Abstract

A high producer β-glucans strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae was selected from our culture collection to evaluate its ability to assimilate selenium by growing it in YPD medium supplemented with inorganic sodium selenite. This strain was also used as a host to express the murine lactoferrin gene under the control of the promoter of the S. cerevisiae glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GPD) gene. The yeast strain was cultivated to obtain biomass made up to of high β-glucans levels, the incorporated selenium and recombinant murine lactoferrin. This biomass was harvested and dried to obtain probiotic supplements T1 and T2. The amount of bioselenium and murine lactoferrin were determined in the resulting product and used to feed BALB/c mice for 30 days. Several parameters served to monitor evaluate the immune stimulatory effect and the physiological state of the animals during the test. Measurements were carried out at 0, 15^th and 30^th days. The results showed the composite supplement improves the physiological and immunological conditions of the tested animals compared to the control group. The results obtained pave the way for developing food supplements with similar characteristics for economically important species.

Introduction

Probiotics are live microorganisms that confer health benefits to the host when administrated in adequate amounts [1,2]. Yeasts are eukaryotic unicellular microorganisms belong to the fungus kingdom [3]. Saccharomyces cerevisiae metabolizes carbohydrates to carbon dioxide and alcohols in a process known as fermentation which is extensively known and used by humans in food and alcoholic beverages production since the beginning of human civilization [4]. S. cerevisiae has also been used as a model organism for biological research and biotechnological processes. In general, there are a great number of yeast species, widely distributed in the nature and its ecological role has been matter of extensive studies. Yeasts, particularly S. cerevisiae and S. boulardii, are used as a nutritional supplement for direct consumption in different forms. Yeast strains are used as probiotic fungi in order to improve health and physiological conditions in many living organisms including humans as well as other vertebrates [5]. They could act in many beneficial forms that include (i) the prevention of binding and adhesion to the intestinal epithelium of pathogens,

a. The inhibition of toxin binding to the components of the membrane of epithelial cells,
b. Prevention of diarrhea,
c. Protection of the digestive tract from drug therapies,
d. Stimulation of the innate immune system and the antiinflammatory, anti-stress and hepatoprotective processes, among other benefits for the better physiological functioning of the entire organism [6-8].

In addition yeasts are a rich source of numerous important nutriments as proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals. Many of these probiotic characteristics are due to the components of the yeast cell wall. The yeast cell wall has a complex structure composed by lipids, glycoproteins and covalently interconnected polysaccharides that comprise water- and alkali soluble fractions of alpha mannans, mannoproteins and β-glucans [9]. In general, β-glucans are one of the most important biopolymers in living organisms, widely presented in cell walls of fungi and plant cells [10-12]. Three types of β-glucans are present in the cell walls of higher plants: (i) β(1,3)-glucan, (ii) cellulose, and (iii) xyloglucan [11]. In yeast, three different β-glucans types are present and they have been classified according to their solubility and aggregation properties: alkali insoluble branched β(1-3)-glucans, acid soluble branched β(1-6)-glucans and alkali soluble branched β(1-3)- glucans.

Mannoproteins are glycoproteins with attached mannan residues, constitute between 20 and 50% of the total proteins of the cell wall, while the greatest contribution to this proportion lies in β(1-6)-glucans (65-90 % of total β-glucans fraction) of the total weight [13]. As previously mentioned, β-glucans has an important healthy effect on vertebrates especially on mammalian organisms at improving their innate and acquired immunity, and overall organic response to environmental changes and adverse effects triggered [14-17]. The molecular structure and composition of β-glucans as well as their derived physicochemical characteristics are determinant on physiological and immune functions of vertebrates. In yeast and fungi, β glucans are mainly present β (1-3)-glucans backbone bearing branches composed by β (1-6)-linked side groups, which are very important to modulate in vertebrates both immune responses, innate and adaptive [18,19]. Other features determining their biological activity are molecular mass, solubility and type of aggregation, their spatial folding and the resulting tertiary structure as well as the relative charge they carry [8,18,20].
Selenium is an essential micronutrient and well antioxidant naturally found in soil, water and in some foods. Selenium compounds, although in trace quantities, are indispensable for proper physiological functioning of vertebrate organisms. The beneficial effects of selenium can be linked mainly with the selenoproteins and their relevant role in the organisms such as, endocrine, muscular, cardiovascular, nervous, reproductive, antioxidant and immune functions [19, 20]. Clinical evidence indicates that consumption of Se-supplemented diet can increase phagocytosis and the activity of natural killer cells, in sheep and humans respectively [21-26]. In vertebrates, the mentioned biological effects of this microelement are mostly attributed to the insertion of selenium in a group of proteins, named selenoproteins (SeP), where the selenocysteine as take as a truly 21st amino acid residue. To the present, 25 genes coding for SeP have been identified. In some cases, the SeP are enzymes with catalytic functions, responsible for biological reactions of the reduction-oxidation type, antioxidant defense, DNA repair systems, epigenetic processes, and thyroid hormone metabolism [26]. Those are the cases of three thioredoxin reductases (TRs), glutathione peroxidases (GPx), methionine sulfoxide reductase (MsrB1), and 3 thyroid hormone deiodases (DIs) [27].

