Lactococcus Lactis Subsp. cremoris Is an Efficacious Beneficial Bacterium that Limits Tissue Injury in the Intestine.

• Authors: Trevor M. Darby, Emory University; Joshua A. Owens, Emory University; Bejan J. Saeedi, Emory University; Liping Luo, Emory University; Jason Matthews, Emory University; Brian Robinson, Emory University; Crystal R. Naudin, Emory University; Rheinallt Jones, Emory University
• Journal Title: iScience
• Volume: Volume 12
• Publisher: Elsevier (Cell Press): OAJ | 2019-02-22, Pages 356-367
• Type of Work: Article | Final Publisher PDF
• Publisher DOI: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.isci.2019.01.030
• Subjects: Health Sciences, Nutrition; Health Sciences, Pathology
• Keywords: Biological Sciences; Cell Biology; Microbiology

Abstract

The use of beneficial bacteria to promote health is widely practiced. However, experimental evidence corroborating the efficacy of bacteria promoted with such claims remains limited. We address this gap by identifying a beneficial bacterium that protects against tissue damage and injury-induced inflammation in the gut. We first employed the Drosophila animal model to screen for the capacity of candidate beneficial bacteria to protect the fly gut against injury. From this screen, we identified Lactococcus lactis subsp. cremoris as a bacterium that elicited potent cytoprotective activity. Then, in a murine model, we demonstrated that the same strain confers powerful cytoprotective influences against radiological damage, as well as anti-inflammatory activity in a gut colitis model. In summary, we demonstrate the positive salutary effects of a beneficial bacterium, namely, L. lactis subsp. cremoris on intestinal tissue and propose the use of this strain as a therapeutic to promote intestinal health.