Probiotics, gut microbiota and health

The Efficacy of Probiotics as Antiviral Agents for the Treatment of Rotavirus Gastrointestinal Infections in Children: An Updated Overview of Literature

Enteric viruses, including the rotavirus, norovirus, and adenoviruses, are the most common cause of acute gastroenteritis. The rotavirus disease is especially prevalent among children, and studies over the past decade have revealed complex interactions between rotaviruses and the gut microbiota. One way to treat and prevent dysbiosis is the use of probiotics as an antiviral agent. This review focuses on the latest scientific evidence on the antiviral properties of probiotics against rotavirus gastroenteric infections in children. A total of 19 studies exhibited a statistically significant antiviral effect of probiotics. The main probiotics that were effective were Saccharomyces cerevisiae var. boulardii, Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus GG, and various multi-strain probiotics. The underlying mechanism of the probiotics against rotavirus gastroenteric infections in children included immune enhancement and modulation of intestinal microbiota leading to shortening of diarrhoea. However, several clinical studies also found no significant difference in the probiotic group compared to the placebo group even though well-known strains were used, thus showing the importance of correct dosage, duration of treatment, quality of probiotics and the possible influence of other factors, such as the production process of probiotics and the influence of immunisation on the effect of probiotics. Therefore, more robust, well-designed clinical studies addressing all factors are warranted.

Gut microbiome alterations in ICU patients with enteral nutrition-related diarrhea

Enteral Nutrition-related Diarrhea (END) is an extremely common complication in Intensive Care Unit (ICU) patients. However, it is currently unclear whether the patient’s gut microbiota is disturbed. Our study aimed to explore the characteristics of gut microbiota changes in END patients. We divided ICU patients into no-END group (n = 7) and END group (n = 7) according to whether they had END, then stool samples were collected separately. The V3-V4 region of stool bacterial 16S rRNA gene was amplified by PCR and sequenced on an Illumina MiSeq PE300 platform. Microbiome data obtained by quality control were analyzed, including microbial community composition, diversity and gene function prediction.The results showed that the dominant gut microbiota in ICU patients who were given total enteral nutrition were Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Actinobacteria, and Verrucomicrobia. Bacterial richness and diversity in END patients were all significantly lower than those in no-END patients. In addition, END caused significant changes in bacterial composition. LEfSe found 34 biomarkers represented by Bacteroidetes and Subdoligranulum in the no-END group as well as 11 biomarkers represented by Enterococcus and Klebsiella in the END group. Finally, through PICRUST function prediction, we found that diarrhea led to abnormal changes in numerous KEGG pathways mainly related to immunity and metabolism. In short, ICU patients with END have severe gut dysbiosis, and our study provides a reliable experimental basis for the patient’s microbiota therapy.

Therapeutic Effects of Gut Microbiota on Metabolic Syndrome: A Patent Review

BACKGROUND

The balanced composition of the gut microbiota is essential for human health. The dysbiotic condition may develop various complex diseases. A metabolic syndrome is a group of biochemical and physiological abnormalities that can increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and inflammatory diseases. It has become a serious concern worldwide because there is no acceptable medication to overcome this problem.

OBJECTIVE

This review aims to evaluate the relationship between gut microbiota and metabolic syndrome. The balance of gut microbiota relates to human health as well as diseases. Patents related to significant findings on probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, and fecal microbiota transplantation signify the importance of the proposed theme and provide promising therapeutic strategies to modulate the dysbiotic condition and reoccurrence of beneficial microbial species during metabolic syndromes. Screening of patents-related databases can be worth full to track new technology. Therefore, some selected recent patents related to gut microbiota and associated therapies have been discussed in the present manuscript.

CONCLUSION

Under the existing situation, the role of gastrointestinal microbiota as a therapeutic agent is becoming more utilized for treating human health issues and various metabolic syndromes including obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases. Understanding gut dysbiosis and associated complex interactions between microbes and hosts would be effective for designing future therapeutic interventions for metabolic syndrome. Our detailed patent analysis reflects that gut dysbiosis has a prominent role in metabolic syndromes and dietary therapeutic strategies can improve health by modulating the human microbiota, their metabolites ad stability.

Different Impacts of Heat-Killed and Viable Lactiplantibacillus plantarum TWK10 on Exercise Performance, Fatigue, Body Composition, and Gut Microbiota in Humans

Lactiplantibacillus plantarum TWK10, a probiotic strain, has been demonstrated to improve exercise performance, regulate body composition, and ameliorate age-related declines. Here, we performed a comparative analysis of viable and heat-killed TWK10 in the regulation of exercise performance, body composition, and gut microbiota in humans. Healthy adults (n = 53) were randomly divided into three groups: Control, TWK10 (viable TWK10, 3 × 1011 colony forming units/day), and TWK10-hk (heat-killed TWK10, 3 × 1011 cells/day) groups. After six-week administration, both the TWK10 and TWK10-hk groups had significantly improved exercise performance and fatigue-associated features and reduced exercise-induced inflammation, compared with controls. Viable TWK10 significantly promoted improved body composition, by increasing muscle mass proportion and reducing fat mass. Gut microbiota analysis demonstrated significantly increasing trends in the relative abundances of Akkermansiaceae and Prevotellaceae in subjects receiving viable TWK10. Predictive metagenomic profiling revealed that heat-killed TWK10 administration significantly enhanced the signaling pathways involved in amino acid metabolisms, while glutathione metabolism, and ubiquinone and other terpenoid-quinone biosynthesis pathways were enriched by viable TWK10. In conclusion, viable and heat-killed TWK10 had similar effects in improving exercise performance and attenuating exercise-induced inflammatory responses as probiotics and postbiotics, respectively. Viable TWK10 was also highly effective in regulating body composition. The differences in efficacy between viable and heat-killed TWK10 may be due to differential impacts in shaping gut microbiota.

The Functional Roles of Lactobacillus acidophilus in Different Physiological and Pathological Processes

Probiotics are live microorganisms that can be consumed by humans in amounts sufficient to offer health-promoting effects. Owing to their various biological functions, probiotics are widely used in biological engineering, industry and agriculture, food safety, and the life and health fields. Lactobacillus acidophilus (L. acidophilus), an important human intestinal probiotic, was originally isolated from the human gastrointestinal tract and its functions have been widely studied ever since it was named in 1900. L. acidophilus has been found to play important roles in many aspects of human health. Due to its good resistance against acid and bile salts, it has broad application prospects in functional, edible probiotic preparations. In this review, we explore the basic characteristics and biological functions of L. acidophilus based on the research progress made thus far worldwide. Various problems to be solved regarding the applications of probiotic products and their future development are also discussed.

