Limosilactobacillus fermentum is a Gram-positive species in the heterofermentative genus Limosilactobacillus. It is associated with active dental caries lesions.[2] It is also commonly found in fermenting animal and plant material[3] including sourdough[4][5] and cocoa fermentation.[6] A few strains are considered probiotic or "friendly" bacteria in animals [7] and at least one strain has been applied to treat urogenital infections in women.[8] Some strains of lactobacilli formerly mistakenly classified as L. fermentum (such as RC-14) have since been reclassified as Limosilactobacillus reuteri.[9] Commercialized strains of L. fermentum used as probiotics include PCC,[10] ME-3[11] and CECT5716
| Limosilactobacillus fermentum | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Bacteria |
| Phylum: | Bacillota |
| Class: | Bacilli |
| Order: | Lactobacillales |
| Family: | Lactobacillaceae |
| Genus: | Limosilactobacillus |
| Species: | L. fermentum
|
| Binomial name | |
| Limosilactobacillus fermentum (Beijerinck 1901) Zheng et al. 2020[1]
| |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Characteristics
editLimosilactobacillus fermentum belongs to the genus Limosilactobacillus. Species in this genus are heterofermentative and adapted to the intestinal tract of vertebrates but also used for a wide variety of applications including food and feed fermentation. L. fermentum differs from most or all other species in the genus as it has a nomadic lifestyle and is not a stable member of human or animal intestinal microbiota.[12] It has been found that some strains for L. fermentum have natural resistances to certain antibiotics and chemotherapeutics. They are considered potential vectors of antibiotic resistance genes from the environment to humans or animals to humans.[13]
Some strains of L. fermentum have been associated with cholesterol metabolism.[14]
Probiotic
editA microorganism is considered a probiotic by meeting certain characteristics, such as being of human origin, non-pathogenic, having high resistance to passing through the intestine, and being beneficial to the immune system. In general, they are seen as beneficial to the host's body and the human health. L. fermentum has been identified as potential probiotic.[14] The use of gut microbes as probiotics in food is aimed towards preventing and treating various health problems. Among these health problems allergies, neoplastic growth, and inflammatory bowel disease are included. Recent areas of study have focused on the influence of probiotics on metabolic functions of their host. One area has been the metabolism of cholesterol by LABs acting as probiotics. Research has shown that lactobacilli have been proven to remove cholesterol in vitro through various ways such as assimilation, binding to the surface cells, and incorporation into cellular membranes.[14]
pH and bile tolerance
editTesting of L. fermentum against different pH concentration solutions revealed that it has a strong pH tolerance by its ability to grow and survive a few hours after being incubated in a 3-pH level solution. Strains of L. fermentum have also been tested in different bile concentrations and demonstrated to have good bile tolerance when incubated with 3 g L-1 of bile salt. L. fermentum has been found to survive in these conditions further supporting the idea that it can act as a probiotic.[15]
Cholesterol reduction
editOne of the ways in which L. fermentum has been seen as a probiotic is by its ability to reduce cholesterol levels. Tests conducted using several lactobacilli and cholesterol broths demonstrated that L. fermentum had the largest removal of cholesterol. One of the mechanisms by which L. fermentum may remove cholesterol through in vivo is by the absorption of cholesterol, which as a result accelerates cholesterol metabolism. Another method is by the incorporation of cholesterol in the host body into its cell membrane or walls. This would also increase resistance of the bacterial cell membranes to environmental challenge. A third mechanism is by causing the body to consume more cholesterol. L. fermentum would interfere with the recycling of bile salt and facilitate its elimination, which as a result would increase the demand for bile salt made from cholesterol.[15]
Limosilactobacillus fermentum ME-3
editThe strain L. fermentum ME-3 has recently been discovered and identified as an antimicrobial and antioxidative probiotic. This strain of L. fermentum was discovered from the analysis of human fecal samples in 1994. One of the important characteristics of a probiotic microbe is the tolerance to conditions in the digestive tract. Tests conducted on the ME-3 strain in different bile concentrations found that it was able to survive without large loss in numbers. It has also been found that L. fermentum ME-3 has a tolerance to survive drops of pH levels. It can withstand a drop in values from 4.0 to 2.5 without decreasing in numbers. These characteristics of tolerance to bile concentrations and pH levels serve to classify ME-3 as a probiotic.[14]
