Review of probiotics available to modify gastrointestinal flora

Multi-Omics Analysis Reveals the Regulatory Mechanism of Different Probiotics on Growth Performance and Intestinal Health of Salmo trutta (S. trutta)

Probiotics play an important role in animal production, providing health benefits to the host by improving intestinal microbial balance. In this study, we added three different probiotics, Saccharomyces cerevisiae (SC), Bacillus licheniformis (BL), and lactic acid bacteria (LAB), and compared them with the control group (CON), to investigate the effects of probiotic supplementation on growth performance, gut microbiology, and gut flora of S. trutta. Our results showed that feeding probiotics improved the survival, growth, development, and fattening of S. trutta. Additionally, probiotic treatment causes changes in the gut probiotic community, and the gut flora microorganisms that cause significant changes vary among the probiotic treatments. However, in all three groups, the abundance of Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter, and Rhizophagus bacterial genera was similar to that in the top three comparative controls. Furthermore, differences in the composition of intestinal microbiota among feed types were directly associated with significant changes in the metabolomic landscape, including lipids and lipid-like molecules, organic acids and derivatives, and organoheterocyclic compounds. The probiotic treatment altered the gut microbiome, gut metabolome, and growth performance of S. trutta. Using a multi-omics approach, we discovered that the addition of probiotics altered the composition of gut microbiota, potentially leading to modifications in gut function and host phenotype. Overall, our results highlight the importance of probiotics as a key factor in animal health and productivity, enabling us to better evaluate the functional potential of probiotics.

Harnessing probiotics and prebiotics as eco-friendly solution for cleaner shrimp aquaculture production: A state of the art scientific consensus

In recent years, the advancement and greater magnitude of products, which led to the intensification in shrimp aquaculture is the result of utilization of modern tools and synchronization with other fields of science like microbiology and biotechnology. This intensification led to the elevation of disorders such as the development of several diseases and complications associated with biofouling. The use of antibiotics in aquaculture is discouraged due to their certain hazardous paraphernalia. Consequently, there has been a growing interest in exploring alternative strategies, with probiotics and prebiotics emerging as environmentally friendly substitutes for antibiotic treatments in shrimp aquaculture. This review highlighted the results of probiotics and prebiotics administration in the improvement of water quality, enhancement of growth and survival rates, stress resistance, health status and disease resistance, modulation of enteric microbiota and immunomodulation of different shrimp species. Additionally, the study sheds light on the comprehensive role of prebiotics and probiotics in elucidating the mechanistic framework, contributing to a deeper understanding of shrimp physiology and immunology. Besides their role in growth and development of shrimp aquaculture, the eco-friendly behavior of prebiotics and probiotics have made them ideal to control pollution in aquaculture systems. This comprehensive exploration of prebiotics and probiotics aims to address gaps in our understanding, including the economic aspects of shrimp aquaculture in terms of benefit-cost ratio, and areas worthy of further investigation by drawing insights from previous studies on different shrimp species. Ultimately, this commentary seeks to contribute to the evolving body of knowledge surrounding prebiotics and probiotics, offering valuable perspectives that extend beyond the ecological dimensions of shrimp aquaculture.

Mood and microbes: a comprehensive review of intestinal microbiota's impact on depression

Depression is considered a multifaceted and intricate mental disorder of growing concern due to its significant impact on global health issues. The human gut microbiota, also known as the "second brain," has an important role in the CNS by regulating it through chemical, immunological, hormonal, and neurological processes. Various studies have found a significant bidirectional link between the brain and the gut, emphasizing the onset of depression therapies. The biological and molecular processes underlying depression and microbiota are required, as the bidirectional association may represent a novel study. However, profound insights into the stratification and diversity of the gut microbiota are still uncommon. This article investigates the emerging evidence of a bacterial relationship between the gut and the brain's neurological system and its potential pathogenicity and relevance. The interplay of microbiota, immune system, nervous system neurotransmitter synthesis, and neuroplasticity transitions is also widely studied. The consequences of stress, dietary fibers, probiotics, prebiotics, and antibiotics on the GB axis are being studied. Multiple studies revealed the processes underlying this axis and led to the development of effective microbiota-based drugs for both prevention and treatment. Therefore, the results support the hypothesis that gut microbiota influences depression and provide a promising area of research for an improved knowledge of the etiology of the disease and future therapies.

Reproducible microbiome composition signatures of anxiety and depressive symptoms

The gut microbiome is a significant contributor to mental health, with growing evidence linking its composition to anxiety and depressive disorders. Gut microbiome composition is associated with signs of anxiety and depression both in clinically diagnosed mood disorders and subclinically in the general population and may be influenced by dietary fibre intake and the presence of chronic pain. We provide an update of current evidence on the role of gut microbiome composition in depressive and anxiety disorders or symptoms by reviewing available studies. Analysing data from three independent cohorts (osteoarthritis 1 (OA1); n = 46, osteoarthritis 2 (OA2); n = 58, and healthy controls (CON); n = 67), we identified microbial composition signatures of anxiety and depressive symptoms at genus level and cross-validated our findings performing meta-analyses of our results with results from previously published studies. The genera Bifidobacterium (fixed-effect beta (95% CI) = -0.22 (-0.34, -0.10), p = 3.90e-04) and Lachnospiraceae NK4A136 group (fixed-effect beta (95% CI) = -0.09 (-0.13, -0.05), p = 2.53e-06) were found to be the best predictors of anxiety and depressive symptoms, respectively, across our three cohorts and published literature taking into account demographic and lifestyle covariates, such as fibre intake. The association with anxiety was robust in accounting for heterogeneity between cohorts and supports previous observations of the potential prophylactic effect of Bifidobacterium against anxiety symptoms.

