Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 18, 2025

An In Vitro Batch-culture Model to Estimate the Effects of Interventional Regimens on Human Fecal Microbiota
Published on: July 31, 2019
Probiotics as an Alternative to Antibiotics: Genomic and Physiological Characterization of Aerobic Spore Formers from
Maria Vittoria1, Anella Saggese1, Rachele Isticato1,2
1Department of Biology, Federico II University of Naples, 80125 Naples, Italy.
Abstract:
A total of thirty-two aerobic spore former strains were isolated from intestinal samples of healthy children and analyzed for their hemolytic and antibiotic-resistant activities. Four strains selected as non-hemolytic and sensitive to all antibiotics recommended as relevant by regulatory agencies were short-listed and evaluated for their in silico and in vitro probiotic potentials. The four selected strains were assigned to the Bacillus velezensis (MV4 and MV11), B. subtilis (MV24), and Priestia megaterium (formerly Bacillus megaterium) (MV30) species. A genomic analysis indicated that MV4, MV11, and MV24 contained a homolog of the gene coding for the fibrinolytic enzyme nattokinase while only MV30 encoded a glutamic acid decarboxylase essential to synthesize the neurotransmitter GABA. All four strains contained gene clusters potentially coding for new antimicrobials, showed strong antioxidant activity, formed biofilm, and produced/secreted quorum-sensing peptides able to induce a cytoprotective stress response in a model of human intestinal (HT-29) cells. Altogether, genomic and physiological data indicate that the analyzed strains do not pose safety concerns and have in vitro probiotic potentials allowing us to propose their use as an alternative to antibiotics.
Related Concept Videos
Bacterial Flora of the Large Intestine
The normal gut flora of the colon plays a critical role in generating essential vitamins such as vitamins K, B5, and B7.
Microorganisms in Medicine and Therapeutics
Bacterial Phylum Firmicutes
Bacterial Phylum Actinobacteria
Biological Methods for Microbial Control
Endospores and Sporulation

