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Updated: May 25, 2026

Microbiota Analysis Using Two-step PCR and Next-generation 16S rRNA Gene Sequencing
Published on: October 15, 2019
Gut microbiota and inflammation
1Food Hygiene, Division of Applied Nutrition, Department of Food Technology, Engineering and Nutrition, Lund University, PO Box 124, SE-22100 Lund, Sweden.
This review explores how gut microbiota and probiotics impact inflammation. It highlights that different probiotic strains may elicit varied responses in humans, a factor often overlooked in clinical trial outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Immunology
- Gastroenterology
Background:
- The human gastro-intestinal (GI) tract harbors a complex resident microbiota.
- Systemic and local inflammation are influenced by this microbiota.
- Probiotic administration is a key area of investigation in modulating GI health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the role of resident gut microbiota and probiotics in inflammation.
- To focus on human clinical trials examining probiotic applications.
- To discuss the impact of genomic differences in probiotics on human responses.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of human clinical trials on probiotics and inflammation.
- Analysis of the impact of dominating gut taxa on inflammatory processes.
- Consideration of various probiotic applications including immune-modulation, metabolic syndrome, liver injury, inflammatory bowel disease, colorectal cancer, and radiation-induced enteritis.
Main Results:
- Dominating gut taxa can either aggravate or suppress inflammation.
- Probiotics show potential applications in systemic immune-modulation and various GI-related conditions.
- Human responses to probiotics can differ significantly based on species and strain, due to genomic variations.
Conclusions:
- Understanding the interplay between gut microbiota, inflammation, and probiotics is crucial for GI health.
- Clinical trial outcomes with probiotics should account for strain-specific genomic differences.
- Further research into strain-specific probiotic efficacy is warranted for targeted therapeutic applications.
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