The Complex Role of Lactic Acid Bacteria in Food Detoxification

Efficient metabolic pathway modification in various strains of lactic acid bacteria using CRISPR/Cas9 system for elevated synthesis of antimicrobial compounds

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are known to exhibit various beneficial roles in fermentation, serving as probiotics, and producing a plethora of valuable compounds including antimicrobial activity such as bacteriocin-like inhibitory substance (BLIS) that can be used as biopreservative to improve food safety and quality. However, the yield of BLIS is often limited, which poses a challenge to be commercially competitive with the current preservation practice. Therefore, the present work aimed to establish an optimised two-plasmid CRISPR/Cas9 system to redirect the carbon flux away from lactate towards compounds with antimicrobial activity by disrupting lactate dehydrogenase gene (ldh) on various strains of LAB. The lactic acid-deficient (ldhΔ) strains caused a metabolic shift resulting in increased inhibitory activity against selected foodborne pathogens up to 78 % than the wild-type (WT) strain. The most significant effect was depicted by Enterococcus faecalis-ldh∆ which displayed prominent bactericidal effects against all foodborne pathogens as compared to the WT that showed no antimicrobial activity. The present work provided a framework model for economically important LAB and other beneficial bacteria to synthesise and increase the yield of valuable food and industrial compounds. The present work reported for the first time that the metabolism of selected LAB can be manipulated by modifying ldh to attain metabolites with higher antimicrobial activity.

Heavy metals remediation through lactic acid bacteria: Current status and future prospects

With the development of industrialization and urbanization, heavy metal (HM) pollution has become an urgent problem in many countries. The use of microorganisms to control HM pollution has attracted the attention of many scholars due to its advantages of mild conditions, low process cost, and no secondary pollution. In this context, this review aimed to compile recent advances on the potential of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) as HMs biosorbents. As a food-safe class of probiotic, LAB can not only be used for HM remediation in soil and wastewater, but most importantly, can be used for metal removal in food. The extracellular adsorption and intracellular accumulation are the main mechanisms of HM removal by LAB. Lactic acid (LA) fermentation is also one of the removal mechanisms, especially in the food industry. The pH, temperature, biomass, ion concentration and adsorption time are the essential parameters to be considered during the bioremediation. Although the LAB remediation is feasible in theory and lab-scale experiments, it is limited in practical applications due to its low efficiency. Therefore, the commonly used methods to improve the adsorption efficiency of LAB, including pretreatment and mixed-cultivation, are also summarized in this review. Finally, based on the review of literature, this paper presents the emerging strategies to overcome the low adsorption capacity of LAB. This review proposes the future investigations required for this field, and provides theoretical support for the practical application of LAB bioremediation of HMs.

Encapsulation of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum probiotics through cross-linked chitosan and casein for improving their viability, antioxidant and detoxification

In the present study, encapsulation of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum (L.p) was performed using chitosan and casein through calcium phosphate intercrossing. Chitosan and casein both considered as non-toxic and biocompatible food derived components with intrinsic antioxidant properties. Layer by layer strategy was performed for deposition of modified cross-linked chitosan along with casein as the novel protective layers on the surface of probiotics. After confirmation of successful encapsulation, the viability and antioxidant activity of encapsulated L.p was evaluated. The results showed enhanced survival and antioxidant activity of encapsulated L.p compared to free bacteria in simulated digestive conditions. The survival of free and encapsulated L.p was respectively 1.38 ± 0.29 log cfu/ml and 6.99 ± 0.12 log cfu/ml in SGF and 8.54 ± 0.05 log cfu/ml and 7.25 ± 0.23 log cfu/ml in SIJ after 2 h of incubation. HPLC analysis was also used to investigate the detoxification activity of probiotics toward Aflatoxin M1 and obtained results showed encapsulated bacteria could significantly reduce aflatoxin M1 (68.44 ± 0.5 %) compared to free bacteria (43.76 ± 0.54 %). The results of this research suggest that the chitosan/casein mediated encapsulation of L.p with layer-by-layer technology is an effective method to improve the survival and antioxidant properties of probiotics with enhanced detoxification of AFM1.

Emerging mycotoxins and preventive strategies related to gut microbiota changes: probiotics, prebiotics, and postbiotics - a systematic review

Recent research has focused on the involvement of the gut microbiota in various diseases, where probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, and postbiotics (PPSP) exert beneficial effects through modulation of the microbiome. This systematic review aims to provide insight into the interplay among emerging mycotoxins, gut microbiota, and PPSP. The review was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. In this review, unregulated yet highly recurrent mycotoxins are classified as emerging mycotoxins. The most frequently observed mycotoxins included those from the Fusarium genus-enniatins (n = 11) and beauvericin (n = 11)-and the Alternaria genus-alternariol monomethyl ether, altertoxin, and tentoxin (n = 10). Among probiotics, the most studied genera were Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, and the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Inulin and cellulose were the most found prebiotics. Data on synbiotics and postbiotics are scarce. Studies have shown that both the gut microbiota and PPSP can detoxify and mitigate the harmful effects of emerging mycotoxins. PPSP not only reduced mycotoxin bioaccessibility, but also counteracted their detrimental effects by activating health-promoting pathways such as short-chain fatty acid production, genoprotection, and reduction of oxidative stress. However, both quantitative and qualitative data remain limited, indicating a need for further in vivo and long-term studies. The formulation of PPSP as functional foods, feeds, or nutraceuticals should be considered a preventive strategy against the toxicity of emerging mycotoxins, for which, there is no established regulatory framework.

