Protective and therapeutic effects of Lactobacillus brevis PQ214320 and Bacillus subtilis PQ198038 Against experimental Trichinella Infection

Bibliographic Information
Authors: El Shanawany E.E.; Abdel-Razik R.; Nofal A.E.; Zalat R.S.; Abouelmagd F.
Journal: PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases
Publisher: Public Library of Science
Publication Date: 11 August 2025
Volume / Issue: Volume 2025-08-01 00:00:00
Article No.: e0013331
ISSN: 19352727
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0013331
Scopus: View on Scopus
PubMed: 40788963
Document Type: Article
Access: All Open Access; Gold Open Access; Green Open Access
Authors and Affiliations
El Shanawany E.E., Parasitology and Animal Diseases Department, Veterinary Research Institute, National Research Centre, Dokki, Giza, Egypt; Abdel-Razik R., Chemistry of Natural and Microbial Products Department, Pharmaceutical and Drug Industries Research Institute, National Research Centre, Dokki, Giza, Egypt; Nofal A.E., Histology and histochemistry, Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Menoufia University, Menoufia, Egypt; Zalat R.S., Department of Parasitology, Theodor Bilharz Research Institute, Giza, Egypt; Abouelmagd F., Department of Medical Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Sohag University, Sohag, Egypt
Abstract
One of the most significant lactic acid bacteria genera is Lactobacillus, which is known to generate compounds such as bacteriocins that can stop the growth of harmful bacteria. The current study investigated the protective and therapeutic effects of two novel probiotic strains, Lactobacillus brevis PQ214320, and Bacillus subtilis PQ198038, on parasitological, histopathological, and immunological responses in mice infected with Trichinella spiralis. A total of 120 mice were divided into six groups, including a positive control group (C) which was infected with Trichinella infection and not treated, mice treated orally with albendazole (ALB) at a dose of 5 mg/kg bw for 3 days after infection, and mice treated with probiotics (109 Colony-Forming Unit (CFU)/mL/animal, in 100 µL of Ringer’s solution) either pre-and post-infection with L. brevis PQ214320 (LP) or B. subtilis PQ198038 (BSP), or only post-infection with L. brevis PQ214320 (L) and B. subtilis PQ198038 (BS). Infection was induced by oral inoculation of 400 T. spiralis larvae. Parasite burden and, histopathological, and immune responses were assessed at 5 and 19 days post-infection. The results showed that the LP group had significantly reduced adult worm and muscle larval counts compared with the positive control group. In contrast, BSP reduced the parasite burden, but to a lesser extent. The immune response was characterized by elevated levels of IL 12 and IFN-γ in the LP group at 5 days-post-infection (dpi), indicating a strong Th1 response, which declined but remained significantly higher than in the control infected group at 19 dpi. Serum IgG responses were higher in the LP group at 19 dpi, suggesting that a more robust adaptive immune response was triggered by L. brevis. Pre-and post-treatment with B. subtilis PQ198038 and L. brevis PQ214320 significantly improved the histopathological abnormalities and collagen deposition in the small intestinal and diaphragm muscular tissues caused Trichinella infection and restored claudin 1 content in the same tissues. These findings suggest that L. brevis PQ214320 offers a stronger protective effect against T. spiralis infection, potentially through enhanced immune modulation and parasite reduction, whereas B. subtilis PQ198038 provides beneficial but less potent responses. This study highlights the potential of novel probiotics strains as adjunct protective agents and therapies against T. spiralis infection. © 2025 El Shanawany et al.
Keywords
Albendazole; Animals; Bacillus subtilis; Disease Models, Animal; Female; Levilactobacillus brevis; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Probiotics; Trichinella spiralis; Trichinellosis; amoxicillin; ciprofloxacin; gamma interferon; immunoglobulin G; interleukin 12; interleukin 17; lactic acid; probiotic agent; tumor necrosis factor; vancomycin; adult; animal experiment; animal model; animal tissue; Article; colony forming unit; controlled study; enzyme linked immunosorbent assay; feces analysis; histology; immune response; immunohistochemistry; intestine flora; lactic acid bacterium; male; microscopy; mouse; nonhuman; parasite count; parasite load; therapy effect; animal; Bagg albino mouse; disease model; drug effect; drug therapy; immunology; Lactobacillus brevis; parasitology; pathology; physiology; therapy; trichinosis
Citation Information
Scopus Citations: 3
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