LB244R® applied topically in a double-blinded placebo-controlled study

BACKGROUND

With the increasing age of the westernized population, there is also increasing economic and aesthetic interest in reducing the signs of skin aging. Additionally, the physical aspect of aging can be displeasing and have detrimental effects psychologically in individuals. Probiotics have shown potential as anti-aging agents, albeit proper studies are needed to confirm their potential.

AIMS

Proving that Lactiplantibacillus plantarum LB244R® could alleviate aging signs relative to its placebo vehicle.

PATIENTS/METHODS

In total, 46 subjects were randomly assigned either the ointment with live bacteria, L. plantarum LB244R® or its vehicle ointment, and had to use the assigned ointment twice daily for 56 days. On Day 0, Day 28, and Day 56 subepidermal low echogenic band (SLEB) thickness, dermal density, skin firmness and elasticity, skin hydration, transepidermal water loss (TEWL), skin pH, collagen fiber visualization using confocal microscopy, Crow's feet, spot score, skin smoothness, and complexion radiance were assessed by dermatologists.

RESULTS

All parameters except TEWL improved relative to their baseline (D0) for the active group. L. plantarum LB244R® improved SLEB thickness, dermal density, skin elasticity, skin hydration, and Crow's feet wrinkle score relative to the placebo vehicle ointment.

CONCLUSION

The study demonstrates an anti-aging effect of L. plantarum LB244R® for topical skin use in the first double-blinded, vehicle-ointment placebo-controlled clinical study.

Insights on the role of L-lactate as a signaling molecule in skin aging

L-lactate is a catabolite from the anaerobic metabolism of glucose, which plays a paramount role as a signaling molecule in various steps of the cell survival. Its activity, as a master tuner of many mechanisms underlying the aging process, for example in the skin, is still presumptive, however its crucial position in the complex cross-talk between mitochondria and the process of cell survival, should suggest that L-lactate may be not a simple waste product but a fine regulator of the aging/survival machinery, probably via mito-hormesis. Actually, emerging evidence is highlighting that ROS are crucial in the signaling of skin health, including mechanisms underlying wound repair, renewal and aging. The ROS, including superoxide anion, hydrogen peroxide, and nitric oxide, play both beneficial and detrimental roles depending upon their levels and cellular microenvironment. Physiological ROS levels are essential for cutaneous health and the wound repair process. Aberrant redox signaling activity drives chronic skin disease in elderly. On the contrary, impaired redox modulation, due to enhanced ROS generation and/or reduced levels of antioxidant defense, suppresses wound healing via promoting lymphatic/vascular endothelial cell apoptosis and death. This review tries to elucidate this issue.

MALDI Mass Spectrometry Imaging and Semi-Quantification of Topically Delivered Lactic Acid

BACKGROUND

Lactic acid is a common active ingredient in many topical skincare products; however, measuring its delivery into the skin is challenging due to the presence of a large level of endogenous lactic acid. In this study, matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry imaging (MALDI-MSI) was used to quantitatively and qualitatively measure the delivery of lactic acid into the skin from a range of topical skincare products.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Porcine skin samples were treated with various skincare products containing lactic acid. After 24 h, skin samples were sectioned and treated via H&E staining or prepared for MALDI-MSI using chemical derivatization. Samples were then analyzed by MALDI-MSI imaging to obtain lactic acid distribution in the entire skin section.

RESULTS

Due to the high level of endogenous lactic acid in the skin, a "triple isotope" of lactic acid (L-Lactic acid-13 C3 ), was needed to provide full resolution from the skin's background signal with MALDI-MSI. With this approach, the topically delivered lactic acid could be quantitatively and qualitatively analyzed from a variety of skincare products.

CONCLUSIONS

The combination of L-Lactic acid-13 C3 and MALDI-MSI was successfully used to quantitatively and qualitatively measure the topical delivery of lactic acid from a variety of skincare products. This approach could be used in future work to better understand the mode of action of lactic acid as an active ingredient in skincare products.

