In Vitro Evaluation of Probiotic Properties and Anti-Pathogenic Effects of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium Strains as Potential Probiotics

Abstract

Probiotics restore gut microbial balance, thereby providing health-promoting effects to the host. They have long been suggested for managing intestinal disorders caused by pathogens and for improving gut health. This study evaluated the probiotic properties and anti-pathogenic effects of specific probiotic strains against the intestinal pathogens Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. The tested strains—Lactiplantibacillus plantarum LC27, Limosilactobacillus reuteri NK33, Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus NK210, Bifidobacterium longum NK46, and Bifidobacterium bifidum NK175—were able to survive harsh conditions simulating gastric and intestinal fluids. These strains exhibited good auto-aggregation abilities (41.8–92.3%) and ideal hydrophobicity (30.9–85.6% and 38.3–96.1% for xylene and chloroform, respectively), along with the ability to co-aggregate with S. aureus (40.6–68.2%) and E. coli (38.6–75.2%), indicating significant adhesion levels to Caco-2 cells. Furthermore, these strains’ cell-free supernatants (CFSs) demonstrated antimicrobial and antibiofilm activity against S. aureus and E. coli. Additionally, these strains inhibited gas production by E. coli through fermentative activity. These findings suggest that the strains tested in this study have potential as novel probiotics to enhance gut health.