Earthworms and lactic acid bacteria (LAB) cooperate to promote the biodegradation of tetracycline residues in livestock manure

Tetracycline is an antibiotic with extensive veterinary use in the livestock industry. However, their widespread application poses risks to soil health as residue in livestock feces, and their removal is crucial for sustainable soil-ecosystem development. Physical and chemical approaches to extract tetracycline may have adverse effects on soil ecosystems, but no studies have thus far examined the potential for biological methods, such as collective degradation action of soil fauna. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the synergistic effects of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and earthworms (Eisenia fetida) on biodegradation of tetracycline residues in sheep manure. We assessed earthworm biomass, tetracycline residue, and bacterial communities in both earthworm intestines and vermicompost. Earthworm biomass and tetracycline degradation efficiency increased significantly with LAB addition, with a degradation rate of up to 80.16%. This increase may be attributable to LAB acting as electron donors to spur tetracycline degradation. Additionally, we noted that tetracycline presence significantly influenced bacterial communities in earthworm intestines and vermicompost, elevating the abundance of potential pathogenic bacteria (e.g., Flavobacterium, Gammaproteobacteria, and Enterobacteriaceae). This finding suggests that heightened environmental stress from antibiotics could actually facilitate the growth of less prevalent bacteria, including potential pathogens. In conclusion, our study provides evidence supporting the effectiveness of LAB and earthworms in degrading tetracycline residues. In particular, LAB appears to mitigate stress from tetracycline exposure in earthworms, thus increasing their vermicomposting efficacy. Our work has important implications for soil management, with the potential to enhance pollution clean-up rates while minimizing negative side-effects to soil microbial communities.

Lactococcus lactis KF140 Ameliorates Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Induced by Nε-Carboxymethyl-Lysine and High-Fat Diet

SCOPE

Long-term consumption of excessive dietary advanced glycation end-products such as Nε-carboxymethyl-lysine (CML), which are produced by the Maillard reaction during food thermal processing, leads to nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) along with high fat consumption. The study previously finds that administration of Lactococcus lactis KF140 (LL-KF140) detoxifies CML by decreasing CML absorption both in a rat model and clinical trial.

METHODS AND RESULTS

The present study evaluates the ameliorative effect of LL-KF140 on NAFLD and fatty liver-related biomarkers in a mouse model induced by CML and high fat. LL-KF140 is orally administered to mice at a concentration of 1 × 107 or 1 × 108 colony-forming unit (CFU) per mouse for 8 weeks. LL-KF140 administration ameliorates the NAFLD-related symptoms by reducing body weight and fat mass gain along with levels of serum aspartate transaminase, alanine transferase, and lipids as well as glucose intolerance and insulin resistance in CML-treated mice. In addition, histological analysis including staining and western blotting shows that LL-KF140 suppresses the lipogenesis pathway and CML absorption, thereby suppressing CML-induced NAFLD.

CONCLUSION

These findings suggest that LL-KF140 attenuates dietary CML-induced NAFLD by suppressing the de novo lipogenesis pathway, and it may be used as a probiotic strain.

Bacterial Degradation of Antinutrients in Foods: The Genomic Insight

Antinutrients, also known as anti-nutritional factors (ANFs), are compounds found in many plant-based foods that can limit the bioavailability of nutrients or can act as precursors to toxic substances. ANFs have controversial effects on human health, depending mainly on their concentration. While the positive effects of these compounds are well documented, the dangers they pose and the approaches to avoid them have not been discussed to the same extent. There is no dispute that many ANFs negatively alter the absorption of vitamins, minerals, and proteins in addition to inhibiting some enzyme activities, thus negatively affecting the bioavailability of nutrients in the human body. This review discusses the chemical properties, plant bioavailability, and deleterious effects of anti-minerals (phytates and oxalates), glycosides (cyanogenic glycosides and saponins), polyphenols (tannins), and proteinaceous ANFs (enzyme inhibitors and lectins). The focus of this study is on the possibility of controlling the amount of ANF in food through fermentation. An overview of the most common biochemical pathways for their microbial reduction is provided, showing the genetic basis of these phenomena, including the active enzymes, the optimal conditions of action, and some data on the regulation of their synthesis.