Antioxidant Properties of Kombucha Made with Tartary Buckwheat Tea and Burdock Tea

Kombucha is a beverage fermented by SCOBY, which is a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast. Recently, kombucha has received significant attention due to its health benefits, which include antioxidant and anti-obesity effects. In this study, we investigated the characteristics of kombucha made with Tartary buckwheat and burdock, both known for their high polyphenols content. First, the total polyphenol content and antioxidant activity were measured by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl and 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) radical scavenging assays, which revealed a polyphenol content of 180 ug/mL in Tartary buckwheat kombucha and a high radical scavenging ability of over 90% in both kombucha preparations. Analysis of the changes in the organic acid content during fermentation revealed increases in various organic acid contents, such as glucuronic acid, lactic acid, and acetic acid. Glucuronic acid, especially, which has many functional properties in health, was found to be produced at a concentration of 4.03 g/L in Tartary buckwheat kombucha. Pancreatic lipase inhibitory ability analysis revealed inhibitory effects of 40.47% and 57.68% for Tartary buckwheat and burdock kombucha, respectively. The results of this study confirmed the antioxidant and anti-obesity effects of kombucha made from Tartary buckwheat and burdock, indicating the potential value of these ingredients as functional kombucha ingredients.

Role of the Microbiota in Skin Neoplasms: New Therapeutic Horizons

The skin and the gut are regularly colonized by a variety of microorganisms capable of interacting with the immune system through their metabolites and influencing the balance between immune tolerance and inflammation. Alterations in the composition and diversity of the skin microbiota have been described in various cutaneous diseases, including skin cancer, and the actual function of the human microbiota in skin carcinogenesis, such as in progression and metastasis, is currently an active area of research. The role of Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) in the pathogenesis of squamous cell carcinoma is well consolidated, especially in chronically immunosuppressed patients. Furthermore, an imbalance between Staphylococcus spp., such as Staphylococcus epidermidis and aureus, has been found to be strongly related to the progression from actinic keratosis to squamous cell carcinoma and differently associated with various stages of the diseases in cutaneous T-cell lymphoma patients. Also, in melanoma patients, differences in microbiota have been related to dissimilar disease course and prognosis and may affect the effectiveness and tolerability of immune checkpoint inhibitors, which currently represent one of the best chances of a cure. From this point of view, acting on microbiota can be considered a possible therapeutic option for patients with advanced skin cancers, even if several issues are still open.

Heat-Killed Lactobacillus rhamnosus ATCC 7469 Improved UVB-Induced Photoaging Via Antiwrinkle and Antimelanogenesis Impacts

Exposure of ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation is the main factor from the environment to cause skin photoaging. Lactobacillus rhamnosus ATCC 7469, is a probiotic strain with a good track record for enhancing human health. The present study conducted the impacts of heat-killed L. rhamnosus ATCC 7469 (RL) on photoaging in vitro using mouse skin fibroblast (MSF) cells and human epidermal melanocytes (HEM) exposed to UVB. The results showed that (1) RL-protected UVB-induced cytotoxicity relating to absorb UVB and reduce DNA damage. (2) RL exerted the antiwrinkle impact involved in two aspects. Firstly, RL downregulated MMP-1, 2, 3 expressions associating with MAPK signaling, resulting in the increased the protein expression of COL1A1, further booting type I collagen abundant thereby promoting the antiwrinkle impact in MSF cells. Secondly, RL reduced ROS content, further decreasing oxidative damage relating to Nrf2/Sirt3/SOD2 signaling, thereby promoting the antiwrinkle impact in MSF cells. (3) RL suppressed tyrosinase and TYRP-2 activity and/or levels associating with PKA/CREB/MITF signaling, thereby promoting antimelanogenesis impact in HEM cells. In conclusion, our findings suggest that RL could reduce photoaging caused by UVB via antiwrinkle and antimelanogenesis properties and may be a potential antiphotoaging beneficial component, which is applied in the cosmetic industry.

Probiotics mitigate kidney damage after exposure to Sri Lanka's local groundwater from chronic kidney disease with uncertain etiology (CKDu) prevalent area in zebrafish

