Search Results (178)

Background/Objective: Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 is among the most studied probiotic strains for pediatric functional abdominal pain disorders (FAPDs), but prior trials and systematic reviews have reached inconsistent conclusions. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of L. reuteri DSM 17938 in children and adolescents with FAPDs. Methods: This review was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42024618099). PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, CINAHL, and LILACS were searched from inception to 8 April 2026, for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) enrolling children ≤ 18 years with Rome III/IV-defined FAPDs receiving L. reuteri DSM 17938 versus placebo. Random-effects meta-analyses were performed for pain severity, pain frequency, quality of life, and adverse events; risk of bias was assessed with RoB 2 and certainty of evidence with GRADE. Results: Seven RCTs (513 participants) were included. Pain severity showed no significant difference at end of follow-up (SMD −0.58; 95% CI −1.32 to 0.16; I² = 89.3%) but a significant reduction at end of treatment (SMD −0.49; 95% CI −0.93 to −0.06; p = 0.027; I² = 82.0%), an effect not robust to sensitivity analysis. Pain frequency showed no significant difference at end of follow-up (MD −0.15 episodes/week; 95% CI −1.18 to 0.87) or end of treatment. No trial assessed quality of life. Adverse events were reported narratively only. Certainty of evidence was very low for pain outcomes and low for adverse events. Conclusions: Current evidence does not support a consistent beneficial effect of L. reuteri DSM 17938 on pain severity or frequency in pediatric FAPDs, and safety data remain limited. Certainty of evidence was low to very low across outcomes, underscoring the need for larger, methodologically rigorous trials. Full article

Prebiotic potential refers to the stimulation of beneficial bacteria over pathogenic strains. This preliminary study evaluated the prebiotic potential of five agave-derived carbohydrate preparations using lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and Escherichia coli (pathogenic) strains. The tested substrates included commercial inulin, commercial agave syrup, artisanal maguey syrup, aqueous and cooked agave extract. Six Lactobacillus strains (Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lacticaseibacillus casei, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum ATCC 8014, Limosilactobacillus reuteri NRRL B-14171, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum NRRL B-4496, and Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus) were evaluated against E. coli ATCC 43888 and E. coli clinical isolates. Carbohydrate characterization included analyses of total and reducing carbohydrates and thin-layer chromatography (TLC) to assess the degree of polymerization (DP). Prebiotic Index (PI) and Prebiotic Activity Score (PAS) were calculated to determine selective growth stimulation at 24 and 48 h. TLC analysis revealed two distinct groups: high-molecular-weight compounds (aqueous agave extract and commercial inulin), and low-molecular-weight compounds (cooked agave extract, commercial agave syrup, and artisanal maguey syrup). L. reuteri NRRL B-14171 exhibited the highest PI (approaching 2.0) with aqueous agave extract at 24 h. L. rhamnosus demonstrated superior PAS values across all prebiotic sources, while commercial inulin and artisanal maguey syrup showed the most favorable PAS values against clinical E. coli isolates, indicating preferential in vitro growth of LAB over the pathogen. These findings represent preliminary indications of selective carbohydrate utilization by LAB strains under controlled in vitro conditions. Further studies, incorporating digestion resistance, fermentation by complex microbiota, metabolite production, and host-related effects are required before confirming prebiotic functionality. Full article

Although most upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) have a viral etiology, antibiotics are widely prescribed, thus contributing substantially to antimicrobial resistance. This study investigated the potential beneficial effects of a novel strain, Limosilactobacillus reuteri LMG P-27481, against major URT pathobionts (Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Moraxella catarrhalis, and Haemophilus influenzae) with the aim of reducing or delaying antibiotic use. Antibacterial and immunomodulatory activities were evaluated using L. reuteri alone or combined with resveratrol, a natural compound with antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties. Both agents inhibited pathogen growth, while their combination showed additive antibacterial activity, particularly against Gram-negative bacteria. Antioxidant assays demonstrated significant antioxidant capacity for both agents, with enhanced effects in combination in NBT and ABTS assays but antagonistic in ORAC. Immune mediators (IL-6, IL-8, IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-25, IL-33, CCL17, CCL22) were assessed in epidermal, epithelial, and macrophage cell lines, together with epidermal integrity markers (Filaggrin, Loricrin, Involucrin) in a 3D reconstructed human skin model (EpiDermFT^TM). L. reuteri, resveratrol, and their combination exerted cell-specific effects in the different models, modulating cytokine expression and production, and barrier integrity. Our findings support the potential efficacy of oral L. reuteri LMG P-27481 plus resveratrol in URTIs. Full article

