Probiotic Potential of Bifidobacterium Species in Cancer Patients: Isolation, Antibiotic Susceptibility, and Antibacterial Efficacy

This study comprehensively examines the growth, identification, and probiotic attributes of Bifido¬bacterium strains derived from various milk-based sources, including breastfed milk, infant stools, and dairy milk. Initially, we observed growth in all samples except for raw cattle milk. Subsequent phenotypic characterization allowed us to identify eight distinct isolates within the Bifidobacterium genus, each with varying proportions across the different samples. To better understand the relationships between these iso¬lated species and their characteristics, we conducted a dendrogram analysis using Pearson correlation, which revealed distinct clusters. Furthermore, we assessed the probiotic potential of these Bifidobacteri¬um species. by evaluating their physical and chemical traits, such as aggregation, pH tolerance, and bile salt tolerance. Notably, our isolates exhibited significant antibiotic susceptibility, showing sensitivity to key antibiotics and variations in resistance patterns. Additionally, we investigated the inhibitory effect of Bifidobacterium isolates' cell-free supernatant using a straightforward extraction method against antibi¬otic-resistant bacteria. Our results demonstrated substantial inhibitory activity against pathogenic strains, suggesting the potential of these isolates in combating antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections, particularly in the context of cancer patients. In summary, this study enhances our understanding of Bifidobacterium diversity, potential probiotic attributes, and antimicrobial properties. It underscores their potential role in addressing antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections, which is particularly relevant for cancer patients.