A randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, parallel human clinical trial of heat-treated Lactobacillus paracasei (post-biotics) and/or Cerbella supplementation in healthy middle-aged and older subjects is proposed, to assess the potential for improved physiological and cognitive health. The study will explore if consumption of Cerbella™ soft gels or PoZibio™ capsules, in healthy middle-aged and older subjects (>60 years), is beneficial in terms
Randomized double-blinded placebo-controlled multicentre parallel human intervention trial
The impact of Pozibio and/or Cerbella supplement on the function of the gut, brain, and gut-brain axis, when compared with a placebo control in healthy middle-aged and older adults - September 2024

Abstract : Current research on the complex interplay between the microbiota, the barrier function and the innate immune system of the skin indicates that the skin's microbiota have a beneficial role, much like that of the gut microflora. As a consequence, interest in strategies beyond antibiotica that allow a more selective modulation of the skin microflora is constantly growing. This review will briefly summarize our current understanding of the cutaneous microbiota and summarize existing information on pre- and probiotic strategies for skin.
Prebiotics and probiotics for human skin, Journal of Dermatological Science, 54 (2009) 1-5, Jean Krutmann

Three strains of Lactobacillus, identified as Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus gasseri, and Lactobacillus jensenii, were selected from among 70 isolates from the vaginas of healthy premenopausal women for properties relevant to mucosal colonization or antagonism. All three self-aggregated and adhered to epithelial vaginal cells, displacing well-known vaginal pathogens, such as G. vaginalis, and inhibiting the growth in vitro of Escherichia coli and Streptococcus agalactiae. The surface components involved in self-aggregation appeared to be proteins for L. gasseri and lipoproteins for L. acidophilus and L. jensenii, as judged by susceptibility to treatment with appropriate degrading enzymes. The factors responsible for adherence to epithelial vaginal cells seemed to be glycoproteins (L. acidophilus and L. gasseri) and carbohydrate (L. jensenii). The receptors of the vaginal cells were glycolipids, which presumably were the targets of the competition observed between the lactobacilli and the pathogenic microbes.
In conclusion, the lactobacilli used in this study may protect the vaginal epithelium through a series of barrier (self-aggregation, adherence) and interference (receptor binding interference, coaggregation with potential pathogens) mechanisms. Consequently, they may be excellent candidates for eventual use as prophylactic agents. Studies to further evaluate their feasibility as such are under way.
(...to be continued)
Adherence of Human Vaginal Lactobacilli to Vaginal Epithelial Cells and Interaction with Uropathogens - INFECTION AND IMMUNITY, 0019-9567/ 98 May 1998, p. 1985–1989. S Boris 1, J E Suárez, F Vázquez, C Barbés

Criteria for screening probiotics such as bile tolerance and resistance to acids were studied with 13 spore-forming lactic acid producing bacteria. Different strains of Sporolactobacillus, Bacillus laevolacticus, Bacillus racemilacticus and Bacillus coagulans grown in MRS broth were subjected to low pH conditions (2, 2.5 and 3) and increasing bile concentrations. Among these microorganisms, Bacillus laevolacticus DSM 6475 and all Sporolactobacillus strains tested except Sporolactobacillus racemicus IAM 12395, were resistant to pH 3. Only Bacillus racemilacticus and Bacillus coagulans strains were tolerant to bile concentrations over 0.3% (w/v)
Keywords: Sporolactobacillus; Bacillus laevolacticus; Bacillus racemilacticus; Bacillus coagulans; Bile resistance; pH tolerance
Acid and bile tolerance of spore-forming lactic acid bacteria. B Hyronimus, C Le Marrec, A H Sassi, A Deschamps, International Journal of Food Microbiology 61 (2000) 193–197

