A novel multi-strain probiotic and synbiotic supplement for prevention of Clostridium difficile infection in a murine model.

The protective effect of a multi-strain probiotic and synbiotic formulation was evaluated in C57BL/6 mice infected with Clostridium difficile (CD) NAP1/027. Antibiotic treated mice were divided into four groups. Group 1, fed with a synbiotic formulation consisting of Lactobacillus plantarum F44, L. paracasei F8, Bifidobacterium breve 46, B. lactis 8:8, galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS), isomalto-oligosaccharides (IMOS) and resistant starch (RS); group 2, fed with the same four probiotic strains as in group 1; group 3, fed with the same prebiotic supplements as mentioned in group 1 for seven days before CD infection and group 4, the control group, was antibiotic treated and infected with NAP1/027 strain. Faeces and caecal contents were collected for microbial cell viability, quantitative PCR (qPCR), toxin analyses and histopathology. Synbiotics and probiotics fed mice showed a significant increase of total bifidobacteria (P < 0.05). Total lactobacilli count was increased in group 1. The caecal toxins were negative in group 2 mice, and one sample each from group 1 and 3 was positive. qPCR of caecal content showed significant reduction in NAP1/027 DNA copies in group 1-2 and significantly higher numbers of B. breve 46, L. plantarum F44 and L. paracasei F8 in group 1 and 2 (P < 0.05) but much less pronounced in group 3-4. This study demonstrated that the newly developed synbiotic or multi-strain probiotic formulation conferred protection against NAP1/027 infection in C57BL/6 mice. This holds promising to conduct future human studies.