article · BMC Microbiology
A bacterial strain named Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus PMK4, isolated from the faeces of a healthy Cameroonian infant, was evaluated for functional and safety properties. Genomic analysis revealed genes supporting acid tolerance, gut adhesion, carbohydrate breakdown, stress survival, and the synthesis of vitamins, acids, and terpenes. Safety screenings confirmed the absence of acquired antibiotic resistance determinants and virulence factors. Laboratory testing verified that PMK4 survives well under simulated gastrointestinal conditions and displays strong auto-aggregation, moderate hydrophobicity, and co-aggregation capabilities. Furthermore, it demonstrated broad antagonistic activity against several enteropathogens and digested diverse nutrient sources, including complex carbohydrates and proteins. These genomic and phenotypic findings characterise PMK4 as a safe, highly adaptable candidate for probiotic use aimed at supporting gut microbiome health.
Perturbations in the gut microbiota are linked to infection risks and diverse health conditions. Identifying well-characterised, safe probiotic strains from indigenous sources provides functional candidates capable of surviving the digestive tract and suppressing harmful pathogens. This work provides essential baseline evidence confirming both the genetic safety and laboratory efficacy of a potential health-promoting bacterial strain.
The strain represents an early-stage candidate for probiotic formulations and functional foods targeting gut health or enteropathogen inhibition. Potential commercial users include probiotic manufacturers, food and beverage companies, and nutraceutical developers. Because the findings are currently limited to laboratory assays and genomic screenings, substantial translational work, including in vivo efficacy testing, clinical trials, and formulation development, is needed before real-world commercialisation.
AI-generated from the published abstract. Always read the original work before citing.
The gut microbiota is a complex community of microorganisms that plays a crucial role in maintaining short- and long-term health. However, a perturbed microbial ecosystem is associated with a range of diseases, including increased risk of infections. Probiotic-based strategies may help restore microbiome function, but candidate strains require robust functional and safety evaluation. Here, we performed integrated genomic and phenotypic characterisation of beneficial properties of Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus PMK4, isolated from the stool of a healthy Cameroonian infant. Whole-genome sequencing and comparative pangenomic analysis against 13 L. rhamnosus genomes were used to infer functional potential, with in silico safety screening conducted using ResFinder, CARD and VFDB. Beneficial-relevant phenotypes were assessed through tolerance to simulated gastrointestinal conditions, adhesion-associated traits (hydrophobicity, aggregation), antimicrobial activity, nutrients utilisation profiling and safety-related assays. The L. rhamnosus PMK4 genome (2,935,039 bp), contains strain-specific loci predicted to support acid stress tolerance and epithelial adhesion. Functional annotation indicated the presence of genetic potential for carbohydrate metabolism, stress response, adhesion-related functions, and biosynthesis of secondary metabolites including acids, terpenes and vitamins. No acquired antibiotic resistance determinants or virulence genes were detected. Consistent with genomic predictions, PMK4 showed high survival under simulated gastrointestinal conditions, strong auto-aggregation capacity, moderate hydrophobicity and co-aggregation, and broad antagonistic activity against a range of enteropathogens. The strain also utilised a wide range of substrates, including complex carbohydrates and proteins, suggesting metabolic versatility relevant to microbe-microbe and microbe-host interactions in the gut. Together, these data support L. rhamnosus PMK4 as a promising indigenous probiotic candidate with a favourable safety profile and functional potential.
This page summarises published work. The authoritative version sits with the publisher.
DOI: 10.1186/s12866-026-05531-5
Is something wrong with this record? Report it or request removal.
Discussion
Have you built on this work, tried to replicate it, or seen it applied in practice? Share what you know. Verified researchers and MARATTO™ domain experts can open a discussion, and any member can reply. Contributions are reviewed before they appear.
No discussion yet. Open the first thread.
New to MARATTO™? Create a free account.
