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Advances in probiotics research: mechanisms of action, health benefits, and limitations in applications

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Abstract

The human gastrointestinal tract harbors a complex microbiota, pivotal in maintaining health equilibrium. Disruption of this microbial balance has implications for myriad health conditions. Probiotics, beneficial microbial entities, have demonstrated potential in rectifying gut microbiota imbalances, offering health benefits and disease prevention. This review elucidates the nuanced roles of probiotics, emphasizing their interactions with both pathogenic and commensal gut microorganisms. Recent breakthroughs in the identification of potent probiotic strains and their prospective applications in biomedical research are delineated. Comprehensive analyses of clinical studies underscore the safety, efficacy, and applicability of probiotics in diverse food and therapeutic avenues. As probiotic research burgeons, this review amalgamates current insights with future directions, accentuating the transformative prospects of probiotics in contemporary biomedical paradigms. The gut's microflora plays a cardinal role in nutrient metabolism, immune modulation, and protection against pathogens. Disturbances in this microflora can lead to dysbiosis, with potential repercussions for digestive and systemic health. Probiotics exert their beneficial effects through multiple mechanisms, including competitive exclusion of pathogens, production of antimicrobial substances, and modulation of the host's immune response. Their health benefits encompass not only gastrointestinal health, such as in the management of diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome, and inflammatory bowel diseases but also systemic effects in areas like immune modulation and mental health. The growing recognition of these benefits has led to a surge in the market demand for probiotic supplements and fortified foods, with research continually unveiling novel strains and applications.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are thankful to the teaching and non-teaching staff of the DST-FIST sponsored Department of Microbiology and Biotechnology (Gujarat University) for the preparation of this manuscript.

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  1. Department of Microbiology and Biotechnology, University School of Sciences, Gujarat University, Ahmedabad, 380009, Gujarat, India

    Karan Prajapati, Krithika Bisani, Harsh Prajapati, Siddharth Prajapati, Dharmista Agrawal, Sweta Singh, Meenu Saraf & Dweipayan Goswami

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KP, KB, HP, SP, DA and SS have written the manuscript. MS suggested changes and rearrangement of the manuscript. whereas DG reviewed the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Dweipayan Goswami.

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Prajapati, K., Bisani, K., Prajapati, H. et al. Advances in probiotics research: mechanisms of action, health benefits, and limitations in applications. Syst Microbiol and Biomanuf 4, 386–406 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s43393-023-00208-w

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