• gastrointestinal diseases
• microbiota
• probiotics

• Probiotics/therapeutic use
• Humans
• Gastrointestinal Diseases/therapy
• Treatment Outcome

• Australian National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC)
• Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust

• Bacillus coagulans
• Health-related quality of life
• Polycystic ovary syndrome
• Synbiotic

• Female
• Humans
• Quality of Life/psychology
• Polycystic Ovary Syndrome/complications
• Polycystic Ovary Syndrome/therapy
• Polycystic Ovary Syndrome/diagnosis
• Synbiotics
• Infertility

• Bifidobacteria
• Functional dairy foods
• Milk fermentation
• Prebiotics
• Probiotics

• disease detection
• health care products
• microbiome
• newborn
• pregnancy management

• Female
• Humans
• Infant, Newborn
• Pregnancy
• Microbiota
• Probiotics/adverse effects
• Retrospective Studies

• 2022YFA1304102 National Key R&D Program of China
• 32070122 National Natural Science Foundation of China
• National Key R&D Program of China

• Lactiplantibacillus plantarum
• Probiotic
• early childhood caries
• oral microbiota
• pathogens

• disorders of gut-brain interaction
• dysbiosis
• functional dyspepsia
• functional gastrointestinal disorders
• intestinal mucosa
• microbiota
• small intestinal bacterial overgrowth

Healthy plant-based diets rich in fermentable residues may induce gas-related symptoms, possibly mediated by the gut microbiota. We previously showed that consumption of a fermented milk product (FMP) containing Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis CNCM I-2494 and lactic acid bacteria improved gastrointestinal (GI) comfort in response to a flatulogenic dietary challenge in healthy individuals. To study the effects of the FMP on gut microbiota activity from those participants, we conducted a metatranscriptomic analysis of fecal samples (n = 262), which were collected during the ingestion of a habitual diet and two series of a 3-day high-residue challenge diet, before and following 28-days of FMP consumption.

Most of the FMP species were detected or found enriched upon consumption of the product. FMP mitigated the effect of a flatulogenic diet on gas-related symptoms in several ways. First, FMP consumption was associated with the depletion of gas-producing bacteria and increased hydrogen to methane conversion. It also led to the upregulation of activities such as replication and downregulation of functions related to motility and chemotaxis. Furthermore, upon FMP intake, metabolic activities such as carbohydrate metabolism, attributed to B. animalis and S. thermophilus, were enriched; these activities were coincidentally found to be negatively associated with several GI symptoms. Finally, a more connected microbial ecosystem or mutualistic relationship among microbes was found in responders to the FMP intervention.

Taken together, these findings suggest that consumption of the FMP improved the tolerance of a flatulogenic diet through active interactions with the resident gut microbiota.

• Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis CNCM I-2494/DN-173010
• Fermented milk product
• Gut microbiota
• Gut symptoms
• Intestinal gas
• Metatranscriptomics

• IBS
• gas-related symptoms
• general population
• patient-reported outcomes
• psychometrics
• quality of life

Optimal gut motility is central to bowel function and gut health. The link between the gut dysmotility related disorders and dysfunctional-intestinal barriers has led to a hypothesis that certain probiotics could help in normalizing gut motility and maintain gut health. This review investigates the roles of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis HN019 (B. lactis HN019™) on gut health, and its mechanisms of action in various pre-clinical and clinical studies. Research supports the hypothesis that B. lactis HN019™ has a beneficial role in maintaining intestinal barrier function during gastrointestinal infections by competing and excluding potential pathogens via different mechanisms; maintaining normal tight junction function in vitro; and regulating host immune defense toward pathogens in both in vitro and human studies. This has been observed to lead to reduced incidence of diarrhea. Interestingly, B. lactis HN019™ also supports normal physiological function in immunosenescent elderly and competes and excludes potential pathogens. Furthermore, B. lactis HN019™ reduced intestinal transit time and increased bowel movement frequency in functional constipation, potentially by modulating gut–brain–microbiota axis, mainly via serotonin signaling pathway, through short chain fatty acids derived from microbial fermentation. B. lactis HN019™ is thus a probiotic that can contribute to relieving gut dysmotility related disorders.

• Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis HN019
• bowel function
• diarrhea
• gut motility
• gut–brain
• intestinal barrier
• probiotic

Healthy, plant-based diets, rich in fermentable residues, may induce gas-related symptoms. The aim of this exploratory study was to assess the effects of a fermented milk product, containing probiotics, on the tolerance of a healthy diet in patients with disorders of gut–brain interactions (DGBI), complaining of excessive flatulence. In an open design, a 3-day healthy, mostly plant-based diet was administered to patients with DGBI (52 included, 43 completed) before and at the end of 28 days of consumption of a fermented milk product (FMP) containing Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis CNCM I-2494 and lactic acid bacteria. As compared to a habitual diet, the flatulogenic diet increased the perception of digestive symptoms (flatulence score 7.1 ± 1.6 vs. 5.8 ± 1.9; p < 0.05) and the daily number of anal gas evacuations (22.4 ± 12.5 vs. 16.5 ± 10.2; p < 0.0001). FMP consumption reduced the flatulence sensation score (by –1.6 ± 2.2; p < 0.05) and the daily number of anal gas evacuations (by –5.3 ± 8.2; p < 0.0001). FMP consumption did not significantly alter the overall gut microbiota composition, but some changes in the microbiota correlated with the observed clinical improvement. The consumption of a product containing B. lactis CNCM I-2494 improved the tolerance of a healthy diet in patients with DGBI, and this effect may be mediated, in part, by the metabolic activity of the microbiota.

• B. lactis DN-173010
• digestive symptoms
• disorders of gut–brain interactions
• fermentable carbohydrates
• flatulence
• microbiota
• probiotics

• defecation frequency
• gastrointestinal symptoms
• probiotic
• stool consistency
• Bifidobacterium lactis

Consumption of yogurt and other fermented products is associated with improved health outcomes. Although dairy consumption is included in most dietary guidelines, there have been few specific recommendations for yogurt and cultured dairy products. A qualitative systematic review was conducted to determine the effect of consumption of fermented milk products on gastrointestinal and cardiovascular health, cancer risk, weight management, diabetes and metabolic health, and bone density using PRISMA guidelines. English language papers in PubMed were searched, with no date restrictions. In total, 1057 abstracts were screened, of which 602 were excluded owing to lack of appropriate controls, potential biases, and experimental design issues. The remaining 455 papers were independently reviewed by both authors and 108 studies were included in the final review. The authors met regularly to concur, through consensus, on relevance, methods, findings, quality, and conclusions. The included studies were published between 1979 and 2017. From the 108 included studies, 76 reported a favorable outcome of fermented milks on health and 67 of these were considered to be positive or neutral quality according to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics’ Quality Criteria Checklist. Of the 32 remaining studies, the study outcomes were either not significant (28) or unfavorable (4), and most studies (18) were of neutral quality. A causal relationship exists between lactose digestion and tolerance and yogurt consumption, and consistent associations exist between fermented milk consumption and reduced risk of breast and colorectal cancer and type 2 diabetes, improved weight maintenance, and improved cardiovascular, bone, and gastrointestinal health. Further, an association exists between prostate cancer occurrence and dairy product consumption in general, with no difference between fermented and unfermented products. This article argues that yogurt and other fermented milk products provide favorable health outcomes beyond the milk from which these products are made and that consumption of these products should be encouraged as part of national dietary guidelines.

Systematic review registration: PROSPERO registration no. CRD42017068953.

