Bacillus coagulans

OBJECTIVE: To compare the outcomes associated with the use of probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics for the treatment of chronic constipation in adults. METHODS: We searched eight electronic databases from database inception to July 11, 2023, to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that report efficacy and safety for the treatment of chronic constipation. The risk of bias in the included RCTs was evaluated according to the Cochrane tool, and the certainty of the evidence was assessed using the Confidence in Network Meta-Analysis framework. The analysis was conducted using R version 4.3.0. RESULTS: Out of the 37 RCTs, a total of 21 different types of interventions were reported, involving 3,903 patients. This NMA demonstrated that both prebiotics and synbiotics resulted in an increase in frequency of stool movements per week. Compared to placebo, lactulose (Mean difference [MD] = 3.39, 95% Confdence interval [CI] [1.13, 5.65], moderate certainty), mix2 (consisting of Lactulose and Bacillus coagulans) (MD = 3.63, 95% CI [1.37, 5.89], moderate certainty), mix6 (consisting of Lactulose and Bifidobacterium coagulans) (MD = 4.30, 95% CI [1.04, 7.54], low certainty), and mix7 (consisting of Lactulose, Bifidobacterium subtilis, and Enterococcus faecium) (MD = 4.58, 95% CI [1.35, 7.78], moderate certainty) exhibited a significant effect. Notably, mix7 demonstrated the highest probability of being the most effective intervention (94.8%). Furthermore, when compared to L. plantarum, four probiotics and two synbiotics showed significant advantages in the Patient Assessment of Constipation Symptoms (PAC-SYM) score. L. reuteri (MD = -13.74, 95% CI [-22.20, -4.66], very low certainty) exhibited a significant effect in improving the Patient Assessment of Constipation Quality of Life (PAC-QoL) score. In terms of safety, there were no statistically significant differences between the intervention and control groups in all adverse event analyses. CONCLUSIONS: Moderate to very low evidence supports the use of lactulose and synbiotics to increase the number of weekly stool movements in patients, particularly highlighting the significant impact of synbiotics in increasing the

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common gastrointestinal disease. The efficacy of different probiotics in treating IBS remains controversial. This network meta-analysis aimed to compare and rank the outcome-specific efficacy of different probiotic strains or combinations in adults with IBS. We searched the literature up to June 2023. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that evaluated the efficacy of probiotics in IBS were included. A frequentist framework was used to perform this study. In total, 9253 participants from 81 RCTs were included in the study. Four probiotic strains and five mixtures were significantly superior to placebo in improving IBS Symptom Severity Scale, among which Lactobacillus acidophilus DDS-1 ranked first (surface under the cumulative ranking, SUCRA, 92.9%). A mixture containing five probiotics (SUCRA, 100%) ranked first in improving the IBS-Quality of life. Bacillus coagulans MTCC 5856 (SUCRA, 96.9%) and Bacillus coagulans Unique IS2 (SUCRA, 92.6%) were among the most effective probiotics for improving abdominal pain. Three probiotic strains and two mixtures were effective in alleviating abdominal bloating. Four probiotic strains and a mixture were significantly superior to placebo in reducing the bowel movement frequency in diarrhea-predominant IBS (IBS-D). Bacillus coagulans MTCC 5856 (SUCRA, 99.6%) and Saccharomyces cerevisiae CNCM I-3856 (SUCRA, 89.7%) were among the most effective probiotics for improving the Bristol stool form scale of IBS-D. Only some probiotics are effective for particular outcomes in IBS patients. This study provided the first ranking of outcome-specific efficacy of different probiotic strains and combinations in IBS. Further studies are needed to confirm these results.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Probiotics and synbiotics have been increasingly investigated for the management of chronic constipation. We aimed to investigate the effect of probiotics and synbiotics on stool output, gut transit time, symptoms and quality of life in adults with chronic constipation via a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs). METHODS: Studies were identified using electronic databases, backward citation and hand-searching abstracts. The search date was 10 July 2022. RCTs reporting administration of probiotics or synbiotics in adults with chronic constipation were included. Risk of bias (RoB) was assessed with the Cochrane RoB 2.0 tool. Meta-analysis was conducted separately for probiotics and synbiotics. Results were synthesized using risk ratios (RRs), mean differences or standardized mean differences (SMDs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using a random-effects model. RESULTS: Thirty RCTs investigating probiotics and four RCTs investigating synbiotics were included. Overall, 369/647 (57%) responded to probiotic treatment and 252/567 (44%) to control (RR 1.28, 95% CI 1.07, 1.52, p = 0.007). Probiotics increased stool frequency (SMD 0.71, 95% CI 0.37, 1.04, p < 0.00001), with Bifidobacterium lactis having a significant effect, but not mixtures of probiotics, Bacillus coagulans Unique IS2 or Lactobacillus casei Shirota. Probiotics did not impact stool consistency (SMD 0.26, 95% CI -0.03, 0.54, p = 0.08). Probiotics improved integrative symptom scores compared to control (SMD -0.46, 95% CI -0.89, -0.04). Synbiotics did not impact stool output or integrative symptom scores compared to control. CONCLUSIONS: Certain probiotics may improve response to treatment, stool frequency and integrative constipation symptoms, providing cautious optimism for their use as a dietary management option. There is currently insufficient evidence to recommend synbiotics in the management of chronic constipation. Caution is needed when interpreting these results due to high heterogeneity and risk of bias amongst the studies.

To evaluate evidence for the role of probiotic supplementation in enhancing natural killer (NK) cell function in healthy elderly individuals. Five electronic databases were searched, and references of included articles and eligible reviews up to December 2019, with English language and human subject restrictions, were examined. Two independent reviewers identified randomized control trials (RCTs) of probiotic supplementation influencing NK cell function in healthy elderly individuals, assessed the quality of every article, and extracted data for subsequent meta-analysis. We identified six eligible trials including 364 healthy elderly subjects. Trials were heterogeneous in study design and probiotic supplementation (including genus, strain, dose, and duration). Five trials used Lactobacillus interventions alone or in combination with Bifidobacterium. Only one trial focused on Bacillus coagulans. The duration of supplementation ranged from 3 to 12 weeks, and the doses, from 1 × 109 to 4 × 1010 colony-forming units. Pooling data of eligible trials showed that probiotics significantly (P < 0.05) increased NK cell activity in healthy elderly individuals (standardized mean difference = 0.777, 95% confidence interval: 0.187‒1.366, P = 0.01, I2 = 84.6%). Although we obtained a significant outcome, the data do not provide convincing evidence for associations between probiotic supplementation and enhancement of NK cell function, given the small final number and very large heterogeneity. More RCTs with sufficient sample sizes and long-term follow-up are needed to focus on optimal probiotic dose, species, and duration of supplementation for healthy elderly individuals.

