Screening Probiotics for Anti-Helicobacter pylori and Investigating the Effect of Probiotics on Patients with Helicobacter pylori Infection

Probiotics are natural microbial agents with beneficial properties such as bacteriostatic and anti-infective properties. Lactobacillus plantarum Q21, Q25 and QA85, were isolated from the Chinese specialty fermented food “Jiangshui” and proved to be highly resistant to Helicobacter pylori (p < 0.0001). In vitro results showed that Q21, Q25 and QA85 strongly inhibited H. pylori and could specifically co-aggregate H. pylori in vitro (more than 56%). Strains have the potential to adhere to cells and hinder H. pylori colonization (p < 0.0001). To assess the anti-H. pylori efficacy of strains in vivo, volunteers were recruited and a self-controlled study of probiotic intervention was conducted. Compared to pre-probiotics, volunteers who took Q21, Q25 and QA85 for 1 month showed significant improvement in discomfort, a significant reduction in GSRS scores (p < 0.05), and modulation of inflammatory response (p < 0.05). Q21, Q25 and QA85 resulted in a decreasing trend of H. pylori load in volunteers (454.30 ± 327.00 vs. 328.35 ± 237.19, p = 0.06). However, the strains were not significantly effective in modulating the imbalance of the gut microbiota caused by H. pylori infection. In addition, strains affect metabolic pathways by increasing the levels of O-Phosphoethanolamine and other related metabolites, which may ameliorate associated symptoms. Therefore, Lactobacillus plantarum Q21, Q25 and QA85 can be regarded as a candidate probiotic preparation that exerts direct or indirect anti-H. pylori effects by inhibiting H. pylori activity and colonization, reducing inflammation and discomfort, maintaining homeostasis in the internal environment, affecting the metabolic pathways and repairing the body barrier. They can play a role in relieving H. pylori infection.