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Assessing the Viability of a Synthetic Bacterial Consortium on the In Vitro Gut Host-microbe Interface
10:24

Assessing the Viability of a Synthetic Bacterial Consortium on the In Vitro Gut Host-microbe Interface

Published on: July 4, 2018

The immunomodulatory properties of probiotic microorganisms beyond their viability (ghost probiotics: proposal of

Valentina Taverniti1, Simone Guglielmetti

  • 1Department of Food Science and Microbiology (DiSTAM), Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 2, 20133, Milan, Italy.

Genes & Nutrition
|April 19, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Inactivated microbes, or paraprobiotics, offer a safe alternative to live probiotics for managing inflammatory and allergic diseases by modulating immune responses. This review explores their health benefits and proposes the term paraprobiotic.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Microbiology
  • Gastroenterology

Background:

  • Probiotics, live microorganisms conferring health benefits, are explored for inflammatory and allergic diseases.
  • Safety concerns and shelf-life issues with live probiotics drive interest in non-viable alternatives.
  • Dead microbial cells or extracts offer potential benefits without risks of live microbial use.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review literature on health-promoting effects of inactivated microbial cells and fractions.
  • To examine the modulation of host immune responses by these agents.
  • To propose a new term for inactivated probiotics.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies using dead microbial cells or crude microbial fractions.
  • Analysis of immune response modulation.
  • Discussion of proposed mechanisms of action.

Main Results:

  • Inactivated microbial cells and fractions demonstrate health benefits.
  • These agents modulate host immune responses.
  • The term 'paraprobiotic' is proposed for inactivated microbial preparations.

Conclusions:

  • Paraprobiotics represent a safe and effective strategy for health promotion.
  • Further research into paraprobiotics is warranted.
  • The term 'paraprobiotic' clarifies the use of inactivated microbes for health benefits.

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