Objective
Probiotic bacteria, mainly lactic acid bacteria (LAB) (e.g. lactobacilli, iactococci, enterococci, and bifidobacteria) have been considered safe for human consumption. However, recent reports of clinical infection, the spread of antibiotic resistance genes, and development of new and/or modified probiotic LAB strains, have caused concern of safety. This project aims to assess the biosafe of LAB. Isolates from healthy humans and immunocompromised patients, commercially available and new probiotic LAB will be studied.
After polyphasic taxonomic identification, their biosafety will be assessed by:
(i) the detection of antibiotic resistance and horizontal transfer of antibiotic resistance genes;
(ii) the detection of known and new virulence properties;
(iii) evaluation of immunological adverse effects of LAB; and
(iv) the survival, colonisation, and genetic stability of probiotic LAB in the human gut.
The project will result in recommendations for biosafe and biosafety testing of LAB, which will be presented and discussed at a final conference.
Fields of science
Not validated
Not validated
Call for proposal
Data not availableFunding Scheme
CSC - Cost-sharing contractsCoordinator
2610 WILRIJK (ANTWERPEN)
Belgium