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Antiprotozoal Effects of Pediococcus acidilactici-Derived Postbiotic on Blastocystis Subtypes ST1/ST3

Selahattin Aydemir1, Yunus Emre Arvas2, Mehmet Emin Aydemir3

  • 1Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Van Yüzüncü Yıl University, Van 65000, Türkiye.

Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland)
|July 30, 2025
PubMed

Insights

A Pediococcus acidilactici postbiotic effectively inhibited Blastocystis, a common intestinal protozoan linked to gastrointestinal issues. This natural agent shows promise as a safe treatment, with no observed toxicity to human cells.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Parasitology
  • Gastroenterology

Background:

  • Blastocystis is a prevalent human intestinal protozoan implicated in various gastrointestinal disorders.
  • Genetic diversity and treatment resistance of Blastocystis necessitate research into novel therapeutic strategies.
  • Natural alternatives are sought for managing Blastocystis infections due to its association with health issues.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the in vitro antiprotozoal activity of a postbiotic derived from Pediococcus acidilactici against Blastocystis.
  • To characterize the composition of the Pediococcus acidilactici postbiotic.
  • To assess the safety of the postbiotic on human intestinal cells.

Main Methods:

  • Pediococcus acidilactici was cultured, and its postbiotic was collected and analyzed for chemical properties.
  • Human Blastocystis subtypes ST1 and ST3 were exposed to varying concentrations of the postbiotic.
  • Microscopic assessment and Cell Counting Kit 8 were used to determine parasite viability and cytotoxicity on HT-29 cells.

Main Results:

  • The Pediococcus acidilactici postbiotic exhibited significant antiprotozoal activity, achieving over 94% inhibition at 4.38 mg/mL and 100% inhibition at 8.75 mg/mL.
  • The postbiotic contained lactic acid and phenolic compounds, with inhibition independent of pH.
  • No cytotoxic effects were observed on HT-29 cells at concentrations demonstrating 100% Blastocystis inhibition.

Conclusions:

  • The Pediococcus acidilactici postbiotic demonstrates potent in vitro efficacy against Blastocystis subtypes ST1 and ST3.
  • This postbiotic represents a promising, safe, and natural therapeutic candidate for Blastocystis infections.
  • Further in vivo investigations are warranted to validate these findings and explore clinical applications.

Keywords:
Blastocystisantiparasiteorganic acidpostbioticviability

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