Probiotics: Protecting Our Health from the Gut

Abstract

The gut microbiota (GM) comprises billions of microorganisms in the human gastrointestinal tract. This microbial community exerts numerous physiological functions. Prominent among these functions is the effect on host immunity through the uptake of nutrients that strengthen intestinal cells and cells involved in the immune response. The physiological functions of the GM are not limited to the gut, but bidirectional interactions between the gut microbiota and various extraintestinal organs have been identified. These interactions have been termed interorganic axes by several authors, among which the gut–brain, gut–skin, gut–lung, gut–heart, and gut–metabolism axes stand out. It has been shown that an organism is healthy or in homeostasis when the GM is in balance. However, altered GM or dysbiosis represents a critical factor in the pathogenesis of many local and systemic diseases. Therefore, probiotics intervene in this context, which, according to various published studies, allows balance to be maintained in the GM, leading to an individual’s good health.

Antibiotic Resistance to Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Potential Use of Natural and Biological Products as Alternative Anti-Mycobacterial Agents

“…There is consolidated evidence that the gut microbiota is able to modulate both regional and systemic immunity, even including respiratory immune response in the course of TB [ 58 , 59 ]. In this respect, mice deprived of commensal bacteria suffered from severe lung disease but restoration of intestinal microbiota attenuated the disease progression [ 60 , 61 , 62 ].…”

Extracellular Vesicles of Probiotics: Shedding Light on the Biological Activity and Future Applications

“…One of the first well-documented example of the usefulness of probiotics dates back to 1907, from the observations made by Elie Metchnikoff, who showed the existence of a positive correlation between the consumption of fermented food containing probiotics and the lifespan of the Bulgarian population [ 1 ]. This was the starting point for further observations of health-benefiting properties of this microbial group and the development of a powerful trend of research on probiotics in the following years [ 1 , 5 ]. After several decades of experiments, a striking impact of probiotics on the human body has been documented, including maintaining the physiological balance of microbiota, regulating the functioning of the immune system, enhancing the digestive properties of the host, and preventing or alleviating the course of many diseases [ 1 , 5 , 6 ].…”

“…This was the starting point for further observations of health-benefiting properties of this microbial group and the development of a powerful trend of research on probiotics in the following years [ 1 , 5 ]. After several decades of experiments, a striking impact of probiotics on the human body has been documented, including maintaining the physiological balance of microbiota, regulating the functioning of the immune system, enhancing the digestive properties of the host, and preventing or alleviating the course of many diseases [ 1 , 5 , 6 ]. The growing awareness of the benefits of probiotics has contributed to the exponential growth of commercial products containing these microorganisms [ 4 ].…”

Translocation and Dissemination of Gut Bacteria after Severe Traumatic Brain Injury

“…Gut microbiota comprises billions of microorganisms in the human gastrointestinal tract and exerts numerous physiological functions. Gut microbiota dysbiosis represents a critical factor in the pathogenesis of many local and systemic diseases [ 2 ]. It is reported that TBI results in the destruction of gut mucosal integrity, and the leaky gut may allow bacterial components to enter circulation [ 3 ].…”