In vitro selection criteria for probiotic bacteria of human origin: correlation with in vivo findings
Open accessAbstract
The enteric flora comprises approximately 95% of the total number of cells in the human body and can elicit immune responses while protecting against microbial pathogens. However, the resident bacterial flora of the gastrointestinal tract may also be implicated in the pathogenesis of diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis and Crohn disease). The objectives of the Probiotic Research Group based at University College Cork were to isolate and identify lactic acid bacteria exhibiting beneficial probiotic traits, such as bile tolerance in the absence of deconjugation activity, acid resistance, adherence to host epithelial tissue, and in vitro antagonism of pathogenic microorganisms or those suspected of promoting inflammation. To isolate potentially effective probiotic bacteria, we screened the microbial population adhering to surgically resected segments of the gastrointestinal tract (the environment in which they may subsequently be reintroduced and required to function). In total, 1500 bacterial strains from resected human terminal ilea were assessed. From among these organisms, Lactobacillus salivarius subsp. salivarius strain UCC118 was selected for further study. In mouse feeding trials, milk-borne L. salivarius strain UCC118 could successfully colonize the murine gastrointestinal tract. A human feeding study conducted in 80 healthy volunteers showed that yogurt can be used as a vehicle for delivery of strain UCC118 to the human gastrointestinal tract with considerable efficacy in influencing gut flora and colonization. In summary, we developed criteria for in vitro selection of probiotic bacteria that may reflect certain in vivo effects on the host such as modulation of gastrointestinal tract microflora.
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Standard in vitro assays do not prove in vivo efficacy but provide key baseline data on function and safety, enabling identification of priority strains for more in-depth studies.
“While they do not prove in vivo efficacy, they provide key baseline data on function and safety, enabling the identification of priority strains for more in-depth studies [148].”
From Current Concepts in Probiotic Safety and Efficacy (2026) · cites this paper as [148]
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- Authors
- Dunne, C., O’Mahony, L., Murphy, L., Thornton, G., Morrissey, D., O’Halloran, S., Feeney, M., Flynn, S., Fitzgerald, G., Daly, C., Kiely, B., O’Sullivan, G. C., Shanahan, F., & Collins, J. K.
- Affiliations
- University College Cork (IE)
- Venue
- The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2001-02
- Volume
- 73
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 386s-392s
- ISSN
- 0002-9165 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W1829239725
- Cited by
- 922
- References
- 1
- Citations by year
- 2026: 14 · 2025: 22 · 2024: 25 · 2023: 35 · 2022: 42 · 2021: 43 · 2020: 42 · 2019: 40 · 2018: 50 · 2017: 38 · 2016: 46 · 2015: 45 · 2014: 57 · 2013: 52 · 2012: 61
- FWCI
- 2.91
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- European Commission
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Food Science › Probiotics and Fermented Foods
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Gut microbiota and health
- Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Microbiology › Reproductive tract infections research
- Keywords
- probiotic bacteria, lactic acid bacteria, bile tolerance, acid resistance, intestinal colonization, gut microbiota modulation, inflammatory bowel disease
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Bile Acids and Salts, Digestive System, Digestive System Physiological Phenomena, Gastric Juice, Humans, Hydrogen-Ion Concentration, Lactobacillus, Probiotics, Mice, Food, Organic
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