Assessing the protection mechanisms against Enterobacter aerogenes by analyzing aggregation, adherence, antagonistic activity, and safety properties of potentially probiotic strain Lactobacillus brevis G145

The aim of this study was to evaluate the probiotic potential of Lactobacillus brevis G145 isolated from traditional Khiki cheese, analyzing pH and bile resistance, physicochemical properties of the strain (hydrophobicity, auto- and co-aggregation), cholesterol removal, hydroxyl radical scavenging activity, adhesion ability to Caco-2 cells monolayer, and adhesion competition on Enterobacter aerogenes (competition, inhibition and replacement assays). Also, DNase, haemolytic activity, biogenic amine production and antibiotic susceptibility was investigated. L. brevis G145 was resistant to acidic pHs, bile salts, and simulated gastrointestinal conditions, and showed remarkable cell surface hydrophobicity (49.56%), co-aggregation (28.90%), auto-aggregation (34.10%), adhesion (9.40%), cholesterol removal (45.50%), and antioxidant (52.19%) properties. According to the results of well diffusion agar and disc diffusion agar tests, the highest and lowest inhibition zones were accounted for Staphylococcus aureus and Enterobacter aerogenes, respectively. The isolate did not show haemolytic, DNAse, and biogenic amine production properties. It was sensitive to antibiotics erythromycin, ciprofloxacin, and chloramphenicol, and semi-sensitive to imipenem, ampicillin, nalidixic acid, and nitrofurantoin. According to the findings of probiotic tests L. brevis G145 can be used as a in the food industry.

The Role of Probiotics and Their Metabolites in the Treatment of Depression

Depression is a common and complex mental and emotional disorder that causes disability, morbidity, and quite often mortality around the world. Depression is closely related to several physical and metabolic conditions causing metabolic depression. Studies have indicated that there is a relationship between the intestinal microbiota and the brain, known as the gut–brain axis. While this microbiota–gut–brain connection is disturbed, dysfunctions of the brain, immune system, endocrine system, and gastrointestinal tract occur. Numerous studies show that intestinal dysbiosis characterized by abnormal microbiota and dysfunction of the microbiota–gut–brain axis could be a direct cause of mental and emotional disorders. Traditional treatment of depression includes psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy, and it mainly targets the brain. However, restoration of the intestinal microbiota and functions of the gut–brain axis via using probiotics, their metabolites, prebiotics, and healthy diet may alleviate depressive symptoms. Administration of probiotics labeled as psychobiotics and their metabolites as metabiotics, especially as an adjuvant to antidepressants, improves mental disorders. It is a new approach to the prevention, management, and treatment of mental and emotional illnesses, particularly major depressive disorder and metabolic depression. For the effectiveness of antidepressant therapy, psychobiotics should be administered at a dose higher than 1 billion CFU/day for at least 8 weeks.

Effect of Probiotics in Breast Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Probiotics may have the potential to protect against breast cancer, partly through systemic immunomodulatory action and active impact upon intestinal microbiota. Given a few clinical studies on their curative role, we conducted a systematic review of the potential effects of probiotics in breast cancer patients and survivors of breast cancer, aiming to support further clinical studies. A literature search was performed using PubMed, Embase, and the CENTRAL databases from inception through to March 2022. A total of eight randomized clinical trials were identified from thirteen articles published between 2004 and 2022. We evaluated quality-of-life measures, observed bacterial species and diversity indices, probiotic-related metabolites, inflammatory biomarkers, and other responses in breast cancer patients and survivors. Results were synthesized qualitatively and quantitatively using random-effects meta-analysis. Different probiotics supplements utilized included Lactobacillus species alone (Lacto), with or without estriol; probiotic combinations of Lactobacillus with Bifidobacterium (ProLB), with or without prebiotic fructooligosaccharides (FOS); ProLB plus Streptococcus and FOS (ProLBS + FOS); and ProLB plus Enterococcus (ProLBE). We found that use of ProLBS with FOS in breast cancer patients and use of ProLBE in survivors of breast cancer show potential benefits in countering obesity and dyslipidemia. ProLBS with FOS use decreases pro-inflammatory TNF-α in breast cancer survivors and improves quality of life in those with breast-cancer-associated lymphedema. Supplementing probiotics capsules (10⁹ CFU) with a prebiotic and using an intake duration of 10 weeks could provide a better approach than probiotics alone.

Journey of the Probiotic Bacteria: Survival of the Fittest

This review aims to bring a more general view of the technological and biological challenges regarding production and use of probiotic bacteria in promoting human health. After a brief description of the current concepts, the challenges for the production at an industrial level are presented from the physiology of the central metabolism to the ability to face the main forms of stress in the industrial process. Once produced, these cells are processed to be commercialized in suspension or dried forms or added to food matrices. At this stage, the maintenance of cell viability and vitality is of paramount for the quality of the product. Powder products requires the development of strategies that ensure the integrity of components and cellular functions that allow complete recovery of cells at the time of consumption. Finally, once consumed, probiotic cells must face a very powerful set of physicochemical mechanisms within the body, which include enzymes, antibacterial molecules and sudden changes in pH. Understanding the action of these agents and the induction of cellular tolerance mechanisms is fundamental for the selection of increasingly efficient strains in order to survive from production to colonization of the intestinal tract and to promote the desired health benefits.

Probiotics media: significance, challenges, and future perspective - a mini review

The health benefits associated with probiotics have increased their application in pharmaceutical formulations and functional food development. High production of probiotic biomass requires a cost-effective production method and nutrient media optimization. The biomass production of probiotics can be enhanced by optimizing growth parameters such as substrate, pH, incubation time, etc. For economical industrial production of probiotic biomass, it is required to design a new medium with low cost. Wastes from the food industries are promising components for the development of the low-cost medium. Industrial wastes such as cheese whey and corn steep liquor are excellent examples of reliable sources of nitrogen for the biomass production of probiotic bacteria. The increased yield of biomass reduced the cost of production. This review focuses on the importance of probiotic media for biomass production and its challenges.

