399
production regulation in probiotic microbes. Degradation of intestinal mucin and
stimulation of mucous secretion was reported by Kohler et al. (2003). This regulation of mucous secretion gives an insight to host bacterial interaction, signaling, and
biofilm formation (Holzapfel et al. 1998). Quorum-sensing molecules of microbes
contribute knowledge about modulation of growth and virulence expression (Shiner
et al. 2005; Cate 2006; Mittal et al. 2006). Identification of prospective microbial
signal molecules can help with prevention and treatment of infections as in L.
reuteri, which produces a molecule with potential for downregulation of exotoxin of
Staphylococcus aureus (Laughton et al. 2006). Paneth cells of intestinal epithelial
cells are reported to be affected by Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron (Stappenbeck
et al. 2002), and Lactobacillus can induce mucin production in the epithelial layer
(Mack et al. 2003) and also reduce inflammatory responses (Kim et al. 2006).
Immunomodulation in the human system can be regulated with probiotic–enterocytes coordination. Probiotic microbes mainly act on the intestinal epithelium and
the action depends on strain and immunological factors. Appropriate biomarkers for
identification of gastrointestinal health and functioning of the immune system are
essential, and their lack prevents the improvement of the probiotic industry and the
assessment of the health aspect of functional foods such as prebiotics and probiotics. Commonly used markers of gastrointestinal health such as transit time and stool
bulk cannot fully express the beneficial aspect of prebiotics and probiotics. Available
markers are useful related to the immune system, but cytokine levels and antibody
production cannot be substantiated or predicted in connection with probiotics and
their effect in the immune system and general health. Variations between individuals form a major hindrance in such studies. This variability depends on a variety of
factors such as genome level changes, age, nutritional factors in diet, microbiota,
and lifestyle, but probiotics can be important in enhancing the health standards of
human beings (Gill and Guarner 2004). The coming era of probiotics (Lee and
Salminen 1995) is very auspicious for providing new opportunities for revenue generation and in industry for the production of diverse health supplements.
References
AFSSA (Agence Francaise de Securite Sanitaire des Aliments/ French food safety agency) (2005)
Effects of probiotics and prebiotics on flora and immunity in adults. http://www.usprobiotics.
org/docs/AFFSA
Agerholm-Larsen L, Raben A, Haulrik N, Hansen AS, Manders M, Astrup A (2000) Effect of 8
week intake of probiotic milk products on risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. Eur J Clin
Nutr 54:288–289
Aiba Y, Suzuki N, Kabir AM, Takagi A, Koga Y (1998) Lactic acid-mediated suppression of
Helicobacter pylori by the oral administration of Lactobacillus salivarius as a probiotic in a
gnotobiotic murine model. Am J Gastroenterol 93:2097–2101
Anukam KC, Osazuwa E, Osemene GI, Ehigiagbe F, Bruce AW, Reid G (2006) Clinical study
comparing probiotic Lactobacillus GR-1 and RC-14 with metronidazole vaginal gel to treat
symptomatic bacterial vaginosis. Microbes Infect 8:2772–2776
16 Probiotics
production regulation in probiotic microbes. Degradation of intestinal mucin and
stimulation of mucous secretion was reported by Kohler et al. (2003). This regulation of mucous secretion gives an insight to host bacterial interaction, signaling, and
biofilm formation (Holzapfel et al. 1998). Quorum-sensing molecules of microbes
contribute knowledge about modulation of growth and virulence expression (Shiner
et al. 2005; Cate 2006; Mittal et al. 2006). Identification of prospective microbial
signal molecules can help with prevention and treatment of infections as in L.
reuteri, which produces a molecule with potential for downregulation of exotoxin of
Staphylococcus aureus (Laughton et al. 2006). Paneth cells of intestinal epithelial
cells are reported to be affected by Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron (Stappenbeck
et al. 2002), and Lactobacillus can induce mucin production in the epithelial layer
(Mack et al. 2003) and also reduce inflammatory responses (Kim et al. 2006).
Immunomodulation in the human system can be regulated with probiotic–enterocytes coordination. Probiotic microbes mainly act on the intestinal epithelium and
the action depends on strain and immunological factors. Appropriate biomarkers for
identification of gastrointestinal health and functioning of the immune system are
essential, and their lack prevents the improvement of the probiotic industry and the
assessment of the health aspect of functional foods such as prebiotics and probiotics. Commonly used markers of gastrointestinal health such as transit time and stool
bulk cannot fully express the beneficial aspect of prebiotics and probiotics. Available
markers are useful related to the immune system, but cytokine levels and antibody
production cannot be substantiated or predicted in connection with probiotics and
their effect in the immune system and general health. Variations between individuals form a major hindrance in such studies. This variability depends on a variety of
factors such as genome level changes, age, nutritional factors in diet, microbiota,
and lifestyle, but probiotics can be important in enhancing the health standards of
human beings (Gill and Guarner 2004). The coming era of probiotics (Lee and
Salminen 1995) is very auspicious for providing new opportunities for revenue generation and in industry for the production of diverse health supplements.
References
AFSSA (Agence Francaise de Securite Sanitaire des Aliments/ French food safety agency) (2005)
Effects of probiotics and prebiotics on flora and immunity in adults. http://www.usprobiotics.
org/docs/AFFSA
Agerholm-Larsen L, Raben A, Haulrik N, Hansen AS, Manders M, Astrup A (2000) Effect of 8
week intake of probiotic milk products on risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. Eur J Clin
Nutr 54:288–289
Aiba Y, Suzuki N, Kabir AM, Takagi A, Koga Y (1998) Lactic acid-mediated suppression of
Helicobacter pylori by the oral administration of Lactobacillus salivarius as a probiotic in a
gnotobiotic murine model. Am J Gastroenterol 93:2097–2101
Anukam KC, Osazuwa E, Osemene GI, Ehigiagbe F, Bruce AW, Reid G (2006) Clinical study
comparing probiotic Lactobacillus GR-1 and RC-14 with metronidazole vaginal gel to treat
symptomatic bacterial vaginosis. Microbes Infect 8:2772–2776
16 Probiotics