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Microorganisms
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Probiotics, Prebiotics, and Gut Microbes
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Probiotics, Prebiotics, and Gut Microbes

A special issue of Microorganisms (ISSN 2076-2607). This special issue belongs to the section "Gut Microbiota".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (29 February 2024) | Viewed by 6358

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Oleg Paliy

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Wright State University, 260 Diggs Laboratory, 3640 Colonel Glenn Hwy, Dayton, OH 45435, USA
Interests: human gut microbiota; diet; human nutrition; molecular ecology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Probiotics (live beneficial microbes) have been shown to provide numerous benefits for digestion, immunity, and nutrient absorption. Similarly, prebiotics, which are non-digestible fibers found in certain foods, act as nourishment for beneficial gut microbes, promoting their growth and enhancing gut health. Thus, the study of probiotics, prebiotics, and other gut microbes have become rather crucial.

This Special Issue aims to collate papers that highlight the significance of maintaining a balanced gut microbiome for improvement in overall health. We invite authors to submit manuscripts on topics such as the mechanisms of action of probiotics and prebiotics, their specific health benefits, their potential applications in clinical settings, the role of gut microbiome in modulating immune response and inflammation, and the complex interplay between gut microbes and overall immune system function.

Dr. Oleg Paliy
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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. Microorganisms is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • probiotics
  • prebiotics
  • gut microbes
  • host health

Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

16 pages, 1745 KiB  
Article
Investigation of Effects of Novel Bifidobacterium longum ssp. longum on Gastrointestinal Microbiota and Blood Serum Parameters in a Conventional Mouse Model
by Merle Rätsep, Kalle Kilk, Mihkel Zilmer, Sirje Kuusik, Liina Kuus, Mirjam Vallas, Oksana Gerulis, Jelena Štšepetova, Aivar Orav and Epp Songisepp
Microorganisms 2024, 12(4), 840; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms12040840 - 22 Apr 2024
Viewed by 415
Abstract
Representatives of the genus Bifidobacterium are widely used as probiotics to modulate the gut microbiome and alleviate various health conditions. The action mechanisms of probiotics rely on their direct effect on the gut microbiota and the local and systemic effect of its metabolites. [...] Read more.
Representatives of the genus Bifidobacterium are widely used as probiotics to modulate the gut microbiome and alleviate various health conditions. The action mechanisms of probiotics rely on their direct effect on the gut microbiota and the local and systemic effect of its metabolites. The main purpose of this animal experiment was to assess the biosafety of the Bifidobacterium longum strain BIOCC1719. Additional aims were to characterise the influence of the strain on the intestinal microbiota and the effect on several health parameters of the host during 15- and 30-day oral administration of the strain to mice. The strain altered the gut microbial community, thereby altering luminal short-chain fatty acid metabolism, resulting in a shift in the proportions of acetic, butyric, and propionic acids in the faeces and serum of the test group mice. Targeted metabolic profiling of serum revealed the possible ability of the strain to positively affect the hosts’ amino acids and bile acids metabolism, as the cholic acid, deoxycholic acid, aspartate, and glutamate concentration were significantly higher in the test group. The tendency to increase anti-inflammatory polyamines (spermidine, putrescine) and neuroprotective 3-indolepropionic acid metabolism and to lower uremic toxins (P-cresol-SO4, indoxyl-SO4) was registered. Thus, B. longum BIOCC1719 may exert health-promoting effects on the host through modulation of the gut microbiome and the host metabolome via inducing the production of health-promoting bioactive compounds. The health effects of the strain need to be confirmed in clinical trials with human volunteers. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Probiotics, Prebiotics, and Gut Microbes)
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14 pages, 2759 KiB  
Article
Lactobacillus acidophilus LA-5 Ameliorates Inflammation and Alveolar Bone Loss Promoted by A. actinomycetemcomitans and S. gordonii in Mice and Impacts Oral and Gut Microbiomes
by Manuela R. Bueno, Fernando H. Martins, Catarina M. Rocha, Dione Kawamoto, Karin H. Ishikawa, Ellen S. Ando-Suguimoto, Aline R. Carlucci, Leticia S. Arroteia, Renato V. Casarin and Marcia P. A. Mayer
Microorganisms 2024, 12(4), 836; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms12040836 - 22 Apr 2024
Viewed by 537
Abstract
The benefits of probiotics on dysbiotic microbiomes and inflammation are dependent on the tested strain, host factors, and the resident microbiome. There is limited knowledge on the effects of probiotics in A. actinomycetemcomitans-associated periodontitis. Thus, Lactobacillus acidophilus LA5 (LA5) was orally inoculated [...] Read more.
The benefits of probiotics on dysbiotic microbiomes and inflammation are dependent on the tested strain, host factors, and the resident microbiome. There is limited knowledge on the effects of probiotics in A. actinomycetemcomitans-associated periodontitis. Thus, Lactobacillus acidophilus LA5 (LA5) was orally inoculated for 30 days in C57Bl/6 mice infected with A. actinomycetemcomitans JP2 (Aa) and S. gordonii (Sg). Alveolar bone loss, gingival gene expression, and oral and gut microbiomes were determined. LA5 controlled bone loss in Aa+Sg-infected mice, downregulated the expression of Il-1β and upregulated Il-10 in gingival tissues, and altered the oral and gut microbiomes. LA5 increased the diversity of the oral microbiome of Aa+Sg infected mice, and Aa+Sg and Aa+Sg+LA5 oral or gut microbiomes clustered apart. LA5 induced shifts in Aa+Sg infected mice by increasing the abundance of Muribaculaceae and decreasing Bifidobacteriaceae in the oral cavity and increasing the abundance of Verrucomicrobiae and Eggerthellales in the gut. In conclusion, LA5 oral administration controls experimental Aa-associated periodontitis by altering inflammatory gene expression and the oral and gut microbiomes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Probiotics, Prebiotics, and Gut Microbes)
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18 pages, 3032 KiB  
Article
Randomised, Placebo-Controlled Investigation of the Impact of Probiotic Consumption on Gut Microbiota Diversity and the Faecal Metabolome in Seniors
by Gabriella C. van Zanten, Anne Lundager Madsen, Christian C. Yde, Lukasz Krych, Nicolas Yeung, Markku T. Saarinen, Witold Kot, Henrik Max Jensen, Morten A. Rasmussen, Arthur C. Ouwehand and Dennis S. Nielsen
Microorganisms 2024, 12(4), 796; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms12040796 - 15 Apr 2024
Viewed by 1173
Abstract
Aging has been associated with a changed composition and function of the gut microbiota (GM). Here, we investigate the effects of the multi-strain probiotic HOWARU® Restore on GM composition and function in seniors. Ninety-eight healthy adult volunteers aged ≥75 years were enrolled [...] Read more.
