The Exopolysaccharide of Lactobacillus fermentum UCO-979C Is Partially Involved in Its Immunomodulatory Effect and Its Ability to Improve the Resistance against Helicobacter pylori Infection

Effects of Lactobacillus spp. on Helicobacter pylori: A Promising Frontier in the Era of Antibiotic Resistance

Helicobacter pylori, a pathogenic bacterium responsible for multiple gastrointestinal disorders, has emerged as a major global concern due to rise in antibiotic resistance. Unwanted side effects of antibiotics therapy are further complicating the treatment strategies. Consequently, an alternative approach, using probiotics has emerged as a promising solution for treating H. pylori infections. Probiotics have shown considerable potential in increasing the cure rate and reducing the side effects through diverse mechanisms. Among the widely employed probiotics, Lactobacillus spp. has garnered particular attention in this review. After reviewing the studies on effects of Lactobacillus spp. on H. pylori, it is evident that several Lactobacillus spp. have demonstrated their potential efficacy against H. pylori infection, when administered alone or in conjunction with antibiotics, in a strain-specific manner. Furthermore, the inclusion of Lactobacillus spp. in the treatment regimen has also been associated with a reduction in the side effects related to antibiotic-based therapies. Future research may focus on identifying optimal strains and treatment regimens, understanding the long-term impacts of use, and determining their role in preventing H. pylori infection in various populations.

Exopolysaccharide from Lacticaseibacillus paracasei alleviates gastritis in Helicobacter pylori-infected mice by regulating gastric microbiota

Introduction

Many probiotics have the ability to produce extracellular polysaccharides (EPS). EPS derived from these probiotics has been confirmed to regulate the host intestinal microecological balance and alleviate the symptoms of diseases caused by gastrointestinal microecological imbalance.

Results

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strain with good exopolysaccharide (EPS) producing ability, namely, Lacticaseibacillus paracasei ZFM54 (L. paracasei ZFM54) was screened. The fermentation conditions of L. paracasei ZFM54 for EPS production were optimized. The EPS54 was characterized by chemical component and monosaccharide composition determination, UV, FT-IR and NMR spectra analysis. Cango red, SEM, AFM and XRD analysis were conducted to characterize the structure of EPS54. The EPS54 effectively reduced the colonization of Helicobacter pylori to AGS cells and recovered the cell morphology. EPS54 could also effectively alleviate the gastritis in the H. pylori-infected mice by down-regulating the mRNA expression levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6, IL-8, IL-1β and TNF-α and up-regulating the mRNA expression of inflammatory cytokine IL-10 in gastric cells. EPS54 was also found to be able to positively regulate the structure of gastric microbiota.

Conclusion

The EPS 54 from L. paracasei ZFM54 can alleviate gastritis in H. pylori-infected mice by modulating the gastric microbiota.

Screening Probiotics for Anti-Helicobacter pylori and Investigating the Effect of Probiotics on Patients with Helicobacter pylori Infection

Probiotics are natural microbial agents with beneficial properties such as bacteriostatic and anti-infective properties. Lactobacillus plantarum Q21, Q25 and QA85, were isolated from the Chinese specialty fermented food "Jiangshui" and proved to be highly resistant to Helicobacter pylori (p < 0.0001). In vitro results showed that Q21, Q25 and QA85 strongly inhibited H. pylori and could specifically co-aggregate H. pylori in vitro (more than 56%). Strains have the potential to adhere to cells and hinder H. pylori colonization (p < 0.0001). To assess the anti-H. pylori efficacy of strains in vivo, volunteers were recruited and a self-controlled study of probiotic intervention was conducted. Compared to pre-probiotics, volunteers who took Q21, Q25 and QA85 for 1 month showed significant improvement in discomfort, a significant reduction in GSRS scores (p < 0.05), and modulation of inflammatory response (p < 0.05). Q21, Q25 and QA85 resulted in a decreasing trend of H. pylori load in volunteers (454.30 ± 327.00 vs. 328.35 ± 237.19, p = 0.06). However, the strains were not significantly effective in modulating the imbalance of the gut microbiota caused by H. pylori infection. In addition, strains affect metabolic pathways by increasing the levels of O-Phosphoethanolamine and other related metabolites, which may ameliorate associated symptoms. Therefore, Lactobacillus plantarum Q21, Q25 and QA85 can be regarded as a candidate probiotic preparation that exerts direct or indirect anti-H. pylori effects by inhibiting H. pylori activity and colonization, reducing inflammation and discomfort, maintaining homeostasis in the internal environment, affecting the metabolic pathways and repairing the body barrier. They can play a role in relieving H. pylori infection.

