Lactobacilli Probiotics Prevent Amyloid-Beta Fibril Formation In Vitro.

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Microbiology
• Biochemistry

Background:

• Alzheimer's disease (AD) involves amyloid-beta (Aβ) and Tau protein aggregation, leading to neurodegeneration.
• Probiotics are explored for AD prevention, but molecular mechanisms of their effect on protein aggregation are unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the molecular effects of probiotics on amyloid-beta (Aβ) and Tau aggregation kinetics.
• To identify specific probiotic strains with potential to inhibit protein aggregation relevant to Alzheimer's disease.

Main Methods:

• Bioinformatic and physicochemical assessments, including molecular docking of probiotic-derived proteins against Aβ and Tau.
• In vitro kinetic studies to evaluate the inhibitory effects of probiotic formulations and supernatants on Aβ and Tau aggregation.
• Bioavailability assessment through administration to healthy individuals and detection in stool samples.

Main Results:

• Four out of 13 probiotic strains were predicted to inhibit Aβ aggregation.
• Probiotic formulation and supernatant significantly inhibited the aggregation of both Aβ and Tau proteins.
• Probiotic formulation demonstrated gastrointestinal tract survival and bioavailability.

Conclusions:

• Specific probiotic strains show potential as therapeutic candidates for Alzheimer's disease by targeting Aβ and Tau aggregation.
• Further research is needed to confirm the clinical utility of these probiotics in managing AD.