Cytotoxic effects of various lactic acid bacteria on Caco-2 cells

Probiotics are live microbial food supplements that can be considered a functional food. They benefit the health of a host animal by maintaining their intestinal microbial balance. Most probiotic microorganisms are lactic acid bacteria (LAB) such as Lactobacillus spp., Bifidobacterium spp., and Enterococcus spp. LAB have been reported to possess certain anticancer properties. The vast majority of studies on their anticancer effects have dealt with colorectal cancers, although there have also been some studies on breast and bladder cancers. Colon cancer is the fourth most common cause of cancer-related mortality in the world. The aim of this study was to investigate the antiproliferative effects of the cell-free filtrate and the cell-free lyophilized filtrate of 3 LAB (Pediococcus pentosaceus, Lactobacillus plantarum, and Weissella confusa) on human colorectal adenocarcinoma cell line Caco-2. The filtrates were found to inhibit the growth of colon cancer cells in a dose-dependent manner as detected by the MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay, suggesting that these strains might have use as probiotics in functional food or for colon cancer treatment. There are no other studies related to the anticancer activities of W. confusa in the literature

Antibiotic susceptibility, antibacterial activity and characterisation of Enterococcus faecium strains isolated from breast milk

Enterococci, which have useful biotechnological applications, produce bacteriocins, including those that exert anti-Listerial activity. The present study aimed to determine the antibiotic susceptibility patterns and antimicrobial activity of Enterococcus faecium strains isolated from human breast milk. The strains were identified using carbohydrate fermentation tests and ribotyping. Subsequently, the antibacterial activity of the isolates was investigated, and the quantities of lactic acid and hydrogen peroxide produced, and the proteolytic activity of E. faecium, were determined. In addition, biofilm formation by E. faecium strains was assessed. E. faecium strains exhibited antimicrobial activity against food-borne and clinical bacterial isolates. Furthermore, following 24 h incubation, the tested strains exhibited resistance to a pH range of 2.0-9.5 and tolerance of bile acid, lysozyme activity and phenol. Supernatants of the E. faecium TM13, TM15, TM17 and TM18 strains were shown to be effective against Listeria monocytogenes, and were also resistant to heat. Further studies are required in order to determine whether certain strains of E. faecium may be used for the development of novel antibacterial agents.Anadolu Üniversitesi - 4102

Identifying probiotic characteristics of Lactobacillus crispatus isolated from the vagina

Lactobacilli prevent overproduction of pathogenic microorganisms and contribute protecting vaginal microbiota. Many probiotic microorganisms are categorized as Lactic Acid Bacteria. In this study, it was aimed identifying probiotic characteristics of Lactobacillus crispatus isolated from the vagina of a healthy woman. For this purpose, lactic acid, hydrogen peroxide and proteolytic activity quantities and auto-aggregation, co-aggregation and hydrophobicity abilities of Lactobacillus crispatus, which has been isolated and identified by 16s rRNA sequence analysis, were determined. Additionally, bile salt and acid resistance, along with antibiotic susceptibility of Lactobacillus crispatus were analyzed by the end of 3 hours. Lactic acid, hydrogen peroxide and proteolytic activity quantities of Lactobacillus crispatus were measured 2.275%, 0.334±0.075 µg/mL and 2.131±0,000 mg/mL respectively. The findings include existence of co-aggregation and auto-aggregation ability, but not hydrophobicity. By the end of 3 hours, the viability was preserved in 0.1% and 0.3% bile salt medium and, at pH 3. L. crispatus exhibited resistance to methicillin, metronidazole, oxacillin, and sulfamethoxazole + trimethoprim, but the bacteria exhibited susceptibility to tested the other antibiotics. This study will make an important contribution to the literature about probiotic characteristics of L. crispatus and our strain isolated from the vagina might be considered as a candidate probiotic

Antimicrobial activity of extracts of chemical races of the lichen Pseudevernia furfuracea and their physodic acid, chloroatranorin, atranorin, and olivetoric acid constituents

Chloroatranorin and olivetoric acid were active against the same microorganisms with few exceptions. Physodic acid was active against about the same bacteria and yeasts and inactive against all of the filamentous fungi tested. Also no activity of atranorin against the filamentous fungi was observed