Biological Activity of Lactic Acid Bacteria Exopolysaccharides and Their Applications in the Food and Pharmaceutical Industries

Exopolysaccharides are natural macromolecular bioactive substances produced by lactic acid bacteria. With their unique physiological activity and structural characteristics, they are gradually showing broad application prospects in the food and pharmaceutical industries. Exopolysaccharides have various biological functions, such as exerting antioxidant and anti-tumor activities and regulating gut microbiota. Meanwhile, as a food additive, exopolysaccharides can significantly enhance the taste and quality of food, bringing consumers a better eating experience. In the field of medicine, exopolysaccharides have been widely used as drug carriers due to their non-toxic properties and good biocompatibility. This article summarizes the biological activities of exopolysaccharides produced by lactic acid bacteria, their synthesis, and their applications in food and pharmaceutical industries, aiming to promote further research and development in this field.

Partial Characterization and Immunomodulatory Effects of Exopolysaccharides from Streptococcus thermophilus SBC8781 during Soy Milk and Cow Milk Fermentation

The immunomodulatory properties of exopolysaccharides (EPSs) produced by Streptococcus thermophilus have not been explored in depth. In addition, there are no comparative studies of the functional properties of EPSs produced by streptococci in different food matrices. In this work, EPSs from S. thermophilus SBC8781 were isolated after soy milk (EPS-s) or cow milk (EPS-m) fermentation, identified, and characterized in their abilities to modulate immunity in porcine intestinal epithelial cells. Fresh soy milk and cow milk were inoculated with S. thermophilus SBC8781 (7 log CFU/mL) and incubated at 37 °C for 24 h. The extraction of EPSs was performed by the ethanol precipitation method. Analytical techniques, including NMR, UV-vis spectroscopy, and chromatography, identified and characterized both biopolymer samples as polysaccharides with high purity levels and similar Mw. EPS-s and EPS-m had heteropolysaccharide structures formed by galactose, glucose, rhamnose, ribose, and mannose, although with different monomer proportions. On the other hand, EPS-s had higher quantities of acidic polymer than EPS-m. The biopolymer production of the SBC8781 strain from the vegetable culture broth was 200-240 mg/L, which was higher than that produced in milk, which reached concentrations of 50-70 mg/L. For immunomodulatory assays, intestinal epithelial cells were stimulated with 100 µg/mL of EPS-s or EPS-m for 48 h and then stimulated with the Toll-like receptor 3 agonist poly(I:C). EPS-s significantly reduced the expression of IL-6, IFN-β, IL-8, and MCP-1 and increased the negative regulator A20 in intestinal epithelial cells. Similarly, EPS-m induced a significant reduction of IL-6 and IL-8 expressions, but its effect was less remarkable than that caused by EPS-s. Results indicate that the structure and the immunomodulatory activity of EPSs produced by the SBC8781 strain vary according to the fermentation substrate. Soy milk fermented with S. thermophilus SBC8781 could be a new immunomodulatory functional food, which should be further evaluated in preclinical trials.

Exopolysaccharides from vaginal lactobacilli modulate microbial biofilms

BACKGROUND

Exopolysaccharides (EPS) secreted by beneficial lactobacilli exert a plethora of positive activities, but little is known about their effects on biofilms of opportunistic vaginal pathogens and especially on biofilms of lactobacilli themselves. Here, the EPS produced by six vaginal lactobacilli, belonging to Lactobacillus crispatus (BC1, BC4, BC5) and Lactobacillus gasseri (BC9, BC12, BC14) species were isolated from cultural supernatants and lyophilized.

