Probiotics modulate gut microbiota and improve insulin sensitivity in DIO mice.

Obesity and type 2 diabetes are characterized by subclinical inflammatory process. Changes in composition or modulation of the gut microbiota may play an important role in the obesity-associated inflammatory process. In the current study, we evaluated the effects of probiotics (Lactobacillus rhamnosus, L. acidophilus and Bifidobacterium bifidumi) on gut microbiota, changes in permeability, and insulin sensitivity and signaling in high-fat diet and control animals. More importantly, we investigated the effects of these gut modulations on hypothalamic control of food intake, and insulin and leptin signaling. Swiss mice were submitted to a high-fat diet (HFD) with probiotics or pair-feeding for 5 weeks. Metagenome analyses were performed on DNA samples from mouse feces. Blood was drawn to determine levels of glucose, insulin, LPS, cytokines and GLP-1. Liver, muscle, ileum and hypothalamus tissue proteins were analyzed by Western blotting and real-time polymerase chain reaction. In addition, liver and adipose tissues were analyzed using histology and immunohistochemistry. The HFD induced huge alterations in gut microbiota accompanied by increased intestinal permeability, LPS translocation and systemic low-grade inflammation, resulting in decreased glucose tolerance and hyperphagic behavior. All these obesity-related features were reversed by changes in the gut microbiota profile induced by probiotics. Probiotics also induced an improvement in hypothalamic insulin and leptin resistance. Our data demonstrate that the intestinal microbiome is a key modulator of inflammatory and metabolic pathways in both peripheral and central tissues. These findings shed light on probiotics as an important tool to prevent and treat patients with obesity and insulin resistance.

Desenvolvimento, avaliação e aplicação de micropartículas simbióticas produzidas por spray chilling / Development, evaluation and application of symbiotic microparticles produced by spray chilling technology

Foram produzidas micropartículas simbióticas com carreador de natureza lipídica, obtidas por spray chilling. Como materiais ativos foram utilizadas duas cepas de micro-organismos probióticos (L. acidophilus-LA e L. rhamnosus-LR), dois prebióticos (inulina e polidextrose) e gordura de palma e palmiste interesterificada. Estudou-se a resistência destes probióticos ao processo aplicado, o comportamento das micropartículas sólido lipídicas (MSLs) frente ao fluido gástrico e intestinal simulados e suas viabilidades durante 120 dias de armazenamento à -18, 7 e 22°C sob vácuo ou umidade relativa controlada. A caracterização morfológica, granulometria, análise térmica (DSC), atividade de água, espectroscopia na região do infravermelho (FTIR) e difração de raios-X (XRPD) foram estudados. Spray chilling configurou-se como processo adequado aos probióticos, devido à baixa perda de células viáveis durante a obtenção das micropartículas, sendo que não foi observado interferência da ausência, presença e do tipo de prebiótico. Foram obtidas MSLs esféricas com superfície relativamente uniforme, e com tamanho médio entre 62,4±2,8 a 69,6±5,1 µm, sendo que não houve diferença significativa entre as formulações. As análises de difração de raios-X indicaram que não ocorreram alterações polimórficas durante o armazenamento refrigerado das MSLs. [...] As micropartículas lipídicas produzidas mostraram-se aptas como ingrediente alimentício, porém no sorvete não atenderam as premissas de proteção e extensão de contagens apropriadas do probiótico. As MSLs também foram incorporadas em polpas de fruta, abacate e melão, neste tipo de matriz as MSLs conferiram proteção ao micro-organismo pois aumentaram sua viabilidade em relação aos micro-organismos livres.

Symbiotic microparticles were produced with a lipid carrier, obtained by spray chilling technology. In this study were used two strains of probiotic (L. acidophilus-LA and L. rhamnosus-LR) and two prebiotics (inulin and polydextrose) as active or core materials. The resistance of these probiotics to the spray chilling process was evaluated, as well as the viability of the solid lipid microparticles (SLMs) during the exposition to the simulated gastric and intestinal fluids and stability during 120 days of storage at -18, 7 and 22°C, in vacuum or controlled relative humidity. Morphology characterization, particle size, water activity, thermal analysis (DSC), infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction (XRPD) were studied. Spray chilling process was configured as a suitable technology to probiotics due to low loss of viable cells in processing of the particle, and no interference was observed from the presence/absence and type of prebiotic component. MSLs were obtained with relatively uniform spherical surface, and average size between 62.4 ± 2.8 µm to 69.6 ± 5.1 µm, there was no significant difference between formulations. Analyses of X-ray diffraction indicated that there were no polymorphic changes during refrigerated storage of SLMs. [...] The lipid microparticles produced were shown to be suitable as a food ingredient, but the ice cream did not meet the assumptions of protection and extension of appropriate probiotic counts. The MSLs were also incorporated in the fruit pulp, avocado and melon, in this application the SLMs provided protection to the micro-organism increasing the probiotic viability in relation to the free microorganisms.

Chromosomal-gene-mediated inhibition of intestinal and foodborne pathogens by Lactobacillus acidophilus AA11.

Approximately 63 strains of Lactobacillus acidophilus were isolated from Egyptian home-made cheese and examined for production of antagonism. Only eight strains demonstrated inhibitory activity against spoilage microorganisms (i.e. Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus cereus) and pathogens (i.e. E. coli, Salmonella sp. and Shigella sp.). Lactobacillus acidophilus AA11 produced a more antimicrobial activity with a wide range of inhibition. The agent AA11 was sensitive to proteolytic enzymes and retained full activity after 30 min at 100 degrees C. Activity against sensitive cells was bactericidal but not bacteriolytic. The compound was produced during growth phase and can be extracted from the culture supernatant fluids with n-Butanol. 12 % SDS-PAGE analysis of 40% ammonium sulphate precipitated agent showed two peptides with molecular weights of approximately 36 kDa and approximately 29 kDa. No plasmid was identified in Lactobacillus acidophilus AA11 indicating that the genes encoding the inhibitory agent located on the chromosome. These characteristics identify the inhibitory substance as a bacteriocin, designated acidocin AA11 and confer the agent an application potential as a biopreservative.