• dairy cultures
• fermented milk
• health outcomes
• lactose
• yogurt

• C. tyrobutyricum
• IL-22
• colon
• immune cells
• inflammation

• Animals
• Clostridium tyrobutyricum/physiology
• Colitis/etiology
• Colitis/metabolism
• Colitis/prevention & control
• Dendritic Cells
• Disease Models, Animal
• Immunomodulation
• Interleukins/metabolism
• Intestinal Mucosa/metabolism
• Lipopolysaccharides/adverse effects
• Macrophages/immunology
• Macrophages/metabolism
• Male
• Mast Cells/immunology
• Mast Cells/metabolism
• Mice
• Mice, Knockout
• Probiotics
• Signal Transduction
• T-Lymphocyte Subsets/immunology
• T-Lymphocyte Subsets/metabolism
• Interleukin-22

• 2018YFE0112700 Ministry of Science and Technology of the People's Republic of China
• 2019C02005 Science and Technology Department of Zhejiang Province

Unanticipated pathogenic risk and emerging transmittable diseases can result from interspecies exchanges of viruses among animals and humans. The emergence of the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) causing coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic has recently exemplified this mechanism. Cough, fever, fatigue, headache, sputum production, hemoptysis, dyspnea, diarrhea, and gastrointestinal disorders are the characteristic features of the disease. The most prevalent and serious manifestation of the infection tends to be pneumonia. The new strains of SARS-CoV-2 with more infectivity have been emerging at regular intervals. There is currently no World Health Organization-approved particular drug for COVID-19. Besides, developing novel antivirals would take much time. Thus, repurposing the application of natural products can provide alternatives and can facilitate medication against COVID-19 as well as can slow down the aggressive progression of the disease before the arrival of approved drugs. Probiotics have long been known for their positive effects on the gut microbiome and impact on immune responses. Particularly, their involvement against viral diseases, especially those of the upper and lower respiratory tract, is of current interest for their prospective application against COVID-19. In this review, we comprehensively address the mode of action of probiotics and their possible intervention against coronavirus diseases correlating with their efficacy against viral diseases. In this regard, we explored recently published relevant research and review articles in MEDLINE/PubMed related to COVID-19 and the effects of probiotics on viral infections.

• Brassica
• Novel Foods
• rapeseed
• safety

• Challenges
• Dysbiosis
• Ecobiotics
• Microbiota
• Prebiotics
• Probiotics
• Synbiotics

Background: Healthy plant-based diets rich in fermentable residues may induce gas-related symptoms. Our aim was to determine the potential of a fermented milk product with probiotics in improving digestive comfort with such diets. Methods: In an open design, a 3-day high-residue diet was administered to healthy subjects (n = 74 included, n = 63 completed) before and following 28 days consumption of a fermented milk product (FMP) containing Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis CNCM I-2494 and lactic acid bacteria. Main outcomes: digestive sensations, number of daytime anal gas evacuations, and gas volume evacuated during 4 h after a probe meal. Results: As compared to the habitual diet, the high-residue diet induced gas-related symptoms (flatulence score 4.9 vs. 1.2; p ≤ 0.0001), increased the daily number of anal gas evacuations (20.7 vs. 8.7; p < 0.0001), and impaired digestive well-being (1.0 vs. 3.4; p < 0.05). FMP consumption reduced flatulence sensation (by −1.7 [−1.9; −1.6]; p < 0.0001), reduced the number of daily evacuations (by −5.8 [−6.5; −5.1]; p < 0.0001), and improved digestive well-being (by +0.6 [+0.4; +0.7]; p < 0.05). FMP consumption did not affect the gas volume evacuated after a probe meal. Conclusion: In healthy subjects, consumption of a FMP containing B. lactis CNCM I-2494 and lactic acid bacteria improves the tolerance of a flatulogenic diet by subjective and objective criteria (sensations and number of anal gas evacuations, respectively).

• digestive symptoms
• fermentable carbohydrates
• flatulence
• microbiota
• probiotics

• anti-inflammation
• cell uptake
• co-culture
• common beans
• peptides

• Anti-Inflammatory Agents/metabolism
• Biological Transport
• Caco-2 Cells
• Coculture Techniques
• Endothelial Cells/metabolism
• Epithelial Cells/metabolism
• Humans
• Intestinal Mucosa/metabolism
• Intestines/cytology
• NF-kappa B/genetics
• NF-kappa B/metabolism
• Peptide Transporter 1/genetics
• Peptide Transporter 1/metabolism
• Peptides/chemistry
• Peptides/metabolism
• Phaseolus/chemistry
• Phaseolus/metabolism
• Plant Extracts/chemistry
• Plant Extracts/metabolism
• Yogurt/analysis