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is an inflammatory bowel disease largely affecting low birth weight, premature infants. Once acquired, NEC is accompanied by significant mortality and morbid sequelae. Our understanding of the pathophysiology of NEC continues to evolve, and the development of NEC is likely multifactorial with resultant bowel injury mediated through a final, common inflammatory pathway. The predisposition for NEC appears to involve the interplay between intestinal integrity and function, enteral feeding and bacterial colonization, and regulation of the gastrointestinal and systemic inflammatory response. Commensal organisms or probiotics have been shown to be crucial in the development and modulation of each of these factors within the intestinal epithelium. As a result, probiotic supplementation has been proposed as a promising new intervention for the prevention of NEC. To understand the potential utility of probiotics in NEC, we will discuss: the components of gut defense; the role of the intestinal ecosystem in modulating immunity and inflammation; bacterial colonization patterns in the preterm infant compared with patterns seen in the healthy, full-term infant; the evidence for probiotic use in other populations and diseases; and finally, the evidence of probiotic use specific to the preterm infant and NEC.
KEYWORDS : probiotics, necrotizing enterocolitis, Lacobacillus, Bifidobacterium, Microflora, bacterial colonization, infant, prematurity
In conclusion : The cumulative evidence for probiotic supplementation in preterm infants for the prevention of NEC is very promising. Large, randomized controlled trials have shown effectiveness of probiotic supplementation in reducing the incidence of NEC. Just as encouraging, when NEC was present in the probiotic supplemented group of infants, NEC severity and mortality were decreased compared with controls. The fact that NEC could not be completely ameliorated with probiotic supplementation is consistent with the likely multifactorial etiology of NEC. However, this significant decrease in the number of NEC cases in addition to the decreased illness severity and mortality is worth pursuing. NEC severity is related to poor long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes,1 thus modification of the expression of NEC by probiotic supplementation may also improve long-term outcomes in NEC survivors. However, as additional trials move forward to study the role of probiotics in the prevention of NEC, concurrent evaluations for both short-term and long-term safety need to be included. Other ongoing issues and challenges include determining the most effective probiotic or combination of probiotics and dosing regimen. Heat-killed probiotics, probiotic DNA or proteins, or genetically modified probiotics have been shown to have similar benefits to the intestinal immune system as live probiotics. 104-107 As we learn more about the use of probiotic products in lieu of live, whole organisms, the FAO/WHO definition of probiotics may need to evolve. The definition offered by Salminen may, in fact, be more appropriate: “microbial cell preparations or components of microbial cells that have a beneficial effect on the health and well-being of the host.”108 These newer microbial preparations may provide alternatives to administering live organisms to ill, immunocompromised preterm infants while allowing for more precise delivery and dosing, and less likelihood of permanently manipulating the intestinal ecosystem and its resultant unknown long-term consequences.
Probiotics: Role in Pathophysiology and Prevention in Necrotizing Enterocolitis, Camilia R. Martin, MD,* and W. Allan Walker, MD, j.semperi. 2008. 01.006

The use of probiotics to enhance intestinal health has been proposed for many years. Probiotics are traditionally defined as viable microorganisms that have a beneficial effect in the prevention and treatment of specific pathologic conditions when they are ingested. There is a relatively large volume of literature that supports the use of probiotics to prevent or treat intestinal disorders. However, the scientific basis of probiotic use has been firmly established only recently, and sound clinical studies have begun to be published. Currently, the best-studied probiotics are the lactic acid bacteria, particularly Lactobacillus sp. and Bifidobacterium sp. However, other organisms used as probiotics in humans include Escherichia coli, Streptococcus sp., Enterococcus sp., Bacteroides sp., Bacillus sp., Propionibacterium sp. and various fungi. Some probiotic preparations contain mixtures of more than one bacterial strain. Probiotics have been examined for their effectiveness in the prevention and treatment of a diverse spectrum of gastrointestinal disorders such as antibiotic-associated diarrhea (including Clostridium difficile–associated intestinal disease), infectious bacterial and viral diarrhea (including diarrhea caused by rotavirus, Shigella, Salmonella, enterotoxigenic E. coli, Vibrio cholerae and human immunodeficiency virus/ acquired immunodeficiency disorder, enteral feeding diarrhea, Helicobacter pylori gastroenteritis, sucrase maltase deficiency, inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome, small bowel bacterial overgrowth and lactose intolerance. Probiotics have been found to inhibit intestinal bacterial enzymes involved in the synthesis of colonic carcinogens. There are many mechanisms by which probiotics enhance intestinal health, including stimulation of immunity, competition for limited nutrients, inhibition of epithelial and mucosal adherence, inhibition of epithelial invasion and production of antimicrobial substances. Probiotics represent an exciting prophylactic and therapeutic advance, although additional investigations must be undertaken before their role in intestinal health can be delineated clearly.
The Role of Probiotic Cultures in the Control of Gastrointestinal Health, Rial D. Rolfe - Symposium: Probiotic Bacteria: Implications for Human Health, 2000 American Society for Nutritional Sciences.