Relationship between interaction sites in the gut, hydrophobicity, mucosal immunomodulating capacities and cell wall protein profiles in indigenous and exogenous bacteria

AIMS: To investigate whether there is a relationship between interaction sites in the gut, hydrophobicity, mucosal immunomodulating capacities and cell wall protein profiles in lactobacilli, bifidobacteria and enterococci. METHODS AND RESULTS: Hydrophobicity, cell wall protein profiles and sites of interaction in the gut (by using fluorescein isothiocyanate-labelled bacteria) were determined for Lactobacillus casei, L. acidophilus, L. fermentum, Bifidobacterium bifidum, B. animalis and Enterococcus faecalis. We also determined the number of immunoglobulin (Ig)A+, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)alpha+, interleukin (IL)-6+ and IL-10+ cells after oral administration of the above bacteria to BALB/c mice. All strains assessed were found to interact with the sites of induction of the immune response in the gut. No correlation with hydrophobicity was observed. When some strains at certain doses were administered to mice, bacterial translocation to liver was observed. The oral administration of indigenous (104 cells day(-1)) and exogenous (107 cells day(-1)) bifidobacteria and lactobacilli for 5 consecutive days activated the systemic and intestinal mucosal immune response in a strain-specific way, independently whether the strain was indigenous or exogenous in relation to the host. The differences in the immunopotentiating capacity of the various strains might be related to the differences in their cell wall protein profiles. CONCLUSIONS: Indigenous bacteria activated the mucosal immune response at a dose significantly smaller than the one required for probiotic exogenous bacteria. However, probiotic exogenous bacteria can be used at high concentrations in fermented dairy products with a great impact on the immune system, favouring its immunomodulation. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The immunomodulation capacity of probiotic bacteria is strain specific and independent of the specificity of the host. The ability of certain strains to down-regulate the production and release of IL-6 by IL-10 may have potential implications in their use in cases in which cytokine deregulation or excessive production at the mucosal level can be the cause of tissue damage.     

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.     

Reduction of vitamin K concentration by salivary Bifidobacterium strains and their possible nutritional competition with Porphyromonas gingivalis

AIMS: To assess the possibility that bifidobacteria compete with Porphyromonas gingivalis for their mutual growth factor vitamin K. This study also examined whether salivary Bifidobacterium species decrease vitamin K concentration in the growth medium. METHODS AND RESULTS: Sixty-five strains of Bifidobacterium were obtained from 20 of 24 periodontally healthy subjects. Bifidobacterium dentium was most frequently detected in the saliva of subjects, followed by Bifidobacterium adolescentis, Bifidobacterium longum, and Bifidobacterium urinalis. The growth of most Bifidobacterium isolates, except that of B. urinalis, was stimulated by vitamin K. Moreover, the isolates were capable of decreasing vitamin K after incubation, which suggests that bifidobacteria compete with P. gingivalis for vitamin K. In a co-culture, a representative strain -B. adolescentis S2-1 - inhibited the growth of P. gingivalis if it was inoculated in the medium before P. gingivalis. CONCLUSIONS: B. adolescentis S2-1 decreased vitamin K concentration and inhibited the growth of P. gingivalis by possibly competing for the growth factor. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Salivary bifidobacteria may possess the potential to suppress the growth of P. gingivalis by reducing the growth factor(s) in the environment.     

Substrate preference of Bifidobacterium adolescentis MB 239: compared growth on single and mixed carbohydrates

The utilization of mono-, di-, and oligosaccharides by Bifidobacterium adolescentis MB 239 was investigated. Raffinose, fructooligosaccharides (FOS), lactose, and the monomeric moieties glucose and fructose were used. To establish a hierarchy of sugars preference, the kinetics of growth and sugar consumption were determined on individual and mixed carbohydrates. On single carbon sources, higher specific growth rates and cell yields were attained on di- and oligosaccharides compared to monosaccharides. Analysis of the carbohydrates in steady-state chemostat cultures, growing at the same dilution rate on FOS, lactose, or raffinose, showed that monomeric units and hydrolysis products were present. In chemostat cultures on individual carbohydrates, B. adolescentis MB 239 simultaneously displayed α-galactosidase, β-galactosidase, and β-fructofuranosidase activities on all the sugars, including monosaccharides. Glycosyl hydrolytic activities were found in cytosol, cell surface, and growth medium. Batch experiments on mixtures of carbohydrates showed that they were co-metabolized by B. adolescentis MB 239, even if different disappearance kinetics were registered. When mono-, di-, and oligosaccharides were simultaneously present in the medium, no precedence for monosaccharides utilization was observed, and di- and oligosaccharides were consumed before their constitutive moieties.     

