Abstract / Summary
Abstract The increasing prevalence of antimicrobial resistance and biofilm-associated infections highlights the need for alternative strategies to control pathogenic microorganisms. Probiotics have emerged as promising candidates due to their ability to inhibit pathogen growth. However, their potential ways of application in human medicine remain insufficiently understood. Here we investigate the antimicrobial and antibiofilm activity of selected probiotic strains, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum Fibro 1 and Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus Fibro 2, against clinically relevant pathogens, with the aim of generating insights to support the design of improved probiotic-based systems for wound infection treatment. Probiotics were investigated for their growth, lactic acid production, and biofilm formation in different media. A range of in vitro antimicrobial activity assays were employed, including growth inhibition and antibiofilm assays. In addition to free probiotics, probiotics incorporated into electrospun fiber mats were investigated in in vitro biofilm models. Probiotics exhibit strain- and condition-dependent inhibitory effects, influencing both planktonic growth and biofilm development of pathogens, while metabolic analysis showed marked medium-dependent glucose utilization and lactate production. Probiotics incorporated into fiber mats retain measurable metabolic activity after encapsulation and preserve their antibiofilm activity. Overall, this study provides a deeper understanding of probiotic effects on pathogens and identifies key factors influencing antimicrobial efficacy. These findings support the rational design of enhanced probiotic-based formulations for applications in infection control and wound care.