Lactotransferrin also known as Lactoferrin (LF), is a 78 kDa iron-binging glycoprotein which belongs to the Transferrin Protein family Talalactoferrin and LTF [28]. These proteins are able to transport proteins which can bind two Fe3+ ions in association with the binding of an anion, usually bicarbonate. LF is commonly found in colostrum and milk of vertebrates but also, although in smaller quantities, in tears, nasal secretions, saliva and intestinal fluids [29-31]. LF has antibacterial and antiviral actions retarding their proliferation and even killing them due its iron-binding capacity that results in microbial membrane destabilization [30].This protein is also an important modulator of inflammatory processes and immune response, probably by cytokine and chemokine production as well as interaction with oxidative/antioxidative processes, regulating the production of intracellular levels Reactive Oxygen and Nitrogen Species (ROSN) that may cause damage to lipids, proteins and DNA. But oxidative stress has been linked to activation of immune system [30,32-34]. LF activates innate immune response through receptors located in on the surface of macrophages, inducing phagocytosis of exogenous subjects and, at the same time, stimulating adaptative immune response and promoting the activity of antigen-specific T cells. Colostrum is particularly important for newborn mammals during the first days of life, because their immune systems are not fully developed, and they are highly susceptible to external pathogens and potentially allergenic substances [35]. Colostrum contains modulating factors that stimulate and regulate the immune response, including LF. We present the evaluation of probiotic supplement containing a combination of yeast β-glucans, organic selenium and lactoferrin in BALB/c mice during 30 days. The animals were monitored by determining blood, hepatic and renal biochemical markers related with specific organic functions, oxidative status, and immune system. The results showed an increase in immune response and improvement of tested organic function compared to the mice in control group and the synergistic action of the active components of the probiotic food supplement.

Materials and Methods

Probiotic Preparation

The normal diet consists in NUTRICUBOS-LabChows (Agribrands Purina, Mexico) and according to the nutritional values recommended by laboratory mice [36]. Probiotic food supplement (T1) composed by basic food (Normal Diet) supplemented by probiotic mixture containing a combination of yeast extract, insoluble β(1-3)- and β(1-6). glucan (final concentration 30%: weight), recombinant murine lactoferrin (final concentration 2.8 %: w), produced in yeast, and Se-enriched yeast extract (Se final concentration 0.015 % Se: weight). Probiotic food supplement (T2) has the same composition of insoluble β (1-3) and β (1-6) glucan (final concentration 30%: weight) but 33% less recombinant murine lactoferrin (final concentration 1.8 % %: w) and Se-enriched yeast extract (Se final concentration 0.01 % Se: weight). Recombinant lactoferrin was used as a dry yeast extract from transformed S. cerevisiae strain that expresses modified murine lactoferrin gene under the control of the promoter of the glyceraldehyde-3- phosphate dehydrogenase (GPD) gene, the level of LF production were established by immune dot blotting using our own anti-LF polyclonal antibodies and Protein A-peroxidase conjugate (AbCam, Cambridge, UK). The integrity of recombinant LF in of S. cerevisiae dry extract was verified by SDS-PAGE- 12.5% Electrophoresis (data not shown).

Animal Care, Husbandry and Probiotic Testing

Probiotic test experiment was performed in accordance with the Guidelines for Ethical Conduct in the Care and Use of Nonhuman Animals in Research [37] and the Institutional Committee of Ethics, Animal Care and Welfare. Six-week-old female BALB/c mice were housed in temperature controlled (22-25ºC) on a 12h light/dark cycle (12h/12h) with access to water and food “ad libitium”. A total of 45 mice were divided into 3 groups of 15 mice each, first control group was fed a normal control diet, and testing groups was feed with a diet enriched with experimental probiotic supplement (T1, T2). The animals were weighed daily until day 30^th.

