Impact of selenium nanoparticle-enriched Lactobacilli feeding against Escherichia coli O157:H7 infection of BALB/c mice

The effectiveness of selenium nanoparticle (SeNP)-enriched Lactiplantibacillus plantarum and Lactobacillus acidophilus was studied against Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O157:H7 infection on the intestinal fragments and kidney tissue of BALB/c mice. Gut microbiota-targeted bacteria and E. coli O157:H7 counts were obtained by qPCR and PCR. Histology of ileum, colon, and kidney tissues and Stx s secretions were analyzed until one-week post-infection. Mice fed with SeNP Lpb. plantarum in the pre-infection feeding groups have lower E. coli O157:H7 counts, and lower intestinal damage than the infected group. The lowest mean fecal probiotics counts were in the L. acidophilus group (7.61 log 10). In pretreatment groups of SeNP L.acidophilus and L.acidophilus , the mean counts of bacteria decreased to 10 4 CFU/g by day 7. The lowest stx copy number was demonstrated in SeNP Lpb. plantarum feeding groups’ day 7 (P < 0.05). Feeding groups with SeNP Lpb.plantarum had significantly higher members of Lactobacilli in their fecal microbiota than the control group on day 7. It was clarified that Se-enriched Lpb. Plantarum and L. acidophilus can be useful as a method of preventing STEC infections. The viability of STEC infections exposure to selenium-enriched Lactobacillus spp. was decreased more than for non Se enriched Lactobacillus spp.