Search Results (127)

Background/Objectives: Sleep continuity is a key determinant of daytime functioning; however, accessible and well-tolerated interventions remain limited. We investigated whether Bacillus coagulans IDCC 1201 improves objective sleep continuity and subjective sleep quality in adults with sleep disturbance. Methods: In this 4-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 80 adults (aged 19–65 years) received B. coagulans IDCC 1201 (5.0 × 10⁹ CFU/day) or a placebo; 78 participants completed the study. The primary endpoint was the change in polysomnography-derived sleep efficiency from baseline to week 4. Results: Compared with the placebo, B. coagulans IDCC 1201 significantly improved sleep efficiency (Δ +13.71 ± 21.14 vs. −0.15 ± 13.35%; p = 0.002) and increased sleep duration (total sleep time: Δ +49.56 ± 76.33 vs. −0.50 ± 48.02 min; p = 0.002), accompanied by reduced nocturnal wakefulness (wake after sleep onset: Δ −44.40 ± 72.32 vs. +1.88 ± 44.36 min; p = 0.003; and total wake time: Δ −12.28 ± 20.22 vs. +0.53 ± 12.32 min; p = 0.004). Sleep-stage distribution also favored B. coagulans IDCC 1201, with greater increases in stage 2 and REM duration compared with the placebo (between-group p = 0.008 and 0.032, respectively). Subjective sleep quality showed greater improvement with B. coagulans IDCC 1201 (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index change: Δ −3.67 ± 3.37 vs. −1.64 ± 2.83; p = 0.036), yielding lower week 4 scores (5.87 ± 2.26 vs. 8.28 ± 3.62; p = 0.001). No significant safety concerns were identified. Conclusions: These findings indicate that strain-defined probiotic could be used as a nutritional approach for sleep health, particularly for targeting sleep fragmentation and maintenance. Full article

Background: Shigellosis is an illness that affects young children all over the world and Shigella flexneri is one of the most common pathogens. The aim of this study was to investigate a potential beneficial effect of Weizmannia coagulans Long45 supplementation on feline-derived Shigella flexneri-induced colitis in mice, as well as potential mechanisms. Results: The results revealed that mice receiving fecal microbiota from diarrheic cats experienced significant weight loss, decreased survival rate, increased mRNA levels of inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-4, IFN-γ, IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-18), and increased cell apoptosis compared to the single DSS treatment. In contrast, mice that received fecal microbiota from healthy cats exhibited an increased body weight, increased mRNA level of ZO-1, claudin-3, and Muc2 and decreased apoptosis, indicating a protective effect. The 16S rDNA analysis revealed that the abundance of Shigella in the feces of diarrheic cats was significantly higher than that in healthy cats, while the abundance of Bacillus was lower. Using bacteria culture technology, 19 strains of Shigella flexneri were isolated from 27 fecal samples of diarrheic cats and a strain of Weizmannia coagulans Long45 was isolated from the feces of healthy cats. Further study showed that Weizmannia coagulans Long45 significantly alleviated pathological alterations and colonic barrier dysfunction by modulating the NF-κB and Nrf2 signaling pathways. Conclusions: Our data indicate that feline-derived Shigella flexneri may be a potential pathogen associated with diarrhea and intestinal barrier dysfunction. Weizmannia coagulans Long45, as a potential probiotic, can effectively alleviate Shigella-induced colitis by interfering with the Nrf2 and NF-κB signaling pathways. Full article

The present study evaluated the effects of dietary supplementation with Bacillus coagulans DSM 32016 on growth performance, hematological and biochemical parameters, and nitrogen metabolism in weaned Danube White pigs reared under standard production conditions. While supplementation did not result in statistically significant changes in average daily gain (ADG), feed conversion ratio (FCR), hematological indices, or serum lipid profile, numerical trends indicated slightly higher ADG, improved FCR, and subtle stabilization of hematological parameters in the probiotic supplemented group. Notably, serum urea concentration was significantly reduced (3.78 vs. 3.21 mmol/L; p = 0.017; Cohen’s d = 1.01), suggesting a potential positive effect on nitrogen metabolism and protein utilization efficiency. These findings are consistent with previous reports that probiotics may exert beneficial physiological effects even in the absence of statistically significant systemic changes. The observed trends highlight the potential of Bacillus coagulans to support growth performance and metabolic efficiency in Danube White pigs, emphasizing the importance of breed and age-specific responses in probiotic supplementation. Full article

