Current Paradigms and Diversity of Probiotic Microbes

Probiotic research and marketing have expanded rapidly in recent years. As properties of probiotics are species and strain specific, traits, safety, and efficacy of a particular strain cannot be generalized for all strains belonging to same genus or species. Scientific regulatory authorities and expert panels such as Inaugural Meetings of International Associations for Probiotics and Prebiotics (ISAPP) debate and review the criteria and issue advisory for research and use of probiotics. Intention of regulatory authorities is to protect consumers from misleading claims of probiotics and probiotic products manufactured by commercial entrepreneurs.