Probiotic Interventions and Gut Microbiota Dynamics
Summary
The gut microbiota constitutes a complex community of bacteria, archaea, viruses and fungi that co-operate to influence digestion, immunity and metabolic homeostasis. Probiotic interventions—administration of live beneficial microorganisms—aim to restore or maintain a healthy microbial equilibrium, counteracting dysbiosis linked to disorders such as functional dyspepsia, obesity-related inflammation and sepsis. These interventions operate through multiple mechanisms, including competitive exclusion of pathogens, modulation of host immune signalling via cytokine balance and reinforcement of epithelial barrier integrity. Contemporary research spans clinical trials, animal models and mechanistic studies, revealing dynamic, host-specific responses shaped by diet, genetics and environment. A deeper understanding of microbial succession, strain-specific effects and host–microbe cross-talk is essential to harness probiotics for personalised nutrition and therapeutics on a global scale.
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Probiotic Interventions and Gut Microbiota Dynamics publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in probiotic interventions and gut microbiota dynamics across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Probiotics: Live microorganisms which, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host.
Gut microbiota: The assemblage of microorganisms residing in the gastrointestinal tract, contributing to metabolic and immune functions.
Dysbiosis: An imbalance or maladaptation of the microbial community associated with disease states.
Intestinal barrier function: The selective permeability of the gut epithelium that regulates nutrient absorption and prevents pathogen translocation.
Cytokines: Small secreted proteins that mediate and regulate immunity, inflammation and cell communication.
References
- Effect of taking a dietary supplement containing Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus on clinical manifestations of functional dyspepsia and patients’ quality of life. Gastroenterology (2024).
- Orally administered Lactiplantibacillus plantarum OLL2712 decreased intestinal permeability, especially in the ileum: Ingested lactic acid bacteria alleviated obesity-induced inflammation by collaborating with gut microbiota. Frontiers in Immunology (2023).
- Streptococcus thermophilus Attenuates Inflammation in Septic Mice Mediated by Gut Microbiota. Frontiers in Microbiology (2020).
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