Shahneela Mazhar

University College Cork

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Ekaterina V. Khokhlova

University College Cork

Kieran Rea

University College Cork

John Deaton

United States Public Health Service

Joan Colom

Agència de Salut Pública de Catalunya

Annie Simon

University College Cork

Olivia McAuliffe

Teagasc - The Irish Agriculture and Food Development Authority

Colin Hill

APC Microbiome Institute

Martin Buckley

Mercy University Hospital

Patricia Martorell

Biopolis (Spain)

Christopher Phipps

London Library

Cooperative Institutions

University College Cork

Biopolis (Spain)

Teagasc - The Irish Agriculture and Food Development Authority

Parc Científic de la Universitat de València

APC Microbiome Institute

Universitat de València

Archer Daniels Midland (United States)

Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas

National University of Ireland

Instituto de Agroquímica y Tecnología de Alimentos

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Acute physiological effects on macromolecule digestion following oral ingestion of the enzyme blend Elevase® in individuals that had undergone an ileostomy, but were otherwise healthy—a randomized, double blinded, placebo-controlled exploratory study

Frontiers in Nutrition (2024)

Shahneela Mazhar Annie Simon Joan Colom Ekaterina V. Khokhlova Martin Buckley

Digestive enzymes can selectively degrade proteins, carbohydrates and lipids; and their supplementation alongside food may accelerate the breakdown of complex food matrices, facilitate greater nutrient absorption, decrease food sensitivities and aid in the management of certain disease states. Several intrinsic and extrinsic factors govern food digestion and for every individual this phenomenon is unique. This study was conducted as a randomized, crossover, placebo-controlled design where each participant served as their own control. This post-hoc analysis investigated the impact of a dietary enzyme supplementation blend known as Elevase® on dietary macromolecule digestion in samples from otherwise healthy participants that had previously undergone a small bowel resection, resulting in an ileostomy (NCT04489810). This is the first time this study-paradigm has been used for the assessment of

Digestion

Crossover study

Short Bowel Syndrome

Ileostomy

10.3389/fnut.2024.1357803

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Evaluation of lactic acid bacteria strains isolated from fructose-rich environments for their mannitol-production and milk-gelation abilities

Journal of Dairy Science (2020)

Pradip V. Behare Shahneela Mazhar Vincenzo Pennone Olivia McAuliffe

Mannitol is a sugar alcohol, or polyol, widely used in the food industry because of its low-calorie properties. Industrial production of mannitol is difficult and expensive. However, certain bacterial species are known to produce mannitol naturally, including certain lactic acid bacteria and fructophilic lactic acid bacteria (LAB). In this study, bacterial strains isolated from fructose-rich sources, including flowers, leaves, and honey, were identified by 16S rRNA sequence analysis as Leuconostoc, Fructobacillus, Lactococcus, and Lactobacillus species and 4 non-LAB species. DNA profiles generated by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis discriminated 32 strains of Leuconostoc mesenteroides and 6 Fructobacillus strains. Out of 41 LAB strains isolated, 32 were shown to harbor the mdh gene, which encodes the mannitol dehydrogenase enzyme, and several showed remarkable fructose tolerance even at 50% fructose concentrations, indicating their fructophilic nature. Several of the strains isolated, including Leuconostoc mesenteroides strains DPC 7232 and DPC 7261, Fructobacillus fructosus DPC 7237, and Fructobacillus fructosus DPC 7238, produced higher mannitol concentrations than did the positive control strain Limosilactobacillus reuteri DSM 20016 during an enzymatic screening assay. Mannitol concentrations were also examined via HPLC in 1% fructose de Man, Rogosa, and Sharpe medium (FMRS) or 1% fructose milk (FM). Among the strains, Fructobacillus fructosus DPC 7238 displayed high fructose utilization (9.27 g/L), high mannitol yield (0.99 g of mannitol/g of fructose), and greatest volumetric productivities (0.46 g/L per h) in FMRS. However, Leuconostoc mesenteroides DPC 7261 demonstrated the highest fructose utilization (8.99 g/L), mannitol yield (0.72 g of mannitol/g of fructose), and volumetric productivities (0.04 g/L per h) in FM. Storage modulus G′ (>0.1 Pa) indicated a shorter gelation time for Limosilactobacillus reuteri DSM 20016 (8.73 h), followed by F. fructosus DPC 7238 (11.57 h) and L. mesenteroides DPC 7261 (14.52 h). Our results show that fructose-rich niches can be considered important sources of fructophilic LAB strains, with the potential to be used as starter cultures or adjunct cultures for the manufacture of mannitol-enriched fermented dairy products and beverages.