Within the last century, human lifestyle and dietary behaviors have changed dramatically. These changes, especially concerning hygiene, have led to a marked decrease in some diseases, i.e., infectious diseases. However, other diseases that can be attributed to the so-called ‘Western’ lifestyle have increased, i.e., metabolic and cardiovascular disorders. More recently, multifactorial disorders, such as autoimmune and neurodegenerative diseases, have been associated with changes in diet and the gut microbiome. In particular, short chain fatty acid (SCFA)-producing bacteria are of high interest. SCFAs are the main metabolites produced by bacteria and are often reduced in a dysbiotic state, causing an inflammatory environment. Based on advanced technologies, high-resolution investigations of the abundance and composition of the commensal microbiome are now possible. These techniques enable the assessment of the relationship between the gut microbiome, its metabolome and gut-associated immune and neuronal cells. While a growing number of studies have shown the indirect impact of gut metabolites, mediated by alterations of immune-mediated mechanisms, the direct influence of these compounds on cells of the central nervous system needs to be further elucidated. For instance, the SCFA propionic acid (PA) increases the amount of intestine-derived regulatory T cells, which furthermore can positively affect the central nervous system (CNS), e.g., by increasing remyelination. However, the question of if and how PA can directly interact with CNS-resident cells is a matter of debate. In this review, we discuss the impact of an altered microbiome composition in relation to various diseases and discuss how the commensal microbiome is shaped, starting from the beginning of human life.

• dysbiosis
• gut–brain-axis
• microbiome
• multiple sclerosis
• neurodegeneration
• neuroinflammation
• short chain fatty acids

• Brain/metabolism
• Diet
• Dysbiosis
• Gastrointestinal Microbiome
• Humans
• Intestines/innervation
• Intestines/microbiology
• Neurodegenerative Diseases/etiology
• Neurodegenerative Diseases/metabolism
• Neurodegenerative Diseases/pathology
• Neuroimmunomodulation

• CAZy
• GH149
• GH94
• functional metagenomics
• glycoside hydrolase
• phosphorylase
• reverse phosphorolysis

• Adult
• Breath Tests/methods
• Cultured Milk Products
• Endpoint Determination
• Fasting/physiology
• Female
• Gastrointestinal Microbiome
• Humans
• Hydrogen/analysis
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome/diagnosis
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome/microbiology
• Male
• Methane/analysis

• Swedish Medical Research Council
• Marianne and Marcus Wallenberg Foundation (SE)
• AFA Försäkring
• Faculty of Medicine, University of Gothenburg
• Danone Nutricia Research

• Bifidobacterium lactis CNCM I-2494
• diet
• digestive symptoms
• gastrointestinal discomfort
• physical activity
• probiotic

• Abdominal Pain/diet therapy
• Adult
• Bifidobacterium animalis
• Cultured Milk Products/microbiology
• Dietary Fiber/administration & dosage
• Digestive System Diseases/diet therapy
• Exercise
• Female
• Flatulence/diet therapy
• Humans
• Life Style
• Probiotics/administration & dosage
• Probiotics/adverse effects
• Treatment Outcome

• unrestricted Danone Nutricia Research

• Bifidobacteria
• Gastrointestinal tract
• Genome sequencing
• Probiotic
• Reconstituted skimmed milk
• Transcriptomics

• consumer
• dairy products
• health aspects

• Adult
• Aged
• Choice Behavior
• Consumer Behavior
• Dairy Products/economics
• Feeding Behavior
• Female
• Food Labeling
• Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Nutritive Value
• Poland
• Socioeconomic Factors
• Young Adult

• Lactic acid bacteria
• b-carotene
• gastro-intestinal
• inflammation

• Abdominal Pain/prevention & control
• Adult
• Defecation
• Diarrhea
• Double-Blind Method
• Feces
• Female
• Humans
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome
• Levilactobacillus brevis
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Probiotics
• Young Adult
• beta Carotene/administration & dosage
• beta Carotene/pharmacology

