title: Distinct adhesion of probiotic strain Lactobacillus casei ATCC 393 to rat intestinal mucosa.
abstract: Adhesion to the intestine represents a critical parameter for probiotic action. In this study, the adhesion ability of Lactobacillus casei ATCC 393 to the gastrointestinal tract of Wistar rats was examined after single and daily administration of fermented milk containing either free or immobilized cells on apple pieces. The adhesion of the probiotic cells at the large intestine (cecum and colon) was recorded at levels ≥6 logCFU/g (suggested minimum levels for conferring a probiotic effect) following daily administration for 7 days by combining microbiological and strain-specific multiplex PCR analysis. Single dose administration resulted in slightly reduced counts (5 logCFU/g), while they were lower at the small intestine (duodenum, jejunum, ileum) (≤3 logCFU/g), indicating that adhesion was a targeted process. Of note, the levels of L. casei ATCC 393 were enhanced in the cecal and colon fluids both at single and daily administration of immobilized cells (6 and 7 logCFU/g, respectively). The adhesion of the GI tract was transient and thus daily consumption of probiotic products containing the specific strain is suggested as an important prerequisite for retaining its levels at an effective concentration.
authors.affiliation: Applied Microbiology and Molecular Biotechnology Research Group, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Democritus University of Thrace, Dragana, Alexandroupolis, Greece.
authors.forename: Georgia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Saxami
authors.forename: Petros
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ypsilantis
authors.forename: Marianthi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sidira
authors.forename: Constantinos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Simopoulos
authors.forename: Yiannis
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kourkoutas
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Galanis
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001422:Bacterial Adhesion; D058491:Bacterial Load; D043302:Cultured Milk Products / Q000382:microbiology; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000382:microbiology*; D007420:Intestine, Large / Q000382:microbiology; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000382:microbiology; D007780:Lacticaseibacillus casei / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D027845:Malus; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D019936:Probiotics / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial