Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Survival ofLactobacillus species (strain GG) in human gastrointestinal tract

  • Original Articles
  • Published:
Digestive Diseases and Sciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A newly isolated strain of a species ofLactobacillus of human origin, designated GG (Lactobacillus GG), has been studied to determine its ability to survive in the human gastrointestinal tract. When fed to 76 volunteers as a frozen concentrate or as a fermented preparation in milk or whey,Lactobacillus GG was recovered in the feces of all subjects receiving the fermented milk or whey and in 86% receiving the frozen concentrate when a single fecal specimen was cultured. The organism was also present in the feces of subjects concurrently receiving ampicillin. After terminating feeding of the organism,Lactobacillus GG persisted in the feces of 87% of volunteers four days later and in 33% of subjects seven days later.Lactobacillus GG lowered fecal bacterial β-glucuronidase activity by approximately 80% in volunteers given the organism for four weeks. These studies demonstrate thatLactobacillus GG can survive and temporarily colonize the human gastrointestinal tract and can affect the metabolic activity of the resident microflora.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Simon GL, Gorbach SL: The human intestinal microflora. Dig Dis Sci 31:147S-162S, 1986

    Google Scholar 

  2. Finegold SM, Sutter VL, Sugihara PT, Elder HA, Lehmann LVN, Phillips RL: Fecal microbial flora in Seventh day adventist populations and control subjects. Am J Clin Nutr 30:1781–1792, 1977

    Google Scholar 

  3. Moore WEC, Holderman LV: Human fecal flora: The normal flora of 20 Japanese-Hawaiians. Appl Microbial 27:961–979, 1974

    Google Scholar 

  4. Haenel H: Some rules in the ecology of the intestinal microflora of man. J Appl Bacteriol 24:242–251, 1961

    Google Scholar 

  5. Paul D, Hoskins LC: Effect of oral lactobacillus counts. J Clin Nutr 25:763–765, 1972

    Google Scholar 

  6. Savage DC: Introduction to mechanisms of association of indigenous microbes. Am J Clin Nutr 32:113–118, 1979

    Google Scholar 

  7. Fuller R: Ecological studies on the lactobacillus flora associated with the crop epithelium of the bowel. J Appl Bacteriol 36:131–139, 1973

    Google Scholar 

  8. Kotarski SF, Savage DC: Models for study of the specificity by which indigenous lactobacilli adhere to murine gastric epithelia. Infect Immun 26:966–975, 1979

    Google Scholar 

  9. Kleeman EG, Klaenhammer TR: Adherence ofLactobacillus species to human fetal intestinal cells. J Dairy Sci 65:2063–2069, 1982

    Google Scholar 

  10. Conway PL, Goldin BR, Gorbach SL: Survival of lactic acid bacteria in the human stomach and adhesion to intestinal cells. J Dairy Sci 70:1–12, 1987

    Google Scholar 

  11. Sobel JD, Schneider J, Koge D, Levinson ME: Adherence of bacteria to vaginal epithelial cells at various times in the menstrual cycle. Infect Immun 32:194–197, 1981

    Google Scholar 

  12. Wood JR, Sweet RL, Catena AC, Hadley WK, Robbie M:In vitro adherence ofLactobacillus species to vaginal epithelial cells. Am J of Obstet Gynecol 153:740–743, 1985

    Google Scholar 

  13. Chan RCY, Reid G, Irvin RT, Bruce AW, Costerton JW: Competitive exclusion of uropathogens from human uroepithelial cells by lactobacillus whole cells and cell wall fragments. Infect Immun 47:84–89, 1985

    Google Scholar 

  14. Reid G, Cook RL, Bruce AW: Examination of strains of lactobacilli for properties that may influence bacterial interference in the urinary tract. J Urol 138:330–335, 1987

    Google Scholar 

  15. Herthelius M, Gorbach SL, Mollby R, Nord CE, Pettersson L, Winberg J: Elimination of vaginal colonization withEscherichia Coli by administration of indigenous flora. Infect Immun 57:2447–2451, 1989

    Google Scholar 

  16. Gorbach SL: Lactic acid bacteria and human health. Ann Med 22:37–41, 1990

    Google Scholar 

  17. Goldin BR, Gorbach SL: The relationship between diet and rat fecal bacterial enzymes implicated in colon cancer. J Natl Cancer Inst 57:371–375, 1976

    Google Scholar 

  18. Goldin BR, Swenson L, Dwyer J, Sexton M, Gorbach SL: Effect of diet and lactobacillus supplements on human fecal bacterial enzymes. J Natl Cancer Inst 64:255–262, 1980

    Google Scholar 

  19. Goldin BR, Gorbach SL: Alterations of the intestinal microflora by diet, oral antibiotics and lactobacillus. Decreased production of free amines from aromatic nitro compounds, azo dyes and glucuronidase. J Natl Cancer Inst 73:689, 1984

    Google Scholar 

  20. Silva M, Jacobus NV, Deneke C, Gorbach SL: Antimicrobial substance from a human lactobacillus strain. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 31:1231–1233, 1987

    Google Scholar 

  21. Silva M, Cornick NA, Gorbach SL: Suppression of colonic microflora by cefoperazone and evaluation of the drug as potential prophylaxis in bowel surgery. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 33:835–838, 1989

    Google Scholar 

  22. Robins-Browne RM, Levine MM: The fate of ingested lactobacilli in the proximal small intestine. Am J Clin Nutr 34:514–519, 1981

    Google Scholar 

  23. Clements ML, Levine MM, Ristaino PA, Daya VE, Hughes TP: Exogenous lactobacilli fed to man-their fate and ability to prevent diarrheal disease. Prog Food Nutr Sci 7:29–37, 1983

    Google Scholar 

  24. Pettersson L, Graf W, Sewelin U: Survival ofLactobacillus acidophilus NCDO 1748 in the human gastrointestinal tract.In XV Symposium Swedish Nutrition Foundation. Hallegren B. (ed). Uppsala, Sweden. Almquist and Wilssell, 1983, pp 127–130

    Google Scholar 

  25. Cooke EM:Escherichia coli and Man. Curchill Livingstone, London, 1974, 96 pp

    Google Scholar 

  26. Kauffmann F, Perch B: Uber die Coliflora des gesunden Menschen. Acta Pathol Microbiol Scand 20:201, 1943

    Google Scholar 

  27. Smith HW: Survival of orally administeredE. coli K-12 in the alimentary tract of man. Nature 255:500–504, 1975

    Google Scholar 

  28. Smith HW: Is it safe to useEscherichia coli K12 in recombinant DNA experiments? J Infect Dis 137:655–660, 1978

    Google Scholar 

  29. Anderson ES: Viability of, and transfer of, the plasmid fromE. coli K12 in the human intestine. Nature 255:502–504, 1975

    Google Scholar 

  30. Gorbach SL: Recombinant DNA: An infectious disease perspective. J Infect Dis 137:615–623, 1978

    Google Scholar 

  31. Smith HW: Transfer of antibiotic, resistance from animal and human strains ofE. coli in the alimentary tract of man. Lancet 1:1174–1176, 1969

    Google Scholar 

  32. Formal SB, Hornick RB: InvasiveEscherichia coli. J Infect Dis 137:641–644, 1978

    Google Scholar 

  33. Hinton JM, Lennard-Jones JE, Young AC: A new method for studying gut transit times using radio-opaque markers. Gut 10:942–947, 1969

    Google Scholar 

  34. Turnbull GK, Bartram CI, Lennard-Jones JE: Radiologic studies of rectal evacuation in adults with idiopathic constipation. Dis Colon Rectum 31:190–197, 1988

    Google Scholar 

  35. Corazziari E, Materia E, Bausano G, Torsoli A, Badiali A, Fanucci A, Fanucci L, Fraracci L, Morini S, Capurso L, Montesi A, Pinzello G, Novara V: Laxative consumption in chronic nonorganic constipation. J Clin Gastroenterol 9(4):427–430, 1987

    Google Scholar 

  36. Goldin BR: Intestinal microflora: Metabolism of drugs and carcinogens. Ann Med 22:43–48, 1990

    Google Scholar 

  37. Hawksworth GB, Draser BS, Hill MJ: Intestinal bacteria and the hydrolysis of glycoside bonds. J Med Microbiol 4:451–459, 1971

    Google Scholar 

  38. Gadelle D, Raiband P, Sacquet E: β-Glucuronidase activities of intestinal bacteria determined bothin vitro andin vivo in gnotobiotic rats. Appl Environ Microbiol 49:682–685, 1985

    Google Scholar 

  39. Goldin B, Gorbach SL: Effect ofLactobacillus acidophilus dietary supplements on 1,2-dimethylhydrazine dihydrochloride induced intestinal cancer in the rat. J Natl Cancer Inst 64:263–265, 1980

    Google Scholar 

  40. Bruce AW, Reid G: Intravaginal instillation of lactobacilli for prevention of recurrent urinary tract infection. Can J Microbiol 34:339–343, 1988

    Google Scholar 

  41. Reid G, Chan RCY, Bruce AW, Costerton JW: Prevention of urinary tract infection in rats with an indigenousLactobacillus casei strain. Infect Immun 49:320–324, 1985

    Google Scholar 

  42. Sandine WE, Muralidhara KS, Elliker PR, England DC: Lactic acid bacteria in food and health: A review with special reference to enteropathogenicEscherichia Coli as well as certain enteric diseases and their treatment with antibiotics and lactobacilli. J Milk Food Technol 35:691–702, 1972

    Google Scholar 

  43. Schwart ED, Smith JJ: Preliminary investigation of viableLactobacillus acidophilus instillation in vaginal pruritus. Clin Med 70:1120–1121, 1963

    Google Scholar 

  44. Gorbach SL, Chang TW, Goldin BR: Successful treatment of relapsing clostridium difficile colitis withLactobacillus GG. Lancet 2:1519, 1987

    Google Scholar 

  45. Oksanen P, Vapaatalo H, Salminen S, Saxelin M, Hamalainen P, Ihantola-Vormisto A, Muurasniemi-Isovitta L, Nikkari S, Oksanen T, Porsti I, Salminen E, Siitonen S, Stuckey H, toppila A, Varaatalo H: Prevention of traveler's diarrhea byLactobacillus GG. Ann Med 22:53–56, 1990

    Google Scholar 

  46. Isolauri E, Juntunen M, Rautanen T, Sillanaukee P, Koivula T: A humanLactobacillus strain (Lactobacillus GG) promotes recovery from acute diarrhea in children. Pediatrics 88:90–97, 1991

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Community Health, Tufts University School of Medicine, 136 Harrison Avenue, 02111, Boston, Massachusetts

    Barry R. Goldin PhD, Sherwood L. Gorbach MD, Maija Saxelin PhD, Susan Barakat BS, Lisa Gualtieri BS & Seppo Salminen PhD

  2. Valio Finnish Cooperative Dairies Association, P.O. Box 390, SF-00101, Helsinki, Finland

    Barry R. Goldin PhD, Sherwood L. Gorbach MD, Maija Saxelin PhD, Susan Barakat BS, Lisa Gualtieri BS & Seppo Salminen PhD

Authors
  1. Barry R. Goldin PhD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Sherwood L. Gorbach MD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Maija Saxelin PhD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Susan Barakat BS
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Lisa Gualtieri BS
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Seppo Salminen PhD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

This work was supported by a grant from the Nutritional Research Foundation (Helsinki, Finland).

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Goldin, B.R., Gorbach, S.L., Saxelin, M. et al. Survival ofLactobacillus species (strain GG) in human gastrointestinal tract. Digest Dis Sci 37, 121–128 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01308354

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01308354

Key Words

Search

Navigation