Background/Objectives: Diaper dermatitis (DD) is a common dermatological condition that is often exacerbated by antibiotics. Probiotics may restore microbiota balance and influence the incidence of DD. This study aimed to evaluate whether 6 weeks of Limosilactobacillus (L.) reuteri DSM 17938 supplementation during and after antibiotic treatment affects the incidence of DD. Methods: A secondary analysis of a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial that included 89 term neonates treated with antibiotics during the first 3 weeks of life was conducted. Neonates were assigned to receive either a probiotic supplement or a placebo for a total of 6 weeks. DD incidence, onset of DD, and skin care data were collected for 87 infants. Faecal samples were collected 6 weeks after study enrolment to analyse the composition of gut microbiota. Results: Twenty-four (28%) infants developed DD, of whom six (25%) had fungal DD. There was no significant difference in the incidence of DD or fungal DD between the probiotic and placebo groups (30% vs. 25% and 7% in both groups, respectively). Probiotic supplementation had no significant effect on the gut microbiota composition or diversity. In an exploratory binary logistic regression analysis based on six fungal DD events, probiotic supplementation was not associated with fungal DD, whereas breastfeeding was associated with lower odds of fungal DD; however, the overall model was not statistically significant, and this finding should be interpreted with caution because of the small number of events. Conclusions: In this exploratory secondary analysis, supplementation with L. reuteri DSM 17938 was not associated with a reduced incidence of DD or alterations in gut microbiota composition in antibiotic-treated neonates. Breastfeeding was associated with lower odds of fungal DD; however, this finding should be confirmed in larger, adequately powered studies. Full article

Although some lactic acid bacteria species harbor genes encoding α-glucanotransferases (4,6-α-GTase and 4,3-α-GTase), the technological and functional implications of these enzymes within sourdough ecosystems remain poorly understood. This study investigated the effects associated with α-GTase-positive and α-GTase-negative strains of Limosilactobacillus reuteri and L. fermentum on sourdough microbiota, bread quality, and starch digestibility. Starter culture inoculation steered the assembly of the sourdough microbiota, resulting in stable acidification and altered microbial community structures. High-throughput sequencing analysis showed that starter culture addition generally increased taxonomic richness, while Shannon and Simpson diversity indices varied according to strain genotype and inoculation level. Sourdoughs fermented with α-GTase-positive strains exhibited higher viscosity while maintaining shear-thinning behavior, which was putatively linked to in situ enzymatic synthesis. Additionally, inoculation with these strains improved bread specific volume, suggesting a possible structural modification of the starch matrix or the overlapping effects of fermentation metabolites. During storage, the 4,3-α-GTase-positive L. fermentum PFC282 strain delayed the increase in bread hardness, reflecting a possible mitigation of amylopectin retrogradation and indicating a potential anti-staling effect. In addition, the 4,6-α-GTase-positive L. reuteri PFC338 strain produced breads with lower estimated glycemic index values, suggesting a lower susceptibility to enzymatic starch hydrolysis likely due to the hypothesized alterations in structural linkages. Overall, the findings highlight the potential of α-GTase-positive sourdough starter cultures to modulate the technological and nutritional properties of bread. Full article

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are promising oral drug delivery systems due to their probiotic properties, safety, and ability to stimulate mucosal immunity. In this study, we characterized five LAB strains, Lacticaseibacillus casei ATCC 393, Lacticaseibacillus paracasei UST1611, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum UST1611, Limosilactobacillus reuteri LR08, and Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus GG, to assess their potential as a microbial chassis for oral drug delivery. We tested competence for transformation, plasmid stability, GFP expression under a constitutive promoter, survival under simulated gastrointestinal conditions, and survival in the gut of Danio rerio larvae. Successful transformation with the pTRKH3-ermGFP plasmid was achieved in L. casei ATCC 393, L. paracasei UST1611, and L. reuteri LR08. We also showed that the L. casei ATCC 393 strain had significantly higher protein expression than its L. paracasei UST1611 and L. reuteri LR08 counterparts. In the absence of selection, L. casei ATCC 393 and L. paracasei UST1611 retained their plasmid for 48 h. L. reuteri LR08 retained it for up to 72 h. The three transformed strains showed comparable tolerance to simulated gastrointestinal pH, though L. casei and L. reuteri were more resistant to 0.3% greater bile. In vivo testing showed the highest survival for L. casei ATCC 393 and L. paracasei UST1611 in the gut of zebrafish (Danio rerio) larvae. Overall, our results suggest that, among the five strains tested, L. casei ATCC 393 is the most promising candidate for an LAB-based microbial system for oral drug delivery. Full article

