The BIFIPRO project aimed to develop a probiotic formulation based on bifidobacteria isolated and characterized by ULiège (Bifidobacterium mongoliense and Bifidobacterium crudilactis), the use of which is protected by two patents. The ultimate goal was to obtain a broad-spectrum nutritional supplement for the elderly. While the envisioned technologies (fermentation, lyophilization, etc.) are widely used in the probiotic production sector, process adaptations based on strain tolerances are always very important and contribute to the acquisition of new knowledge.
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First University College BIFIPRO
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These adaptations notably concern the formulation of culture media, the control of physicochemical parameters, and the addition of substances contributing to bacterial survival during the lyophilization desiccation step. Regarding formulations using coating and microencapsulation technologies, they are even more innovative because they are rarely exploited on an industrial scale in the probiotic sector. Their application for the project is therefore a very innovative aspect that will strengthen the experience and reputation of the Biotechnology Unit and, consequently, those of the project partners. It requires the mastery of numerous interactive parameters, with an impact on the viability and protection of bacteria against gastric stress.
All the results obtained during the BIFIPRO project demonstrate the good technological aptitudes of Bifidobacterium crudilactis and Bifidobacterium mongoliense for the development of a probiotic formulation. These results are crucial for considering any industrial exploitation of these two microorganisms. The functional properties and beneficial effects could therefore be highlighted in other research programs for the valorization of these strains as probiotic agents. This study notably convinced the various project partners to continue studies on these two microorganisms while providing them with the assurance of their suitability for integration into an industrial production process.
Project Partners: Biores Laboratoires – THT – Vésale Pharma – ULiège (Laboratory of Microbiology of the Department of Food Science – Faculty of Veterinary Medicine)
Scientific Valorization of the Project: Growth and Freeze-Drying Optimization of Bifidobacterium crudilactis (scirp.org)