Oral administration of Bifidobacterium longum prevents gut-derived Pseudomonas aeruginosa sepsis in mice

Aims: The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of probiotics on gut‐derived sepsis caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa in immunocompromised mice. Methods and Results: After oral inoculation of P. aeruginosa, mice were treated with cyclophosphamide to induce leucopenia and translocation of the intestinal P. aeruginosa into blood, thereby producing gut‐derived sepsis. In this model, administration of 1 × 10⁹ CFU of Bifidobacterium longum strain BB536 for 10 days significantly (P < 0·01) increased the survival rate compared with groups of mice administered either with Bifidobacterium breve strain ATCC 15700 or excipients contained in the probiotic bacterial powder. Administration of B. longum significantly decreased viable counts of P. aeruginosa in the liver and blood compared with other groups. Culture of intestinal contents revealed a significantly lower viable count of P. aeruginosa in the jejunum of B. longum‐treated mice compared with other groups of mice. Furthermore, in vitro data demonstrated that B. longum possessed apparently higher adherent activity to Caco‐2 cell monolayers and significantly suppressed the adherence of P. aeruginosa to the monolayers of cells compared with other groups. Conclusion: Oral administration of B. longum protects mice against gut‐derived sepsis caused by P. aeruginosa, and the effect may be due to interference of P. aeruginosa adherence to intestinal epithelial cells. Significance and Impact of this Study: This study demonstrated that oral administration of B. longum BB536 is effective to protect against opportunistic infection with drug‐resistant bacteria such as P. aeruginosa. The results suggest that probiotics may play an important role even in the immunocompromised patients.     

A distinct clade of Bifidobacterium longum in the gut of Bangladeshi children thrives during weaning

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Consecutive oral administration of Bifidobacterium longum MM‐2 improves the defense system against influenza virus infection by enhancing natural killer cell activity in a murine model

Bifidobacterium, one of the major components of intestinal microflora, shows anti‐influenza virus (IFV) potential as a probiotic, partly through enhancement of innate immunity by modulation of the intestinal immune system. Bifidobacterium longum MM‐2 (MM‐2), a very safe bacterium in humans, was isolated from healthy humans and its protective effect against IFV infection in a murine model shown. In mice that were intranasally inoculated with IFV, oral administration of MM‐2 for 17 consecutive days improved clinical symptoms, reduced mortality, suppressed inflammation in the lower respiratory tract, and decreased virus titers, cell death, and pro‐inflammatory cytokines such as IL‐6 and TNF‐α in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. The anti‐IFV mechanism of MM‐2 involves innate immunity through significant increases in NK cell activities in the lungs and spleen and a significant increase in pulmonary gene expression of NK cell activators such as IFN‐γ, IL‐2, IL‐12 and IL‐18. Even in non‐infected mice, MM‐2 administration also induced significant enhancement of both IFN‐γ production by Peyer's patch cells (PPs) and splenetic NK cell activity. Oral administration of MM‐2 for 17 days activates systemic immunoreactivity in PPs, which contributes to innate immunity, including NK cell activation, resulting in an anti‐IFV effect. MM‐2 as a probiotic may function as a prophylactic agent in the management of an IFV epidemic.     

长双歧杆菌发酵培养基的优化

目的对长双歧杆菌液态发酵培养基进行优化。方法以长双歧杆菌（Bifidobacteriumlongum）为发酵菌株,以MRS培养基为基础培养基,以发酵液活菌数为指标,通过单因素添加实验考察发酵培养基的碳源和氮源的种类,并验证优化后培养基的效果。结果优化后培养基的最适碳源为葡萄糖,最适氮源为酪蛋白胨、牛肉蛋白胨、水解乳蛋白,发酵液活菌数达到2．09×10^9CFU／mL,比原MRS培养基（1．22×10^9CFU／mL）提高了71．30％。结论优化后培养基优于原MRS基础培养基,可应用于长双歧杆菌的液态发酵。     

An immunostimulatory DNA sequence from a probiotic strain of Bifidobacterium longum inhibits IgE production in vitro