Novel exopolysaccharide derived from probiotic Lactobacillus pantheris TCP102 strain with immune-enhancing and anticancer activities

Probiotics are gaining attention due to their functions of regulating the intestinal barrier and promoting human health. The production of exopolysaccharide (EPS) is one of the important factors for probiotics to exert beneficial properties. This study aimed to screen exopolysaccharides-producing lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and evaluate the probiotic potential. we obtained three exopolysaccharide fractions (EPS1, EPS2, and EPS3) from Lactobacillus pantheris TCP102 and purified by a combination of ion-exchange chromatography and gel permeation chromatography. The structures of the fractions were characterized by FT-IR, UV, HPLC, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis. The Mw of EPS1, EPS2, and EPS3 were approximately 20.3, 23.0, and 19.3 kDa, and were mainly composed of galactose, glucose, and mannose, with approximate molar ratios of 2.86:1:1.48, 1.26:1:1, 1.58:1.80:1, respectively. Furthermore, SEM analysis demonstrated that the three polysaccharide fractions differ in microstructure and surface morphology. Additionally, preliminary results for immune-enhancing and anticancer activities reveal that these EPSs significantly induced the production of nitric oxide (NO), TNF-α, and IL-6 in Ana-1 cells and peritoneal macrophage cells. Meanwhile, the EPSs also significantly suppressed the proliferation of HCT-116, BCG-803, and particularly A-2780 cells. The results suggest that the three novel EPSs isolated from Lactobacillus pantheris TCP102 can be regarded as potential application value in functional food and natural antitumor drugs.

Gut microbiome modulation mediated by probiotics: Positive impact on growth and health status of Labeo rohita

The current study was targeted to determine the effect of probiotics on the growth, physiology, and gut microbiology of Labeo rohita fingerlings. One hundred and twenty fishes were divided into four dietary groups, each in triplicate for a feeding trial of 90 days. These treatments included T0 (control, basal diet) used as the reference, and three probiotic-supplemented diets represented as Tbc (Bacillus cereus), Tgc (Geotrichum candidum), and Tmc (B. cereus and G. candidum). The probiotics were supplemented at a level of 1 × 109 CFU/g feed. Fishes nurtured on probiotic-added diet showed significantly high physiological improvement (p < 0.05) in terms of growth, feed utilization capacity, hematological profile, and digestive enzymes as compared to control. The fish were subjected to a challenge test after a 90-day feeding trial. The Tmc exhibited maximum fish growth when challenged by Staphylococcus aureus and showed fish survival when compared to control, in which fish mortality was examined. Fish gut microbial composition was modulated by probiotic treatments, especially in Tgc and Tmc as compared to control. The absence of opportunistic pathogens such as Staphylococcus saprophyticus and Sporobolomyces lactosus and detection of lower levels of Trichosporon and Cryptococcus in treated groups indicate the gut modulation driven by applied probiotics. The G. candidum QAUGC01 was retrieved in yeast metagenomics data, which might be due to the production of polyamines by them that facilitated adherence and consequent persistence. In conclusion, it can be suggested that the probiotic-supplemented diet could enhance fish growth and feed efficiency through community modulation and digestive enzymes, which could be a milestone in local aquaculture.

Clostridium butyricum Potentially Improves Immunity and Nutrition through Alteration of the Microbiota and Metabolism of Elderly People with Malnutrition in Long-Term Care

Recent research advances examining the gut microbiome and its association with human health have indicated that microbiota-targeted intervention is a promising means for health modulation. In this study, elderly people in long-term care (aged 83.2 ± 5.3 year) with malnutrition (MNA-SF score ≤ 7) were recruited in a community hospital for a 12-week randomized, single-blind clinical trial with Clostridium butyricum. Compared with the basal fluctuations of the control group, an altered gut microbiome was observed in the intervention group, with increased (p < 0.05) Coprobacillus species, Carnobacterium divergens, and Corynebacterium_massiliense, and the promoted growth of the beneficial organisms Akketmanse muciniphila and Alistipes putredinis. A concentrated profile of 14 increased Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) orthologs (KOs) that were enriched in cofactor/vitamin production and carbohydrate metabolism pathways were discovered; the genes were found to be correlated (p < 0.05) with an elevated abundance of plasma metabolites and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), unsaturated medium- to long-chain fatty acids (MFA, LFA), carnitines, and amino acids, thus suggesting a coordinated ameliorated metabolism. Proinflammatory factor interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) levels decreased (p < 0.05) throughout the intervention, while the gut barrier tight junction protein, occludin, rose in abundance (p = 0.059), and the sensitive nutrition biomarker prealbumin improved, in contrast to the opposite changes in control. Based on our results obtained during a relatively short intervention time, C. butyricum might have great potential for improving nutrition and immunity in elderly people in long-term care with malnutrition through the alteration of gut microbiota, increasing the abundance of beneficial bacteria and activating the metabolism in SCFA and cofactor/vitamin production, bile acid metabolism, along with efficient energy generation.

Total flavonoids of Abrus cantoniensis inhibit CD14/TLR4/NF-κB/MAPK pathway expression and improve gut microbiota disorders to reduce lipopolysaccharide-induced mastitis in mice

Established a model of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced mastitis in mice, pathological sections and myeloperoxidase were used to detect the degree of tissue damage, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was performed to detect the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, meanwhile fluorescence quantitative PCR experiments were performed to detect the mRNA expression of CD14/TLR4/NF-κB/MAPK signalling pathway, and the faeces of mice were collected for 16S measurement of flora. The results showed that Abrus cantoniensis total flavonoids (ATF) could significantly reduce the damage of LPS on mammary tissue in mice and inhibit the secretion of inflammatory factors such as TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6. At the mRNA level, ATF inhibited the expression of CD14/TLR4/NF-κB/MAPK pathway and enhanced the expression of tight junction proteins in the blood-milk barrier. In the results of the intestinal flora assay, ATF were found to be able to regulate the relative abundance of the dominant flora from the phylum level to the genus level, restoring LPS-induced gut microbial dysbiosis. In summary, ATF attenuated the inflammatory response of LPS on mouse mammary gland by inhibiting the expression of CD14/TLR4/NF-κB/MAPK pathway, enhancing the expression of tight junction proteins and restoring LPS-induced gut microbial dysbiosis. This suggests that ATF could be a potential herbal remedy for mastitis.