• Antibiotic
• constipation
• diarrhea
• diet
• irritable bowel syndrome
• microbiota
• prebiotic
• probiotic
• rifaximin

• Antibiotic
• Dysbiosis
• Eubiosis
• Gut microbiota
• Gut microbiota modulation
• Intestinal bacteria
• Rifaximin

• Animals
• Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology
• Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use
• Bacteria/pathogenicity
• Communicable Diseases/drug therapy
• Drug Resistance, Bacterial/drug effects
• Gastrointestinal Microbiome/drug effects
• Gastrointestinal Microbiome/physiology
• Humans
• Intestinal Mucosa/metabolism
• Intestines/microbiology
• Permeability
• Rifamycins/pharmacology
• Rifamycins/therapeutic use
• Rifaximin
• Virulence/drug effects

• Canada
• dairy products
• food supply
• functional foods
• microbiome
• packaged foods
• preventive medicine
• probiotics
• public health
• yogurt

• Bifidobacterium lactis
• digestive symptoms
• gastrointestinal discomfort
• meta-analysis
• probiotic
• systematic review

• Phosphorylase
• biofuel
• cellodextrin
• disaccharide
• high-value products
• α-glucan

• Bifidobacterium
• Lactobacillus casei
• fermented milk products
• probiotics
• systematic review

• Advertising
• Bifidobacterium animalis/metabolism
• Evidence-Based Medicine
• Humans
• Lacticaseibacillus casei/metabolism
• Probiotics/therapeutic use

Growing evidence supports the efficacy of many probiotic strains in the management of gastrointestinal disorders associated with deregulated intestinal barrier function and/or structure. In particular, bifidobacteria have been studied for their efficacy to both prevent and treat a broad spectrum of animal and/or human gut disorders. The aim of the current work was thus to evaluate effects on intestinal barrier function of Bifidobacterium animalis ssp. lactis CNCM-I2494, a strain used in fermented dairy products. A chronic dinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (DNBS)-induced low-grade inflammation model causing gut dysfunction in mice was used in order to study markers of inflammation, intestinal permeability, and immune function in the presence of the bacterial strain. In this chronic low-grade inflammation mice model several parameters pointed out the absence of an over active inflammation process. However, gut permeability, lymphocyte populations, and colonic cytokines were found to be altered. B. animalis ssp. lactis CNCM-I2494 was able to protect barrier functions by restoring intestinal permeability, colonic goblet cell populations, and cytokine levels. Furthermore, tight junction (TJ) proteins levels were also measured by qRT-PCR showing the ability of this strain to specifically normalize the level of several TJ proteins, in particular for claudin-4. Finally, B. lactis strain counterbalanced CD4⁺ lymphocyte alterations in both spleen and mesenteric lymphoid nodes. It restores the Th1/Th2 ratio altered by the DNBS challenge (which locally augments CD4⁺ Th1 cells) by increasing the Th2 response as measured by the increase in the production of major representative Th2 cytokines (IL-4, IL-5, and IL-10). Altogether, these data suggest that B. animalis ssp. lactis CNCM-I2494 may efficiently prevent disorders associated with increased barrier permeability.

• apical junction proteins
• goblet cells
• micro-inflammation

In the last decade the impressive expansion of our knowledge of the vast microbial community that resides in the human intestine, the gut microbiota, has provided support to the concept that a disturbed intestinal ecology might promote development and maintenance of symptoms in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). As a correlate, manipulation of gut microbiota represents a new strategy for the treatment of this multifactorial disease. A number of attempts have been made to modulate the gut bacterial composition, following the idea that expansion of bacterial species considered as beneficial (Lactobacilli and Bifidobacteria) associated with the reduction of those considered harmful (Clostridium, Escherichia coli, Salmonella, Shigella and Pseudomonas) should attenuate IBS symptoms. In this conceptual framework, probiotics appear an attractive option in terms of both efficacy and safety, while prebiotics, synbiotics and antibiotics still need confirmation. Fecal transplant is an old treatment translated from the cure of intestinal infective pathologies that has recently gained a new life as therapeutic option for those patients with a disturbed gut ecosystem, but data on IBS are scanty and randomized, placebo-controlled studies are required.

• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Gut microbiota
• Probiotics
• Prebiotics
• Synbiotics
• Antibiotics
• Fecal transplantation

• Animals
• Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use
• Bacteria/growth & development
• Fecal Microbiota Transplantation
• Gastrointestinal Microbiome
• Host-Pathogen Interactions
• Humans
• Intestines/microbiology
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome/diagnosis
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome/microbiology
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome/therapy
• Prebiotics
• Probiotics/therapeutic use
• Synbiotics
• Treatment Outcome

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis, BB-12^®, on two primary end points – defecation frequency and gastrointestinal (GI) well-being – in healthy adults with low defecation frequency and abdominal discomfort. A total of 1248 subjects were included in a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. After a 2-week run-in period, subjects were randomised to 1 or 10 billion colony-forming units/d of the probiotic strain BB-12^® or a matching placebo capsule once daily for 4 weeks. Subjects completed a diary on bowel habits, relief of abdominal discomfort and symptoms. GI well-being, defined as global relief of abdominal discomfort, did not show significant differences. The OR for having a defecation frequency above baseline for ≥50 % of the time was 1·31 (95 % CI 0·98, 1·75), P=0·071, for probiotic treatment overall. Tightening the criteria for being a responder to an increase of ≥1 d/week for ≥50 % of the time resulted in an OR of 1·55 (95 % CI 1·22, 1·96), P=0·0003, for treatment overall. A treatment effect on average defecation frequency was found (P=0·0065), with the frequency being significantly higher compared with placebo at all weeks for probiotic treatment overall (all P<0·05). Effects on defecation frequency were similar for the two doses tested, suggesting that a ceiling effect was reached with the one billion dose. Overall, 4 weeks’ supplementation with the probiotic strain BB-12^® resulted in a clinically relevant benefit on defecation frequency. The results suggest that consumption of BB-12^® improves the GI health of individuals whose symptoms are not sufficiently severe to consult a doctor (ISRCTN18128385).

• AE adverse events
• Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis
• Bowel habits
• Defecation frequency
• GI gastrointestinal
• Gastrointestinal well-being
• IBS irritable bowel syndrome
• ITT intention-to-treat
• PP per-protocol
• Probiotics

• IBS
• gas-related symptoms
• health-related quality of life
• patient-centered outcomes
• patient-reported outcomes
• qualitative research
• symptom

• Colitis
• Crohn’s disease
• functional foods
• inflammatory bowel disease
• intestinal anti-inflammatory compounds
• mAb
• natural products
• prebiotic
• probiotic

The pool of microbes inhabiting our body is known as “microbiota” and their collective genomes as “microbiome”. The colon is the most densely populated organ in the human body, although other parts, such as the skin, vaginal mucosa, or respiratory tract, also harbour specific microbiota. This microbial community regulates some important metabolic and physiological functions of the host, and drives the maturation of the immune system in early life, contributing to its homeostasis during life. Alterations of the intestinal microbiota can occur by changes in composition (dysbiosis), function, or microbiota-host interactions and they can be directly correlated with several diseases. The only disease in which a clear causal role of a dysbiotic microbiota has been demonstrated is the case of Clostridium difficile infections. Nonetheless, alterations in composition and function of the microbiota have been associated with several gastrointestinal diseases (inflammatory bowel disease, colorectal cancer, or irritable bowel syndrome), as well as extra-intestinal pathologies, such as those affecting the liver, or the respiratory tract (e.g., allergy, bronchial asthma, and cystic fibrosis), among others. Species of Bifidobacterium genus are the normal inhabitants of a healthy human gut and alterations in number and composition of their populations is one of the most frequent features present in these diseases. The use of probiotics, including bifidobacteria strains, in preventive medicine to maintain a healthy intestinal function is well documented. Probiotics are also proposed as therapeutic agents for gastrointestinal disorders and other pathologies. The World Gastroenterology Organization recently published potential clinical applications for several probiotic formulations, in which species of lactobacilli are predominant. This review is focused on probiotic preparations containing Bifidobacterium strains, alone or in combination with other bacteria, which have been tested in human clinical studies. In spite of extensive literature on and research into this topic, the degree of scientific evidence of the effectiveness of probiotics is still insufficient in most cases. More effort need to be made to design and conduct accurate human studies demonstrating the efficacy of probiotics in the prevention, alleviation, or treatment of different pathologies.