The immunostimulatory oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN) BL07 (5'-GCGTCGGTTTCGGTGCTCAC-3') was identified from the genomic DNA of the probiotic strain Bifidobacterium longum BB536. ODN BL07 stimulated B-lymphocyte proliferation and induced interleukin-12 (IL-12) production in macrophage-like J774.1 cells. ODNs BL07 and BL07S (modified with phosphorothioate backbone) significantly inhibited immunoglobulin E (IgE) production and stimulated interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and IL-12 production, but did not affect IL-4 secretion in murine splenic cells of ovalbumin-primed BALB/c mice. These ODNs also significantly inhibited production of IgE in purified murine B cells in the presence of IL-4 and anti-CD40. The results suggest the potential of ODNs BL07 and BL07S in preventing IgE-related immune responses and the possible involvement of ODN BL07 in the antiallergic efficacy of B. longum BB536.     

长双歧杆菌NCC2705菌株应激蛋白的研究

研究长双歧杆菌NCC2705菌株发酵至稳定期时应激蛋白的表达情况。根据乳酸乳球菌IL1403菌株蛋白质参考图谱及长双歧杆菌NCC2705基因组注释中应激蛋白的分子量与等电点,确定应激蛋白在双向电泳凝胶上的相应蛋白点,并利用MALDI-TOF和/或ESI-MS/MS对相应蛋白质点进行鉴定。每个蛋白质点的肽指纹图谱均在长双歧杆菌NCC2705的蛋白质数据库用Mascot进行检索,共鉴定到44个蛋白点对应8个应激蛋白。这些蛋白为亲水性酸性蛋白,大多具有翻译后修饰现象,它们基因的CAI值除DnaJ外,其余均在0.5以上,在全细胞表达谱中为高丰度蛋白;此外,菌体具有较强的抗脂质过氧化和清除DPPH自由基的能力,而对羟自由基和超氧负离子的清除力较弱,推测鉴定到的具有逆转氧化损害作用的碱性过氧化氢还原酶(ahpC)可能是体内表达的降低氧损伤的主要酶。     

长双歧杆菌完整肽聚糖对小鼠免疫功能的影响

目的比较长双歧杆菌及其完整肽聚糖的免疫调节作用。方法通过研究长双歧杆菌完整肽聚糖对植瘤小鼠淋巴细胞的转化、抑瘤率、生命延长期以及对细胞Bcl-2和Bax表达的影响来探讨它们对小鼠细胞免疫的调节作用。结果与对照组相比,完整肽聚糖使淋巴细胞转化增加、抑瘤率提高、延长生命期增加、Bcl-2阳性表达率减小而Bax基因表达增加。结论长双歧杆菌与其完整肽聚糖均有抑制S180肿瘤的作用,但完整肽聚糖的效果优于长双歧杆菌。     

Increased stress tolerance of Bifidobacterium longum and Lactococcus lactis produced during continuous mixed-strain immobilized-cell fermentation

AIMS: The effect of immobilization and long-term continuous culture was studied on probiotic and technological characteristics of lactic acid and probiotic bacteria. METHODS AND RESULTS: A continuous culture in a two-stage system was carried out for 17 days at different temperatures ranging from 32 to 37 degrees C, with a first reactor containing Bifidobacterium longum ATCC 15707 and Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis biovar. diacetylactis MD immobilized separately in gel beads, and a second reactor operated with free cells released from the first reactor. The tolerance of free cells from both strains produced in the effluent medium of both reactors to hydrogen peroxide, simulated gastric and intestinal juices, antibiotics and nisin, and freeze-drying markedly increased with culture time and was generally higher after 6 days than that of stationary-phase cells produced during free-cell batch fermentations. The reversibility of the acquired tolerance of B. longum, but not L. diacetylactis, to antibiotics was shown during successive free-cell batch cultures. CONCLUSIONS: Free cells produced from continuous immobilized-cell culture exhibited altered physiology and increased tolerance to various chemical and physico-chemical stresses. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Continuous culture with immobilized cells could be used to produce probiotic and lactic acid bacteria with enhanced technological and probiotic characteristics.     