OBJECTIVES: Several randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on the use of probiotics to reduce morbidity and mortality in preterm infants have provided inconsistent results. Although meta-analyses that group all of the used strains together are suggesting efficacy, it is not possible to determine the most effective strain that is more relevant to the clinician. We therefore used a network meta-analysis (NMA) approach to identify strains with greatest efficacy. METHODS: A PubMed search identified placebo-controlled or head-to-head RCTs investigating probiotics in preterm infants. From trials that recorded mortality, necrotizing enterocolitis, late-onset sepsis, or time until full enteral feeding as outcomes, data were extracted and Bayesian hierarchical random-effects models were run to construct a NMA. RESULTS: Fifty-one RCTs involving 11,231 preterm infants were included. Most strains or combinations of strains were only studied in one or a few RCTs. Only 3 of 25 studied probiotic treatment combinations showed significant reduction in mortality rates. Seven treatments reduced necrotizing enterocolitis incidence, 2 reduced late-onset sepsis, and 3 reduced time until full enteral feeding. There was no clear overlap of strains, which were effective on multiple outcome domains. CONCLUSIONS: This NMA showed efficacy in reducing mortality and morbidity only in a minority of the studied strains or combinations. This may be due to an inadequate number, or size, of RCTs, or due to a true lack of effect for certain species. Further large and adequately powered RCTs using strains with the greatest apparent efficacy will be needed to more precisely define optimal treatment strategies.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of novel nosocomial infection prevention and control combined with intestinal probiotics in children with hand, foot and mouth disease. METHODS: The randomised case-control study was conducted at the Hunan Children's Hospital, Changsha, China, from January 2022 to December 2023, and comprised of paediatric inpatients with hand, foot and mouth disease. The patients were randomised into control Group 1 receiving conventional treatment with basic nursing services, and intervention Group 2 receiving bacillus coagulans live tablets along with novel nosocomial infection prevention and control measures. The time of symptom resolution, fever resolution, length of hospital stay, clinical effect, serum inflammatory factors, immune function, incidence of adverse reactions, quality of life and parents' satisfaction with nursing were noted and compared between the groups. Data was analysed using SPSS 22.0. RESULTS: Of the 100 patients, 50(50%) were in Group 1; 25(50%) boys and 25(50%) girls with mean age 3.49±1.93 years. There were 50(50%) patients in Group 2; 26(52%) boys and 24(48%) girls with mean age 3.52±2.03 years (p>0.05). Compared to Group 1, patients in Group 2 had shorter time of symptom resolution, fever resolution, length of hospital stay, better total effective rate, lower frequency of adverse reactions and higher nursing satisfaction (p<0.05). After the intervention, improvements in serum inflammatory factors in Group 2 were more significant, the immune function indexes were higher, and the quality of life scores were better compared to Group 1 (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Novel nosocomial infection prevention and control combined with intestinal probiotics could promote the therapeutic effect of the children, improve the immune function, and promote the quality of life of children with hand, foot and mouth disease.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and mechanistic underpinnings of live Bacillus coagulans tablets in accelerating recovery of intestinal function after gynecologic laparoscopic surgery. METHODS: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial included 115 patients undergoing gynecological laparoscopy, assigned to placebo control (PC, n = 39), conventional dose (CD, n = 38), and high dose (HD, n = 38) groups. Clinical recovery was assessed by timing of first postoperative bowel movement and gastrointestinal adverse reactions. Plasma levels of motilin (MTL) and serotonin (5-HT) were measured using ELISA. Plasma metabolite profiles were analyzed via metabolomics to elucidate treatment-related metabolic pathways. RESULTS: Treatment groups (CD and HD) exhibited significantly reduced time to first postoperative defecation and fewer gastrointestinal adverse reactions compared to PC (P < 0.05), without significant differences between CD and HD groups. Plasma MTL and 5-HT levels significantly increased postoperatively in the treatment groups compared with PC (P < 0.05), without dose-dependent differences. Metabolomics identified 50 and 73 differential metabolites in CD and HD groups post-treatment, respectively, enriched mainly in pathways involving tryptophan, tyrosine, histidine, kynurenine, primary bile acids, and short-chain fatty acids. CONCLUSION: Live Bacillus coagulans tablets effectively promoted postoperative intestinal recovery in patients undergoing gynecological laparoscopy. The mechanisms likely involve enhanced secretion of MTL and 5-HT, coupled with regulation of key metabolic pathways including tryptophan, tyrosine, kynurenine, histidine metabolism, primary bile acid synthesis, and SCFA metabolism. This study provides insights into probiotics' potential to improve postoperative gastrointestinal outcomes. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: https://www.chictr.org.cn/, identifier ChiCTR2400079659.

Many healthy people complain of functional gastrointestinal (GI) tract symptoms that do not fit diagnostic criteria for established diseases. Disrupted intestinal microbiomes are associated with these functional conditions, thus the use of beneficial bacteria shown to restore the protective microbiome may be useful. Our aims were to determine if Heyndrickxia (Bacillus) coagulans GBI-30, 6086 (BC30) would improve GI functions in healthy adults living in China and to determine its effect on the GI microbiome. Healthy adults ( n = 111, 18-65 years old) with functional GI complaints were enrolled in a prospective, double-blind trial and randomised (by random number table) to either BC30 (1 × 109/day) or placebo for four weeks. Outcomes were analysed by ANOVA or the Wilcoxon tests or with mixed regression models. Functional GI symptoms improved significantly in adults given BC30 compared to placebo: increase in number of stools/week ( P = 0.036), improved fecal consistency ( P < 0.001) and fewer participants had constipation ( P < 0.001). Four weeks of BC30 increased intestinal Bacteroides levels and reduced Clostridium, Blautia, Ruminococcus levels but did not otherwise alter the general microbiome. BC30 significantly improved GI functions in healthy adults in China, with minor modifications of the fecal microbiome and was well-tolerated. The trial was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT06644001).

Digestive health issues, including irregular bowel movements (BM) and gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms, affect millions of people in the United States and are associated with higher risks of various diseases. This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study investigated the potential of Bacillus coagulans Unique IS2 to improve stool characteristics and reduce GI symptoms. Following a 2-week run-in, 144 healthy adults were randomized in a 1:1 ratio to either B. coagulans Unique IS2 (2 billion colony forming units/day) or placebo for 4 weeks. Participants were included if they had an average weekly complete spontaneous bowel movement (SBM) of ≥3.0 and <7.0 during the run-in. The primary outcome was the change in BM frequency after 4 weeks. Secondary outcomes included change in stool consistency (assessed by the Bristol Stool Form Scale), GI symptoms and quality of life, gut microbiota composition, and the proportion of complete SBM to total BM. Safety was assessed by vital signs and reports of adverse events. After 4 weeks of supplementation with Unique IS2, there was a significant increase in BM frequency ( P = 0.037). Stool consistency significantly improved after each week in the Unique IS2 group (all P < 0.05) and was significantly improved compared to a placebo after 4 weeks ( P = 0.018), driven by a significant improvement in the incidence of hard stool ( P = 0.001). There was no effect of Unique IS2 supplementation on GI symptoms and quality of life (Gastrointestinal Quality of Life Index), gut microbiota composition (analysis of stool samples by 16S rRNA), or proportion of complete SBM to total BM. Unique IS2 was safe and well tolerated over the 4 weeks of supplementation. Our results suggest that B. coagulans Unique IS2 is a promising strategy to improve stool characteristics of individuals with hard stools and poor stool quality. Clinicaltrials.gov registration: NCT05123664.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the efficacy of a new D-mannose dietary supplement containing D-mannose, Propolis-Quercetin, Bacillus Coagulans, Hyaluronic Acid and Chondroitin Sulfate with fosfomycin in reducing rUTI episodes and improving quality of life. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Single-blind, randomized controlled trial conducted at tertiary-care hospital in Italy. Women aged 21-65 with a history of rUTIs were randomized into three groups: fosfomycin, the dietary supplement, and a combination of both treatments. Primary outcome was frequency of rUTI episodes per month. RESULTS: Combination therapy demonstrated greatest reduction in rUTI episodes per month at 12 months compared to fosfomycin or supplement monotherapy (0.23 ± 0.37 vs 0.58 ± 0.67 and 1.12 ± 0.96 for fosfomycin and supplement monotherapy respectively; p < 0.05) and to supplement monotherapy at 6 months (0.69 ± 1.03 vs 1.43 ± 1.33; p < 0.05), with significant improvement of ICIQ-FLUTS domains compared to other groups at 12 months (p < 0.05). Combination therapy had lower number of women matching rUTI criteria (55.32% vs 76.47% and 84%; p < 0.05) and symptoms remission at 12 months (89.36% vs 56.86% and 20%; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Combining fosfomycin and an integrated D-mannose supplement for managing rUTIs offers a potential reduction in antibiotic reliance. Further large-scale studies are recommended to confirm these findings. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The trial is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (CT.gov identifier: NCT06659016).

