Vol.66 No.4 July 2018
Probiotics -new era of research and development-
Tokyo R&D center, Miyarisan Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.
Abstract
It has become widely known that the interaction between normal microbiota and the human biological function is essential for homeostasis. Metagenomics studies have demonstrated that the microbiota influences several human diseases due to its dysbiosis. In fact, microbiota may even offer targets for drugs that help to counter diseases such as gastrointestinal disorders (inflammatory bowel diseases, Clostridium difficile infection, irritable bowel syndrome, etc.) as well as other systematic diseases such as obesity, allergy, diabetes and so on.
Probiotics are defined as "live microorganisms that, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host" and have a long history of use in the food/feed chain or pharmaceutical materials. The probiotic organisms that feature in these products have been sourced from the intestinal tract or from soil and traditional fermented foods.
The results of the research into the composition and function of human microbiota by OMICS analysis with deep sequencing, metabolomics and transcriptomics showed a dramatic extension of the range of organisms with potential health benefits.
In this article, I would summarize current topics of the use of probiotic organisms in the treatment or prevention of several diseases related to dysbiosis and then introduce a potential future research and development pathway/strategy for live microorganism products.
Key word
probiotics, microbiota, microbiome, dysbiosis
Received
December 18, 2017
Accepted
February 13, 2018
Jpn. J. Chemother. 66 (4): 489-503, 2018