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Novel probiotics adsorbing and excreting microplastics in vivo show potential gut health benefits
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Researchers screened 784 bacterial strains for the ability to bind polystyrene particles in the lab and selected two, L. paracasei DT66 and L. plantarum DT88. Mice given the strains passed 34% more polystyrene in feces and had 67% less left in the intestine. DT88 also lowered intestinal inflammation in the mice.
Microplastics (MP) contamination in food and water poses significant health risks. While microbes that form biofilm show potential for removing MP from the environment, no methods currently exist to eliminate these non-degradable MP from the human body. In this study, we propose using probiotics to adsorb and remove ingested MP within the gut. We conducted a comprehensive evaluation of 784 bacterial strains to assess their ability to adsorb 0.1 μm polystyrene particles using a high-throughput screening method. Among the tested strains, Lacticaseibacillus paracasei DT66 and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum DT88 exhibited optimal adsorption in vitro and were effective across various MP types. In an animal model, mice treated with these probiotics demonstrated a 34% increase in PS excretion rates and a 67% reduction in residual polystyrene (PS) particles within the intestine. Additionally, administration of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum DT88 mitigated PS-induced intestinal inflammation. Together, our findings demonstrate a novel probiotic strategy for addressing MP-associated health risks, emphasizing the potential of strain-specific probiotics to remove MP from the gut environment.
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Mice exposed to polystyrene microplastics were given Lactobacillus plantarum strains that differed in antioxidant activity and in how well they bind the particles. Mice given strong binders had less polystyrene in the body and more in feces. A weakly binding strain also lowered toxicity, apparently through the intestinal barrier and bile acid metabolism.
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Mice exposed to micro- and nanoplastics were given lactic acid bacteria that differed in how strongly they bind the particles in lab tests. Stronger binders reduced toxicity more. One weak binder, Lactobacillus plantarum DT22, still lowered toxicity, by raising tight junction proteins and shifting the gut microbiota.
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The probiotic strain Lactiplantibacillus plantarum ZP-6 mitigated polystyrene nanoplastic-induced liver injury in an animal model through multiple mechanisms including toxin binding, barrier enhancement, and anti-inflammatory activity, suggesting probiotics as a potential strategy for reducing nanoplastic health impacts.
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In 138 people, the amount of microplastic found in stool varied with the abundance of the gut bacterium Lactiplantibacillus plantarum. Researchers isolated strain PD01 and gave it to mice on a mixed microplastic diet. Treated mice had 50 to 91% less of four plastics remaining in the intestinal tract, depending on the polymer.
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