Prebiotic potential of yeasts and microalgae in synbiotic formulations

Title : Prebiotic potential of yeasts and microalgae in synbiotic formulations

Abstract:

This work is focused on exploring unconventional and sustainable sources of prebiotic compounds to verify their ability to support the growth and metabolic activity of probiotic bacteria, and subsequently to create stable and effective synbiotic systems. Extracts from cultured yeasts and selected species of microalgae, as well as extracts from commercially available fresh and dried S. cerevisiae, were used as prebiotic substrates for probiotic strains from the genera Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium. These strains were cultivated in the prepared extracts under controlled conditions, and their growth was compared with the standard MRS medium as a reference. Lactic acid production was determined using HPLC, while antimicrobial activity against selected pathogenic microorganisms and overall metabolic activity were evaluated by precise spectrophotometric methods. In several cases, bacteria achieved higher growth and metabolic activity in yeast and algal extracts than in the control medium, clearly confirming the strong and selective prebiotic effect of these substrates. Synbiotic systems created by combining probiotics with the prebiotic extracts were subsequently encapsulated in alginate beads using the gentle extrusion method. The resulting capsules were tested for microbial viability after release into MRS medium and for resistance to simulated gastrointestinal conditions in both lyophilized and non-lyophilized forms. Encapsulation markedly improved probiotic survival rates and enabled their gradual and controlled release. The results confirm that yeasts and microalgae are valuable and rich sources of bioactive polysaccharides that selectively stimulate the growth of beneficial bacteria while providing antioxidant, nutritional, and physical protection. In combination with advanced encapsulation technologies, they represent a promising and innovative basis for the development of sustainable, functionally effective, and technologically feasible synbiotics for use in the food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries.

Biography:

Michaela Kubalová studied Chemistry for Medical Applications at the Faculty of Chemistry, Brno University of Technology (BUT), Czech Republic, where she received her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees. In 2023, she began her PhD studies in Food Chemistry under the supervision of Prof. Ivana Márová, focusing on the “Study of adaptive mechanisms of selected microorganisms to various substrates and conditions.” She works as a doctoral student and research associate at the Faculty of Chemistry, BUT. She has presented her research in several conference posters, covering topics such as yeast and microalgae cultivation, biomass valorization, and microbial stress adaptation.