Shelf-life extension of Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) using sodium alginate/chitosan incorporated with cell-free supernatant of Streptococcus thermophilus FUA 329 during cold storage

Seafood is highly perishable and has a short shelf-life. This study investigated the effect of chitosan and alginate (CH-SA) coating combined with the cell-free supernatant of Streptococcus thermophilus FUA329 (CFS) as a preservative on the quailty of white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) refrigerated at 4° for 0, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15 days. Freshly shrimps were randomly divided into four groups: the CFS group (400 mL); the CH-SA group (1% chitosan/1% alginate); the CFS-CH-SA group (1% chitosan/1% alginate with 400 mL CFS) are treatment groups, and the control group (400 mL sterile water). The CFS-CH-SA coating effectively suppressed microbial growth total viable count and chemical accumulation (pH, total volatile basic nitrogen, thiobarbituric acid reactive substance) compared with the control. Additionally, the CFS-CH-SA coating improved the texture and sensory characteristics of shrimp during storage. The coated shrimp exhibited significantly reduced water loss (p < 0.05). The combination of CH-SA coating with CFS treatment can extend the shelf life of shrimp. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Recently, edible films have received more consideration as a promising method to enhance the shelf life of seafood. The presence of Lactic acid bacteria metabolites in edible films reduces spoilage and improves consumer health. Our findings encourage the application of edible coating incorporated with cell-free supernatant of Streptococcus thermophilus FUA 329 to design multifubctional foods and preserve the qualities of shrimp.

Improving quality of poultry and its meat products with probiotics, prebiotics, and phytoextracts

Remarkable changes have occurred in poultry farming and meat processing in recent years, driven by advancements in breeding technology, feed processing technology, farming conditions, and management practices. The incorporation of probiotics, prebiotics, and phytoextracts has made significant contributions to the development of poultry meat products that promote both health and functionality throughout the growth phase and during meat processing. Poultry fed with these substances improve meat quality, while incorporating probiotics, prebiotics, and phytoextracts in poultry processing, as additives or supplements, inhibits pathogens and offers health benefits to consumers. However, it is vital to assess the safety of functional fermented meat products containing these compounds and their potential effects on consumer health. Currently, there's still uncertainty in these aspects. Additionally, research on utilizing next-generation probiotic strains and synergistic combinations of probiotics and prebiotics in poultry meat products is in its early stages. Therefore, further investigation is required to gain a comprehensive understanding of the beneficial effects and safety considerations of these substances in poultry meat products in the future. This review offered a comprehensive overview of the applications of probiotics and prebiotics in poultry farming, focusing on their effects on nutrient utilization, growth efficiency, and gut health. Furthermore, potential of probiotics, prebiotics, and phytoextracts in enhancing poultry meat production was explored for improved health benefits and functionality, and possible issues associated with the use of these substances were discussed. Moreover, the conclusions drawn from this review and potential future perspectives in this field are presented.

Analysis of the Influence of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum and Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus Strains on Changes in the Hexachlorobenzene Content in Fermented Mare Milk during Refrigerated Storage

(1) Background: Hexachlorobenzene (HCB) is a persistent organic pollutant that is possibly carcinogenic to humans. It is still found in the environment, humans and animals, and in foods, including milk and dairy products; (2) Methods: The influence of the probiotic cultures Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus LCR and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum subsp. plantarum LP on the possibility of effecting the biodegradation of HCB in dairy products fermented from mare milk was investigated, taking into account the product storage time (maximum 21 days). HCB content was determined using the GC/MS method; (3) Results: A strong negative Pearson correlation (p < 0.05) was found between HCB concentration and the refrigeration storage time of the fermented beverages. The highest HCB reduction was observed in milk fermented with both Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus LCR and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum subsp. plantarum LP (78.77%), while the lowest was noted when only Lactiplantibacillus plantarum subsp. plantarum LP was used (73.79%); (4) Conclusions: This pilot study confirmed that probiotics commonly used to give products health-promoting properties can also contribute to reducing the content of undesirable substances, and the bacterial cultures used might provide an alternative method for reducing HCB residues in fermented drinks.

Fusarium biocontrol: antagonism and mycotoxin elimination by lactic acid bacteria

Mycotoxins produced by Fusarium species are secondary metabolites with low molecular weight formed by filamentous fungi generally resistant to different environmental factors and, therefore, undergo slow degradation. Contamination by Fusarium mycotoxins in cereals and millets is the foremost quality challenge the food and feed industry faces across the globe. Several types of chemical preservatives are employed in the mitigation process of these mycotoxins, and they help in long-term storage; however, chemical preservatives can be used only to some extent, so the complete elimination of toxins from foods is still a herculean task. The growing demand for green-labeled food drives to evade the use of chemicals in the production processes is getting much demand. Thus, the biocontrol of food toxins is important in the developing food sector. Fusarium mycotoxins are world-spread contaminants naturally occurring in commodities, food, and feed. The major mycotoxins Fusarium species produce are deoxynivalenol, fumonisins, zearalenone, and T2/HT2 toxins. Lactic acid bacteria (LAB), generally regarded as safe (GRAS), is a well-explored bacterial community in food preparations and preservation for ages. Recent research suggests that LAB are the best choice for extenuating Fusarium mycotoxins. Apart from Fusarium mycotoxins, this review focuses on the latest studies on the mechanisms of how LAB effectively detoxify and remove these mycotoxins through their various bioactive molecules and background information of these molecules.

Rhizospheric Lactobacillus spp. contribute to the high Cd-accumulating characteristics of Phytolacca spp. in acidic Cd-contaminated soil

Screening high Cd-accumulating plants and understanding the interactions between plants, rhizospheric microbes and Cd are important in developing microbe-assisted phytoremediation techniques for Cd-contaminated soils. In this study, the Cd tolerance and accumulation characteristics of Phytolacca americana L., P. icosandra L. and P. polyandra Batalin growing in acidic Cd-contaminated soil were compared to evaluate their phytoremediation potential. According to Cd concentrations (root: 8.26-37.09 mg kg-1, shoot: 2.80-9.26 mg kg-1), bioconcentration factors (BCFs) and translocation factors (TFs), the three Phytolacca species exhibited high Cd-accumulation capacities, ranked in the following order: P. icosandra (root BCF: 1.25, shoot BCF: 0.31, TF: 0.25) > P. polyandra (root BCF: 0.68, shoot BCF: 0.26, TF: 0.44) > P. americana (root BCF: 0.28, shoot BCF: 0.09, TF: 0.38). Phytolacca icosandra and P. polyandra can thus be considered as two new Cd accumulators for phytoremediation. Soil pH, available Cd (ACd) concentration and certain bacterial taxa (e.g. Lactobacillus, Helicobacter, Alistipes, Desulfovibrio and Mucispirillum) were differentially altered in the rhizospheres of the three Phytolacca species in comparison to unplanted soil. Correlation analysis showed that there were significant interactions between rhizospheric ACd concentration, pH and Lactobacillus bacteria (L. murinus, L. gasseri and L. reuteri), which affected Cd uptake by Phytolacca plants. The mono- and co-inoculation of L. murinus strain D51883, L. gasseri strain D51533 and L. reuteri strain D24591 in the rhizosphere of P. icosandra altered the rhizospheric pH and ACd concentrations, in addition to increasing the shoot Cd contents by 31.9%-44.6%. These results suggest that recruitment of rhizospheric Lactobacillus spp. by Phytolacca plants contributes to their high Cd-accumulating characteristics. This study provides novel insights into understanding the interactions between plants, rhizobacteria and heavy metals.

Cypermethrin adsorption by Lactiplantibacillus plantarum and its behavior in a simulated fecal fermentation model

The presence of cypermethrin in the environment and food poses a significant threat to human health. Lactic acid bacteria have shown promise as effective absorbents for xenobiotics and well behaved in wide range of applications. This study aimed to characterize the biosorption behavior of cypermethrin by Lactiplantibacillus plantarum RS60, focusing on cellular components, functional groups, kinetics, and isotherms. Results indicated that RS60 exopolysaccharides played a crucial role removing cypermethrin, with the cell wall and protoplast contributing 71.50% and 30.29% to the overall removal, respectively. Notably, peptidoglycans exhibited a high affinity for cypermethrin binding. The presence of various cellular surface groups including -OH, -NH, -CH3, -CH2, -CH, -P = O, and -CO was responsible for the efficient removal of pollutants. Additionally, the biosorption process demonstrated a good fit with pseudo-second-order and Langmuir-Freundlich isotherm. The biosorption of cypermethrin by L. plantarum RS60 involved complex chemical and physical interactions, as well as intraparticle diffusion and film diffusion. RS60 also effectively reduced cypermethrin residues in a fecal fermentation model, highlighting its potential in mitigating cypermethrin exposure in humans and animals. These findings provided valuable insights into the mechanisms underlying cypermethrin biosorption by lactic acid bacteria and supported the advancement of their application in environmental and health-related contexts. KEY POINTS: • Cypermethrin adsorption by L. plantarum was clarified. • Cell wall and protoplast showed cypermethrin binding ability. • L. plantarum can reduce cypermethrin in a fecal fermentation model.

Neoteric Biofilms Applied to Enhance the Safety Characteristics of Ras Cheese during Ripening

The milk's natural flora, or the starter, can preserve cheesemaking and allow for microbial competition. This investigation aimed to improve cheese safety and assess its characteristics using probiotic cell pellets (LCP) or cell-free extracts (CFS). Cheese samples were collected from different areas to investigate the current contamination situation. Six CFSs of probiotics were assessed as antifungal against toxigenic fungi using liquid and solid media and their aflatoxin reduction impact. The most effective CFS was chosen for cheese coating in nanoemulsion. Coated cheese with CFS, LCP, and LCP-CFS was assessed against control for changes in chemical composition, ripening indications, rheological properties, and microbiology. Results showed significant contamination levels in the collected samples, and toxic fungi were present. Lactobacillus rhamnosus CFS has aflatoxins reducibility in liquid media. During cheese ripening, uncoated cheese showed higher fat, protein, salt content, soluble nitrogen, total volatile fatty acids, tyrosine, and tryptophan contents than coated samples, except for LCP-coating treatment. Cheese rheology indicated that coating treatments had the lowest hardness, cohesiveness, gumminess, chewiness, and springiness compared to uncoated cheese. Uncoated cheese had the highest yeast and mold counts compared to the treated ones. The LCP-CFS-coated cheese showed no Aspergillus cells for up to 40 days. Uncoated Ras cheese recorded slightly lower flavor, body, texture, and appearance scores than coated cheeses. In conclusion, coating cheese with L. rhamnosus nanoemulsion has antifungal and antiaflatoxigenic properties, even for LCP, CFS, and CFS-LCP, which could extend cheese shelf life.

