Al-Rafidain University

College
Dentistry Department
‫ﺻوره‬
‫اﻟطﺎﻟب‬
‫اﻟﺷﺧﺻﯾﮫ‬

MICROBIOLOGY

PROBIOTIC

Student Name: ‫اﺣﺴﺎن ﻋﺒﺪاﻟﺮﺣﯿﻢ ذﻧﻮن‬

Grade: Third stage
Group: B4
Evaluation score: -----

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 Introduction

Probiotics are biological agents, usually consumed as food supplements, that

can favorably influence the microbial ecology of the host. Precise definition
continues to evolve and they have recently been described as “live
microorganisms which, when consumed in adequate amounts, confer a
health effect on the host.” The emphasis on live microbes is in contrast to
prebiotics, which are nondigestible food ingredients, often of an oligo- or a
polysaccharide nature, that beneficially affect the health of the host by
selectively stimulating the growth or activity of certain bacterial species
already established within the colon of the host. Mixtures of probiotics and
prebiotics are referred to as synbiotics. Each is an example of a growing list
of functional foods or neutraceuticals that confer a health benefit beyond
their nutritional content. Although the term probiotic (“for life”) is relatively
new, the concept of consuming selected bacteria for health promotion was
recognized almost a century ago. The Russian-born Nobel laureate Eli
Metchnikoff regarded enteric lactobacilli and the consumption of yogurt-like
foods as important for health and longevity and the French pediatrician
Tissier studied enteric “bifid” bacteria in relation to diarrheal illness and
suggested that they could have a therapeutic role. Probiotics are generally
gram-positive bacteria and members of the genera Lactobacillus and
Bifidobacterium, although other bacteria including Escherichia coli and
nonbacterial organisms such as Saccharomyces boulardii have been selected
as potential probiotics. Criteria for selection of microorganisms as candidate
probiotics include proliferative capacity and capability of transit and survival
within the gastrointestinal tract. This requires relative resistance to acid and
bile. Most important are safety criteria. Lactobacilli and bifidobacteria have
a long history of usage without hazard, which is the greatest testimony to
their safety. In rare or exceptional circumstances, lactobacilli have been
linked with systemic translocation but there appears to be no increased
frequency of bacteremia with increased usage of probiotics.

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HISTORY

v The concept of probiotics was first introduced in the 20th century by

Noble prize winner, Elie Metchnikoff(1845-1916).
v He suggested that long and healthy life of Bulgarian peasants resulted
from their consumption of fermented milk products.
v He himself introduced in his diet sour milk fermented with bacteria he
called "Bulgarian Bacillus, later called as Lactobacillus delbrueckii
subsp."and found his health benefited.
v He proposed that consumption of fermenting food products positively
influenced the microflora of the colon, decreasing toxic microbial
activity, decrease intestinal pH, suppress the growth of proteolytic
bacteria.

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Types of probiotics

Probiotic supplements, foods, and beverages contain bacteria and/or

yeasts. Up until the 1960s, the only gut microflora that they were able to
identify were clostridia, lactobacilli, enterococci, and E. coli. Since then,
innovative techniques have discovered many more bacteria.
There are several different kinds of probiotics, and their health benefits are
determined by the job that they do in the gut. They must be identified by
their genus, species, and probiotic strain level. Here is a list of probiotics
and their possible health benefits.
1-Lactobacillus: There are more than 50 species of lactobacilli. They are
naturally found in the digestive, urinary, and genital systems. Foods that
are fermented, like yogurt, and dietary supplements also contain these
bacteria. Lactobacillus has been used for treating and preventing a wide
variety of diseases and conditions.
Some of the lactobacilli found in foods and supplements are Lactobacillus
acidophilus, L. acidophilus DDS-1, Lactobacillus bulgaricus,
Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG, Lactobacillus plantarium, Lactobacillus
reuteri, Lactobacillus salivarius, Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus
johnsonii, and Lactobacillus gasseri.
Studies have shown some benefits linked to Lactobacillus and treating
and/or preventing yeast infections, bacterial vaginosis, urinary tract
infection, irritable bowel syndrome, antibiotic-related diarrhea, traveler's
diarrhea, diarrhea resulting from Clostridium difficile, treating lactose
intolerance, skin disorders (fever blisters, eczema, acne, and canker sores),
and prevention of respiratory infections.

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 2- Bifidobacteria: There are approximately 30 species of bifidobacteria.
They make up most of the healthy bacteria in the colon. They appear in the
intestinal tract within days of birth, especially in breastfed infants and are
thought to be the best marker of intestinal health. Some of the
bifidobacteria used as probiotics are Bifidobacterium bifidum,
Bifidobacterium lactis, Bifidobacterium longum, Bifidobacterium breve,
Bifidobacterium infantis, Bifidobacterium thermophilum, and
Bifidobacterium pseudolongum. Studies have shown that bifidobacteria
can help with improving blood lipids and glucose tolerance. Bifidobacteria
have been shown to effectively alleviate IBS and significantly improve
IBS symptoms like pain/discomfort, distension/bloating, urgency, and
digestive disorders.

3- Saccharomyces boulardii: This is also known as S. boulardii and is the

only yeast probiotic. Some studies have shown that it is effective in
preventing and treating diarrhea associated with the use of antibiotics and
traveler's diarrhea. It has also been reported to prevent the reoccurrence of
C. difficile, to treat acne, and to reduce side effects of treatment for H.
pylori.
4- Streptococcus thermophils: This produces large quantities of the
enzyme lactase, making it effective, according to some reports, in the
prevention of lactose intolerance.
5- Enterococcus faecium: This is normally found in the intestinal tract of
humans and animals.
6- Leuconostoc: This has been used extensively in food processing
throughout human history, and ingestion of foods containing live bacteria,
dead bacteria, and metabolites of these microorganisms has taken place for
a long time.

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 Health benefits of probiotics
When the digestive tract is healthy, it filters out and eliminates things that
can damage it, such as harmful bacteria, toxins, chemicals, and other waste
products. The healthy balance of bacteria assists with the regulation of
gastrointestinal motility and maintenance of gut barrier function. Research
has shown some benefits for the use of probiotics for infectious diarrhea,
antibiotic-associated diarrhea, gut transit, IBS, abdominal pain and bloating,
ulcerative colitis, Helicobacter pylori infection, nonalcoholic fatty liver
disease (NAFLD), and necrotizing enterocolitis. The other way that
probiotics help is the impact that they have on our immune system. Some
believe that this role is the most important. Our immune system is our
protection against germs. When it doesn't function properly, we can suffer
from allergic reactions, autoimmune disorders (for example, ulcerative
colitis, Crohn's disease, and rheumatoid arthritis), and infections (for
example, infectious diarrhea, H. pylori, skin infections, and vaginal
infections). By maintaining the correct balance from birth, the hope would
be to prevent these ailments. Our immune system can benefit anytime that
balanced is restored, so it's never too late. Research into the benefits of
probiotics has been branching out, and new areas are emerging. Preliminary
research has linked them to supporting the health of the reproductive tract,
oral cavity, lungs, skin and gut-brain axis, and the prevention and treatment
of obesity and type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

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 The side effects and risks of probiotics
Supplements play an important role when the diet is not adequate to supply
our needs. In the case of probiotics, one's diet is the ideal source for
probiotics. These are live bacteria and need to be carefully monitored, stored,
and combined for the health benefits that one would be taking them for. At
this time, probiotic supplements are not monitored in the U.S. the way that
food or medication is. They fall under the Dietary Supplement Health and
Education Act of 1994 (DSHEA). This requires that the dietary supplement
or dietary ingredient manufacturer be responsible for ensuring that a dietary
supplement or ingredient is safe before it is marketed. The only time that the
U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) may get involved is if action is
needed to be taken against a manufacturer after the supplement is marketed
and then found to be unsafe. This means that as much as we may know about
probiotics, we can't be certain of the safety or content of the supplements
available to us. They can trigger an allergic reaction. They might cause mild
stomach problems, especially the first few days you start taking them. You
might have stomach upset, gas, diarrhea, or bloating. Those symptoms
usually go away after your body gets used to them. If you have an immune
system problem or another serious health condition, you may have a greater
chance of issues. Some reports have linked probiotics to serious infections
and other side effects. The people most likely to have trouble are those with
immune system problems, people who've had surgery, and others who are
critically ill. Don't take probiotics if you have any of those issues.

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The mechanisms of action
the mechanisms of action of probiotics, which are diverse, heterogeneous,
and strain specific, have received little attention. Thus, the aim of the present
work was to review the main mechanisms of action of probiotics, including
colonization and normalization of perturbed intestinal microbial
communities in children and adults; competitive exclusion of pathogens and
bacteriocin production; modulation of fecal enzymatic activities associated
with the metabolization of biliary salts and inactivation of carcinogens and
other xenobiotics; production of short-chain and branched-chain fatty acids,
which, in turn, have wide effects not only in the intestine but also in
peripheral tissues via interactions with short-chain fatty acid receptors,
modulating mainly tissue insulin sensitivity; cell adhesion and mucin
production; modulation of the immune system, which results mainly in the
differentiation of T-regulatory cells and upregulation of anti-inflammatory
cytokines and growth factors, i.e., interleukin-10 and transforming growth
factor; and interaction with the brain-gut axis by regulation of endocrine and
neurologic functions. Further research to elucidate the precise molecular
mechanisms of action of probiotics is warranted.

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Food and probiotics

While there are several different classes and types of probiotics, some of the
most common include:Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus,Saccharomyces
boulardii, which is a type of yeast Food manufacturers may also call
probiotics “live culture” or “active cultures.” Many fermented products
contain probiotics, which means the bacteria in them are still living. Often,
the food production process destroys living bacteria. If a product is available
on a shelf and is not refrigerated, it may not contain live and active probiotics.
Examples of dairy products that contain probiotics include:
• aged cheeses, such as cheddar, gouda, or mozzarella
• kefir, a probiotic milk drink
• traditional buttermilk (must not be cultured)
• yogurt
Not all foods must be dairy to contain probiotics. Examples of other probiotic
foods include:
• non-dairy yogurts
• fresh, sour dill pickles
• kimchi
• kombucha, a fermented tea
• miso
• natto, a food made from fermented soybeans
• sauerkraut
• tempeh, a popular meat substitute
• water or brine-cured olives

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What Are Probiotics and Prebiotics

Both prebiotics and probiotics are important for human health. However,
they play different roles:
• Probiotics: These are live bacteria found in certain foods or supplements.
They can provide numerous health benefits.
• Prebiotics: These substances come from types of carbs (mostly fiber) that
humans can't digest. The beneficial bacteria in your gut eat this fiber.
The gut bacteria, collectively referred to as the gut flora or gut microbiota,
perform many important functions in the body.

Eating balanced amounts of both pro- and prebiotics can help ensure that you
have the right balance of these bacteria, which should improve your health.

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References

1. https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-
dentistry/probiotic-agent
2. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%89lie_Metchnikoff
3. https://www.medicinenet.com/lactobacillus_acidophilus-oral/article.htm
4. https://www.medicinenet.com/bifidobacterium_bifidum-oral/article.htm
5. https://www.medicinenet.com/travel_health/article.htm
6. https://www.medicinenet.com/digestive_health_pictures_slideshow_pro
biotics/article.htm
7. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/6363529/figure/fig3/
8. https://sfamjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1365-
2672.2006.02963.x

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