ABSTRACT
Bile acid (BA) signatures are altered in many disease states. BA metabolism is an important microbial function to assist gut colonization and persistence, as well as microbial survival during gastro intestinal (GI) transit and it is an important criteria for potential probiotic bacteria. Microbes that express bile salt hydrolase (BSH), gateway BA modifying enzymes, are considered to have an advantage in the gut. This property is reported as selectively limited to gut-associated microbes. Food-associated microbes have the potential to confer health benefits to the human consumer. Here, we report that food associated Lactobacillus plantarum strains are capable of BA metabolism, they can withstand BA associated stress and propagate, a recognised important characteristic for GIT survival. Furthermore, we report that these food associated Lactobacillus plantarum strains have the selective ability to alter BA signatures in favour of receptor activation that would be beneficial to humans. Indeed, all of the strains examined showed a clear preference to alter human glycol-conjugated BAs, although clear strain-dependent modifications were also evident. This study demonstrates that BA metabolism by food-borne non-pathogenic bacteria is beneficial to both microbe and man and it identifies an evolutionary-conserved characteristic, previously considered unique to gut residents, among food-associated non-pathogenic isolates.