Scientists discovered a new type of helpful bacteria called Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus B3421 living in ginseng plants. They read the complete genetic code of this bacteria to understand how it works. The good news: this bacteria appears safe for people to use because it doesn’t carry genes that make it resistant to antibiotics. The bacteria also has special genes that might help fight harmful bacteria and reduce inflammation in your body. This discovery suggests the bacteria could become a useful probiotic supplement, but more testing in humans is needed before we know for sure.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: Scientists wanted to understand the genetic makeup of a helpful bacteria found in ginseng to see if it could be used as a probiotic supplement for people and animals.
  • Who participated: This study didn’t involve human participants. Instead, scientists isolated bacteria from ginseng plants and studied its genetic code in the laboratory.
  • Key finding: The bacteria has about 3 million genetic instructions and contains no genes that would make it resistant to antibiotics, making it potentially safe for human use. It also has genes that might help fight harmful bacteria and reduce body inflammation.
  • What it means for you: This bacteria might become a new probiotic option to support gut health, but it’s still in the early research stage. Don’t expect to buy supplements with this specific strain yet—scientists need to do more testing in people first.

The Research Details

Scientists took bacteria samples from ginseng plants grown in South Korea and used advanced technology to read the complete genetic code of one particular strain called B3421. Think of it like reading an instruction manual for how the bacteria works. They then compared this genetic code to databases of known bacteria to understand what genes it has and what those genes do.

The researchers used a special computer system to identify all the genes in the bacteria and sort them into categories based on what job each gene does. They looked specifically for genes related to safety (like antibiotic resistance genes) and genes that might give the bacteria special health-promoting abilities (like fighting inflammation or protecting against oxidative stress).

This type of study is called genomic sequencing, and it’s like taking a detailed photograph of the bacteria’s genetic blueprint. It doesn’t involve testing the bacteria in people or animals yet—that would come in future studies.

Understanding a bacteria’s complete genetic code is important because it tells us what the bacteria is capable of doing. By reading the genes, scientists can predict whether the bacteria is safe (no antibiotic resistance genes) and what health benefits it might provide (genes for fighting inflammation, for example). This information helps researchers decide which bacteria are worth testing further in human studies.

This study is a solid first step in evaluating a new probiotic candidate. The researchers used standard, well-established methods for reading and analyzing bacterial genes. The fact that they found no antibiotic resistance genes is a good safety sign. However, this is laboratory research only—it doesn’t prove the bacteria will actually help people. The next steps would be testing in animals and then in humans to confirm the benefits suggested by the genetic analysis.

What the Results Show

The bacteria’s genetic code contains about 3 million base pairs (the building blocks of DNA) and includes instructions for making 2,807 different proteins. Almost all of these proteins (99%) could be identified and categorized by function. The most important finding for safety is that the bacteria contains zero genes that would make it resistant to antibiotics—a major concern with some probiotics.

The genome also contains several interesting genes that suggest the bacteria might have health-promoting abilities. These include genes for making compounds that fight oxidative stress (damage from harmful molecules in your body) and genes related to bacteriocins, which are natural antibiotics that bacteria make to fight off competitors. The bacteria also has genes for peroxidase and reductase activities, which are enzymes that help reduce inflammation and oxidative damage.

The researchers identified 24 genes specifically related to reducing oxidative stress and fighting inflammation, plus genes that might help the bacteria compete against harmful bacteria in the gut. These genetic features suggest the bacteria could potentially support immune function and reduce inflammation, though this hasn’t been proven in human studies yet.

The analysis found that the bacteria contains genes for making special compounds called bacteriocins (Enterocin X and Carnocin CP52), which are natural antimicrobial substances. These compounds might give the bacteria an advantage in competing against harmful bacteria in the gut. The bacteria also has a normal genetic structure typical of safe probiotic bacteria, with no unusual or concerning features identified.

Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus is already known to be a safe and beneficial probiotic bacteria used in many supplements and fermented foods. This particular strain (B3421) appears to have similar safety features to other L. rhamnosus strains, but with some potentially unique genes related to antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. The fact that it was isolated from ginseng—a plant already used in traditional medicine for health benefits—adds to the scientific interest in studying it further.

This study only examined the bacteria’s genetic code; it didn’t test whether the bacteria actually provides health benefits to people or animals. The genes suggest potential benefits, but genes alone don’t guarantee results. Future studies would need to test the bacteria in animals and then in humans to confirm it actually reduces inflammation, improves gut health, or provides other claimed benefits. Additionally, the study doesn’t tell us how well the bacteria survives in the human digestive system or whether it can actually reach the gut in sufficient quantities to be effective.

The Bottom Line

Based on this genetic analysis alone, we cannot recommend using this bacteria as a supplement yet. The research suggests it’s safe (no antibiotic resistance genes) and might have health benefits (based on its genes), but human studies are needed. If you’re interested in probiotics, stick with established strains that have been tested in people. This bacteria may become available in the future after more research, but that’s not certain.

This research is most relevant to scientists and probiotic manufacturers looking for new candidate strains to develop. People interested in probiotics should be aware that this is early-stage research. If you have digestive issues or want to improve gut health, talk to your doctor about probiotics with proven human research behind them. This particular strain is not yet available for consumer use.

This is basic research, so it will likely take several years before this bacteria could potentially become available as a supplement. Typically, a new probiotic strain needs 3-5 years of additional testing (in animals and humans) before it could be approved for use. Don’t expect to see this in stores anytime soon.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Once this bacteria becomes available (if it does), users could track daily probiotic intake and monitor digestive symptoms like bloating, regularity, and energy levels using a simple daily checklist.
  • When new probiotic options become available, users could set a reminder to take their supplement at the same time each day and log any changes in how they feel, building a personal record of effectiveness.
  • Users could use the app to track digestive health markers (bowel regularity, bloating, energy) over 4-8 weeks to see if a new probiotic makes a difference, since probiotics typically take several weeks to show effects.

This research describes the genetic analysis of a bacteria strain and does not represent proven health benefits in humans. The findings are preliminary and based on laboratory analysis only. No human studies have been conducted with this specific strain. Do not use this information to self-diagnose or self-treat any health condition. Always consult with a healthcare provider before starting any new supplement or probiotic, especially if you have a compromised immune system, are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications. This bacteria is not currently available for consumer use.