A Systematic Mapping Review of In-vitro and In-vivo Evidences Exploring the Role of Strain-Specific Probiotic Bifidobacterium longum W11

Abstract

The gut microbiome has a significant role in overall well-being. Various probiotics are currently used for the improvement of the gut microbiome; the current scoping review aimed to critically examine the effectiveness of Bifidobacterium longum W11 in healthy and disease states. A thorough search of the literature was done in three scientific databases (PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar) to identify 21 articles that evaluated the effect of B. longum W11 probiotic. Data suggest that B. longum W11 can withstand the harsh GI environment and colonize the intestinal epithelial cells. Due to the presence of a specific EPS cluster gene, B. longum W11 is capable of producing unique exopolysaccharides that might be responsible for the adhesion and functional capabilities. Additionally, the specific mutation in the rpoB gene confers the B. longum W11 resistance to all rifamycin derivatives (including rifaximin). B. longum W11 has been clinically evaluated in various GI disease conditions including constipation, irritable bowel syndrome, minimal hepatic encephalopathy, active celiac disease, and uncomplicated diverticular disease conditions. All this evidence suggests that B. longum W11 is a promising probiotic with potential applications in various functional and inflammatory GI-related complications.