Blood Biochemistry

Blood samples were collected through the ophthalmic plexus using a glass Pasteur pipette at the day 0 (prior to day exposure) and at the day 15th, 30th when the experimental test ended. Samples were centrifuged at 1850 x g for plasma collection. Liver and renal functions were evaluated by measuring, serum albumin, urea, uric acid, creatinine, alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase, alkaline phosphatase, serum glutathione peroxidase and serum total antioxidant capacity. Measurements were done using the following commercial kits: a) Serum Albumin (QuantiChrom™ BCG Albumin Assay Kit, BioAssay Systems, Hayward, CA, USA); b) Urea BUN (Mouse Blood Urea Nitrogen ELISA Kit, Creative Diagnostics, Shirley, NY, USA); c) Uric Acid (QuantiChrom™ Uric Acid Assay Kit, BioAssay Systems, Hayward, CA, USA); d) Creatinine (Mouse Creatinine CREA ELISA, Kamiya Biomedical Co., Seattle, WA, USA); e) Alanine Transaminase (EnzyChrom™ Alanine Transaminase Assay Kit, BioAssay Systems, Hayward, CA, USA); f) Aspartate Transaminase (EnzyChrom™ Aspartate Transaminase Assay Kit, BioAssay Systems, Hayward, CA, USA); g) Alkaline phosphatase (Mouse Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP) ELISA, Kamiya Biomedical Co., Seattle, WA, US); h) Serum GSH-Activity (Mouse Glutathione (GSH) Colorimetric Cuvette Detection Kit (Innovative Research, MI, USA) and i) Plasma Total Antioxidant Capacity (Total Antioxidant Capacity Assay Kit, ABCAM, Cambridge, MA, USA).

Immunological Status

The immunological status of animals was followed up 0, 15th and 30^th days of the probiotic assay by using 5 animals. The levels of lymphocytes, neutrophils and monocytes, were determined as well as the production of some cytokines were determined. Leucocytes numbers were established by using hemocytometer [38]; remaining parameters were evaluated by commercial kits.

Isolation of blood monocytes

Blood monocytes were extracted from two mL of peripheral blood from the wing vein of five selected animals from each experimental groups using standard procedure [39]. The total number of mononuclear-containing cells was counted by a standard hemocytometer and cell viability was determined.

Isolation of Bone Marrow derived macrophages

The five animals selected for monocytes isolation, were used to collect bone marrow cells according the standard described methodology [40,41].

Phagocytosis Assay

Peripheral blood monocytes and bone marrow derived macrophages from animals exposed to normal and probiotic supplemented feed during 30 days were subjected to the phagocytosis assay analysis. The assay was carried out by using commercial kit (Phagocytosis Assay Kit (Zymosan Substrate), AbCam, Cambridge, UK) 0, 15^th and 30^th of probiotic test. The external no engulfed Zymosan particles are blocked previously and the engulfed Zymosan particles react with a specific substrate to produce a colorimetric signal that can be detected by absorbance at 405 nm. The phagocytic index was calculated according to the following formula: phagocytic index = (total number of engulfed cells/total number of counted macrophages) × (number of macrophages containing engulfed cells/total number of counted macrophages) × 100 [42].

Cytokine Determination

Blood samples were drawn at 0, 15^th and 30^th days of the experiment. The blood was allowed to clot and serum was separated by centrifugation and transferred to new tubes for determination of both proinflammatory (Interleukin-2(IL-2), Interleukin 12 (IL-12) and gamma interferon (IFN-γ)) and antiinflammatory (Interleukin 4 (IL-4), Interleukin 10 (IL-10)) cytokines by using commercial kits (AbCam, Cambridge, UK).

Data Analysis

Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA followed by Dunnett’s or Fisher’s protected least significant difference multiple comparison testing in SPSS13.0 (SPSS, Chicago, IL, USA). When necessary, data were transformed for normalization and to reduce heterogeneity of variance p-values <0.05 were statistically considered significant.