BACKGROUND: Restoration of intestinal function after open surgery remains a significant challenge in gynecological practice. Bacillus coagulans TBC169 probiotics may enhance intestinal motility and recovery. AIM: This randomized controlled trial aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Bacillus coagulans TBC169 in promoting intestinal function recovery after gynecological open abdominal surgery. METHOD: Patients undergoing open surgery were randomly assigned to high-dose (HDG), conventional-dose (CDG), or placebo-controlled (PCG) groups. The primary outcome was the time to first flatus (TFF). Secondary outcomes included time to first defecation (TFD), time to first bowel sounds (TFBS), duration of hospital stay (DHS), and postoperative complication rate (PCR). RESULTS: A total of 114 patients were included, with 38 patients allocated to each group. TFF was significantly shorter in the CDG (25.8 h vs. 38.1 h, P < 0.001) and the HDG (23.1 h vs. 38.1 h, P < 0.001) than the PCG. TFBS was significantly reduced in the CDG (16.1 h vs. 19.3 h, P < 0.05) and the HDG (14.3 h vs. 19.3 h, P < 0.001). Patients in the HDG had a significantly shorter TFD than the PCG (61.2 h vs. 66.4 h, P < 0.05). However, DHS did not differ significantly among the groups. PCR was markedly lower in the CDG (34.2% vs. 68.4%, P < 0.01) and HDG (21.1% vs. 68.4%, P < 0.001) compared to the PCG. No adverse events were reported across the groups. CONCLUSION: Bacillus coagulans TBC169 accelerates intestinal function recovery and reduces postoperative complications following gynecologic open surgery. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The study protocol was registered with the China Clinical Trials Registry (ChiCTR2200059518). © 2025. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.

BACKGROUND: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a major global healthcare burden that requires effective and well-tolerated intervention. This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness and safety of Bacillus coagulans BCP92, a probiotic, in managing IBS symptoms. METHODS: This randomized controlled trial included 100 participants who strictly adhered to the protocol. Various parameters such as IBS severity, digestive symptom frequency, gastrointestinal symptom frequency, stool consistency, interleukin-6 levels, stress relief, and anxiety levels were evaluated over 12 weeks. RESULTS: B. coagulans BCP92 significantly improved IBS severity (P < .001), and gastrointestinal symptom frequency (P < .001) compared with that in the control group. The stool consistency significantly improved (P < .001). Mental stress relief was remarkable (P = .001), differentiating the test and control groups. No significant change in interleukin-6 levels was observed; however, the safety assessment revealed an excellent profile with no reported severe adverse events. CONCLUSION: B. coagulans BCP92 is one of the most promising therapeutic options for the management of IBS because it has shown significant efficacy in alleviating symptoms among patients suffering from this condition, resulting in improved stool consistency changes in addition to improving overall mental well-being for its users, thereby foreseeing the elimination of any potential side effects experienced during the implementation of this approach strategy within our health care system, thereby improving patient outcomes and leading to individualization of treatment plans among all individuals diagnosed with this disease entity who may have symptoms, including abdominal pain or discomfort associated with changes in bowel habits.

BACKGROUND: There are complicated mechanisms that link the disruption of the gut microbiome to the symptoms and complications of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). In this study, an attempt was made to assess the effects of synbiotics on the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in women with PCOS . METHODS: Fifty-six women with PCOS were enrolled in a triple-blind controlled trial for 12 weeks. They were randomly assigned to receive a daily 2-gram synbiotic sachets (containing Bacillus coagulans (GBI-30), Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Lactobacillus helveticus, and fructooligosaccharide) (n = 28) or placebo (n = 28). To evaluate the impact on the HRQoL, participants were required to fill 26-Item Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Health-Related Quality of Life Questionnaire (PCOSQ-26), 12-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-12) and Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) pre and post the intervention. RESULTS: Finally, statistical analyses were performed on 52 participants who finished the trial. Synbiotic supplementation improved the scores of emotional (P = 0.044), body hair (P = 0.016), weight (P = 0.033) and infertility domains (P = 0.027) of PCOSQ-26 compared to placebo group. The physical score within SF-12 also had a significant enhancement (P = 0.035). No significant improvement was seen in the PSS-10 score at the end of the trial. CONCLUSION: This study illustrated the advantageous effects of synbiotics on the health-related quality of life in women with PCOS. Further studies are required to confirm our findings. TRIAL REGISTRATION: http://www.irct.ir : IRCT20211108053007N1; date of registration: 14/02/2023. © 2024. The Author(s).

PURPOSE: Despite the high risk of cardiovascular diseases in women with polycystic ovary syndrome, fewer studies have addressed the improvement of cardiometabolic status of these patients. This study was conducted with the aim of investigating the effects of synbiotic-containing, spore-forming Bacillus coagulans on cardiometabolic indicators, including lipid profile, C-reactive protein, and atherogenic indexes in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome. METHODS: In the present 12-week, triple-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial, 72 women with polycystic ovaries were randomized to receive either 2 g of synbiotic sachet (n = 36) or placebo (n = 36) plus lifestyle modification. Fasting blood samples were taken before and after the intervention. FINDINGS: Statistical analysis was performed in 60 participants with a mean (SD) age of 28.25 (5.98) years who completed the intervention (synbiotic group [n = 34] and placebo group [n = 26]). A significant mean (SD) decrease in C-reactive protein level was observed in the synbiotic group compared with the placebo group (-0.12 [9.57] v. -0.008 [4.69], P = 0.03). No significant differences in mean changes of lipid profile and atherogenic indexes were seen between the 2 groups. Although the estimated mean changes in atherogenic indexes in the synbiotic group indicates a greater reduction than the placebo group, no significant difference was detected. IMPLICATIONS: Our 12-week synbiotic intervention improved the inflammatory status in women with polycystic ovaries without affecting lipid profile or atherogenic indexes.

BACKGROUND: Probiotics are known to rebalance the gut microbiota in dysbiotic individuals, but their impact on the gut microbiome of healthy individuals is seldom studied. The current study is designed to assess the impact and safety of Bacillus coagulans (Weizmannia coagulans) microbial type culture collection 5856 (LactoSpore®) supplementation on microbiota composition in healthy Indian adults. METHODS: The study participants (N = 30) received either LactoSpore (2 billion colony-forming units/capsule) or placebo for 28 days. The general and digestive health were assessed through questionnaires and safety by monitoring adverse events. Taxonomic profiling of the fecal samples was carried out by 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing using the Illumina MiSeq platform. The bacterial persistence was enumerated by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: Gut health, general health, and blood biochemical parameters remained normal in all the participants. No adverse events were reported during the study. Metataxonomic analysis revealed minimal changes to the gut microbiome of otherwise healthy subjects and balance of Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes was maintained by LactoSpore. The relative abundance of beneficial bacteria like Prevotella, Faecalibacterium, Blautia, Megasphaera, and Ruminococcus showed an increase in probiotic-supplemented individuals. The quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis revealed highly variable numbers of B. coagulans in feces before and after the study. CONCLUSION: The present study results suggest that LactoSpore is safe for consumption and does not alter the gut microbiome of healthy individuals. Minor changes in a few bacterial species may have a beneficial outcome in healthy individuals. The results reiterate the safety of B. coagulans microbial type culture collection 5856 as a dietary supplement and provide a rationale to explore its effect on gut microbiome composition in individuals with dysbiosis.