Limosilactobacillus fermentum ME-3 has also been found to have the capability to suppress mainly gram-negative bacteria. To a lesser extent, ME-3 has also been observed to be able to suppress enterococci and Staphylococcus aureus. This would serve a beneficial purpose to the host. ME-3 has several antimicrobial characteristics. These include acetic, lactic and succinic acids. Research on the antioxidant properties of strain ME-3 in soft cheese products revealed that it prevented spoilage.[14] Experimentation has also been conducted on the consumption of the ME-3 strain. The consumption had a positive influence on the microbiota of the gut. Volunteers were given goat milk fermented by strain ME-3 and capsulated ME-3. After three weeks analysis of fecal samples revealed that the ME-3 strain increased the number of beneficial Lactobacilli in comparison to those who were given non-fermented milk.[14] Several human clinical studies performed on ME-3 focused on parameters related to cardiovascular disease development. Consumption of ME-3 indeed results in a reduction of oxidized LDL cholesterol, which is a major contributor to atherosclerosis development. Several mechanisms may contribute to the antioxidant effect of ME-3: the strain modulates the ratio of reduced glutathione/oxidized glutathione in the blood, and increases the levels of paraoxonase, an antioxidant enzyme which protects LDL particles from oxidative modifications.[14]
Properties of the strain ME-3 can serve to classify it as a probiotic that has the ability to protect its host against food-derived infections and also help in the prevention of oxidative damage of food. Its multi-abilities have been tested and proven. Mice treated with a combination of ofloxacin and ME-3 revealed a reduction in liver and spleen granulomas of Salmonella Typhimurium.[14] ME-3 is commercialized in the US, in Europe and in Asia in dietary supplement products for cardiovascular health, immune support or detoxification, under the brandname Reg'Activ.
Safety
editIn general, lactobacilli have been considered safe because of their association with food and because they are normal inhabitants of the human microbiota. They have also been identified to have a low pathogenic potential further reinforcing the idea that they are safe microbes.[14]
Recent research in regards to the safety of L. fermentum has been carried out on mice. Mice were fed (intragastrically) different concentrations of L. fermentum while a control group was also observed. After twenty-eight days blood samples were taken from the mice and analyzed. There was no health difference observed between the control mice and those fed L.fermentum in terms of blood biochemistry, protein, albumin, glucose, and cholesterol. Also no negative side effects during the experiment such as change in body weight, feed intake, or clinical signs such as diarrhea and ruffled fur, were observed. The ingestion of L. fermentum in mice appeared safe which led to further support that the use of L. fermentum in food is also safe.[16]
Limosilactobacillus fermentum has been identified in a rare case of cholecystitis[17] but is included in the EFSA list of bacteria with qualified presumed safety (QPS).
Transferable resistance genes
editOne important consideration to determine the safety of L. fermentum is transferable resistant genes. In order for L. fermentum to be considered as a potential probiotic, it must not contain any transferable antibiotic resistance genes. If a resistance gene is transferable, it could lessen the effect of the use of antibiotics. Out of ten common antibiotic genes that were tested (gatamicin, cefazolin, penicillin, trimethoprim/sulfmethoxazole, ampicillin, carbenicillin, erythromycin, amikacin, chloramphenicol, and norfloxacin), L. fermentum was found to only be resistant to amikacin and norfloxacin.[citation needed] Others studies have reported that most LABs are also resistant to these antibiotics, which led to the conclusion that it was a common characteristic of LABs. The resistance to these antibiotics can be considered natural or intrinsic. So far no observed L. fermentum strains have been observed to have transferable resistance or acquired resistance genes.[18]
Dairy products
