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Sci.","IJMS"],"abstract":"<jats:p>The search for next-generation probiotics derived from the human gut microbiota has intensified due to their potential beneficial effects in modulating immunity and preventing diseases. Spore-forming bacteria are attractive probiotic candidates due to their functional traits and unique resilience, which offer high stability to commercial formulations. In this study, spore-forming bacteria isolated from human fecal samples were screened. Two strains, Bacillus spizizenii A1 and Priestia megaterium F6, were identified as non-hemolytic and not resistant to a panel of antibiotics relevant for spore formers. Both strains were characterized by using in silico and in vitro approaches, demonstrating relevant probiotic potential. The comparative analysis indicated B. spizizenii A1 as the most promising probiotic candidate due to the resistance of its spores to simulated gastric conditions and for its antioxidant, antimicrobial, and antibiofilm activities. Strain A1 combines a safety profile with functional probiotic traits and is therefore a strong candidate for further in vivo evaluation and future development as a next-generation probiotic.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/ijms27167364","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,18]],"date-time":"2026-08-18T09:06:41Z","timestamp":1787044001000},"page":"7364","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["In Silico and In Vitro Characterization of Fecal Spore-Forming Bacteria with Probiotic Potential"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"27","author":[{"given":"Rafaella","family":"Sinnott Dias","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"N\u00facleo Biotecnologia, Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnol\u00f3gico, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas 96050-500, RS, Brazil"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-5181-1554","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ana Vit\u00f3ria","family":"Costa","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"N\u00facleo Biotecnologia, Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnol\u00f3gico, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas 96050-500, RS, Brazil"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-9856-5680","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Mariana","family":"Silveira Mello Silva","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Laborat\u00f3rio de Parasitologia, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande, Porto Alegre 90040-060, RS, Brazil"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-0968-8644","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Anella","family":"Saggese","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Biology, Federico II University of Naples, 80126 Naples, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Ylenia","family":"De Luca","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Biology, Federico II University of Naples, 80126 Naples, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Loredana","family":"Baccigalupi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, Federico II University of Naples, 80131 Naples, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-7284-6054","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Frederico","family":"Schmitt Kremer","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"N\u00facleo Biotecnologia, Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnol\u00f3gico, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas 96050-500, RS, Brazil"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"F\u00e1bio Pereira Leivas","family":"Leite","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"N\u00facleo Biotecnologia, Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnol\u00f3gico, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas 96050-500, RS, Brazil"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-2171-7046","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Luciana","family":"Farias da Costa de Avila","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Laborat\u00f3rio de Parasitologia, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande, Porto Alegre 90040-060, RS, Brazil"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-7355-0332","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ezio","family":"Ricca","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Biology, Federico II University of Naples, 80126 Naples, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,18]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Vittoria, M., Saggese, A., Isticato, R., Baccigalupi, L., and Ricca, E. 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