Probiotics are live microorganisms that confer health benefits when colonize the gastrointestinal tract. The various microbial strains are now found to provide therapeutic effects through the metabolites they produce, digestion of dietary fibers, inhibition of pathogen adhesion, provide missing enzyme, maintaining homeostasis and also controlling brain activities which may lead to autism if disturbed.

1. PROBI OTI CS THERAPY
Enhanced health and nutritional value
Sourabh Gurav
ICT MUMBAi
WHAT ARE PROBIOTICS ? Live microorganisms
(bacteria, alage, fungi, yeast) which when administered in adequate
amounts confer a health benefit on the host.The health benefit of the
hosts targets primarily on the modulation of gut microbiota . Human gut
microbiota includes the indigenous native intestinal microflora that
participates in diversified functions that improve host health.
Approximately 100 g/day of probiotic products should be consumed in
order to deliver about 109 viable cells into the intestine on a regular daily
basis. Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium species constitute the main
representatives, though other species belonging to the genera of
Lactococcus, Enterococcus, Propionibacteria, and Saccharomyces (e.g.,
S. cerevisiae and S. boulardii) are also included in the list of probiotics
mainly because of their known health-promoting effects.
Are all Microbes Probiotics ?
There are certain features which are attributed to
Probiotics only. Probiotics along with their ability to
carry beneficial function should also tolerate pH of
1.2 in stomach, 0.3% (w/v) of bile salt and the
anaerobic environment. Probiotics may also have
antimicrobial effect against other pathogens through
bacteriocins or H2O2 and most importantly able to
colonize the intestines and colon. Probiotics should
lack Lateral gene transfer ability to the pathogens
Scope of Probiotics in health
1. Production of formic, acetic, propionic, butyric, valerian,
and caproic acids through bacterial fermentation (10% of
the host?
s daily calories)
2.Digest lactose, resistant starch, oligofructose
3.improve intestinal barrier integrity by exo-Polymeric
Substances
4.Probiotics can produce vitamin B12 , esstential amino
acid
5.Bacterial induced mucin helps mucin-bound iron to
subsequently pass across the mucosal cell membrane
6.Probiotics can influence bioavailabilty & absorption of
Drugs like acetaminophen
7.consumption of L. acidophilus and Bifidobacterium
bifidumecrease increased ?-glucosidase activity which
plays role in carcinogen detoxification by releasing
flavonoids with anti-oxidative, anti-carcinogenic, and
immune modulatory effects.
8.In vitro studies using colorectal cancer cell line HT-29
demonstrated that exopolysaccharides (EPS) from nine
Lactobacillus strains induced apoptosis and G0/G1 cell
cycle arrest.
9.Studies using HT-29 cells indicated that Streptococcus
thermophilus strains (e.g., M17PTZA496, TH982)
increased folate production and showed anti-cancer
activity.
Immunity Booster ?
Probiotic genomic and proteomic studies have identified several genes and specific compounds derived from probiotics, which mediate immunoregulatory
effects. Moreover blocking pathogenic bacterial effects by producing bacteriocidal substances and competing with pathogens and toxins for adherence to
the intestinal epithelium.One of the mechanisms of probiotics regulating immunomodulatory functions is through the activation of toll-like
receptors.Probiotics-regulated intestinal epithelial cellular responses have been recently reviewed , including restitution of damaged epithelial barrier,
production of antibacterial substances and cell protective proteins, blockade of cytokine-induced intestinal epithelial cell apoptosis, and regulate intestinal
epithelial immune function, such as cytokine production. Many of these responses result from probiotic stimulation of specific intracellular signaling
pathways in the epithelial cells.
Safety concerns administering Probiotics
Bacterial translocation to sterile niches has been observed following
stroke, cirrhosis, and trauma, among a range of other conditions.
The at-risk population groups are broadly characterized by the
weakened immune system, gut dysbiosis and/or impaired intestinal
barrier, and therefore, it is important to carefully assess the safety
associated with deliberate administration of living microorganisms
(i.e., probiotics).Endocarditis due to Lactobacillus infection is rare
but considerably a serious clinical state in patients with high
mortality rate averaging 30%.Apart from bloodstream infections, few
cases of local infections including liver abscess (intra-abdominal
abscess) and pulmonary infections (Lactobacillus pneumonia) were
also reported following the clinical administration of certain probiotic
formulations.The risk of Lactobacilli and Bifidobacteria-associated
opportunistic infections is highly unlikely, however, Streptococcus
and Enterococcus that are also touted as probiotics represent
opportunistic pathogens.Till date, no evidence of hemolytic activity
has been reported for lactobacilli and bifidobacteria. However,
Enterococcus faecium, a normal inhabitant of human gut was
reported to produce a hemolysin.Hence, the opportunistic infection
risks of probiotics ought not to be dismissed.Food poisoning is a
multi-factorial health concern, of which microbial biogenic amine
(BA) is one factor. Though lactic acid bacteria used in food
fermentation are considered as GRAS, some of them produce BAs
(e.g., cadaverine, histamine, tyramine, agmatine, and putrescine)
liberating into the fermented dairy products, pickles , and beverages.
BAs are neurotransmitters and immune mediators. BAs can increase
or decrease blood flow to the central nervous system and might
trigger headaches in people sensitive to these substances.
CONCLUSION
Dysbiosis is the imbalance caused in the Gut Microbiota. This imbalance is the cause of many gastrointestinal disorders, Diarrhea, Neurogenetic disorder, obesity and even colon cancer.
The symptom of this disorders can be reduced by administering appropriate Probiotics . Current research has found many links associating imbalance between Gut- Microbiome
microorganisms which can be restored by probiotics or specific growth of microbe in the gut can be stimulated by Prebiotic uptake. Gut microbe forms essential symbiotic relationship with
humans which should be discovered more to harness the ability of the metabolites produced by bacterial genes. Imbalance of the intestinal microbiome and a decrease in the number of
bacteria producing metabolites such as SCFAs (e.g., acetic, propionic and butyric acid) are often diagnosed in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), type
2 diabetes (T2D), obesity, infections bacterial, autoimmune disorders, or cancer patients. Numerous scientific reports confirm the effectiveness of probiotics in modulating the intestinal microbiome
and their effect on the SCFAs content in the colon. Many studies, in addition to acting in the digestive system, concern the effect of SCFAs produced by intestinal microbiome on functions of distant
tissues and organs. Researchers highlight the immunomodulatory effect of SCFAs produced by probiotics, but the mechanisms of their action still need further study.