How to Grow Probiotics and Postbiotics Using Prebiotics in Liquid Cultures

Jenn Hoskins
10th September, 2024

How to Grow Probiotics and Postbiotics Using Prebiotics in Liquid Cultures

Image Source: Natural Science News, 2024

Key Findings

  • The study from the University of Caxias do Sul found that plant-based extracts can replace animal mucin to grow Akkermansia muciniphila
  • Using kale and mushroom extracts, researchers achieved higher biomass yields of Akkermansia muciniphila than with synthetic media
  • This sustainable method could benefit the food and pharmaceutical industries by providing an efficient way to produce probiotics
The University of Caxias do Sul has recently presented an innovative technology aimed at enhancing the biomass yield of Akkermansia muciniphila, a next-generation probiotic, through the use of prebiotic sources to replace or reduce animal mucin levels[1]. This study is particularly relevant given the increasing interest in sustainable and efficient ways to cultivate beneficial gut bacteria. Akkermansia muciniphila has been recognized for its role in maintaining gut health and its potential therapeutic applications. Akkermansia muciniphila is known for its ability to degrade mucin, a component of the mucus layer in the gut, which supports the microbial community by providing a steady source of nutrients[2]. The bacterium has been identified as a keystone species in the gut, meaning it plays a crucial role in maintaining the structure and function of the microbial ecosystem[3]. However, cultivating this bacterium in large quantities has traditionally required the use of animal-derived mucin, which poses sustainability and ethical challenges. The new study explores the potential of using plant-based extracts to replace animal mucin in the growth media for Akkermansia muciniphila. Specifically, the researchers tested the effects of kale extract (KE) and lyophilized mushroom extract (LME) from Pleurotus ostreatus on the bacterium's growth. The results were promising: the combination of 0.376% KE and 0.423% LME or 1.05% KE and 0.5% LME led to a biomass yield of 3.5 × 10^10 CFU (Colony Forming Units) per mL, which is higher than what was achieved using optimized synthetic media. This finding is significant because it suggests that plant-based extracts can not only substitute for animal mucin but also enhance the growth of Akkermansia muciniphila. This could have important implications for the food and pharmaceutical industries, which are interested in developing sustainable and efficient methods for producing probiotics. The study also ties into broader research on the role of gut bacteria and their metabolites in human health. For example, short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) produced by gut bacteria like Akkermansia muciniphila have been shown to have various beneficial effects, including anti-inflammatory properties and the regulation of blood pressure[4]. This aligns with previous findings that highlight the nonmetabolic functions of SCFAs in maintaining gut health and overall well-being. Moreover, the study's approach to using plant-based prebiotics could be seen as part of a larger trend towards understanding and manipulating the gut microbiome to improve health outcomes. Previous research has shown that metabolites produced by gut bacteria can act as signaling molecules that influence host metabolism and immune function[5]. By optimizing the growth conditions for beneficial bacteria like Akkermansia muciniphila, we can potentially enhance their positive effects on the host. In summary, the University of Caxias do Sul's research offers a sustainable and effective method for increasing the biomass yield of Akkermansia muciniphila using plant-based extracts. This not only addresses the sustainability issues associated with using animal mucin but also opens up new possibilities for the production of probiotics. The study's findings are a valuable addition to the growing body of research on the gut microbiome and its impact on human health.

NutritionHealthBiotech

References

Main Study

1) Strategies for producing probiotic biomass and postbiotics from Akkermansia muciniphila in submerged cultivations incorporating prebiotic sources.

Published 9th September, 2024

Journal: World journal of microbiology & biotechnology

Issue: Vol 40, Issue 10, Sep 2024

Related Studies

2) Deciphering the trophic interaction between Akkermansia muciniphila and the butyrogenic gut commensal Anaerostipes caccae using a metatranscriptomic approach.

https://doi.org/10.1007/s10482-018-1040-x

3) Akkermansia muciniphila gen. nov., sp. nov., a human intestinal mucin-degrading bacterium.

https://doi.org/10.1099/ijs.0.02873-0

4) Short-Chain Carbon Sources: Exploiting Pleiotropic Effects for Heart Failure Therapy.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacbts.2021.12.010

5) Gut microbiota-derived succinate: Friend or foe in human metabolic diseases?

https://doi.org/10.1007/s11154-019-09513-z


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