Beneficial microbes最新文献

{"title":"Potential transfer of orally administered probiotics to the upper respiratory tract in children with otitis media with effusion.","authors":"J Van Malderen, I De Boeck, M F L van den Broek, M Hiel, J Jörissen, I Tuyaerts, S Bakelants, I Spacova, O M Vanderveken, A N Boudewyns, S Lebeer","doi":"10.1163/18762891-bja00130","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1163/18762891-bja00130","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The upper respiratory tract (URT) microbiome is increasingly recognised as a key determinant of airway health, yet the potential of probiotics to beneficially modulate these communities remains largely unexplored, despite the high burden of URT infections such as otitis media (OM). This randomised controlled trial investigated the migration of two model probiotic strains, Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus GG and Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BB-12, to different URT niches in 37 children with otitis media with effusion (OME) treated daily with oral oil drops for one month. URT samples from the adenoids, and nasopharynx were analysed with species-specific qRT-PCR and 16S amplicon sequencing. L. rhamnosus GG-like bacteria were detected in 4/19 of treated patients compared to 0/18 in the control group. Probiotic treatment with oral oil droplets modestly increased the prevalence of L. rhamnosus GG-like bacteria in the nasopharynx and adenoids (from 0% to 16.67% and 15.79% respectively), and a slight positive association was observed with the abundance of Dolosigranulum pigrum (effect size = 0.13). Interestingly, other factors, such as maternal antibiotic use after birth, were associated with a notable higher abundance of Moraxella catarrhalis/nonliquefaciens (Maaslin effect size = 5.10), and a lower abundance of Streptococcus pneumoniae/pseudopneumoniae (Maaslin effect size = -2.27). In conclusion, this study suggests that oral probiotics might modulate the URT microbiome in ways relevant to OM, although the magnitude and direction of effects likely depend on the specific strains used. The trial was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov under B300201731908.</p>","PeriodicalId":8834,"journal":{"name":"Beneficial microbes","volume":" ","pages":"1-13"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-09-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149023827","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Age-associated Akkermansia muciniphila decline links to brown adipose tissue aging: AKK supplementation improves BAT metabolic function.","authors":"S Wang, S Cai, T Tang, X Long, X Cui, M Li, H Zhong, Y Hu","doi":"10.1163/18762891-bja00135","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1163/18762891-bja00135","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Aging is associated with metabolic decline, brown adipose tissue (BAT) dysfunction, and remodelling of the gut microbiota. Akkermansia muciniphila (AKK) has been implicated in metabolic regulation; however, its relationship with BAT aging remains unclear. This study aims to investigate whether age-associated AKK depletion is linked to BAT aging and whether AKK supplementation attenuates aging phenotypes in BAT. Male mice aged 7 weeks, 7 months, and 11 months were analysed to characterise age-related changes in gut microbiota and BAT. 16S rRNA sequencing was performed to assess microbial composition. BAT morphology, thermogenic gene expression, and senescence markers were evaluated by histology, immunofluorescence, western blotting, and quantitative PCR. In a separate experiment, 11-month-old mice received live AKK supplementation for 30 days. Analysis of covariance was conducted to adjust for body weight where appropriate. Aging was accompanied by reduced microbial diversity and progressive depletion of AKK. BAT from older mice exhibited increased expression of senescence-associated genes, enlarged lipid droplets, and reduced thermogenic markers. AKK abundance was negatively correlated with BAT senescence markers. Supplementation with live AKK in middle-aged mice was associated with reduced Cdkn1a expression and increased thermogenic gene expression in BAT. These associations remained significant after adjustment for body weight. Aging in mice is accompanied by gut microbiota remodelling characterised by AKK decline and concurrent BAT aging phenotypes. AKK supplementation is associated with partial attenuation of BAT aging markers. These findings support a link between age-related microbial shifts and adipose tissue aging.