Probiotic with potential to combat necrosis

Scientists are trialing a strain of probiotic bacteria that can displace Closdtridium perfingens – the second most common cause of food poisoning in the UK – from the guts of poultry.

The Institute of Food Research found that the probiotic Lactobacillus johnsonsii, when given to young chicks, prevented the colonisation of the food poisoning bug. It has already been used in the food chain, so is considered safe for human consumption.

A study found that the probiotic bacteria have the ability to make or change a special coat, or “slime bubble”, that protects the probiotic in the stomach from acids and biosalts. Researchers speculate this may be a competing mechanism that also allows them to displace C perfingens.

“The next step is to understand the regulation of the genes involved in making the coat,” said Dr Arjan Narbad, who led the studies. “We want to find out whether changing the coat affects the probiotic’s fitness to colonise and inhabit the gut.”

Understanding the role of the slime bubbles will inform the commercial development of the probiotic as a preventative treatment. The strain has been patented and is now in large-scale farm trials to assess its efficacy.

A spokesman said: “As there is a growing pressure to reduce the use of antibiotics in farming, new products are needed to maintain animal welfare standards.”