Clostridium spp. as Next Generation Probiotics
Along with over a decade of extensive experience in next-generation probiotics (NGPs), Creative Biolabs has won a great reputation among our worldwide customers for accomplishing numerous challenging projects. The Clostridia genus consists of a large and heterogeneous group of gram-positive, spore-forming bacteria that could be used as probiotic agents for therapy of different diseases.
Introduction of Clostridium spp.
A genus Clostridium is a diverse group of rod-shaped bacteria characterized by a gram-positive cell wall structure, fermentative anaerobic metabolism, and formation of endospores. The genus Clostridium presently comprises a large collection of more than 100 physiologically diverse Gram-positive bacterial species. The Clostridium spp. includes common free-living bacteria and important pathogens. They are normal in the soil, aquatic sediments, and intestinal tract of both animals and humans. Although they have a consequence of pathogenic representatives such as C. botulinum or C. tetani, most of the members are nonpathogenic. Nonpathogenic species include the industrially valuable C. acetobutylicum, C. beijerinckii, C. butyricum, Clostridium leptum and Clostridium novyi-NT. These species of Clostridium are used in acetone, butanol, and isopropanol fermentation.
Probiotic treatment is an effective treatment option, and the most advanced probiotics for improving IBD and preventing CDI investigation is Clostridium. Among them, C. butyricum MIYAIRI 588 (CBM588) is a specific phenotype of the strain C. butyricum, which are putative anti-inflammatory microbes. CBM588 produces short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), which have major therapeutic effects. Besides, C. butyricum CBM588 regulates IL-10 production by intestinal macrophages in inflamed mucosa and prevents the development of colitis. Therefore, CBM588 may have potential as an immunomodulatory probiotic for both maintenance and induction of remission in IBD and CDI.
Viable bacterial preparations such as probiotics have been shown to control metabolic function and improve various symptoms and have been used for the treatment of conditions such as NAFLD. C. butyricum CBM588 may have the novel potential for decreasing lipid accumulation in the liver and improving high-fat diet-induced NAFLD in rats. The availability of CBM588 for NAFLD therapy should stimulate further preclinical work to validate findings that would encourage the initiation of a future clinical study.
Fig.1 Clostridium spp. (Cassir, 2016)
Clostridium-based cancer therapy is one of the most novel and promising method of cancer treatment currently being researched. Live, attenuated, or genetically modified obligate anaerobic bacterial species exhibit the inherent property of colonizing the tumors and can multiply selectively inside the tumors, thereby inhibiting cancerous growths. One of the major advantages of Clostridium-based therapies for cancer is the ability to target tumors specifically. Several strains of Clostridium, such as C. acetobutylicum, C. beijerinckii, and C. butyricum, have been tested as anti-cancer agents. Moreover, the systemic administration of clostridia spores, which is remarkably well-tolerated, can enable the destruction of therapeutically resistant tumor cells that surround the hypoxic and necrotic regions. This Clostridium-based system makes them an ideal delivery vehicle for anti-cancer agents because of its lack of toxicity and highly selective growth in tumors.
Various strategies utilizing Clostridium are currently being investigated and represent a novel area of emerging therapy of different diseases. Creative Biolabs is one of the well-recognized experts who are professionals in supporting a broad range of projects. If there are any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us for more information.
Reference
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Cassir, N.; et al. Clostridium butyricum: from beneficial to a new emerging pathogen. Clinical Microbiology and Infection. 2016. Jan 1;22(1):37-45.
For Research Use Only. Not intended for use in food manufacturing or medical procedures (diagnostics or therapeutics). Do Not Use in Humans.
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