PROBIOTIC ATTRIBUTES OF THE NEWLY ISOLATED LACTIC ACID BACTERIA FROM INFANTS’GUT

Abstract

The gut microbiota intimately interacts with the host and influences physiological, metabolic, genetic, and immunological attributes. In the current study, analysis of fecal samples from healthy breast fed infants showed that lactic acid bacteria constitute the most abundant bacterial spp. in the infant gut (Lactobacillus plantarum being the most predominant) contrary to the established reports that Bifidobacterium spp. are mostly predominant in the infants’ gut. Evaluation of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) isolates for important probiotic characteristics showed that several of the isolates were well equipped with desirable probiotic attribute viz. ability to grow at the gut pH, and at high NaCl, bile and phenol concentrations. Some of the LAB isolates expressed functional properties like high hydrophobicity, cholesterol lowering ability, exopolysacharide producing ability, and antimicrobial potential against human pathogens. Three LAB isolates found to be superlative on probiotics attributes were identified as Enterococcus faecium FS-1.1, E. faecium FS-2.0, and E. faecium FS-4.0, based on 16S rDNA sequence analysis. Furthermore, the fecal samples of breast fed infants showed lower level of β-glucuronidase and higher level of β-glucosidase as compared to the formula fed infants, thus, reflecting the importance of breast-feeding towards general health and well being of infants.