editExperiments conducted by introducing the strain ME-3 of L. fermentum into dairy products as a probiotic ingredient revealed that it was able to suppress the reputed contaminants of food such as pathogenic Salmonella spp., Shigella spp., and urinary tract infections that are caused by E. coli and Staphylococcus spp. Also the introduction of L. fermentum strains such as ME-3 in goat milk revealed that it was actually favorable to the host, resulting in an increase in number of beneficial lactobacilli.[14]
Heat resistance
editAlthough LABs have been associated with potential health advantages, they are also responsible for negative outcomes. They are the main organisms involved in the spoilage of tomato products. Lactobacilli have been identified to be the causative organisms. Research was carried out to observe the chemical constituents of tomato juice that stimulate the growth of bacteria that are responsible for the spoilage. These bacteria can resist high temperatures. A strain of L. fermentum was extracted from a tomato juice concentrate. Meanwhile, eight different tomato juice mixtures were heated and the survival rate of L. fermentum was measured. It was concluded that pectins are the main tomato juice constituents that protect the bacteria cells against destruction from heating. The breakdown of pectin from enzymic action would make the bacteria cells more susceptible to heat. However, it was found in previous research that heating had inactivated natural pectolytic enzymes and therefore L. fermentum remained heat resistant. Heat resistance has also been found to correlate with the medium in which the bacteria are cultured, the better the medium used will result in a higher resistance to heat.[19]
Antibiotic resistance
editStudies have shown that L. fermentum has antibiotic resistances. L. fermentum is inherently vancomycin resistant, as are all other Lactobacillaceae with exception of species in the genera Lactobacillus, Holzapfelia and Amylolactobacillus.[1][20] DNA was isolated from L. fermentum and tested for antibiotic resistance against clinically important agents by using broth dilution tests. Different strains of L. fermentum demonstrated uniform resistance patterns demonstrating resistance to glycopeptide and to tetracycline.[13]
Drug resistance plasmids
editResearch done on L. fermentum strains has revealed the existence of tetracycline and erythromycin resistance plasmids.[21]
Sensitivity to antibiotics
editWhile L. fermentum has been found to have antibiotic resistant properties, other studies have demonstrated that strains of the species are sensitive to some common antibiotics such as gentamicin, cefazolin, penicillin, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, ampicillin, carbenicillin, erythromycin, amikacin, and choloramphenicol.[18]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b Zheng, Jinshui; Wittouck, Stijn; Salvetti, Elisa; Franz, Charles M.A.P.; Harris, Hugh M.B.; Mattarelli, Paola; O’Toole, Paul W.; Pot, Bruno; Vandamme, Peter; Walter, Jens; Watanabe, Koichi (2020). "A taxonomic note on the genus Lactobacillus: Description of 23 novel genera, emended description of the genus Lactobacillus Beijerinck 1901, and union of Lactobacillaceae and Leuconostocaceae". International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology. 70 (4): 2782–2858. doi:10.1099/ijsem.0.004107. hdl:10067/1738330151162165141. ISSN 1466-5026. PMID 32293557.
- ^ Dickson, E M; Riggio, M P; Macpherson, L (1 March 2005). "A novel species-specific PCR assay for identifying Lactobacillus fermentum". Journal of Medical Microbiology. 54 (3): 299–303. doi:10.1099/jmm.0.45770-0. PMID 15713615.
- ^ Online Medical Dictionary - Lactobacillus Fermentum
- ^ Golden, David M.; Jay, James M.; Loessner, Martin J. (2005). Modern food microbiology. Berlin: Springer. p. 179. ISBN 0-387-23180-3.
- ^ Gänzle, Michael G.; Zheng, Jinshui (2019-08-02). "Lifestyles of sourdough lactobacilli – Do they matter for microbial ecology and bread quality?". International Journal of Food Microbiology. Special Issue: Seventh International Symposium on Sourdough: Health & Wealth through sourdough innovation. 302: 15–23. doi:10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2018.08.019. ISSN 0168-1605. PMID 30172443. S2CID 52143236.
- ^ De Vuyst, Luc; Leroy, Frédéric (2020-07-01). "Functional role of yeasts, lactic acid bacteria and acetic acid bacteria in cocoa fermentation processes". FEMS Microbiology Reviews. 44 (4): 432–453. doi:10.1093/femsre/fuaa014. ISSN 0168-6445. PMID 32420601.
- ^ Reque, Elizete de F.; Pandey, Ashok; Franco, Sebastião G.; Soccol, Carlos R. (October 2000). "Isolation, identification and physiological study of Lactobacillus fermentum LPB for use as probiotic in chickens". Brazilian Journal of Microbiology. 31 (4). doi:10.1590/S1517-83822000000400012.
