Antibacterial properties of surface-active molecules of microorganisms of the genus Lactobacillus (literature review)

This review analyzes the biological role and therapeutic potential of three key cell wall components and metabolites of Lactobacillus bacteria: exopolysaccharides (EPS), biosurfactants (BS), and lipoteichoic acids (LTA). The Lactobacillus genus, which has GRAS (generally recognized as safe) status, is widely used in medicine and the food industry for its probiotic properties, but the mechanisms of its protective action are still being actively studied. This paper systematizes data on the functional properties of EPS, which demonstrate a wide range of activity: from antioxidant and antitumor to immunomodulatory and antibiofilm. EPS from various strains is shown to be effective against Helicobacter pylori , rotaviruses, and a number of Gram-negative pathogens, suppressing virulence factors such as violacein and pyocyanin. It is emphasized that EPS functionality is critically dependent on culture conditions and molecular weight. The second component, biosurfactants, are amphiphilic compounds with pronounced anti-adhesive and antimicrobial activity. According to the presented data, BS effectively reduce the biofilm formation of pathogens such as Candida albicans , Staphylococcus aureus , and Streptococcus mutans , and also exhibit antiviral activity against the Epstein-Barr virus. The third component, lipoteichoic acid, plays a key role in immunomodulation by suppressing proinflammatory cytokines and inhibiting the adhesion of cariogenic bacteria and enterotoxigenic E. coli . In conclusion, EPS, BS, and LTA are promising agents for the development of new anti-biofilm and therapeutic agents. However, it is noted that many studies were conducted in vitro and do not fully reflect in vivo conditions, requiring further investigation to expand the applications of lactobacilli in medicine and biotechnology.

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