Graphical Abstract

Cholesterol-lowering effects and safety assessment of Lactobacillus spp. in vivo and in vitro testing for human use as probiotic from the dairy product in Egypt

BACKGROUND

The toxicity profile of lactobacilli may be strain dependent, so it should be considered for safe utilization of probiotics. Further, in vivo studies are necessary to evaluate their safety.

RESULT

The ability of various probiotic strains to hydrolyze bile salts has been confirmed without noticeable hemolytic activity. Results revealed the presence of α-glucosidase, β-glucosidase, α-galactosidase, and β-galactosidase activity in all investigated isolates, while none of the isolates produced the carcinogenic enzyme β-glucuronidase. The probiotic strains exhibited remarkable cholesterol-lowering impact. Also, we found no evidence of chronic toxicity under the experimental conditions based on gross pathological examination of the viscera and study of the spleen and liver weight ratios. These findings indicated that the investigated strains, either alone or combined with their metabolites, had no obvious adverse effect on the mice's general health status.

CONCLUSION

There is prove that the investigated probiotic strains are safe to be utilized for enhancing of the growth performance and are free of adverse side effects.

Application of Functional and Edible Coatings and Films as Promising Strategies for Developing Dairy Functional Products—A Review on Yoghurt Case

Edible coatings and films appear to be a very promising strategy for delivering bioactive compounds and probiotics in food systems when direct incorporation/inoculation is not an option. The production of dairy products has undergone radical modifications thanks to nanotechnology. Despite being a relatively new occurrence in the dairy sector, nanotechnology has quickly become a popular means of increasing the bioavailability and favorable health effects of a variety of bioactive components. The present review describes, in detail, the various processes being practiced worldwide for yoghurt preparation, microencapsulation, and nanotechnology-based approaches for preserving and/or enriching yoghurt with biologically, and its effect on health and in treating various diseases. In the case of yoghurt, as a perfect medium for functional ingredients supplementation, different gums (e.g., alginate, xanthan gum, and gum arabic), alone or in combination with maltodextrin, seem to be excellent coatings materials to encapsulate functional ingredients. Edible coatings and films are ideal carriers of bioactive compounds, such as antioxidants, antimicrobials, flavors, and probiotics, to improve the quality of dairy food products. Yoghurt is regarded as a functional superfood with a variety of health benefits, especially with a high importance for women’s health, as a probiotic. Consumption of yoghurt with certain types of probiotic strains which contain γ-linolenic acid or PUFA can help solve healthy problems or alleviate different symptoms, and this review will be shed light on the latest studies that have focused on the impact of functional yoghurt on women’s health. Recently, it has been discovered that fermented milk products effectively prevent influenza and COVID-19 viruses. Bioactive molecules from yoghurt are quite effective in treating various inflammations, including so-called “cytokine storms” (hypercytokinaemia) caused by COVID-19.

Screening of in-vitro antibacterial activity of commercially available probiotics on food-borne pathogens along with their synergistic effects with synthetic drugs

Background

Probiotics are put forward as food to ensure the maintenance of the equilibrium of the intestinal flora. Prolonged usage of probiotics in food ingredients for human as well as in animal feed has not exposed any side effects yet. Present study attempted to justify the effects of some commercially available probiotics (Good-gut, Lubenna, Probio and Protein restro) and commonly used antibiotics (Streptomycin, Gentamycin, Ampicillin, Methicillin, Azithromycin, Erythromycin, Ceftrizone, Imepenem, Ciprofloxacin and Tetracycline) on the bacteria which were previously isolated from food samples.

Methods

The anti-bacterial potential of the probiotics was aimed to be checked through the agar well diffusion method and the antibiogram of the synthetic drugs was determined by disc-diffusion method (Kirby Bauer technique). The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the probiotics were examined through broth micro dilution assay.

Results

Almost all the probiotic samples exhibited antibacterial activity against the tested bacteria within the range of 10 mm–30 mm except Bacillus spp. and Salmonella spp. The lowest MIC values 3 mg/ml was determined with Luvena for Pseudomonas spp. and Shigella spp. while the maximum MIC 20 mg/ml was recorded for Good gut and Probio against Salmonella spp. and E. coli. Meanwhile, majority of the tested pathogens were detected to be resistant against more than one antibiotic as MDR strains except gentamycin, streptomycin and azithromycin. During the combination method, the zone diameter increased remarkably with a clear indication of synergistic effects compared to their individual activity.

Conclusion

This study substantiated that the deployment of a combination of two antibacterial medications in order to combat the multi-drug resistant bacteria would rather be efficacious than the application of either antimicrobial agent alone.

Stressful events induce long-term gut microbiota dysbiosis and associated post-traumatic stress symptoms in healthcare workers fighting against COVID-19

OBJECTIVE

The microbiota-gut-brain axis is a key pathway perturbed by prolonged stressors to produce brain and behavioral disorders. Frontline healthcare workers (FHWs) fighting against COVID-19 typically experience stressful event sequences and manifest some mental symptoms; however, the role of gut microbiota in such stress-induced mental problems remains unclear. We investigated the association between the psychological stress of FHW and gut microbiota.

METHODS

We used full-length 16S rRNA gene sequencing to characterize the longitudinal changes in gut microbiota and investigated the impact of microbial changes on FHWs' mental status.

RESULTS

Stressful events induced significant depression, anxiety, and stress in FHWs and disrupted the gut microbiome; gut dysbiosis persisted for at least half a year. Different microbes followed discrete trajectories during the half-year of follow-up. Microbes associated with mental health were mainly Faecalibacterium spp. and [Eubacterium] eligens group spp. with anti-inflammatory effects. Of note, the prediction model indicated that low abundance of [Eubacterium] hallii group uncultured bacterium and high abundance of Bacteroides eggerthii at Day 0 (immediately after the two-month frontline work) were significant determinants of the reappearance of post-traumatic stress symptoms in FHWs.