Factors Determining Effective Probiotic Activity: Evaluation of Survival and Antibacterial Activity of Selected Probiotic Products Using an "In Vitro" Study

There are many different probiotic products on the market. Are they all equally effective? What criteria should a probiotic formulation meet to provide the most benefit to the patient? The current research aims to evaluate the parameters that influence the effectiveness of market probiotic products. These properties are critical for restoring eubiosis in patients with drug-induced dysbiosis or other pathological conditions, which could be caused by stress, wrong eating. Methods: The disintegration time of probiotic capsules in hydrochloric acid was investigated using a disintegration testing device. The survival rate of probiotic preparations in hydrochloric acid at pH 2 and in a 0.4% bile solution was then evaluated. For this purpose, the number of bacteria before and after incubation in the respective solutions was determined using the plate method. Inhibition of gastrointestinal pathogens by the probiotic products was determined using the Strus bar graph method. The highest survival rate of probiotic bacteria at low pH is shown by preparations produced in the form of acid-resistant capsules. Conclusions: The most important factor determining the good survival of bacterial strains under conditions simulating the gastrointestinal tract is the type of capsule used for their production and storage. The best antimicrobial activity against most common human gastrointestinal pathogens such as Eschericha coli, Shigella, Salmonella spp., Clostridioides difficile (the largest inhibition zones) are shown by probiotic products with the greatest diversity of bacterial strains.

Association between maternal fermented food consumption and child sleep duration at the age of 3 years: the Japan Environment and Children's Study

Background

Using cohort data from the Japan Environment and Children’s Study (JECS), we previously reported that the risk of sleep deprivation in 1-year-old children was reduced with a higher maternal intake of fermented foods, particularly miso. The present study, which evaluates children from the same cohort at 3 years of age, is a continuation of that work.

Methods

After applying exclusion criteria to 104,062 records in the JECS dataset, we evaluated 64,200 mother-child pairs in which the child was 3 years old. We examined the association of the dietary intake of fermented foods during pregnancy with child sleep duration < 10 h at the age of 3 years.

Results

Multivariable logistic regression analysis with the lowest quartile used as a reference revealed adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) for the second through fourth quartiles of 0.98 (0.90–1.06), 0.93 (0.85–1.01), and 0.85 (0.78–0.94) for cheese intake.

Conclusions

The consumption of fermented foods during pregnancy is associated with reduced risk of sleep deprivation in 3-year-old children, albeit in a limited way.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12889-022-13805-6.

Impact of Probiotics on Dairy Production Efficiency

There has been growing interest on probiotics to enhance weight gain and disease resistance in young calves and to improve the milk yield in lactating animals by reducing the negative energy balance during the peak lactation period. While it has been well established that probiotics modulate the microbial community composition in the gastrointestinal tract, and a probiotic-mediated homeostasis in the rumen could improve feed conversation competence, volatile fatty acid production and nitrogen flow that enhances the milk composition as well as milk production, detailed changes on the molecular and metabolic level prompted by probiotic feed additives are still not understood. Moreover, as living biotherapeutic agents, probiotics have the potential to directly change the gene expression profile of animals by activating the signalling cascade in the host cells. Various direct and indirect components of probiotic approaches to improve the productivity of dairy animals are discussed in this review.

Consumption of a Gelatin Supplemented with the Probiotic Strain Limosilactobacillus fermentum UCO-979C Prevents Helicobacter pylori Infection in a Young Adult Population Achieved

Helicobacter pylori is a bacterium associated with various gastrointestinal diseases of high worldwide prevalence. Since probiotics are an emerging alternative to managing infection by this pathogenic bacterium, the present work evaluated, in a randomized double-blind study controlled by a placebo, if consuming Limosilactobacillus fermentum UCO-979C prevents H. pylori infection in humans. Participants consumed either L. fermentum UCO-979C-supplemented gelatin (67 participants) or placebo-supplemented gelatin (64 participants) once a day, five days per week for 12 weeks. H. pylori infection in the participants was controlled before and after the intervention detecting H. pylori antigens in stools. Regarding H. pylori-infected participants before the study, 100% remained infected at the end of the study in the placebo group, while 96.7% of those receiving the probiotic remained infected after the intervention. Most importantly, of the non-infected participants, 34.2% became infected and 65.8% remained non-infected in the placebo group, while 2.7% became infected and 97.3% remained as non-infected individuals in the intervened group. Therefore, consuming the L. fermentum UCO-979C strain significantly reduced H. pylori infection, demonstrating a 92.6% efficacy in avoiding infection by this pathogen in non-infected individuals; thus, this probiotic is an excellent candidate to prevent H. pylori infections in non-infected individuals.

Role of gut microbiome on immunotherapy efficacy in melanoma

The gut microbiota is considered a key component in many aspects of cancer pathophysiology and response to therapy. In particular, in recent years intriguing evidences has been emerging regarding the role of the intestinal microbiota in the response to immunotherapy and in promoting the development of adverse events, such as colitis. For this reason, studies are being carried out both on pre-clinical models and on humans to study how to predict the response to immunotherapy through the study of the microbiota or how to improve its clinical response through modulation. Promising data have recently been reported through modulation by probiotics or prebiotics, and in particular by fecal microbiota transplantation. The aim of this review is to analyze the evidence regarding the role of the microbiota in immunotherapy with a particular focus on melanoma.

Probiotic Effects of Bacillus licheniformis DSM5749 on Growth Performance and Intestinal Microecological Balance of Laying Hens

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of Bacillus licheniformis DSM5749 on the production performance and intestinal health in laying hens. A total of 32-week-old laying hens (Hyline Brown) were randomly assigned to two dietary groups (10 replicates of 27 laying hens), namely, basal diet and basal diet complemented with 200 g/t B. licheniformis (3.2 × 10⁹ CFU/kg). The trial lasted for 8 weeks, and samples were collected at the last week. Results revealed that B. licheniformis DSM5749 significantly improved laying performance, including an increase in egg production rate and average daily egg yield, and a decrease in the feed-to-egg ratio during the entire 8-week experimental period (P < 0.05). B. licheniformis DSM5749 increased the levels of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase in the liver and decreased the IL-1 level in the serum (P < 0.05). In addition, the integrity of intestinal morphology (villus height, crypt depth, and villus height/crypt depth), tight junctions (ZO-1, Claudin-1, and Occludin), and lipase vitality in the intestine were potentiated by B. licheniformis DSM5749 in laying hens (P < 0.05). B. licheniformis DSM5749 decreased the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio (P < 0.05) in the cecum. Furthermore, B. licheniformis DSM5749 modulated the microbiota in the cecum of the laying hens, increased the relative abundance of beneficial bacteria (e.g., Prevotella) at the genus level and decreased the relative abundance of potential pathogens (e.g., Desulfovibrio). In conclusion, B. licheniformis DSM5749 can improve laying performance, promote intestinal health, affect the composition of cecal microorganisms, and regulate the intestinal micro-ecological balance, making B. licheniformis a good probiotic candidate for application in the laying hens industry.

