Probiotics: Immune Responses and Gut Microbiome

Probiotics are live microorganisms that offer various health benefits when consumed. These beneficial bacteria, commonly found in the gastrointestinal tract of animals and humans, contribute to improved gut health, nutrient absorption, and immune modulation in the host. Human understanding of probiotics is growing rapidly. Understanding the interplay between our bodies and diets is crucial for future advancements. This chapter provides an insight into various topics, the origin and development of probiotics over many decades, different classes of probiotics and their effects on the gut to understand the effect of different strains and to develop disease-specific and effective treatment, the interaction between the host and the microbes and how it directly affects nutritional and immune responses, the interaction between the gut and the brain known as the gut–brain axis, their function in relation to each other and their pathways, the role and function of probiotics and their efficacy in treating various diseases, mechanism and mode of action of probiotics. In addition to exploring probiotics, this chapter will also delve into antibiotics, their impact on the gut, and their interaction with the gut microbiome.