</p>","PeriodicalId":8834,"journal":{"name":"Beneficial microbes","volume":" ","pages":"1-14"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-09-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149015515","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Limosilactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 versus Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus GG for paediatric functional abdominal pain: A quasi-experimental analysis.","authors":"V Selvaraj, S Venkat, A Jayakumar, V Kandasamy","doi":"10.1163/18762891-bja00136","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1163/18762891-bja00136","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Functional abdominal pain disorders (FAPDs) are common in children and are associated with alterations in the gut-brain axis and intestinal microbiota. Although individual probiotic strains such as Limosilactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 and Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus GG have demonstrated efficacy over placebo, direct comparative evidence between strains is limited. This prospective quasi-experimental analysis with blinded outcome assessment was conducted at a tertiary care centre in South India between January 2025 and March 2026. Children aged 5-12 years diagnosed with Functional Abdominal Pain-Not Otherwise Specified (FAP-NOS) according to Rome IV criteria were randomised (1:1) to receive either L. reuteri DSM 17938 or L. rhamnosus GG for two months. The primary outcome was reduction in monthly pain frequency at two months. Secondary outcomes included reduction in pain intensity and school absenteeism with a six-month follow-up. A total of 124 children were randomised, with 100 completing the study per protocol. Both groups showed significant reductions in pain frequency from baseline to two months (P-value < 0.001). Median pain frequency decreased from 5.00 to 2.00 episodes/month in the L. reuteri group and from 6.00 to 1.00 in the L. rhamnosus group, with no significant between-group difference (P-value = 0.784). Pain intensity and school absenteeism also significantly decreased within groups without intergroup difference. Improvements were sustained at six-month follow-up. Both L. reuteri DSM 17938 and L. rhamnosus GG demonstrate comparable effectiveness in reducing pain frequency, pain intensity and school absenteeism in children with FAP-NOS, with sustained benefits. The trial is registered at Clinical Trials Registry-India under CTRI/2025/01/079050.</p>","PeriodicalId":8834,"journal":{"name":"Beneficial microbes","volume":" ","pages":"1-10"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-09-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148988156","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The effects of three non-caloric sweeteners on the gut microbiota composition and activity of individuals with overweight or obesity in an in vitro model of the colon.","authors":"M Maurer Sost, J J A J Bastings, A Umanets, J A Harrold, J C G Halford, A Raben, K Venema, E E Blaak","doi":"10.1163/18762891-bja00133","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1163/18762891-bja00133","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The consumption of sweeteners and sweetness enhancers (S&SE) has increased over the past decades. Recent literature indicates controversies regarding the safety of sweetener consumption, concerning effects on gut microbial composition and related adverse alterations in metabolic health. In the present study, we aimed to determine the effects of three non-caloric sweeteners (saccharin, sucralose, and stevia rebaudioside A) on the composition and functionality of the gut microbiota using a validated in vitro model of the human colon. Over a 72 h intervention period, pooled microbiota from individuals with overweight was cultivated in a simulated ileal efflux medium (SIEM) with a standard carbohydrate mix (control) or one of the three sweeteners. Gut microbial composition was determined in lumen samples, and organic acid concentrations were measured in lumen and dialysis samples. There were no significant differences in alpha and beta diversities between S&SE or SIEM over time. Both saccharin and sucralose increased the abundance of potential SCFA-producing bacterial genera, such as Oscillospiraceae_003, undetermined genus belonging to Ruminococcaceae family, Barnesiella, Butyricicoccus, and Coprobacter, compared to the control condition, but changes were not significant after multiple testing adjustment. However, the highest SCFA production was observed in SIEM in comparision with the S&SE tested (208.0 mmol for SIEM vs. 134.9 mmol for sucralose, 124.8 mmol for rebaudioside A, and 115.5 mmol for saccharin). Although SCFA levels were lower in gut microbiota exposed to S&SE than under SIEM, SCFA production increased over time across all S&SE products. Among the S&SE, sucralose yielded the highest concentrations of acetate (50.4 mmol), short-chain fatty acids (134.9 mmol) and branched-chain fatty acids (11.5 mmol). There are distinct effects of non-caloric S&SE on gut microbiota composition and function. Future research should determine whether these effects can be translated to in vivo conditions and investigate the link to metabolic health.</p>","PeriodicalId":8834,"journal":{"name":"Beneficial microbes","volume":" ","pages":"1-17"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-08-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148787380","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Study on the regulatory effect of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BLa80 on immune function of healthy mice and pathogenicity in animals.","authors":"Y Liu, J Wang, Y Gao, Y Chen, F Xu","doi":"10.1163/18762891-bja00132","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1163/18762891-bja00132","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Bifidobacteria are known for their health-promoting effects, particularly in the context of gut microbiota modulation and immune system support. Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BLa80 is a novel probiotic strain isolated from human breast milk. This article evaluates the immunomodulatory effects of BLa80 on healthy mice through indicators such as cellular immunity, humoral immunity, monocyte-macrophage phagocytic function, natural killer cell activity, and immunoglobulins in serum. Concurrently, animal pathogenicity tests were conducted to complement earlier safety studies of BLa80. The mice were treated with low, middle and high doses (12.5, 25, 75 mg/kg BW; 0.25 × 106, 0.5 × 106, 1.5 × 106 cfu/d) of BLa80 solution for 30 days. Body weight, organ-to-body weight ratio, cellular immune function (delayed-type hypersensitivity and lymphocyte transformation), humoral immune function (antibody-forming cell and serum haemolysin), monocyte-macrophage phagocytic function (monocyte-macrophage carbon clearance, Peritoneal macrophage phagocytosis of chicken red blood cells) and natural killer cell activity were observed and recorded. Additionally, the contents of IgG, IgM and IgA in serum of mice, as well as the concentrations of cAMP and cGMP in the spleen and serum, were detected. Healthy mice were administered a certain dose of BLa80 solution through both intraperitoneal injection (BLa80 Group: 1 × 107 cfu/d) and oral gavage (BLa80 Group: 1 × 108 cfu/d, 5 × Concentrated BLa80: 5 × 108 cfu/d). After the mice consumed the BLa80 solution, their general health condition, body weight, and mortality were observed and recorded daily. Compared with the blank control group, the haemolysis values of the middle and high dose groups were significantly different ( P < 0.05), and the monocyte-macrophage carbon clearance values of each dose group were significantly different ( P < 0.05). The carbon clearance phagocytic index in all three dosage groups was better than that in the blank control group. Additionally, the IgM levels in all three dosage groups were higher than those in the blank control group, with the high-dose group showing a significant difference compared to the blank control group ( P < 0.05). During the 21-day observation period, the test substance had no adverse effects on the general health of the mice, and there was no statistically significant difference in weight and other indicators compared to the control group ( P < 0.05), with no deaths observed among the mice. Based on the 'Testing and Evaluation Methods for Health Food Functions (2023 Version)', it is determined that Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BLa80 can enhance the immune function of healthy mice. Concurrently, according to the 'Guidelines on Safety Assessment and Evaluation of Microbial Strains Used as Health Food Raw Materials (2020 Edition, Appendix A)', BLa80 is determined to be non-pathogenic to animals.</p>","PeriodicalId":8834,"journal":{"name":"Beneficial microbes","volume":" ","pages":"1-14"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-08-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148787258","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Clinical, microbiological, and immune marker improvement with adjunctive vaginal-spray spore-forming probiotics in women with vaginal infections.","authors":"H T Mai, C C Nguyen, T T B Nguyen, H T N Vo, T T Pham, N T Nguyen, N T Nguyen, H L Doan, H T Vu, M D Nguyen, N T B Nguyen, H T K Ta, A H Nguyen, T D Pham, V C Tran, A T V Nguyen","doi":"10.1163/18762891-bja00131","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1163/18762891-bja00131","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Symptomatic vaginal and cervicovaginal conditions include bacterial vaginosis (BV), vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC), and other sexually transmitted infection (STI)-related conditions with overlapping clinical features. Adjunctive probiotic therapies are increasingly explored to complement standard antimicrobial treatment. This randomised, double-blind, controlled trial examined clinical, microbiological, and immune marker patterns associated with the adjunctive use of vaginal-spray spore-forming probiotics (LiveSpo X-Secret; Bacillus subtilis ANA46, Bacillus clausii ANA39, Heyndrickxia coagulans ANA40; 1 × 109 cfu/ml) in women with BV, VVC, and STI-related co-infections. A total of 120 symptomatic women were randomised (1:1; n = 60 per group) to receive either physiological saline spray (Control) or probiotic spray (LiveSpo X-Secret) for 28 days, in addition to standard treatment. Outcomes included clinical signs and symptoms, pathogen positivity and relative load (real-time PCR), vaginal microbiota composition (16S rRNA sequencing), and IL-1β, IL-8, and secretory IgA (ELISA) at days 7 and 28 versus baseline. No adverse events were reported. Symptom improvement was observed from day 7. By day 28, the X-Secret group showed a substantial reduction in the proportion of patients with ≥3 symptoms/signs (from 68.18% to 4.55%; OR = 6.42, P = 0.0147). Multi-pathogen positivity decreased from 50 to 11.36%. Gardnerella vaginalis relative load decreased 275-fold more in the X-Secret group than in the Control group, calculated based on 2ΔCt ( P = 0.0185). Stratified subsample microbiome analysis indicated increased lactobacilli dominance and reduced dysbiosis-associated genera (Prevotella, Gardnerella). IL-1β and IL-8 levels decreased by 62.98% ( P < 0.0001) and 42.95% ( P = 0.0002), respectively, while sIgA increased by 65.67% ( P < 0.0001). In summary, this two-arm randomised study describes clinical, microbiological, and immune marker patterns associated with adjunctive vaginal-spray Bacillus spore probiotic versus saline spray, both in combination with standard treatment. While causal inferences cannot be drawn, these findings highlight the need for further aetiology-specific and longer-term studies. The trial was prospectively registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT06165354).