• Intestinal microbiota
• Bifidobacterium
• Probiotics
• Dysbiosis
• Inflammatory bowel disease
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Colorectal cancer
• Liver disease
• Respiratory disease
• Functional foods

• Dysbiosis
• Health Status
• Homeostasis
• Host-Pathogen Interactions
• Humans
• Intestinal Diseases/microbiology
• Intestinal Diseases/therapy
• Intestines/microbiology
• Liver Diseases/microbiology
• Lung Diseases/microbiology
• Microbiota
• Probiotics/therapeutic use
• Risk Factors

At the time of birth, humans experience an induced pro-inflammatory beneficial event. The mediators of this encouraged activity, is a fleet of bacteria that assault all mucosal surfaces as well as the skin. Thus initiating effects that eventually provide the infant with immune tissue maturation. These effects occur beneath an emergent immune system surveillance and antigenic tolerance capability radar. Over time, continuous and regulated interactions with environmental as well as commensal microbial, viral, and other antigens lead to an adapted and maintained symbiotic state of tolerance, especially in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) the organ site of the largest microbial biomass. However, the perplexing and much debated surprise has been that all microbes need not be targeted for destruction. The advent of sophisticated genomic techniques has led to microbiome studies that have begun to clarify the critical and important biochemical activities that commensal bacteria provide to ensure continued GIT homeostasis. Until recently, the GIT and its associated micro-biometabolome was a neglected factor in chronic disease development and end organ function. A systematic underestimation has been to undervalue the contribution of a persistent GIT dysbiotic (a gut barrier associated abnormality) state. Dysbiosis provides a plausible clue as to the origin of systemic metabolic disorders encountered in clinical practice that may explain the epidemic of chronic diseases. Here we further build a hypothesis that posits the role that subtle adverse responses by the GIT microbiome may have in chronic diseases. Environmentally/nutritionally/and gut derived triggers can maintain microbiome perturbations that drive an abnormal overload of dysbiosis. Live probiotic cultures with specific metabolic properties may assist the GIT microbiota and reduce the local metabolic dysfunctions. As such the effect may translate to a useful clinical treatment approach for patients diagnosed with a metabolic disease for end organs such as the kidney and liver. A profile emerges that shows that bacteria are diverse, abundant, and ubiquitous and have significantly influenced the evolution of the eukaryotic cell.

• anxiety
• brain-gut axis
• depression
• microbiota
• probiotic

Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis CNCM I-2494 is a component of a commercialized fermented dairy product for which beneficial effects on health has been studied by clinical and preclinical trials. To date little is known about the molecular mechanisms that could explain the beneficial effects that bifidobacteria impart to the host. Restriction-modification (R-M) systems have been identified as key obstacles in the genetic accessibility of bifidobacteria, and circumventing these is a prerequisite to attaining a fundamental understanding of bifidobacterial attributes, including the genes that are responsible for health-promoting properties of this clinically and industrially important group of bacteria. The complete genome sequence of B. animalis subsp. lactis CNCM I-2494 is predicted to harbour the genetic determinants for two type II R-M systems, designated BanLI and BanLII. In order to investigate the functionality and specificity of these two putative R-M systems in B. animalis subsp. lactis CNCM I-2494, we employed PacBio SMRT sequencing with associated methylome analysis. In addition, the contribution of the identified R-M systems to the genetic accessibility of this strain was assessed.

• Base Sequence
• Bifidobacterium/genetics
• DNA Methylation
• Escherichia coli/genetics
• Genome, Bacterial/genetics
• Genomics/methods
• Plasmids/genetics
• Restriction Mapping/methods
• Sequence Analysis/methods