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Journals / Black Sea Journal of Health Science / 2026 / Cilt: 9 Sayı: 3

In Vitro Evaluation of the Effects of Two Common Probiotics (Saccharomyces boulardii and Bacillus clausii) on Blastocystis

Zeynep Enfal Demir(AYDIN ADNAN MENDERES ÜNİVERSİTESİ, TIP FAKÜLTESİ)0009-0003-2571-6769
Beyza Nur Damar(AYDIN ADNAN MENDERES ÜNİVERSİTESİ, TIP FAKÜLTESİ)0009-0002-3604-418X
Ayşe Sezen Doğan(AYDIN ADNAN MENDERES ÜNİVERSİTESİ, TIP FAKÜLTESİ)0009-0005-6312-2798
Erdogan Malatyali(AYDIN ADNAN MENDERES UNIVERSITY)0000-0002-3943-467X
Pages
104–110
Publication Date
2026-05-15
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

Further biochemical and molecular studies are required to clarify mechanisms underlying the therapeutic potential of S. boulardii to manage Blastocystis infections.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

🎯
Objective & Hypothesis:The role of Blastocystis in gut health is debated, with most studies recognizing it as a member of a balanced gut microbiota.
📊
Key Findings & Data:A Blastocystis positive stool sample was cultured in Jones medium, and the subtype identified by sequencing the 18S rRNA barcode region.
💡
Conclusion & Impact:Further biochemical and molecular studies are required to clarify mechanisms underlying the therapeutic potential of S. boulardii to manage Blastocystis infections.
🔬Design:Araştırma Makalesi
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:Blastocystis · Saccharomyces boulardii · Bacillus clausii

Abstract

The role of Blastocystis in gut health is debated, with most studies recognizing it as a member of a balanced gut microbiota. We investigated the in vitro effects of two common probiotics (Saccharomyces boulardii and Bacillus clausii) on Blastocystis. A Blastocystis positive stool sample was cultured in Jones medium, and the subtype identified by sequencing the 18S rRNA barcode region. Effects of probiotics (4×107, 4×108, and 4×109 CFU/mL) on Blastocystis viability and growth were tested with the Trypan Blue dye exclusion assay over 12 - 96 h. Metronidazole (100 µg/mL) was used as the reference drug. Blastocystis isolate from a patient with abdominal pain was cultivated and the subtype was identified as ST3 after sequence analysis. In vitro co-incubation with S. boulardii completely inhibited Blastocystis growth at all doses (P<0.05), while B. clausii showed no significant effect compared to control. Morphologically degenerated Blastocystis cells were observed in the metronidazole-treated group in the same period. Our findings support that S. boulardii has the potential to effectively inhibit Blastocystis growth in vitro and suggest that its promising efficacy may be strain-dependent or species-specific. Further biochemical and molecular studies are required to clarify mechanisms underlying the therapeutic potential of S. boulardii to manage Blastocystis infections.

Özet

The role of Blastocystis in gut health is debated, with most studies recognizing it as a member of a balanced gut microbiota. We investigated the in vitro effects of two common probiotics (Saccharomyces boulardii and Bacillus clausii) on Blastocystis. A Blastocystis positive stool sample was cultured in Jones medium, and the subtype identified by sequencing the 18S rRNA barcode region. Effects of probiotics (4×107, 4×108, and 4×109 CFU/mL) on Blastocystis viability and growth were tested with the Trypan Blue dye exclusion assay over 12 - 96 h. Metronidazole (100 µg/mL) was used as the reference drug. Blastocystis isolate from a patient with abdominal pain was cultivated and the subtype was identified as ST3 after sequence analysis. In vitro co-incubation with S. boulardii completely inhibited Blastocystis growth at all doses (P<0.05), while B. clausii showed no significant effect compared to control. Morphologically degenerated Blastocystis cells were observed in the metronidazole-treated group in the same period. Our findings support that S. boulardii has the potential to effectively inhibit Blastocystis growth in vitro and suggest that its promising efficacy may be strain-dependent or species-specific. Further biochemical and molecular studies are required to clarify mechanisms underlying the therapeutic potential of S. boulardii to manage Blastocystis infections.

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Cite This Article

Demir, Z. E., Damar, B. N., Doğan, A. S., Malatyali, E. (2026). In Vitro Evaluation of the Effects of Two Common Probiotics (Saccharomyces boulardii and Bacillus clausii) on Blastocystis. Black Sea Journal of Health Science, Cilt: 9 Sayı: 3, 104–110. https://doi.org/10.19127/bshealthscience.1898245

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