Non-conventional therapeutical approaches to acne vulgaris related to its association with metabolic disorders

The ever-increasing frequency of metabolic syndrome (MetS) is still a major challenge of the public health care system, worldwide. In recent years, researchers have been drawn to the uncommon (at first look) link between skin illnesses and MetS. Because of the pro-inflammatory mechanisms and insulin resistance (IR) that are upregulated in metabolic syndrome, many skin disorders are correlated to metabolic dysfunctions, including acne vulgaris. A comprehensive understanding of the link between MetS and acne vulgaris may contribute to the development of new treatment strategies. The current review focuses on dietary and therapeutic interventions and assesses the effect of various approaches such as improving diet by avoiding certain food products (i.e., milk and chocolate) or increasing the intake of others (i.e., food products rich in omega-3 fatty acids), metformin administration, therapy with plant extracts, plant essential oils, and probiotic supplementation on the improvement of certain acne vulgaris severity parameters. These therapeutic approaches, when combined with allopathic treatment, can improve the patients' quality of life.

A Reciprocal Link Between Gut Microbiota, Inflammation and Depression: A Place for Probiotics?

Depression is a severe mental disorder that places a significant economic burden on public health. The reciprocal link between the trillions of bacteria in the gut, the microbiota, and depression is a controversial topic in neuroscience research and has drawn the attention of public interest and press coverage in recent years. Mounting pieces of evidence shed light on the role of the gut microbiota in depression, which is suggested to involve immune, endocrine, and neural pathways that are the main components of the microbiota-gut-brain axis. The gut microbiota play major roles in brain development and physiology and ultimately behavior. The bidirectional communication between the gut microbiota and brain function has been extensively explored in animal models of depression and clinical research in humans. Certain gut microbiota strains have been associated with the pathophysiology of depression. Therefore, oral intake of probiotics, the beneficial living bacteria and yeast, may represent a therapeutic approach for depression treatment. In this review, we summarize the findings describing the possible links between the gut microbiota and depression, focusing mainly on the inflammatory markers and sex hormones. By discussing preclinical and clinical studies on probiotics as a supplementary therapy for depression, we suggest that probiotics may be beneficial in alleviating depressive symptoms, possibly through immune modulation. Still, further comprehensive studies are required to draw a more solid conclusion regarding the efficacy of probiotics and their mechanisms of action.

Evaluation of probiotics in vegetable juices: tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), carrot (Daucus carota subsp. sativus) and beetroot juice (Beta vulgaris)

Probiotics are known to human kind since ages as they are important component in fermented milk products, however the use of probiotics in non-dairy product is a novel method for the delivery of probiotics. Delivery of probiotics through non-dairy products will be beneficial for consumers who are lactose intolerant who are deprived of benefits of probiotics by dairy products. This studies aim at developing novel vegetable juices containing probiotic bacteria. Three different strains of bacteria have been used, i.e. Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus delbrueckii in carrot, beetroot and tomato juice. The viability of the bacteria has been checked after a specific duration of time of fermentation by Koch's plate count method. The vegetable used for juices (carrot, beetroot, tomato) consist of high amount of antioxidants like carotenoids in carrot, betaxanthins and betacyanins in beetroot, lycopene in tomato. These antioxidant provide numerous health benefits to human body. The antioxidant activity in the juices has been checked before and after fermentation by HPLC and spectroscopic methods. The three bacterial strains Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus acidophilus and Lactobacillus delbrueckii used in three types of juices including tomato juice, carrot juice and beetroot juice showed good growth except Lactobacillus acidophilus due to reasons like insufficient nutrients. The amount of sugars and acids of the three juices indicated that the fermentation process takes place at a good and satisfying rate. This product will be especially useful for the people who are lactose intolerant who cannot intake probiotics via milk and milk products. Vegetable juices also have almost zero fat content and high in fiber so the people who are on a fat free diet can consume this product.

Impact of Oral Microbiome in Periodontal Health and Periodontitis: A Critical Review on Prevention and Treatment

The skin, oral cavity, digestive and reproductive tracts of the human body harbor symbiotic and commensal microorganisms living harmoniously with the host. The oral cavity houses one of the most heterogeneous microbial communities found in the human organism, ranking second in terms of species diversity and complexity only to the gastrointestinal microbiota and including bacteria, archaea, fungi, and viruses. The accumulation of microbial plaque in the oral cavity may lead, in susceptible individuals, to a complex host-mediated inflammatory and immune response representing the primary etiological factor of periodontal damage that occurs in periodontitis. Periodontal disease is a chronic inflammatory condition affecting about 20-50% of people worldwide and manifesting clinically through the detection of gingival inflammation, clinical attachment loss (CAL), radiographic assessed resorption of alveolar bone, periodontal pockets, gingival bleeding upon probing, teeth mobility and their potential loss in advanced stages. This review will evaluate the changes characterizing the oral microbiota in healthy periodontal tissues and those affected by periodontal disease through the evidence present in the literature. An important focus will be placed on the immediate and future impact of these changes on the modulation of the dysbiotic oral microbiome and clinical management of periodontal disease.

The cure from within? a review of the microbiome and diet in melanoma

Therapy for cutaneous melanoma, the deadliest of the skin cancers, is inextricably linked to the immune system. Once thought impossible, cures for metastatic melanoma with immune checkpoint inhibitors have been developed within the last decade and now occur regularly in the clinic. Unfortunately, half of tumors do not respond to checkpoint inhibitors and efforts to further exploit the immune system are needed. Tantalizing associations with immune health and gut microbiome composition suggest we can improve the success rate of immunotherapy. The gut contains over half of the immune cells in our bodies and increasingly, evidence is linking the immune system within our gut to melanoma development and treatment. In this review, we discuss the importance the skin and gut microbiome may play in the development of melanoma. We examine the differences in the microbial populations which inhabit the gut of those who develop melanoma and subsequently respond to immunotherapeutics. We discuss the role of dietary intake on the development and treatment of melanoma. And finally, we review the landscape of published and registered clinical trials therapeutically targeting the microbiome in melanoma through dietary supplements, fecal microbiota transplant, and microbial supplementation.

Probiotics and plant extracts: a promising synergy and delivery systems

There is a current interest in healthy diets and supplements, indicating the relevance of novel delivery systems for plant extracts rich in bioactive compounds and probiotics. This simultaneous delivery system can be prospective for health. In this sense, investigating foods rich in bioactive compounds or supplemented by them for incorporating probiotics and some approaches to improve probiotic survivability, such as the choice of resistant probiotic strains or microencapsulation, is valuable. This review addresses a brief discussion about the role of phenolic compounds, chlorophyll and carotenoids from plants and probiotics in gut health, indicating the benefits of this association. Also, an overview of delivery systems used in recent studies is shown, considering their advantages for incorporation in food matrices. Delivery systems containing compounds recovered from plants can reduce probiotic oxidative stress, improving survivability. However, investigating the beneficial concentration of some bioactive compounds from plant extracts is relevant due to their antimicrobial potential. In addition, further clinical trials and toxicological studies of plant extracts are pertinent to ensure safety. Thus, the recovery of extracts from plants emerges as an alternative to providing multiple compounds with antioxidant potential, increasing the preservation of probiotics and allowing the fortification or enrichment of food matrices.

