Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus strain GG (LGG) regulate gut microbial metabolites, an in vitro study using three mature human gut microbial cultures in a simulator of human intestinal microbial ecosystem (SHIME)

Authors: Liu, Linshu; Narrowe, Adrienne; Firrman, Jenni; Mahalak, Karley; BOBOKALONOV, JAMSHED - Chemical Institute Of Tajikistan; Scarino Lemons, Johanna; BITTINGER, KYLE - The Children'S Hospital Of Philadelphia; DANIEL, SCOTT - The Children'S Hospital Of Philadelphia; TANES, CEYLAN - The Children'S Hospital Of Philadelphia; MATTEI, LISA - The Children'S Hospital Of Philadelphia; FRIENDMAN, ELLIOT - University Of Pennsylvania; SOARES, JASON - The Us Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Soldier Center; MASUKO, KOBORI - National Food Research Institute - Japan; ZENG, WEI-BIN - University Of Louisville; Tomasula, Peggy

Submitted to: Foods
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/20/2023
Publication Date: 5/24/2023
Citation: Liu, L.S., Narrowe, A.B., Firrman, J., Mahalak, K.K., Bobokalonov, J., Scarino Lemons, J.M., Bittinger, K., Daniel, S., Tanes, C., Mattei, L., Friendman, E., Soares, J.W., Masuko, K., Zeng, W., Tomasula, M.M. 2023. Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus strain GG (LGG) regulate gut microbial metabolites, an in vitro study using three mature human gut microbial cultures in a simulator of human intestinal microbial ecosystem (SHIME). Foods. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods12112105.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/foods12112105

Interpretive Summary: Probiotics are commonly consumed by individuals seeking their associated positive health benefits. There have been concerns over how much these supplements can positively influence an established gut microbial community. We cultured three unique, stable communities in a series of bioreactors designed to mimic the different regions of the colon and then monitored the changes in microbial metabolite levels after a one-time addition of the probiotic LGG. Supplementation with LGG caused transient, individualized changes to the composition of the three gut microbial communities, but consistent increases in the amount of certain health associated metabolites such as indoleproprionate.

Technical Abstract: In the present research we investigated the gut metabolome following a single administration of the probiotic Laticaseibacillus rhamnosus strain GG (LGG), using a human intestinal microbial ecosystem simulator consisting of a series of bioreactors mimicking stomach, small intestine, ascending, transverse, and descending colons. We established three mature microbial communities representing the colonic regions followed by inoculation of LGG into the ascending colon. Shotgun metagenomic sequencing and metabolome analysis suggest that the changes in microbial community composition in the samples correspond to changes in metabolite profiles and we can infer linkages between some metabolites and microorganisms. The in vitro method permits a spatially-resolved view of metabolic transformations under human physiological conditions. By this method, we found, tryptophan and tyrosine were mainly produced in the ascending colon region; while their derivatives were detected in the transverse and descending regions, revealing sequential amino acid metabolic pathways along with the colonic tract. The addition of LGG appears to promote the production of indole propionic acid that positively associated with human health. Furthermore, the microbial community responsible to the production of indole propionic acid may be broader than is currently known.