Effects of harvest stages and lactic acid bacteria additives on the nutritional quality of silage derived from triticale, rye, and oat on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

BACKGROUND

Triticale (×Triticosecale Wittmack L.), rye (Secale cereale L.), and oat (Avena sativa L.) are the main forage crops on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, but there has been relatively little research on the silage produced from these three species.

METHODS

Plants were harvested at the heading, flowering, grouting, milky, and dough stages and then used to produce silage with and without additives (Sila-Max and Sila-Mix). The nutritional quality of the resulting silages was analyzed.

RESULTS

Triticale was revealed to be more suitable than oat or rye for producing silage on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. On the basis of the dry matter yield (DMY), triticale and rye should be harvested at the milky stage to optimize silage quality, whereas oat should be harvested at the dough stage. The lactic acid bacteria additives Sila-Max and Sila-Mix had no significant effect on the nutritional quality of the three silages regardless of when the samples were harvested. Overall, triticale produced higher quality silage than oat or rye. More specifically, triticale variety 'Gannong No.2' harvested at the milky stage is ideal for silage production.

Biologically Active Compounds from Probiotic Microorganisms and Plant Extracts Used as Biopreservatives

Ensuring the microbiological safety of food products is a pressing global concern. With the increasing resistance of microorganisms to chemical agents and the declining effectiveness of synthetic preservatives, there is a growing need for alternative sources of natural, bioactive compounds with antimicrobial activity. The incorporation of probiotics and plant extracts into food formulations not only enriches foodstuffs with microorganisms and phytochemicals with biologically active compounds, but also provides a means for product preservation. The current review considers the importance of the process of biological preservation for providing safe foods with high biological value, natural origin and composition, and prolonged shelf life, thereby improving consumers' quality of life. To accomplish this goal, this review presents a series of examples showcasing natural preservatives, including beneficial bacteria, yeasts, and their metabolites, as well as phenolic compounds, terpenoids, and alkaloids from plant extracts. By summarizing numerous studies, identifying research challenges and regulatory barriers for their wider use, and outlining future directions for investigation, this article makes an original contribution to the field of biopreservation.

Pesticide Use and Degradation Strategies: Food Safety, Challenges and Perspectives

While recognizing the gaps in pesticide regulations that impact consumer safety, public health concerns associated with pesticide contamination of foods are pointed out. The strategies and research directions proposed to prevent and/or reduce pesticide adverse effects on human health and the environment are discussed. Special attention is paid to organophosphate pesticides, as widely applied insecticides in agriculture, veterinary practices, and urban areas. Biotic and abiotic strategies for organophosphate pesticide degradation are discussed from a food safety perspective, indicating associated challenges and potential for further improvements. As food systems are endangered globally by unprecedented challenges, there is an urgent need to globally harmonize pesticide regulations and improve methodologies in the area of food safety to protect human health.

Glycyrrhinic acid and probiotics alleviate deoxynivalenol-induced cytotoxicity in intestinal epithelial cells

Deoxynivalenol (DON) is one of the most prevalent mycotoxin contaminants, which posing a serious health threat to animals and humans. Previous studies have found that individually supplemented probiotic or glycyrrhinic acid (GA) could degrade DON and alleviate DON-induced cytotoxicity. The present study investigated the effect of combining GA with Saccharomyces cerevisiae (S. cerevisiae) and Enterococcus faecalis (E. faecalis) using orthogonal design on alleviating IPEC-J2 cell damage induced by DON. The results showed that the optimal counts of S. cerevisiae and E. faecalis significantly promoted cell viability. The optimal combination for increasing cell viability was 400 µg/mL GA, 1 × 10⁶ CFU/mL S. cerevisiae and 1 × 10⁶ CFU/mL E. faecalis to make GAP, which not only significantly alleviated the DON toxicity but also achieved the highest degradation rate of DON (34.7%). Moreover, DON exposure significantly increased IL-8, Caspase3 and NF-κB contents, and upregulated the mRNA expressions of Bax, Caspase 3, NF-κB and the protein expressions of Bax, TNF-α and COX-2. However, GAP addition significantly reduced aforementioned genes and proteins. Furthermore, GAP addition significantly increased the mRNA expressions of Claudin-1, Occludin, GLUT2 and ASCT2, and the protein expressions of ZO-1, Claudin-1 and PePT1. It was inferred that the combination of GA, S. cerevisiae, and E. faecalis had the synergistic effect on enhancing cell viability and DON degradation, which could protect cells from DON-induced damage by reducing DON cytotoxicity, alleviating cell apoptosis and inflammation via inhibiting NF-κB signaling pathway, improving intestinal barrier function, and regulating nutrient absorption and transport. These findings suggest that GAP may have potential as a dietary supplement for livestock or humans exposed to DON-contaminated food or feed.

