Bacillus subtilis strain B4U 50 reduces age-related neuronal damage in C. elegans

A study published in Geroscience reports that feeding C. elegans a biofilm-forming probiotic strain, Bacillus subtilis B4U 50, delays morphological decline in cholinergic neurons, highlighting a gut-brain axis approach to mitigating age-associated neurodegeneration.

Researchers screened Bacillus subtilis strains for biofilm production using an in vitro assay and identified the strain B4U 50 as highly proficient.

Transgenic Caenorhabditis elegans with green fluorescent protein-labeled cholinergic neurons were fed either B. subtilis B4U 50 or a control strain, 168, for up to 15 days.

Nematodes on the B4U 50 diet exhibited a significantly lower rate of age-associated axonal defects, such as knots and ruptures, compared to the control group.

Nematodes transitioned to the B4U 50 diet later in life still showed less neuronal damage than those kept on the control strain.

Co-administration of the B4U 50 strain and a standardized Ginkgo biloba preparation produced an enhanced neuroprotective effect compared to either intervention alone.

Co-authors from Evonik Operations GmbH declared competing interests as employees, and the study is associated with patents WO2025162734 and WO2024074556.

Cholinergic neurons are critical for cognitive function, and their progressive deterioration is closely linked to age-related cognitive decline.

The findings support the therapeutic potential of gut-brain axis interventions, demonstrating that biofilm-forming gut bacteria can exert protective effects on distal neuronal morphology.

The efficacy of late-life dietary transitions suggests that probiotic-mediated neuroprotection does not require lifelong administration to show therapeutic benefits.

The synergy with Ginkgo biloba supports the exploration of multi-targeted, combinatorial regimens for preserving cellular health during aging.

The direct involvement of Evonik Operations GmbH indicates active corporate interest in capturing market share in the cognitive longevity space through proprietary, clinically backed probiotic strains.

These findings could accelerate commercial focus on the gut-brain axis, validating probiotic-based ingredients as functional components for age-related cognitive support.

The proprietary nature of the strain, protected by patents WO2025162734 and WO2024074556, exemplifies a shift toward high-barrier-to-entry, strain-specific probiotic development over generic wellness supplements.

Preclinical studies evaluating Bacillus subtilis strain B4U 50 in mammalian models of cognitive decline and neurodegeneration.

Commercial development, licensing agreements, or product formulation announcements by Evonik Operations GmbH regarding the patented B4U 50 strain.