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Postbiotics as Multifunctional Bioactives: Mechanistic Insights and Translational Applications in Host Physiology and
Nidhisha Babysulatha Sasidharan1, Sreetha Hely1, Subin John1
1School of Biotechnology, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Kollam 690525, Kerala, India.
Abstract:
Postbiotics are increasingly recognized as a predominant group of biotherapeutic agents sourced from the microbial secretome, offering functional benefits, while circumventing the safety concerns associated with the application of live microbial consortia. These microbial derivatives are emerging as promising approaches for tackling complex diseases, encompassing cancer, autoimmune diseases, and metabolic disorders, through modulation of host cell signalling pathways, including G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), the NF-κB (Nuclear Factor Kappa B) pathway, and epigenetic regulatory pathways. Besides systemic effects, postbiotics may also have localized effects, such as epithelial regeneration, modulation of fibroblast functions, and control of collagen remodelling. Eventually, the scale-up in the production of postbiotics has initiated new avenues in improving sustainable agriculture and environmental biotechnology. This comprehensive review attempts to integrate mechanistic insights and translational applications, highlighting the therapeutic potential of postbiotics across biomedical and ecological domains. These observations could pave the way to bridge the gap between microbiome regulation, precision medicine, and sustainable biotechnology, thereby positioning postbiotics as a versatile tool addressing some of the most pressing health and sustainability challenges of the 21st century.
Insights
Postbiotics, microbial secretome derivatives, offer therapeutic benefits for diseases like cancer and autoimmune disorders. They also advance sustainable agriculture and environmental biotechnology.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Biotechnology
- Immunology
Background:
- Postbiotics are microbial secretome derivatives offering functional benefits without live microbial safety concerns.
- They are emerging as biotherapeutic agents for complex diseases.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the mechanistic insights and translational applications of postbiotics.
- To highlight their therapeutic potential in biomedical and ecological domains.
Main Methods:
- Comprehensive literature review integrating mechanistic insights and translational applications.
- Analysis of postbiotic effects on host cell signaling pathways (GPCRs, NF-κB, epigenetic pathways).
Main Results:
- Postbiotics modulate host cell signaling pathways, impacting diseases like cancer, autoimmune, and metabolic disorders.
- They exhibit localized effects such as epithelial regeneration and collagen remodeling.
- Scale-up in production opens avenues for sustainable agriculture and environmental biotechnology.
Conclusions:
- Postbiotics represent a versatile tool with potential in precision medicine and sustainable biotechnology.
- They can bridge microbiome regulation, health, and environmental challenges.
- Further research can solidify their role in addressing 21st-century health and sustainability issues.
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