<i>Streptococcus thermophilus</i> extends lifespan through activation of DAF-16-mediated antioxidant pathway in <i>Caenorhabditis elegans</i>

Streptococcus thermophilus bacteria, which are widely used as fermented starter for dairy production, exert various beneficial health effects. Nevertheless, even though pro-longevity effects of various probiotics have been reported, no report has described Streptococcus thermophilus effects on longevity. This study was conducted to evaluate Streptococcus thermophilus effects on lifespan extension and to elucidate the Streptococcus thermophilus-mediated longevity mechanism using Caenorhabditis elegans worms as a model animal. They were fed standard food (Escherichia coli OP50) or Streptococcus thermophilus from the young adult stage. Feeding with Streptococcus thermophilus, compared to Escherichia coli OP50, to Caenorhabditis elegans extend the lifespan, reduced lipofuscin accumulation, and maintain vigorous locomotion. Feeding with Streptococcus thermophilus did not alter the worm growth curve or the offspring number, indicating that the Streptococcus thermophilus-mediated lifespan extension is not attributable to caloric restriction(definition). The qRT-PCR data showed that Streptococcus thermophilus increased the expression of daf-16 and some of its downstream antioxidant genes. Furthermore, the pro-longevity effects of Streptococcus thermophilus were decreased in loss-of-function mutant of daf-16. Results show that Streptococcus thermophilus extends the lifespan of Caenorhabditis elegans through DAF-16-mediated antioxidant pathway activation.