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Probiotics, Prebiotics, Synbiotics and Postbiotics in Intestinal Health and Disease

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A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Microbiology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 October 2023) | Viewed by 8785

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Dr. Katarzyna Skrypnik

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Department of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, Poznan University of Life Sciences, Wojska Polskiego St. 31, 60-624 Poznan, Poland
Interests: probiotics; prebiotics; obesity; metabolic syndrome; dysbiosis; microbiota
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Dear Colleagues,

Human microbiota influence the health state of the host as early as parturition; however, there are some studies indicating that we may be affected by it even in fetal life. Our microbiota is sometimes named “the newly discovered organ”, as we know so little about it. The quantity of microbiota cells is estimated to be ten times greater than the number of cells in our body, yet there is evidence that these quantities are equal. In the same line of thinking, the microbiota’s mass is estimated to be between 0.2 and 2 kg. The gut microbiota creates a very complex network of dependencies, containing approximately 200 to 1000 species of bacteria, but even this number is uncertain. Its function ranges from immunity to regulation of inflammation and gut barrier to fermentation of undigested carbohydrates to the production of some vitamins to pathogens’ growth inhibition to influencing the nervous system’s development.

The current definition of probiotics developed by the Food and Agriculture Organization states that probiotics are “live microorganisms that, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host”. Probiotics administration seems to be the most efficient intervention in ameliorating the gut microbiota state. Probiotics and prebiotics directly and indirectly affect the health of the digestive system. However, little is known about the molecular mechanisms by which this takes place.

We are inviting scientists from varied scientific disciplines, including microbiologists, molecular biologists, geneticists, physicians, biotechnologists, pharmacists, dieticians, nutrition specialists and clinicians, to submit their high-quality manuscripts on molecular aspects of the association between probiotic and prebiotic supplementation and intestinal health. Original studies, as well as meta-analyses, review papers, case reports and clinical images, are welcome. We hope to present the latest knowledge on probiotic supplementation and its impact on the health of the digestive system to promote awareness among the scientific world and clinical medicine practitioners.

Dr. Katarzyna Skrypnik
Guest Editor

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Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

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Keywords

probiotics
prebiotics
synbiotics
postbiotics
microbiota
intestinal health
gut

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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14 pages, 5124 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Probiotic Bacillus licheniformis ZW3 Alleviates DSS-Induced Colitis and Enhances Gut Homeostasis

by Dan Jia, Yingying Li, Yingjie Wang, Yanan Guo, Junlong Liu, Shuaiyang Zhao, Jinming Wang, Guiquan Guan, Jianxun Luo, Hong Yin, Lijie Tang and Youquan Li

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(1), 561; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25010561 - 01 Jan 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1052

Abstract

Despite Bacillus species having been extensively utilized in the food industry and biocontrol as part of probiotic preparations, limited knowledge exists regarding their impact on intestinal disorders. In this study, we investigated the effect of Bacillus licheniformis ZW3 (ZW3), a potential probiotic isolated from camel feces, on dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis. The results showed ZW3 partially mitigated body weight loss, disease activity index (DAI), colon shortening, and suppressed immune response in colitis mice, as evidenced by the reduction in the levels of the inflammatory markers IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-6 (p < 0.05). ZW3 was found to ameliorate DSS-induced dysfunction of the colonic barrier by enhancing mucin 2 (MUC2), zonula occluden-1 (ZO-1), and occludin. Furthermore, enriched beneficial bacteria Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group and decreased harmful bacteria Escherichia-Shigella revealed that ZW3 improved the imbalanced gut microbiota. Abnormally elevated uric acid levels in colitis were further normalized upon ZW3 supplementation. Overall, this study emphasized the protective effects of ZW3 in colitis mice as well as some potential applications in the management of inflammation-related diseases. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Probiotics, Prebiotics, Synbiotics and Postbiotics in Intestinal Health and Disease)

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21 pages, 6035 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Enhancement of Immune Functions by Limosilactobacillus reuteri KBL346: In Vitro and In Vivo Studies

by Chanseop Park, Seon Yeong Ji, Hyun Hwangbo, Seung-yeon Shin, Min Yeong Kim, Kiuk Lee, Da Hye Kim, Bo-Ram Cho, Hyesook Lee, Yung Hyun Choi and Hyun Ju You

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(1), 141; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25010141 - 21 Dec 2023

Viewed by 959

Abstract

Lactobacilli have been widely used as probiotics because of their benefits for intestinal health and physiological functions. Among a variety of Lactobacillus genera, Limosilactobacillus reuteri has been studied for its ability to exert anti-inflammatory functions and its role in controlling metabolic disorders, as well as the production of the antimicrobial compound reuterin. However, the effects and mechanisms of L. reuteri on enhancing immune responses in the immunosuppressed states have been relatively understudied. In this study, we isolated an immunomodulatory strain, namely, L. reuteri KBL346 (KBL346), from a fecal sample of a 3-month-old infant in Korea. We evaluated the immunostimulatory activity and hematopoietic function of KBL346 in macrophages and cyclophosphamide (CPA)-induced immunosuppressed mice. KBL346 increased the phagocytic activity against Candida albicans MYA-4788 in macrophages, and as biomarkers for this, increased secretions of nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) were confirmed. Also, the secretions of innate cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6) were increased. In CPA-induced immunosuppressed mice, KBL346 at a dosage of 10¹⁰ CFU/kg protected against spleen injury and suppressed levels of immune-associated parameters, including NK cell activity, T and B lymphocyte proliferation, CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cell abundance, cytokines, and immunoglobulins in vivo. The effects were comparable or superior to those in the Korean red ginseng positive control group. Furthermore, the safety assessment of KBL346 as a probiotic was conducted by evaluating its antibiotic resistance, hemolytic activity, cytotoxicity, and metabolic characteristics. This study demonstrated the efficacy and safety of KBL346, which could potentially be used as a supplement to enhance the immune system. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Probiotics, Prebiotics, Synbiotics and Postbiotics in Intestinal Health and Disease)

