Probiotics and Inhibition of Clostridium difficile Toxin

Jina Lim, Kwang-Hyun Kim, Sejong Oh*

Division of Animal Science, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, Korea

^*Corresponding author : Sejong Oh, Division of Animal Science, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, Korea. Tel: +82-062-530-2116 Fax: +82-062-530-2129 E-mail: soh@jnu.ac.kr

Copyright © Korean Society for Lactic Acid Bacteria. All rights reserved. This is an Open-Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Published Online: Jun 30, 2019

Abstract

The definitions of international authorized probiotics are live microorganisms that, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host. The scientific basis for the prevention and treatment of bowel disease among the functions of probiotics has only recently been established. Probiotics, which are actively studied, are lactic acid bacteria, especially Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium species. The C. difficile toxin is controlled by quorum sensing, which causes intestinal disease and other gastrointestinal disorders, leading to antibiotic-associated diarrhea. The use of probiotics for prevention and treatment has been discussed in this review.

Keywords: Clostridium difficile; probiotics; quorum sensing; toxin