Lactic acid bacteria feeding reversed the malformed eye structures and ameliorated gut microbiota profiles of Drosophila melanogaster Alzheimer’s disease model

AIMS: To utilize transgenic GMR‐Aβ42 Drosophila melanogaster as a model to evaluate potential Alzheimer’s disease (AD)‐reversal effects via the administration of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strains, and associations of LAB with changes in gut microbiota profiles. METHODS AND RESULTS: Wild‐type flies (Oregon‐R) were crossed with glass multimer reporter‐GAL4 (GMR‐GAL4) to produce GMR‐OreR (Control), while UAS‐Aβ42 (#33769) were crossed with GMR‐GAL4 to produce transgenic Drosophila line that expressed Aβ42 (GMR‐Aβ42). Feed containing seven different LAB strains (Lactobacillus paracasei 0291, Lactobacillus helveticus 1515, Lactobacillus reuteri 30242, L. reuteri 8513d, Lactobacillus fermentum 8312, Lactobacillus casei Y, Lactobacillus sakei Probio65) were given to GMR‐Aβ42 respectively, while feed without LAB strains were given to control and transgenic GMR‐Aβ42.nf Drosophila lines. The morphology of the eyes was viewed with scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The changes in gut microbiota profiles associated with LAB were analysed using 16s high throughput sequencing. Malformation of eye structures in transgenic GMR‐Aβ42 Drosophila were reversed upon the administration of LAB strains, with more prevalent effects from L. sakei Probio65 and L. paracasei 0291. The GMR‐Aβ42.nf group showed dominance of Wolbachia in the gut, a genus that was almost absent in the normal control group (P < 0·05). The administration of L. sakei Probio65 and L. paracasei 0291 reduced the abundance of Wolbachia accompanied by increased abundance of Stenotrophomonas and Acetobacter (P < 0·05), resembling the microbial profile of the control group. CONCLUSIONS: Lactobacillus sakei Probio65 and Lactobacillus paracasei 0291 have more prominent effects in reversing malformed eye of transgenic GMR‐Aβ42 Drosophila, and reducing the abundance of Wolbachia accompanied by an increased abundance of Stenotrophomonas and Acetobacter. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Potentials of LAB to prevent and/or alleviate the onset and pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases such as AD, supporting brain health strategies along the gut–brain axis.