Groundwater in Sri Lanka, contaminated with environmental toxins, is suspected to potentially induce chronic kidney disease of uncertain etiology (CKDu) in humans. This study aims to elucidate the potential mitigating effects of probiotics on kidney damage induced by exposure to this local groundwater (LW) in zebrafish. We used zebrafish as a model organism and exposed them to local groundwater to evaluate the risk of CKDu. Probiotics were then added at a concentration of 108 colony-forming units per milliliter (CFU/mL). Our findings revealed that exposure to local groundwater resulted in abnormalities, such as tail deletion and spinal curvature in zebrafish larvae. However, the addition of probiotics mitigated these effects, improving the hatching rate, heart rate, length, weight, deformity rate, survival rate, and abnormal behavior of zebrafish. It also positively influenced the differential expression levels of kidney development and immunity-related genes (dync2h1, foxj1, pkd2, gata3, slc20a1, il1β, and lyso). Furthermore, exposure to LW decreased both the diversity and abundance of microbiota in zebrafish larvae. However, treatment with probiotics, such as L. plantarum and L. rhamnosus partially restored the disrupted gut microbiota and significantly impacted the cellular process pathways of the microbial community, as determined by KEGG (Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes) analysis. In conclusion, this study highlights the risks associated with Sri Lanka's local groundwater from a CKDu prevalent area and confirms the beneficial effects of different probiotics. These findings may provide new insights into bacterial function in host kidney health.

Anti-Melanogenic and Antioxidant Activity of Bifidobacterium longum Strain ZJ1 Extracts, Isolated from a Chinese Centenarian

Melanin produced by melanocytes protects our skin against ultraviolet (UV) radiation-induced cell damage and oxidative stress. Melanin overproduction by hyperactivated melanocytes is the direct cause of skin hyperpigmentary disorders, such as freckles and melasma. Exploring natural whitening agents without the concern of toxicity has been highly desired. In this study, we focused on a Bifidobacterium longum strain, ZJ1, isolated from a Chinese centenarian, and we evaluated the anti-melanogenic activity of the distinctive extracts of ZJ1. Our results demonstrated that whole lysate (WL) and bacterial lysate (BL) of ZJ1 ferments efficiently reduce α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH)-induced melanin production in B16-F10 cells as well as the melanin content in zebrafish embryos. BL and WL downregulate melanogenesis-related gene expression and indirectly inhibit intracellular tyrosinase activity. Furthermore, they both showed antioxidant activity in a menadione-induced zebrafish embryo model. Our results suggest that ZJ1 fermentation lysates have application potential as therapeutic reagents for hyperpigmentary disorders and whitening agents for cosmetics.

Lacticaseibacillus paracasei K71 Alleviates UVB-Induced Skin Barrier Dysfunction by Attenuating Inflammation via Increased IL-10 Production in Mice

SCOPE

Ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation causes skin barrier dysfunction, leading to decreased water-holding capacity, impaired epidermal barrier function, and increased skin thickness. This study investigates the protective effects of oral administration of Lacticaseibacillus paracasei K71 against skin barrier dysfunction in UVB-irradiated mice.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Mice are fed diets with or without K71 and irradiated with UVB three times a week for 12 weeks. Oral administration of K71 suppresses UVB-induced decrease in stratum corneum water content, mitigates the increase of transepidermal water loss, and decreases epidermal thickness of the dorsal skin. Treatment with K71 reverses the upregulation of inflammatory cytokines and the activation of nuclear factor-κB induced by UVB irradiation and upregulates the expression of anti-inflammatory IL-10 in the dorsal skin. Notable upregulation of IL-10 is observed in the spleens of K71-treated mice. K71 treatment enhances IL-10 production in J774.1 macrophages; however, this enhancement is diminished by inhibiting K71 phagocytosis and TLR3. Furthermore, transfection using K71 RNAs significantly increases IL-10 production.

CONCLUSION

These results indicate that K71 may alleviate UVB-induced skin barrier dysfunction by attenuating inflammation via increasing IL-10 production and that K71 RNAs may induce IL-10 production in macrophages. Therefore, K71 may be beneficial for preventing skin barrier dysfunction.

The Role of Probiotics in Skin Health and Related Gut-Skin Axis: A Review

Aging skin, wrinkles, pigmentation, and dryness are problems that plague people, and researchers are working to solve them. Recent studies have shown that intestinal microbiota homeostasis can influence skin health, demonstrating the existence of a gut-skin axis. Recently, improving skin health through probiotic interventions has been proposed, and micro-ecological skin care is becoming a popular concept. By regulating skin health and gut-skin axis interactions, probiotics can be used as potential management tools to suppress and improve skin diseases in multiple ways, including decreasing oxidative stress, suppressing inflammatory responses, and keeping immune effects. The purpose of this paper is to provide a comprehensive review of the application and mechanisms of probiotic-mediated gut microbiota homeostasis in skin care and to offer a theoretical basis for the application of probiotics in skin care.

