Preface

*Advances in Probiotics for Health and Nutrition* examines the exploitation of probiotics from natural habitats for plant, animal, and human health and nutrition. Though the world is experiencing rapid advancements in science and technology, probiotics and probiotic-based products, which have been around since ancient times, are still effective as health and nutritional supplements for plants, animals, and humans. Scientific advancements have led to the creation of new tools and techniques for developing next-generation probiotics from various natural habitats. This book explores novel probiotics and the microbiome and its impact on plants, animals, and humans. Probiotics in agriculture act as biostimulants and plant protectants, whereas probiotics in food and feed act as nutraceutical supplements and immune boosters for the treatment and prevention of various diseases, pathogens, and disorders. This book includes eleven chapters organized into two sections: "Probiotics in Health" and "Probiotics in Nutrition".

Chapter 1, "Translation of Immunomodulatory Effects of Probiotics into Clinical Practice", provides insight into the health benefits of probiotics. It surveys the interaction between probiotics, innate immunity, adaptive immunity, and the host gut microbiome. The introduction of probiotics to the diet greatly influences the microbial composition and type of gut microbiome. These are described to preserve a healthy state with many curative properties. The main highlights of this chapter include the clinical uses of probiotics in human health.

Chapter 2, "Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, Procalcitonin, and Gut Microbiota: Players in the Same Team", explains the correlations between procalcitonin (PCT) and gut dysbiosis in non-cirrhotic patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Procalcitonin (PCT) is a peptide whose levels may increase in patients with liver diseases as a response to pro-inflammatory conditions, even without a bacterial infection. The chapter describes that dysbiotic patients with NAFLD exhibit significant elevation of PCT that correlates well to the H-index of stool's microbiota biodiversity, F/B ratio, CRP level, and severity of cytolytic syndrome.

Chapter 3, "Personalized and Targeted Gut Microbiome Modulation in the Prevention and Treatment of Chronic Diseases", examines the role of gut microbiota in health. Distinct shifts in the composition and diversity of gut microbiota have been closely correlated with various chronic diseases. In this chapter, the authors explore the diverse methods available for modulating gut microbiota, including dietary interventions, probiotics, prebiotics, postbiotics, pharmabiotics, and fecal microbiota transplantation. These approaches have the potential to revolutionize the treatment of chronic diseases by reshaping the gut microbiota to promote health and mitigate illness. Furthermore, this chapter offers a concise overview of a multitude of research studies that shed light on the specific alterations in the diversity, composition, and function of the gut microbiota. These investigations provide valuable insights into

the intricate relationship between the gut microbiota and chronic diseases, offering a promising path toward personalized and targeted interventions.

chapter, the authors describe recent animal and human studies that suggest that regular physical activity improves gut health through the modulation of the gut ecosystem. They explain that aerobic exercises may significantly change the composition of the microbiota, depending on the types and intensities of exercise. This chapter also explores recent studies that have shown that probiotics reduce inflammation and improve gut barrier function and the immune system. Through these actions, probiotics may influence the performance of athletes by preventing diseases that can affect exercise. Specific probiotic strains have been associated with improved body composition and lean body mass, faster recovery of muscle from intense exercise, and overall health. The main highlights of this chapter are how physical activity, gut bacteria, and probiotics work together to improve the health, well-being, and performance of

Chapter 8, "Probiotics in the Management of Diabetes", discusses how probiotics play a crucial role in the management of diabetes through the modulation of the gut microbiome. This chapter provides valuable insight through a discussion of experimental and clinical trials that highlight the significant potential of probiotic strains in the management of diabetes. Since insulin signaling is hindered by lipopolysaccharides, trimethylamine, and imidazole propionate, probiotic administrations enhance the secondary bile acids, short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), and tryptophan metabolites and improve impaired glucose metabolism. This chapter also reviews the mechanisms through which probiotics alleviate diabetes by addressing the gut microflora from the perspectives of amino acid metabolism, intestinal permeability, immunological

Chapter 9, "Probiotics as a Beneficial Modulator of Gut Microbiota and Environmental Stress for Sustainable Mass-Reared *Ceratitis capitata*", explores the transformative potential of probiotics in medfly control, summarizing the evidence and shedding light on symbiotic relationships. Probiotics hold promise not only for medflies but also for insect farming, including edible insects, by enhancing production quality and quantity. The probiotic selection schemes outlined in the chapter can be adapted for other insects' mass-reared for Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) and beyond. This chapter

explores the practical application of probiotics for innovative biocontrol tools.

This book provides a comprehensive overview of advancements in probiotics

methods such as prebiotics, probiotics, and dietary changes.

research, presenting cutting-edge knowledge and recent trends.

Chapter 10, "Intestinal Microbiomics in Physiological and Pathological Conditions", explores the realm of microbiomics, a pioneering science that explores the entirety of microorganisms within a given community. This chapter focuses on the human microbiome, a significant organ boasting 150 times more genes than the human genome. It explores the associations between intestinal dysbiosis and inflammatory and metabolic diseases, even though the intricate mechanisms are not fully elucidated. As microbiomics parallels human genomics and the microbiome is recognized as a second genome within the human body, this chapter points towards an exciting future in precision medicine. The ongoing development of next-generation sequencing technologies will offer new insights into modulating the microbiome via non-invasive

athletes.

responses, oxidative stress, and SCFAs.