LIMITATIONS

The lack of metabolomic evidence and animal experiments result in the unclear mechanism of gut dysbiosis-related stress symptoms.

CONCLUSION

The stressful event sequences of fighting against COVID-19 induce characteristic longitudinal changes in gut microbiota, which underlies dynamic mental state changes.

Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG Evaluation in Acute Diarrhea (LEAD): An Observational Study

Background and objective Probiotics with documented efficacy such as Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG(LGG) and Saccharomyces boulardii might be utilized as adjuncts to rehydration for the management of acute gastroenteritis (AGE) in children. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the potential role of LGG in acute diarrhea in the Indian pediatric population. Methods An observational, cross-sectional study [Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG Evaluation in Acute Diarrhea (LEAD)] was conducted among children aged one month to 12 years with acute watery diarrhea. In addition to standard management of diarrhea, LGG was given as an adjuvant treatment at the discretion of treating physicians based on their routine practice. Observations were documented on days one, three, and five. Outcomes such as frequency and duration of diarrhea, time to change in consistency of stools, Bristol Stool Chart (BSC) reading, and global assessment by healthcare practitioners (HCPs) and patients were also recorded. Results Of the 2,080 patients enrolled, 1,900 completed the five-day follow-up. There was marked improvement observed in the number of incidences of loose stools from day one (mean: 7.33) to day five (mean: 1.6). The mean time to improvement in stool consistency was 34 hours. The mean duration of diarrhea was 44.63 hours. A relatively shorter duration of diarrhea was reported among participants in this study. There was also a significant improvement in the number of vomiting episodes. Most patients and HCPs reported the product to be excellent/very good on the global assessment scale. No adverse effects were noted in any of the groups. Conclusion Based on our findings, LGG supplementation may be a beneficial adjuvant treatment in reducing the severity and duration of acute diarrheal episodes.

Chronic rejection as a persisting phantom menace in organ transplantation: a new hope in the microbiota?

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The microbiota plays an important role in health and disease. During organ transplantation, perturbations in microbiota influence transplant outcome. We review recent advances in characterizing microbiota and studies on regulation of intestinal epithelial barrier function and mucosal and systemic immunity by microbiota and their metabolites. We discuss implications of these interactions on transplant outcomes.

RECENT FINDINGS

Metagenomic approaches have helped the research community identify beneficial and harmful organisms. Microbiota regulates intestinal epithelial functions. Signals released by epithelial cells or microbiota trigger pro-inflammatory or anti-inflammatory effects on innate and adaptive immune cells, influencing the structure and function of the immune system. Assessment and manipulation of microbiota can be used for biomarkers for diagnosis, prognosis, and therapy.

SUMMARY

The bidirectional dialogue between the microbiota and immune system is a major influence on immunity. It can be targeted for biomarkers or therapy. Recent studies highlight a close association of transplant outcomes with microbiota, suggesting exciting potential avenues for management of host physiology and organ transplantation.

Exploring the garlic (Allium sativum) properties for fish aquaculture

The aquaculture industry's rapid growth to meet commercial demand can trigger an outbreak of infectious diseases due to high-density farming. Antibiotic overuse and misuse in fish farming and its global health consequences have led to searching for more natural alternatives such as medicinal plants. In this sense, garlic (Allium sativum) has different bioactive compounds with biological properties for animal health. Among them are the ajoene, alliin, and allicin, which confer biological properties such as growth promotion, antimicrobial, antiviral, antioxidant, and antiparasitic. Ways to use garlic in aquaculture include oil, fresh mash, aqueous extract, and garlic powder. The powder presentation is the most used in aquaculture; it is generally applied by oral administration, adding to the feed, and the dose used ranges from 0.05 to 40 g/kg of feed. Garlic has been used in the aquaculture of different species such as rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), spotted grouper (Epinephelus coioides), catfish (Clarias gariepinus), tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), guppy fish (Poecilia reticulata), goldfish (Carassius auratus), and barramundi (Lates calcarifer). In addition to its properties, garlic's usage became popular, thanks to its low cost, easy incorporation into food, and little environmental impact. Therefore, its application can be an effective solution to combat diseases, improve organisms' health using natural supplies, and as an alternative to antibiotics. This review reports and discusses plant-derived products' beneficial properties, emphasizing garlic and its usages in fish aquaculture.

Effects of Probiotics on Diarrhea and CD4 Cell Count in People Living With HIV: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Gastrointestinal probiotics play an important role in maintaining intestinal bacteria homeostasis. They might benefit people with human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS), which remains a global health challenge. However, there is a controversy regarding the efficacy of probiotics for the treatment of AIDS. This study systematically reviewed the evidence of the effects of existing probiotic interventions on AIDS and sought to provide information on the role of probiotics in the treatment of HIV/AIDS patients. A meta-analysis of studies identified by screening multiple databases was performed using a fixed-effects model in Review Manager 5.2 software. The meta-analysis showed that probiotics could reduce the incidence of AIDS-related diarrhea (RR = 0.60 (95% CI: 0.44–0.82), p = 0.001). The short-term use of probiotics (supplementation duration shorter than 30 days) did not reduce the incidence of diarrhea (RR = 0.76 (95% CI: 0.51–1.14), p = 0.19), while the long-term use of probiotics (supplementation duration longer than 30 days) reduced diarrhea (RR = 0.47 (95% CI: 0.29–0.76), p = 0.002). Probiotics had no effect on CD4 cell counts in HIV/AIDS patients (MD = 21.24 (95% CI: −12.95–55.39), p = 0.22). Our data support that probiotics were associated with an obvious reduction in AIDS-related diarrhea, which indicates the need for additional research on this potential preventive strategy for AIDS.

