Lactobacillus plantarum—survival, functional and potential probiotic properties in the human intestinal tract

Lactobacillus plantarum is a versatile lactic acid bacterium that is encountered in a range of environmental niches, has a proven ability to survive gastric transit, and can colonize the intestinal tract of human and other mammals. Several studies describe the effects of L. plantarum consumption on human physiology. The availability of the complete genome sequence of L. plantarum WCFS1 makes it a suitable model to explore the molecular mechanisms underlying the targeted intestinal properties of this species. An increasing number of studies address the development of L. plantarum into an ingestible living vaccine. Furthermore, studies are emerging to determine the activity of L. plantarum in the human intestinal tract. This review discusses the studies of the safety and survival of L. plantarum in the human intestinal tract, the effects of this bacterium on the host and it provides an overview of the molecular studies addressing the activity of L. plantarum in the human gut environment.