Influence of a novel generation of prebiotics on modulation of the colon microbiota

The human intestinal microbiota performs extremely important functions: specific regulation of the host nutrient metabolism, metabolism of xenobiotics and drugs, maintenance of the structural integrity of the intestinal mucosal barrier, protection against pathogens and immunomodulation. Meanwhile, dysbiosis contributes to various health disorders - from skin diseases and allergies to various neurodegenerative disorders. Thus, maintaining healthy microbiota can be a cost-effective disease prevention tool. One of the methods to maintain healthy microbiota is the use of prebiotics. Usually, different carbohydrates are most often used as prebiotics. However, microorganisms in the intestine compete not only for the carbon source, but also for amino acids. Since most of the consumed proteins are absorbed in the small intestine, their amount in the large intestine is small. Therefore, the project aims to develop a novel prebiotic preparation consisting of protein and polysaccharide composites, that can modulate the intestinal microbiota by providing not only carbon but also a nitrogen source. Moreover, protein conjugation is expected to improve their functional properties.

During the project, potential materials and technological process parameters (reaction time, temperature, pH, etc.) for obtaining protein-polysaccharide conjugates will be selected. Additionally, the structure and physical properties of the resulting protein-polysaccharide conjugates will also be investigated by FTIR and zeta potential determination. The prebiotic index of the conjugates will be determined by assessing the growth of probiotic lactic acid bacteria in addition to the growth of pathogenic bacteria in the media supplemented with conjugates. Finally, the viability of probiotic bacteria during in vitro digestion of the conjugates will be assessed.