Lactobacillus lactis

What is a probiotic?

A population of beneficial microbes introduced into the body (Pollan,2013).

Most probiotics bacteria species belong to one of two genuses: Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium.

Lactobacillus

Make up a major portion of the lactic-acid bacteria because nearly all of these microbes convert lactose and other sugars from food sources into lactic acid. Though they only make up a small portion of the overall gut ecosystem, their work is important and necessary.

Bifidobacteria

They help to regulate the balance of intestinal microflora while also inhibiting the production and colonization of pathogenic bacteria which colonize and infect the mucosa of the gut.

What is Lactobacillus lactis?

A stable but adaptable metabolic organism which is able to thrive in the harsh environment of the human gastrointestinal tract.

Lactobacillus lactis is a gram positive, rod-shaped bacterium, it is used in the mucosal delivery of proteins to prevent digestive system disorders.

Common Uses

As with many members of the Lactobacillus genus, L. lactis is used commercially as a starter culture for yogurts, cheese and fermented milk products.

Lactobacillus lactis Benefits

Lactococcus lactis has been shown to deliver antigens that stimulate mucosal immunity to non respiratory pathogens, as well, including HIV, Human papilloma virus and the malarial parasite.

Some of the research papers that have employed Lactococcus lactis as a vector for vaccine:

Lee, M.H., et al. 2001. Expression of Helicobacter pylori urease subunit B gene in Lactococcus lactis MG1363 and its use as a vaccine delivery system against H. pylori infection in mice. Vaccine 2001. 19:3927-3931.

Ribeiro, L.A., et al. 2002. Production and Targeting of the Brucella abortus Antigen L7/L12 in Lactococcus lactis: a First Step towards Food-Grade Live Vaccines against Brucellosis. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 2002. 68:910-916.

Xin, K.Q., et al. 2003 Immunogenicity and protective efficacy of orally administered recombinant Lactococcus lactis expressing surface-bound HIV Env. Blood 2003. 10:223-228.

Robinson, K., et al. 2004. Mucosal and cellular immune responses elicited by recombinant strains of Lactococcus lactis expressing tetanus toxin fragment C. Infection and Immunity 2004. 72: 2753–2756.

Bermudez-Humaran, L.G., et al. 2005. A Novel Mucosal Vaccine Based on Live Lactococci Expressing E7 Antigen and IL-12 Induces Systemic and Mucosal Immune Responses and Protects Mice against Human Papillomavirus Type 16-Induced Tumors. The Journal of immunology 2005. 175:7297-7302.

Buccato, S., et al. 2006. Use of Lactococcus lactis Expressing Pili from Group B Streptococcus as a Broad-Coverage Vaccine against Streptococcal Disease. The Journal of Infectious Diseases 2006. 194:331-340.

Lactobacillus lactis Benefits

Lactobacillus lactis colonizes the GI tract by inhibiting the growth and proliferation of pathogenic bacteria. This probiotic is frequently taken by those diagnosed with chronic Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) like ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s Disease.

Some research articles:

A Phase I Trial With Transgenic Bacteria Expressing Interleukin-10 in Crohn’s Disease

Methods: We treated Crohn’s disease patients with genetically modified Lactococcus lactis (LL-Thy12) in which the thymidylate synthase gene was replaced with a synthetic sequence encoding mature human interleukin-10.

Conclusions: it is suitable as maintenance treatment for chronic intestinal disease.

Anti-inflammatory effects of Lactococcus lactis NCDO 2118 during the remission period of chemically induced colitis

Here, we identified a new probiotic strain with a potential role in the treatment of IBD, and we elucidated some of the mechanisms underlying its anti-inflammatory effect. [...] In conclusion, we showed that L. lactis NCDO 2118 has anti-inflammatory activity in an in vitro culture of intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) and in a DSS-induced model of colitis.

Lactobacillus lactis Benefits

Another study, lead by Zhang B, created a L.lactis strain that maintains a plasmid containing a tumor metastasis-inhibiting peptide known as KISS1. Here is another study that that shows how L.lactis can be used to combat diseases. The success of this strain’s construction helped to inhibit migration and expansion of cancer cells, showing that the secretion properties of L.lactis of this particular peptide illustrates a hopeful future in Cancer therapy.

Review

Lactobacillus lactis is a healthy probiotic bacteria which works best when combined with other lactobacillus species. It is a broad spectrum probiotic working to restore or maintain a healthy balance in the microflora of the gut.

References

Behnsen, J., Deriu, E., Sassone-Corsi, M., and Raffetellu, H. 2013. Probiotics: Properties, Examples, and Specific Applications. Perspectives In Medicine. http://perspectivesinmedicine.org/content/3/3/a010074.full

Mannion PT, Rothburn MM (November 1990). "Diagnosis of bacterial endocarditis caused by Streptococcus lactis and assisted by immunoblotting of serum antibodies". J. Infect. 21 (3): 317–8

Madigan M, Martinko J (editors). (2005). Brock Biology of Microorganisms (11th ed.). Prentice Hall. ISBN 0-13-144329-1.

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Last Updated April 30, 2012 and last Reviewed April 30, 2012. http://www.niaid.nih.gov/topics/antimicrobialresistance/examples/gramnegative/Pages/default.aspx

Zhang, Bo; Li, Angdi; Zuo, Fanglei; Yu, Rui; Zeng, Zhu; Ma, Huiqin; Chen, Shangwu (2016-06-10). "Recombinant Lactococcus lactis NZ9000 secretes a bioactive kisspeptin that inhibits proliferation and migration of human colon carcinoma HT-29 cells"

Åkerberg, C.; Hofvendahl, K.; Zacchi, G.; Hahn-Hä;gerdal, B. (1998). "Modelling the influence of pH, temperature, glucose and lactic acid concentrations on the kinetics of lactic acid production by Lactococcus lactis ssp. Lactis ATCC 19435 in whole-wheat flour". Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology.