Selected topics in probiotics and prebiotics: meeting report for the 2004 international scientific association for probiotics and prebiotics

On August 29-31, 2004, 84 academic and industry scientists from 16 countries gathered in Copper Mountain, Colorado USA to discuss certain issues at the forefront of the science of probiotics and prebiotics. The format for this invitation only meeting included six featured lectures: engineering human vaginal lactobacilli to express HIV-inhibitory molecules (Peter Lee, Stanford University), programming the gut for health (Thaddeus Stappenbeck, Washington University School of Medicine), immune modulation by intestinal helminthes (Joel Weinstock, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics), hygiene as a cause of autoimmune disorders (G. A. Rook, University College London), prebiotics and bone health (Connie Weaver, Purdue University) and prebiotics and colorectal cancer risk (Ian Rowland, Northern Ireland Centre for Food and Health). In addition, all participants were included in one of eight discussion groups on the topics of engineered probiotics, host-commensal bacteria communication, 'omics' technologies, hygiene and immune regulation, biomarkers for healthy people, prebiotic and probiotic applications to companion animals, development of a probiotic dossier, and physiological relevance of prebiotic activity. Brief conclusions from these discussion groups are summarized in this paper.     

Diet and bacterial colonization: role of probiotics and prebiotics

The intestinal mucosa functions as a defensive barrier that limits dietary antigen transport and microbial pathogens from colonizing enterocytes. The potential role of lactic acid bacteria, specifically Bifidobacteria, in probiotic and prebiotic functional food supplements is reviewed in the context of bacterial colonization, adherence, and disease prevention. This article reviews the mechanisms of action and optimization of methods that will lead to a new generation of biotic products with enhanced biologic properties and well-being foods.     

Ecological and molecular perspectives on responders and non-responders to probiotics and prebiotics

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益生菌，益生元对肥胖的治疗及其机制的研究进展

肥胖是继心脑血管疾病和癌症之后威胁全人类健康第三大疾病,全球有40%的成年人面临肥胖和超重困扰。中国肥胖人数成人已达到世界第二,儿童达到了世界第一,并且儿童期肥胖极大可能发展为成年期肥胖。研究表明肠道微生物可能是众多导致代谢紊乱的因素之一,这些紊乱会导致肥胖、β细胞功能紊乱、代谢内毒素血症、全身炎症和氧化应激。近年来,应用微生态制剂（益生菌和益生元）治疗肥胖已成为研究热点,本文主要围绕肥胖人群肠道菌群特点以及益生菌、益生元对肥胖的干预作用进行综述,以期为以后相关研究提供参考。     

合成抗原在麻风检测中的评价

目的进一步评价ND-O-BSA-ELISA(ND-ELISA)在麻风血清检测中的敏感性和特异性,并探讨麻风血清检测吸光度(A)值与细菌指数(BI)之间的关系。方法用ND-ELISA检测血清中的抗ND-O-BSA的IgM和IgG类抗体,做图显示血清学活性与细菌指数的关系。结果 (1)ND-IgM-ELISA中,正常对照阴性率为97.5%,多菌型患者(MB)阳性率为100.0%,少菌型患者(PB)阳性率为90.0%,总患者阳性率为96.2%;妊娠个体、银屑病患者、结核病患者、结缔组织病患者及梅毒患者阳性率都为0.0%。(2)ND-IgG-ELISA中,正常人阴性率为83.8%,多菌型患者阳性率为94.0%,少菌型患者阳性率为63.3%,总患者阳性率为82.5%;妊娠个体、银屑病患者、结核病患者、结缔组织病患者及梅毒患者血清出现有阳性反应。(3)随着细菌指数的增高,血清学检测A值也增高。(4)ND-IgMELISA的阳性及阴性预测值均高于ND-IgG-ELISA。结论 ND-IgM-ELISA的敏感性和特异性均明显高于ND-IgG-ELISA,有筛查及取代查菌方法用于早期检测麻风菌感染以及评价麻风化疗,预测复发,检测麻风菌亚临床感染等的潜景,值得进一步扩大样本深入研究证实。     

A meta-analysis reveals the effectiveness of probiotics and prebiotics against respiratory viral infection

Experimental experience suggests that microbial agents including probiotics and prebiotics (representative microbial agents) play a critical role in defending against respiratory virus infection. We aim to systematically examine these agents’ effect on respiratory viral infection and encourage research into clinical applications. An electronic literature search was conducted from published data with a combination of a microbial agents search component containing synonyms for microbial agents-related terms and a customized search component for respiratory virus infection. Hazard ratio (HR), risk ratio (RR) and standard deviation (SD) were employed as effect estimates. In 45 preclinical studies, the mortality rates decreased in the respiratory viral infection models that included prebiotics or prebiotics as interventions (HR: 0.70; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.56–0.87; P=0.002). There was a significant decrease in viral load due to improved gut microbiota (SD: −1.22; 95% CI: −1.50 to −0.94; P<0.001). Concentrations of interferon (IFN)-α (SD: 1.05; 95% CI: 0.33–1.77; P=0.004), IFN-γ (SD: 0.83; 95% CI: 0.01–1.65; P=0.05) and interleukin (IL)-12 (SD: 2.42; 95% CI: 0.32–4.52; P=0.02), IL-1β (SD: 0.01; 95% CI: −0.37 to 0.40; P=0.94) increased, whereas those of TNF-α (SD: −0.58; 95% CI: −1.59 to 0.43; P=0.26) and IL-6 (SD: −0.59; 95% CI: −1.24 to 0.07; P=0.08) decreased. Six clinical studies had lower symptom scores (SD: −0.09; 95% CI: −0.44 to 0.26; P=0.61) and less incidence of infection (RR: 0.80; 95% CI: 0.64–1.01; P=0.06). Our research indicates that probiotics and prebiotics pose a defensive possibility on respiratory viral infection and may encourage the clinical application.     

A review on prebiotics and probiotics for the control of dysbiosis: present status and future perspectives

Dysbiosis or dysbacteriosis is defined as a shift in the intestinal microbiota composition resulting in an imbalance between beneficial and harmful bacteria. Since the ban on the use of growth-promoting antibiotics in animal feed in the EU, dysbiosis has emerged as a major problem in intensive animal production. Prebiotics and probiotics are currently under investigation as possible alternatives to growth-promoting antibiotics, as their mode of action is thought to be based largely on a modulation of the composition and function of the intestinal microbiota. In this review, we analyse the currently available data from both animal and human nutrition that document the potential and limitations of prebiotics and probiotics for the control of dysbiosis. An impressive number of empirical feeding trials have been carried out in healthy animals, yielding sometimes contradictory results. More in-depth studies have revealed the complexity of the interactions taking place in the lower intestinal tract, thus illustrating that pre- and probiotics cannot be a simple replacement for growth-promoting antibiotics. Although there are indications that the strategic use of pre- and probiotics can provide major benefits, there is still a lack of basic knowledge on the delicate interactions between the microbiota, the host and the feed components, which hampers the widespread use of these valuable feed additives.     

益生菌以及益生元在肥胖及其代谢综合征中的潜在作用

肥胖以及相关的代谢综合征已经成为全球性的公共健康问题。大量的研究表明,肥胖形成以及减肥过程均与肠道菌群密切相关且相互影响。肠道菌群以及弱炎症反应成为肥胖以及相关代谢综合征的两大重要影响因素。本文综述了近几年来,肠道菌群失调对宿主能量储存以及新陈代谢的影响,以及弱炎症反应对肥胖引起的代谢综合征的影响。大量的研究证明,益生元有助于益生菌的生长,而益生菌可以调节肠道菌群以及改善肠道内弱炎症反应,借助于益生菌以及益生元的方法也许能为由肠道菌群失调以及弱炎症反应引起的肥胖及其代谢综合征提供一种新的治疗方法。     

Effects of consumption of probiotics and prebiotics on serum lipid levels in humans

The objective of this article is to review existing studies concerning the effects of probiotics and prebiotics on serum cholesterol concentrations, with particular attention on the possible mechanisms of their action. Although not without exception, results from animal and human studies suggest a moderate cholesterol-lowering action of dairy products fermented with appropriate strain(s) of lactic acid bacteria and bifidobacteria. Mechanistically, probiotic bacteria ferment food-derived indigestible carbohydrates to produce short-chain fatty acids in the gut, which can then cause a decrease in the systemic levels of blood lipids by inhibiting hepatic cholesterol synthesis and/or redistributing cholesterol from plasma to the liver. Furthermore, some bacteria may interfere with cholesterol absorption from the gut by deconjugating bile salts and therefore affecting the metabolism of cholesterol, or by directly assimilating cholesterol. For prebiotic substances, the majority of studies have been done with the fructooligosaccharides inulin and oligofructose, and although convincing lipid-lowering effects have been observed in animals, high dose levels had to be used. Reports in humans are few in number. In studies conducted in normal-lipidemic subjects, two reported no effect of inulin or oligofructose on serum lipids, whereas two others reported a significant reduction in serum triglycerides (19 and 27%, respectively) with more modest changes in serum total and LDL cholesterol. At present, data suggest that in hyperlipidemic subjects, any effects that do occur result primarily in reductions in cholesterol, whereas in normal lipidemic subjects, effects on serum triglycerides are the dominant feature.     