双歧杆菌对梗阻性黄疸大鼠肠道细菌移位影响的研究

目的观察梗阻性黄疸大鼠肠道细菌移位状况及经胃肠道给予双歧杆菌对肠道细菌移位的影响。方法Wistar大鼠30只随机分为3组：假手术组（SO组）、梗阻性黄疸组（OJ组）及双歧杆菌组。模型制备后第10天检测各组肝功能指标及血浆内毒素水平,取肝、脾、肠系膜淋巴结等肠道外器官组织行细菌培养,光镜观察末端回肠黏膜变化。结果 OJ组较SO组肝功能指标明显改变（P〈0．05）,双歧杆菌组肝功能指标较OJ组改善。SO组血浆内毒素水平为（0．26±0．22）EU／ml,OJ组内毒素水平为（1．99±0．31）EU／ml,较SO组明显升高（P〈0．01）,双歧杆菌组血浆内毒素水平为（0．74±0．20）EU／ml,较OJ组明显降低（P〈0．01）。OJ组肝、脾、肠系膜淋巴结中细菌移位率高于另两组,其中肠系膜淋巴结细菌移位率为90％,明显高于SO组及双歧杆菌组（P〈0．05）。光镜显示OJ组肠黏膜萎缩,绒毛水肿,部分上皮细胞脱落;双歧杆菌组肠黏膜上皮改变较OJ组明显减轻。结论梗阻性黄疸时出现明显的细菌移位与内毒素血症。应用微生态制剂可保护梗阻性黄疸时小肠黏膜屏障功能,减少肠源性细菌移位及内毒素血症的发生。     

Analysis of polyamine biosynthetic- and transport ability of human indigenous Bifidobacterium

Bifidobacteria are members of the human intestinal microbiota, being numerically dominant in the colon of infants, and also being prevalent in the large intestine of adults. In this study, we measured the concentrations of major polyamines (putrescine, spermidine, and spermine) in cells and culture supernatant of 13 species of human indigenous Bifidobacterium at growing and stationary phase. Except for Bifidobacterium bifidum and Bifidobacterium gallicum, 11 species contained spermidine and/or spermine when grown in Gifu-anaerobic medium (GAM). However, Bifidobacterium scardovii and Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis, which contain spermidine when grown in GAM, did not contain spermidine when grown in polyamine-free 199 medium. Of the tested 13 Bifidobacterium species, 10 species showed polyamine transport ability. Combining polyamine concentration analysis in culture supernatant and in cells, with basic local alignment search tool analysis suggested that novel polyamine transporters are present in human indigenous Bifidobacterium.

Abbreviations: Put: putrescine; Spd: spermidine; Spm: spermine; GAM: Gifu anaerobic medium; BHI: brain-heart infusion     

双歧杆菌对SD大鼠空肠黏膜分泌型免疫球蛋白A的影响

目的研究双歧杆菌的免疫佐剂效应。方法将SD大鼠随机分成3组,即卵清白蛋白（OVA）组,双歧杆菌＋OVA组和PBS空白对照组。各组给予免疫后,收集长约3cm的空肠,通过免疫组织化学技术和Qwin图像处理系统,对空肠分泌型免疫球蛋白A（sIgA）的定位进行系统分析,研究同时注射OVA和双歧杆菌后对SD大鼠在不同时期空肠中sIgA阳性细胞分泌的影响。结果在免疫后的SD大鼠的空肠内均产生了特异性的分泌型抗体sIgA,其中双歧杆菌＋OVA组显著高于其他2组（P〈0．05）。结论双歧杆菌经胃肠道黏膜免疫可诱导有效的免疫佐剂效应。