Probiotics, Prebiotics and Postbiotics on Mitigation of Depression Symptoms: Modulation of the Brain-Gut-Microbiome Axis

The brain–gut–microbiome axis is a bidirectional communication pathway between the gut microbiota and the central nervous system. The growing interest in the gut microbiota and mechanisms of its interaction with the brain has contributed to the considerable attention given to the potential use of probiotics, prebiotics and postbiotics in the prevention and treatment of depressive disorders. This review discusses the up-to-date findings in preclinical and clinical trials regarding the use of pro-, pre- and postbiotics in depressive disorders. Studies in rodent models of depression show that some of them inhibit inflammation, decrease corticosterone level and change the level of neurometabolites, which consequently lead to mitigation of the symptoms of depression. Moreover, certain clinical studies have indicated improvement in mood as well as changes in biochemical parameters in patients suffering from depressive disorders.

Enhancement of Live Food Nutritional Status with Essential Nutrients for Improving Aquatic Animal Health: A Review

Simple Summary

A highly nutritious quality diet that is readily accepted and digested is essential for better growth and development of aquaculture species. Most newly hatched fish and shrimp depend on live food as an important basic diet. Copepods are considered the nutritional benchmark diet for a wide range of marine fish larvae. However, Artemia and rotifers are often favored as starter feed, despite their inferior nutritional values in comparison to copepods. Therefore, Artemia, rotifers, and other live foods are commonly enriched with nutrients such as fatty acids, vitamins, minerals, and probiotics to imitate the copepod’s level of essential nutrients to improve rearing success for fish and crustacean larvae.

Abstract

At the present time, no artificial larval diet is capable of entirely fulfilling the dietary requirements of several larval fish and crustacean species. Zooplankton live food is the basic foundation of fish larviculture, and successful rearing of fish larvae still heavily depends on an adequate supply of nutritious live food. Despite being important, the production protocols of copepods and cladocerans (Moina) are still underdeveloped in hatcheries. Rotifers and Artemia are the most commonly used live foods. However, these live foods are evidently lacking in crucial nutrient constituents. Hence, through nutrient enrichment, live food with the nutritional profile that meets the requirements of fish larvae can be produced. With the aim to maximize the effectiveness of production to optimize profitability, it is important to evaluate and improve culture techniques for the delivery of micro- and macro-nutrients as feed supplements to larvae in aquaculture systems. Bioencapsulation and enrichment are the evolving techniques in aquaculture that are commonly employed to enhance the nutritional quality of live food by integrating nutrients into them, which subsequently improves the growth, survival, and disease resistance of the consuming hosts. This review aims to highlight some of the approaches and methods used to improve the nutritional quality of live food by modifying their nutrient composition, which could have immense promise in the enhancement of aquatic animal health.

Potential Probiotic Yeasts Sourced from Natural Environmental and Spontaneous Processed Foods

In the last decades, there has been a growing interest from consumers in their food choices. Organic, natural, less processed, functional, and pre-probiotic products were preferred. Although, Saccharomyces cerevisiae var. boulardii is the most well-characterized probiotic yeast available on the market, improvement in probiotic function using other yeast species is an attractive future direction. In the present study, un-anthropized natural environments and spontaneous processed foods were exploited for wild yeast isolation with the goal of amplifying the knowledge of probiotic aptitudes of different yeast species. For this purpose, 179 yeast species were isolated, identified as belonging to twelve different genera, and characterized for the most important probiotic features. Findings showed interesting probiotic characteristics for some yeast strains belonging to Lachancea thermotolerans, Metschnikowia ziziphicola, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and Torulaspora delbrueckii species, although these probiotic aptitudes were strictly strain-dependent. These yeast strains could be proposed for different probiotic applications, such as a valid alternative to, or in combination with, the probiotic yeast S. cerevisiae var. boulardii.

Effect of Dietary Probiotic Lactobacillus helveticus on Growth Performance, Antioxidant Levels, and Absorption of Essential Trace Elements in Goldfish (Carassius auratus)

In this study, we have investigated the effect of probiotic Lactobacillus helveticus CD6 supplemented into simple laboratory fish feed (LFF) and complex, multi-ingredient market fish feed (MFF) on growth performance, antioxidant levels, and essential trace element absorption in goldfish (Carassius auratus). Twenty-four healthy goldfish (average weight 3-4 g) were acclimatized and divided into four experimental diets supplemented with 3 × 10⁷ CFU/g of probiotic (LFF + Pro, MFF + Pro) and without probiotic (LFF, MFF) for 14 weeks. Fish fed with probiotic were healthy, active, and intense orange-gold as compared to control (without probiotic). At 14 weeks, fish fed with MFF + Pro/LFF + Pro showed 91/47% weight gain as compared to 34/- 12% weight observed with MFF/LFF. The average weight gain differences recorded between probiotic and control diets were not significant. No mortality to report when fish fed with probiotic. In contrast, fish fed without probiotic showed mortalities (LFF, two fish; MFF, one fish) during the trial. DPPH activity revealed high levels of antioxidants into the intestine of probiotic-fed fish. Trace element analysis showed that probiotic colonization enhanced diet-dependent absorption of Fe and Zn. The in vitro antimicrobial activity was exhibited by probiotic L. helveticus CD6 against infected fish isolate Aeromonas spp. JA showed an ability to protect fish from infections. Moreover, complex, multi-ingredient feed had a highest impact on viability of probiotic during storage. In conclusion, L. helveticus CD6 did not significantly enhance growth performance; however, it improved health and reduced mortalities in goldfish (C. auratus) regardless of the composition of the diet.

