Investigation of the impact of feeding Lactobacillus plantarum CRL 1815 encapsulated in microbially derived polymers on the rat faecal microbiota

Aims The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of the administration of microencapsulated Lactobacillus plantarum CRL 1815 with two combinations of microbially derived polysaccharides, xanthan similar to:similar to gellan gum (1%:0.75%) and jamilan similar to:similar to gellan gum (1%:1%), on the rat faecal microbiota. Methods and Results A 10-day feeding study was performed for each polymer combination in groups of 16 rats fed either with placebo capsules, free or encapsulated Lact.similar to plantarum or water. The composition of the faecal microbiota was analysed by fluorescence in situ hybridization and temporal temperature gradient gel electrophoresis. Degradation of placebo capsules was detected, with increased levels of polysaccharide-degrading bacteria. Xanthan similar to:similar to gellan gum capsules were shown to reduce the Bifidobacterium population and increase the Clostridium histolyticum group levels, but not jamilan similar to:similar to gellan gum capsules. Only after administration of jamilan similar to:similar to gellan gum-probiotic capsules was detected a significant increase in Lactobacillus-Enterococcus group levels compared to controls (capsules and probiotic) as well as two bands were identified as Lact.similar to plantarum in two profiles of ileum samples. Conclusions Exopolysaccharides constitute an interesting approach for colon-targeted delivery of probiotics, where jamilan similar to:similar to gellan gum capsules present better biocompatibility and promising results as a probiotic carrier. Significance and Impact of Study This study introduces and highlights the importance of biological compatibility in the encapsulating material election, as they can modulate the gut microbiota by themselves, and the use of bacterial exopolysaccharides as a powerful source of new targeted-delivery coating material.