Emerging Trends in Probiotics Research For
Human Health
Hariom Yadav and Shalini Jain
Animal Biochemistry Division
National Dairy Research Institute
Karnal-132001 (Haryana)INDIA
Probiotics concept
“Probiotics are living microorganisms which upon ingestion
in sufficient numbers, exert health benefits beyond basic
nutrition.”
Intensive research area in the world……..
Probiotics health benefitsElimination of lactose intolerance
Anti-diarrheal
Immunomodulatory
Antidiabetic
Anticarcinogenic
Hypocholesterolemic
Antihypertensive
Probiotics microorganisms
• Lactic acid producing bacteria
Lactobacilli and Bifidobacterium
• Yeast
• Others
Commercially available products may contain pure and combined cultures of:• Lactobacillus
• Bifidobacterium
• Streptococcus
• Pedicococcus
• Aspergillus
• Bacillus
Probitocs consist specific microbial cultures and/ or ingredients that stimulate gut micro flora capable of modifying the gastrointestinal environment which keeps the host healthy
Probiotics attributes
Acid tolerance
Bile tolerance
Cell surface hydrophobicity
Protoplast regeneration
Antimicrobial activity
Cholesterol removal and bile salt deconjugation
Gut colonization
Lactose removal
Protease and aminopeptidase activity
Improvements for survival of probiotics
Microincapsulation : Entrapment of micro-organisms with artificial/ biological membranes/
supports/ coverings
Prebiotics : Addition of prebiotics such as inulin, fructo-oligosacchrides etc.
Other food supplements : Addition of other food additives such as fibres, vitamins etc.
Heat from pelleting and long storage of products may render the non viability of the product. For improving the survival of probiotic cultures following practices has been applied….
Prebiotics
“Prebiotics are non-digestible but fermentable
oligosaccharides that are specifically designed to change the
composition and activity of the intestinal microbiota with
prospect to promote the health of the host.”
Synbiotics
“A synbiotics is a combination of one or more probiotics
and prebiotics.”
Purported mechanisms of action
Bacteriocin
Bioactive peptides
Short chain fatty acids
Neutralization of
dietary carcinogens
Free amino acids
Organic acids
β-Galactosidase activity
Oligosaccharides
Cholesterol assimilation
Survival and adhesion
competitions with
pathogenic bacteria
Antioxidant
ImmunostimulatoryProbiotics
LAPC
IgA
Tumors
Th0
Th1
B
IL-2 ↑
IFN- γ ↑
Th2
Antibody mediated response
Cell mediated response
Viruses
TGF-β↓IL-4 ↓IL-10 ↓
+
IL-2 ↑
IFN-γ ↑
TNF-α ↑
IFN-α ↑
Natural killer cells ↑
Macrophages ↑
Cytotoxic T-lymphocytes ↑
LL
L
Immune Response
MIntestinal Epithelium
Microorganisms
BIgG ↑
IgM ↑
IgE ↓
Non-adhesive Adhesive
M = M cells of intestinal epithelium
L = Lymphocytes
APC = Antigen presenting cells
Th = T-helper cells
IL = Interleukines
TGF = Tumour growth factor
IFN = Interferon
TNF = Tumour necrosis factor
Ig = Immunoglobulin
Current trends
Anticarcinogenic: Colon, breast and others
Antidiabetic
Anti-allergic
Anti-inflammatory Diseases: IBD, Ulcerative colitis, Crohn
disease, Pouchitis and Post-
operative complications
Genetically modified probiotics
Oral vaccine development
Future perspectives
Elucidate the physiological role and mechanism of action probiotics
Extent of influence of probiotics in human health using human feeding studies
Studies on human populations for colon cancer or cancer recurrence
Validate markers used for assessing probiotic function. Testing of predictions
based on biomarker studies with actual results in human clinical evaluation is
needed. Biomarker validated in the areas of immune system, cancer and gut
microbiology is especially important. Once validated biomarkers will be useful
tools to assess the dose dependence and strain specific responses.
Assess effects of probiotics on populations and activity of gut microbes. The
application of gene based methods holds much promise in this field.
Improve reliability and ease of taxonomic classification of probiotic bacteria.
Improve strain performance and activity.
Institutes Engaged for Probiotics Research in India
Central Food Technology and Research Institute, Mysore
National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal
Institute of Microbial Technology, Chandigarh
National Dairy Development Board, Anand
Nestle Pvt Ltd, Panipat
Eat Probiotics foods, live healthy life
So…..
Eat the “good bugs” every day……….
Invite them in………..
You will find they make very friendly houseguests.
