title: Effects of Lactobacillus salivarius, Lactobacillus reuteri, and Pediococcus acidilactici on the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans include possible antitumor activity.
abstract: This study examined the effects of three lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strains on the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Lactobacillus salivarius, Lactobacillus reuteri, and Pediococcus acidilactici were found to inhibit the development and growth of the worm. Compared to Escherichia coli used as the control, L. reuteri and P. acidilactici reduced the lifespan of wild-type and short-lived daf-16 worms. On the contrary, L. salivarius extended the lifespan of daf-16 worms when used live, but reduced it as UV-killed bacteria. The three LAB induced the expression of genes involved in pathogen response and inhibited the growth of tumor-like germ cells, without affecting DAF16 localization or increasing corpse cells. Our results suggest the possible use of C. elegans as a model for studying the antitumor attributes of LAB. The negative effects of these LAB strains on the nematode also indicate their potential use against parasitic nematodes.
authors.affiliation: Center of Basic Research II, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, 4 Soranou Ephessiou, 11527 Athens, Greece. mfasseas@ymail.com
authors.forename: Michael K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Fasseas
authors.forename: Costas
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fasseas
authors.forename: Konstantinos C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Mountzouris
authors.forename: Popi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Syntichaki
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000382:microbiology*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000502:physiology; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D005854:Germ Cells / Q000254:growth & development; D007778:Lactobacillus / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D008136:Longevity; D010376:Pediococcus / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D019936:Probiotics