Novel Developments on Stimuli-Responsive Probiotic Encapsulates: From Smart Hydrogels to Nanostructured Platforms

Biomaterials engineering and biotechnology have advanced significantly towards probiotic encapsulation with encouraging results in assuring sufficient bioactivity. However, some major challenges remain to be addressed, and these include maintaining stability in different compartments of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT), favoring adhesion only at the site of action, and increasing residence times. An alternative to addressing such challenges is to manufacture encapsulates with stimuli-responsive polymers, such that controlled release is achievable by incorporating moieties that respond to chemical and physical stimuli present along the GIT. This review highlights, therefore, such emerging delivery matrices going from a comprehensive description of addressable stimuli in each GIT compartment to novel synthesis and functionalization techniques to currently employed materials used for probiotic’s encapsulation and achieving multi-modal delivery and multi-stimuli responses. Next, we explored the routes for encapsulates design to enhance their performance in terms of degradation kinetics, adsorption, and mucus and gut microbiome interactions. Finally, we present the clinical perspectives of implementing novel probiotics and the challenges to assure scalability and cost-effectiveness, prerequisites for an eventual niche market penetration.

Antiparasitic Action of Lactobacillus casei ATCC 393 and Lactobacillus paracasei CNCM Strains in CD-1 Mice Experimentally Infected with Trichinella britovi

Nematodes of the genus Trichinella are among the most widespread parasites of domestic and wild omnivores and predatory animals. The present study aimed to evaluate the antiparasitic effect of Lactobacillus casei ATCC 393 (original) and L. paracasei CNCM in CD-1 mice experimentally infected with Trichinella britovi. Four groups of 20 mice (10 females and 10 males/group) were used, with two control (C) groups and two experimental (E) groups, in which each animal received a daily oral dose of 100 µL of 10⁵ CFU/mL probiotics in Ringer’s solution. On day 7, all mice (except the negative control group) were infected orally with Trichinella (100 larvae/animal) as well as the two probiotics. On day 9 post-infection (p.i.), 10 mice/group were euthanized, and the presence of adult parasites in the intestinal content and wall was tested. On day 32 p.i., 10 mice/group were euthanized, then trichinoscopy and artificial digestion were performed to assess the muscle infection with T. britovi. On day 9 p.i., the experimental group pretreated with L. casei ATCC 393 (6.3 ± 3.03) showed a significantly lower number of adult parasites in the intestinal wall compared with the positive control group (24.6 ± 4.78). Additionally, a significantly lower adult parasite count in the intestinal wall was registered in female mice pretreated with L. paracasei CNCM (7.4 ± 4.71) compared to female mice from the positive control (29.0 ± 5.17). No statistically relevant results were obtained concerning the male mice or the data obtained at 32 days p.i., irrespective of mice gender.

A Quadruple Coating of Probiotics for Enhancing Intestinal Adhesion and Competitive Exclusion of Salmonella Typhimurium

Previously, our group showed that a quadruple coating of probiotics resulted in higher survivability of probiotics under high acid, bile salt, and thermal stresses. In this study, we evaluated the effect of the quadruple coating of probiotics on adhesive properties as well as on competitive exclusion of Salmonella Typhimurium in Caco-2 cells. We found that the quadruple coating of probiotics exhibited an overall increased adhesion property (up to 10.8-fold) and increased competitive exclusion of Salmonella Typhimurium (up to 4.3-fold). Thus, this study has significant implications and can lead to the development of methods that can improve the adhesive ability of probiotics as well as the adhesive inhibition of pathogens.

Effects of Probiotic Supplementation on Exercise with Predominance of Aerobic Metabolism in Trained Population: A Systematic Review, Meta-Analysis and Meta-Regression

The scientific literature about probiotic intake and its effect on sports performance is growing. Therefore, the main aim of this systematic review, meta-analysis and meta-regression was to review all information about the effects of probiotic supplementation on performance tests with predominance of aerobic metabolism in trained populations (athletes and/or Division I players and/or trained population: ≥8 h/week and/or ≥5 workouts/week). A structured search was performed in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA®) statement and PICOS guidelines in PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Science (WOS), and Scopus international databases from inception to 1 November 2021. Studies involving probiotic supplementation in trained population and execution of performance test with aerobic metabolism predominance (test lasted more than 5 min) were considered for inclusion. Fifteen articles were included in the final systematic review (in total, 388 participants were included). After 3 studies were removed due to a lack of data for the meta-analysis and meta-regression, 12 studies with 232 participants were involved. With the objective of assessing the risk of bias of included studies, Cochrane Collaboration Guidelines and the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) scale were performed. For all included studies the following data was extracted: authors, year of publication, study design, the size of the sample, probiotic administration (dose and time), and characteristics of participants. The random effects model and pooled standardized mean differences (SMDs) were used according to Hedges’ g for the meta-analysis. In order to determine if dose and duration covariates could predict probiotic effects, a meta-regression was also conducted. Results showed a small positive and significant effect on the performance test with aerobic metabolic predominance (SMD = 0.29; CI = 0.08−0.50; p < 0.05). Moreover, the subgroup analysis displayed significant greater benefits when the dose was ≥30 × 109 colony forming units (CFU) (SMD, 0.47; CI, 0.05 to 0.89; p < 0.05), when supplementation duration was ≤4 weeks (SMD, 0.44; CI, 0.05 to 0.84; p < 0.05), when single strain probiotics were used (SMD, 0.33; CI, 0.06 to 0.60; p < 0.05), when participants were males (SMD, 0.30; CI, 0.04 to 0.56; p < 0.05), and when the test was performed to exhaustion (SMD, 0.45; CI, 0.05 to 0.48; p < 0.05). However, with references to the findings of the meta-regression, selected covariates did not predict probiotic effects in highly trained population. In summary, the current systematic review and meta-analysis supported the potential effects of probiotics supplementation to improve performance in a test in which aerobic metabolism is predominant in trained population. However, more research is needed to fully understand the mechanisms of action of this supplement.

