title: Lactobacillus acidophilus CRL 1014 improved "gut health" in the SHIME reactor.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  How to maintain "gut health" is a goal for scientists throughout the world. Therefore, microbiota management models for testing probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics have been developed.
  
  
  METHODS
  The SHIME model was used to study the effect of Lactobacillus acidophilus 1014 on the fermentation pattern of the colon microbiota. Initially, an inoculum prepared from human feces was introduced into the reactor vessels and stabilized over 2-wk using a culture medium. This stabilization period was followed by a 2-wk control period during which the microbiota was monitored. The microbiota was then subjected to a 4-wk treatment period by adding 5 mL of sterile peptone water with L. acidophilus CRL1014 at the concentration of 10⁸ CFU/mL to vessel one (the stomach compartment). Plate counts, Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis (DGGE), short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) and ammonium analyses were carried out for monitoring of the microbial community from the colon compartments.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A significant increase (p < 0.01) in the Lactobacillus spp. and Bifidobacterium spp. populations was observed during the treatment period. The DGGE obtained showed changes in the lactobacilli community from the colon compartments of the SHIME reactor. The (SCFA) concentration increased (p < 0.01) during the treatment period, due mainly to significant increased levels of acetic, butyric, and propionic acids. However, ammonium concentrations decreased during the same period (p < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study showed the beneficial influence of L. acidophilus CRL 1014 on microbial metabolism and lactobacilli community composition for improving human health.
authors.forename: Katia
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sivieri
authors.forename: Martha L Villarreal
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Morales
authors.forename: Maria A Tallarico
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Adorno
authors.forename: Isabel Kimiko
authors.initials: IK
authors.lastname: Sakamoto
authors.forename: Susana M Isay
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Saad
authors.forename: Elizeu A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Rossi
mesh_terms: D064751:Ammonium Compounds / Q000032:analysis; D058491:Bacterial Load; D001431:Bacteriological Techniques; D001644:Bifidobacterium / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D003106:Colon / Q000382:microbiology*; D046508:Culture Techniques; D058645:Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis; D005232:Fatty Acids, Volatile / Q000032:analysis; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D005285:Fermentation; D006801:Humans; D007779:Lactobacillus acidophilus / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D019936:Probiotics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D064751:Ammonium Compounds; D005232:Fatty Acids, Volatile