Animal-sourced probiotic bacteria induce interferon gamma in humans and mice

Efforts are ongoing to find cost-effective alternatives to antibiotics, with promising sustainable options such as probiotics, whose health-promoting benefits are still being explored. While much has been documented about the health benefits of probiotics, their functional mechanisms remain incompletely understood, necessitating further investigation. The human immune system strives to eradicate pathogenic challenges and mitigate self-altered cancerous cells. Interferon gamma (IFN-γ) plays a crucial role in recognizing and eliminating pathogens. Research has demonstrated that IFN-γ regulates a broad range of antimicrobial functions while also enhancing antigen presentation. This study explored the animal-sourced genomes of Ligilactobacillus salivarius and Ligilactobacillus saerimneri for their ability to induce IFN-γ in both humans and mice. The IFN-γ-inducing peptides derived from both bacterial genomes were found to be immunogenic, underscoring their potential immunomodulatory targets for further experimental validation.