RESULTS

Lactobacillus EPS were chemically characterized in terms of monosaccharide composition by liquid chromatography (LC) analysis coupled to UV and mass spectrometry (MS) detection. Moreover, the ability of EPS (0.1, 0.5, 1 mg/mL) to stimulate the biofilm formation of lactobacilli and to inhibit the formation of pathogens' biofilms was evaluated by crystal violet (CV) staining and 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Isolated EPS (yields 133-426 mg/L) were heteropolysaccharides mainly composed of D-mannose (40-52%) and D-glucose (11-30%). For the first time we demonstrated that Lactobacillus EPS were able to stimulate in a dose-dependent manner (p < 0.05) the formation of biofilms of ten strains belonging to L. crispatus, L. gasseri and Limosilactobacillus vaginalis species, in terms of cell viability (84-282% increase at 1 mg/mL) and especially biofilm biomass (40-195% increase at 1 mg/mL), quantified with MTT assay and CV staining, respectively. EPS released from L. crispatus and L. gasseri were found to better stimulate the biofilms of the same producer species rather than that of other species, including producing strains themselves and other strains. Conversely, the biofilm formation of bacterial (Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus spp., Enterococcus spp. and Streptococcus agalactiae) and fungal (Candida spp.) pathogens was inhibited. The anti-biofilm activity was dose-dependent and was more marked for L. gasseri-derived EPS (inhibition up to 86%, 70%, and 58% at 1 mg/mL, 0.5 mg/mL, and 0.1 mg/mL, respectively), whilst L. crispatus-derived EPS resulted overall less efficient (inhibition up to 58% at 1 mg/mL and 40% at 0.5 mg/mL) (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Lactobacilli-derived EPS favour the biofilm formation of lactobacilli preventing, at the same time, that of opportunistic pathogens. These results support the possible employment of EPS as postbiotics in medicine as a therapeutic/preventive strategy to counteract vaginal infections.

Can Probiotics, Particularly Limosilactobacillus fermentum UCO-979C and Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus UCO-25A, Be Preventive Alternatives against SARS-CoV-2?

COVID-19, an infection produced by the SARS-CoV-2 virus in humans, has rapidly spread to become a high-mortality pandemic. SARS-CoV-2 is a single-stranded RNA virus characterized by infecting epithelial cells of the intestine and lungs, binding to the ACE2 receptor present on epithelial cells. COVID-19 treatment is based on antivirals and antibiotics against symptomatology in addition to a successful preventive strategy based on vaccination. At this point, several variants of the virus have emerged, altering the effectiveness of treatments and thereby attracting attention to several alternative therapies, including immunobiotics, to cope with the problem. This review, based on articles, patents, and an in silico analysis, aims to address our present knowledge of the COVID-19 disease, its symptomatology, and the possible beneficial effects for patients if probiotics with the characteristics of immunobiotics are used to confront this disease. Moreover, two probiotic strains, L. fermentum UCO-979C and L. rhamnosus UCO-25A, with different effects demonstrated at our laboratory, are emphasized. The point of view of this review highlights the possible benefits of probiotics, particularly those associated with immunomodulation as well as the production of secondary metabolites, and their potential targets during SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Anti-Helicobacter pylori activity of potential probiotic Lactiplantibacillus pentosus SLC13

BACKGROUND

Here, we aimed to evaluate and compare the anti-Helicobacter pylori activity of potential probiotic Lactiplantibacillus pentosus SLC13 to Lactobacillus gasseri BCRC 14619 T and Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus LGG. Phenotypic assays including growth curve, cell adhesion, and cellular cytotoxicity were performed to characterize SLC13. Anti-H. pylori activity of lactobacilli was determined by the disk diffusion method and co-culture assay. Exopolysaccharide (EPS) was extracted from lactobacilli to test its immune modulation activity, and IL-8 expression in AGS and GES-1 was determined by RT-qPCR.

RESULTS

All three lactobacilli strains were tolerant to the simulated gastrointestinal conditions. SLC13 showed the highest adhesion ability to AGS and GES-1 cells, compared to LGG and BCRC 14619 T. The coculture assays of SLC13, LGG, and BCRC 14619 T with cells for 4 h showed no significant cytotoxic effects on cells. All tested strains exhibited an inhibitory effect against H. pylori J99. The cell-free supernatant (CFS) of three strains showed activity to inhibit H. pylori urease activity in a dose-dependent manner and the CFS of SLC13 had the highest urease inhibitory activity, compared to LGG and BCRC 14619 T. Only the treatment of AGS cells with SLC13 EPS significantly decreased the IL-8 expression induced by H. pylori infection as compared to cells treated with LGG and BCRC 14619 T EPS.

CONCLUSIONS

SLC13 possesses potent antimicrobial activity against H. pylori growth, infection, and H. pylori-induced inflammation. These results suggest that SLC13 and its derivatives have the potential as alternative agents against H. pylori infection and alleviate inflammatory response.

