Ying Wang1, Qian Liang1, Bian Lu2, Hong Shen3, Shuyan Liu4, Ya Shi1, Sebastian Leptihn5, Hong Li6, Jin Wei7, Chengzhi Liu1, Hailong Xiao8, Xiaoling Zheng3, Chao Liu9, Huan Chen10. 1. Key laboratory of Microbial technology and Bioinformatics of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Institute of Microbiology, Hangzhou, 310012, Zhejiang, China. 2. Xiaoshan Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou, 311201, Zhejiang, China. 3. NMPA Key laboratory for Testing and Risk Warning of Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Biological Inspection Department, Zhejiang Institute for Food and Drug Control, Hangzhou, 310052, Zhejiang, China. 4. Dalian Customs District, Dalian, 116001, Liaoning, China. 5. Zhejiang University-University of Edinburgh Institute, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, Zhejiang, China. 6. China National Accreditation Institute for Conformity Assessment, Beijing, 100062, China. 7. Nordkapp Medical Group, Hangzhou, 311121, Zhejiang, China. 8. Hangzhou Institute for Food and Drug Control, Hangzhou, 310018, Zhejiang, China. 9. Department of Orthopaedics, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310009, Zhejiang, China. liuchaozju@zju.edu.cn. 10. Key laboratory of Microbial technology and Bioinformatics of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Institute of Microbiology, Hangzhou, 310012, Zhejiang, China. chenhuan7809@gmail.com.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Safety issues of probiotic products have been reported frequently in recent years. Ten bacterial strains isolated from seven commercial probiotic products on market were evaluated for their safety, by whole-genome analysis. RESULTS: We found that the bacterial species of three probiotic products were incorrectly labeled. Furthermore, six probiotic product isolates (PPS) contained genes for the production of toxic metabolites, while another three strains contained virulence genes, which might pose a potential health risk. In addition, three of them have drug-resistance genes, among which two strains potentially displayed multidrug resistance. One isolate has in silico predicted transferable genes responsible for toxic metabolite production, and they could potentially transfer to human gut microflora or environmental bacteria. Isolates of Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis are associated with low risk for human consumption. Based on a comparative genome analysis, we found that the isolated Enterococcus faecium TK-P5D clustered with a well-defined probiotic strain, while E. faecalis TK-P4B clustered with a pathogenic strain. CONCLUSIONS: Our work clearly illustrates that whole-genome analysis is a useful method to evaluate the quality and safety of probiotic products. Regulatory quality control and stringent regulations on probiotic products are needed to ensure safe consumption and protect human health.
BACKGROUND: Safety issues of probiotic products have been reported frequently in recent years. Ten bacterial strains isolated from seven commercial probiotic products on market were evaluated for their safety, by whole-genome analysis. RESULTS: We found that the bacterial species of three probiotic products were incorrectly labeled. Furthermore, six probiotic product isolates (PPS) contained genes for the production of toxic metabolites, while another three strains contained virulence genes, which might pose a potential health risk. In addition, three of them have drug-resistance genes, among which two strains potentially displayed multidrug resistance. One isolate has in silico predicted transferable genes responsible for toxic metabolite production, and they could potentially transfer to human gut microflora or environmental bacteria. Isolates of Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis are associated with low risk for human consumption. Based on a comparative genome analysis, we found that the isolated Enterococcus faecium TK-P5D clustered with a well-defined probiotic strain, while E. faecalis TK-P4B clustered with a pathogenic strain. CONCLUSIONS: Our work clearly illustrates that whole-genome analysis is a useful method to evaluate the quality and safety of probiotic products. Regulatory quality control and stringent regulations on probiotic products are needed to ensure safe consumption and protect human health.
Entities:
Keywords:
Antimicrobial resistance; Health risk; Instability; Probiotic; Whole genome analysis
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