Mljekarstvo (Apr 2003)
Synbiotic properties of Lactobacillus acidophilus M92
Abstract
The scientific basis for the development of probiotics, prebiotics or their combination (synbiotics) stems from the knowledge that the gastrointestinal microflora is involved in protecting the host (man or animals) against colonization of the intestinal tract by non-indigenous microorganisms. The use of probiotics (live beneficial microorganisms) and prebiotics (non-digestible oligosaccharides) as food/feed supplements beneficially affect the host by improving its intestinal microbial balance. Bacterial strain Lactobacillus acidophilus M92, which was selected for probiotic activity according to complex scientific in vitro selection criteria, is presented in this work. Accurate taxonomic identification of L. acidophilus M92 has been done by PCR method. The presence of S-layer proteins, hydrophobycity, autoaggregation, coaggregation and adhesion of L. acidophilus M92 to porcine ileal epithelial cells were determined. Because the concept of synbiotic became a part of probiotic concept in last few years, it was also investigated the ability of L. acidophilus M92 to assimilate the various kinds of prebiotic substrates (sorbitol, mannitol, lactulose, raffinose, oligofructose and inulin). The combination of probiotics and non-digestible carbohydrates (prebiotics) may be a way of stabilisation and/or improvement of the probiotic effect. Such synbiotics indicate a realistic way of using biological preparationsin the prevention of gastrointestinal diseases in humans and animals.
