In-vitro Growth Inhibition of Bacterial Pathogens by Probiotics and A Synbiotic: Product Composition Matters

• Main Authors: Jacek Piatek, Hanna Krauss, Arleta Ciechelska-Rybarczyk, Malgorzata Bernatek, Paulina Wojtyla-Buciora, Henning Sommermeyer
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2020-05-01
• Series: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
• Subjects: Gut microbiome, antimicrobial activity, pathogen overgrowth
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/9/3332
• ISSN: 1661-7827; 1660-4601

A variety of activities potentially contribute to the beneficial effects of probiotic bacteria observed in humans. Among these is a direct inhibition of the growth of pathogenic bacteria in the gut. The present study characterizes head-to-head the in-vitro pathogen growth inhibition of clinically relevant infectious bacterial strains by different types of probiotics and a synbiotic. In-vitro growth inhibition of <i>Escherichia </i><i>(E.) </i><i>coli EPEC, Shigella</i><i> (Sh.)</i><i> </i><i>sonnei</i><i>, Salmonella </i><i>(S.) </i><i>typhimurium, Klebsiella </i><i>(K.) </i><i>pneumoniae</i> and <i>Clostridioides</i><i> </i><i>(C.) </i><i>difficile</i> were determined. Investigated products were a yeast mono strain probiotic containing <i>Saccharomyces </i><i>(Sac.) </i><i>boulardii</i>, bacterial mono strain probiotics containing either <i>Lactobacillus </i><i>(L.) </i><i>rhamnosus</i><i> GG</i> or <i>L</i><i>.</i><i> </i><i>reuteri</i><i> DSM 17938</i>, a multi strain probiotic containing three <i>L</i><i>.</i><i> </i><i>rhamnosus</i><i> strains (E/N, Oxy, Pen)</i>, and a multi strain synbiotic containing nine different probiotic bacterial strains and the prebiotic fructooligosaccharides (FOS). Inhibition of pathogens was moderate by <i>Sac. </i><i>boulardii</i> and <i>L. </i><i>rhamnosus</i><i> GG</i>, medium by <i>L. </i><i>reuteri</i><i> DSM 17938</i> and the <i>L. </i><i>rhamnosus</i><i> E/N, Oxy, Pen</i> mixture and strong by the multi strain synbiotic. Head-to-head in-vitro pathogen growth inhibition experiments can be used to differentiate products from different categories containing probiotic microorganisms and can support the selection process of products for further clinical evaluation.