Bifidobacteria as probiotics against Clostridium difficile: in vitro and in vivo studies

PÉREZ, P. F.

Congreso; BIT?s 3rd Annual World Congress of Microbes-2013; 2013

Clostridium difficle is able to produce intestinal pathologies ranging from mild diarrhea to fatal pseudomembranous colitis. The main virulence factors are two large protein toxins: TCdA and TCdB that lead to cytoskeleton disruption through glycosilation of Rho proteins, inflammation and characteristic lessions. Given the localization in the colon, bifidobacteria are promising microorganisms to delineate probiotic prophylactic/therapeutic approaches. Bifidobacterium strains were selected to study the effect on relevant virulence factors of C. difficile. Antagonism in vitro encompasses inhibition of growth and adhesion of clostridia to cultured human enterocytes. In addition, co culture of selected bifidobacteria and toxigenic clostridia lead to a decrease in toxin production. In a hamster model, bifidobacteria reduced the ratio of pseudomembranous colitis and dead of infected animals.  Interestingly, biological activity in cecal contents was lower in the probiotic-treated group. These results, encourage further research on the use of probiotics for the prevention/treatment of Clostridium difficile associated diarrhea