Shaping the Future of Probiotics: Novel Methodologies, Applications, and Mechanisms of Action, 2nd Edition

A special issue of Microorganisms (ISSN 2076-2607). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Microbiology and Immunology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 February 2025 | Viewed by 5102

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Democritus University of Thrace, 68100 Alexandroupolis, Greece
Interests: probiotics; microbiota; microbiome; beneficial microbes; multi-omics; lactic acid bacteria
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue is the continuation of our previous special issue "Shaping the Future of Probiotics: Novel Methodologies, Applications, and Mechanisms of Action".

Probiotics are defined as live microorganisms with health-promoting properties. Their beneficial activities may include anti-inflammatory, immunostimulatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial and antibiofilm actions, that can be exerted in a strain-specific manner. Viable probiotic cells or their metabolites can induce these effects and influence gut homeostasis by manipulating the structure and function of the intestinal microbiota. Secreted bioactive compounds can also reach remote sites, such as the central nervous system (gut-brain axis) and affect their physiology. In vitro and in vivo experimental models, in addition to clinical studies, assess the efficacy of probiotics and elucidate their mechanisms of action. Additionally, the incorporation of omics platforms and bioinformatic pipelines streamlines the systematic study of these interactions with the gut microbiota and the host in multiple layers (e.g., transcriptomic, proteomic, metabolomic, metagenomic levels). These tools also facilitate the detailed study of the biology, phylogeny, and metabolic properties of the strains, aiming to provide mechanistic insights into their properties. This knowledge is crucial for novel applications of probiotics in the food and pharmaceutical industries, refining the concept of disease-, person- and strain-specific supplementation.

As Guest Editor of this Special Issue, Ι would like to invite you to submit original research articles, review articles, and short communications dealing with different aspects of probiotic activity, novel methodologies to study probiotic-host interactions, probiotic-related health benefits, as well as innovative applications of probiotics in the food and pharmaceutical industries.

Dr. Alex Galanis
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • probiotics
  • microbiota
  • microbiome
  • transcriptomics
  • proteomics
  • metabolomics
  • genomics
  • in vitro studies
  • animal models
  • clinical trials
  • mechanisms of action
  • health benefits
  • functional foods

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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13 pages, 2493 KiB  
Article
Probio-Ichnos: A Database of Microorganisms with In Vitro Probiotic Properties
by Margaritis Tsifintaris, Despoina Eugenia Kiousi, Panagiotis Repanas, Christina S. Kamarinou, Ioannis Kavakiotis and Alex Galanis
Microorganisms 2024, 12(10), 1955; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms12101955 - 27 Sep 2024
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Abstract
Probiotics are live microorganisms that, when consumed in adequate amounts, exert health benefits on the host by regulating intestinal and extraintestinal homeostasis. Common probiotic microorganisms include lactic acid bacteria (LAB), yeasts, and Bacillus species. Here, we present Probio-ichnos, the first manually curated, literature-based [...] Read more.
Probiotics are live microorganisms that, when consumed in adequate amounts, exert health benefits on the host by regulating intestinal and extraintestinal homeostasis. Common probiotic microorganisms include lactic acid bacteria (LAB), yeasts, and Bacillus species. Here, we present Probio-ichnos, the first manually curated, literature-based database that collects and comprehensively presents information on the microbial strains exhibiting in vitro probiotic characteristics (i.e., resistance to acid and bile, attachment to host epithelia, as well as antimicrobial, immunomodulatory, antiproliferative, and antioxidant activity), derived from human, animal or plant microbiota, fermented dairy or non-dairy food products, and environmental sources. Employing a rigorous methodology, we conducted a systematic search of the PubMed database utilizing the keyword ‘probiotic’ within the abstracts or titles, resulting in a total of 27,715 studies. Upon further manual filtering, 2207 studies presenting in vitro experiments and elucidating strain-specific probiotic attributes were collected and used for data extraction. The Probio-ichnos database consists of 12,993 entries on the in vitro probiotic characteristics of 11,202 distinct strains belonging to 470 species and 143 genera. Data are presented using a binary categorization approach for the presence of probiotic attributes according to the authors’ conclusions. Additionally, information about the availability of the whole-genome sequence (WGS) of strains is included in the database. Overall, the Probio-ichnos database aims to streamline the navigation of the available literature to facilitate targeted validation and comparative investigation of the probiotic properties of the microbial strains. Full article
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Review

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29 pages, 3674 KiB  
Review
Global Trends and Scientific Impact of Topical Probiotics in Dermatological Treatment and Skincare
by Ademilton Costa Alves, Sergio Murilo da Silva Braga Martins, Jr., José Victor Trindade Belo, Mauro Victor Castro Lemos, Carlos Emanuel de Matos Chaves Lima, Carlos Drielson da Silva, Adrielle Zagmignan and Luís Cláudio Nascimento da Silva
Microorganisms 2024, 12(10), 2010; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms12102010 - 3 Oct 2024
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Abstract
The skin plays a crucial role in maintaining homeostasis and protecting against external aggressors. Recent research has highlighted the potential of probiotics and postbiotics in dermatological treatments and skincare. These beneficial microorganisms interact with the skin microbiota, modulate the immune response, and enhance [...] Read more.
The skin plays a crucial role in maintaining homeostasis and protecting against external aggressors. Recent research has highlighted the potential of probiotics and postbiotics in dermatological treatments and skincare. These beneficial microorganisms interact with the skin microbiota, modulate the immune response, and enhance the skin barrier, offering a promising therapeutic avenue for various skin conditions, such as acne, dermatitis, eczema, and psoriasis. This bibliometric study aims to analyze the global trends and scientific impact of topical probiotics in dermatology. By reviewing 106 articles published between 2013 and 2023, the study categorizes the applications of probiotics in wound healing, inflammatory skin diseases, and general skincare. The findings indicate a significant increase in publications from 2021 onwards, attributed to the heightened focus on medical research during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study also identifies the most productive countries, institutions, and authors in this field, highlighting the importance of international collaborations. The results underscore the efficacy of probiotic-based topical formulations in improving skin health, reducing inflammation, and enhancing wound healing. This comprehensive analysis supports the development of new therapeutic strategies based on topical probiotics and encourages high-quality research in this promising area. Full article
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17 pages, 1990 KiB  
Review
The Function of Probiotics and Prebiotics on Canine Intestinal Health and Their Evaluation Criteria
by Junliang Xia, Yuling Cui, Yan Guo, Yuwen Liu, Baichuan Deng and Sufang Han
Microorganisms 2024, 12(6), 1248; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms12061248 - 20 Jun 2024
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Abstract
Maintaining homeostasis within the intestinal microbiota is imperative for assessing the health status of hosts, and dysbiosis within the intestinal microbiota is closely associated with canine intestinal diseases. In recent decades, the modulation of canine intestinal health through probiotics and prebiotics has emerged [...] Read more.
Maintaining homeostasis within the intestinal microbiota is imperative for assessing the health status of hosts, and dysbiosis within the intestinal microbiota is closely associated with canine intestinal diseases. In recent decades, the modulation of canine intestinal health through probiotics and prebiotics has emerged as a prominent area of investigation. Evidence indicates that probiotics and prebiotics play pivotal roles in regulating intestinal health by modulating the intestinal microbiota, fortifying the epithelial barrier, and enhancing intestinal immunity. This review consolidates literature on using probiotics and prebiotics for regulating microbiota homeostasis in canines, thereby furnishing references for prospective studies and formulating evaluation criteria. Full article
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