Mechanisms of Probiosis and Prebiosis: Considerations for Enhanced Functional Foods

Overview

Journal Curr Opin Biotechnol

Publisher Elsevier

Specialty Biotechnology

Date 2009 Feb 27

PMID 19243931

Citations 57

Authors

Delphine M A Saulnier

Jennifer K Spinler

Glenn R Gibson

James Versalovic

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The technologies of metagenomics and metabolomics are broadening our knowledge of the roles the human gut microbiota play in health and disease. For many years now, probiotics and prebiotics have been included in foods for their health benefits; however, we have only recently begun to understand their modes of action. This review highlights recent advances in deciphering the mechanisms of probiosis and prebiosis, and describes how this knowledge could be transferred to select for enhancing functional foods targeting different populations. A special focus will be given to the addition of prebiotics and probiotics in functional foods for infants and seniors.

Citing Articles

Health benefits, antimicrobial activities, and potential applications of probiotics: A review.

Sepehr A, Miri S, Aghamohammad S, Rahimirad N, Milani M, Pourshafie M Medicine (Baltimore). 2025; 103(52):e32412.

PMID: 39969286 PMC: 11688011. DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000032412.

Probiotic Potential and Enhanced Adhesion of Fermented Foods-Isolated Lactic Acid Bacteria to Intestinal Epithelial Caco-2 and HT-29 Cells.

Sim E, Kim S, Kim S, Mun E Microorganisms. 2025; 13(1).

PMID: 39858799 PMC: 11767436. DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms13010032.

A comprehensive review of probiotics and human health-current prospective and applications.

Sarita B, Samadhan D, Hassan M, Kovaleva E Front Microbiol. 2025; 15():1487641.

PMID: 39834364 PMC: 11743475. DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1487641.

The influence of probiotic administration on selected leukocyte subpopulations and the serum amyloid A concentration in the peripheral blood of dairy cows during different lactation periods.

Brodzki P, Marczuk J, Gorzkos H, Lisiecka U, Szczubial M, Brodzki A J Vet Res. 2025; 68(4):589-597.

PMID: 39776688 PMC: 11702246. DOI: 10.2478/jvetres-2024-0057.

Nano- as a dietary intervention in nile tilapia (): Effects on resistance to challenge immune-antioxidant responses, digestive/absorptive capacity, and growth.

Hassanin M, El-Murr A, El-Khattib A, Abdelwarith A, Younis E, Metwally M Heliyon. 2024; 10(22):e40418.

PMID: 39624274 PMC: 11609641. DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e40418.

References

Vinderola G, Matar C, Perdigon G . Milk fermentation products of L. helveticus R389 activate calcineurin as a signal to promote gut mucosal immunity. BMC Immunol. 2007; 8:19. PMC: 2045662. DOI: 10.1186/1471-2172-8-19. View

de Vos W, Castenmiller J, Hamer R, Brummer R . Nutridynamics--studying the dynamics of food components in products and in the consumer. Curr Opin Biotechnol. 2006; 17(2):217-25. DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2006.02.008. View

Galdeano C, de Moreno de LeBlanc A, Vinderola G, Bonet M, Perdigon G . Proposed model: mechanisms of immunomodulation induced by probiotic bacteria. Clin Vaccine Immunol. 2007; 14(5):485-92. PMC: 1865623. DOI: 10.1128/CVI.00406-06. View

Gruber C, Wendt M, Sulser C, Lau S, Kulig M, Wahn U . Randomized, placebo-controlled trial of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG as treatment of atopic dermatitis in infancy. Allergy. 2007; 62(11):1270-6. DOI: 10.1111/j.1398-9995.2007.01543.x. View

Ewaschuk J, Diaz H, Meddings L, Diederichs B, Dmytrash A, Backer J . Secreted bioactive factors from Bifidobacterium infantis enhance epithelial cell barrier function. Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol. 2008; 295(5):G1025-34. DOI: 10.1152/ajpgi.90227.2008. View

