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The incredible miracle of microorganisms: How does Lactiplantibacillus plantarum demonstrate super acid resistance in the intestine?
Lactiplantibacillus plantarum (formerly Lactobacillus arabinosus and Lactobacillus plantarum) is a widespread member of the genus Lactobacillus and is commonly found in many fermented foods and anaerobic plant matter. This bacterium was first isolated from saliva. It is designated a nomadic organism based on its ability to survive temporarily in the guts of plants and insects, as well as in the intestines of vertebrates. L. plantarum is a Gram-positive, rod-shaped bacterium with a rod-like shape, about 3 to 8 microns in length and 0.9 to 1.2 microns in diameter. It usually exists alone, in pairs or in short chains.
L. plantarum possesses one of the largest genomes among lactic acid bacteria and is a very flexible and versatile species. It is estimated that its growth range includes pH 3.4 to 8.8. It can reproduce in temperatures ranging from 12°C to 40°C. The viable numbers of L. plantarum remained high under refrigerated conditions at 4°C, while showing a significant decrease at room temperature (approximately 25°C).
Metabolic process
Lactiplantibacillus plantarum is a facultative anaerobic Gram-positive bacterium that can grow even at 15°C but cannot reproduce at 45°C. It produces two isomers of lactic acid. Many lactobacilli, including L. plantarum, have the peculiarity that they are able to breathe oxygen and exhibit chromophores in the presence of heme and menadione in the growth medium. In the absence of these two, oxygen is consumed by NADH peroxidase, which produces hydrogen peroxide and ultimately water. In this process, hydrogen peroxide is hypothesized to be a weapon used to exclude competing bacteria from food sources.
Genome structure
Genome sequencing of L. plantarum WCFS1 reveals more molecular details. The chromosome contains 3,308,274 base pairs, has a GC content of 44.45%, and an average protein number of 3063. According to experiments at the Wigengen Center, the rRNA number of L. plantarum WCFS1 is 15 and the tRNA number is 70.
Product Application
silage
Lactiplantibacillus plantarum is the most common bacterium found in silage inoculants. Under the anaerobic conditions of silage, these organisms quickly dominate the microbial population and begin to produce lactic and acetic acids within 48 hours, further reducing the number of competitors. Under these conditions, strains of L. plantarum with high production of heterologous proteins are considered to be highly competitive, which allows it to be used as an effective biological pretreatment agent.
Food products
Lactiplantibacillus plantarum is commonly found in dairy products, meat and other fermented vegetable products, including sauerkraut, pickled cucumbers, pickled olives, Korean kimchi, Nigerian Ogi, yeast bread, etc. The high content of this bacterium in foods also makes it an ideal candidate for developing probiotics. According to a 2008 study by Juana Frias et al., L. plantarum was used to reduce the allergic reactivity of soy flour, and the results showed that L. plantarum fermented soy flour showed 96-99% IgE immunity compared with other microorganisms Reduced reactivity.
Therapeutic applications
Due to L. plantarum's abundance, human-derived properties, and ease of growth, this bacterium has been tested for its health benefits and recognized as a probiotic. L. plantarum has significant antioxidant activity and helps maintain intestinal permeability. It inhibits the growth of gas-producing bacteria in the intestines, which may be beneficial for some patients with irritable bowel syndrome, and helps create microbial balance and stabilize digestive enzyme patterns.
Antimicrobial properties
L. plantarum produces antimicrobial substances that help it survive in the human intestine. These antimicrobial substances exhibit significant effects against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria.
Activities targeting AIDS-related diseases
In the case of initial HIV infection, the intestine was found to be the main center of immune activity. Paneth cells of the intestinal immune system attack HIV by producing interleukin 1β (IL-1β), which causes extensive tissue damage manifesting as severe diarrhea. Disruption within the gut allows invasion of fungal pathogens, such as Cryptococcus, leading to the development of AIDS-related illnesses. Studies have shown that L. plantarum can reduce (destroy) IL-1β, thereby resolving inflammation and accelerating intestinal repair within hours.
Conclusion
Lactiplantibacillus plantarum is undoubtedly a unique and magical existence in the microbial world. Its strong acid resistance and various applications make it a hot spot of research. As a potential probiotic, its life story also reminds us of the importance of gut health in overall health. Can we learn more about these microorganisms and harness their full potential?
