Probiotic Bifidobacteria Protect Mice from Lethal Infection with Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli O157:H7

• DOI: 10.1128/iai.72.4.2240-2247.2004
• Publication Date: 2004-03-23T22:43:10Z
• Authors: Takashi Asahara; Kensuke Shimizu; Koji Nomoto; Takashi Hamabata; Ayako Ozawa; Yoshifumi Takeda
• Keywords: Bifidobacterium breve; Bifidobacterium bifidum; Shiga-like toxin; Actinomycetaceae

ABSTRACT The anti-infectious activity of probiotic Bifidobacteria against Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) O157:H7 was examined in a fatal mouse STEC infection model. Stable colonization the murine intestines achieved by oral administration Bifidobacterium breve strain Yakult (naturally resistant to streptomycin sulfate) as long mice were treated with their drinking water (5 mg/ml). pathogenicity infection, characterized marked body weight loss and subsequent death, observed infected controls dramatically inhibited B. -colonized group. Moreover, Stx production cells intestine almost completely A comparison anti-STEC among several strains natural resistance revealed that such bifidum ATCC 15696 catenulatum 27539 T did not confer an activity, despite achieving high population levels similar those effective strains, pseudocatenulatum DSM 20439. produced concentration acetic acid (56 mM) lowered pH (to 6.75) compared control group (acetic concentration, 28 mM; pH, 7.15); these effects thought be related because combination low found inhibit during growth vitro.