Advancements in fluorescent labeling in assessing the probiotic adhesion capacity - A review

Adhesion capacity of probiotics is closely related to their intestinal-protective effects. The conventional techniques used to evaluate probiotic adhesion capacity have limitations in terms of imaging resolution and quantitative analysis. Fluorescent labelling technology has shown immense potential in recent years owing to its high specificity and sensitivity for resolving probiotic adhesion mechanisms. Although there are still problems with the fluorescence signal intensity and hysteresis effect, this technology has significantly advanced the accurate detection and evaluation of probiotic adhesion capacity. This review examines the critical role of probiotic adhesion and its detection methods, with a special focus on the application of fluorescent-labeling technology. Our objective was to identify more accurate and efficient approaches for evaluating the adhesion capacity of probiotic bacteria while promoting in-depth research into the underlying mechanisms that govern probiotic adhesion.