</p>","PeriodicalId":8834,"journal":{"name":"Beneficial microbes","volume":" ","pages":"1-21"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-08-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148787844","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A high-fibre snack containing Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus GG for healthy adults: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial.","authors":"G Saiz-Gonzalo, A W Al-Humadi, S McSweeney, C W le Roux, S B Bleiel","doi":"10.1163/18762891-bja00126","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1163/18762891-bja00126","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Probiotics have gained increasing evidence for their roles in health and disease. Microencapsulation can improve the consistency and efficacy of probiotic-fortified foods by enabling safer delivery to target regions of the gastrointestinal tract. We evaluated a probiotic snack bite containing microencapsulated Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus GG. Twenty-five healthy adults consumed one snack daily for 28 days, then a 7-day washout, followed by crossover. Outcomes included gastrointestinal health analysis, bowel movement ease and frequency, bloating, overall gut comfort, shotgun metagenomics and systemic biomarkers of barrier, brain function and inflammation. Compared with the lower-fibre control snack, the probiotic snack was associated with easier bowel movements and fewer constipation reports at end of period, while bloating remained low in both periods. However, because the products differed in nutritional composition, these findings cannot be attributed to L. rhamnosus GG alone inflammatory and barrier biomarkers did not differ between treatments and stayed within healthy ranges. In an exploratory subgroup with elevated baseline serotonin, end-of-period serotonin was lower after the probiotic-containing snack than after the control snack, whereas brain-derived neurotrophic factor was unchanged. Daily intake of microencapsulated Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus GG was well tolerated and was associated with exploratory difference in bowel habit and serum serotonin in a subgroup, without detectable changes in systemic inflammation or barrier biomarkers.</p>","PeriodicalId":8834,"journal":{"name":"Beneficial microbes","volume":" ","pages":"1-19"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-08-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148817341","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Improvement effect of synbiotics intake on stool frequency in constipation-prone healthy participants: placebo-controlled, randomised, double-blind, parallel-group comparison.","authors":"T Shima, C Kaga, Y Kado, R Date, K Shimamoto, S Tajima, H Makino, K Shimizu, M Katto, A Kato, H Tsuji, S Matsumoto","doi":"10.1163/18762891-bja00134","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1163/18762891-bja00134","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Synbiotics exert various physiological effects by complementing the physiological functions of both probiotics and prebiotics. Chronic constipation is a prevalent global health concern, and despite several clinical studies utilising synbiotics, definitive conclusions regarding its efficacy remain elusive. This study aimed to investigate the effect of a synbiotic combination of Lacticaseibacillus paracasei strain Shirota (LcS: formerly known as Lactobacillus casei strain Shirota) and galactooligosaccharides (GOS), both of which independently improve defecation symptoms, on defecation frequency in constipation-prone healthy Japanese adults. This study employed a placebo-controlled, randomised, double-blind, parallel-group comparison design over a 4-week consecutive intake period. The primary objective was to evaluate the efficacy of the synbiotic intervention on bowel movement frequency in healthy adults prone to constipation. The synbiotic group exhibited a significantly increased defecation frequency at week 2 ( P = 0.048) but not at week 4, whereas the number of defecation days showed only a trend at week 2 ( P = 0.058). This represents a key limitation of this study. A significant positive correlation was observed between faecal LcS counts and defecation parameters in the synbiotic group, with no equivalent correlation observed for endogenous Lactobacillaceae in either group. This suggests a strain-specific effect of LcS beyond a general class effect of Lactobacillaceae. Additionally, increases in faecal Bifidobacterium counts and a decrease in isobutyric and isovaleric acid levels were observed along with improvements in defecation-related symptoms. These findings suggest that the combination of LcS and GOS may contribute to improvements in constipation-related outcomes in healthy individuals prone to constipation. The study was registered by the University Hospital Medical Information Network: registration number: UMIN000039236.