Potential Probiotic Properties of Exopolysaccharide-Producing EPS DA-BACS and Prebiotic Activity of Its Exopolysaccharide.

Exopolysaccharide (EPS)-producing EPS DA-BACS was isolated from healthy human feces and its probiotic properties, as well as the structure and prebiotic activity of the EPS from this strain were examined. EPS from EPS DA-BACS had a ropy phenotype, which is known to have potential health benefits and is identified as loosely cell-bounded glucomannan-type EPS with a molecular size of 3.7 × 10 Da. EPS promoted the acid tolerance of EPS DA-BACS and provided cells with tolerance to gastrointestinal stress. The purified EPS showed growth inhibitory activity against EPS DA-BACS cells completely inhibited the growth of , , and , as well as showed high growth inhibitory activity against and . Treatment of lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells with heat-killed EPS DA-BACS cells led to a decrease in the production of nitric oxide, indicating the anti-inflammatory activity of EPS DA-BACS. Purified EPS promoted the growth of , and which showed high prebiotic activity. EPS DA-BACS harbors no antibiotic resistance genes or virulence factors. Therefore, EPS DA-BACS exhibits anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activities with high gut adhesion ability and gastrointestinal tolerance and can be used as a potential probiotic.