Results/Observations

The Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain LX36 showed higher β-glucan content was selected from our culture collection to prepare probiotic food complement. The conditions for assimilation of selenium were optimized. This strain was transformed for constitutive expression of murine lactoferrin gene under the control of yeast Glyceraldehyde Phosphate Dehydrogenase (GPD) promoter. The same strain was used as a source of β-glucan, organic selenium and lactoferrin and became basic component of two probiotic supplements: T1 and T2. The probiotic mixture was completed with nutritional requirements recommended for mice US National Research Council (1995). During the probiotic three experimental group were fed with normal diet (ND), probiotic supplement 1 (T1) and probiotic supplement 2 (T2). The animals were monitored by determining blood, hepatic and renal biochemical markers related with specific organic functions, oxidative status and immune system. Table 1 shows the evolution of hepatic (Alanine Transaminase, Aspartate Transaminase, Alkaline Phosphatase), renal (Urea BUN, Uric Acid, Creatinine) and Serum Oxidative Status (Serum Albumin, Serum Glutathione Peroxidase, Serum Total Antioxidant Capacity) functions. We observe that mice in both, control and test groups are healthy and in a good physiological condition (Table 1).

The hepatic, renal and antioxidative functions did not suffer any significant changes and all values were normal. Immunological status of mice was monitored (Table 2). The number of lymphocytes, neutrophils, monocytes increases until the end of experiment in the animals fed with probiotic supplements T1 and T2 indicating a positive effect of both probiotic supplements on leucocytes proliferation. Significant stimulation effect was observed in phagocytosis assays of monocytes and macrophages. When animals were fed with probiotic supplement T1, phagocytosis in monocytes grew up from 35.68 % at day 0 to 57.21 % at 15^th day and to 70.63% at the end of experiment. In case of mice fed with probiotic supplement T2 the same dynamic was observed, phagocytosis of monocytes shown an increment from 35.5 % at day 0, to 59.04 % at 15th day, and to 72.05% at the end of experiment. In the control group fed with normal diet the phagocytosis values remained without significant changes. The same tendency was observed in phagocytosis assay of macrophages fed with probiotic supplement T2. Phagocytosis grew up from 35.88 % to 67.34% and to 78.16 % at the end of the experiment when T1 given to animals, in case of T2 the phagocytosis index of macrophages increased from 36.02% at day 0 to 65.72 % at 15^th day and 79.86% at day 30^th.

The cytokine production during the experiment show stable values for Interferon gamma (IFN-γ), Interleukin 2 (IL2), Interleukin 12 (IL12) Interleukin 4 (IL4) and Interleukin 10 (IL10)in the control group. In case of the test groups increments were observed in all monitored cytokines but more significant in case of Interferon gamma (IFN-γ), Interleukin 12 (IL12) and Interleukin 10 (IL10). Values of IFN-γ at 30^th day are 221% for T1 trail and 230% for T2 trail compared with the values found at day 0. The general health conditions of animals and weight increment were permanently observed and no differences were observed in both control and test group. Compared with the control group, at 30^th day the increment in IFN-γ represented 214% (T1) and 209% (T2). A moderate increases are observed for the rest of monitored cytokines (Table 2). When compared the production of proinflammatory (IFNγ, IL2, IL12) with the production of antiinflammatory (IL 10, IL4) cytokines the increments observed at 15^th and 30^th days reflex a conserved balance between the production of both types of cytokines.

Discussion

Living organisms are in permanent interaction with internal and environmental conditions and the ability to adapt the organic processes to new reality is crucial for survival. Those processes in animals frequently resulted in oxidative stress, metabolic dysfunction, loss of essential nutriments, decreased availability to maintain homeostasis of essential nutrients, energetic balance, retain electrolytes, and overall physiological dysregulation leading to poor health condition [43]. The beneficial effect of dairy diet supplementation with probiotics is obvious when compare the benefits evidenced in clinic and veterinary studies that comprise the dynamic evolution of weight, liver, renal, immunological and antioxidant markers. Probiotic supplements help support all physiological functions since nutrition to the immune system in healthy condition making any metabolic dysfunction and/or infection less severe and helping the health recovery [26,44,45]. We tested two probiotic supplements that include three yeast-derived probiotic compounds: β-glucans, a component of yeast cell wall; organic selenium, derived from selenized yeasts and recombinant murine lactoferrin. We fed 45 BALB/c mice for 30 days divided in three groups of 15 animals: control group fed with normal diet and two test groups fed with probiotic mixtures T1 and T2.
The evolution and health status of animals was followed by measuring marker vital functions, oxidative status and immune system , including hepatic (Alanine Transaminase, Aspartate Transaminase, Alkaline Phosphatase), renal (Urea BUN, Uric Acid, Creatinine), Serum Oxidative Status (Serum Albumin, Serum Glutathione Peroxidase, Serum Total Antioxidant Capacity), Immune response (Quantification of Lymphocytes, Neutrophils, Monocytes, Phagocytosis in Monocytes and Macrophages, Production of proinflammatory (IFNγ, IL2, IL12) and antiinflammatory (IL4, IL10) cytokines. Evaluations were made on days 0, 15^th and 30^th days. The supplemented diets (T1 and T2) used for animal feeding in this experiment contained identical nutritional value but differ in the proportion of β-glucans, organic selenium, and recombinant murine lactoferrin. That proportion is 30% less in T2 compared with T1. β-glucans are absent in vertebrate cells, and this is an important fact in their overall stimulation effect on innate and acquired immunity. The vertebrates lack β-glucans, they are recognized as foreign invasive and potentially pathogenic substance as Microbe- Associate Molecular Pattern (MAMPs) by Pattern Recognition Receptors (PRR). These receptors, play a crucial role in the innate immune system, and are mainly expressed by antigen presenting cells such as dendritic cells, monocytes, macrophages, natural killer cells, neutrophils, eosinophils and in epithelial cell of many tissues, including intestinal epithelial cells [46,47].
In general, MAMPs include different agents such as bacterial lipopolysaccharides or mannose; nucleic acids, such as bacterial or viral DNA and RNA; peptidoglycan or lipoteichoic acid derived from a Gram positive bacterium; formylmethionine and lipoproteins, bacterial carbohydrates and β-glucans. The PRR are present mainly in monocytes, macrophages, dendritic cells [47]. This fact can be one of the reasons of the multifaceted action of β-glucans. Evidence from in vitro and in vivo studies suggests that β-glucans have the ability to promote the growth of beneficial microorganisms such as Lactobacillus ssp. and Bifidobacterium ssp. in the gut microbiota and the modulation of the immune system of mammals, including humans [13,48,49]. Previously we studied the overall probiotic effect of yeast β-glucans in mice after stress situation [8] and hepatoprotective effects associated with their antioxidant capacity [50]. This fact is relevant for keeping oxidant/antioxidant balance in the respective organs, but also for maintaining the physiological status of whole organism. In our experiment the hepatic, renal and antioxidative functions didn’t suffer any significant changes from normal standard values for mice. Albumin is as important factor in an important homeostatic, nutritional and effective plasma pH buffer [51]. Alterations in BSA levels may indicate liver, renal and nutritional malfunctions and tested probiotic show no alteration of mentioned functions.
The urea values in both control and test groups did not differ and are normal for a healthy animal and the same results were observed when uric acid was monitored; both are important indicators of adequate kidney function probably because of combinational effect of β-glucans, organic selenium and lactoferrin. Urea, Uric acid Creatinine experiment indicated the good condition of renal function in all animals of test and control groups. Levels of Alanine Transaminase (ALT) and Aspartate Transaminase: Aspartate Transaminase (AST), Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP) and Glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) indicate a good liver function [52,53]. These markers are related to a variety of pathophysiological conditions, like inflammation and oxidative stress, renal and hepatic malfunctions. The found normal levels evidenced that physiological conditions didn’t affect animal health and have overall positive effect [54,55]. Measurement of the total antioxidant capacity (TAC) may be an important factor more to evaluate the ability of antioxidant response against oxidative stress damage [56]. Our results showed normal levels in all animals as it was expected. TAC assay is mostly focused on low molecular weight, chain breaking excluding the contribution made by antioxidant enzymes and metal-binding proteins [57].
These results suggest that the probiotic-supplemented diet had a positive effect on antioxidative mechanisms, hepatic and renal function and that the inclusion of combinational effects of three active components (yeast β-glucans, organic selenium and lactoferrin) in one probiotic supplement doesn´t affect hepatic, renal and antioxidative functions in mice. The number of leukocytes remains stable in the control during all the period of experiment but increases were observed in test group fed with probiotic supplement. The increases were not observed in the same proportion among the different types of leukocytes. Lymphocytes grew up from 12.08 to 16.31 and to 18.55 x 103cells/μl; neutrophils grew up from 6.88 to 7.84 and to 8.86x 103cells/μl and monocytes grew up from 0.79 to 0.89 and to 0.91 x 103cells/μl. These results suggest that the probiotic-supplemented diet had a stimulatory effect on the proliferation of different leucocyte populations providing better protection against pathogens and infections and neoplastic diseases [18,57,58]. Selenium was considered toxic element since its discovery in 1857 until 1957 when its beneficial effects started to be recognized and studied for the first time [26]. The beneficial effects of Se are attributed at its in incorporation, instead of S, in the cysteine residue of selenoproteins [59,60].
The way of action of selenium incorporated in form of selenoproteins (SeP) over the different types of immune response is not completely elucidated and is matter of many researches, more exhaustive studies could be conducted but there are sufficient evidences for its practical use in human and livestock healthcare. In our experiments Se-supplemented diet increases phagocytosis of monocytes and macrophage, improving antioxidative and immunological responses [26,61-63]. As in the case of β-glucans, the adequate selenium intake stimulates the innate immune systems. This process includes the activation of macrophages through the recognition of MAMPs (Microbe-Associate Molecular Pattern) by PRR (Pattern Recognition Receptors), followed by activation of blood leukocytes and modulation of inflammatory processes [64- 66] and enhancing proliferation and differentiation of CD4-T-helper (Th) cells and improving T-cell receptor signals, and natural killer (HK) cells [67,68]. In case of Lactotransferrin, in the intestinal mucosa and neutrophils this protein is produced and secreted in response to stimulation of inflammatory processes and in case of infection the LF levels substantially grown in serum, stimulating immune cells having LF receptors, like T- and B-cells, monocytes, intestinal brush border membrane cells [3,69,70]. This protein promotes the conversion of T-cells precursors to helper cells and maturation of B-cells into Antigen Presenting Cells. The stimulation of macrophages, dendritic cells and other immune response cells keep stable the homeostasis in tissues where it’s present. These effects were fund also when combinational supplements T1 and T2 were tested. It has been reported LF stimulates the production of proinflammatory cytokines like TNF-α, Il-1β, IL-6 and IL-18 and enhancing phagocytosis [30, 34,71].
We obtained that production of proinflammatory (IFNγ, IL2, IL12) with the production of antiinflammatory (IL 10, IL4) cytokines the increments observed at 15^th and 30^th days reflex a conserved balance between the production of both types of cytokines as a result combinational effect. LF also interacts with membrane glycosaminoglycan, blocking the viral entry to host cells and/or inferring subsequent viral transmission and probably enhancing the activity of β-glucans [30,34,72,73]. It has been reported that ingestion of probiotic supplements brings the described beneficial effects on vertebrate organisms, but synergic combinational effect of β-glucans has not been evaluated [17,25,32,61]. We obtained the similar results with both supplements, the fact that same positive and beneficial was reached using 30% less amount of yeast β-glucans, organic selenium and lactoferrin indicate synergic effect of all three components. The reported studies demonstrate that they share some common mechanisms of action but at the same time there are some particularities allowing overall synergic activity over the different physiological functions of the vertebrates [8,17,50,57,61].

