The rise of probiotics in health and nutrition has brought many beneficial microorganisms into the spotlight. One such promising candidate is Levilactobacillus brevis DY55bre, recently isolated from the traditional Turkish fermented beverage shalgam. A new study reveals that this unique strain could offer benefits that extend beyond gut health — including anticancer, antimicrobial, and antioxidant activities.
A Genetic Treasure from Shalgam
Using advanced pangenome and genome-guided analysis, researchers uncovered the rich genetic diversity of L. brevis DY55bre. The strain’s genome contained nearly 2,800 genes, with distinct metabolic pathways enabling it to thrive under challenging gastrointestinal conditions such as acidic pH and bile salt exposure.
Its genetic profile highlights an open pangenome, which suggests adaptability to various environments — a key trait for functional probiotics that need to colonize the gut effectively.
Probiotic Powerhouse: Survival, Adhesion, and Gut Benefits
What makes L. brevis DY55bre stand out is its exceptional adhesion ability to human intestinal cell lines (up to 87% on Caco-2 cells). Combined with high auto-aggregation (84.5%) and cell surface hydrophobicity, the strain shows strong potential for gut colonization.
Importantly, it is non-hemolytic and free from horizontally acquired antibiotic resistance genes, confirming its safety as a probiotic candidate. Beyond that, it showed the ability to reduce cholesterol levels by 27.3% and exhibited strong antioxidant activity — protecting the body against harmful free radicals.
Natural Anticancer and Antimicrobial Properties
One of the most exciting findings is the production of bioactive cyclic dipeptides, including Cyclo(D-Phe-L-Pro) and Cyclo(L-Leu-L-Pro). These compounds demonstrated cytotoxic effects against colorectal cancer cells, significantly reducing cell viability.
Additionally, the strain’s metabolites displayed antimicrobial activity against major pathogens such as Escherichia coli, Salmonella enterica, and Bacillus cereus, reinforcing its role as a natural defender of human health.
Why It Matters
This groundbreaking research positions Levilactobacillus brevis DY55bre as more than just another probiotic. With its anticancer, antimicrobial, antioxidant, and cholesterol-lowering abilities, it holds enormous potential for use in functional foods, nutraceuticals, and therapeutic applications.
As probiotic science advances, strains like L. brevis DY55bre may soon redefine the boundaries between food and medicine, making traditional fermented beverages like shalgam a source of next-generation health innovations.
Reference
Yetiman, A. E., Horzum, M., Kanbur, E., Çadir, M., Bahar, D., Gürbüz, Ş., Karaman, M. Z., Fidan, Ö., Kaya, M., Yetiman, S., Doğan, M., & Akbulut, M. (2025). Pangenome Analysis and Genome-Guided Probiotic Evaluation of Cyclic Dipeptides Producing Levilactobacillus brevis DY55bre Strain from a Lactic Acid Fermented Shalgam to Assess Its Metabolic, Probiotic Potentials, and Cytotoxic Effects on Colorectal Cancer Cells. Probiotics and Antimicrobial Proteins. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12602-025-10760-7
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