Lactobacillus reuteri

10.3168/jds.2020-19120

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Evaluation of Bacillus clausii CSI08, Bacillus megaterium MIT411 and a Bacillus cocktail on gastrointestinal health: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study

Beneficial Microbes (2023)

Kieran Rea Joan Colom E. A. Simon Ekaterina V. Khokhlova Shahneela Mazhar

In the present study, the safety, tolerance and impact of 1×10 9 cfu Bacillus clausii CSI08, 1×10 9 cfu Bacillus megaterium MIT411 and a probiotic cocktail containing Bacillus subtilis DE111 ® , Bacillus megaterium MIT411, Bacillus coagulans CGI314, and Bacillus clausii CSI08 with a total count of 2.0×10 9 cfu administered daily were assessed as compared with a maltodextrin containing placebo control. A total of 98 study participants received daily doses for 45 days, followed by a washout period of 2 weeks. A questionnaire to capture the incidence and duration of upper respiratory tract, urinary tract and/or gastrointestinal complaints and a diary to capture stool regularity and consistency was kept daily to record compliance throughout the 45 days. Faecal and blood samples were collected for microbiological and haematological analysis at the start and end of the treatment period. The probiotic cocktail significantly decreased the incidence of loose stools throughout the entire study. The recorded respiratory, urinary and gastrointestinal symptoms, defecation frequency and other stool consistency were not influenced. No clinically relevant changes in blood parameters, such as liver and kidney function and no serious adverse events appeared during and after administration. There were no changes in symptoms including sadness, irritability, energy, appetite, tension, stress, sleep, cardiovascular events, aches and pains, and dizziness as determined by a mood questionnaire administered to participants at baseline and at the end of the treatment period. Similarly, the measured inflammatory cytokines, antioxidant levels, cholesterol, triglycerides, free amino acids or minerals remained unaffected. There were no negative changes in alpha or beta diversity of the microbiota with any of the treatment groups. These promising data suggest that these treatments were safe and well tolerated, and further work with larger cohorts are justified to determine the efficacy of these potential probiotics in select demographic groups. Trial registration number with clinicaltrials.gov at NCT 04758845.

Bacillus coagulans

Bacillus megaterium

10.3920/bm2022.0117

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A rapid PCR-based method to discriminate Macrococcus caseolyticus and Macrococcus canis from closely-related Staphylococcus species based on the ctaC gene sequence

Journal of Microbiological Methods (2018)

Shahneela Mazhar Colin Hill Olivia McAuliffe

10.1016/j.mimet.2018.07.008

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Immunomodulatory and Antioxidant Properties of a Novel Potential Probiotic Bacillus clausii CSI08

Microorganisms (2023)

Ekaterina V. Khokhlova Joan Colom Annie Simon Shahneela Mazhar Guillermo García‐Lainez

Spore-forming bacteria of the Bacillus genus have demonstrated potential as probiotics for human use. Bacillus clausii have been recognized as efficacious and safe agents for preventing and treating diarrhea in children and adults, with pronounced immunomodulatory properties during several in vitro and clinical studies. Herein, we characterize the novel strain of B. clausii CSI08 (Munispore®) for probiotic attributes including resistance to gastric acid and bile salts, the ability to suppress the growth of human pathogens, the capacity to assimilate wide range of carbohydrates and to produce potentially beneficial enzymes. Both spores and vegetative cells of this strain were able to adhere to a mucous-producing intestinal cell line and to attenuate the LPS- and Poly I:C-triggered pro-inflammatory cytokine gene expression in HT-29 intestinal cell line. Vegetative cells of B. clausii CSI08 were also able to elicit a robust immune response in U937-derived macrophages. Furthermore, B. clausii CSI08 demonstrated cytoprotective effects in in vitro cell culture and in vivo C. elegans models of oxidative stress. Taken together, these beneficial properties provide strong evidence for B. clausii CSI08 as a promising potential probiotic.

10.3390/microorganisms11020240

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Solarplast®—An Enzymatically Treated Spinach Extract

Plants (2023)

Annie Simon Shahneela Mazhar Ekaterina V. Khokhlova Natasha Leeuwendaal Christopher Phipps

In the modern world we are constantly bombarded by environmental and natural stimuli that can result in oxidative stress. Antioxidant molecules and enzymes help the human body scavenge reactive oxygen species and prevent oxidative damage. Most organisms possess intrinsic antioxidant activity, but also benefit from the consumption of antioxidants from their diet. Leafy green vegetables such as spinach are a well-researched rich source of dietary antioxidant molecules. However, plant cell walls are difficult to digest for many individuals and the bio-accessibility of nutrients and antioxidants from these sources can be limited by the degree of digestion and assimilation. Through a specific enzymatic process, Solarplast® contains organic spinach protoplasts without the cell wall, which may facilitate higher yield and efficacy of beneficial antioxidant molecules. In this study, analytical techniques coupled to in vitro bioassays were used to determine the potential antioxidant activity of Solarplast® and determine its antioxidant enzymatic capabilities. Solarplast® demonstrated superior antioxidant activity when compared to frozen spinach leaves in TOC, FRAP and TEAC antioxidant assays. Several antioxidant enzymes were also increased in Solarplast®, when compared to frozen spinach. As a functional readout, Solarplast® attenuated hydrogen peroxide-, ethanol- and acetaminophen-induced increases in oxidative stress and cytotoxicity in both intestinal (HT-29) and liver (HepG2) cell lines. These findings suggest that Solarplast® may represent a non-GMO, plant-based food supplement to help reduce oxidative stress in the human body.

