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Published on: February 15, 2019

Intestinal mucus alters the ability of probiotic bacteria to bind aflatoxin B1 in vitro

S Gratz1, H Mykkänen, A C Ouwehand

  • 1Department of Clinical Nutrition, University of Kuopio, Harjulantie 1, P.O. Box 1627, 70211 Kuopio, Finland.

Applied and Environmental Microbiology
|October 7, 2004
PubMed

Insights

Probiotic bacteria can bind harmful aflatoxin B(1) and intestinal mucus. Pre-exposing probiotics to these substances reduced their ability to bind the other, showing a strain-specific interaction.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Food Safety
  • Toxicology

Background:

  • Probiotics exhibit surface binding properties.
  • Probiotics can bind to both intestinal mucus and mycotoxins like aflatoxin B(1).
  • Understanding these binding interactions is crucial for probiotic efficacy and safety.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effect of preincubation with aflatoxin B(1) or mucus on subsequent binding.
  • To determine if pre-exposure affects probiotic adherence to mucus and mycotoxins.
  • To analyze the strain-dependent nature of these interactions.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized two distinct probiotic preparations.
  • Performed preincubation experiments with aflatoxin B(1) and intestinal mucus.
  • Assessed subsequent surface binding of mucus and aflatoxin B(1) in a strain-specific manner.

Main Results:

  • Preincubation with aflatoxin B(1) reduced subsequent mucus binding in a strain-dependent way.
  • Preincubation with mucus reduced subsequent aflatoxin B(1) binding, also in a strain-dependent manner.
  • Demonstrated an inverse relationship between binding affinities.

Conclusions:

  • Probiotic surface binding capabilities are influenced by prior exposure to specific ligands.
  • The interaction between probiotic binding sites for mucus and aflatoxin B(1) is competitive and strain-specific.
  • Findings have implications for probiotic selection and application in managing mycotoxin exposure.

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