Chapter 4, "Probiotic Effects on Disease Prevention and Treatment", explores the profound influence of probiotics on mitigating and preventing various diseases through a range of intricate mechanisms. These mechanisms encompass the direct elimination or inhibition of pathogenic growth, the production of antimicrobial substances, toxin neutralization, competition with target cells, immune system modulation, restoration of microbial balance, reinforcement of intestinal integrity, and heightened mucus production. The chapter highlights that the effectiveness of probiotics depends on the type of utilized strain, duration, dose administration, and whether single or combined strains are used. Probiotics have helped in enhancing resistance to respiratory tract infections, reducing inflammation and oxidative stress in pancreatic cells, preventing the onset of diabetes, and regulating important neurotransmitters. They are also effective in the improvement of mental disorders. Nevertheless, a more extensive body of evidence is necessary to firmly establish the efficacy of probiotic microorganisms in these contexts, which underscores the importance of further randomized clinical trials with various probiotic strains.

Chapter 5, "Adherence of *Candida albicans* on Polymethyl Methacrylate in Probiotics Solution", discusses the role of probiotic solutions in the oral cavity and treatment of candidiasis. *Candida albicans* is a ubiquitous microorganism, typically residing harmlessly in various mucous membranes throughout the body, including the ears, eyes, gastrointestinal tract, mouth, nose, reproductive organs, sinuses, skin, stool, and vagina. The chapter explains that an imbalance in the normal flora causes an overgrowth of *C. albicans* thereby causing candidiasis or thrush. Probiotic solutions can be used to reduce the number of *C. albicans* microorganisms and their adherence thereby treating candidiasis or thrush. The chapter discusses how probiotic solutions can serve as valuable tools for reducing the adherence of *C. albicans*, thereby offering a potential therapeutic approach to managing candidiasis. Comprehending the intricate interactions between probiotics and *C. albicans* can lead to an advanced understanding of innovative solutions for tackling this prevalent oral health concern.

Chapter 6, "Advances on Probiotics Utilization in Poultry Health and Nutrition", explores the profound impact of probiotics on enhancing poultry immunity, optimizing growth performance, improving feed utilization, and maintaining overall health. The poultry industry is experiencing rapid growth, particularly in developing countries. Historically, antibiotics have played a crucial role in ensuring the safety and well-being of poultry flocks. However, the rising concerns about antibiotic resistance have spurred a pressing demand for antibiotic-free poultry production. This chapter presents probiotics as promising alternatives to antibiotics, revolutionizing the poultry farming landscape. It highlights the concept, impact, and mode of action of probiotics in sustainable poultry production. Significant work and studies have proved that probiotics help in maintaining health status in poultry animals, as they improve gut conditions and enhance nutrient absorption, thus improving overall growth performance.

Chapter 7, "Regular Physical Activity Influences Gut Microbiota with Positive Health Effects", explains how the gut microbiota is influenced by physical activity. In this

chapter, the authors describe recent animal and human studies that suggest that regular physical activity improves gut health through the modulation of the gut ecosystem. They explain that aerobic exercises may significantly change the composition of the microbiota, depending on the types and intensities of exercise. This chapter also explores recent studies that have shown that probiotics reduce inflammation and improve gut barrier function and the immune system. Through these actions, probiotics may influence the performance of athletes by preventing diseases that can affect exercise. Specific probiotic strains have been associated with improved body composition and lean body mass, faster recovery of muscle from intense exercise, and overall health. The main highlights of this chapter are how physical activity, gut bacteria, and probiotics work together to improve the health, well-being, and performance of athletes.

Chapter 8, "Probiotics in the Management of Diabetes", discusses how probiotics play a crucial role in the management of diabetes through the modulation of the gut microbiome. This chapter provides valuable insight through a discussion of experimental and clinical trials that highlight the significant potential of probiotic strains in the management of diabetes. Since insulin signaling is hindered by lipopolysaccharides, trimethylamine, and imidazole propionate, probiotic administrations enhance the secondary bile acids, short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), and tryptophan metabolites and improve impaired glucose metabolism. This chapter also reviews the mechanisms through which probiotics alleviate diabetes by addressing the gut microflora from the perspectives of amino acid metabolism, intestinal permeability, immunological responses, oxidative stress, and SCFAs.

Chapter 9, "Probiotics as a Beneficial Modulator of Gut Microbiota and Environmental Stress for Sustainable Mass-Reared *Ceratitis capitata*", explores the transformative potential of probiotics in medfly control, summarizing the evidence and shedding light on symbiotic relationships. Probiotics hold promise not only for medflies but also for insect farming, including edible insects, by enhancing production quality and quantity. The probiotic selection schemes outlined in the chapter can be adapted for other insects' mass-reared for Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) and beyond. This chapter explores the practical application of probiotics for innovative biocontrol tools.

Chapter 10, "Intestinal Microbiomics in Physiological and Pathological Conditions", explores the realm of microbiomics, a pioneering science that explores the entirety of microorganisms within a given community. This chapter focuses on the human microbiome, a significant organ boasting 150 times more genes than the human genome. It explores the associations between intestinal dysbiosis and inflammatory and metabolic diseases, even though the intricate mechanisms are not fully elucidated. As microbiomics parallels human genomics and the microbiome is recognized as a second genome within the human body, this chapter points towards an exciting future in precision medicine. The ongoing development of next-generation sequencing technologies will offer new insights into modulating the microbiome via non-invasive methods such as prebiotics, probiotics, and dietary changes.

This book provides a comprehensive overview of advancements in probiotics research, presenting cutting-edge knowledge and recent trends.

The editors and authors would like to thank Ms. Martina Scerbe, Ms. Ana Cink, and the publishing staff at IntechOpen for their invaluable assistance in writing and publishing this book.
