| Summary: | Exopolysaccharide (EPS)-producing <i>Lacticaseibacillus paracasei</i> EPS DA-BACS was isolated from healthy human feces and its probiotic properties, as well as the structure and prebiotic activity of the EPS from this strain were examined. EPS from <i>L. paracasei</i> EPS DA-BACS had a ropy phenotype, which is known to have potential health benefits and is identified as loosely cell-bounded glucomannan-type EPS with a molecular size of 3.7 × 10<sup>6</sup> Da. EPS promoted the acid tolerance of <i>L. paracasei</i> EPS DA-BACS and provided cells with tolerance to gastrointestinal stress. The purified EPS showed growth inhibitory activity against <i>Clostridium difficile. L. paracasei</i> EPS DA-BACS cells completely inhibited the growth of <i>Bacillus subtilis</i>, <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i>, and <i>Aspergillus brasiliensis</i>, as well as showed high growth inhibitory activity against <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> and <i>Escherichia coli</i>. Treatment of lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells with heat-killed <i>L. paracasei</i> EPS DA-BACS cells led to a decrease in the production of nitric oxide, indicating the anti-inflammatory activity of <i>L. paracasei</i> EPS DA-BACS. Purified EPS promoted the growth of <i>Lactobacillus gasseri, Bifidobacterium bifidum, B. animalis</i>, and <i>B. faecale</i> which showed high prebiotic activity. <i>L. paracasei</i> EPS DA-BACS harbors no antibiotic resistance genes or virulence factors. Therefore, <i>L. paracasei</i> EPS DA-BACS exhibits anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activities with high gut adhesion ability and gastrointestinal tolerance and can be used as a potential probiotic.
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