GenMont Biotech (Taiwan)

Gut microbiota dysbiosis is increasingly being recognized as a major contributor to host metabolic imbalance, immune dysfunction, and neurophysiological disorders. Probiotics are known to modulate intestinal metabolism and exert systemic effects through the gut–brain axis. Herein, we evaluated the safety and probiotic potential of Pediococcus acidilactici SWP-CGPA01 (SWP-CGPA01) under antibiotic-induced microbiota dysbiosis. Genomic and phenotypic analyses verified its safety profile, supporting its suitability for use in food and nutritional applications. In a mouse model of antibiotic-induced dysbiosis, SWP-CGPA01 supplementation alleviated diarrhea and restored hippocampal brain-derived neurotrophic factor expression. These findings demonstrate that SWP-CGPA01 is a safe and functionally active probiotic with the potential to maintain gastrointestinal and neurotrophic homeostasis under gut microbiota dysbiosis.

Abstract Lead (Pb) toxicity is a global health concern that primarily affects the liver. This study explored the protective effects of lactobacilli against Pb(II)-induced hepatotoxicity in mice. Three strains of lactobacilli— Lacticaseibacillus paracasei GMNL-32, Limosilactobacillus fermentum GMNL-93, and Lacticaseibacillus casei GMNL-277—were evaluated for Pb adsorption and cytoprotective properties. The results indicated that probiotic treatment reduced the liver-to-body weight ratio, aspartate transaminase and alanine transaminase levels, and liver damage without increasing Pb excretion. It also upregulated the expression of gut tight junction proteins, reduced the levels of inflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-6), and modulated the diversity and composition of the gut microbiota. Strong correlations were observed between probiotics, microbial abundance, metabolic pathways, and reduced liver inflammation. Overall, this study suggests that GMNL-32, GMNL-93, and GMNL-277 can mitigate Pb-induced hepatotoxicity by modulating the gut microbiota and regulating metabolism. Thus, these probiotics hold promise as protective agents against Pb-induced hepatotoxicity.

BackgroundBreast milk is a natural treasure for infants, and its microbiota contains a rich array of bacterial species. When breastfeeding is not possible, infant formula with probiotics can be used as a sole source or as a breast milk supplement. The main aim of this study was to evaluate the growth outcomes and tolerance of infants consuming an infant formula containing Bifidobacterium animalis ssp. lactis CP-9 (B. animalis CP-9) or Lactobacillus salivarius AP-32 (L. salivarius AP-32), which were isolated from breast milk and the guts of healthy infants. The safety of these strains in terms of antibiotic resistance and their ability to modulate the gut microbiota were also evaluated.MethodsOne hundred eighty healthy infants were included in this study and separated into three groups: the control group, the L. salivarius AP-32 group, and the B. animalis CP-9 group. In this clinical study, adverse events, growth effects, and the incidence of allergies and gastrointestinal disorders in infants consuming infant formula containing B. animalis CP-9 or L. salivarius AP-32 were evaluated. Finally, the impact of the probiotic infant formula on the gut microbiota was elucidated via next-generation sequencing (NGS) analysis.ResultsThe 4-month interventional study revealed that body weight, recumbent length, and head circumference were similar among the three groups. No adverse events related to the intervention were observed. The microbiota composition was more diverse on day 0 and became more uniform by month 4. B. animalis CP-9 and L. salivarius AP-32 were found to be susceptible to streptomycin, tetracycline, erythromycin, clindamycin, chloramphenicol, and ampicillin.ConclusionsThe use of infant formula containing B. animalis CP-9 and L. salivarius AP-32 was considered safe and well tolerated, with no adverse events observed during the study. While these strains showed low antibiotic resistance and no immediate concerns related to antibiotic resistance genes, further research is needed to comprehensively assess their long-term safety and efficacy and the potential risk of horizontal gene transfer in broader contexts.Trial registrationThe trial was registered with the US Library of Medicine (clinicaltrials.gov) with the number NCT03993301 on 20/06/2019.

Our focus in this study is on the application of the biochip with the feature of three-dimensional TiN nano-electrode arrays, which we have developed to create dielectrophoresis for the capture of specific clinically relevant bacteria. We have provided a capture approach with an efficiency of at least 50% in just 3 minutes through our biochip, potentially reducing the duration of the bacteria identification process.

Rice protein is a suitable alternative protein source for dairy protein in infant formulas on account of its unique nutrition and hypoallergenicity. Rice protein was isolated through enzymatic hydrolysis (Alcalase, papain, bromelain, Flavourzyme®) in combination with high-pressure processing (HPP) (400 MPa for 15 min at 25 °C) to enhance its functional properties and broaden its food processing applications. The effect of the HPP-treated rice protein hydrolysate on dexamethasone (DEX)-induced atrophy in C2C12 myotubes was also studied. The length of myotubes was observed under a light microscope, and periodic acid Schiff staining. The results showed that even though enzymatic hydrolysis and HPP treatment affected the color of the resulting rice protein, the protein content (3120.31 ± 42.15), branched chain amino acid (BCAA) content (15.12 ± 1.03), peptide content (31.25 ± 0.55), and amino acid composition of the rice protein were significantly increased. Moreover, the combined enzymatic and HPP treatment effectively overcame the problem of limited solubility and water-holding capacity. Rice protein produced through enzymatic and HPP treatment exhibited a higher free radical scavenging activity and oxygen radical absorbance capacity. It also alleviated DEX-induced muscle atrophy in C2C12 myotubes as indicated by the increase in myotube length. In short, the enzymatic and HPP treatment of rice protein not only overcame limitations, but also produced rice protein with high functionality in terms of antioxidant and therapeutic effects on muscle atrophy. The rice protein hydrolysate produced through enzymatic hydrolysis and HPP treatment showed the potential for use as an ingredient for functional foods in the nutraceutical industry.