Phenotypic and genomic characterization of Levilactobacillus brevis YT108: a potential probiotic strain capable of metabolizing xylo-oligosaccharides.

This article focuses on the characterization of Levilactobacillus brevis YT108, a bacterial strain isolated from rabbit feces, for its ability to metabolize prebiotic xylo-oligosaccharides (XOS) and its potential as a probiotic in synbiotic food formulations. Through whole-genome sequencing and in vitro assays, the study identified three gene clusters and key enzymes involved in XOS metabolism, demonstrating that YT108 efficiently ferments XOS with growth and acidification comparable to glucose. The strain exhibited strong tolerance to acidic pH, bile salts, heat, NaCl, simulated gastrointestinal juices, and showed antioxidant activity, while being sensitive to several antibiotics and lacking transferable resistance genes. These findings suggest that L. brevis YT108 holds promise as a safe probiotic candidate for developing functional synbiotic products, though further in vivo studies are recommended to confirm its efficacy and safety.