Limosilactobacillus reuteri is one of the common lactic acid bacteria in the chicken gastrointestinal tract. Our previous study revealed that L. reuteri abundance declined in White Leghorn chickens following infection with Eimeria tenella, E. maxima, and E. necatrix, suggesting a potential role of this species in gut homeostasis during coccidiosis. In this study, eight L. reuteri strains were isolated from the intestinal tract of White Leghorn chickens. Strain S3 was selected as the most promising candidate after screening for acid and bile tolerance, adhesion ability, antagonism against pathogens. Oral administration of S3 strain at dose of 4 × 10⁷ CFU/bird, 1.2 × 10⁸ CFU/bird or 2 × 10⁸ CFU/bird for 18 days improved average daily gain (ADG) in both White Leghorn chickens and Suqin laying hens. The ADG value in groups treated with 4 × 10⁷ CFU/bird was significantly higher compared to that in the control group (p < 0.05). This treatment did not cause adverse effects on hepatic or renal function, but significantly increased the thymus index in both breeds and the levels of total protein and globulin in Suqin laying hens (p < 0.05). S3 strain also modulated gut microbiota composition in White Leghorn chickens, promoting beneficial lactobacilli colonization in the jejunum and achieving persistent colonization in the cecum. S3 strain selectively increased the proportion of CD3⁺CD4⁺ T lymphocytes in peripheral blood of Suqin laying hens. The anticoccidial efficacy of S3 strain was evaluated in Suqin laying hens challenged with E. tenella, E. maxima, and E. necatrix. The results showed that S3 strain alleviated clinical signs, reduced lesion scores, decreased oocyst output, and attenuated body weight loss. Anticoccidial index (ACI) values were 130.67, 148.06, and 163.40 for E. tenella, E. maxima, and E. necatrix infection, respectively. These results suggest that L. reuteri S3 is a safe chicken-derived probiotic with immunomodulatory and anticoccidial properties, and may serve as a feed additive for coccidiosis control in poultry production. Full article

Background/Objectives: Raffinose is a prebiotic trisaccharide fermented by human gut microbiota, yet the strain-level determinants of its degradation and associated metabolic outputs remain poorly characterized. Methods: In the present study, anaerobic fermentation, 16S rRNA gene amplicon high-throughput sequencing, culturomics, and metabolomics were conducted to address this question. Results: In vitro fermentation of raffinose was performed using fecal samples from 16 healthy donors, and substantial interindividual variation was observed in substrate consumption, microbiota composition, and short-chain fatty acid production. Through culturomics, 204 bacterial strains spanning 18 species were isolated, among which Limosilactobacillus reuteri subsp. reuteri exhibited the highest raffinose-degrading efficiency. Untargeted metabolomics comparing L. reuteri subsp. reuteri cultured on raffinose versus glucose revealed a distinct metabolic shift, with 290 metabolites significantly upregulated, including the putatively identified fructooligosaccharide 1-kestose—a compound with documented prebiotic and anti-inflammatory properties. KEGG enrichment further highlighted coordinated remodeling of nucleotide and amino acid metabolism. Conclusions: Collectively, this study provides a strain-level framework for understanding how raffinose shapes the gut microbiota and identifies L. reuteri subsp. reuteri as a key metabolic hub linking prebiotic consumption to the production of bioactive metabolites. Full article

Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a chronic inflammatory oral disease associated with immune dysregulation and malignant transformation risk. Vitamin D and probiotics may modulate immune and microbial pathways involved in OLP. In this study, we evaluated their effects on clinical outcomes and multi-omics profiles in 25 adult OLP patients (median age: 68 years). Vitamin D-deficient patients received 2000 IU/day vitamin D3, and all participants received a probiotic blend (Limosilactobacillus reuteri LRE11, Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus LR04, and Lacticaseibacillus casei LC04) for 16 weeks. Clinical assessments and analyses of saliva, serum, oral swabs, and stool samples were performed before and after treatment. Clinical outcomes improved significantly, with reductions in lesion number (p < 0.001), lesion size (p = 0.004), and bleeding lesions (p = 0.014); 76% of patients were classified as in remission. Vitamin D levels increased significantly among deficient patients receiving correction (p < 0.01). Salivary and fecal metabolomics showed significant remodeling of amino acid and carbohydrate pathways, including decreases in branched-chain amino acids in saliva and modulation of nicotinamide- and amino acid-related metabolites in feces. Microbiome α-diversity remained stable, whereas β-diversity shifted significantly across oral and fecal sites, with enrichment of Lacticaseibacillus and other context-dependent commensals. Multi-omics integration identified three latent factors linking salivary cytokines, microbial taxa, metabolites, and systemic lipid profiles, suggesting coordinated mucosal–metabolic–immune remodeling across the oral–gut axis. Full article

