ABSTRACT
230The use of spores as probiotics appears to be expanding, with a growing number of products commercially available. In most countries, products marketed as pharmaceuticals must meet pre market criteria for efficacy and safety and it is equally clear that supposedly safe species cannot be taken for granted and every product must be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. In general, current government legislation does not provide definitions regarding the suitability of various bacteria for food and supplement use in developed countries as well as in India. Clostridium butyricum MIYAIRI 588 has been safely used as a probiotic for many years. Preventive effect of CBM preparation on the abnormalities of intestinal microflora due to Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy was not known. The mechanism by which CBM control diarrhea is by many ways and we only know few mechanisms and much work can be done in this area, and much remains to be done to substantiate the claim of spore formers as probiotics. Studies are urgently needed to further improve our understanding of the mechanisms of enterococcal pathogenesis, which should contribute to a better distinction between pathogenic and non-pathogenic strains. It is suggested that the use of enterococci, as commercial probiotic strains, should be possible on the basis of case-by-case studies, establishing their innocuity or at least the lack of acquired antibiotic resistance genes and proven virulence factors in vivo. Despite the successful therapeutic applications of Escherichia coli Nissle 1917, only limited information is available about the beneficial traits contributing to the strain’s probiotic character. The mechanisms underlying the probiotic nature especially at the molecular level yet have to be elucidated. To obtain possible links of these peculiarities to the probiotic nature of this strain the function and physiological roles of these and other, E. coli Nissle 1917 specific CDSs need to be experimentally studied.
Further investigations into the taxonomic classification of the new taxa (Weissella) should take place to confirm the taxonomic status of the organism Weissella. Work should also focus on the clarification of the full amino acid sequence of weissellicin 110 and its possible application as a biopreservative. Weissella confusa PL9001 has a dual inhibitory activity on H. pylori, bactericidal activity, and prevention of adherence to gastric mucous cells. This has the potential to be developed as a new probiotic for the stomach by performing case-by-case research to establish the bio safety of the organism. Saccharomyces boulardii activities in the prevention and/or the treatment of diarrhea have been widely investigated and demonstrated. This yeast is frequently prescribed in a lyophilized form as a biotherapeutic 231agent. However, new data and further experimental studies should permit to better elucidate the mechanisms of action of the yeast and suggest new therapeutic applications.
The mechanisms by which Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens bacteria inhibit colon cancer is still a mystery. Oral administration of the live B. fibrisolvens MDT-1 cells to mice suppressed ACF formation. The mechanisms underlying this event are presently unclear, remain to be clarified. Further research has to be carried out to find out these aspects and many trials have to be done before introducing this new strain as a commercial probiotic. Gene technology will certainly play a role in developing new strains, with gene sequencing allowing for an increased understanding of mechanisms and functionality of probiotics. The establishment of standards of identity for probiotic containing food products will serve to accelerate the development and availability of these food products. According to Barry Goldin, Ph.D., Professor at Tufts University School of Medicine, “The full potential of probiotics can only be realized when their benefits can be established scientifically. It is highly likely that benefits from current and future probiotics have gone undetected and, therefore, full utilization of these organisms has not been achieved”.