The present study was conducted to select appropriate microbial strains for the development of fermented Alisma canaliculatum A. Br. et Bouche (FAC) feed additive and to examine their effects on broilers. In experiment 1, 16 strains of Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus plantarum, Enterococcus faecium, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus coagulans, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae from the Korean Collection for Type Cultures (KCTC) were evaluated. The strains were tested for their acid, bile, and heat tolerance levels. Among them, L. acidophilus KCTC 3111, E. faecium KCTC 2022, B. subtilis KCTC 3239, and S. cerevisiae KCTC 7928 were selected to produce FAC. For experiment 2, 140 Ross broiler chicks were allocated to four 5-wk-long dietary groups: NC (basal diet), PC (basal diet with 0.005% oxytetracycline), AC (basal diet with 0.5% A. canaliculatum rhizome powder), and FAC (basal diet with 0.5% FAC). Final BW and total BW gain were increased (P < 0.05) upon the addition of FAC, whereas feed conversion ratio improved (P < 0.05) in the supplemented groups compared with the NC group. Crude protein content increased and crude fat decreased (P < 0.05) in the breast meat of the FAC group compared with the AC and PC groups, respectively. Proventriculus and kidney relative weights of the FAC group differed (P < 0.05) from the AC group but not from the PC group. Lower (P < 0.05) thiobarbituric acid reactive substances value of thigh meat was observed in the FAC group compared with the other groups. The FAC diet increased (P < 0.05) α-linolenic acid and linoleic acid in meat. Alteration of these fatty acids led to increased levels of polyunsaturated fatty acid, polyunsaturated fatty acid /saturated fatty acid, n-3 and n-6 fatty acids, and decreased n-6/n-3 ratio in breast or thigh meat (P < 0.05). It is concluded that FAC confers high tolerance to acid, bile and heat; and beneficially affects growth, meat composition, oxidative stability, and fatty acid composition. The FAC may be a functional feed additive in broilers.

BACKGROUND: Multidrug-resistant (MDR) Serratia marcescens is an important opportunistic pathogen associated with persistent healthcare-associated infections, partly because of its capacity to form biofilms and express virulence-associated factors. Probiotic-derived cell-free supernatants (CFSs) contain secreted metabolites that may provide non-antibiotic approaches for controlling resistant bacteria. However, comparative data on bacterial- and yeast-derived CFSs against S. marcescens remain limited. METHODS: CFSs were prepared from Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus GG, Bacillus coagulans, Bifidobacterium longum, and Saccharomyces boulardii. Metabolite profiles were examined by GC-MS. Antibacterial activity was assessed by disk diffusion and broth microdilution. Biofilm-formation inhibition was evaluated by crystal violet staining at 1/2 and 1/4 MIC. Expression of fimA, bsmA, and shlA was examined by qRT-PCR, and HEK293 cell viability was assessed by MTT. RESULTS: All four CFSs inhibited S. marcescens growth in a concentration-dependent manner. L. rhamnosus GG showed the greatest activity, with a MIC/MBC of 0.375/0.75 mg/mL and a 26-mm inhibition zone at 12 mg/mL. At 1/2 MIC, biofilm-formation inhibition was 71%, 57%, 47%, and 32%, respectively. All four CFSs significantly reduced fimA and bsmA expression, whereas shlA expression was significantly reduced by L. rhamnosus GG, B. coagulans, and B. longum, but not by S. boulardii. HEK293 cell viability remained above 80% under the tested conditions. CONCLUSION: Probiotic-derived CFSs demonstrated antibacterial and biofilm-formation inhibitory activities and were associated with reduced expression of selected virulence-associated genes in S. marcescens. L. rhamnosus GG-derived CFSs showed the strongest overall activity, supporting further mechanistic and in vivo studies. © 2026 Asghari Ozma et al.

Probiotic modulation of the nasal microbiome can be achieved through oral administration, which relies on the gut-nose axis and systemic immunomodulation, or direct intranasal instillation, which provides immediate local action. Despite growing evidence, no systematic comparison of these routes has been published. This narrative review synthesizes clinical and mechanistic evidence comparing oral versus intranasal probiotic strategies to inform route selection based on disease pathophysiology and strain-specific efficacy. We evaluated randomized controlled trials, systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and mechanistic studies investigating probiotic interventions delivered via either route for upper respiratory conditions including allergic rhinitis, chronic rhinosinusitis, and pediatric respiratory infections. Orally administered probiotics may exert nasal effects through two mechanisms: (i) systemic immunomodulation via gut-derived short-chain fatty acids and tryptophan metabolites, supported by clinical data for Weizmannia coagulans BC99 and by a randomized controlled trial in children with perennial allergic rhinitis for Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis CCFM111; and (ii) direct oropharyngeal-to-nasopharyngeal trafficking, exemplified by a slow-release chewable Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus GG formulation that trafficked to the nasopharynx in 41% of users after 8 weeks, with a decrease in nasal IL-13 observed in both probiotic and placebo groups, and improved symptom control in the probiotic group. The B. longum and Lactobacillus plantarum combination NVP-1703 reduced type-2 cytokine ratios in children. Intranasal probiotics, including Bacillus spore sprays and Streptococcus salivarius 24SMB/S. oralis 89a, have shown pathogen displacement and clinical benefit in individual trials involving pediatric acute rhinosinusitis and otitis media, adenoid hypertrophy, and granulomatosis with polyangiitis-associated chronic rhinosinusitis, although within-group improvements in the latter were not consistently confirmed in between-group comparisons. However, a multi-strain Lactobacillus nasal spray failed in a crossover trial in seasonal allergic rhinitis, and a lactic a

The use of probiotic bacteria in dermatology has garnered increasing attention. This study presents a novel technology for developing functional nonwoven fabrics embedded with alginate-based hydrogel micro-flakes loaded with Bacillus coagulans bacteria. The micro-flakes exhibit a flat, irregular morphology that facilitates anchoring to fabric fibers, while the simple production process is amenable to industrial-scale manufacturing. The encapsulation efficiency was 90.6%, indicating successful entrapment of B. coagulans cells within the matrix, although the post-encapsulation survival rate was limited to ~ 30%. Probiotic micro-flakes (µFs) stored in suspension at 4 °C maintained viability above 10⁶ CFU/mL for at least 7 months. Furthermore, the µFs showed electrolyte-responsive disintegration, from which bacterial release was deduced under ionic conditions relevant to perspiration. Four types of nonwoven fabrics differing in their ratios of synthetic and natural fibers were studied. The bicomponent fabric (PE/PP-COT, 85:15) demonstrated superior loading and retention capabilities and the highest bacterial viability and was therefore selected for subsequent studies. This fabric was processed as probiotic dermatological face masks containing B. coagulans micro-flakes with a median size of approximately 70 μm (Dx50). The probiotic masks demonstrated broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity and met United States Pharmacopeia (USP) < 51 > effectiveness criteria for all five challenge microorganisms; European Pharmacopoeia criteria were met for Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Candida albicans, but not for Staphylococcus aureus or Aspergillus brasiliensis. Human evaluations showed good skin tolerance, an immediate soothing effect, and significant improvements in hydration, transepidermal water loss, smoothness, redness, and several wrinkle-related parameters after repeated use. These findings support probiotic µF-embedded nonwoven textiles as a stable and scalable platform for antimicrobial and dermatological skin applications. © 2026. The Author(s).