Limosilactobacillus fermentum MG4295 Improves Hyperglycemia in High-Fat Diet-Induced Mice

Hyperglycemia due to uncontrolled glucose regulation is widely known as cause of diabetes, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and other complications. NAFLD refers to a condition in which fat is excessively accumulated, whether inflamed or not, and has caused serious medical problems in recent years. The aim of this study was to explore the antihyperglycemia effects of Limosilactobacillus fermentum MG4295 (L. fermentum MG4295) in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced in vivo. We demonstrated the suitability of L. fermentum MG4295 as a probiotic by observing its stability, survivability, and proliferation under simulated gastrointestinal conditions, and safety, antibiotic susceptibility, hemolysis, and enzyme activity. The potential antihyperglycemic activity of L. fermentum MG4295 was investigated in an HFD and sugar-water-induced mouse model. Administration of this strain for 12 weeks showed an improved trend in glucose tolerance, insulin, alanine amino transferase, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and glucagon-like peptide-1. Histopathological analysis revealed that L. fermentum MG4295 significantly reduced the histopathological scores of hepatic steatosis, inflammation, and hepatocellular hypertrophy in liver tissues and lipid content in adipose tissues. Administration of L. fermentum MG4295 upregulated IRS-1, AKT, and GLUT4 and downregulated G6Pc and PEPCK expression in liver and/or muscle tissues. Our results suggest that L. fermentum MG4295 can improve hyperglycemia. Furthermore, it can be used as a dietary functional supplement to manage blood glucose.

Gut Microbiome in Retina Health: The Crucial Role of the Gut-Retina Axis

The term microbiome means not only a complex ecosystem of microbial species that colonize our body but also their genome and the surrounding environment in which they live. Recent studies support the existence of a gut-retina axis involved in the pathogenesis of several chronic progressive ocular diseases, including age-related macular disorders. This review aims to underline the importance of the gut microbiome in relation to ocular health. After briefly introducing the characteristics of the gut microbiome in terms of composition and functions, the role of gut microbiome dysbiosis, in the development or progression of retinal diseases, is highlighted, focusing on the relationship between gut microbiome composition and retinal health based on the recently investigated gut-retina axis.

The Role of Gut-Derived Lipopolysaccharides and the Intestinal Barrier in Fatty Liver Diseases

BACKGROUND

Hepatosteatosis is the earliest stage in the pathogenesis of nonalcoholic fatty (NAFLD) and alcoholic liver disease (ALD). As NAFLD is affecting 10-24% of the general population and approximately 70% of obese patients, it carries a large economic burden and is becoming a major reason for liver transplantation worldwide. ALD is a major cause of morbidity and mortality causing 50% of liver cirrhosis and 10% of liver cancer related death. Increasing evidence has accumulated that gut-derived factors play a crucial role in the development and progression of chronic liver diseases.

METHODS

A selective literature search was conducted in Medline and PubMed, using the terms "nonalcoholic fatty liver disease," "alcoholic liver disease," "lipopolysaccharide," "gut barrier," and "microbiome."

RESULTS

Gut dysbiosis and gut barrier dysfunction both contribute to chronic liver disease by abnormal regulation of the gut-liver axis. Thereby, gut-derived lipopolysaccharides (LPS) are a key factor in inducing the inflammatory response of liver tissue. The review further underlines that endotoxemia is observed in both NAFLD and ALD patients. LPS plays an important role in conducting liver damage through the LPS-TLR4 signaling pathway. Treatments targeting the gut microbiome and the gut barrier such as fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, and intestinal alkaline phosphatase (IAP) represent potential treatment modalities for NAFLD and ALD.

CONCLUSIONS

The gut-liver axis plays an important role in the development of liver disease. Treatments targeting the gut microbiome and the gut barrier have shown beneficial effects in attenuating liver inflammation and need to be further investigated.

What Is the Role of Gut Microbiota in Obesity Prevalence? A Few Words about Gut Microbiota and Its Association with Obesity and Related Diseases

Obesity is becoming the most dangerous lifestyle disease of our time, and its effects are already being observed in both developed and developing countries. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of gut microbiota on the prevalence of obesity and associated morbidities, taking into consideration underlying molecular mechanisms. In addition to exploring the relationship between obesity and fecal microorganisms with their metabolites, the study also focused on the factors that would be able to stimulate growth and remodeling of microbiota. Assessed articles were carefully classified according to a predetermined criterion and were critically appraised and used as a basis for conclusions. The considered articles and reviews acknowledge that intestinal microbiota forms a multifunctional system that might significantly affect human homeostasis. It has been proved that alterations in the gut microbiota are found in obese and metabolically diseased patients. The imbalance of microbiome composition, such as changes in Bacteroidetes/Firmicutes ratio and presence of different species of genus Lactobacillus, might promote obesity and comorbidities (type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, dyslipidemia, depression, obstructive sleep apnea). However, there are also studies that contradict this theory. Therefore, further well-designed studies are needed to improve the knowledge about the influence of microbiota, its metabolites, and probiotics on obesity.

Coccidia-Microbiota Interactions and Their Effects on the Host

As a common parasitic disease in animals, coccidiosis substantially affects the health of the host, even in the absence of clinical symptoms and intestinal tract colonization. Gut microbiota is an important part of organisms and is closely related to the parasite and host. Parasitic infections often have adverse effects on the host, and their pathogenic effects are related to the parasite species, parasitic site and host-parasite interactions. Coccidia-microbiota-host interactions represent a complex network in which changes in one link may affect the other two factors. Furthermore, coccidia-microbiota interactions are not well understood and require further research. Here, we discuss the mechanisms by which coccidia interact directly or indirectly with the gut microbiota and the effects on the host. Understanding the mechanisms underlying coccidia-microbiota-host interactions is important to identify new probiotic strategies for the prevention and control of coccidiosis.

Role of Maternal Microbiota and Nutrition in Early-Life Neurodevelopmental Disorders

The rise in the prevalence of obesity and other related metabolic diseases has been paralleled by an increase in the frequency of neurodevelopmental problems, which has raised the likelihood of a link between these two phenomena. In this scenario, maternal microbiota is a possible linking mechanistic pathway. According to the "Developmental Origins of Health and Disease" paradigm, environmental exposures (in utero and early life) can permanently alter the body's structure, physiology, and metabolism, increasing illness risk and/or speeding up disease progression in offspring, adults, and even generations. Nutritional exposure during early developmental stages may induce susceptibility to the later development of human diseases via interactions in the microbiome, including alterations in brain function and behavior of offspring, as explained by the gut-brain axis theory. This review provides an overview of the implications of maternal nutrition on neurodevelopmental disorders and the establishment and maturation of gut microbiota in the offspring.