Aging has been associated with a changed composition and function of the gut microbiota (GM). Here, we investigate the effects of the multi-strain probiotic HOWARU® Restore on GM composition and function in seniors. Ninety-eight healthy adult volunteers aged ≥75 years were enrolled in a randomised, double-blinded intervention (NCT02207140), where they received HOWARU Restore (1010 CFU) or the placebo daily for 24 weeks, with 45 volunteers from each group completing the intervention. Questionnaires monitoring the effects on gastro-intestinal discomfort and bowel movements were collected. Faecal samples for GM characterisation (qPCR, 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing) and metabolomics (GC-FID, 1H NMR) were collected at the baseline and after 24 weeks. In the probiotic group, self-reported gastro-intestinal discomfort in the form of flatulence was significantly decreased during the intervention. At the baseline, 151 ‘core species’ (present in ≥95% of samples) were identified. Most core species belonged to the Lachnospiraceae and Ruminococcaceae families. Neither alpha diversity nor beta diversity or faecal metabolites was affected by probiotic intake. On the contrary, we observed high intra-individual GM stability, with ‘individual’ accounting for 72–75% of variation. In conclusion, 24 weeks of HOWARU Restore intake reduced gastro-intestinal discomfort in the form of flatulence in healthy seniors without significantly influencing GM composition or activity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Probiotics, Prebiotics, and Gut Microbes)
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18 pages, 4276 KiB  
Article
A New Bacillus velezensis Strain CML532 Improves Chicken Growth Performance and Reduces Intestinal Clostridium perfringens Colonization
by A La Teng Zhu La, Qiu Wen, Yuxuan Xiao, Die Hu, Dan Liu, Yuming Guo and Yongfei Hu
Microorganisms 2024, 12(4), 771; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms12040771 - 11 Apr 2024
Viewed by 575
Abstract
Bacillus velezensis has gained increasing recognition as a probiotic for improving animal growth performance and gut health. We identified six B. velezensis strains from sixty Bacillus isolates that were isolated from the cecal samples of fifteen different chicken breeds. We characterized the probiotic properties [...] Read more.
Bacillus velezensis has gained increasing recognition as a probiotic for improving animal growth performance and gut health. We identified six B. velezensis strains from sixty Bacillus isolates that were isolated from the cecal samples of fifteen different chicken breeds. We characterized the probiotic properties of these six B. velezensis strains. The effect of a selected strain (B. velezensis CML532) on chicken growth performance under normal feeding and Clostridium perfringens challenge conditions was also evaluated. The results revealed that the six B. velezensis strains differed in their probiotic properties, with strain CML532 exhibiting the highest bile salt and acid tolerance and high-yield enzyme and antibacterial activities. Genomic analyses showed that genes related to amino acid and carbohydrate metabolism, as well as genes related to starch and cellulose hydrolysis, were abundant in strain CML532. Dietary supplementation with strain CML532 promoted chicken growth, improved the gut barrier and absorption function, and modulated the gut microbiota. Under the C. perfringens challenge condition, strain CML532 alleviated intestinal damage, reduced ileal colonization of C. perfringens, and also improved chicken growth performance. Collectively, this study demonstrated that the newly isolated B. velezensis strain is a promising probiotic with beneficial effects on chicken growth performance and gut health. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Probiotics, Prebiotics, and Gut Microbes)
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13 pages, 2840 KiB  
Article
The Efficacy of Selected Probiotic Strains and Their Combination to Inhibit the Interaction of Adherent-Invasive Escherichia coli (AIEC) with a Co-Culture of Caco-2:HT29-MTX Cells
by Georgia Bradford, Behnoush Asgari, Bronwyn Smit, Eva Hatje, Anna Kuballa and Mohammad Katouli
Microorganisms 2024, 12(3), 502; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms12030502 - 29 Feb 2024
Viewed by 906
Abstract
The gastrointestinal tract’s microbiota plays a crucial role in human health, with dysbiosis linked to the development of diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Whilst the pathogenic mechanisms underlying IBD remain poorly characterised, adherent-invasive Escherichia coli (AIEC) has been implicated as a [...] Read more.
