The normal faecal microflora does not affect the adhesion of probiotic bacteria in vitro

Adhesion of probiotic microorganisms to the intestinal mucosa is considered important for many of the reported health effects. The influence of the en dogenous microflora on the adhesion of four probiotic laclobacilli to immob ilised intestinal mucus was investigated. It was observed that pre-treatmen t of the immobilised mucus with faecal extract slightly increased the adhes ion of Lactobacillus GG. Pre-treatment of the immobilised mucus with faecal bacteria did not affect the adhesion of the tested strains. These results suggest that the normal microflora may not greatly affect the initial adhes ion of the probiotic bacteria. This validates the results of earlier report s where the influence of the normal microflora was not taken into account. (C) 1999 Federation of European Microbiological Societies. Published by Els evier Science B.V. All rights reserved.