10.3390/plants12142678

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In vitro and in silico assessment of probiotic and functional properties of Bacillus subtilis DE111®

Frontiers in Microbiology (2023)

Shahneela Mazhar Ekaterina V. Khokhlova Joan Colom Annie Simon John Deaton

Bacillus subtilis DE111® is a safe, well-tolerated commercially available spore-forming probiotic that has been clinically shown to support a healthy gut microbiome, and to promote digestive and immune health in both adults and children. Recently it was shown that this spore-forming probiotic was capable of germinating in the gastrointestinal tract as early as 3 h after ingestion. However, a better understanding of the mechanisms involved in the efficacy of DE111® is required. Therefore, the present investigation was undertaken to elucidate the functional properties of DE111® through employing a combination of in vitro functional assays and genome analysis. DE111® genome mining revealed the presence of several genes encoding acid and stress tolerance mechanisms in addition to adhesion proteins required to survive and colonize harsh gastrointestinal environment including multi subunit ATPases, arginine deiminase (ADI) pathway genes (argBDR), stress (GroES/GroEL and DnaK/DnaJ) and extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) biosynthesis genes (pgsBCA). DE111® harbors several genes encoding enzymes involved in the metabolism of dietary molecules (protease, lipases, and carbohyrolases), antioxidant activity and genes associated with the synthesis of several B-vitamins (thiamine, riboflavin, pyridoxin, biotin, and folate), vitamin K2 (menaquinone) and seven amino acids including five essential amino acids (threonine, tryptophan, methionine, leucine, and lysine). Furthermore, a combined in silico analysis of bacteriocin producing genes with in vitro analysis highlighted a broad antagonistic activity of DE111® toward numerous urinary tract, intestinal, and skin pathogens. Enzymatic activities included proteases, peptidases, esterase's, and carbohydrate metabolism coupled with metabolomic analysis of DE111® fermented ultra-high temperature milk, revealed a high release of amino acids and beneficial short chain fatty acids (SCFAs). Together, this study demonstrates the genetic and phenotypic ability of DE111® for surviving harsh gastric transit and conferring health benefits to the host, in particular its efficacy in the metabolism of dietary molecules, and its potential to generate beneficial SCFAs, casein-derived bioactive peptides, as well as its high antioxidant and antimicrobial potential. Thus, supporting the use of DE111® as a nutrient supplement and its pottential use in the preparation of functional foods.

10.3389/fmicb.2022.1101144

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Citations (15)

Draft Genome Sequences of the Type Strains of Six Macrococcus Species

Microbiology Resource Announcements (2019)

Shahneela Mazhar Eric Altermann Colin Hill Olivia McAuliffe

We report here the draft genome sequences of Macrococcus bovicus ATCC 51825T, Macrococcus carouselicus ATCC 51828T, Macrococcus equipercicus ATCC 51831T, Macrococcus brunensis CCM4811T, Macrococcus hajekii CCM4809T, and Macrococcus lamae CCM4815T The availability of the genome sequences of these species will enable cross-species comparison, which could lead to a more comprehensive understanding of organisms of the Macrococcus genus.

10.1128/mra.00344-19

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Citations (6)

The Genus Macrococcus

Advances in applied microbiology (2018)

Shahneela Mazhar Colin Hill Olivia McAuliffe

Comparative Genomics

10.1016/bs.aambs.2018.05.002

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Citations (27)

In vitro safety and functional characterization of the novel Bacillus coagulans strain CGI314

Frontiers in Microbiology (2024)

Shahneela Mazhar Annie Simon Ekaterina V. Khokhlova Joan Colom Natasha Leeuwendaal

species have garnered much interest in health-related functional food research owing to their desirable probiotic properties, including pathogen exclusion, antioxidant, antimicrobial, immunomodulatory and food fermentation capabilities coupled with their tolerance of extreme environments (pH, temperature, gastric and bile acid resistance) and stability due to their endosporulation ability.

Bacillus coagulans

Functional food

Assimilation (phonology)

10.3389/fmicb.2023.1302480

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Citations (9)