Gonzalez R, Klaassens E, Malinen E, de Vos W, Vaughan E . Differential transcriptional response of Bifidobacterium longum to human milk, formula milk, and galactooligosaccharide. Appl Environ Microbiol. 2008; 74(15):4686-94. PMC: 2519361. DOI: 10.1128/AEM.00122-08. View

Delzenne N, Cani P, Neyrinck A . Modulation of glucagon-like peptide 1 and energy metabolism by inulin and oligofructose: experimental data. J Nutr. 2007; 137(11 Suppl):2547S-2551S. DOI: 10.1093/jn/137.11.2547S. View

Turnbaugh P, Ley R, Hamady M, Fraser-Liggett C, Knight R, Gordon J . The human microbiome project. Nature. 2007; 449(7164):804-10. PMC: 3709439. DOI: 10.1038/nature06244. View

Champagne C, Fustier P . Microencapsulation for the improved delivery of bioactive compounds into foods. Curr Opin Biotechnol. 2007; 18(2):184-90. DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2007.03.001. View

10.

Ding W, Shah N . Acid, bile, and heat tolerance of free and microencapsulated probiotic bacteria. J Food Sci. 2007; 72(9):M446-50. DOI: 10.1111/j.1750-3841.2007.00565.x. View

11.

Berni Canani R, Cirillo P, Terrin G, Cesarano L, Spagnuolo M, De Vincenzo A . Probiotics for treatment of acute diarrhoea in children: randomised clinical trial of five different preparations. BMJ. 2007; 335(7615):340. PMC: 1949444. DOI: 10.1136/bmj.39272.581736.55. View

12.

Lomax A, Calder P . Prebiotics, immune function, infection and inflammation: a review of the evidence. Br J Nutr. 2008; 101(5):633-58. DOI: 10.1017/S0007114508055608. View

13.

Johnson-Henry K, Donato K, Shen-Tu G, Gordanpour M, Sherman P . Lactobacillus rhamnosus strain GG prevents enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157:H7-induced changes in epithelial barrier function. Infect Immun. 2008; 76(4):1340-8. PMC: 2292865. DOI: 10.1128/IAI.00778-07. View

14.

Reid G, Sanders M, Gaskins H, Gibson G, Mercenier A, Rastall R . New scientific paradigms for probiotics and prebiotics. J Clin Gastroenterol. 2003; 37(2):105-18. DOI: 10.1097/00004836-200308000-00004. View

15.

Pool-Zobel B, Sauer J . Overview of experimental data on reduction of colorectal cancer risk by inulin-type fructans. J Nutr. 2007; 137(11 Suppl):2580S-2584S. DOI: 10.1093/jn/137.11.2580S. View

16.

Spinler J, Taweechotipatr M, Rognerud C, Ou C, Tumwasorn S, Versalovic J . Human-derived probiotic Lactobacillus reuteri demonstrate antimicrobial activities targeting diverse enteric bacterial pathogens. Anaerobe. 2008; 14(3):166-71. PMC: 2494590. DOI: 10.1016/j.anaerobe.2008.02.001. View

17.

Martin F, Wang Y, Sprenger N, Yap I, Lundstedt T, Lek P . Probiotic modulation of symbiotic gut microbial-host metabolic interactions in a humanized microbiome mouse model. Mol Syst Biol. 2008; 4:157. PMC: 2238715. DOI: 10.1038/msb4100190. View

18.

Savino F, Pelle E, Palumeri E, Oggero R, Miniero R . Lactobacillus reuteri (American Type Culture Collection Strain 55730) versus simethicone in the treatment of infantile colic: a prospective randomized study. Pediatrics. 2007; 119(1):e124-30. DOI: 10.1542/peds.2006-1222. View

19.

Boehm G, Moro G . Structural and functional aspects of prebiotics used in infant nutrition. J Nutr. 2008; 138(9):1818S-1828S. DOI: 10.1093/jn/138.9.1818S. View

20.

Johnson-Henry K, Hagen K, Gordonpour M, Tompkins T, Sherman P . Surface-layer protein extracts from Lactobacillus helveticus inhibit enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157:H7 adhesion to epithelial cells. Cell Microbiol. 2006; 9(2):356-67. DOI: 10.1111/j.1462-5822.2006.00791.x. View