Gut microbiota modulation via short-term administration of potential probiotic kefir yeast Kluyveromyces marxianus A4 and A5 in BALB/c mice

Abstract

Kefir yeast, Kluyveromyces marxianus, has been evaluated for its potential probiotic properties-survivability, non-pathogenicity, and antioxidant and anti-microbial activities. However, host gut microbiota modulation of kefir yeasts remains unclear. Here, we compared kefir yeast strains K. marxianus A4 (Km A4) and K. marxianus A5 (Km A5) with Saccharomyces boulardii ATCC MYA-796 (Sb MYA-796) by investigating their adherence to colorectal adenocarcinoma (Caco-2) cells and gut microbiota modulation in BALB/c mice. The kefir yeast strains exhibited higher intestinal cell adhesion than Sb MYA-796 (p < 0.05). Bacteroidetes, Bacteroidales, and Bacteroides were more abundant in the 1 x 10(8) CFU/mL of Km A4 treatment group than in the control group (p < 0.05). Moreover, 1 x 10(8) CFU/mL of Km A5 increased Corynebacteriales and Corynebacterium compared to the 1 x 10(8) CFU/mL of Km A4 treatment group (p < 0.01). The results showed that Km A4 and Km A5 had good Caco-2 cell adhesion ability and modulated gut microbiota upon short-term administration in healthy mice.