Oral Administration of an Immunostimulatory DNA Sequence from Bifidobacterium longum Improves Th1/Th2 Balance in a Murine Model

We have reported the antiallergic activities of the immunostimulatory oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN) BL07S, identified from genomic DNA of Bifidobacterium longum BB536 from in vitro and in vivo studies. The present study evaluated the efficiency of ODN BL07S in preventing allergic responses by oral administration. Oral administration of BL07S suppressed serum ovalbumin (OVA)-specific immunoglobulin (Ig) E levels and improved the OVA-specific IgG2a/IgG1 ratio. ODN BL07S increased Th1 cytokine and decreased Th2 cytokine production in splenocytes. These results suggest that immunostimulatory ODNs are potentially associated with the antiallergic effects of probiotics.     

长双歧杆菌DD98冻干保护剂优化及菌粉保存稳定性研究

以长双歧杆菌DD98为研究对象,通过对冻干保护剂配方的优化,冻干菌粉的存活率提高到90%以上。通过进一步稳定性研究,采用保护剂优化配方制备的冻干菌粉在4℃保存24个月后,活菌数仍在1.0×10^10 CFU/g以上,在25℃条件下可以保存12个月,双歧杆菌的存活率在1.0×10^6CFU/g以上,符合FAO/WHO建议食品益生菌活菌数应在1.0×10^6 CFU/g^1.0×10^7CFU/g的标准。     

长双歧杆菌TTF菌株增强机体免疫活性研究

通过长双岐杆菌TTF活菌、菌体破碎物和发酵上清液3种处理物灌胃正常小鼠和免疫功能低下小鼠试验发现,长双歧杆菌TTF的3种受试物对环磷酰胺（Cy）造成的免疫功能低下小鼠模型（IDMM）3项免疫指标均有显著（P〈0．05）或极显著（P〈0．01）影响,且在本试验选取的3个剂量范围内基本呈量效关系。B．longum TTF的3种受试物对IDMM的非特异性免疫功能的影响普遍大于对小鼠的细胞免疫和体液免疫的影响;对正常小鼠免疫功能影响的水平低于其对IDMM各项免疫指标的影响,且无论活菌、菌体破碎物、发酵上清液均不会改变小鼠自身正常的免疫功能。急性毒性试验表明,B．longum,TTF3种处理物对健康小鼠无急性毒性。就3种处理物来讲,发酵上清液组的效果高于菌体破碎物和活菌。     

Effect of production conditions on the stability of a human bifidobacterial species Bifidobacterium longum in yogurt

Aims:  Human bifidobacteria are more sensitive to external environmental factors than animal bifidobacteria, and it is difficult to ensure their stable survival in yogurt. The purpose of this investigation was to observe the survival of human bifidobacteria in yogurts produced under various production conditions.
Methods:  Frozen or lyophilized bifidobacteria starters containing Bifidobacterium longum BB536 originally isolated from an infant, and commercial lyophilized yogurt starters were used for yogurt preparation. After producing yogurts under various conditions, the survival of bifidobacteria in these yogurts over various storage periods was observed.
Results:  Although there were some differences in bifidobacterial survival in yogurt between various production conditions, more than 1·0 × 10⁷ CFU g⁻¹ of Bif. longum survived in yogurt after 35 days' storage at 5°C. Lower fermentation temperature (37°C) and inclusion of Lactococcus lactis in the starter significantly ( P  < 0·05) improved survival of Bif. longum in the yogurt.
Conclusion:  In this investigation, the human bifidobacterial strain Bif. longum survived adequately in yogurt, although the fermentation temperature and starter composition affect bifidobacterial survival.
Significance and Impact of the Study:  This investigation indicates that stable probiotic yogurt using human bifidobacteria can be produced by choosing optimal production conditions.     

