Probiotics: an update

Abstract

Although regulation is improving, more stringent definitions are still required. Evidence of clinical benefit is accumulating, although still missing in many areas. Misuse and use of products that have not been validated constitute potential drawbacks.

Relationship between the probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Enterococcus faecalis during the biofilm formation

“…rhamnosus has been of the most studied probiotic strain, and its use is considered safe (Vandenplas et al, 2015), however, the interaction with different microorganism, pathogenic or not, is still unclear. Thus, the present study is considered to evaluate if the L. rhamnosus probiotic strain would be capable to interfere with the growth of E. faecalis biofilms hindering its formation or reducing the number of cells, as well as if E. faecalis could interfere with the biofilm formation by L. rhamnosus.…”

“…The extracellular polymeric matrix prevents the host cells defenses or restraint to the penetrations of antimicrobials agents (Donlan and Costerton, 2002). L. rhamnosus and E. faecalis occupy inverse extremities in the current microbiological scene, E. faecalis is responsible for innumerable cases of infection in imunossupressed individuals, with strains resistant to antibiotics of broad spectrum, while L. rhamnosus is commonly used in probiotic therapy (Vandenplas et al, 2015;Rabin et al, 2015).…”

“…Currently, the specie of Lactobacillus most studied is Lactobacillus rhamnosus because it has good characteristics of growth and adhesion in gut epithelium and this helps in competing with pathogenic microorganisms on the gastrointestinal tract and intervening in immune system, intensifying the IgA production, stimulating the local release of interferons facilitating the antigenic transport to the lymphoid cells, thus, serving to increase the presentation of these to the Plate of Peyer (Vandenplas et al, 2015;Segers andLeeber, 2014, Gupta andGarg, 2009). In this investigation, the relation between probiotic strain of L. rhamnosus and E. faecalis during biofilm formation was analyzed.…”

Patents in the Field of Probiotics, Prebiotics, Synbiotics: A Review

“…The joint Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), World Health Organization (WHO), the International Life Science Institute (ILSI) and the European Food and Feed Cultures Association (EFFCA) all have included in their definition of probiotics, that these are viable microorganisms and when administered in sufficient numbers, confer health benefits to the host [1]. The increasing popularity of probiotics (as well as associated prebiotics and synbiotics) is accredited to the abundance of likely advantageous effects in diverse aspects of health and personal care.…”

“…Some upcoming health benefits also reported are maintenance of oral health, regulation of lipid metabolism, treatment of cardiovascular diseases, anti-allergic and anti-infectious effects, anticancer activity, application in cosmetic and personal care [2][3][4][5]. The candidate to be recognized as probiotic needs to fulfill the criteria like ability to resist gastric acidity, bile acid, and digestive enzymes, antimicrobial activity against potentially pathogenic bacteria, proven safety and health benefits in the target host along with identification up to strain level [1]. A large number of microbes are found to be suitable as probiotic strains and Table 1 gives a summary of commonly used probiotic bacteria and patents describing their uses.…”