Consumption of a Gelatin Supplemented with the Probiotic Strain Limosilactobacillus fermentum UCO-979C Prevents Helicobacter pylori Infection in a Young Adult Population Achieved

Helicobacter pylori is a bacterium associated with various gastrointestinal diseases of high worldwide prevalence. Since probiotics are an emerging alternative to managing infection by this pathogenic bacterium, the present work evaluated, in a randomized double-blind study controlled by a placebo, if consuming Limosilactobacillus fermentum UCO-979C prevents H. pylori infection in humans. Participants consumed either L. fermentum UCO-979C-supplemented gelatin (67 participants) or placebo-supplemented gelatin (64 participants) once a day, five days per week for 12 weeks. H. pylori infection in the participants was controlled before and after the intervention detecting H. pylori antigens in stools. Regarding H. pylori-infected participants before the study, 100% remained infected at the end of the study in the placebo group, while 96.7% of those receiving the probiotic remained infected after the intervention. Most importantly, of the non-infected participants, 34.2% became infected and 65.8% remained non-infected in the placebo group, while 2.7% became infected and 97.3% remained as non-infected individuals in the intervened group. Therefore, consuming the L. fermentum UCO-979C strain significantly reduced H. pylori infection, demonstrating a 92.6% efficacy in avoiding infection by this pathogen in non-infected individuals; thus, this probiotic is an excellent candidate to prevent H. pylori infections in non-infected individuals.

Limosilactobacillus fermentum from buffalo milk is suitable for potential biotechnological process development and inhibits Helicobacter pylori in a gastric epithelial cell model

•

L.fermentum from buffalo milk grows efficiently without animal-derived medium components.

•

Highest viable biomass titers can be reached after only 8h improving productivity.

•

L. fermentum is suitable for large scale production: complete biotech approach.

•

L. fermentum demonstrates 60% cell survival after spray drying.

•

L. fermentum from buffalo milk displaces H. pylori in a gastric epithelial cell model.

Probiotics are living microorganisms that give beneficial health effects while consumed, and each strain possesses diverse and unique properties and also different technological characteristics that affect its ability to be produced at large scale. Limosilactobacillus fermentum is a widely studied member of probiotics, however, few data are available on the development of fermentation and downstream processes for the production of viable biomasses for potential industrial applications.

In the present study a novel L. fermentum strain was isolated from buffalo milk and used as test example for biotechnological process development. The strain was able to produce up to 10⁹ CFU/mL on a (glucose based) semi-defined medium deprived of animal-derived raw materials up to the pilot scale (150 L), demonstrating improved results compared to commonly used, although industrially not suitable, media rich of casein and beef extract. The study of strain behavior in batch experiments indicated that the highest concentration of viable cells was reached after only 8 h of growth, greatly shortening the process. Moreover, initial concentrations of glucose in the medium above 30 g/L, if not supported by higher nitrogen concentrations, reduced the yield of biomass and increased production of heterolactic fermentation by-products. Biomass concentration via microfiltration on hollow fibers, and subsequent spray-drying allowed to recover about 5.7 × 10¹⁰CFU/g_powder of viable cells, indicating strain resistance to harsh processing conditions.

Overall, these data demonstrate the possibility to obtain and maintain adequate levels of viable L. fermentum cells by using a simple approach that is potentially suitable for industrial development. Moreover, since often exopolysaccharides produced by lactobacilli contribute to the strain's functionality, a partial characterization of the EPS produced by the newly identified L. fermentum strain was carried out.

Finally, the effect of L. fermentum versus H. pylori in a gastric epithelial cell model was evaluated demonstrating its ability to stimulate the response of the immune system and displace the infective agent.

Biological Functions of Exopolysaccharides from Lactic Acid Bacteria and Their Potential Benefits for Humans and Farmed Animals

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) synthesize exopolysaccharides (EPS), which are structurally diverse biopolymers with a broad range of technological properties and bioactivities. There is scientific evidence that these polymers have health-promoting properties. Most commercialized probiotic microorganisms for consumption by humans and farmed animals are LAB and some of them are EPS-producers indicating that some of their beneficial properties could be due to these polymers. Probiotic LAB are currently used to improve human health and for the prevention and treatment of specific pathologic conditions. They are also used in food-producing animal husbandry, mainly due to their abilities to promote growth and inhibit pathogens via different mechanisms, among which the production of EPS could be involved. Thus, the aim of this review is to discuss the current knowledge of the characteristics, usage and biological role of EPS from LAB, as well as their postbiotic action in humans and animals, and to predict the future contribution that they could have on the diet of food animals to improve productivity, animal health status and impact on public health.