益生菌及益生元调节骨代谢的研究进展

骨质疏松症已成为威胁中老年人健康的主要疾病之一,越来越多的人受到该病症的危害.肠道菌群是定殖在机体肠道内,与宿主形成共生关系的微生物,对宿主的免疫及代谢等产生重要影响,研究发现,肠道菌群与骨代谢之间存在密切关系,本文从肠道菌群与免疫、骨代谢与免疫、肠道菌群与骨代谢、益生菌及益生元调节骨代谢等几个方面阐述,肠道菌群有望成为骨质疏松症治疗的一个新靶点,通过益生菌或益生元来干预肠道菌群组成,进而调节免疫系统状态,抑制促炎因子的生成,从而降低骨吸收作用,达到预防和治疗骨质疏松症的目的.     

益生菌、益生元和后生元对食物过敏的影响和作用机制

食物过敏(food allergy,FA)的发病率在近二十年来持续上升,已经严重影响患者的生活质量.生命早期接触外源性抗原少而导致的免疫耐受限制是FA的主要原因.微生物-宿主的相互作用与FA密切相关,健康的微生物菌群促进宿主在生命早期建立成熟的免疫系统,减少FA的易感性,因此,改善肠道菌群和调节机体免疫在治疗FA中至关...     

An in vitro evaluation of the effect of probiotics and prebiotics on the metabolic profile of human microbiota

In the current study, batch culture fermentations on fecal samples of 3 healthy individuals were performed to assess the effect of the addition of prebiotics (FOS), probiotics (Bifidobacterium longum Bar33 and Lactobacillus helveticus Bar13) and synbiotics (B. longum Bar33 + L. helveticus Bar13 + FOS) on the fecal metabolic profiles. A total of 84 different metabolites belonging to the families of sulfur compounds, nitrogen compounds, aldehydes, ketones, esters, alcohols, phenols, organic acids, and hydrocarbons were detected by GC-MS/SPME analysis. The highest number of metabolites varied in concentration in the models with added FOS and synbiotics, where several metabolic signatures were found in common. The increase of butyrate represented the greatest variation registered after the addition of FOS alone. Following the B. longum Bar33 addition, 2-methyl butyrate underwent the most evident variation. In the batch fermentation with added L. helveticus Bar13, the decrease of pyridine and butandiene was observed together with the increase of 2-methyl-5-ethyl-pyrazine, 2-butanone and butyrate. The modification of the fecal metabolic profiles induced by the simultaneous addition of B. longum Bar33 and L. helveticus Bar13 was very similar to that observed after the supplementation with L. helveticus Bar13, regarding mainly the decrease of pyridine and the increase of butyrate.     

Antigenotoxicity of probiotics and prebiotics on faecal water-induced DNA damage in human colon adenocarcinoma cells

Six strains of lactic acid producing bacteria (LAB) were incubated (1 x 10(8)cfu/ml) with genotoxic faecal water from a human subject. HT29 human adenocarcinoma cells were then challenged with the resultant samples and DNA damage measured using the single cell gel electrophoresis (comet) assay. The LAB strains investigated were Bifidobacterium sp. 420, Bifidobacterium Bb12, Lactobacillus plantarum, Streptococcus thermophilus, Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Enterococcus faecium. DNA damage was significantly decreased by all bacteria used with the exception of Strep. thermophilus. Bif. Bb12 and Lact. plantarum showed the greatest protective effect against DNA damage. Incubation of faecal water with different concentrations of Bif. Bb12 and Lact. plantarum revealed that the decrease in genotoxicity was related to cell density. Non-viable (heat treated) probiotic cells had no effect on faecal water genotoxicity. In a second study, HT29 cells were cultured in the presence of supernatants of incubations of probiotics with various carbohydrates including known prebiotics; the HT29 cells were then exposed to faecal water. Overall, incubations involving Lact. plantarum with the fructooligosaccharide (FOS)-based prebiotics Inulin, Raftiline, Raftilose and Actilight were the most effective in increasing the cellular resistance to faecal water genotoxicity, whereas fermentations with Elixor (a galactooligosaccharide) and Fibersol (a maltodextrin) were less effective. Substantial reductions in faecal water-induced DNA damage were also seen with supernatants from incubation of prebiotics with Bif. Bb12. The supernatant of fermentations involving Ent. faecium and Bif. sp. 420 generally had less potent effects on genotoxicity although some reductions with Raftiline and Elixor fermentations were apparent.     

