Antagonistic Activity of Bifidobacteria Against Microbial Pathogens

Ibtesam R. Mowafi^1* and Rafat Khalaphallah^2
*Correspondence: Ibtesam R. Mowafi, Department of Agriculture, Food Science and Dairy Technology, South Valley University, 83523 Qena, Egypt, Email:

Keywords

Bifidobacteria • Pathogenic • Antimicrobial • Bacteriocins

Introduction

Probiotics are the microorganisms that including; yeasts, bacteria and moulds that confer many health benefits to the host, when it consumed in sufficient amounts, Nadia et al., 2022. As probiotic bacteria strains belonging to the genus Bifidobacterium in the (GIT) Gastro-intestinal Tract of humans at the time of birth. They are found in adult as well as in young individuals in the great numbers. They can interact with the development of enteric infections by the production of antimicrobial metabolites. Bifidobacterium strains are able to prevent the adhesion of pathogens by means, like production of bacteriocins, organic acids and synthesis of substances that induce immunological responses, Bevilacqua L, et al. [1]. Reports nowadays have revealed that intestinal bifidobacteria produce antimicrobial substances that are active against pathogenic bacteria or microflora such as P. aeruginosa and E. faecalis. Bacteriocins it’s a bactericidal proteinaceous molecule, that produced by probiotic bacteria, the primary target for many of bacteriocins is the cytoplasmic membrane of the sensitive bacteria, and there are other compounds that produced from probiotic bacteria that affect on pathogenic bacteria, Servin AL [2].

Clinical studies showed that usage of antibiotics on neonates causes increasing of risk of colonisation by pathogenic bacteria, Bifidobacterium strains such as (B.longum, B.bifidum, B.animalis) have found to be useful in treating different clinical conditions. And they have the ability to reduce the gut -derived lipopolysaccharide which is related to metabolic diseases and chronic inflammatory. Bifidobacteria is also reported to exhibit the effect of probiotic against Crohn’s disease, Sarkar A and Mandal S, et al. [3]. Among the mechanisms suggested by which the Bifidobacterium strains may act against microbial pathogens, Bifidobacteria is used as biotherapeutic agents. Pharmaceutical preparations of probiotic that contain Bifidobacteria and Lactobacilli are used as biotherapeutic agents. These pharmaceutical preparations have the advantage of providing a stable and reproducible preparation of bacteria, that correspond to the pharmacologically established dose-efficacy of Bifidobacteria [2].The aim of this study is show the antagonism activity of some Bifidobacterium strains (B. angulotum, B. bifidum LMGD10645, B. animalis and B. longum ATCC 15707) against pathogenic bacteria such as P. aeruginosa and E. faecalis.

Materials and Methods

Sample collection

Two bacterial strains were used as indicators to evaluate the antibacterial activity of Bifidobacteria, involving; P. aeruginosa and E. faecalis, the antibacterial activity test was performed using the method described by Armanious AH [4], where, the strains were streaked on the appropriate agar medium for Bifidobacterium strains at Petri dish, cultures were incubated at 37°C for 3 days. Linear growth of the tested bacteria was recorded. If clear zones of inhibition were present on the plates, it is considered a positive result. Untreated control plates were plated with pathogen plugs only. All plates were incubated on adequate growth temperature of the pathogenic bacteria (Tag JR and McGivenN AR [5].

Results and Discussion

Antibacterial activity

Bifidobacteria strains were screened for antibacterial activity against pathogens including P. aeruginosa and E.faecalis. According to their inhibitory effects on pathogens, Bifidobacterium strains were differentiated into three classes:  strong inhibitor, weak inhibitor and with no significant inhibitory effect. The result showed that all of strains have inhibitory effect against P.aeruginosa, among them B. angulotum has strong inhibitory effect against P. aeruginosa, this result; none of the previous studies tried to study it, B. bifidum LMGD10645, have strong inhibitory effect against P. aeruginosa, and B. animalis and B. longum ATCC 15707 have weak inhibitor against P. aeruginosa. These results are agreement with Korshunov VM, et al. [6], Choi YJ and Shin HS [7], Verruck S and Prudencio ES [8], Bevilacqua L, et al. [1] But for E. faecalis, B. angulotum has strong inhibitory effect against E. faecalis, B. bifidum LMGD10645 and B. longum ATCC 15707 have weak inhibitor against E. faecalis but B. animalis has no inhibitory effect against E. faecalis. These results are agreement with Korshunov VM, et al. [6], Choi YJ and Shin HS [7], Verruck S and Prudencio ES [8], Bevilacqua L, et al. [1]. This antibacterial activity exhibited by the strains towards pathogenic bacteria may be due to the production of antimicrobial molecules such as bacteriocins (or bacteriocins - like substances), H₂O₂, lactic, acetic and hydrochloric acids (organic acids), Servin AL [2] and Bevilacqua L, et al. [1].  And by production surfactants – like compounds, Bevilacqua L, et al. [1]. As illustrated in photos from (1 to 6), where Figures 1 and 2 these showed the bifidobacteria alone without pathogenic bacteria, where the bacteria Figure 3 is B. angulotum but Figure 4 is B. bifidum LMGD10645.The Figures 3-5 are showed the antagonism between bifidobacteria against E. faecalis. Where Figure 6 is showed the antagonism between bifidobacteria against P. aeruginosa.

Conclusion

The inhibition activity exhibited by bifidobacteria as illustrated from results exhort that bifidobacteria could be employed as an effective control for nosocomial pathogenic bacteria, and reduce the risk of the devolvement of pathogenic bacteria (P. aeruginosa and E. faecalis).

Acknowledgement

None.

Conflict of Interest

None.

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