Concluding Remarks

These results support the idea of systemic positive effect of dietary supplementation with probiotic in humans and animal. In animal production during handling operations that implies the manipulation of animals, change of feeding, transfers to another location, transport to a new region, etc., and changes in animal life cycle (birth, breastfeeding or breeding, weaning, calving, etc.). These drastic changes in living conditions and stages of the life cycle can have a dramatic impact on the productivity of the livestock by weight loss, slow weight gain, organ physiological malfunction and diminish of immunological defenses. We seek to minimize its consequences with dietary supplements as preventive treatment with h use of probiotic with several key compounds with the ability to overall activate multiple physiological mechanisms with overall beneficial effect to the organic vital functions and to the animal health.

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Abstract

A high producer β-glucans strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae was selected from our culture collection to evaluate its ability to assimilate selenium by growing it in YPD medium supplemented with inorganic sodium selenite. This strain was also used as a host to express the murine lactoferrin gene under the control of the promoter of the S. cerevisiae glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GPD) gene. The yeast strain was cultivated to obtain biomass made up to of high β-glucans levels, the incorporated selenium and recombinant murine lactoferrin. This biomass was harvested and dried to obtain probiotic supplements T1 and T2. The amount of bioselenium and murine lactoferrin were determined in the resulting product and used to feed BALB/c mice for 30 days. Several parameters served to monitor evaluate the immune stimulatory effect and the physiological state of the animals during the test. Measurements were carried out at 0, 15^th and 30^th days. The results showed the composite supplement improves the physiological and immunological conditions of the tested animals compared to the control group. The results obtained pave the way for developing food supplements with similar characteristics for economically important species.