Probiotics are commonly applied to maintain the balance of gut microbiota and regulate the intestinal metabolic function of companion animals. In the present study, complex probiotics (Bacillus coagulans SNZ-1969, Bacillus subtilis, and Bacillus licheniformis) were added into the basal diet of domestic cats to investigate their influence on the intestinal microbiome and metabolic characteristics. Results revealed that the alpha diversity of the gut microbiota in the probiotic group was enhanced when compared to the control group. The beta diversity of the gut microbiota was also altered by the oral consumption of the complex probiotics. Compared to the control group, the relative abundance of beneficial microbes (such as Clostridium, Bacteroides, Phocaeicola, and Ruminococcus) in the probiotic group was enhanced, while the relative abundance of opportunistic pathogens (such as Escherichia, Gallibacter, Corynebacterium) was decreased. Additionally, the intestinal metabolic characteristics of domestic cats were also changed. The metabolomic analysis identified 408 differential metabolites between the two groups, and the KEGG function pathway analysis proved that the dominant pathway related to the differential metabolites were the amino acid metabolism, lipid metabolism, carbohydrate metabolism, energy metabolism, endocrine system, digestive system, immune system, and other metabolic pathways. Spearman’s correlation analysis revealed that the beneficial microbes had positive correlations with the differential metabolites. In conclusion, the current study demonstrated that oral administration of complex probiotics could regulate overall health and well-being in domestic cats through modulating the gut microbiome and metabolic characteristics. Full article

Probiotics have emerged as an important strategy to achieve improved feed efficiency and carcass quality. To evaluate the effects of a probiotic combination based on Weizmannia faecalis (formerly Bacillus coagulans) and Bacillus licheniformis on broiler performance, carcass, and intestinal health, a study was conducted. As-hatched ROSS 308 broilers were purchased from a local hatchery at day 0 and were randomly allocated to two treatments (160 birds per treatment; 8 replicates of 20 birds each): the control, which was fed a standard commercial diet throughout the experiment, and the probiotics group, where the standard diet was further supplemented with the probiotic combination. Feed and water were offered for ad libitum consumption while the feeding schedule was as follows: Starter, 1–10 days, mash; Grower, 11–24 days, mash; Finisher, 25–42, mash. The birds were challenged using re-used litter as bedding and the application of increased stocking density and mild heat stress. The final body weight of the probiotics’ supplemented group was higher than the control at 42 days of age (2822.7 g vs. 2575.4 g, respectively) (p < 0.05), and the overall feed conversion ratio was significantly reduced. The weight of all the commercial parts increased, along with the thigh and drumstick yield, thus indicating an improvement of carcass composition (p < 0.05). The European Poultry Efficiency Factor significantly improved following the probiotic dietary supplementation (409.7 vs. 344.9 of the control), while the probiotic fed birds had higher antibody titers for Bursal disease at 42 days and lower serum concentration of fatty acid binding protein 2 at 24 days (p < 0.05). Overall, the dietary supplementation of broilers with the probiotic mixture, under challenging rearing conditions, enhanced growth performance and improved carcass composition. Full article

Bacillus coagulans has attracted widespread attention in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome due to its multiple probiotic functions, yet its specific molecular mechanisms remain unclear, and the efficacy of probiotics exhibits significant strain specificity, posing a key bottleneck for practical application. To address this, this study obtained a bile salt-tolerant B. coaguans idrc019 through in vitro screening. This strain demonstrated strong survival and germination in simulated gut conditions, supporting effective intestinal colonization. Further evaluation in an IBS animal model revealed that idrc019 alleviated visceral hypersensitivity and colonic inflammation in a dose-dependent manner. Through enhanced intestinal barrier integrity, microbiota modulation (e.g., Actinobacteria restoration), and elevated metabolites (e.g., kynurenine), the strain exerted IBS-alleviating effects via synchronized immune, microbial, and metabolic regulation. Our findings offer a mechanistically grounded probiotic candidate, underscore functional screening as a critical strategy, and pave the way for clinical application. Full article

