Binding of aflatoxin B1 alters the adhesion properties of Lactobacillus rhamnosus strain GG in a Caco-2 model

Lactic acid bacteria have been previously reported to possess antimycotoxigenic activities both in vitro and in vivo. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of aflatoxin BI on adhesion capability of Lactobacillus rhamnosus strain GG using a Caco-2 adhesion model. Removal of aflatoxin BI by L. rhamnosus strain GG reduced the adhesion capability of this strain from 30% to 5%. It is therefore concluded that aflatoxins may influence the adhesion properties of probiotics able to sequester them, and subsequently these bacteria may reduce the accumulation of aflatoxins in the intestine via increased excretion of an aflatoxin-bacteria complex.