Metabolites from probiotic bacteria are gaining wider recognition as bioactive compounds having possible applications in the food, pharmaceutical, and healthcare sectors. Of these, Bacillus coagulans is one of the spore-producing probiotics recognized for its robustness and physiological benefits; however, there is a lack of information regarding the chemical diversity of these bacteria. This study aims to identify the bioactive compounds produced by B. coagulans (MTCC 9872) through the process of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Ethyl acetate, benzene, chloroform, hexane, and methanol were used to obtain the extracts of 4-day-old cultures. A total of 32 metabolites have been identified from diverse classes of chemicals including organic acids, hydrocarbons, carbohydrates, amino acid derivatives, phenols, and esters. Glycerol, azelaic acid, deoxyspergualin, and 2,4-di-tert-butylphenol are some of the important chemicals with antimicrobial, antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulating, and antitumor activities. The current findings confirm that B. coagulans has potential applications in producing functional foods, nutraceuticals, and therapeutic products. © 2026 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

BACKGROUND: Colorectal dysplasia represents an early stage of colorectal carcinogenesis and is closely associated with chronic inflammation and altered microRNA (miRNA) expression. Probiotic strains such as Weizmannia coagulans (formerly Bacillus coagulans) and Saccharomyces boulardii possess anti-inflammatory properties and may influence host miRNA expression, suggesting their potential as prophylactic agents against inflammation-associated colorectal dysplasia. METHODS: Mice received prophylactic oral administration of Weizmannia coagulans or Saccharomyces boulardii beginning one week before azoxymethane/dextran sulfate sodium (AOM/DSS) induction and continuing throughout the experimental period. Histopathological examination, TNF-α immunohistochemistry, serum pro-inflammatory cytokine measurements, and miRNA expression profiling using reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) were performed to evaluate the prophylactic effects of both probiotic strains. RESULTS: Prophylactic administration of both probiotic strains significantly attenuated early dysplastic alterations and inflammatory cell infiltration compared with the AOM/DSS group (p < 0.05). These histopathological improvements were accompanied by significantly lower serum levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and IL-1β, together with reduced TNF-α immunoreactivity (p < 0.05). In addition, probiotic pretreatment attenuated the altered miRNA expression profile induced by AOM/DSS. Compared with the model group, expression of miR-122-5p, miR-29b-5p, and miR-15b-5p was significantly reduced, whereas miR-98-5p, miR-202-5p, miR-21-5p, and let-7i-5p showed increased expression and were associated with miRNA expression patterns that more closely resembled those of the control group (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Prophylactic administration of Weizmannia coagulans and Saccharomyces boulardii reduced inflammation-associated early dysplastic changes while preserving normal miRNA expression patterns in an AOM/DSS-induced murine model. These findings support the potential of probiotic prophylaxis as an early preventive strategy against colorectal dysplasia and provide a foundation for fut

Pulmonary fibrosis (PF) is a chronic, progressive lung disorder with an 87.5% mortality rate recorded in aged patients. Emerging evidence bridges gut dysbiosis to PF pathogenesis. The consumption of a Bacillus-based probiotic exhibited immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory effects by alleviating gut dysbiosis and restoring gut microbiome composition, positioning it as a promising therapeutic strategy for gut-organ axis disorders. The present study investigated the therapeutic effects of Bacillus-based probiotics in a rat model of PF by targeting the gut-lung axis. Rats were randomly assigned to five groups: Group I (the normal control group) and Group II received a single intratracheal instillation of bleomycin (BLM) (5 mg/kg). All treated groups received BLM and commenced treatment fourteen days later. Group III: received B. clausii. Group IV: received B. coagulans. Group V: received a combination of both strains. In vitro and in vivo analyses showed that the probiotic strains exhibited gut survivability, colonization associated with restoration of intestinal barrier integrity, and an SCFA profile. The dual therapy exerted a notable immunomodulatory effect by suppressing pulmonary M2 macrophage polarization (CD206 and Arg1), inhibiting the TGF-β/p38MAPK-JNK/NF-κB signaling cascade, mitigating inflammatory and fibrotic responses, and diminishing NLRP3/Caspase-1/IL-1β/GSDMD-N-mediated pyroptosis, thereby disrupting the vicious cycle of inflammation and fibrogenesis. Interplay with the Nrf2 axis activates antioxidant defense. This study resolves this knowledge gap by investigating the therapeutic potential of Bacillus-based probiotics to alleviate PF by modulating the gut-lung axis, offering an innovative platform for the treatment of PF that extends beyond current Lactobacillus-focused research. © 2026. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.

Secondary microbial fermentation plays a crucial role in improving dark tea flavor, yet how microorganisms regulate flavor formation and transformation remains unclear. This study proposes integrating human/electronic tongue sensory evaluation with feature-based molecular networking (FBMN) to address this issue. Sensory evaluation showed that Eurotium cristatum fermentation improved the flavor of Liubao tea by increasing sweetness and reducing bitterness, whereas Bacillus coagulans enhanced its aged flavor. FBMN identified 358 compounds, including ten novel ethyl-pyrrolidinone-substituted flavan-3-ol B-ring fission analogs (eps-FBRFAs). E. cristatum fermentation significantly increased FBRFAs, eps-FBRFAs, and non-ester-type catechins, while decreasing ester-type catechins. Correlation analysis revealed that these upregulated metabolites were positively associated with sweetness, with TAS1R2/TAS1R3 as a potential target of FBRFAs and eps-FBRFAs. B. coagulans fermentation increased linear peptides, which were positively associated with the aged flavor. These findings improve understanding of microbial contributions to dark tea flavor and key metabolites, providing insights for product quality improvement. © 2026 The Author(s).

BACKGROUND: The incorporation of probiotics into food matrices requires suitable protective systems to maintain their functionality during food processing and storage. Chia seed mucilage is a plant-derived hydrocolloid with promising technological properties for functional food applications. This study aimed to evaluate the application of previously developed chia seed mucilage-based nanofiber and nanoemulsion carriers containing microencapsulated Bacillus coagulans in probiotic jelly formulations. RESULTS: The incorporation of the probiotic carrier systems significantly affected the physicochemical, rheological, textural, and microbial properties of the jelly formulations. Differences were observed among treatments in pH, acidity, water activity, moisture, protein, fat, carbohydrate content, and degree of esterification. The highest viscosity value, 0.65 ± 0.02 Pa s, was observed in the high-level nanofiber treatment. Nanofiber- and nanoemulsion-containing formulations also showed improved textural characteristics compared with the control, while microbial analysis demonstrated significant differences among the probiotic-containing treatments. CONCLUSION: The application of previously developed chia seed mucilage-based nanofiber and nanoemulsion carriers containing microencapsulated B. coagulans significantly influenced the technological and microbial characteristics of probiotic jelly. These findings demonstrate the potential of these carrier systems for the development of functional jelly products containing probiotics. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry.

Zinc deficiency is a prevalent micronutrient disorder, and probiotic intervention has emerged as a promising strategy to improve zinc bioavailability. However, the strain-specific characteristics and genetic basis underlying the zinc-promoting effects of probiotics remain poorly understood. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the key physiological properties and functional genes associated with the zinc-promoting capacity of Heyndrickxia coagulans (H. coagulans, formerly Bacillus coagulans). A Caco-2 intestinal epithelial cell monolayer model and a zinc-deficient mouse model were established to evaluate the zinc-promoting effects of H. coagulans. Male BALB/c mice were fed a zinc-deficient diet and orally administered H. coagulans spores (107 CFU per mouse per day) combined with zinc gluconate (0.15 mg Zn per mouse per day) for 4 weeks. Serum zinc concentration, alkaline phosphatase activity, organ indices, and intestinal zinc homeostasis-related gene expression were evaluated. Furthermore, comparative genomic analysis was performed to identify candidate genomic features potentially associated with strain-dependent differences in zinc-promoting capacity. Among the tested strains, H. coagulans CCFM1539, CCFM1540, and CCFM1541 exhibited distinct zinc-promoting capacities. In vitro, CCFM1539 significantly enhanced zinc transmembrane transport and modulated the transcription of zinc transporter genes. In vivo, supplementation with H. coagulans spores combined with zinc gluconate more effectively restored serum zinc concentration, alkaline phosphatase activity, organ indices, and intestinal zinc homeostasis-related gene expression (Zip4, Znt1, Znt2, and Vdr) than zinc supplementation alone. Notably, CCFM1541 showed the strongest overall zinc-promoting phenotype, with superior restoration of serum zinc concentration and Vdr expression. Comparative genomic analysis revealed that strain-specific zinc-promoting effects were associated with genes involved in ion transport, stress adaptation, carbohydrate metabolism, and cellular regulation. Among the CCFM1541-specific genes, ABC transporter-related genes, particularly gsiB, gsiC, gsiD, oppD, and oppF, were identified a

Erratum for Front Microbiol. 2026 Aug 26;17:1909946. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2026.1909946. [This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2026.1909946.].

