Abstract
Bile tolerance is an important criterion in the selection of microbial strains for probiotic use. The survival and morphological changes of a potential probiotic strain, Lactobacillus acidophilus M92, in the presence of bile salts were examined. Lactobacillus acidophilus M92 has shown a satisfactory degree of tolerance against oxgall and individual bile salts tested, especially to taurocholate. The higher resistance of L. acidophilus M92 against taurine-conjugated bile salts relative to deconjugated and glycine-conjugated bile salts was attributed to its reaction to the stronger acidity of the former. Furthermore, bile salt hydrolase (BSH) was active when L. acidophilus M92 was grown in the presence of sodium taurocholate. The rate of BSH activity was highest at the exponential growth phase. It was hypothesised that BSH activity may be important for the bile salt resistance of this strain. The colonial and cellular morphology may also be a valuable parameter in the selection of bile salt-resistant Lactobacillus strains for probiotic use. Smooth (S) and rough (R) colonies, appeared in the original L. acidophilus M92 bacterial culture and demonstrated a different degree of bile tolerance. Rough colonies were more sensitive to bile salts than smooth ones. The R colony cells assumed a round form, probably induced by gaps in the cell wall caused by the cytotoxicity of glycodeoxycholate.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bateup, J.M., McConnell, M.A., Jenkinson, H.F. & Tannock, G.W. 1995 Comparison of Lactobacillus strains with respect to bile salt hydrolase activity, colonization of the gastrointestinal tract, and growth rate of the murine host. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 61, 1147–1149.
Bolin, Z., Libudzisz, Z. & Moneta, J. 1997 Survival ability of Lactobacillus acidophilus as probiotic adjunct in low-pH environments. Polish Journal of Food and Nutrition Sciences 6, 71–78.
Curran, H.R., Rogers, L.A. & Whittier, E.O. 1933 The distinguishing characteristics of Lactobacillus acidophilus. Journal of Bacteriology 25, 595–621.
De Boever, P. & Verstraete, W. 1999 Bile salt deconjugation by Lactobacillus plantarum 80 and its implication for bacterial toxicity. Journal of Applied Microbiology 87, 345–352.
Gilliland, S.E., Staley, T.E. & Bush, L.J. 1984 Importance of bile tolerance of Lactobacillus acidophilus used as dietary adjunct. Journal of Dairy Science 67, 3045–3051.
Goldin, B.R. & Gorbach, S.L. 1992 Probiotics for humans. In Probiotics — the Scientific Basis, ed. Fuller, R., pp. 355–376. London: Chapman & Hall. ISBN 0–412–40850–3.
Gopal, A., Shah, N.P. & Roginski, H. 1996 Bile tolerance, taurocholate deconjugation and cholesterol removal by Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium spp. Milchwissenschaft 51, 619–923.
Havenaar, R., Ten Brink, B. & Huis In't Veld, J.H.J. 1992 Selection of strains for probiotic use. In Probiotics — the Scientific Basis, ed. Fuller, R., pp. 209–221. London: Chapman & Hall. ISBN 0–412–40850–3.
Irvin, J.L., Johnson, C.G. & Kopalo, J. 1944 A photometric method of the determination of cholates in bile and blood. Journal of Biological Chemistry 153, 439–457.
Kandler, O. & Weiss, L. 1986 Genus Lactobacillus. In Bergey's Manual of Systematic Bacteriology, vol. 2, ed. Sneath, P.H.A., Mair, N.S. & Sharpe, M.E., pp. 1209–1234. Baltimore: Williams and Wilkins. ISBN 0–68307–893–3.
Klaenhammer, T.R. & Kleeman, E.G. 1981 Growth characteristics, bile sensitivity and freeze damage in colonial variants of Lactobacillus acidophilus. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 41, 1461–1467.
Klaver, F.A.M. & Van Der Meer, R. 1993 The assumed assimilation of cholesterol by lactobacilli and Bifidobacterium bifidum is due to their bile salt-deconjugating activity. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 59, 1120–1124.
Macdonald, I.A., Bokkenheuser, V.D., Winter, J., McLernon, A.M. & Mosbach, E.H. 1983 Degradation of steroids in the human gut. Journal of Lipid Research 24, 675–698.
Ŝuŝković, J. 1996 The growth and probiotic effect of chosen lactic acid bacteria. PhD Thesis, Faculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology, University of Zagreb, Croatia.
Ŝuŝković, J., Brkić, B., Matośić, S. & Marić, V. 1997 Lactobacillus acidophilus M92 as potential probiotic strain. Milchwissenschaft 52, 430–435.
Tannock, G.W., Dashkevich, M.P. & Feighner, S.D. 1989 Lactobacilli and bile salt hydrolase in the murine intestinal tract. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 55, 1848–1851.
Walker, D.K. & Gilliland, S.E. 1993 Relationships among bile tolerance, bile salts deconjugation and assimilation of cholesterol by Lactobacillus acidophilus. Journal of Dairy Science 76, 956–961.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Šušković, J., Kos, B., Matošić, S. et al. The effect of bile salts on survival and morphology of a potential probiotic strain Lactobacillus acidophilus M92. World Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology 16, 673–678 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1008909505651
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1008909505651