We have this polysaccharides from a marine source, which when prepared in a certain form and certain quantity included in the diet of a specific fish species, astronomically increases LAB populations in the fish gut after only 2 months. In fact compared to the control, the LAB almost completely displaces the mixed flora of opportunistic pathogens. Most papers in the literature opine that LAB cannot grow on such polysaccharides but we have CLEAR evidence to the contrary. The challenge now is to replicate the test in vitro.
Any ideas how to go about this?
Mohammad: email me at salam_ibrahim with details, I might be able to help. thanks
salam
To in vitro demonstrate the use of the polymer by LAB, the easiest way is to perform single cultures of different LAB species/strains in a minimum or semi-defined medium containing this polymer as the only carbon source.
Mohammed, we are working with LAB's for lactic acid fermentation. Because of their need for several supplements to the fermentation broth I'm interested in these materials. BTW, I agree to the suggestion of Patricia for testing the related effects. Regards, Joachim
Thanks everyone. Patricia, I would try what you suggested and hopefully, will get back to the forum and share the results.
Salam, I would write you an email pronto, thanks for the offer to help.
Huisman, No, it is not lactulose unfortunately, although the polysaccharide may have the same beneficial effect like Lactulose, since we are proposing it as a polysaccharide Prebiotic.
I am under a "Non-disclosure" oath as a PostDoc here, so I cannot say what it is at the moment. The restriction of my talk on the same topic in a conference in Japan slated for later in the year (LS & BE March 2013) should give you an idea how secret my employers want to keep it, for now. We have already filed a patent and when it gets accepted, only then can the word get out.
To everyone, we are using molecular tools to even identify the LAB strains it promotes the growth of and would need to do further assay to put everything together.
Thanks
Most literatures about LAB and prebiotics indicated that polysaccharides promote the growth of lactic acid bacteria
Hi Magdy
you mean oligosaccharides? The conditions that the oligosaccharides have to meet before they could be termed prebiotic are;
1. Must not be digested in the GIT by humans or animals and as such must survive the digestive juice in the GIT
2. Must be fermented ONLY by the LAB, using it for their growth while in the process adding energy to the host.
That is why MOS, FOS, GOS, inulin, lactulose are available as commercial prebiotics. Most common polysaccharides would hardly meet these criteria, the reason why many people screen from different sources and test LAB fermentations first, both in vitro and in vivo.
Moreover, another concept is also in play now (symbiotic), which describes how the right oligosaccharide acts in collaboration to stimulate growth of the right LAB producing health benefits in the right animal or human.
We noticed this happening with a complex polysaccharide, which is showing all the characteristics of a prebiotic. Opinions shared here have helped us and we are carrying out additional confirmatory tests right now to be sure, including molecular characterization of the the LAB strain we noticed.
Do you have additional info to share?
Thank you
Mohammed, keep in mind that not all probiotcs are LAB including bifido. Many strans of bifdobacteria donot digest prebiotics.
Hi Salam, I wrote you an email like u suggested but I am yet to get answers (may be my email is in your spam folder? Pls check).
As to your suggestion, that is very true. however recall that at some point in history, they were collectively referred to Lactobacilus biffidus, right?
I am not ruling out that it was this group of microorganisms we stumbled upon as I wait for the final analysis to come out. Since they are also probiotics, its great all the same, since it is digesting our polysaccharide efficiently.
Forgive me for the wrong use of microbiology terminologies, my background is Nutritional Biochemistry and the microbiologists I collaborate with have little knowledge on LAB and other stuff like that, the reason why we are struggling.
Thanks all the same.
When you are testing whether a LAB is able to grow on a specific oligosaccharide, it is important to check the purity of the said oligosaccharide, as they will often comtain small amounts og monosaccharides. Further, if investigating commercial prebiotics, in my experience they always comtain considerable amounts of glucose and toerh monsaccharides and it therefore practically impossible to evaluate the probiotic strain for growth on the oligosaccharide. It is also important to use a controll, too - your carbohydrate-free broth. Hope this is useful.
Salam, I sent it again from my gmail account; [email protected].
Judith, thanks so much, your suggestions are very helpful.
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