Lactobacillus genus to be reclassified as industry flags potential for consumer confusion

25 Feb 2020 --- This year will see a taxonomic reclassification of the Lactobacillus genus take place, which will mean numerous commercial species currently sold as belonging to the Lactobacillus genus will receive a new name. BioGaia’s Lactobacillus reuteri will be one of the affected species, with the company stressing that the organism itself will remain unchanged in terms of effects and safety. Other species affected include Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus sakei, Lactobacillus salivarius, Lactobacillus reuteri and Lactobacillus brevis.

“We have ongoing discussions to prepare for the shift. However, at this stage we are waiting for the publication and we closely monitor any activities in this area in the meantime,” Titti Martinsson Niskanen, Director R&D and Clinical Operations of Probi, tells NutritionInsight. The company currently offers a range of products featuring various forms of Lactobacillus.

Species including Lactobacillus delbrueckii, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus gasseri, Lactobacillus johnsonii, Lactobacillus helveticus and Pediococcus are not expected to undergo name changes. This is because Lactobacillus delbrueckii – which includes the yogurt starter culture – was the first Lactobacillus named. Therefore, species from this taxonomic clade will keep the Lactobacillus name.

“Any reclassification might confuse consumers, but the scientific community, as well as industry, should explain to the customers that there is no concern. This is due to the history of safe use and the safety analyses we are obliged to perform in the registration process,” Dr. Stefan Pelzer, Head of Biotechnological Innovation of Evonik’s Animal Nutrition business line, tells NutritionInsight. 

Evonik’s probiotics are currently focused on the Bacillus species, which are not targeted by the shift. Dr. Pelzer further notes that the company will not need to change the marketing of its products. “Nonetheless, consumers should know that all strains in our products, no matter which name is actually the scientifically correct and used one, undergo an in-depth safety analysis,” he states.

“Driven by the access to modern sequencing technologies generating a vast number of new bacterial genome sequences in a short time, the scientific community is facing frequent reclassification of known bacterial species. New sequences help to create a higher resolution in phylogenetic strain analyses. Sometimes, this results in the reclassification of numerous known strains,” explains Dr. Pelzer.

The reclassification follows a 2018 genome sequence analysis that found a high level of phenotypic and genotypic diversity within the Lactobacillus genus. This diversity makes it challenging to name, classify and compare lactobacilli. Therefore, the researchers propose dividing the Lactobacillus genus into more homogeneous genera. While today there are three genera currently assigned to the Lactobacillaceae family, it is now being suggested that 26 genera are more appropriate. 

The name is still unknown, but it is proposed to start with an “L.” Additionally, the timeline is yet to be decided. The name of the new genus must be published in the International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology before being valid.

Innova Market Insights reports that 10 percent of global supplement launches in 2018 were probiotics.Rampant activity in the probiotic space
Probiotic supplements are on the rise, with Innova Market Insights reporting that 10 percent of global supplement launches in 2018 were probiotics. This is up from just 3 percent in 2016. Representing 61 percent of new supplement launches with probiotics in 2018, the most popular form is Lactobacillus acidophilus – one of the species not expected to receive a new name. However, Lactobacillus plantarum – which will be renamed – represented 37 percent of new probiotic supplements. 

Last week, Amorepacific’s R&D Center launched the Green Tea Probiotics Research Center to study Lactobacillus plantarum, which is found in Jeju island’s organic green tea variety. The company highlights that Lactobacillus plantarum has been found to survive and persist better in the intestinal tract than conventional strains, as well as having excellent antibacterial, antibiotic-resistant properties. 

Recently, a study found that daily consumption of Probi Defendum, which contains Lactobacillus plantarum HEAL9 and Lactobacillus paracasei 8700:2, was beneficial to Swedish children and reduced the severity of common colds. Meanwhile, a combination of Probi’s Lactobacillus paracasei DSM 13434, Lactobacillus plantarum DSM 15312 and Lactobacillus plantarum DSM 15313 can help fight bone loss in postmenopausal women.

“Due to the multiple modes of action, probiotics will play a pivotal role in reducing antibiotics. We have analyzed the mode of action of numerous strains showing their gut flora stabilizing activity, which in turn, increased the resilience of the host. In the future, efficacious products with proven modes of action will be more important for market acceptance,” says Dr. Pelzer.

He concludes that tailored products and combinations will be developed and applied. “Ideally, these will be combined with monitoring and screening devices, which provide information about the status of the user or animal.”

By Katherine Durrell