Incorporation of Limosilactobacillus fermentum UCO-979C with Anti-Helicobacter pylori and Immunomodulatory Activities in Various Ice Cream Bases

Limosilactobacillus fermentum UCO-979C is a probiotic strain possessing anti-Helicobacter pylori and immunomodulatory activity. The aim of this work was to examine if this strain maintains its probiotic properties and its viability when added to dairy-based ice creams (cookies and cream, Greek yogurt, and chocolate with brownie) or to fruit-based ice creams (pineapple and raspberry) stored at −18 °C for 90 days. The probiotic anti-H. pylori activity using the well diffusion test, its immunomodulatory activity was measured using transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β₁) cytokine production by human gastric adenocarcinoma (AGS) cells, and its viability was measured using the microdrop technique. Assays were performed in triplicate. The L. fermentum UCO-979C strain maintained strong anti-H. pylori activity in dairy-based ice creams and mild activity in fruit-based ice cream. The production of pro-inflammatory cytokine TGF-β₁ on AGS cells was higher in the probiotic recovered from Greek yogurt ice cream, maintaining a viability exceeding 10⁷ colony-forming units/mL. The addition of the probiotic to ice creams did not significantly influence the physicochemical properties of the product. These data show the great potential of the L. fermentum UCO-979C strain in producing probiotic dairy-based and fruit-based ice creams.

Anti-Helicobacter pylori Activity of a Lactobacillus sp. PW-7 Exopolysaccharide

Helicobacter pylori is a cause of gastric cancer. We extracted the exopolysaccharide (EPS) of Lactobacillus plajomi PW-7 for antibacterial activity versus H. pylori, elucidating its biological activity and structural characteristics. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of EPS against H. pylori was 50 mg/mL. Disruption of the cell membranes of pathogenic bacteria by EPS was indicated via the antibacterial mechanism test and confirmed through electron microscopy. EPS also has antioxidant capacity. The IC₅₀ of EPS for 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical, superoxide anions, and hydroxyl radicals were 300 μg/mL, 180 μg/mL, and 10 mg/mL, respectively. The reducing power of EPS was 2 mg/mL, equivalent to 20 μg/mL of ascorbic acid. EPS is a heteropolysaccharide comprising six monosaccharides, with an approximate molecular weight of 2.33 × 10⁴ Da. Xylose had a significant effect on H. pylori. EPS from L. plajomi PW-7 showed potential as an antibacterial compound and antioxidant, laying a foundation for the development of EPS-based foods.

Investigation on exopolysaccharide production by Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus P14 isolated from Moroccan raw cow's milk

Twenty-four strains were isolated from 50 samples of raw cow's milk originated from different regions of Morocco. After different screening methods, one strain was selected as the highest exopolysaccharide (EPS)-producing isolate and was identified by 16S rDNA sequencing as Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus P14. Moreover, the EPS-producing ability, bacterial growth, and pH of the medium were monitored. The optimization of culture conditions indicated that the high yield of EPS was 685.14 mg/L obtained at 42°C, with lactose as a carbon source. The characterization study showed that the purified EPS consisted of one main fraction that contained 97.67% of carbohydrates. Furthermore, the EPS was identified as a homogeneous polysaccharide, mainly composed of glucose. These results demonstrated the high EPS production ability of the selected L. rhamnosus P14, representing a promising candidate to improve the textural and sensory properties of fermented food.

Bioderived materials that disarm the gut mucosal immune system: Potential lessons from commensal microbiota

Over the course of evolution, mammals and gut commensal microbes have adapted to coexist with each other. This homeostatic coexistence is dependent on an intricate balance between tolerogenic and inflammatory responses directed towards beneficial, commensal microbes and pathogenic intruders, respectively. Immune tolerance towards the gut microflora is largely sustained by immunomodulatory molecules produced by the commensals, which protect the bacteria from immune advances and maintain the gut's unique tolerogenic microenvironment, as well as systemic homeostasis. The identification and characterization of commensal-derived, tolerogenic molecules could lead to their utilization in biomaterials-inspired delivery schemes involving nano/microparticles or hydrogels, and potentially lead to the next generation of commensal-derived therapeutics. Moreover, gut-on-chip technologies could augment the discovery and characterization of influential commensals by providing realistic in vitro models conducive to finicky microbes. In this review, we provide an overview of the gut immune system, describe its intricate relationships with the microflora and identify major genera involved in maintaining tolerogenic responses and peripheral homeostasis. More relevant to biomaterials, we discuss commensal-derived molecules that are known to interface with immune cells and discuss potential strategies for their incorporation into biomaterial-based strategies aimed at culling inflammatory diseases. We hope this review will bridge the current findings in gut immunology, microbiology and biomaterials and spark further investigation into this emerging field. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Despite its tremendous potential to culminate into revolutionary therapeutics, the synergy between immunology, microbiology, and biomaterials has only been explored at a superficial level. Strategic incorporation of biomaterial-based technologies may be necessary to fully characterize and capitalize on the rapidly growing repertoire of immunomodulatory molecules derived from commensal microbes. Bioengineers may be able to combine state-of-the-art delivery platforms with immunomodulatory cues from commensals to provide a more holistic approach to combating inflammatory disease. This interdisciplinary approach could potentiate a neoteric field of research - "commensal-inspired" therapeutics with the promise of revolutionizing the treatment of inflammatory disease.

