Effect of Different Prebiotic Saccharides on Listeria monocytogenes Adherence to Human Adenocarcinoma Caco-2 Cell Line

TL;DR

This study shows that certain prebiotics like beta-glucan, inulin, and HMOs can significantly reduce the ability of Listeria monocytogenes to stick to intestinal cells, potentially offering protection against infection.

Contribution

The study identifies specific prebiotics that significantly inhibit Listeria monocytogenes adherence to intestinal cells, offering new insights into foodborne disease prevention.

Findings

Beta-(1,3)-D-glucan reduced Listeria monocytogenes adhesion by approximately 60%.

Inulin and HMOs reduced adhesion by ~46% and ~44%, respectively.

Other prebiotics like fructooligosaccharides and galactooligosaccharides had no significant effect on LM adhesion.

Abstract

Listeria monocytogenes (LM) is one of the most emerging pathogens responsible for the serious foodborne disease listeriosis. The risk of disease outbreaks can be reduced by suppressing the adherence of LM to the intestinal epithelial cells. This effect can be achieved by prebiotic supplementation. The aim of this work was to determine the effect of prebiotics beta-(1,3)-D-glucan, inulin, fructooligosaccharides, galactooligosaccharides, lactulose, raffinose, stachyose, human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs), and 2’-fucosyllactose on the ability of LM to adhere to the human adenocarcinoma Caco-2 cell line. Despite strain-specific variability, a statistically significant reduction in LM adhesion to intestinal epithelial cells was observed in the presence of beta-(1,3)-D-glucan (~60% reduction), inulin (~46%), and HMOs (~44%). In contrast, the remaining tested prebiotics did not show a significant impact on LM adhesion. These findings highlight the potential of specific prebiotics, especially beta-glucans, to limit LM adherence, suggesting a protective effect for the host.

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