Dietary Administration of Novel Multistrain Probiotics from Healthy Grouper Intestines Promotes the Intestinal Immune Response against NNV Infection

Epinephelus lanceolatus (giant grouper) is a high-value cultured species in the Asia-Pacific region. However, nervous necrosis virus (NNV) is an infectious viral disease that affects over 120 species of marine cultured species and causes high mortality, ranging from 90-100% in the grouper industry. Probiotics isolated from the intestines of healthy individuals have provided insight into novel approaches involved in the defense against viral pathogens. In this study, we isolated three strains of bacteria as candidate probiotics from healthy grouper intestines and a 28-day feeding trial was performed. At day 21, the nervous necrosis virus (NNV) challenge test was conducted for 7 days to evaluate the antiviral effect of candidate probiotics. The results showed that candidate probiotics could improve growth conditions, such as weight gain (WG) and specific growth rate (SGR), and increase the utilization of feed. Furthermore, the candidate probiotic mixture had the ability to protect against NNV, which could decrease the mortality rate by 100% in giant grouper after NNV challenge. Subsequently, we analyzed the mechanism of the candidate probiotic mixture's defense against NNV. A volcano plot revealed 203 (control vs. NNV), 126 (NNV vs. probiotics - NNV), and 5 (control vs. probiotics - NNV) differentially expressed transcripts in intestinal tissue. Moreover, principal components analysis (PCA) and cluster analysis heatmap showed large differences among the three groups. Functional pathway analysis showed that the candidate probiotic mixture could induce the innate and adaptive immunity of the host to defend against virus pathogens. Therefore, we hope that potential candidate probiotics could be successfully applied to the industry to achieve sustainable aquaculture.

The in vitro antiviral activity of Lacticaseibacillus casei MCJ protein-based metabolites on bovine viral diarrhea virus

Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) is a ubiquitous immunosuppressive etiological agent which is economically important for a wide host range in the livestock industry. Lactobacillus spp. has widely been using in the field of management and treatment of gastro-enteric disease for both humans and animals. The ability of Lacticaseibacillus casei MCJ protein-based metabolized to suppress BVDV infection in Madin-Darby Bovine Kidney cell line was demonstrated in this study. The protein-based metabolites were extracted from the cultured L. casei to obtain the safest and beneficial form of the probiotic bacteria. It is revealed that LPM have no cytotoxic effect and the cell viability remain more than 80% even after the cells are treated with 3000 µg/mL of LPM. The results of the plaque formation assay showed that LPM can reduce the viral infection rate. To know the mechanism of LPM for anti-BVDV activity, MDBK cells were exposed to LPM before, after and co-incubation of virus infection. The co-treatment of LPM with BVDV revealed the best results. The results suggest that the LPM has a potential anti-BVDV activity which could be a prospective candidate for the prevention and control of BVDV infection in an animal.

Faecal Microbiota Composition Varies between Patients with Breast Cancer and Healthy Women: A Comparative Case-Control Study

The intestinal microbiota plays an essential role in many diseases, such as obesity, irritable bowel disease (IBD), and cancer. This study aimed to characterize the faecal microbiota from early-stage breast cancer (BC) patients and healthy controls. Faeces from newly diagnosed breast cancer patients, mainly for an invasive carcinoma of no specific type (HR⁺ and HER2⁻), before any therapeutic treatment and healthy controls were collected for metabarcoding analyses. We show that the Shannon index, used as an index of diversity, was statistically lower in the BC group compared to that of controls. This work highlights a reduction of microbial diversity, a relative enrichment in Firmicutes, as well as a depletion in Bacteroidetes in patients diagnosed with early BC compared to those of healthy women. A tendency towards a decreased relative abundance of Odoribacter sp., Butyricimonas sp., and Coprococcus sp. was observed. This preliminary study suggests that breast cancer patients may differ from healthy subjects in their intestinal bacterial composition.

Beneficial effects of a combination of Clostridium cochlearium and Lactobacillus acidophilus on body weight gain, insulin sensitivity, and gut microbiota in high-fat diet-induced obese mice

OBJECTIVES

Species Lactobacillus acidophilus and butyrate producer Clostridium cochlearium have been shown to have potential antiobesity effects. The aim of this study was to show that the combination of C. cochlearium and L. acidophilus (CC-LA) has beneficial effects on body weight control and glucose homeostasis in high-fat diet-induced obese (DIO) mice.

METHODS

In this study, thirty-six 6-wk-old male C57BL/6 mice were randomly assigned to three groups of 12 mice each. The experimental group (CC-LA) was administered with CC-LA mixture and fed ad libitum with a high-fat diet. High-fat diet (HF) control and low-fat diet (LF) control groups were treated with the same dose of sterile water as the CC-LA group.

RESULTS

After 17 wk of dietary intervention, the CC-LA group showed 17% less body weight gain than the HF group did (P < 0.01). The CC-LA group also showed significantly reduced incremental area under the curve of oral glucose tolerance test and homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance compared with the HF group. The results from 16S rRNA sequencing analysis of gut microbiota showed that the CC-LA administration led to overall increased α-diversity indices, and a significant microbial separation from the HF group. The ratio of Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes (F/B) was reduced from 3.30 in the HF group to 1.94 in the CC-LA group. The relative abundances of certain obesity-related taxa were also decreased by CC-LA administration.

CONCLUSION

The present study provided evidence that the CC-LA combination reduced obesity and improved glucose metabolism in high-fat diet-treated DIO mice, potentially mediated by the modulation of gut microbiota.

Probiotic Supplementation for Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Promising Adjuvant Therapy in the Gut Microbiome Era

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic immune-mediated inflammatory disease that ultimately leads to joint destruction and functional disability. Although the exact etiology of RA is not fully understood, it is well established that gut microbiota (GM) plays a vital role in the pathogenesis of RA, with accumulating evidence suggesting that gut dysbiosis induces a chronic inflammatory response that may be linked to disease development. Of interest, patients with RA have significant changes in the intestinal microbiota compared to healthy controls, and several studies have suggested the use of probiotics as a possible adjuvant therapy for RA. Benefits of probiotic supplementation were reported in animal models of arthritis and human studies, but the current evidence regarding the effect of probiotic supplementation in the management of RA remains insufficient to make definite recommendations. Several different strains of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacteria, as single species or in mixed culture, have been investigated, and some have demonstrated beneficial effects on disease activity in RA human subjects. As of now, L.casei probiotic bacteria seems to be the strongest candidate for application as adjuvant therapy for RA patients. In this review, we highlight the role of GM in the development and progression of RA and summarize the current knowledge on the use of probiotics as a potential adjuvant therapy for RA. We also review the proposed mechanisms whereby probiotics regulate inflammation. Finally, the role of fermented foods is discussed as a possible alternative to probiotic supplements since they have also been reported to have health benefits.