几种常用益生元不同配伍对三株益生菌体外生长的调节作用

目的 探讨几种常用益生元经过不同配伍组合后对3种常用益生菌体外生长的调节作用。方法 使用基础培养基分别培养3株益生菌,观察不同益生元配伍组合对3株益生菌的体外调节作用。依据不同的益生元组分配伍以及浓度制作含不同益生元组分的基础培养基体外培养3株益生菌,分别在培养的0、6、12、18和24 h取样进行平板活菌计数同时观察菌体形态。配置不同浓度的含葡萄糖基础培养基作为对照,研究不同益生元组分配伍组合对3株益生菌体外生长的调节作用。结果 低聚半乳糖、低聚果糖、低聚异麦芽糖（组合2‒0.5%）配伍以及低聚半乳糖、低聚果糖、低聚木糖（组合4‒1.0%）配伍相较于相同糖浓度的葡萄糖基础培养基对嗜酸乳杆菌NCFM活菌计数有促进作用（P<0.05）。低聚半乳糖、低聚果糖、低聚木糖（组合4‒0.5%）配伍相较于相同糖浓度的葡萄糖基础培养基对乳双歧杆菌HN019活菌计数有促进作用（P<0.05）。低聚半乳糖、低聚果糖、低聚异麦芽糖（组合2‒1.0%）配伍以及低聚半乳糖、低聚果糖、水苏糖（组合3‒0.5%）配伍相较于相同糖浓度的葡萄糖基础培养基对乳双歧杆菌Bi-07活菌计数有促进作用（P<0.05）。结论 低聚半乳糖、低聚果糖和低聚木糖组合对嗜酸乳杆菌NCFM和乳双歧杆菌HN019的增殖具有促进作用。低聚半乳糖、低聚果糖和低聚异麦芽糖组合对嗜酸乳杆菌NCFM和乳双歧杆菌Bi-07的增殖具有促进作用。低聚半乳糖、低聚果糖和水苏糖组合对乳双歧杆菌Bi-07的增殖具有促进作用。     

Modulation of the microbial ecology of the human colon by probiotics, prebiotics and synbiotics to enhance human health: an overview of enabling science and potential applications

The application of probiotics and prebiotics to the manipulation of the microbial ecology of the human colon has recently seen many scientific advances. The sequencing of probiotic genomes is providing a wealth of new information on the biology of these microorganisms. In addition, we are learning more about the interactions of probiotics with human cells and with pathogenic bacteria. An alternative means of modulating the colonic microbial community is by the use of prebiotic oligosaccharides. Increasing knowledge of the metabolism of prebiotics by probiotics is allowing us to consider specifically targeting such dietary intervention tools at specific population groups and specific disease states.     

Optimization of cholesterol removal by probiotics in the presence of prebiotics by using a response surface method

Lactobacillus casei ASCC 292 was grown in the presence of six prebiotics, namely, sorbitol, mannitol, maltodextrin, high-amylose maize, fructooligosaccharide (FOS), and inulin, in order to determine the combination of probiotic and prebiotics that would remove the highest level of cholesterol. A first-order model showed that the combination of L. casei ASCC 292, FOS, and maltodextrin was the most efficient for the removal of cholesterol, and the optimum experimental region was developed by using the steepest ascent. This led to the middle points of probiotic (1.70% [wt/vol]), FOS (4.80% [wt/vol]), and maltodextrin (6.80% [wt/vol]) for the development of a central composite design for optimization. Perturbation plot, response surface, and coefficient estimates showed that all three factors had significant quadratic effects on cholesterol removal, with FOS showing the most conspicuous quadratic change. A second-order polynomial regression model estimated that the optimum condition of the factors for cholesterol removal by L. casei ASCC 292 is 1.71% (wt/vol) probiotic, 4.95% (wt/vol) FOS, and 6.62% (wt/vol) maltodextrin. Validation experiments showed that the predicted optimum conditions were more efficient than the high and low levels of the factors and the center points. A response surface method proved reliable for developing the model, optimizing factors, and analyzing interaction effects. Analyses of growth, substrate utilization, growth yield, mean doubling time, and short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production by the use of quadratic models indicated that cholesterol removal was growth associated. The concentration of L. casei ASCC 292 had the most significant quadratic effect on all responses studied, except for substrate utilization and SCFA production, which were significantly (P < 0.05) influenced by the interactions between the probiotic and both prebiotics, indicating that they were closely associated with the uptake of prebiotics.