In vitro and in vivo examination of anticolonization of pathogens by Lactobacillus paracasei FJ861111.1

Very limited information exists on the exclusion of pathogens by probiotics in the gut of the host challenged with pathogens. In this study, we tested probiotic characteristics in vitro and anticolonization ability of Lactobacillus paracasei FJ861111.1 in mice infected with selected pathogenic microorganisms. The in vitro results indicated that L. paracasei FJ861111.1 had a high survival in acidic conditions at pH 2.5 and bile salt concentration at 0.3%, and strong inhibition ability against common pathogens including Shigella dysenteriae, Staphylococcus aureus, Cronobacter sakazakii, Escherichia coli, and Candida albicans. The cell adhesion assays showed that L. paracasei FJ861111.1 exhibited strong adherence to HT-29 cells and excluded the adhesion of selected food-borne pathogens to HT-29 cells. The in vivo results showed that fermented milk with L. paracasei and viili (a Nordic yogurt product) significantly improved the population of total bacteria and of Lactobacillus in the feces of mice, and significantly inhibited the colonization of C. albicans to the intestines of mice post-C. albicans infection. Thus, it appears that this strain could be used as a probiotic organism for manufacturing functional fermented milk.