Green removal of unpleasant volatiles from soapberry (Sapindus mukorossi) extracts by two-phase microbial fermentation fortified with pomelo peel waste

Soapberry (Sapindus mukorossi Gaertn) is a popular woody plant in Vietnam, often used as a cleaning product due to its ability to wash, foam and emulsify due to high saponin content. In this study, the performance of fermentation by two microbial strains, namely Saccharomyces cerevisiae active dry yeast (ADY) and Levilactobacillus brevis lactic acid bacteria (LB) along with the addition of pomelo peel (flavedo) was evaluated during 15 days in terms of sugar removal, antioxidant and antibacterial activities, foaming power, volatile composition, and sensory acceptability. The results showed that the soluble solid content of original extracts experienced a significant decrease from 14.5% to a stable range of 9.4-11.0% until day 15 for all fermented samples, which correlated with a reduction by approximately 60% in reducing sugars (from 12.52 g L-1 to 4.77-6.56 g L-1). In addition, the saponin content of fermented extracts was in the range of 118.2-145.0 mg L-1 while antioxidant activities were extremely reduced after 15 days of fermentation. Increases in pomelo peel imparted fermented extracts with greater antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538, Proteus mirabilis ATCC 25933, and Candida albicans ATCC 10231, and LB had higher activity than ADY overall. Regarding the volatile profiles, two main compounds in the original extracts, including trilaurin (75.02%) and 1-dodecanoyl-3-myristoyl glycerol (24.85%), were completely removed and replaced by new alkanes, alkenes, alcohols, esters, and organic acids, and particularly d-limonene (86.34-95.31%) upon pomelo addition. Additionally, the foaming ability and stability of fermented extracts were also enhanced and there was clear distinction between fermented and unfermented samples using principal component analysis based on sensory liking data which showed consumers' preference towards fermented samples with a high percentage of pomelo peel.

Efficacy and Safety of Epidermidibacterium Keratini EPI-7 Derived Postbiotics in Skin Aging: A Prospective Clinical Study

The present study investigated the effect of topical application of Epidermidibacterium Keratini (EPI-7) ferment filtrate, which is a postbiotic product of a novel actinobacteria, on skin aging, by performing a prospective randomized split-face clinical study on Asian woman participants. The investigators measured skin biophysical parameters, including skin barrier function, elasticity, and dermal density, and revealed that the application of the EPI-7 ferment filtrate-including test product resulted in significantly higher improvements in barrier function, skin elasticity, and dermal density compared to the placebo group. This study also investigated the influence of EPI-7 ferment filtrate on skin microbiome diversity to access its potential beneficial effects and safety. EPI-7 ferment filtrate increased the abundance of commensal microbes belonging to Cutibacterium, Staphylococcus, Corynebacterium, Streptococcus, Lawsonella, Clostridium, Rothia, Lactobacillus, and Prevotella. The abundance of Cutibacterium was significantly increased along with significant changes in Clostridium and Prevotella abundance. Therefore, EPI-7 postbiotics, which contain the metabolite called orotic acid, ameliorate the skin microbiota linked with the aging phenotype of the skin. This study provides preliminary evidence that postbiotic therapy may affect the signs of skin aging and microbial diversity. To confirm the positive effect of EPI-7 postbiotics and microbial interaction, additional clinical investigations and functional analyses are required.

Oral vaccination with recombinant Lactobacillus casei expressing Aha1 fused with CTB as an adjuvant against Aeromonas veronii in common carp (Cyprinus carpio)

Aeromonas veronii (A. veronii) is a pathogenic that can infect human, animal and aquatic organisms, in which poses a huge threat to the health of many aquatic organisms such as Cyprinus carpio. In this study, Lactobacillus casei (L. casei) strain CC16 was used as antigen deliver carrier and fused with cholera toxin B subunit (CTB) as an adjuvant to construct the recombinant L. casei pPG-Aha1/Lc CC16(surface-displayed) and pPG-Aha1-CTB/Lc CC16(surface-displayed) expressing Aha1 protein of A. veronii, respectively. And the immune responses in Cyprinus carpio by oral route was explored. Our results demonstrated that the recombinant strains could stimulate high serum specific antibody immunoglobulin M (IgM) and induce a stronger acid phosphatase (ACP), alkaline phosphatase (AKP), C3, C4, lysozyme (LZM), Lectin and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in Cyprinus carpio compared with control groups. Meanwhile, the expression of Interleukin-10 (IL-10), Interleukin-1β (IL-1β), Tumor Necrosis Factor-α (TNF-α), immunoglobulin Z1 (IgZ1) and immunoglobulin Z2 (IgZ2) in the tissues were significantly upregulated compared with Lc-pPG or PBS groups, indicating that humoral and cell immune response were triggered. Additionally, recombinant L. casei could survive and colonize in fish intestine. Significantly, recombinant L. casei provides immune protection against A. veronii infection, which Cyprinus carpio received pPG-Aha1-CTB/Lc CC16 (64.29%) and pPG-Aha1/Lc CC16 (53.57%) had higher survival rates compared with the controls. Thus, we demonstrated that recombinant pPG-Aha1/Lc CC16 and pPG-Aha1-CTB/Lc CC16 may be the promising strategy for the development of an oral vaccine against A. veronii.