Potential effect of probiotics in the treatment of breast cancer

Breast cancer is one of the most important causes of cancerrelated morbidity and mortality in the world. Probiotics, as functional food, have the potential to act against breast cancer, as evidenced by cell-based and animal model experiments. Probiotic may be useful in prevention or treatment of breast cancer by modulating the gastrointestinal bacteria and the systemic immune system. However, large-scale clinical trials and intensive research are mandatory to confirm the in vitro and in vivo results and exploring the probiotics-related metabolic, immune, and molecular mechanisms in breast cancer. This current review summarizes the available data related to probiotics and their potential role in the treatment of breast cancer.

Effect of selected feed additives to improve growth and health of dairy calves

The aim was to evaluate the effect of different feed additives on intake, performance, and fecal consistency index (FCI) of dairy calves from 6-60 d of age and its residual effect 15 d after weaning. Fifty Holstein calves (38 ± 1.0 kg BW) were fed 5 L/d of milk plus starter feed until weaning, and corn silage and concentrate after weaning. The treatments were: control (CON), monensin (MON; 30 mg/kg of starter), probiotic E. faecium (PROB; 70 mg/kg of starter), essential oils (EO; 300 mg/kg of starter), or PROB + EO (EOPROB). Fecal score and dry matter intake (DMI) were measured daily, and animals were weighed every 15 d. A DNA extraction from feces was performed to identify the presence of microorganisms (E. coli, Hafnia, Shiguella, Lactobacillus spp, Enterococcus spp, and Enterococcus faecium NCIMB 10415) by PCR. Two 72-h digestibility trials were performed at days 20-28 and 50-56, by total fecal collection. The DMI before weaning was greater for EO (903.0 g/d) compared with MON (794.3 g/d) and EOPROB (783.1 g/d). The FCI decreased during pre-weaning for EO and MON. Average daily gain (ADG) and feed efficiency (FE) did not differ among treatments before weaning. After weaning, DMI and FCI did not differ among treatments. The EO had greater ADG (917.5 g/d) compared with CON (615.8 g/d) and PROB (592.6 g/d). The FE improved with EO (0.72 g/g) over CON (0.36 g/g), MON (0.49 g/g), and PROB (0.36 g/g). The PCR results showed absence of E. faecium NCIMB 10415 in animals fed PROB and CON. Animals fed PROB had greater intake of CP and NDF than animals fed EOPROB. The EO can be added to the dairy calf ration to improve fecal score and increase DMI. The pre-weaning FCI decrease with MON and increase with PROB.

Growth and survival of microencapsulated probiotics prepared by emulsion and internal gelation

Efficient microencapsulation of probiotics by most existing methods is limited by low throughput. In this work, Saccharomyces boulardii and Enterococcus faecium were microencapsulated by a method based on emulsion and internal gelation. The growth and survival of microencapsulated microbes under different stressors were investigated using free non-encapsulated ones as a control. The results showed that the prepared micro-beads by emulsion and internal gelation exhibited a spherical and smooth shape, with sizes between 300 and 500 μm. Both S. boulardii and E. faecium grew well and survived better when encapsulated in micro-beads. The survival rates were increased 25% and 40% for microencapsulated S. boulardii and E. faecium respectively when compared with non-encapsulated controls under high temperature and high humidity. The increases of survival rates were 60% for microencapsulated S. boulardii and 25% for E. faecium in simulated gastric juice. And the increases were 15% and 20% respectively when the survival rates of the microencapsulated S. boulardii and E. faecium were determined in simulated intestinal juice. The microencapsulation by emulsion and internal gelation offers an effective way to protect microbes in adverse in vitro and in vivo conditions and is promising for the large-scale production of probiotics microencapsulation.

One Health, Fermented Foods, and Gut Microbiota

Changes in present-day society such as diets with more sugar, salt, and saturated fat, bad habits and unhealthy lifestyles contribute to the likelihood of the involvement of the microbiota in inflammatory diseases, which contribute to global epidemics of obesity, depression, and mental health concerns. The microbiota is presently one of the hottest areas of scientific and medical research, and exerts a marked influence on the host during homeostasis and disease. Fermented foods and beverages are generally defined as products made by microbial organisms and enzymatic conversions of major and minor food components. Further to the commonly-recognized effects of nutrition on the digestive health (e.g., dysbiosis) and well-being, there is now strong evidence for the impact of fermented foods and beverages (e.g., yoghurt, pickles, bread, kefir, beers, wines, mead), produced or preserved by the action of microorganisms, on general health, namely their significance on the gut microbiota balance and brain functionality. Fermented products require microorganisms, i.e., Saccharomyces yeasts and lactic acid bacteria, yielding alcohol and lactic acid. Ingestion of vibrant probiotics, especially those contained in fermented foods, is found to cause significant positive improvements in balancing intestinal permeability and barrier function. Our guts control and deal with every aspect of our health. How we digest our food and even the food sensitivities we have is linked with our mood, behavior, energy, weight, food cravings, hormone balance, immunity, and overall wellness. We highlight some impacts in this domain and debate calls for the convergence of interdisciplinary research fields from the United Nations’ initiative. Worldwide human and animal medicine are practiced separately; veterinary science and animal health are generally neither considered nor inserted within national or international Health discussions. The absence of a clear definition and subsequent vision for the future of One Health may act as a barrier to transdisciplinary collaboration. The point of this mini review is to highlight the role of fermented foods and beverages on gut microbiota and debate if the need for confluence of transdisciplinary fields of One Health is feasible and achievable, since they are managed by separate sectors with limited communication.

