Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40238037›Full record

ArticleProbiotics and antimicrobial proteins2026

Selection, Comparative Genomics, and Potential Probiotic Features of Escherichia coli 5C, a pks-Negative Strain Isolated from Healthy Infant Donor Feces.

Francesco Di Pierro, Valeria Sagheddu, Serena Galletti, Alice Casaroli, Edoardo Labrini, Sara Soldi, Massimiliano Cazzaniga, Alexander Bertuccioli, Mariarosaria Matera, Ilaria Cavecchia and 3 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Probiotics and antimicrobial proteins, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Review
  3. Subacute 28-Day OECD-Guided Oral Toxicity Study ofJournal of microbiology and biotechnology · 2026
    Article
  4. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

13 authors.

Francesco Di Pierro *Microbiota International Clinical Society, 10123, Turin, Italy.
Valeria Sagheddu *AAT-Advanced Analytical Technologies, Fiorenzuola d'Arda, 29017, Piacenza, Italy.
Serena GallettiAAT-Advanced Analytical Technologies, Fiorenzuola d'Arda, 29017, Piacenza, Italy.
Alice CasaroliAAT-Advanced Analytical Technologies, Fiorenzuola d'Arda, 29017, Piacenza, Italy.
Edoardo LabriniAAT-Advanced Analytical Technologies, Fiorenzuola d'Arda, 29017, Piacenza, Italy.
Sara SoldiAAT-Advanced Analytical Technologies, Fiorenzuola d'Arda, 29017, Piacenza, Italy.
Massimiliano CazzanigaScientific & Research Department, Velleja Research, 20125, Milan, Italy.
Alexander BertuccioliMicrobiota International Clinical Society, 10123, Turin, Italy.
Mariarosaria MateraMicrobiota International Clinical Society, 10123, Turin, Italy.
Ilaria CavecchiaMicrobiota International Clinical Society, 10123, Turin, Italy.
Chiara Maria PalazziMicrobiota International Clinical Society, 10123, Turin, Italy. pchiaramaria@gmail.com.
Maria Laura TandaEndocrine Unit, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Insubria, 21100, Varese, Italy.
Nicola ZerbinatiDepartment of Medicine and Technological Innovation, University of Insubria, 21100, Varese, Italy.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Among the emerging issues in probiotic safety, the possible presence of pks, a gene cluster synthetizing a genotoxin known as colibactin, is one of the most alarming. Indeed, indigenous E. coli strain pks-positive are found in 60% of patients with colorectal cancer, and the most widely used E. coli-based probiotic, known as E. coli Nissle 1917 (DSM 6601), is pks-positive. Starting from 25 potential candidates selected by screening 25 infant stool samples, we have selected an E. coli strain (named 5C, deposited as LMG S-33222) belonging to the phylotype A and having the serovar O173:H1. Having been previously completely sequenced by our group, we have further characterized this strain, demonstrating that it is (i) devoid of the most known potential pathogenic-related genes, (ii) devoid of possible plasmids, (iii) antibiotic-sensitive according to the EFSA panel, (iv) resistant in gastric and enteric juice, (v) significantly producing acetate, (vi) poorly producing histamine, (vii) endowed with a significant in vitro antipathogenic profile, (viii) promoting a significant in vitro immunological response based on IL-10 and IL-12, and (ix) devoid of the pks genes. A comparative genomics versus E. coli Nissle 1917 is also provided. Considering that the other two most commonly used E. coli-based probiotics (E. coli DSM 17252 and E. coli A0 34/86) are respectively pks-positive and alpha-hemolysin-(hly) and cytotoxic necrotizing factor-1-(cnf1) positive, this novel strain (E. coli 5C) is likely the probiotic E. coli strain with the best safety profile available to date for human use.

Indexed as

Escherichia coliFecesPeptidesProbioticsEscherichia coli ProteinsGenomicsHumansInfantPolyketidescolibactinEscherichia coli ProteinsPeptidesPolyketidesColibactinECP24®LMG S-33222 (5C)MutagenicProbioticsVirulence factors

Identifiers

PMID40238037
PMCPMC12999690

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.