The aim of this study was to model the inactivation of Bacillus coagulans vegetative cells subjected to thermal processing (60–90 °C, 1–30 min) and pulsed electric fields (PEF) (11, 15, and 20 kV/cm, up to 0.12 s, 20 Hz, 15 μs pulse width) at different pH environments (4.0 to 7.0) and in real food matrices (peach puree and carrot juice). Microbial survival data were successfully described using the Gompertz model. Thermal experiments confirmed the high heat resistance of B. coagulans, with maximum survival observed at pH 5.0–6.0. PEF treatments were effective in inactivating vegetative cells, with more intense PEF conditions leading to faster inactivation. Complete inactivation was achieved in less than 15 ms at low pH (4.5), while more than 120 ms was required at pH 6.0. Preheating samples to 50–60 °C prior to PEF significantly reduced the PEF processing time needed for full inactivation, by approximately 88%. In food matrices, the inactivation rate in peach puree was twice as high as in carrot juice, but up to 8 times lower than in buffer solutions. Cells were inactivated twice as fast in peach puree as in carrot juice. This study provides quantitative technical parameter references for optimizing non-thermal processing technologies for acidic/weakly acidic fruit and vegetable products. Full article

The incorporation of spore-forming probiotics into thermally processed foods represents a promising strategy to expand functional food availability. In this study, probiotic snacks were formulated from oat and rice-bean matrices as delivery vehicles for Heyndrickxia coagulans (formerly Bacillus coagulans) BC4 spores. The effects of baking and microwave processing, packaging, and storage conditions on spore viability and functionality were evaluated. While oven baking (180 °C) preserved viability in both matrices under mild conditions (survival > 90%), dielectric heating induced significant viability loss depending on the matrix. The starch-based rice-bean matrix, characterized by higher post-processing water activity (Aw), suffered a thermal runaway effect, resulting in significant spore inactivation (viability decreased to 6.08 log colony forming units/g (CFU/g); 1.5 min). Conversely, the oat matrix acted as a thermo-physical stabilizer, maintaining high viability (9.41 log CFU/g; 1.5 min) by limiting dielectric energy absorption via its fiber-lipid composition. Oxidative stress and premature germination likely contributed to the viability loss observed in atmospheric packaging during the 30-day storage. The oat matrix mitigated this effect through a dual-protective mode: active radical scavenging (validated by superior ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP) values) and passive water binding. Simulated digestion data align with the functional preservation observed, resulting in increased survival for oat-based formulations. Overall, the results demonstrate the feasibility of developing oat and rice-bean snacks enriched with H. coagulans spores and highlight the critical role of matrix and processing conditions in preserving probiotic viability. Full article

Weizmannia coagulans has emerged as a prominent probiotic candidate due to its resilience in extreme environments and therapeutic potential for non-gastrointestinal diseases, including obesity, bacterial vaginosis, and irritable bowel syndrome-related depression. This study comprehensively evaluated the probiotic properties, safety profile, and functional characteristics of W. coagulans strains (MA42, P13, and S5) compared with the reference strain W. coagulans ATCC 7050. All tested strains exhibited excellent gastrointestinal survival (>90% viability), superior auto-aggregation (up to 36.60%), hydrophobicity (up to 36.58%), and susceptibility to commonly used antimicrobials. Cell-free culture supernatants showed potent antimicrobial activity against pathogenic bacteria, including Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium TISTR 292, and Bacillus cereus TISTR 747, primarily through organic acid production. Notably, strain MA42 uniquely inhibited the growth of Staphylococcus aureus TISTR 746. All strains showed negative hemolytic activity, confirming their safety profile. W. coagulans MA42 distinguished itself through exceptional metabolic versatility, demonstrating vigorous growth on diverse complex dietary fibers and prebiotics, with significant production of beneficial organic acids, particularly lactic and acetic acids. This superior fermentation capacity correlated directly with elevated extracellular-enzyme activities. Furthermore, all strains maintained excellent viability (>90% recovery) after freeze-drying with maltodextrin as a cryoprotectant, indicating industrial scalability. Full article