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14 pages, 28198 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Discovery of Bacteroides uniformis F18-22 as a Safe and Novel Probiotic Bacterium for the Treatment of Ulcerative Colitis from the Healthy Human Colon

by Wei Dai, Jiaxue Zhang, Lu Chen, Junhong Yu, Junyi Zhang, Hua Yin, Qingsen Shang and Guangli Yu

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(19), 14669; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms241914669 - 28 Sep 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1261

Abstract

Previous studies have demonstrated that the intestinal abundance of Bacteroides uniformis is significantly higher in healthy controls than that in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC). However, what effect B. uniformis has on the development of UC has not been characterized. Here, we show for the first time that B. uniformis F18-22, an alginate-fermenting bacterium isolated from the healthy human colon, protects against dextran-sulfate-sodium (DSS)-induced UC in mice. Specifically, oral intake of B. uniformis F18-22 alleviated colon contraction, improved intestinal bleeding and attenuated mucosal damage in diseased mice. Additionally, B. uniformis F18-22 improved gut dysbiosis in UC mice by increasing the abundance of anti-inflammatory acetate-producing bacterium Eubacterium siraeum and decreasing the amount of pro-inflammatory pathogenetic bacteria Escherichia-Shigella spp. Moreover, B. uniformis F18-22 was well-tolerated in mice and showed no oral toxicity after repeated daily administration for 28 consecutive days. Taken together, our study illustrates that B. uniformis F18-22 is a safe and novel probiotic bacterium for the treatment of UC from the healthy human colon. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Probiotics, Prebiotics, Synbiotics and Postbiotics in Intestinal Health and Disease)

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12 pages, 11596 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Alteration of Gut Microbes in Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia Model and Finasteride Treatment Model

by Jinho An, Youngcheon Song, Sangbum Kim, Hyunseok Kong and Kyungjae Kim

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(6), 5904; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24065904 - 21 Mar 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2001

Abstract

Gut microbes are closely associated with disease onset and improvement. However, the effects of gut microbes on the occurrence, prevention, and treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) are still unclear. We investigated the alteration of gut microbiota with implications for the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of BPH and identified correlations among various indicators, including hormone indicators, apoptosis markers in BPH, and finasteride treatment models. BPH induction altered the abundance of Lactobacillus, Flavonifractor, Acetatifactor, Oscillibacter, Pseudoflavonifractor, Intestinimonas, and Butyricimonas genera, which are related to BPH indicators. Among these, the altered abundance of Lactobacillus and Acetatifactor was associated with the promotion and inhibition of prostate apoptosis, respectively. Finasteride treatment altered the abundance of Barnesiella, Acetatifactor, Butyricimonas, Desulfovibrio, Anaerobacterium, and Robinsoniella genera, which are related to BPH indicators. Among these, altered abundances of Desulfovibrio and Acetatifactor were associated with the promotion and inhibition of prostate apoptosis, respectively. In addition, the abundances of Lactobacillus and Acetatifactor were normalized after finasteride treatment. In conclusion, the association between apoptosis and altered abundances of Lactobacillus and Acetatifactor, among other gut microbes, suggests their potential utility in the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of BPH. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Probiotics, Prebiotics, Synbiotics and Postbiotics in Intestinal Health and Disease)

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Review

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34 pages, 1810 KiB

Open AccessReview

Postbiotics against Obesity: Perception and Overview Based on Pre-Clinical and Clinical Studies

by Seon-Joo Park, Anshul Sharma and Hae-Jeung Lee

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(7), 6414; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24076414 - 29 Mar 2023

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2837

Abstract

Overweight and obesity are significant global public health concerns that are increasing in prevalence at an alarming rate. Numerous studies have demonstrated the benefits of probiotics against obesity. Postbiotics are the next generation of probiotics that include bacteria-free extracts and nonviable microorganisms that may be advantageous to the host and are being increasingly preferred over regular probiotics. However, the impact of postbiotics on obesity has not been thoroughly investigated. Therefore, the goal of this review is to gather in-depth data on the ability of postbiotics to combat obesity. Postbiotics have been reported to have significant potential in alleviating obesity. This review comprehensively discusses the anti-obesity effects of postbiotics in cellular, animal, and clinical studies. Postbiotics exert anti-obesity effects via multiple mechanisms, with the major mechanisms including increased energy expenditure, reduced adipogenesis and adipocyte differentiation, suppression of food intake, inhibition of lipid absorption, regulation of lipid metabolism, and regulation of gut dysbiosis. Future research should include further in-depth studies on strain identification, scale-up of postbiotics, identification of underlying mechanisms, and well-defined clinical studies. Postbiotics could be a promising dietary intervention for the prevention and management of obesity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Probiotics, Prebiotics, Synbiotics and Postbiotics in Intestinal Health and Disease)

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