Journal of Probiotics & Health
Open Access

Microbiota of lung: still an exploited source of probiotics?

6^th International Conference and Exhibition on Probiotics, Functional and Baby Foods

October 02-03, 2017 London, UK

Muriel Thomas

INRA, Micalis Institute, France

Scientific Tracks Abstracts: J Prob Health

Abstract :

Statement of the Problem: The health is mainly influenced by the constant and dynamic cross talk required between microbiota and host. This paradigm is especially highlighted by the symbiosis existing between intestinal microbes and the gut. It is now proposed that keystone intestinal strains could be used as probiotics. As an example, Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, which is a major constituent of the intestinal human microbiota, is a promising candidate to develop prophylactic or therapeutic applications in human health. Thus, the characterization of several microbial communities from our body may help us to identify new bacterial species with beneficial effects on human health. We postulate that microbes with a high tropism for lungs may be new probiotics modulating the respiratory health. The purpose of this study was to isolate, screen and characterize new beneficial microbes isolated from lungs. Methodology & Framework: Primo-colonizing strains were isolated from neonatal lungs of mice. These strains were screened for their immuno-regulatory properties after being co-incubated with axenic lung slices. The protective potential of selected strains towards HDM (House Dust Mite) allergic asthma was tested in mice. Results: Viable bacteria (Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, Enterococcus, Listeria, Lactobacillus, Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis) were isolated from the lungs of mice three days after birth. One of strains (CNCM I 4969) stimulated the secretion of IL-12p70 and decreased the basal level of TSLP after 24 h of co-culture with slices of germ free lungs. CNCM I 4969 displayed also protective effects against HDM asthma in young mice. Conclusion & Significance: We confirm that appropriate bacterial lung stimuli during early life are critical for susceptibility to HDM allergic asthma in young adults. We design a functional and efficient framework to screen lung microbes with beneficial effects in respiratory health.

Biography :

Muriel Thomas is a Senior Scientist at INRA and her projects focus on the health benefits sustained by diet and microbes. She leads the group microbiota and epithelia which has contributed to a better understanding of the dynamic dialogue installed between the intestinal epithelium and microbiota. Her expertise is based on the use of germ-free and gnotobiotic rodents combined with cellular tools and the isolation of new beneficial microbes. Recently, she has developed a new area of expertise around the microbes found in lungs and regulating the susceptibility to respiratory diseases like asthma. The group combines approaches at the frontier between physiology, microbiology, and nutrition. In addition, her engagement in public health agency (ANSES) and nutrition-specialized societies (SFNEP) is an asset to adapt her projects with the public health priorities, regulatory framework and food safety policy.