Global food security is an increasing challenge due to population growth and the limited availability of natural resources, driving the search for sustainable protein sources. In this context, edible insects such as yellow mealworms (Tenebrio molitor) have emerged as a promising alternative, while probiotics have been widely applied in animal production to enhance growth performance and nutritional quality. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of probiotic supplementation on the growth performance, biomass yield, and nutritional composition of yellow mealworm larvae at laboratory and pilot scales. Three probiotic strains—Bacillus velezensis, Bacillus coagulans, and Pediococcus pentosaceus—were tested at four different dosage levels, using wheat bran and brewer’s spent grain as feed substrates. Larval growth was monitored weekly, and total harvested biomass, proximate composition (dry matter, protein, fat, and ash), amino acid profile, and mineral composition were determined using standardized analytical methods. At the laboratory scale, probiotic supplementation did not result in significant differences in mean larval weight or total biomass (p > 0.05). In contrast, at the pilot scale, significant improvements in larval growth and biomass were observed for specific probiotic treatments, with mean larval weights reaching approximately 140–150 mg and total harvest biomass increases of up to ~15% compared to the control (p < 0.05). Growth curves at both scales followed a sigmoidal pattern with a high correlation between laboratory and pilot experiments (R² = 0.98). Probiotic supplementation did not significantly affect crude protein content, but alterations in fat content, specific amino acid concentrations, and mineral composition were observed at the pilot scale, depending on strain and dosage. Overall, the results demonstrate that probiotic supplementation can enhance yellow mealworm production under pilot-scale conditions, while laboratory-scale trials may not fully capture these effects. These findings highlight the importance of scale when evaluating probiotic strategies and support the potential application of Bacilli-based probiotics to improve the efficiency and nutritional quality of industrial insect production systems. Full article

Lignocellulosic hydrolysate is rich in various fermentable sugars, such as glucose, xylose, and cellobiose. Utilizing these sugars for L-lactic acid fermentation represents a promising strategy for the high-value utilization of biomass. However, when mixed sugars serve as carbon sources, microorganisms typically undergo carbon catabolite repression (CCR) at the initial fermentation stage, which significantly compromises both the yield and productivity of L-lactic acid. To clarify CCR mechanisms and explore effective mitigation strategies, Bacillus coagulans DSM 2314 was used as the fermentative strain, the effects of pH and temperature on fermentation with single and mixed carbon sources were examined, and L-lactic acid yields, productivities, and key enzymatic activities across different fermentation systems were systematically compared. The results showed that in glucose-containing mixed-sugar systems, glucose imposed strong CCR effects on both cellobiose and xylose. Under optimal conditions (initial total sugar concentration of 50 g/L, pH 7.0, and 45 °C), L-lactic acid yields increased in the following order: glucose/xylose (15.58 g/L) < glucose/cellobiose (29.65 g/L) < glucose (31.87 g/L). In contrast, in the glucose-free cellobiose/xylose system, both sugars were nearly co-consumed by B. coagulans DSM 2314, and L-lactic acid production was not significantly diminished by the mixing of carbon sources (xylose (27.45 g/L) < cellobiose/xylose (28.64 g/L) < cellobiose (29.60 g/L)). Under replicated optimal condition experiments, analyses of sugar consumption rates and enzyme activities further confirmed that the CCR between cellobiose and xylose was significantly weaker than in other mixed-sugar systems, with the L-lactic acid yield in the cellobiose/xylose system 1.61-fold higher than in the glucose/xylose system. These findings demonstrate that substituting glucose with cellobiose in mixed-sugar fermentation is an effective approach to mitigating CCR, providing a theoretical basis for efficient L-lactic acid production from lignocellulosic hydrolysates. Full article

Background: Many probiotic strains have been studied in relation to irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The aim of this study was to identify probiotic strains demonstrating efficacy in the management of IBS based on meta-analyses of randomized placebo-controlled trials (RPCTs). Methods: This systematic review was registered in the PROSPERO database (CRD420251047092). Searches were conducted in PubMed and Scopus on 8 April 2025. Additional completed studies with available results were identified through ClinicalTrials.gov. An additional search of the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), including records indexed in EMBASE, was conducted in December 2025 and did not identify any additional studies. RPCTs were included if they evaluated single-strain probiotics without additional active components compared with a placebo in patients with IBS. Studies whose results could not be meta-analyzed were excluded. Results: A total of 2643 records were identified; 32 articles evaluating 10 probiotic strains were included in the meta-analyses. Meta-analyses demonstrated the efficacy of Bifidobacterium longum (formerly Bifidobacterium infantis) 35624, Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum 299v (DSM 9843), Saccharomyces cerevisiae CNCM I-3856, and Bacillus coagulans Unique IS2 (MTCC 5260) in improving key IBS symptoms. Meta-analyses also demonstrated that Bacillus coagulans MTCC 5856 improved quality of life for those with IBS. Conflicting results were observed for Saccharomyces boulardii CNCM I-745. Meta-analyses did not demonstrate the efficacy of Escherichia coli Nissle 1917, Lactobacillus gasseri BNR17, or Lactobacillus casei Shirota. Conclusions: Several probiotic strains demonstrated efficacy in the treatment of IBS in meta-analyses of RPCTs. Full article