Amplicon-based sequencing and co-occurence network analysis reveals notable differences of microbial community structure in healthy and dandruff scalps

Background

Dandruff is a chronic, recurring, and common scalp problem that is caused by several etiopathogeneses with complex mechanisms. Management of this condition is typically achieved via antifungal therapies. However, the precise roles played by microbiota in the development of the condition have not been elucidated. Despite their omnipresence on human scalp little is known about the co-occurrence/co-exclusion network of cutaneous microbiota.

Results

We characterized the scalp and hair surface bacterial and fungal communities of 95 dandruff-afflicted and healthy individuals residing in China. The degree distributions of co-occurrence/co-exclusion network in fungi-bacteria and bacteria-bacteria were higher in the healthy group (P < 0.0001), whereas the betweenness values are higher in the dandruff group (P < 0.01). Meanwhile, the co-occurrence/co-exclusion network among fungi-fungi and fungi-bacteria showed that compared to the healthy group, the dandruff group had more positive links (P < 0.0001). In addition, we observed that Malassezia slooffiae, Malassezia japonica and Malassezia furfur, were more abundant in the dandruff group than in the healthy group. These microbiota were co-exclusion by either multiple bacterial genera or Malassezia sp. in healthy group. The lactic acid bacteria on the scalp and hair surface, especially the genera Lactobacillus and Lactococcus, exhibit a negative correlation with multiple bacterial genera on the scalp and hair surface. Lactobacillus plantarum and Pediococcus lactis isolated on the healthy human scalp can inhibit the growth of Staphylococcus epidermidis in vitro.

Conclusions

We showed that microbial networks on scalp and hair surface with dandruff were less integrated than their healthy counterparts, with lower node degree and more positive and stronger links which were deemed to be unstable and may be more susceptible to environmental fluctuations. Lactobacillus bacteria have extensive interactions with other bacteria or fungi in the scalp and hair surface micro-ecological network and can be used as targets for improving scalp health.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12864-022-08534-4.

Fermentation of Plant Extracts Supplemented with Milk Components by Lactic Acid Bacteria Produces Soluble Agonists for Toll-like Receptor 2 Possibly Suitable for Cosmetics

Stimulation of Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) on epidermal keratinocytes results in the tightening of cell–cell junctions between keratinocytes; therefore, appropriate agonists for TLR2 could be promising ingredients for cosmetics. However, a method to produce significant amounts of soluble TLR2 agonists using materials that are suitable for preparing cosmetics has not yet been developed. In this study, we tried to identify appropriate lactic acid bacterial strains and media for fermentation to obtain soluble TLR2 agonists from traditional fermented foods and natural food sources. We found that Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. lactis TL24 (TL24) and a combination of hot water extracts of asparagus edible stem and cow skimmed milk were the best strain and culture medium, respectively, for this purpose. The TL24 ferments effectively stimulated TLR2 in HEK293 reporter cells expressing human TLR2 on their surface and also inhibited paracellular molecular transfer in a cell sheet of human primary keratinocytes. Since these effects of the TL24 ferments were suppressed by anti-TLR2 neutralizing antibodies, it is proposed that TL24 ferments elicit these effects via TLR2. Taken together, these results suggest that TL24 ferments containing soluble TLR2 agonists are potential ingredients for cosmetics.

