title: Influence of Bacillus subtilis C-3102 on microbiota in a dynamic in vitro model of the gastrointestinal tract simulating human conditions.
abstract: Survival and germination rate of Bacillus subtilis C-3102 spores were investigated in a stomach and small intestine model (TIM-1), while the impact of C-3102 cells that had passed through TIM-1 on human colon microbiota was evaluated in a model of the large intestine (TIM-2). The survival of C-3102 spores in TIM-1 was 99%; 8% of the spores had germinated. Effluent of TIM-1 was subsequently introduced into TIM-2 and a micro-array platform was employed to assess changes in the microbiota composition. The effluent, which contained germinated C-3102 cells, increased some Bifidobacterium species and decreased some Clostridium groups. These changes were greater compared to those obtained by adding C-3102 spores directly to TIM-2. The present study suggests that oral doses of B. subtilis C-3102 spores have the potential to modulate the human colon microbiota. This effect may be caused by germination of the spores in the gastrointestinal tract.
authors.affiliation: Microbiology and Fermentation Laboratory, Calpis Co. Ltd, 11-10, 5-Chome, Fuchinobe, Chuo-ku, 252-0206 Sagamiharashi, Kanagawa, Japan. misaki.hatanaka@calpis.co.jp
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hatanaka
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.forename: A J H
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Maathuis
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Venema
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Murota
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
mesh_terms: D001412:Bacillus subtilis / Q000254:growth & development*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002460:Cell Line; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D054892:Metagenome; D050296:Microbial Viability; D008954:Models, Biological; D013171:Spores, Bacterial / Q000254:growth & development