Limosilactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 (L. reuteri DSM 17938)

Limosilactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 is a well-characterized probiotic bacterium originally derived from human breast milk (Rosander et al., 2008). It is a plasmid-free daughter strain of L. reuteri ATCC 55730, specifically engineered to remove antibiotic resistance genes while maintaining therapeutic efficacy (Rosander et al., 2008). This strain is primarily used to manage gastrointestinal disorders such as infantile colic, acute diarrhea, and functional abdominal pain by modulating the gut microbiota and enhancing the intestinal mucosal barrier (Savino et al., 2010; Szajewska et al., 2013). Its biological activity is mediated through the secretion of reuterin, which possesses antimicrobial properties, and through direct interaction with the host's immune and nervous systems (Talarico et al., 1988; Liu et al., 2010). While generally recognized as safe (GRAS), its use requires caution in severely immunocompromised patients due to the rare risk of opportunistic infection (Doron & Snydman, 2015).

Other names

Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938L. reuteri ProtectisL. reuteri DSM17938BioGaia strain

Limosilactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 exerts its effects through the production of reuterin (3-hydroxypropionaldehyde), a broad-spectrum antimicrobial agent that inhibits the growth of pathogenic bacteria (Talarico et al., 1988). It also modulates the host immune system by promoting the development of regulatory T cells and reducing pro-inflammatory cytokines (Liu et al., 2010). Additionally, it interacts with the enteric nervous system to influence gut motility and reduces visceral hypersensitivity (Perez-Burgos et al., 2015).