Optimization of Bioactive Phenolics Extraction and Cosmeceutical Activity of Eco-Friendly Polypropylene-Glycol-Lactic-Acid-Based Extracts of Olive Leaf

Olive leaf is a rich source of phenolic compounds with numerous activities related to skin health and appearance. In this study, a green extraction method was developed using eco-friendly solvents: polypropylene glycol (PPG), lactic acid (LA), and water. The optimal extraction conditions were established, including solvent, extraction time, technique (magnetic stirrer vs. ultrasound-assisted extraction), and herbal material/solvent ratio. The composition of the solvent mixture was optimized using a mixture design. The content of phenolic compounds, including oleuropein and verbascoside, was determined using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and spectrophotometric methods. Using different extraction conditions, three extracts were prepared and their phytochemical compositions and antioxidant and skin-related bioactivities were investigated. The extracts were excellent inhibitors of elastase, collagenase, tyrosinase, and lipoxygenase. The best activity was shown by the extract richest in phenolics and prepared using magnetic-stirrer-assisted extraction for 20 min, with 0.8 g of herbal material extracted in 10 mL of PPG/LA/water mixture (28.6/63.6/7.8, w/w/w), closely followed by the extract prepared using the same extraction conditions but with 0.42 g of herbal material. The investigated PPG/LA/water mixtures contributed to the overall enzyme-inhibitory activity of the extracts. The prepared extracts were appropriate for direct use in cosmetic products, thus saving the time and energy consumption necessary for the evaporation of conventional solvents.

A photonic crystal fiber-based fluorescence sensor for simultaneous and sensitive detection of lactic acid enantiomers

A photonic crystal fiber (PCF)–based fluorescence sensor is developed for rapid and sensitive detection of lactic acid (LA) enantiomers in serum samples. The sensor is fabricated by chemical binding dual enzymes on the inner surface of the PCF with numerous pore structures and a large specific surface area, which is suitable to be utilized as an enzymatic reaction carrier. To achieve simultaneous detection of l-LA and d-LA, the PCF with an aldehyde-activated surface is cut into two separate pieces, one of which is coated with l-LDH/GPT enzymes and the other with d-LDH/GPT enzymes. By being connected and carefully aligned to each other by a suitable sleeve tube connector, the responses of both l-LA and d-LA sensors are determined by laser-induced flourescence (LIF) detection. With the aid of enzyme-linked catalytic reactions, the proposed PCF sensor can greatly improve the sensitivity and analysis speed for the detection of LA enantiomers. The PCF sensor exhibits a low limit of detection of 9.5 μM and 0.8 μM, and a wide linear range of 25–2000 μM and 2–400 μM for l-LA and d-LA, respectively. The sensor has been successfully applied to accurate determination of LA enantiomers in human serum with satisfactory reproducibility and stability. It is indicated that the present PCF sensors would be used as an attractive analytical platform for quantitative detection of trace-amount LA enantiomers in real biological samples, and thus would play a role in disease diagnosis and clinical monitoring in point-of-care testing.

Application and mechanism of probiotics in skin care: A review

BACKGROUND

Skin problems have been the focus of attention in recent years. Skin aging, wrinkles, pigmentation, dryness has been a problem that makes people feel troubled. Researchers have been devoted to find ways to solve these skin problems. Micro-ecological skin care is a popular concept these days, and improving skin health through the use of probiotics is a hot topic of discussion.

OBJECTIVE

Many experimental studies have shown that probiotics have a good effect on improving skin problems. This paper aims to comprehensively review the application and mechanism of probiotics in skin care and provide theoretical basis for the application of probiotics in skin care.

METHODS

Literatures in this review were searched in PubMed, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Web of Science, and Science Direct.

RESULTS

Probiotics have potent effects on skin whitening, moisturizing, anti-aging, anti-wrinkle and removing body odor.

CONCLUSIONS

The effects of probiotics on skin whitening, skin moisturizing, anti-aging, improving skin wrinkles and removing body odor were reviewed, which provided a new basis for the extensive application of probiotics in skin care.

The fatty acid profiles of the mixed fermented milk and its anti-inflammation properties in LPS-induced Raw 264.7 cell model

Increasing knowledge of probiotics has shown that co-cultures of probiotics can achieve better fermentation and beneficial effects, and adding LAB to fermented milk fat products can increase the production of...

