Impact of Probiotics on the Prevention and Treatment of Gastrointestinal Diseases in the Pediatric Population

Human milk fat globule delivers entrapped probiotics to the infant's gut and acts synergistically to ameliorate oxidative and pathogenic stress

The human milk fat globule membrane (hMFGM) and Lactobacillus modulate the infant's gut and benefit health. Hence, the current study assesses the probiotic potential of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum (MRK3), Limosilactobacillus ferementum (MK1) isolated from infant feces, and its interaction with hMFGM during conditions mimicking infant digestive tract. Both strains showed high tolerance to gastrointestinal conditions, cell surface hydrophobicity, and strong anti-pathogen activity against Staphylococcus aureus. During digestion, hMFGM significantly exhibited xanthine oxidase activity, membrane roughness, and surface topography. In the presence of hMFGM, survival of MRK3 was higher than MK1, and electron microscopic observation revealed successful entrapment of MRK3 in the membrane matrix throughout digestion. Interestingly, probiotic-membrane matrix interaction showed significant synergy to alleviate oxidative stress and damage induced by cell-free supernatant of Escherichia coli in Caco-2 cells. Our results show that a probiotic-encapsulated membrane matrix potentially opens the functional infant formula development pathway.

Next-Generation Probiotics and Chronic Diseases: A Review of Current Research and Future Directions

The burgeoning field of microbiome research has profoundly reshaped our comprehension of human health, particularly highlighting the potential of probiotics and fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) as therapeutic interventions. While the benefits of traditional probiotics are well-recognized, the efficacy and mechanisms remain ambiguous, and FMT's long-term effects are still being investigated. Recent advancements in high-throughput sequencing have identified gut microbes with significant health benefits, paving the way for next-generation probiotics (NGPs). These NGPs, engineered through synthetic biology and bioinformatics, are designed to address specific disease states with enhanced stability and viability. This review synthesizes current research on NGP stability, challenges in delivery, and their applications in preventing and treating chronic diseases such as diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular diseases. We explore the physiological characteristics, safety profiles, and mechanisms of action of various NGP strains while also addressing the challenges and opportunities presented by their integration into clinical practice. The potential of NGPs to revolutionize microbiome-based therapies and improve clinical outcomes is immense, underscoring the need for further research to optimize their efficacy and ensure their safety.

Placebo-resistant gut bacteria: Akkermansia muciniphila spp. and Familial Mediterranean fever disease

Introduction

Despite numerous investigations into the impact of drugs/probiotics on the gut microbiota composition in Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) patients, the question as to whether there exists a significant bacterial diversity(ies) independent of the placebo effect that can be reliably considered in clinical and nutritional trials remains unresolved.

Methods

This study represents the in augural analysis of the placebo's influence on the gut microbiota of both healthy individuals and FMF afflicted men, utilizing previously collected data from PhyloChip™ DNA microarray experiments. A total of 15 healthy and 15 FMF male volunteers, aged 18 to 50, participated in this partially randomized placebo trial, which is accessible through the GEO Series accession number GSE111835.

Results and Discussion

Key findings from current investigations include i. the anticipated divergence in gut bacteria resistance to placebo between healthy and FMF individuals, ii. the minor impact of placebo on gut bacterial diversities in healthy individuals, with Enterobacteriaceae diversities identified as placebo-resistant among "healthy" gut bacteria, and iii. the comprehensive influence of placebo on all bacterial phyla in the gut microbiome of FMF patients, extending to nearly all bacterial genera, except for the resilience of gut Akkermansia muciniphila spp. to placebo in FMF patients. This study underscores the susceptibility of Faecalibacterium, Blautia, and Clostridium genera to placebo. Consequently, this investigation holds significance for the proper design of placebo-controlled trials and establishes a foundation for further exploration of the gut-brain axis. Furthermore, it contributes valuable insights to discussions regarding proposals for probiotic therapies, particularly focusing on Faecalibacterium spp., Blautia spp., and Clostridium spp.