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Updated: May 13, 2026

A Novel Method for the Culture and Polarized Stimulation of Human Intestinal Mucosa Explants
Published on: May 1, 2013
Regulation of intestinal homeostasis and immunity with probiotic lactobacilli
Peter van Baarlen1, Jerry M Wells, Michiel Kleerebezem
1Host Microbe Interactomics Group, Wageningen University, De Elst 1, 6708WD Wageningen, The Netherlands.
Abstract:
The gut microbiota provide important stimuli to the human innate and adaptive immune system and co-mediate metabolic and immune homeostasis. Probiotic bacteria can be regarded as part of the natural human microbiota, and have been associated with improving homeostasis, albeit with different levels of success. Composition of microbiota, probiotic strain identity, and host genetic differences may account for differential modulation of immune responses by probiotics. Here, we review the mechanisms of immunomodulating capacities of specific probiotic strains, the responses they can induce in the host, and how microbiota and genetic differences between individuals may co-influence host responses and immune homeostasis.
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