Prevalence of Aflatoxins in Camel Milk from the Arabian Peninsula and North Africa: A Reduction Approach Using Probiotic Strains

Camel milk is known as a source of nutritional and health supplements. It is known to be rich in peptides and functional proteins. One main issue facing it is related to its contamination, mainly with aflatoxins. The present study aimed to evaluate camel milk samples from different regions while trying to reduce its toxicity using safe approaches based on probiotic bacteria. Collected samples of camel milk were sourced from two main regions: the Arabic peninsula and North Africa. Samples were tested for their contents of aflatoxins (B₁ and M₁) using two techniques to ensure desired contamination levels. Additionally, feed materials used in camel foods were evaluated. Applied techniques were also tested for their validation. The antioxidant activity of camel milk samples was determined through total phenolic content and antioxidant activity assays. Two strains of probiotic bacteria (Lactobacillus acidophilus NRC06 and Lactobacillus plantarum NRC21) were investigated for their activity against toxigenic fungi. The result revealed high contamination of aflatoxin M₁ for all samples investigated. Furthermore, cross-contamination with aflatoxin B₁ was recorded. Investigated bacteria were recorded according to their significant inhibition zones against fungal growth (11 to 40 mm). The antagonistic impacts were between 40% and 70% against toxigenic fungi. Anti-aflatoxigenic properties of bacterial strains in liquid media were recorded according to mycelia inhibition levels between 41 to 52.83% against Aspergillus parasiticus ITEM11 with an ability to reduce aflatoxin production between 84.39% ± 2.59 and 90.4% ± 1.32 from media. Bacteria removed aflatoxins from the spiked camel milk in cases involving individual toxin contamination.

Beneficial modulation of human health in the oral cavity and beyond using bacteriocin-like inhibitory substance-producing streptococcal probiotics

The human oral cavity contains a diversity of microbial habitats that have been adopted and adapted to as homeland by an amazingly heterogeneous population of microorganisms collectively referred to as the oral microbiota. These microbes generally co-habit in harmonious homeostasis. However, under conditions of imposed stress, as with changes to the host’s physiology or nutritional status, or as a response to foreign microbial or antimicrobial incursions, some components of the oral “microbiome” (viz. the in situ microbiota) may enter a dysbiotic state. This microbiome dysbiosis can manifest in a variety of guises including streptococcal sore throats, dental caries, oral thrush, halitosis and periodontal disease. Most of the strategies currently available for the management or treatment of microbial diseases of the oral cavity focus on the repetitive “broad sweep” and short-term culling of oral microbe populations, hopefully including the perceived principal pathogens. Both physical and chemical techniques are used. However, the application of more focused approaches to the harnessing or elimination of key oral cavity pathogens is now feasible through the use of probiotic strains that are naturally adapted for oral cavity colonization and also are equipped to produce anti-competitor molecules such as the bacteriocins and bacteriocin-like inhibitory substances (viz BLIS). Some of these probiotics are capable of suppressing the proliferation of a variety of recognized microbial pathogens of the human mouth, thereby assisting with the restoration of oral microbiome homeostasis. BLIS K12 and BLIS M18, the progenitors of the BLIS-producing oral probiotics, are members of the human oral cavity commensal species Streptococcus salivarius. More recently however, a number of other streptococcal and some non-streptococcal candidate oral probiotics have also been promoted. What is becoming increasingly apparent is that the future for oral probiotic applications will probably extend well beyond the attempted limitation of the direct pathological consequences of oral microbiome dysbiosis to also encompass a plethora of systemic diseases and disorders of the human host. The background to and the evolving prospects for the beneficial modulation of the oral microbiome via the application of BLIS-producing S. salivarius probiotics comprises the principal focus of the present review.

Detoxification of Aflatoxins in Fermented Cereal Gruel (Ogi) by Probiotic Lactic Acid Bacteria and Yeasts with Differences in Amino Acid Profiles

Toxigenic members of Aspergillus flavus contaminate cereal grains, resulting in contamination by aflatoxin, a food safety hazard that causes hepatocellular carcinoma. This study identified probiotic strains as aflatoxin detoxifiers and investigated the changes to the grain amino acid concentrations during fermentation with probiotics in the presence of either A. flavus La 3228 (an aflatoxigenic strain) or A. flavus La 3279 (an atoxigenic strain). Generally, higher concentrations (p < 0.05) of amino acids were detected in the presence of toxigenic A. flavus La 3228 compared to the atoxigenic A. flavus La 3279. Compared to the control, 13/17 amino acids had elevated (p < 0.05) concentrations in the presence of the toxigenic A. flavus compared to the control, whereas in systems with the atoxigenic A. flavus 13/17 amino acids had similar (p > 0.05) concentrations to the control. There were interspecies and intraspecies differences in specific amino acid elevations or reductions among selected LAB and yeasts, respectively. Aflatoxins B1 and B2 were detoxified by Limosilactobacillus fermentum W310 (86% and 75%, respectively), Lactiplantibacillus plantarum M26 (62% and 63%, respectively), Candida tropicalis MY115 (60% and 77%, respectively), and Candida tropicalis YY25, (60% and 31%, respectively). Probiotics were useful detoxifiers; however, the extent of decontamination was species- and strain-dependent. Higher deviations in amino acid concentrations in the presence of toxigenic La 3228 compared to atoxigenic La 3279 suggests that the detoxifiers did not act by decreasing the metabolic activity of the toxigenic strain.