- ^ Gardiner, Gillian E.; Heinemann, Christine; Bruce, Andrew W.; Beuerman, Dee; Reid, Gregor (January 2002). "Persistence of Lactobacillus fermentum RC-14 and Lactobacillus rhamnosus GR-1 but Not L. rhamnosus GG in the Human Vagina as Demonstrated by Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNA". Clinical and Vaccine Immunology. 9 (1): 92–96. doi:10.1128/cdli.9.1.92-96.2002. PMC 119863. PMID 11777835.
- ^ Kandler, Otto; Stetter, Karl-Otto; Köhl, Ruth (September 1980). "Lactobacillus reuteri sp. nov., a New Species of Heterofermentative Lactobacilli". Zentralblatt für Bakteriologie: I. Abt. Originale C: Allgemeine, angewandte und ökologische Mikrobiologie. 1 (3): 264–269. doi:10.1016/S0172-5564(80)80007-8.
- ^ "Probiomics - PROBIOMICS' PROBIOTIC PRODUCTS". Archived from the original on 2011-02-20. Retrieved 2010-09-13.
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- ^ Duar, Rebbeca M.; Lin, Xiaoxi B.; Zheng, Jinshui; Martino, Maria Elena; Grenier, Théodore; Pérez-Muñoz, María Elisa; Leulier, François; Gänzle, Michael; Walter, Jens (2017-08-01). "Lifestyles in transition: evolution and natural history of the genus Lactobacillus". FEMS Microbiology Reviews. 41 (Supp_1): S27–S48. doi:10.1093/femsre/fux030. ISSN 0168-6445. PMID 28673043.
- ^ a b Klein, Günter (February 2011). "Antibiotic Resistance and Molecular Characterization of Probiotic and Clinical Lactobacillus Strains in Relation to Safety Aspects of Probiotics". Foodborne Pathogens and Disease. 8 (2): 267–281. doi:10.1089/fpd.2010.0672. PMID 21034236.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Mikelsaar, Marika; Zilmer, Mihkel (11 July 2009). "Lactobacillus fermentum ME-3 – an antimicrobial and antioxidative probiotic". Microbial Ecology in Health and Disease. 21 (1): 1–27. doi:10.1080/08910600902815561. PMC 2670518. PMID 19381356.
- ^ a b Pan, Dao Dong; Zeng, Xiao Qun; Yan, Yu Ting (February 2011). "Characterisation of Lactobacillus fermentum SM-7 isolated from koumiss, a potential probiotic bacterium with cholesterol-lowering effects". Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture. 91 (3): 512–518. doi:10.1002/jsfa.4214. PMID 21218486.
- ^ Jong-Hwan, Park; Yeonhee, Lee; Enpyo, Moon; Seung-Hyeok, Seok; Min-Won, Baek; Hui-Young, Lee; Dong-Jae, Kim; Chang-Hwan, Kim; Jae-Hak, Park (2005). "Safety Assessment of Lactobacillus fermentum PL9005, a Potential Probiotic Lactic Acid Bacterium, in Mice". Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology. 15 (3): 603–608.
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- ^ a b Zeng, Xiao Qun; Pan, Dao Dong; Zhou, Pei Dong (19 May 2010). "Functional Characteristics of Lactobacillus fermentum F1". Current Microbiology. 62 (1): 27–31. doi:10.1007/s00284-010-9669-3. PMID 20490496. S2CID 21602321.
- ^ Juven, B.J.; Ben-Shalom, N.; Weisslowicz, H. (June 1983). "Identification of chemical constituents of tomato juice which affect the heat resistance of Lactobacillus fermentum". Journal of Applied Bacteriology. 54 (3): 335–338. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2672.1983.tb02625.x. PMID 6874623.
- ^ Zhang, Shenwei; Oh, Jee-Hwan; Alexander, Laura M.; Özçam, Mustafa; van Pijkeren, Jan-Peter (2018-04-23). Becker, Anke (ed.). "D-Alanyl-D-Alanine Ligase as a Broad-Host-Range Counterselection Marker in Vancomycin-Resistant Lactic Acid Bacteria". Journal of Bacteriology. 200 (13): e00607–17, /jb/200/13/e00607–17.atom. doi:10.1128/JB.00607-17. ISSN 0021-9193. PMC 5996685. PMID 29686137.
- ^ Ishiwa, Hiromi; Iwata, Shin (1980). "Drug resistance plasmids in Lactobacillus fermentum". The Journal of General and Applied Microbiology. 26 (1): 71–74. doi:10.2323/jgam.26.71.