The gastrointestinal tract’s microbiota plays a crucial role in human health, with dysbiosis linked to the development of diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Whilst the pathogenic mechanisms underlying IBD remain poorly characterised, adherent-invasive Escherichia coli (AIEC) has been implicated as a microbiological factor in disease pathogenesis. These strains show an enhanced ability to diffusely adhere to and invade intestinal epithelial cells, along with the ability to survive and replicate within macrophages. Probiotics, such as Lactobacillus strains, have been identified as potential treatment options due to their abilities to compete with pathogens for binding sites and regulate the host immune response. In this study, we used four well-characterised Lactobacillus strains and their combination to test their ability to inhibit the adhesion, invasion, and translocation of a well-characterized AIEC strain, F44A-1, in a co-culture of Caco-2 and HT29-MTX cell lines representing the gut epithelium. The results demonstrated that the pre-inoculation of the probiotic candidates 90 min prior to the introduction of the AIEC was more effective in inhibiting AIEC interaction than the co-inoculation of the strains. While the individual probiotic strains greatly reduced AIEC colonisation and invasion of the co-cultured cells, their combination was only more effective in reducing the translocation of the AIEC. These results suggest that probiotics are more effective when used prophylactically against pathogens and that the combination of strains may enhance their efficacy against AIEC translocation once used as a prophylactic measure. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Probiotics, Prebiotics, and Gut Microbes)
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14 pages, 6023 KiB  
Article
Effects of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis IU100 on Immunomodulation and Gut Microbiota in Immunosuppressed Mice
by Limian Zhou, Xindi Yin, Bing Fang, Jingjing He, Jing Zhan, Xiaoxu Zhang and Ran Wang
Microorganisms 2024, 12(3), 493; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms12030493 - 29 Feb 2024
Viewed by 826
Abstract
Probiotics are live microorganisms with immunomodulatory effects in a strain-specific and dose-dependent manner. Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis IU100 is a new probiotic strain isolated from healthy adults. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of IU100 on cyclophosphamide (CTX)-induced immunosuppression in mice. The [...] Read more.
Probiotics are live microorganisms with immunomodulatory effects in a strain-specific and dose-dependent manner. Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis IU100 is a new probiotic strain isolated from healthy adults. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of IU100 on cyclophosphamide (CTX)-induced immunosuppression in mice. The results showed that IU100 significantly ameliorated CTX-induced decreases in body weight and immune organ indices. The promoted delayed-type hypersensitivity, serum hemolysins and immunoglobulin (IgA, IgG and IgM) levels after IU100 treatment indicated its enhancing role in cellular and humoral immunity. In addition, oral administration of IU100 increased serum cytokine (IL-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IFN-γ, TNF-α) levels dose-dependently, which are associated with CTX-induced shifts in the Th1/Th2 balance. The probiotic IU100 also modulated the composition of gut microbiota by reducing the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio; increasing beneficial Muribaculaceae and the Lachnospiraceae NK4A136 group; and inhibiting harmful Clostridium sensu stricto 1, Faecalibaculum and Staphylococcus at the genus level. The above genera were found to be correlated with serum cytokines and antibody levels. These findings suggest that IU100 effectively enhances the immune function of immunosuppressed mice, induced by CTX, by regulating gut microbiota. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Probiotics, Prebiotics, and Gut Microbes)
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16 pages, 3757 KiB  
Article
Therapeutic Effects of Zymomonas mobilis on Experimental DSS-Induced Colitis Mouse Model
by Manuela Maragno do Almo, Isabel Garcia Sousa, Vitor Guimarães Olinto, Sylvia Barbosa Pinhate, José Luiz de Paula Rôlo Jivago, Davi Emanuel Ribeiro de Sousa, Márcio Botelho de Castro, Marciano Régis Rubini, Andrea Queiroz Maranhão and Marcelo Macedo Brigido
Microorganisms 2023, 11(11), 2793; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms11112793 - 17 Nov 2023
Viewed by 1192
Abstract
Zymomonas mobilis, a Gram-negative bacteria observed in some popular beverages, is considered safe and has been studied for its potential therapeutic benefits. In this study, we explored its effects on the inflammatory process, tissue integrity, differential gene expression, and microbiota composition in [...] Read more.
Zymomonas mobilis, a Gram-negative bacteria observed in some popular beverages, is considered safe and has been studied for its potential therapeutic benefits. In this study, we explored its effects on the inflammatory process, tissue integrity, differential gene expression, and microbiota composition in an experimental dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis model in mice. As a result, Z. mobilis alleviated the symptoms caused by DSS administration, as indicated by reduced weight loss, disease activity index, a significant reduction in the colon weight/length ratio, and histopathological improvement. Also, Z. mobilis could restore the mucosal barrier as well as increase the expression of Muc3 and Ocln genes. An analysis of 16S rRNA sequences showed that Z. mobilis alters gut microbiota, increasing Akkermansia muciniphila abundance and decreasing Escherichia coli. Furthermore, Z. mobilis seems to be involved in potentiating a regulatory phenotype by inducing immunomodulatory genes like Tgfb, Il5, Il10, and Foxp3 and reducing the relative mRNA expression of proinflammatory cytokines TNF, Il6, and Il17. Our data suggest that Z. mobilis could alleviate disease progression and be considered a possible probiotic adjuvant for pathologies of the bowel. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Probiotics, Prebiotics, and Gut Microbes)
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