Microbial Detoxification of Residual Pesticides in Fermented Foods: Current Status and Prospects

The treatment of agricultural areas with pesticides is an indispensable approach to improve crop yields and cannot be avoided in the coming decades. At the same time, significant amounts of pesticides remain in food and their ingestion causes serious damage such as neurological, gastrointestinal, and allergic reactions; cancer; and even death. However, during the fermentation processing of foods, residual amounts of pesticides are significantly reduced thanks to enzymatic degradation by the starter and accompanying microflora. This review concentrates on foods with the highest levels of pesticide residues, such as milk, yogurt, fermented vegetables (pickles, kimchi, and olives), fruit juices, grains, sourdough, and wines. The focus is on the molecular mechanisms of pesticide degradation due to the presence of specific microbial species. They contain a unique genetic pool that confers an appropriate enzymological profile to act as pesticide detoxifiers. The prospects of developing more effective biodetoxification strategies by engaging probiotic lactic acid bacteria are also discussed.

Isolation, identification and safety evaluation of OTA-detoxification strain Pediococcus acidilactici NJB421 and its effects on OTA-induced toxicity in mice

Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a potent mycotoxin found in foods and feeds, posing a health risk to animals and humans. Biological detoxification of OTA is considered a promising method, and some bacteria and fungi which can degrade OTA are isolated. However, research on safety and alleviating toxic effects are scarce. This study aims to isolate OTA-detoxification probiotics from natural samples and evaluate their safety and protective effects in mice. Here, a new OTA-detoxification strain named Pediococcus acidilactici NJB421 (P. acidilactici NJB421) was isolated from cow manure, which exhibited a removal rate of OTA at 48.53% for 48 h. P. acidilactici NJB421 exhibited high temperature resistance, acid tolerance, 0.3% bile salt and 1.4% trypsin resistance. The safety evaluation showed that P. acidilactici NJB421 at 2 × 10⁸ CFU/per mouse had no abnormalities in body weight, organ indices, ALT, AST and ALP activities, BUN, CRE and TP contents. And P. acidilactici NJB421 alleviated the decreases in body weight, organ indices and small intestinal length, and alleviated intestinal injury, liver injury and kidney injury. These results suggest P. acidilactici NJB421 is safe and has protection against OTA poisoning, which provides a new OTA-detoxification strain for livestock and food industries.

Evaluation of the Adsorption Efficacy of Bentonite on Aflatoxin M1 Levels in Contaminated Milk

The existence of aflatoxin M₁ (AFM₁) in raw milk results in economic losses and public health risks. This research aims to examine the capability of bentonite to adsorb and/or eliminate AFM₁ from various raw milk types. In addition, the effects of numerous bentonites (HAFR 1, 2, 3 and 4) on the nutritional characteristics of the milk were studied. Our findings revealed that goat milk had the highest value of AFM₁ (490.30 ng/L) in comparison to other milks. AFM₁ adsorption was influenced by applying bentonite (0.5 and 1 g) in a concentration-dependent manner for different time intervals (from 0 to 12 h). The percentage of AFM₁ reached the maximum adsorption level after 12 h to 100, 98.5 and 98% for bentonites HAFR 3, 1 and 2, respectively. HAFR 3 (1 g bentonite) presented higher adsorption efficiency than other bentonites used in the phosphate buffer saline (PBS) and milk. Residual levels of AFM₁ reached their lowest values of 0 and 1.5 ng/L while using HAFR 3 in PBS and milk, respectively. With regard to the influence of bentonite on the nutritional characteristics of milk, there was an increase in fat, protein and solid non-fat ratio while using HAFR 3 and 4, yet decreased lactose in comparison with the control. Scanning Electron Microscopy and Fourier Transform-Infrared Spectroscopy both identified bentonites as superior AFM₁ binders. The results demonstrated that bentonite, particularly HAFR 3, was the most effective adsorbent and could thus be a promising candidate for the decontamination of AFM₁ in milk.

Binding and Detoxification of Insecticides by Potentially Probiotic Lactic Acid Bacteria Isolated from Honeybee (Apis mellifera L.) Environment-An In Vitro Study

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) naturally inhabiting the digestive tract of honeybees are known for their ability to detoxify xenobiotics. The effect of chlorpyrifos, coumaphos, and imidacloprid on the growth of LAB strains was tested. All strains showed high resistance to these insecticides. Subsequently, the insecticide binding ability of LAB was investigated. Coumaphos and chlorpyrifos were bound to the greatest extent (up to approx. 64%), and imidacloprid to a much weaker extent (up to approx. 36%). The insecticides were detected in extra- and intracellular extracts of the bacterial cell wall. The ability of selected LAB to reduce the cyto- and genotoxicity of insecticides was tested on two normal (ovarian insect Sf-9 and rat intestinal IEC-6) cell lines and one cancer (human intestinal Caco-2) cell line. All strains exhibited various levels of reduction in the cyto- and genotoxicity of tested insecticides. It seems that coumaphos was detoxified most potently. The detoxification abilities depended on the insecticide, LAB strain, and cell line. The detoxification of insecticides in the organisms of honeybees may reduce the likelihood of the penetration of these toxins into honeybee products consumed by humans and may contribute to the improvement of the condition in apiaries and honeybee health.

