title: Ability of Lactobacillus kefiri LKF01 (DSM32079) to colonize the intestinal environment and modify the gut microbiota composition of healthy individuals.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Probiotics have been observed to positively influence the host's health, but to date few data about the ability of probiotics to modify the gut microbiota composition exist.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the ability of Lactobacillus kefiri LKF01 DSM32079 (LKEF) to colonize the intestinal environment of healthy subjects and modify the gut microbiota composition.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty Italian healthy volunteers were randomized in pre-prandial and post-prandial groups. Changes in the gut microbiota composition were detected by using a Next Generation Sequencing technology (Ion Torrent Personal Genome Machine).
  
  
  RESULTS
  L. kefiri was recovered in the feces of all volunteers after one month of probiotic administration, while it was detected only in three subjects belonging to the pre-prandial group and in two subjects belonging to the post-prandial group one month after the end of probiotic consumption. After one month of probiotic oral intake we observed a reduction of Bilophila, Butyricicomonas, Flavonifractor, Oscillibacter and Prevotella. Interestingly, after the end of probiotic administration Bacteroides, Barnesiella, Butyricicomonas, Clostridium, Haemophilus, Oscillibacter, Salmonella, Streptococcus, Subdoligranolum, and Veillonella were significantly reduced if compared to baseline samples.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  L. kefiri LKF01 showed a strong ability to modulate the gut microbiota composition, leading to a significant reduction of several bacterial genera directly involved in the onset of pro-inflammatory response and gastrointestinal diseases.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Technical Sciences for Laboratory Medicine, Department of Biomedical Science for Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Toscano
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Technical Sciences for Laboratory Medicine, Department of Biomedical Science for Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: De Grandi
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, Aldo Moro University of Bari-Giovanni XXIII Hospital, Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Vito Leonardo
authors.initials: VL
authors.lastname: Miniello
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical, Surgical and Dental Science, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mattina
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Technical Sciences for Laboratory Medicine, Department of Biomedical Science for Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy; Laboratory of Clinical Chemistry and Microbiology, IRCCS Galeazzi Orthopaedic Institute, Milan, Italy. Electronic address: lorenzo.drago@unimi.it.
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Drago
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D000069196:Gastrointestinal Microbiome; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D059014:High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing; D006801:Humans; D007422:Intestines / Q000382:microbiology; D007778:Lactobacillus; D008297:Male; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D008875:Middle Aged; D019936:Probiotics / Q000008:administration & dosage*
keywords: Intestinal microbiota; Probiotics