Comparative analysis of the gut microbiota in distinct statin response patients in East China

Statin response shows great interindividual variations. Recently, emerging studies have shown that gut microbiota is linked to therapeutic responses to drugs, including statins. However, the association between the gut bacteria composition and statin response is still unclear. In this study, gut microbiota of 202 hyperlipidemic patients with statin sensitive (SS) response and statin resistant (SR) response in East China were investigated by high throughput sequencing to compare the gut bacteria composition and biodiversity in distinct statin response patients. Higher biodiversity was detected in Group SS than Group SR. Specifically, group SS showed significantly increased proportion of genera Lactobacillus (P = 0.001), Eubacterium (P = 0.004), Faecalibacterium (P = 0.005), and Bifidobacterium (P = 0.002) and decreased proportion of genus Clostridium (P = 0.001) compared to Group SR. The results indicated that higher gut biodiversity was associated with statin sensitive response. The increased genera Lactobacillus, Eubacterium, Faecalibacterium, Bifidobacterium, and decreased genus Clostridium in patient gut microbiota may predict patient's statin response, and hence may guide statin dosage adjustments.

The Sensory Quality and Volatile Profile of Dark Chocolate Enriched with Encapsulated Probiotic Lactobacillus plantarum Bacteria

Cocoa and dark chocolate have a wide variety of powerful antioxidants and other nutrients that can positively affect human health. Probiotic dark chocolate has the potential to be a new product in the growing number of functional foods. In this study, encapsulated potential probiotic Lactobacillus plantarum 564 and commercial probiotic Lactobacillus plantarum 299v were added in the production of dark chocolate. The results show very good survival of probiotic bacteria after production and during storage, reaching 10⁸cfu/g in the first 60 days and over 10⁶cfu/g up to 180 days. No statistically significant difference (p > 0.05) in chemical composition and no major differences in the volatile profiles between control and experimental chocolate samples were observed, indicating no impact of probiotic bacteria on compositional and sensory characteristics of dark chocolate. The sensory evaluation of control and both probiotic dark chocolate samples showed excellent sensory quality after 60 and 180 days of storage, demonstrating that probiotics did not affect aroma, texture and appearance of chocolate. Due to a high viability of bacterial cells and acceptable sensory properties, it can be concluded that encapsulated probiotics Lb. plantarum 564 and Lb. plantarum 299v could be successfully used in the production of probiotic dark chocolate.

Edible Films and Coatings as Carriers of Living Microorganisms: A New Strategy Towards Biopreservation and Healthier Foods

Edible films and coatings have been extensively studied in recent years due to their unique properties and advantages over more traditional conservation techniques. Edible films and coatings improve shelf life and food quality, by providing a protective barrier against physical and mechanical damage, and by creating a controlled atmosphere and acting as a semipermeable barrier for gases, vapor, and water. Edible films and coatings are produced using naturally derived materials, such as polysaccharides, proteins, and lipids, or a mixture of these materials. These films and coatings also offer the possibility of incorporating different functional ingredients such as nutraceuticals, antioxidants, antimicrobials, flavoring, and coloring agents. Films and coatings are also able to incorporate living microorganisms. In the last decade, several works reported the incorporation of bacteria to confer probiotic or antimicrobial properties to these films and coatings. The incorporation of probiotic bacteria in films and coatings allows them to reach the consumers' gut in adequate amounts to confer health benefits to the host, thus creating an added value to the food product. Also, other microorganisms, either bacteria or yeast, can be incorporated into edible films in a biocontrol approach to extend the shelf life of food products. The incorporation of yeasts in films and coatings has been suggested primarily for the control of the postharvest disease. This work provides a comprehensive review of the use of edible films and coatings for the incorporation of living microorganisms, aiming at the biopreservation and probiotic ability of food products.

Effect of Probiotics on Depression: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

It has been reported that gut probiotics play a major role in the bidirectional communication between the gut and the brain. Probiotics may be essential to people with depression, which remains a global health challenge, as depression is a metabolic brain disorder. However, the efficacy of probiotics for depression is controversial. This study aimed to systematically review the existing evidence on the effect of probiotics-based interventions on depression. Randomized, controlled trials, identified through screening multiple databases and grey literature, were included in the meta-analysis. The meta-analysis was performed using Review Manager 5.3 software using a fixed-effects model. The meta-analysis showed that probiotics significantly decreased the depression scale score (MD (depressive disorder) = −0.30, 95% CI (−0.51–−0.09), p = 0.005) in the subjects. Probiotics had an effect on both the healthy population (MD = −0.25, 95% CI (−0.47–−0.03), p = 0.03) and patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) (MD = −0.73, 95% CI (−1.37–−0.09), p = 0.03). Probiotics had an effect on the population aged under 60 (MD = −0.43, 95% CI (−0.72–−0.13), p = 0.005), while it had no effect on people aged over 65 (MD = −0.18, 95% CI (−0.47–0.11), p = 0.22). This is the first systematic review and meta-analysis with the goal of determining the effect of probiotics on depression. We found that probiotics were associated with a significant reduction in depression, underscoring the need for additional research on this potential preventive strategy for depression.

Multiple-unit tablet of probiotic bacteria for improved storage stability, acid tolerability, and in vivo intestinal protective effect

The aim of this study was to formulate probiotics-loaded pellets in a tablet form to improve storage stability, acid tolerability, and in vivo intestinal protective effect. Bacteria-loaded pellets primarily prepared with hydroxypropyl methylcellulose acetate succinate were compressed into tablets with highly compressible excipients and optimized for flow properties, hardness, and disintegration time. The optimized probiotic tablet consisted of enteric-coated pellets (335 mg), microcrystalline cellulose (Avicel PH102, 37.5 mg), and porous calcium silicate (25 mg) and allowed whole survival of living bacteria during the compaction process with sufficient tablet hardness (13 kp) and disintegration time (14 minutes). The multiple-unit tablet showed remarkably higher storage stability under ambient conditions (25°C/60% relative humidity) over 6 months and resistance to acidic medium compared to uncoated strains or pellets. Repeated intake of this multiple-unit tablet significantly lowered plasma level of endotoxin, a pathogenic material, compared to repeated intake of bare probiotics or marketed products in rats. These results, therefore, suggest that the multiple-unit tablet is advantageous to better bacterial viability and gain the beneficial effects on the gut flora, including the improvement of intestinal barrier function.

