Probiotic and Postbiotic Potentials of <i>Enterococcus faecalis</i> EF-2001: A Safety Assessment
Background: Probiotics, which are live microorganisms that, when given in sufficient quantities, promote the host's health, have drawn a lot of interest for their ability to enhance gut health. <i>Enterococcus faecalis</i>, a member of the human gut microbiota, has shown promise as...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Book |
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MDPI AG,
2024-10-01T00:00:00Z.
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| Summary: | Background: Probiotics, which are live microorganisms that, when given in sufficient quantities, promote the host's health, have drawn a lot of interest for their ability to enhance gut health. <i>Enterococcus faecalis</i>, a member of the human gut microbiota, has shown promise as a probiotic candidate due to its functional attributes. However, safety concerns associated with certain strains warrant comprehensive evaluation before therapeutic application. Materials and Methods: In this study, <i>E. faecalis</i> EF-2001, originally isolated from fecal samples of a healthy human infant, was subjected to a multi-faceted assessment for its safety and probiotic potential. In silico analysis, CAZyme, biosynthetic, and stress-responsive proteins were identified. Results: The genome lacked biogenic amine genes but contained some essential amino acid and vitamin synthetic genes, and carbohydrate-related enzymes essential for probiotic properties. The negligible difference of 0.03% between the 1<sup>st</sup> and 25<sup>th</sup> generations indicates that the genetic information of the <i>E. faecalis</i> EF-2001 genome remained stable. The live <i>E. faecalis</i> EF-2001 (<i>E. faecalis</i> EF-2001L) demonstrated low or no virulence potential, minimal D-Lactate production, and susceptibility to most antibiotics except some aminoglycosides. No bile salt deconjugation or biogenic amine production was observed in an in vitro assay. Hemolytic activity assessment showed a β-hemolytic pattern, indicating no red blood cell lysis. Furthermore, the EF-2001L did not produce gelatinase and tolerated simulated gastric and intestinal fluids in an in vitro study. Similarly, heat-killed <i>E. faecalis</i> EF-2001 (<i>E. faecalis</i> EF-2001HK) exhibits tolerance in both acid and base conditions in vitro. Further, no cytotoxicity of postbiotic EF-2001HK was observed in human colorectal adenocarcinoma HT-29 cells. Conclusions: These potential properties suggest that probiotic and postbiotic <i>E. faecalis</i> EF-2001 could be considered safe and retain metabolic activity suitable for human consumption. |
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| Item Description: | 10.3390/ph17101383 1424-8247 |