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the probiotic impact of Weizmannia faecalis (formerly Bacillus coagulans) DSM 32016 on the performance parameters and intestinal health of broiler chickens reared under high stocking density and mild heat stress conditions. The trial involved 320 day-old ROSS broiler chicks, randomly assigned to two experimental groups (8 pens per group). The control group received a standard commercial diet while the experimental group was supplemented with W. faecalis. At 42 days of age, 24 birds from each group were slaughtered for carcass composition analysis and evaluation of the weight of individual cuts. Probiotic supplementation significantly increased final body weight and improved feed conversion ratio, resulting in a significant increase in drumstick weight and breast meat yield, while the average feeding cost per kg broiler decreased by 5%. Collectively, the probiotic diet supplementation enhanced growth performance, alleviating the adverse effects of high stocking density and thermal stress. Full article

Probiotics, prebiotics, and postbiotics are of interest for their potential gastrointestinal and immunological benefits in pet health. This study aimed to assess whether a unique blend of Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus clausii, Bacillus coagulans (Weizmannia coagulans), FOS, GOS, and a postbiotic yeast extract could provide beneficial gut and immunological effects when fed to healthy, adult dogs. Twenty-four healthy adult beagle dogs (mean age 5.17 yrs) were fed the probiotic, prebiotic, and yeast chew (PPYC) or control chew (CC) supplement for 31 days, accompanied by fecal and blood sampling. Following 31 days, PPYC fed dogs had decreased (p < 0.05) fecal calprotectin concentration, a biomarker indicative of reduced intestinal inflammation, compared with dogs receiving the CC. In the PPYC group, blood C-reactive protein levels, an indicator of tissue inflammation, tended (p = 0.11) to be reduced. In addition, dogs receiving the PPYC supplement showed an increase in the IL-17a cytokine (p < 0.05). Despite dogs being in a clinically healthy state, changes in some dysbiosis-related bacterial strains were observed. There was an increase (p < 0.05) in the % of total bacteria of Blautia in the PPYC group by the end of the study, as well as an increase in the percent change from Day 0 of C. hiranosis (p < 0.05). Increased alpha diversity, a measure related to the resilience to environmental change, was observed in the PPYC group (p < 0.05). These results suggest that after consuming a supplement containing probiotics, prebiotics and a postbiotic yeast extract, markers of gut and systemic health were improved in otherwise healthy dogs. Full article

To investigate the effects of Bacillus coagulans (BC) and tributyrin (TB) on Danzhou chickens, a 2 × 2 factorial design was adopted. A total of 480 chickens were randomly assigned to four dietary treatments, consisting of two BC levels (0 and 1.5 g/kg) and two TB levels (0 and 1.0 g/kg), for a 35-day trial. The results showed that supplementation with BC or TB alone significantly increased the average daily gain (ADG), serum immune parameters (immunoglobulin A, immunoglobulin G, and anti-inflammatory cytokines interleukin-4 and interleukin-10), total antioxidant capacity, and catalase activity, while reducing pro-inflammatory cytokine levels and the feed-to-gain ratio (p < 0.05). In addition, individual supplementation with BC or TB also enhanced digestive enzyme activities in the intestine, increased villus height in the small intestine, and optimized the structure of the cecal microbiota (p < 0.05). More importantly, significant synergistic interactions between BC and TB were observed across multiple parameters (p < 0.05). Combined supplementation further increased ADG, serum immunoglobulin M levels, superoxide dismutase activity, lipase activity in the ileum, and villus height in the jejunum (p < 0.05). Meanwhile, the combined supplementation also significantly elevated the abundance of beneficial bacteria such as Bacteroides, Eubacterium_brachy_group, and Negativibacillus. In conclusion, supplementation with BC or TB effectively improved the growth performance, antioxidant status, immune function, intestinal morphology, and cecal microbiota composition of Danzhou chickens, and the combined supplementation demonstrated superior effects compared to individual supplementation. Full article