An in vitro model for investigating intestinal adhesion of potential dairy propionibacteria probiotic strains using cell line C2BBe1.

AIMS

The purposes of this study were to screen the adhesion properties of dairy propionibacteria strains and evaluate whether C2BBe1 could be used in the screening of potential probiotic strains.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Thirteen dairy propionibacteria strains and two control strains, Lactobacillus acidophilus MJLA1 and Bifidobacterium lactis BDBB2, were tested for adhesion to C2BBe1. Electron microscopic observations demonstrated that the control strains, L. acidophilus MJLA1 and B. lactis BDBB2, had similar adhesive ability to C2BBe1 as had been previously shown to Caco-2. Only one of the 13 strains of dairy propionibacteria, strain P. jensenii 702, demonstrated adhesion to C2BBe1.

CONCLUSIONS

C2BBe1 can provide an alternative to Caco-2 for assessing in vitro adhesion properties of probiotic strains. Adhesion properties of dairy propionibacteria were strain-dependent.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

C2BBe1 is highly suitable for application in bacterial adhesion studies, and was used successfully to select a new potential probiotic.