Lactobacilli decelerates cell cycle progression

Lactobacilli act as a first line of defense against infections by preventing colonization of pathogenic bacteria. A disruption of the population balance or depletion of lactobacilli increases the incidence of bacterial infections. Interestingly, certain Lactobacillus strains have been found to possess anti-proliferating effect on human cancer cells. We have shown that two Lactobacillus strains tested hampers cells in G1 phase of the cell cycle, prolonging the cell cycle by several hours. Interestingly, another Lactobacillus strain could instead induce a temporal higher proliferation rate cells by forcing the cells to enter mitosis faster than control cells. But what makes these extracellular harmless bacteria capable of affecting cell proliferation rates in the host?

Helena Aro’s research group study the molecular functions of how the human cells grow and divide and how our normal flora can influence this process. 

 

Lactobacilli bind human epithelial cells and protect them against pathogenic microorganisms. Photo Katarina Vielfort