Assessing worldwide research activity on probiotics in pediatrics using Scopus database: 1994-2014

BACKGROUND

A wide variety of probiotic products has been introduced into the market in the past decade. Research trends and activity on probiotics help understand how these products were evolved and their potential future role in medicine. The objective of this study was to assess the research activity on probiotics in pediatrics using bibliometric indicators and network visualization.

METHODS

Original and review articles on probiotics in pediatrics published worldwide were retrieved from SciVerse, Scopus (1994-2014) and analyzed. VOSviewer was used for network visualization.

RESULTS

The total number of documents published on probiotics in pediatrics was 2817. Research activity on probiotics in pediatrics showed approximately 90- fold increase during the study period. Approximately 22 % of published articles originated from USA and has the greatest share, however, Finland ranked first when data were stratified by population or income. The most productive institution in this field was Turku University in Finland with 82 (2.91 %) articles. Half of the prolific authors were also from Finland. Most of the published research activity appeared in Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition. Most frequently encountered title terms include nutrition, infant formula, necrotizing enetrocolitis, allergy, and diarrhea. The total number of citations for the retreived documents documents was 70991, and the average citation per article was 25.20.

CONCLUSIONS

Interest in probiotic research and its potential benefits in pediatric ailments is relatively recent but significantly increasing. Bibliometric analysis can be used as an indicator of the importance and growth of probiotic use in pediatrics.

Evolution of probiotics in aquatic world: Potential effects, the current status in Egypt and recent prospectives

The increase in the human population in addition to the massive demand for protein of animal origin forced the authorities to seek for additional sources of feed supplies. Aquaculture is the world worth coming expansion to compensate the shortage in animal protein. Feed in aquaculture plays an important role in the production cycle and exert threshold on both practical and economic aspects. Feed additive sectors are expanding day after day to achieve better growth and health for fish and shrimp and to meet the potential requirements of the culturists. Probiotic proved its successes in human and animal feeding practices and recently gained attention in aquaculture; it has beneficial effects in diseases control and competes with various environmental stressors as well as to promote the growth of the cultured organisms. Probiotics have the privilege to manipulate the non-specific innate immunity among fishes, hence help them into resist many pathogenic agents and are actively used worldwide. The present review is an informative compilation of the probiotics, their mode of action and their useful effects on fishes. The review also highlights the status of probiotics in aquaculture of Egypt, probiotic recent prospective for the possible role of probiotics in fish external and internal environment.

Probiotics and prebiotics associated with aquaculture: A review

There is a rapidly growing literature, indicating success of probiotics and prebiotics in immunomodulation, namely the stimulation of innate, cellular and humoral immune response. Probiotics are considered to be living microorganisms administered orally and lead to health benefits. These Probiotics are microorganisms in sufficient amount to alter the microflora (by implantation or colonization) in specific host's compartment exerting beneficial health effects at this host. Nevertheless, Prebiotics are indigestible fiber which enhances beneficial commensally gut bacteria resulting in improved health of the host. The beneficial effects of prebiotics are due to by-products derived from the fermentation of intestinal commensal bacteria. Among the many health benefits attributed to probiotics and prebiotics, the modulation of the immune system is one of the most anticipated benefits and their ability to stimulate systemic and local immunity, deserves attention. They directly enhance the innate immune response, including the activation of phagocytosis, activation of neutrophils, activation of the alternative complement system, an increase in lysozyme activity, and so on. Prebiotics acting as immunosaccharides directly impact on the innate immune system of fish and shellfish. Therefore, both probiotics and prebiotics influence the immunomodulatory activity boosting up the health benefits in aquatic animals.

Dysbiosis of the gut microbiota in disease

There is growing evidence that dysbiosis of the gut microbiota is associated with the pathogenesis of both intestinal and extra-intestinal disorders. Intestinal disorders include inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and coeliac disease, while extra-intestinal disorders include allergy, asthma, metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease, and obesity.

In many of these conditions, the mechanisms leading to disease development involves the pivotal mutualistic relationship between the colonic microbiota, their metabolic products, and the host immune system. The establishment of a ‘healthy’ relationship early in life appears to be critical to maintaining intestinal homeostasis. Whilst we do not yet have a clear understanding of what constitutes a ‘healthy’ colonic microbiota, a picture is emerging from many recent studies identifying particular bacterial species associated with a healthy microbiota. In particular, the bacterial species residing within the mucus layer of the colon, either through direct contact with host cells, or through indirect communication via bacterial metabolites, may influence whether host cellular homeostasis is maintained or whether inflammatory mechanisms are triggered. In addition to inflammation, there is some evidence that perturbations in the gut microbiota is involved with the development of colorectal cancer. In this case, dysbiosis may not be the most important factor, rather the products of interaction between diet and the microbiome. High-protein diets are thought to result in the production of carcinogenic metabolites from the colonic microbiota that may result in the induction of neoplasia in the colonic epithelium.

Ever more sensitive metabolomics methodologies reveal a suite of small molecules produced in the microbiome which mimic or act as neurosignallers or neurotransmitters. Coupled with evidence that probiotic interventions may alter psychological endpoints in both humans and in rodent models, these data suggest that CNS-related co-morbidities frequently associated with GI disease may originate in the intestine as a result of microbial dysbiosis.

This review outlines the current evidence showing the extent to which the gut microbiota contributes to the development of disease. Based on evidence to date, we can assess the potential to positively modulate the composition of the colonic microbiota and ameliorate disease activity through bacterial intervention.