Background: Skin aging is influenced by intrinsic and extrinsic factors, and growing evidence suggests that nutritional interventions, particularly probiotics, may modulate key biological pathways involved in skin barrier function, hydration, and oxidative stress through the gut–skin axis. Methods: In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial, 66 adults received a probiotic formulation containing Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus LRH020, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum PBS067, and Limosilactobacillus reuteri PBS072 for 56 days, followed by a 28-day follow-up. Skin structure, function, and oxidative status were assessed using 3D profilometry, high-frequency ultrasound, corneometry, transepidermal water loss (TEWL), FRAP assay, and expert clinical scoring. Results: Compared with placebo, the probiotic group showed significant improvements in wrinkle depth (−15.0% at T56), and roughness (−6.1% at T56). Moreover, other skin parameters were significantly enhanced by the end of treatment, including greater skin density, hydration, and antioxidant capacity, alongside a reduction in TEWL. Improvements persisted at follow-up, suggesting a durable, lasting benefit of the probiotic formulation beyond the treatment period. Conclusions: These findings support the role of targeted probiotic supplementation as a promising strategy to improve structural, functional, and oxidative markers of skin aging. Full article

Backgrounds/Objectives: Probiotics confer health-promoting and immunomodulatory effects on the host. However, a lot remains to be understood regarding their safety profile, characteristics and functional mechanisms. This study was conducted to comprehend the functional mechanisms of Limosilactobacillus reuteri isolated from chickens and characterize some of its uncharacterized proteins (hypothetical proteins). Methods: The chicken-isolated Limosilactobacillus reuteri genome, sequenced using Illumina MiSeq sequencing technology, was explored for proteome comparison analyses, comprehensive antibiotic resistance analysis, interleukin-4 (IL-4) expression across various conditions as well as IL-4-inducing potential. Results: Five antibiotic resistance-associated genes were found. Hypothetical proteins labeled QHPv.2.1, QHPv.2.12 and QHPv.2.16 induced IL-4, but QHPv.2.12 was not immunogenic. Immunogenic IL-4-inducing mutants from QHPv.2.1 (0.7013) and QHPv.2.16 (0.7040) had the best support vector machine (SVM) values, which were significantly (p < 0.05) higher than the rest of the group, followed by those from QHPv.2.12 (0.4587). QHPv.2.5 (0.0560) had the lowest value. QHPv.2.1 (5484.71) and QHPv.2.16 (5491.05) had significantly (p < 0.05) larger molecular weights (MWs), followed by QHPv.2.12 (5302.05). The lowest value was obtained for QHPv.2.7 (3386.74). Conclusions: This explorative study revealed the IL-4 inducing capacity of the hypothetical proteins of L. reuteri and their mutants, as well as identified heat and cold shock proteins associated with L. reuteri. Full article

The aquatic plant Wolffia globosa and the probiotic Limosilactobacillus reuteri KUB-AC5 have been proposed as candidate synbiotic components targeting gut microbiota modulation. In this study, we investigated the effects of W. globosa supplementation, alone or in combination with L. reuteri KUB-AC5, on the gut microbiota and health status in healthy adult dogs. For a 28-day feeding trial, 24 healthy dogs were randomly assigned to three dietary treatment groups: control, prebiotic (PRE; 3.5% W. globosa powder), and synbiotic (SYN, 3.5% W. globosa powder combined with L. reuteri KUB-AC5 at 1 × 10⁸ CFU/day). No significant differences were observed in body weight, body condition score, fecal consistency, feed intake, or blood parameters among groups (p > 0.05). Although overall gut microbial diversity remained unchanged, linear discriminant analysis effect size analysis revealed the selective enrichment of specific bacterial taxa. The PRE group exhibited higher relative abundances of Parabacteroides merdae, Romboutsia lituseburensis, Subdoligranulum variabile, and Phocaeicola sartorii, whereas the SYN group showed increased levels of Escherichia coli and Terrisporobacter glycolicus and reduced levels of Anaerobiospirillum succiniciproducens and Campylobacter upsaliensis (p < 0.05). In conclusion, W. globosa, alone or combined with L. reuteri KUB-AC5, was safely used to modulate gut bacterial composition as a potential functional ingredient. Full article

