Foods 2025, 14(11), 1851; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods14111851 - 22 May 2025
Abstract
The microbial conversion of inorganic Se into bioactive organoselenium compounds represents a cutting-edge strategy for developing functional foods with enhanced nutritional value. This study introduces Lactiplantibacillus plantarum S1, a novel Se-enriched probiotic strain isolated from traditional Chinese sauerkraut, and systematically optimizes its capacity
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The microbial conversion of inorganic Se into bioactive organoselenium compounds represents a cutting-edge strategy for developing functional foods with enhanced nutritional value. This study introduces Lactiplantibacillus plantarum S1, a novel Se-enriched probiotic strain isolated from traditional Chinese sauerkraut, and systematically optimizes its capacity for selenite biotransformation. Critical fermentation parameters—including sodium selenite supplementation timing (2 μg/mL added at mid-log phase, 7 h post-inoculation), pH (5.0), and anaerobic cultivation duration (12 h)—were identified as key determinants of conversion efficiency. The optimized protocol achieved a 72.3% organoselenium conversion yield, producing 626.6 μg/g cellular organoselenium while maintaining probiotic viability (2.28 × 109 CFU/mL). Se speciation analysis demonstrated that 78.51% of intracellular Se existed in organic forms, with protein-bound Se constituting the predominant fraction (85.33%), followed by polysaccharide-associated (6.42%) and nucleic acid-linked (3.38%) species. The strain’s dual functionality as both an efficient Se bioconverter and a resilient probiotic carrier highlights its potential for nutraceutical applications. These findings not only establish a robust bioprocess for Se-enriched probiotic production but also reveal mechanistic insights into preferential Se incorporation into protein matrices. This work bridges microbial Se metabolism research with scalable functional food innovation, offering a sustainable platform for developing Se-fortified products with dual health benefits.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Beneficial Food Microorganisms: Isolation, Identification, Characterization and Applications)