Inflammatory bowel disease is a significant health concern not only in humans but also in companion animals and livestock, where it manifests as chronic diarrhoea, abdominal pain, and mucosal injury. Probiotics have gained increasing attention as potential therapeutic agents due to their immunomodulatory effects and ability to restore intestinal homeostasis. This study investigated the therapeutic efficacy of Bacillus coagulans and Lactobacillus acidophilus in an acetic acid-induced ulcerative colitis model in Wistar rats. Forty male rats were randomly assigned to control, colitis, mesalazine, B. coagulans, and L. acidophilus treatment groups. Disease severity was evaluated by macroscopic and histopathological scoring, colon length and weight, pro-inflammatory cytokine levels (IL-1β, IL-17), and inflammasome-associated gene expression (NLRP3, Caspase-1, IL-18, TNF-α). The results showed that colitis induction significantly increased pro-inflammatory cytokine expression and histological damage compared with controls. Both probiotics markedly reduced inflammatory markers, improved colon morphology, and attenuated inflammasome activation. Their protective effects were comparable to mesalazine, the standard treatment. These findings suggest that B. coagulans and L. acidophilus can serve as effective adjunct therapies for ulcerative colitis in veterinary practice, with potential translational applications for companion animals and livestock. © 2026 The Author(s). Veterinary Medicine and Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

164. Clin Nutr ESPEN. 2026 Sep 28;76:105152. doi: 10.1016/j.clnesp.2026.105152. Online ahead of print. Comment on "Effects of the administration of probiotic complexes of Bacillus coagulans and Clostridium butyricum on intestinal barrier damage induced by 5-fluorouracil in rats". Duza MB(1), Jeyakani P(2), Mandal S(3). Author information: (1)Chettinad School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chettinad Hospital and Research Institute, Chettinad Academy of Research and Education (CARE), Kelambakkam, Tamil Nadu, 603103, India. Electronic address: [email protected]. (2)St. Joseph's Institute of Technology, Tamil Nadu, India. Electronic address: [email protected]. (3)Sujata Research Laboratories, Global Sujata Ventures LLP, Vill-Mataiyalalpur, Post-Ramnagra, Tah-Klainagar, Dist-Pilibhit, Uttar Pradesh, 262124, India. Electronic address: [email protected]. DOI: 10.1016/j.clnesp.2026.105152 PMID: 42805492 Conflict of interest statement: Conflicts of interest The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

The increasing demand for sustainable protein sources has stimulated interest in edible insects such as Tenebrio molitor (yellow mealworm) larvae. While probiotics supplementation has been explored to improve insect growth performance, its impact on protein quality and downstream processing remains poorly understood. This study investigated the combined effects of probiotic-enriched diet supplementation during larval rearing and post-harvest ultrasound-assisted extraction (UST) on the protein and lipid fractions of yellow mealworm larvae. Three probiotic strains, namely, Pediococcus pentosaceus (PP), Bacillus velezensis (BV), and Bacillus coagulans (BC), were incorporated into larval diets and compared with a standard diet (without probiotics). Protein extraction was performed by both alkaline solubilization-isoelectric precipitation, which served as a control, and ultrasound application for 5, 15, and 25 min. The results from the trial found effects of both probiotics and UST, as well as their interaction, on the protein yield, although an improvement in yield was not obtained with increased sonication, and the BV group produced the highest yield among the probiotic treatment groups. In addition to this, the study did not find any effects associated with ultrasound pretreatment or probiotics on proximate composition and color, except fat % and increased lipid co-extraction, especially at longer durations. Probiotics, on the other hand, showed an influence on the fatty and amino acid profile, while they interacted with UST to affect the extracts' content. This study did not find any effects on particle size, but the zeta potential was affected by probiotic diet enrichment. Similarly, the free SH content was influenced by sonication, while both probiotics and UST played a role in hydrophobicity. Regarding the solubility, it was found to be pH-dependent and ranged from 0 to ≈90%. Importantly, this study found that probiotics did not have any effect on protein solubility; however, UST had an effect at pH 2 and 7 but not at pH 11. In terms of hydrophobicity, both factors and their interactions were found to have an effect. Moreover, this study could not determine an

To investigate the effects of Bacillus coagulans on growth performance and intestinal mucosal barrier functions of juvenile channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus), this study formulated two experimental diets: a control diet (CN group, without B. coagulans) and a B. coagulans-supplemented diet (BC group, containing 1×108 CFU/g B. coagulans). Each diet was assigned to three replicate tanks for an 8-week feeding trial. Compared with the CN group, the BC group exhibited a significantly lower feed conversion ratio (P < 0.05). The BC group exhibited significantly increased activities of intestinal trypsin, α-amylase, and glutathione S-transferase (P < 0.05), alongside significantly reduced levels of malondialdehyde and superoxide anion (P < 0.05). Moreover, the BC group showed significantly upregulated gene expression of intestinal tight junction proteins (zonula occludens-2, claudin-18, claudin-g, junctional adhesion molecule-2b, and junctional adhesion molecule-3b; P < 0.05) and the anti-inflammatory factor (transforming growth factor-β; P < 0.05). Conversely, the gene expression levels of pro-inflammatory factors (interleukin-1β, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6, and interferon-γ1) were significantly downregulated (P < 0.05). Additionally, genes associated with the intestinal chemical barrier (mucin-4, lysozyme-c, lysozyme-g, NK-lysin type 1, and β-defensin) were significantly upregulated (P < 0.05). Intestinal microbiota analysis revealed increased relative abundance of beneficial bacteria (e.g., Firmicutes, Bacilli, Erysipelotrichales, and Turicibacter) in the BC group (P < 0.05). Non-targeted metabolomics further indicated significantly elevated levels of beneficial metabolites, including soyasaponin I and taurine in the BC group (P < 0.05). In summary, dietary B. coagulans improved feed utilization, enhanced intestinal digestive and antioxidant capacity, strengthened mucosal barrier functions, optimized intestinal metabolism, and promoted intestinal health.

INTRODUCTION: Dietary supplementation with probiotics has emerged as a promising strategy to enhance the health and productivity of farmed fish. However, the systemic metabolic effects of probiotics on the liver of marine aquaculture species, particularly the underlying molecular mechanisms, remain insufficiently explored. This study employed histopathological examination, biochemical assays, and non-targeted liver metabolomics to systematically evaluate the effects of dietary Bacillus coagulans on hepatic morphology, oxidative status, and metabolic profiles, and to elucidate the potential metabolic regulatory mechanisms underlying its protective action in fourfinger threadfin (Eleutheronema tetradactylum). METHODS: Juvenile E. tetradactylum were fed either a control diet or a diet supplemented with 1 × 10⁸ CFU/g B. coagulans. At the end of the eight-week feeding trial, liver samples were collected to evaluated the effects of dietary B. coagulans on the hepatic morphology, oxidative status, and metabolic profiles. RESULTS: B. coagulans supplementation improved hepatic tissue architecture, characterized by a more orderly cellular arrangement and reduced fibrosis. ALT activity was elevated in the B. coagulans group, indicating enhanced amino acid metabolism rather than hepatocellular injury. Activities of AKP, LZM, CAT, and SOD remained at healthy baseline levels with no significant intergroup differences, while MDA showed a non-significant downward trend. Metabolomics revealed 43 altered hepatic metabolites, with pathway enrichment indicating upregulated amino acid turnover, enhanced lipid metabolism (including cholesterol clearance), accelerated tricarboxylic acid cycle (increased isocitric acid), and elevated xanthine, a potent endogenous antioxidant. CONCLUSION: Collectively, these findings demonstrated that B. coagulans supplementation safely optimizes hepatic metabolic flux and structural integrity, highlighting its potential as a highly effective functional additive to promote metabolic homeostasis in the aquaculture of E. tetradactylum.