Intestinal microbial composition changes induced by Lactobacillus plantarum GBL 16, 17 fermented feed and intestinal immune homeostasis regulation in pigs

In this study, Rubus coreanus (R. coreanus) byproducts with high polyphenol content were fermented with R. coreanus-derived lactic acid bacteria (Lactobacillus plantarum GBL 16 and 17). Then the effect of R. coreanus-derived lactic acid bacteria fermented feed (RC-LAB fermented feed) with probiotics (Bacillus subtills, Aspergillus oryzae, Yeast) as a feed additive for pigs on the composition of intestinal microbes and the regulation of intestinal immune homeostasis was investigated. Seventy-two finishing Berkshire pigs were randomly allotted to four different treatment groups and 18 replicates. RC-LAB fermented feed with probiotics increased the genera Lactobacillus, Streptococcus, Mitsuokella, Prevotella, Bacteroides spp., Roseburia spp., and Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, which are beneficial bacteria of the digestive tract of pigs. Also, RC-LAB fermented feed with probiotics decreased the genera Clostridium, Terrisporobacter, Romboutsia, Kandleria, Megasphaera and Escherichia, which are harmful bacteria. In particular, the relative abundance of the genera Lactobacillus and Streptococcus increased by an average of 8.51% and 4.68% in the treatment groups and the classes Clostridia and genera Escherichia decreased by an average of 27.05% and 2.85% in the treatment groups. In mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN) and spleens, the mRNA expression of transcription factors and cytokines in Th1 and Treg cells increased and the mRNA expression of Th2 and Th17 transcription factors and cytokines decreased, indicating a regulatory effect on intestinal immune homeostasis. RC-LAB fermented feed regulates gut immune homeostasis by influencing the composition of beneficial and detrimental microorganisms in the gut and regulating the balance of Th1/Th2 and Th17/Treg cells.

Occurrence, transformation, and toxicity of fumonisins and their covert products during food processing

Fumonisins comprise structurally related metabolites mainly produced by Fusarium verticillioides and Fusarium proliferatum. Contamination with fumonisins causes incalculable damage to the economy and poses a great risk to animal and human health. Fumonisins and their covert products are found in cereals and cereal products. Food processing significantly affects the degradation of toxins and the formation of covert toxins. However, studies on fumonisins and their covert mycotoxins remain inadequate. This review aims to summarize changes in fumonisins and the generation of covert fumonisins during processing. It also investigates the toxicity and determination methods of fumonisins and covert fumonisins, and elucidates the factors affecting fumonisins and their covert forms during processing. In addition to the metabolic production by plants and fungi, covert fumonisins are mainly produced by covalent or noncovalent binding, complexation, or physical entrapment of fumonisins with other substances. The toxicity of covert fumonisins is similar to that of free fumonisins and is a non-negligible hazard. Covert fumonisins are commonly found in food matrices, and methods to analyze them have yet to be improved. Food processing significantly affects the conversion of fumonisins to their covert toxins.

Antioxidant and Antibacterial Effects of Potential Probiotics Isolated from Korean Fermented Foods

A total of sixteen bacterial strains were isolated and identified from the fourteen types of Korean fermented foods that were evaluated for their in vitro probiotic potentials. The results showed the highest survivability for Bacillus sp. compared to Lactobacillus sp. in simulated gastric pH, and it was found to be maximum for B. inaquosorum KNUAS016 (8.25 ± 0.08 log10 CFU/mL) and minimum for L. sakei KNUAS019 (0.8 ± 0.02 log10 CFU/mL) at 3 h of incubation. Furthermore, B. inaquosorum KNUAS016 and L. brevis KNUAS017 also had the highest survival rates of 6.86 ± 0.02 and 5.37 ± 0.01 log10 CFU/mL, respectively, in a simulated intestinal fluid condition at 4 h of incubation. The percentage of autoaggregation at 6 h for L. sakei KNUAS019 (66.55 ± 0.33%), B. tequilensis KNUAS015 (64.56 ± 0.14%), and B. inaquosorum KNUAS016 (61.63 ± 0.19%) was >60%, whereas it was lower for L. brevis KNUAS017 (29.98 ± 0.09%). Additionally, B. subtilis KNUAS003 showed higher coaggregation at 63.84 ± 0.19% while B. proteolyticus KNUAS001 found at 30.02 ± 0.33%. Among them, Lactobacillus sp. showed the best non-hemolytic activity. The highest DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activity was observed in L. sakei KNUAS019 (58.25% and 71.88%). The cell-free supernatant of Lactobacillus sp. considerably inhibited pathogenic growth, while the cell-free supernatant of Bacillus sp. was moderately inhibited when incubated for 24 h. However, the overall results found that B. subtilis KNUAS003, B. proteolyticus KNUAS012, L. brevis KNUAS017, L. graminis KNUAS018, and L. sakei KNUAS019 were recognized as potential probiotics through different functional and toxicity assessments.