Effect of starch- and lipid-based encapsulation on the culturability of two Bifidobacterium longum strains

AIMS: To assess the applicability of starch- and lipid-based encapsulation methods for improving the viability and culturability of two Bifidobacterium longum strains stored in fermented and nonfermented foods. MATERIALS AND RESULTS: Cells were encapsulated with partially hydrolysed potato starch granules combined with amylose coating, or entrapped in cocoa butter matrix. The tested B. longum strains were not adherent to the starch granules, and the culturability of the cells stored in fermented and nonfermented foods was not improved by starch-based encapsulation. Encapsulation of the cells in cocoa butter was found to increase the plate counts during storage. In addition to plate counts, viability of the cells was measured by fluorescent microscopy using LIVE/DEAD BacLight viability assay. Microscopic counts of the viable cells did not change significantly during storage, suggesting that the cells remained alive despite becoming unable to grow on nutrient agar plates. CONCLUSIONS: Encapsulation with cocoa butter increased the culturability of the cells, but encapsulation with hydrolysed potato starch had no effect. Culture-independent viability assay suggested that cells remained viable despite being unable to grow on agar plates. SIGNIFICANCE AND THE IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This study indicates that encapsulation techniques may be useful in improving the culturability of bacteria, but the plate counts may yield insufficient data on the actual viability of the cells.     

长双歧杆菌NCC2705株果糖结合蛋白BL0033基因的克隆及其在大肠杆菌中的表达

目的：克隆长双歧杆菌NCC2705株果糖结合蛋白BL0033的基因,利用大肠杆菌表达GST-BL0033融合蛋白并纯化。方法：以长双歧杆菌NCC2705株基因组为模板,PCR扩增BL0033基因,并将其插入pGEX-4T-1表达载体,转化至大肠杆菌DH5α;提取质粒,经PCR、质粒双酶切及测序鉴定后,转入大肠杆菌BL21,并对表达条件进行摸索;用谷胱甘肽-Sepharose4B树脂对可溶性GST-BL0033融合蛋白进行纯化。结果：PCR扩增的BL0033基因长度接近1000bp,与预期值一致;重组菌在IPTG浓度为0.05mmoL/L的条件下,于16℃诱导过夜后,SDS-PAGE分析可见可溶性表达条带,相对分子质量约60×103,与预期值一致;亲和纯化后,SDS-PAGE结果显示单一的表达条带。结论：克隆了BL0033蛋白的基因,并表达纯化了融合蛋白GST-BL0033,为进一步研究长双歧杆菌NCC2705株BL0033蛋白功能奠定了基础。     

Cloned Cytosine Deaminase Gene Expression of Bifidobacterium longum and Application to Enzyme/Pro-drug Therapy of Hypoxic Solid Tumors

Bifidobacterium longum is a nonpathogenic anaerobic bacterium among normal bacterial flora. Recently, it was reported that B. longum accumulated in hypoxic solid tumors. The gene of interest was expressed in transfected B. longum by the shuttle vector pBLES100 in solid tumors. In this report, we constructed pBLES100-S-eCD, which included the cytosine deaminase gene. We confirmed by western blotting that transfected B. longum produced cytosine deaminase. In addition, transfected B. longum produced cytosine deaminase that converted 5-fluorocytosine into 5-fluorouracil. B. longum could be useful for enzyme/pro-drug therapy of hypoxic solid tumors.     

Growth of Bifidobacterium longum BB536 in medida (fermented cereal porridge) and their survival during refrigerated storage

AIMS: To develop medida, a Sudanese fermented thin porridge as a probiotic dietary adjunct with high total solids. METHODS AND RESULTS: Fifteen per cent brown rice flour of 2-day-old malted paddy and skim milk were used for formulation. Levels of 2.25, 4.5 and 10% of added skim milk were studied. The initial pH was 6.7 and fermentation was run to a final pH of 4.4 using culture of Bifidobacterium longum BB 536. The highest count of 9.9 +/- 0.07 log CFU ml(-1) was obtained with 10% of added skim milk. The total solids at this level was 21%, 11.1 times more compared with the traditionally prepared medida using un-malted brown rice. The viscosity was low and the flowing characteristic was stable. The final productions of lactic and acetic acids were 56.8 +/- 0.80 and 56.3 +/- 2.00 mumol ml(-1) respectively. The high ratio of acetate to lactate decreased as fermentation continues due to the increase in the rate of lactate production. Under refrigerated storage the count of B. longum BB 536 remained relatively stable during the first week (9.7 +/- 0.10 log CFU ml(-1)) then subsequently decreased by 0.9 log CFU ml(-1) in the following week. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study demonstrated that fermented medida made from malted brown rice is a suitable food system for the delivery of B. longum BB 536 with a relatively stable shelf life. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The present study is the first attempt to prepare fermented medida from malted flour with bifidobacteria having the highest total solids while still maintaining the flowing characteristics. Previous studies on medida did not go beyond the use of alpha amylase enzyme and pure lactic acid bacteria isolates from spontaneously fermented dough.     

