Jasna Novak
University Zagreb, Croatia
Posters & Accepted Abstracts: J Prob Health
Surface (S-) layers are regular crystalline-like structures, composed of single (glyco)protein subunits, which form the layer on the underlying cell envelope in different species of Archaea and Bacteria. Up to date, within numerous lactic acid bacteria (LAB) species these proteins have been detected only in the several members of Lactobacillus genus. The biological roles of S-layer proteins of Lactobacillus strains have not yet been completely resolved, and due to their specific features characterization of these proteins is challenging, both in terms of gaining knowledge about their role in probiotic functionality and in their biotechnological application. Till now several functional roles of the S-layers in Lactobacillus cells have been proposed. Recent studies reported that some probiotic properties of Lactobacillus bacteria, such as adhesion, pathogen exclusion and immunomodulation have been related to the occurrence of S-layersThe focus is particularly given to the importance of S-layer proteins in probiotic performing effects of Lactobacillus strains which are related to the survival in stress conditions, competitive pathogen exclusion, bacterial cell adhesion to intestinal epithelial cells and enhancing host immune function as well as mucosal barrier.
