The results of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum HNU082, a pressure remoted from the standard Chinese language fermented meals Yucha, have been most pronounced within the small gut, the place researchers noticed a lower within the variety of pathogenic fungi, equivalent to Candida albicans.
“Moreover, a powerful optimistic correlation between the relative abundance of bacteriophages and their host micro organism within the intestine was noticed,” wrote researchers from Hainan College in China in BMC Microbiology. “The relative abundance of each Clostridia class micro organism and their bacteriophages elevated.”
How bacteriophages and intestine fungi have an effect on well being
Bacteriophages, often known as phages, are viruses that infect and replicate inside bacterial cells. They’re the Earth’s most ample pure biocontrol brokers, with functions within the meals business and gastrointestinal well being.
Phages play a major function in shaping the microbiota and influencing immune responses. Nevertheless, their involvement in illness stays poorly understood, indicating a necessity for extra analysis to find out whether or not their results are phage-specific.
Notably, many extremely pathogenic bacterial toxins are encoded by bacteriophages, together with these answerable for cholera, diphtheria, botulism and Shigella infections. Phages additionally contribute to the switch of antimicrobial resistance genes.
The researchers famous that bacteriophages “might additionally operate as microbial biomarkers for colorectal most cancers, making them invaluable indicators for early detection, threat evaluation and illness monitoring.”
The intestine additionally harbors substantial quantities of fungi, equivalent to Candida and Saccharomyces, in addition to mildew species like Aspergillus. The research notes that Candida albicans is extremely pathogenic and might drive mucosal dysbiosis by disrupting the mucosal microbiota.
Sure fungal species have been related to metabolic disturbances, weight acquire and power circumstances equivalent to Crohn’s illness.
Examine particulars
Within the research, mice have been administered L. plantarum HNU082 (Lp082) or placebo. Intestinal samples have been obtained from animals on days one, three and 7 after ingestion.
“After Lp082 entered the intestine, the range of fungi and bacteriophages elevated,” the researchers reported, noting that the results have been extra vital within the small gut than within the massive gut.
“Within the small gut, the abundance of Candida albicans decreased, whereas modifications in bacteriophages have been primarily noticed within the Clostridia class.”
The researchers recommend that the extra pronounced results within the small gut could also be resulting from its harsher surroundings, together with greater pH ranges. This will “intensify competitors amongst microbiota, resulting in extra intense interactions between probiotics and the intestine microbiota,” they wrote. In distinction, the extra steady microbial group within the massive gut could also be much less prone to alter.
“In abstract, the extra intense competitors within the small gut and the extra steady intestine microbiota construction within the massive gut could clarify why probiotics trigger better modifications within the small gut.”
Supply: BMC Microbiology 2025, 25, 69, doi: 10.1186/s12866-025-03784-0. “Results of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum HNU082 intervention on fungi and bacteriophages in numerous intestinal segments of mice”. Authors: X. Liu et al.