Lactic Acid Bacteria Exopolysaccharides Producers: A Sustainable Tool for Functional Foods

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) used in the food industry, mainly for the production of dairy products, are able to synthetize exopolysaccharides (EPS). EPS play a central role in the assessment of rheological and sensory characteristics of dairy products since they positively influence texture and organoleptic properties. Besides these, EPS have gained relevant interest for pharmacological and nutraceutical applications due to their biocompatibility, non-toxicity and biodegradability. These bioactive compounds may act as antioxidant, cholesterol-lowering, antimicrobial and prebiotic agents. This review provides an overview of exopolysaccharide-producing LAB, with an insight on the factors affecting EPS production, their dairy industrial applications and health benefits.

Characterization of Weissella viridescens UCO-SMC3 as a Potential Probiotic for the Skin: Its Beneficial Role in the Pathogenesis of Acne Vulgaris

Previously, we isolated lactic acid bacteria from the slime of the garden snail Helix aspersa Müller and selected Weissella viridescens UCO-SMC3 because of its ability to inhibit in vitro the growth of the skin-associated pathogen Cutibacterium acnes. The present study aimed to characterize the antimicrobial and immunomodulatory properties of W. viridescens UCO-SMC3 and to demonstrate its beneficial effect in the treatment of acne vulgaris. Our in vitro studies showed that the UCO-SMC3 strain resists adverse gastrointestinal conditions, inhibits the growth of clinical isolates of C. acnes, and reduces the adhesion of the pathogen to keratinocytes. Furthermore, in vivo studies in a mice model of C. acnes infection demonstrated that W. viridescens UCO-SMC3 beneficially modulates the immune response against the skin pathogen. Both the oral and topical administration of the UCO-SCM3 strain was capable of reducing the replication of C. acnes in skin lesions and beneficially modulating the inflammatory response. Of note, orally administered W. viridescens UCO-SMC3 induced more remarkable changes in the immune response to C. acnes than the topical treatment. However, the topical administration of W. viridescens UCO-SMC3 was more efficient than the oral treatment to reduce pathogen bacterial loads in the skin, and effects probably related to its ability to inhibit and antagonize the adhesion of C. acnes. Furthermore, a pilot study in acne volunteers demonstrated the capacity of a facial cream containing the UCO-SMC3 strain to reduce acne lesions. The results presented here encourage further mechanistic and clinical investigations to characterize W. viridescens UCO-SMC3 as a probiotic for acne vulgaris treatment.

Lactobacillus plantarum ZJ316 Attenuates Helicobacter pylori-Induced Gastritis in C57BL/6 Mice

Helicobacter pylori is a highly prevalent human-specific pathogen that causes various gastric diseases. In the present study, Lactobacillus plantarum ZJ316, which could survive well in simulated gastrointestinal conditions, was found to have significant anti-H. pylori ability. Animal assays revealed that L. plantarum ZJ316 had preventive and therapeutic effects on H. pylori-induced gastritis. L. plantarum ZJ316 significantly decreased interferon γ (IFN-γ) and interleukin 6 (IL-6) levels, increased the IL-10 level, and repaired mucosal damage. Moreover, 16S rRNA gene sequencing revealed that the relative abundance of H. pylori could be significantly reduced by L. plantarum ZJ316 administration. Members of the families Dehalobacteriaceae and Geodermatophilaceae were more prevalent in the prevention group, while Lactobacillaceae and Actinomycetaceae were more prevalent in the treatment group. These results indicate that L. plantarum ZJ316 serves as a potential candidate for the prevention and treatment of H. pylori-induced gastritis by regulating the gastric microbiota and reducing mucosal inflammation.