Scientific Frontiers: Next-generation prebiotics - Israel Institute of Technology

Next-generation prebiotics: Oligosaccharides-protein Maillard-conjugates for selective targeting of proteins to probiotic bacteria in the colon​

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Objective

Consumption of prebiotics is a well-known approach to promote gut-probiotics, for improving human-health. Current prebiotics are predominantly carbohydrates. However, great competition exists among gut-microbes for the scarce protein in the colon, as most consumed protein is absorbed in the small-intestine. Still, no protein-containing-prebiotics are commercially-available. Here, we developed and evaluated in-vivo the next-generation prebiotics: protein-containing-prebiotics, for selectively-targeted delivery of protein to colonic-probiotics, to boost their growth. This system is based on micellar-particles, composed of Maillard-conjugates of 2’-Fucosyllactose (2’-FL) shell, engulfing lactoferrin peptic-then-tryptic hydrolysate (LFH). This core-shell structure lowers protein-core digestibility, while the prebiotic-glycans are hypothesized to serve as molecular-recognition ligands for selectively targeting probiotic bacteria.

Method

Mice were fed either with 2’-FL-LFH Maillard-conjugates, with unconjugated-components as conventional-prebiotic control, or with saline as blank. The metabolic-activity and composition of gut-microbes were assessed, and plasma lipopolysaccharides (LPS) levels were quantified.

Results

Consumption of 2’-FL-LFH significantly increased the colonic-concentration of short-chain-fatty-acids (SCFAs), compared to the unconjugated-components or to saline, by promoting SCFAs-producing bacterial-families (Ruminococcaceae, Lachnospiraceae, and Odoribacteraceae). Plasma LPS levels, which indicate increased gut-permeability, were significantly lower in the 2’-FL-LFH group compared to the unconjugated-components and the saline groups.

Conclusions

We found that 2’-FL-LFH can serve as novel protein-containing-prebiotics, beneficially modulating the composition and metabolic-activity of gut-microbes, thereby contributing to host-health more effectively than carbohydrate-only prebiotics. By varying the oligosaccharide-part we may selectively-target different probiotics, and by varying the protein-part we provide amino-acids essential to these bacteria. These possibilities would enable tailoring the product for desired health-benefits or target consumer-populations.

Funding

This research received no external funding.