INTRODUCTION: Dietary supplementation with probiotics has emerged as a promising strategy to enhance the health and productivity of farmed fish. However, the systemic metabolic effects of probiotics on the liver of marine aquaculture species, particularly the underlying molecular mechanisms, remain insufficiently explored. This study employed histopathological examination, biochemical assays, and non-targeted liver metabolomics to systematically evaluate the effects of dietary Bacillus coagulans on hepatic morphology, oxidative status, and metabolic profiles, and to elucidate the potential metabolic regulatory mechanisms underlying its protective action in fourfinger threadfin (Eleutheronema tetradactylum). METHODS: Juvenile E. tetradactylum were fed either a control diet or a diet supplemented with 1 × 10⁸ CFU/g B. coagulans. At the end of the eight-week feeding trial, liver samples were collected to evaluated the effects of dietary B. coagulans on the hepatic morphology, oxidative status, and metabolic profiles. RESULTS: B. coagulans supplementation improved hepatic tissue architecture, characterized by a more orderly cellular arrangement and reduced fibrosis. ALT activity was elevated in

BACKGROUND: Probiotics are recognized for their ability to restore balance in the gut microbiome during dysbiosis. However, their effects on the gut microbiota of healthy individuals have rarely been investigated. This study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of Bacillus coagulans (Heyndrickxia coagulans) BCP92 and its influence on microbiota composition in healthy subjects. METHODS: In the present investigation, healthy participants (n = 48) were allocated into 2 groups and administered either Bacillus coagulans BCP92 capsules (1 billion CFU/capsule) or a placebo containing maltodextrin for 42 days. Microbiome composition and short-chain fatty acid analyses were subsequently conducted. RESULTS: Analysis of metagenomes showed no major alterations in gut microbiome composition among participants who received B. coagulans BCP92 supplementation. However, subtle beneficial changes were observed in the treatment group, suggesting that probiotic administration may increase advantageous phyla, classes, orders, families, and some genera, while decreasing potentially harmful groups. A slight increase in short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) was also observed in the fecal samples. CONCLUSIONS: This study implies that extended supplementation with the probiotic B. coagulans BCP92 may lead to substantial improvements in gut microbiome composition and SCFA levels.

BACKGROUND: Probiotic-based gut flora stabilizers are increasingly used to improve intestinal health, immune function, and production performance in broiler chickens. This study evaluated the effects of TechnoCare200, containing Bacillus coagulans DSM 32016 and Bacillus licheniformis DSM 33806, on growth performance, immunity, intestinal morphology, and gut health. METHODS: A total of 500 one-day-old broiler chicks were randomly assigned to two groups (250 birds/group). The control group received a basal diet, whereas the treatment group received the same diet supplemented with TechnoCare200 at 100 g/MT throughout the trial. Growth performance, mortality, litter quality, footpad dermatitis, carcass traits, immune responses, and intestinal histomorphology were evaluated. RESULTS: TechnoCare200 supplementation reduced mortality by 21%, improved litter condition scores, and decreased footpad dermatitis incidence compared with the control group. Treated birds showed significantly higher body weight, improved body weight gain, lower feed conversion ratio, and increased production number. Carcass evaluation revealed significant increases in carcass, breast meat, and front-part yields. Humoral immunity and delayed-type hypersensitivity responses were significantly enhanced. Histological examination demonstrated improved intestinal morphology, characterized by a higher villus-to-crypt ratio, together with enhanced villus development and normal lymphoid architecture with increased lymphoid activity in immune organs. CONCLUSIONS: Dietary supplementation with TechnoCare200 containing B. coagulans DSM 32016 and B. licheniformis DSM 33806 improved growth performance, feed efficiency, immune responses, carcass yield, and intestinal health in broiler chickens. These findings indicate that TechnoCare200 is an effective probiotic gut flora stabilizer with potential to enhance poultry productivity and welfare under commercial production conditions. Copyright: © 2026 International Journal of Veterinary Science and Medicine.

In the late laying phase, laying hens often accumulate fat in their bodies due to high-fat diets, which in turn affects their production performance. Bacillus coagulans has good tolerance in the digestive system and is beneficial to intestinal health. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of Bacillus coagulans on production performance, lipid metabolism, and ovarian function in late-phase laying hens. The experiment involved 180 Hy-Line Grey laying hens (65 weeks of age) with similar initial egg production rates. The aged hens were randomly assigned to two treatments with six replicates of 15 hens each. A one-way experimental design was employed: CON group (basal diet) and BC group (basal diet supplemented with 3 × 109 CFU/kg of Bacillus coagulans). The research found that adding Bacillus coagulans to feed significantly reduces ADFI and the feed-to-egg ratio, whilst increasing egg production (p < 0.05). Bacillus coagulans supplementation increased the abundance of Firmicutes and decreased the abundance of Actinobacteriota (p < 0.05), while promoting the proliferation of Lactobacillus and Bacillus (p < 0.05). Furthermore, Bacillus coagulans significantly increased the levels of the bile acids GCDCA, TUDCA, THDCA, LCA, and HDCA in the ileum (p < 0.05). Bacillus coagulans not only increased the activity of T-SOD and CAT in the ovaries, as well as the expression of the Nrf2, HO-1, and SOD1 genes (p < 0.05), but also increased the expression of the estrogen receptor ER-α, FSHR and LHR genes (p < 0.05). In conclusion, dietary supplementation with Bacillus coagulans improved production performance by regulating hepatic lipid metabolism and enhancing ovarian function in aged laying hens.

Symptomatic vaginal and cervicovaginal conditions include bacterial vaginosis (BV), vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC), and other sexually transmitted infection (STI)-related conditions with overlapping clinical features. Adjunctive probiotic therapies are increasingly explored to complement standard antimicrobial treatment. This randomised, double-blind, controlled trial examined clinical, microbiological, and immune marker patterns associated with the adjunctive use of vaginal-spray spore-forming probiotics (LiveSpo X-Secret; Bacillus subtilis ANA46, Bacillus clausii ANA39, Heyndrickxia coagulans ANA40; 1 × 109 cfu/ml) in women with BV, VVC, and STI-related co-infections. A total of 120 symptomatic women were randomised (1:1; n = 60 per group) to receive either physiological saline spray (Control) or probiotic spray (LiveSpo X-Secret) for 28 days, in addition to standard treatment. Outcomes included clinical signs and symptoms, pathogen positivity and relative load (real-time PCR), vaginal microbiota composition (16S rRNA sequencing), and IL-1β, IL-8, and secretory IgA (ELISA) at days 7 and 28 versus baseline. No adverse events were reported. Symptom improvement was observed from day 7. By day 28, the X-Secret group showed a substantial reduction in the proportion of patients with ≥3 symptoms/signs (from 68.18% to 4.55%; OR = 6.42, P = 0.0147). Multi-pathogen positivity decreased from 50 to 11.36%. Gardnerella vaginalis relative load decreased 275-fold more in the X-Secret group than in the Control group, calculated based on 2ΔCt ( P = 0.0185). Stratified subsample microbiome analysis indicated increased lactobacilli dominance and reduced dysbiosis-associated genera (Prevotella, Gardnerella). IL-1β and IL-8 levels decreased by 62.98% ( P < 0.0001) and 42.95% ( P = 0.0002), respectively, while sIgA increased by 65.67% ( P < 0.0001). In summary, this two-arm randomised study describes clinical, microbiological, and immune marker patterns associated with adjunctive vaginal-spray Bacillus spore probiotic versus saline spray, both in combination with standard treatment. While causal inferences cannot be drawn, these findings highlight the need for further aetiology-spe