The escalating global concern regarding bacterial antibiotic resistance in animal production has intensified the search for sustainable and effective alternatives to conventional antimicrobials. In this study, two L. reuteri strains (LBM-Ti195 and LBM-Ti173) are isolated from broiler cecal microbiota that were characterized through an integrated approach, combining phenotypic assays with comparative genomic analysis. Both strains exhibited antibacterial activity against relevant veterinary and foodborne pathogens, including Listeria monocytogenes CECT 934, Staphylococcus aureus CECT 239, Clostridium perfringens Type A, and Campylobacter jejuni CCAMP 162. The inhibitory activity anti-S. aureus increased by more than 10% modifying cultivation conditions, while comparative genomic analysis identified an M23-family metallopeptidase as a potential candidate for pathogen inhibition. Phenotypically, both strains produced folate and metabolized fructooligosaccharides (FOS) and inulin, supporting their potential compatibility with synbiotic formulations. Genome reconstruction reinforces these functional findings by revealing a complete predicted de novo folate biosynthesis pathway. In addition, CAZyme annotation identified higher copy numbers of glycosyltransferases GT2 and GT4 compared with the reference strains, suggesting differences in cell-surface carbohydrate metabolism and exopolysaccharide (EPS)-associated traits. Safety profiling revealed no hemolytic activity or conserved virulence factors under the tested conditions. However, phenotypic tetracycline resistance was detected, and in silico analysis identified an acquired tetW gene in a putative plasmid-associated context, highlighting the importance of an in-depth evaluation of strains with probiotic potential. Collectively, these findings position LBM-Ti195 and LBM-Ti173 as promising avian-derived L. reuteri candidates for next-generation zootechnical probiotic development, while highlighting antimicrobial resistance (AMR) mitigation and further functional validation as essential steps toward safe application. Full article

Temperature is a key factor shaping microbial growth and community structure, but the effects of fine-scale temperature differences remain insufficiently characterized. A Peltier-based PCR thermocycler was used as a precise micro-incubation platform (±0.1 °C) to evaluate responses of a commercial lactic acid bacterial starter culture at 1 °C intervals. Starter suspensions were incubated at 3, 4, 5, 36, 37, and 38 °C for 48 h, and species-level community composition was assessed by V3–V4 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Low-temperature conditions produced stable communities, whereas high-temperature conditions induced significant species-level differences among 36–38 °C groups, particularly for Limosilactobacillus reuteri, Limosilactobacillus fermentum, Lactobacillus helveticus, and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum (FDR < 0.01). At 37 °C versus 38 °C, the relative abundance of Limosilactobacillus reuteri increased from 4.56% to 9.31% (a 2.04-fold change), while the relative abundance of Limosilactobacillus fermentum decreased from 64.00% to 48.58%. These results highlight condition-dependent temperature sensitivity in lactic acid bacterial communities, with compositional responses differing markedly between the cold (3–5 °C) and warm (36–38 °C) ranges tested. Full article

Good canine gastrointestinal health depends on the suppression of enteric pathogens and maintenance of epithelial barrier integrity. Limosilactobacillus reuteri ATCC PTA 6127 (Lr6127) is a dog-derived probiotic, but evidence supporting its functional properties remains limited. Here, we evaluated the antimicrobial and epithelial-supportive effects of Lr6127 using a canine epithelial cell model. Cell-free supernatant (CFS) from Lr6127 significantly inhibited the growth of canine-relevant pathogens, including Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (52.0 ± 1.3%), Clostridium perfringens (54.0 ± 2.7%), and Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Typhimurium (48.6 ± 1.2%), compared with the medium control (p < 0.0001). Pathogen inhibition increased in a dose-dependent manner with increasing CFS concentration. Untargeted metabolomic analysis revealed enrichment of multiple antimicrobial-associated metabolites, indicating a multi-component profile consistent with pathogen suppression, with genomic analysis supporting the aromatic amino acid-derived metabolite findings. In addition, viable Lr6127 significantly reduced the epithelial adhesion of all the tested pathogens (p < 0.01). Beyond direct antimicrobial effects, Lr6127 CFS promoted epithelial wound healing at later time points, accompanied by the coordinated modulation of proteins associated with cytoskeletal remodeling and barrier repair. Collectively, these findings support the idea that Lr6127 is associated with antimicrobial and epithelial-related effects, highlighting its potential to contribute to epithelial function under controlled in vitro conditions. Full article