A Plasmid Selection System in Lactococcus lactis and Its Use for Gene Expression in L. lactis and Human Kidney Fibroblasts

We report the development of a nonantibiotic and nonpathogenic host-plasmid selection system based on lactococcal genes and threonine complementation. We constructed an auxotrophic Lactococcus lactis MG1363Δthr strain which carries deletions in two genes encoding threonine biosynthetic enzymes. To achieve plasmid-borne complementation, we then constructed the minimal cloning vector, pJAG5, based on the genes encoding homoserine dehydrogenase-homoserine kinase (the hom-thrB operon) as a selective marker. Using strain MG1363Δthr, selection and maintenance of cells carrying pJAG5 were obtained in threonine-free defined media. Compared to the commonly used selection system based on erythromycin resistance, the designed complementation system offers a competitive and stable plasmid selection system for the production of heterologous proteins in L. lactis. The potential of pJAG5 to deliver genes for expression in eukaryotes was evaluated by insertion of a mammalian expression unit encoding a modified green fluorescent protein. The successful delivery and expression of genes in human kidney fibroblasts indicated the potential of the designed nonantibiotic host-plasmid system for use in genetic immunization

Safety and efficacy of Profermin® to induce remission in ulcerative colitis

AIM: To test the efficacy and safety of Profermin® in inducing remission in patients with active ulcerative colitis (UC)

A postbiotic fermented oat gruel may have a beneficial effect on the colonic mucosal barrier in patients with irritable bowel syndrome

Background: Impaired intestinal permeability and microbial dysbiosis are important pathophysiological mechanisms underlying irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). ReFerm (R)( ), also called Profermin (R), is a postbiotic product of oat gruel fermented with Lactobacillus plantarum 299v. In this study, we investigated whether ReFerm (R) has a beneficial effect on the intestinal epithelial barrier function in patients with IBS.Materials and methods: Thirty patients with moderate to severe IBS-diarrhoea (IBS-D) or IBS-mixed (IBS-M) were treated with enema containing ReFerm (R) or placebo. The patients underwent sigmoidoscopy with biopsies obtained from the distal colon at baseline and after 14 days of treatment with ReFerm (R) or placebo twice daily. The biopsies were mounted in Ussing chambers, and paracellular and transcellular permeabilities were measured for 120 min. In addition, the effects of ReFerm (R) or placebo on the epithelial barrier were investigated in vitro using Caco-2 cells.Results: ReFerm (R) reduced paracellular permeability (p &amp;lt; 0.05) and increased transepithelial resistance (TER) over time (p &amp;lt; 0.01), whereas the placebo had no significant effect in patients. In ReFerm (R)-treated Caco-2 cells, paracellular and transcellular permeabilities were decreased compared to the control (p &amp;lt; 0.05) and placebo (p &amp;lt; 0.01). TER was increased in Caco-2 ReFerm (R)-treated cells, and normalised TER was increased in ReFerm (R)-treated Caco-2 cells compared to control (p &amp;lt; 0.05) and placebo-treated (p &amp;lt; 0.05) cells.Conclusion: ReFerm (R) significantly reduced paracellular permeability and improved TER in colonic biopsies collected from patients with IBS and in a Caco-2 cell model. Our results offer new insights into the potential benefits of ReFerm (R) in IBS management. Further studies are needed to identify the molecular mechanisms underlying the barrier-protective properties of ReFerm (R).Funding Agencies|P. Hakanssons Stiftelse, Esloev, Sweden; ALF Grants, Region OEstergoetland; Region OEstergoetland [LIO-938303, ROE-960493]; Bengt Ihre Foundation [ROE-969343]; Ruth and Richard Julin Foundation; Mucosa Infection and Inflammation Center-MIIC [2022-00270]; Nordic Rebalance</p