Effect of Bifidobacterium longum ingestion on experimental salmonellosis in mice

AIMS: The effect of lactic acid bacteria on the immune system is well established under normal conditions and generally by in vivo determinations, but few data are available, in vivo, during an infectious challenge. The objective of this study was to obtain data on the putative protective role of bifidobacteria upon challenge with an intestinal pathogen. METHODS AND RESULTS: The effect of oral treatment with Bifidobacterium longum Bb46 on intragastric challenge with Salmonella Typhimurium was studied. Faecal bacterial levels were determined in gnotobiotic (GN) mice and mortality, histopathology (intestines, liver), immunoglobulin levels (IgM, IgG, IgG1, IgG2a) and cytokine production (IFN-gamma, IL-10) were determined in conventional (CV) mice. Conventional mice received 0.1 ml probiotic milk (10(8) CFU) daily, 10 days before the oral pathogenic challenge (10(2) CFU). Then, probiotic treatment was continued until the end of the experiment. Probiotic treatment in germ-free mice consisted of a single dose at the beginning of the experiment. Control groups were treated with sterile skim milk and submitted to the same procedure. A higher survival (40%) was observed for probiotic-treated animals when compared with the control group (0%). This protective effect was confirmed by the histopathological and morphometric data. However, S. Typhimurium population levels in the faeces were similar among control and probiotic-treated groups. During the challenge with S. Typhimurium, a decrease in IFN-gamma and IgG2a productions was observed in probiotic-treated mice. CONCLUSIONS: The protective effect against the pathogenic challenge may be due to a reduced inflammatory response, mediated by the probiotic treatment, but not to a population antagonism. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Results suggest that dietary supplementation with B. longum could provide benefits against enteric infection.     

Oral supplementation of Bifidobacterium longum strain BR-108 alters cecal microbiota by stimulating gut immune system in mice irrespectively of viability

Effect on cecal microbiota and gene expression of various cytokines in ileal Peyer’s patches and cecal tissues were compared between viable and heat-killed Bifidobacterium longum strain BR-108 (BR-108) using a mouse model. Irrespectively of viability, oral supplementation of BR-108 altered the cecal microbiota and stimulated gene expression of cytokines such as IL-6 and IL-10 in ileal Peyer’s patches and cecal tissue of mice. In addition, BR-108 supplementation significantly affected the relative abundance of bacterial genera and family, Oscillospira, Bacteroides and S24-7. The abundance of these bacterial genera and family strongly correlated with gene expression induced by BR-108. This study demonstrated that the effect of heat-killed BR-108 on the mouse cecal microbiota is similar to that of viable BR-108, most likely due to stimulation of the gut immune system by both heat-killed and viable BR-108 is also similar.     

Effect of heat-shock and bile salts on protein synthesis of Bifidobacterium longum revealed by [35S]methionine labelling and two-dimensional gel electrophoresis

Experimental conditions for efficient protein radiolabelling and two-dimensional gel electrophoresis were developed for Bifidobacterium longum. Using these tools, protein synthesis in cells before and after heat-shock and bile salts treatment was investigated. Following heat-stress, 13 proteins were upregulated, of which HtrA, DnaK and GroEL were also moderately induced by bile salts, indicating close relationship between the heat and bile salts responses in bifidobacteria. Our work indicated that, as a consequence of prolonged heat-stress, HtrA undergoes sequential modification and proteolysis, and that this mechanism could be employed by bifidobacteria to respond to heat-stress.