Industrial biomanufacturing relies on microorganisms to efficiently synthesize target products under engineered conditions. However, wild-type strains often lack the capability to do so due to their native metabolic networks. Therefore, the rapid and accurate screening of high-performance strains from large-scale mutant libraries is a critical step in industrial microbial breeding. In recent years, droplet microfluidic technology has attracted significant attention for its high throughput, low consumption, and single-cell compartmentalization capabilities, leading to the development of numerous single-cell sorting systems. A high‑throughput screening protocol for industrial microbial strains using an automated droplet microfluidic platform is presented in this study. The integrated workflow comprises four key stages: construction of a mutant library via atmospheric and room-temperature plasma (ARTP) mutagenesis; high‑efficiency single‑cell encapsulation and controlled micro‑cultivation within picoliter‑scale droplets; precise pico‑injection of a fluorescent biosensor, followed by fluorescence‑activated droplet sorting (FADS) to isolate droplets containing high‑producing variants; and validation of the sorted candidate strains through microplate and shake‑flask fermentation. A complete and integrated screening workflow is intended as a standardized template, and its validation is demonstrated through the isolation of high‑yielding L-lactic acid‑producing mutants of B. coagulans as a specific example. This automated, high-throughput screening platform offers a powerful technical solution with significant potential to accelerate industrial breeding of high-performance strains.

This study evaluated the individual and combined effects of dietary ellagic acid (EA) and Bacillus coagulans (BC) on growth performance, physiological status, intestinal health, and resistance to Streptococcus agalactiae in striped catfish (Pangasianodon hypophthalmus). Juvenile fish were assigned to four dietary treatments for 60 days, with four replicate hapas per treatment: a basal diet (control), EA at 100 mg kg⁻¹ diet, BC at 2.0 g kg⁻¹ diet (nominally 5.0 × 10⁶ colony-forming units [CFU] g⁻¹ diet), or the combined EA + BC diet. Dietary EA and/or BC improved growth and feed utilization, increased intestinal amylase, lipase, and protease activities, and favorably altered whole-body composition, with the greatest overall responses generally recorded in the EA + BC group (P < 0.05). Supplemented fish also showed higher erythrocyte, hemoglobin, and leukocyte values; increased serum protein fractions; enhanced hepatic antioxidant enzyme activities; and higher lysozyme activity, total circulating immunoglobulin M (IgM), and phagocytic responses. Serum aminotransferase activities, uric acid, total cholesterol, and hepatic malondialdehyde were reduced. Culture-based analyses showed higher presumptive counts of lactic acid bacteria and lower total culturable aerobic bacterial counts. Antioxidant-related transcripts (SOD, CAT, and GPx) were upregulated in the liver, whereas splenic TLR1 was upregulated and TNF-α and IL-1β were downregulated. Following the S. agalactiae challenge, descriptive cumulative mortality was about 87%, 31%, 21%, and 12% in the control, EA, BC, and EA + BC groups, respectively. Two-way ANOVA demonstrated substantial main effects of both additives and significant EA × BC interactions for selected indices. Generally, the combined diet produced the most consistent improvements across growth, physiological, intestinal, antioxidant, immune, and disease-resistance indicators. © 2026. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.

The choice of pH neutralizer plays a critical role in determining the performance of industrial lactic acid fermentation. This study investigated the distinct phenotypic and metabolic responses of Bacillus coagulans during batch fermentation with mixed carbon sources (glucose and trehalose) when using sodium hydroxide versus calcium hydroxide for pH control. Compared to calcium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide resulted in a slightly lower lactic acid yield and induced significant cell lysis during the carbon source transition. Metal ion experiments confirmed that sodium ion stress is the primary factor responsible for extensive cell lysis. Omics analysis indicated that under sodium hydroxide conditions, cells require more energy to resist stress. To meet this demand, cells downregulated cellular growth and sodium ion uptake systems, while upregulating carbon source transport. However, during carbon source transition, cellular resource reallocation resulted in insufficient carbon source uptake, leading to stagnation of glycolysis and amino acid metabolism. The resulting energy deficit triggered upregulation of cellular hydrolases, ultimately causing population-wide cell lysis. In contrast, calcium hydroxide as a neutralizer does not impose sodium stress and contributes to maintaining cell wall stability under carbon source deficiency. This study contributes to the understanding of cellular regulatory mechanisms in response to different neutralizers, and provides insights for metabolic engineering and process optimization.IMPORTANCEpH neutralizer selection critically determines cell survival and process efficiency in industrial fermentation. Our study demonstrates that sodium hydroxide, although effective for pH control, imposes severe sodium ion stress that synergizes with the inherent energy vulnerability of cells during carbon source transition, triggering catastrophic population-wide lysis in Bacillus coagulans. Through integrated physiology, ion experiments, and multi-omics analyses, we reveal that the underlying cause is an energy crisis arising from the conflict between stress defense and metabolic reallocation. In contrast, calcium hydroxide not only avoids sod

Constipation is a prevalent gastrointestinal disorder with limited effective therapeutic options. Probiotics have emerged as promising microecological interventions, yet marked strain-specific efficacy and incomplete mechanistic understanding hinder clinical translation. This review systematically synthesizes evidence from human randomized controlled trials, animal studies, and mechanistic investigations on probiotic interventions for constipation. We catalog major anti-constipation strains across Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, Bacillus, and other genera, and summarize key findings from published meta-analyses indicating that B. coagulans improves stool consistency by 52.8%, L. paracasei demonstrates 86.3% effectiveness for incomplete defecation severity and 87.6% for PAC-SYM, while L. reuteri achieves 99.9% effectiveness on PAC-QoL. Mechanistically, probiotics act through four synergistic pathways: gut microbiota modulation, metabolite-mediated actions centered on SCFAs and 5-HT-with strains harboring the abfA gene cluster exhibiting enhanced arabinan utilization for sustained metabolite production-gut-brain axis neuro regulation, and dynamic mucosal barrier restoration. Finally, we propose a systematic four-stage screening pipeline integrating genomic pre-screening, probiotic property evaluation, in vitro functional prediction, and in vivo multi-tiered validation. This review provides a comprehensive framework for evidence-based strain selection and personalized probiotic therapy in constipation management.

Background: Incorporating probiotic bacteria such as BC, a spore-forming probiotic bacterium known for its resistance, into extruded snacks has emerged as an innovative approach to developing functional foods. Little is known about how the addition influences metabolomic changes during storage. Methods: The mung bean snacks were produced by extrusion, followed by BC fortification. The control snack without seasoning and the two BC treatments (0.1% and 0.5% w/w) were stored at room temperature for 3 months. Culture-based methods and qPCR were performed for microbial analysis. Metabolites were extracted, and metabolite profiles were evaluated using an LC-MS-based approach. Results: 0.5% BC was the most stable in the snack, with viable counts of 7.10 log CFU/g. The PCA plot demonstrated distinct clustering patterns among groups, despite no significant difference by PERMANOVA. In negative mode, L-tyrosine showed higher accumulation in the 0.1 BC group, whereas Threonine, L-histidine, and fatty acid metabolites were highly abundant in the 0.5 BC treatment. The positive mode showed discriminant metabolites, with L-glutamic acid, Isoleucine, and L-phenylalanine enriched in the 0.5 BC treatment. Overall, BC altered citrate and phenylalanine metabolism, and each treatment affected aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis. Conclusions: These findings demonstrate the maintenance of culturable B. coagulans in fortified extruded mung bean snacks during storage and provide exploratory insights into metabolite changes associated with amino acid metabolism, lipid oxidation, and flavor development that may be relevant to product quality and storage stability.