Prophylactic effects of oral administration of Lactobacillus casei on house dust mite-induced asthma in mice

This study investigated the prophylactic effects of five Lactobacillus casei strains on house dust mite (HDM)-induced asthma in mice. BALB/c mice were orally administered with L. casei strains for one week before HDM treatment. Ketotifen and Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG were used as positive controls. All L. casei strains decreased the number of granulocytes and the levels of Th2 and Th17 inflammatory cytokines in the lungs, L. casei3 significantly decreased the airway inflammation score. Further studies showed that L. casei3, L. casei4, and L. casei5 decreased the chemokine levels, L. casei2, L. casei4, and L. casei5 promoted the secretion of secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA), L. casei2 upregulated the interleukin (IL)-10 levels, and L. casei1 had no effect on these immune indices. L. casei1 and L. casei4 decreased the serum levels of total IgE and HDM-specific IgG1, respectively. L. casei3 and L. casei5 decreased both HDM-specific IgG1 and total IgE levels. L. casei2 did not affect the levels of these immunoglobulins. The gut microbiota analysis revealed that all five L. casei strains enhanced the richness of the gut microbiota mainly by increasing the abundance of Firmicutes, while there were differences at the genus level.Thus, the prophylactic effects of L. casei on HDM-induced mixed chronic airway inflammatory asthma exerted as they differentially affected the immune responses and gut microbiota composition. L. casei3, which exhibited the highest prophylactic effect, increased the acetate and propionate contents in a strain-dependent manner.

Alteration of Gut Microbiota and Its Impact on Immune Response in Patients with Chronic HBV Infection: A Review

Chronic hepatitis B virus infection is a source of substantial global health problems, particularly in economically underdeveloped and/or developing countries. It is the primary cause of severe liver disorders such as liver fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. The liver is connected by the bile duct to the small intestine that carries bile produced in the liver to the intestine. The liver is the initial organ exposed to materials originating from the gut including dietary compounds, bacteria, and their products. Human intestines harbor a wide diversity of the community of microbes which are collectively termed as gut microbiota. In chronic infection with the hepatitis B virus, microbial alteration of the gut is a source of systemic immune activation. Besides, gut permeability is altered in hepatitis B virus-infected patients with an increased bacterial translocation and endotoxin load in the portal vein that caused toll-like receptor activation in the liver, which facilitates immune-mediated liver injury. Toll-like receptors further triggered the host-wide inflammatory response by inducing signaling cascades such as nuclear factor-kappa B-linked pathways and by accelerating cytokine secretion like tumor necrosis factor-alpha, which evokes chronic inflammation and leads to liver lesion formation, fibrosis progression, and cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma development. In conclusion, changes in intestinal flora play an important role in encouraging the production of chronic infection with the hepatitis B virus. Therefore, careful attention should be given to the maintenance of intestinal microecology of patients which can provide a sound foundation for the treatment of chronic infection with the hepatitis B virus.

Probiotics, Prebiotics, and Synbiotics: Implications and Beneficial Effects against Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is still a common functional gastrointestinal disease that presents chronic abdominal symptoms but with a pathophysiology that is not yet fully elucidated. Moreover, the use of the synergistic combination of prebiotics and probiotics, known as synbiotics, for IBS therapy is still in the early stages. Advancements in technology led to determining the important role played by probiotics in IBS, whereas the present paper focuses on the detailed review of the various pathophysiologic mechanisms of action of probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics via multidisciplinary domains involving the gastroenterology (microbiota modulation, alteration of gut barrier function, visceral hypersensitivity, and gastrointestinal dysmotility) immunology (intestinal immunological modulation), and neurology (microbiota–gut–brain axis communication and co-morbidities) in mitigating the symptoms of IBS. In addition, this review synthesizes literature about the mechanisms involved in the beneficial effects of prebiotics and synbiotics for patients with IBS, discussing clinical studies testing the efficiency and outcomes of synbiotics used as therapy for IBS.

Recent innovations in the production of selected specialty (non-traditional) beers

Customer demand for product diversity is the key driving force for innovations in the brewing industry. Specialty beers are regarded as a distinct group of beers different from two major types, lagers and ales, without established definitions or boundaries. Specialty beers, including low- to no-alcohol beer, low carbohydrate beer, gluten-free beer, sour beer, probiotic beer, and enriched beer, are exclusively brewed and developed keeping in mind their functionality, the health and wellbeing of the consumer, and emerging market trends. Compared with conventional beer-brewing, the production of specialty beers is technologically challenging and usually requires additional process steps, unique microorganisms, and special equipment, which in turn may incur additional costs. In addition, the maintenance of quality and stability of the products as well as consumer acceptability of the products are major challenges to successful commercialization. A harmonious integration of traditional brewing practices and modern technological approaches may hold potential for future developments. In the present review, latest developments in the fermentative production of selected specialty beers are discussed.

You Are What You Eat: Application of Metabolomics Approaches to Advance Nutrition Research

A healthy condition is defined by complex human metabolic pathways that only function properly when fully satisfied by nutritional inputs. Poor nutritional intakes are associated with a number of metabolic diseases, such as diabetes, obesity, atherosclerosis, hypertension, and osteoporosis. In recent years, nutrition science has undergone an extraordinary transformation driven by the development of innovative software and analytical platforms. However, the complexity and variety of the chemical components present in different food types, and the diversity of interactions in the biochemical networks and biological systems, makes nutrition research a complicated field. Metabolomics science is an "-omic", joining proteomics, transcriptomics, and genomics in affording a global understanding of biological systems. In this review, we present the main metabolomics approaches, and highlight the applications and the potential for metabolomics approaches in advancing nutritional food research.

Effect of Adding Resistant Maltodextrin to Pasteurized Orange Juice on Bioactive Compounds and Their Bioaccessibility

Resistant maltodextrin (RMD) is a water-soluble and fermentable functional fiber. RMD is a satiating prebiotic, reducer of glucose and triglycerides in the blood, and promoter of good gut health, and its addition to food is increasingly frequent. Therefore, it is necessary to study its potential effects on intrinsic bioactive compounds of food and their bioaccessibility. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of adding RMD on the bioactive compounds of pasteurized orange juice with and without pulp, and the bioaccessibility of such compounds. RMD was added at different concentrations: 0 (control sample), 2.5%, 5%, and 7.5%. Ascorbic acid (AA) and vitamin C were analyzed using HPLC, whereas total phenols, total carotenoids (TC), and antioxidant capacity were measured using spectrophotometry. After that, sample in vitro digestibility was assessed using the standardized static in vitro digestion method. The control orange juice with pulp presented significantly higher values of bioactive compounds and antioxidant capacity than the control orange juice without pulp (p < 0.05). RMD addition before the juice pasteurization process significantly protected all bioactive compounds, namely total phenols, TC, AA, and vitamin C, as well as the antioxidant capacity (AC) (p < 0.05). Moreover, this bioactive compound protective effect was higher when higher RMD concentrations were added. However, RMD addition improved phenols and vitamin C bioaccessibility but decreased TC and AA bioaccessibility. Therefore, the AC value of samples after gastrointestinal digestion was slightly decreased by RMD addition. Moreover, orange pulp presence decreased total phenols and TC bioaccessibility but increased AA and vitamin C bioaccessibility.