Application of Liposome Encapsulating Lactobacillus curvatus Extract in Cosmetic Emulsion Lotion

Probiotic extracts have various positive attributes, such as antioxidant, tyrosinase inhibitory, and antimicrobial activity. Lactobacillus curvatus produces bacteriocin, which activates the lipid membrane structure and has potential as a natural preservative for cosmetic emulsions. In this study, L. curvatus extract was encapsulated in liposomes and formulated as an oil-in-water (O/W) emulsion. Radical scavenging activity, tyrosinase inhibition, and challenge tests were conducted to confirm the liposome activity and the activity of the applied lotion emulsion. The liposome-encapsulated extract had a relatively high absolute ζ-potential (52.53 > 35.43), indicating its stability, and 96% permeability, which indicates its potential as an active agent in lotion emulsions. Characterization of emulsions containing the liposomes also indicated a stable state. The liposome-encapsulated extract exhibited a higher radical scavenging activity than samples without the extract and non-encapsulated samples, and the functionality was preserved in the lotion emulsion. The tyrosinase inhibition activity of the lotion emulsion with the liposome-encapsulated extract was similar to that of the non-treated extract. Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger were also inhibited in the challenge test with the lotion emulsions during storage. Collectively, these findings indicate that the liposome-encapsulated extract and the lotion containing the encapsulated extract have potential applicability as natural preservatives.

The effects of baths and wet wraps with a sweet whey solution on the level of hydration and barrier function of the epidermis

Introduction

Sweet whey is known for its various pharmacological uses as an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant agent. This is because whey proteins accelerate the release of bioactive peptides, increase the level of intracellular glutathione and the production of interleukin IL-8. However, the potential skin care effects of whey, especially in its unprocessed state, are still not clear.

Aim

To evaluate in vivo the cosmetic features of sweet whey baths and wet wraps on human skin.

Material and methods

Thirteen healthy Caucasian adult females with no dermatological diseases were examined. We used the Courage-Khazaka MPA-9 device to evaluate the effects of sweet whey baths/wet wraps on skin hydration, transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and melanin and erythema index and pH level in human skin.

Results

It appeared that bathing in the sweet whey solution significantly improved the barrier function of the skin in comparison with tap water treated control area on the face cheek as well as on the forearm by decreasing the value of transepidermal water loss with statistical significance. Skin hydration was enhanced only on the facial skin. No significant differences concerning other parameters were observed.

Conclusions

We showed that sweet whey may have decreased the TEWL level and fixed the barrier function of epidermis in this way. It seems that a bath solution with sweet whey is well tolerated and may promote local blood circulation without affecting the pH value of the skin.

Bioprospecting Antimicrobials from Lactiplantibacillus plantarum: Key Factors Underlying Its Probiotic Action

Lactiplantibacillus plantarum (L. plantarum) is a well-studied and versatile species of lactobacilli. It is found in several niches, including human mucosal surfaces, and it is largely employed in the food industry and boasts a millenary tradition of safe use, sharing a long-lasting relationship with humans. L. plantarum is generally recognised as safe and exhibits a strong probiotic character, so that several strains are commercialised as health-promoting supplements and functional food products. For these reasons, L. plantarum represents a valuable model to gain insight into the nature and mechanisms of antimicrobials as key factors underlying the probiotic action of health-promoting microbes. Probiotic antimicrobials can inhibit the growth of pathogens in the gut ensuring the intestinal homeostasis and contributing to the host health. Furthermore, they may be attractive alternatives to conventional antibiotics, holding potential in several biomedical applications. The aim of this review is to investigate the most relevant papers published in the last ten years, bioprospecting the antimicrobial activity of characterised probiotic L. plantarum strains. Specifically, it focuses on the different chemical nature, the action spectra and the mechanisms underlying the bioactivity of their antibacterial and antiviral agents. Emerging trends in postbiotics, some in vivo applications of L. plantarum antimicrobials, including strengths and limitations of their therapeutic potential, are addressed and discussed.

Lactic acid as a major contributor to hand surface infection barrier and its association with morbidity to infectious disease

Although the surface of the human hands contains high antimicrobial activity, studies investigating the precise components involved and the relationship between natural antimicrobial activity and morbidity in infectious diseases are limited. In this study, we developed a method to quantitatively measure the antimicrobial activity of hand surface components. Using a clinical survey, we validated the feasibility of our method and identified antimicrobial factors on the surface of the human hand. In a retrospective observational study, we compared the medical histories of the participants to assess infectious diseases. We found that the antimicrobial activity on the surface of the hands was significantly lower in the high morbidity group (N = 55) than in the low morbidity group (N = 54), indicating a positive association with the history of infection in individuals. A comprehensive analysis of the hand surface components indicated that organic acids, especially lactic acid and antimicrobial peptides, are highly correlated with antimicrobial activity. Moreover, the application of lactic acid using the amount present on the surface of the hand significantly improved the antimicrobial activity. These findings suggest that hand hygiene must be improved to enhance natural antimicrobial activity on the surface of the hands.

