Lactiplantibacillus plantarum HB: A koumiss-derived Lactobacillus alleviates Toxoplasma gondii infection through regulating gut microbiota and metabolism

T. gondii is an obligate intracellular protozoan parasite capable of infecting nearly all warm-blooded animals, including humans, with epidemiological studies indicating remarkably high global infection. Building upon our previous discovery that koumiss alleviates T. gondii infection in mice, this study successfully isolated L. plantarum HB-the most efficacious strain identified through screening from this koumiss, and further investigated its alleviative efficacy against toxoplasmosis. Result revealed that L. plantarum HB significantly ameliorated ileal and brain inflammation, accompanied by marked reductions in parasite burden across multiple organs and brain tissues, while uncovering dynamic cytokine alterations during infection progression. These therapeutic effects were mediated through modulation of gut microbiota and metabolism. These findings advance the understanding of probiotic applications and provide novel insights into mitigating toxoplasmosis.