Frequency of Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus acidophilus, and Enterococcus faecalis in Patients Suffering From Glioma Compared to Healthy Individuals

Glioma is a type of the primary tumors that progresses in the spinal cord and brain. Probiotics have probably a protective impact against the disease, especially when treated as a microbial flora in the gut.

Given the effective role of microbiota in body function, this study aimed to investigate the frequency of Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus acidophilus, and Enterococcus faecalis in patients suffering from glioma compared to healthy subjects.

To achieve our study objectives, 20 patients with glioma tumors as well as 20 healthy individuals were enrolled. Stool samples were taken from the subjects and stored at minus 20 degrees after processing. Real-Time PCR technique was employed to assess the change in the copy number of L. acidophilus, L. plantarum, and E. faecalis in patients with glioma in comparison to healthy individuals.

The results showed significant difference between the population of L. plantarum in the patients and healthy individuals (P=0.0004). The patients with glioma were in the 35-60 age range and the mean age of healthy individuals was 45 years (P=0.48).

It was concluded that L. plantarum had potential for tumor induction.