</p>","PeriodicalId":8834,"journal":{"name":"Beneficial microbes","volume":" ","pages":"1-15"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-08-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148787839","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Immunomodulatory effect of molecules secreted by the probiotic strain of Escherichia coli O83:K24:H31.","authors":"V Černý, A Inic-Kanada, E Krčmářová, E Protivová, O Novotná, P Petrásková, L Súkenı́ková, M Kuzma, I Schabussova, J Hrdý","doi":"10.1163/18762891-bja00127","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1163/18762891-bja00127","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Bacteria and their metabolic products profoundly affect the immune system. Research has shown that early postnatal supplementation with specific probiotic strains, such as Escherichia coli O83:K24:H31 (EcO83), can provide health benefits. EcO83 is a facultative anaerobe capable of generating energy through multiple metabolic pathways, an adaptation that allows it to thrive in the gastrointestinal tract, where oxygen availability can vary. However, the precise mechanisms through which this probiotic, and in particular its metabolites, functions remain largely unknown. Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) represent an important class of metabolites with known immunoregulatory effects. In this exploratory study, we aimed to test the impact of aerobic and anaerobic conditions on SCFA production and evaluate the immunomodulatory capacity of postbiotics derived from EcO83 under aerobic and anaerobic conditions on human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), mouse splenocytes, and bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDCs) in vitro. Our results revealed that supernatants from aerobic cultures preferentially induced Th1 cytokines, such as IFN-γ, in PBMCs, whereas those from anaerobic cultures more prominently triggered the Th2 cytokine IL-13. Similarly, murine splenocytes produced more IFN-γ when stimulated with aerobic supernatants. Additionally, both aerobic and anaerobic EcO83 supernatants promoted the release of proinflammatory (TNF-α) and anti-inflammatory (IL-10) cytokines from BMDCs, as well as their maturation, evidenced by upregulation of the surface marker CD80. We detected SCFA, specifically acetate and propionate, in the supernatants of both aerobic and anaerobic EcO83 cultures, with no statistically significant differences between them. In conclusion, our findings suggest that probiotics may exert beneficial effects through the content of their secreted supernatants rather than solely through the presence of bacterial cells, highlighting the potential of such preparations and their component molecules as a postbiotic therapeutic solution. To our knowledge, this is the first report demonstrating that EcO83 produces SCFAs, including acetate and propionate, under different oxygen conditions.</p>","PeriodicalId":8834,"journal":{"name":"Beneficial microbes","volume":" ","pages":"1-20"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-08-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148787897","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The immunomodulatory effects of Bifidobacterium lactis XLTG11 on cyclophosphamide-induced immune dysfunction in mice.","authors":"S Zhang, L Lian, H Yu, Y Zhao, Y Wang, H Bian, S Yu, W Ma, L Huang","doi":"10.1163/18762891-bja00128","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1163/18762891-bja00128","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Previous studies have demonstrated that Bifidobacterium lactis (B. lactis) XLTG11 exerts significant immunomodulatory effects. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. To investigate these mechanisms, BALB/c mice were randomly divided into three groups: normal control (NC), model control (MC), and B. lactis XLTG11 (XL) groups. We assessed spleen and thymus indices, jejunal histopathology, leukocyte and IgA cell counts, as well as the levels of interferon (IFN)-γ, interleukin (IL)-2, IL-4, IL-12, and secretory IgA (SIgA) in the small intestine. We also analysed the composition and diversity of the gut microbiota. The results showed that B. lactis XLTG11 restored villus height and crypt depth, thereby alleviating jejunal tissue damage. Furthermore, B. lactis XLTG11 treatment significantly increased the counts of leukocytes, goblet cells, and IgA cells, and elevated the levels of the aforementioned cytokines and SIgA. It also increased thymus indices without affecting spleen indices. Regarding the gut microbiota, B. lactis XLTG11 reduced the Bacillota/Bacteroidota ratio and modulated microbial composition and diversity. Spearman's correlation analysis revealed significant associations between specific microbial taxa and the immune parameters measured above. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that B. lactis XLTG11 can modulate immune function, and the underlying mechanisms involve repairing the intestinal mucosal barrier, regulating the levels of immune cells and cytokines, and maintaining gut microbiota homeostasis.</p>","PeriodicalId":8834,"journal":{"name":"Beneficial microbes","volume":" ","pages":"1-14"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-07-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148560763","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}