Lactobacillus paracasei HY7015 Promotes Hair Growth in a Telogenic Mouse Model

In this study, we describe the effects of Lactobacillus paracasei HY7015 (HY7015) on promoting mouse hair growth. Since our purpose was to increase hair growth through oral administration, medicinal yeast, at a suitable concentration for application in mice, was used as a positive control. First, experiments were conducted to determine the effect of HY7015 on proliferation of hair follicle dermal papilla cells (HFDPC), which are important contributors to hair growth. HY7015 stimulated HFDPC proliferation in vitro and increased their secretion of vascular endothelial growth factor and insulin-like growth factor-1. In mouse experiments, oral administration of HY7015 promoted hair growth and hair follicle maturation in the dorsal skin, as well as increasing growth factor levels in mouse serum. In summary, we demonstrate that L. paracasei HY7015 consumption can promote hair growth by stimulating HFDPC proliferation and growth factor secretion. Follow-up studies are warranted to determine the underlying mechanism, using various approaches, including investigation of changes in intestinal microbiota and alteration of gene and protein expression.

Redirecting drug repositioning to discover innovative cosmeceuticals

Skin appearance is essential for self-esteem and quality of life; consequently, skin care products represent a huge market. In particular, cosmeceuticals constitute a hybrid category of skin care formulations, at the interphase of cosmetics and pharmaceuticals, rationally designed to target (patho) physiological mechanisms aiming to enhance skin health and appearance. Cosmeceuticals are marketed as anti-ageing, anti-wrinkle, hair regrowth, skin whitening and wound healing agents with special emphasis on scar-free healing. An overview on recent cutting-edge advances concerning the discovery and development of enhanced performance cosmeceuticals by drug repositioning approaches is presented here. In this context, we propose "target repositioning," a new term, to highlight that druggable protein targets implicated in multiple diseases (hubs in the diseasome) can be exploited to accelerate the discovery of molecularly targeted cosmeceuticals that can promote skin health as an added benefit, which is a novel concept not described before. In this direction, emphasis is placed on the role of mouse models, for often untreatable skin diseases, as well as recent breakthroughs on monogenic rare skin syndromes, in promoting compound repositioning to innovative cosmeceuticals.

Inflammation, HIV, and Immune Quiescence: Leveraging on Immunomodulatory Products to Reduce HIV Susceptibility

The relationship between inflammation and HIV has been a focus of research over the last decade. In HIV-infected individuals, increased HIV-associated immune activation significantly correlated to disease progression. While genital inflammation (GI) has been shown to significantly increase the risk of HIV acquisition and transmission, immune correlates for reduced risk remain limited. In certain HIV-exposed seronegative individuals, an immune quiescent phenotype characterized reduced risk. Immune quiescence is defined by specific, targeted, highly regulated immune responses that hinder overt inflammation or immune activation. Targeted management of inflammation, therefore, is a plausible strategy to mitigate HIV risk and slow disease progression. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as hydroxychloroquine and aspirin have shown encouraging preliminary results in low-risk women by reducing systemic and genital immune activation. A topical NSAID, containing ibuprofen, is effective in treating vulvovaginal inflammation. Additionally, the glucocorticoids (GCs), prednisolone, and dexamethasone are used to treat HIV-associated immune activation. Collectively, these data inform on immune-modulating drugs to reduce HIV risk. However, the prolonged use of these pharmaceutical drugs is associated with adverse effects, both systemically and to a lesser extent topically. Natural products with their reduced side effects coupled with anti-inflammatory properties render them viable options. Lactic acid (LA) has immunomodulatory properties. LA regulates the genital microbiome by facilitating the growth of Lactobacillus species, while simultaneously limiting bacterial species that cause microbial dysbiosis and GI. Glycerol monolaurate, besides being anti-inflammatory, also inhibited SIV infections in rhesus macaques. The proposed pharmaceutical and natural products could be used in combination with either antiretrovirals for treatment or preexposure prophylaxis for HIV prevention. This review provides a summary on the associations between inflammation, HIV risk, and disease progression. Furthermore, we use the knowledge from immune quiescence to exploit the use of pharmaceutical and natural products as strategic interventions to manage inflammation, toward mitigating HIV infections.