Fighting intestinal infections with immunobiotic lactic acid bacteria

Abstract

Intestinal infections are the most common diseases in humans. These infections account for high morbidity and mortality and are considered to be the fifth leading cause of death at all ages worldwide. Thus, significant efforts have been directed toward the detection, control and prevention of intestinal diseases. In this regard, the field of application for probiotics has increased significantly in the past decades. The mechanisms of action of probiotics are better understood now, thanks to detailed cellular and molecular in vitro and in vivo studies. It has been clearly demonstrated that probiotics can act directly against pathogenic bacteria by producing antimicrobial agents, or by competing for nutrients. They can also be effective against intestinal pathogens by interacting with the host, either by reinforcing the function of the epithelium barrier or by modifying the immune system response. The purpose of this work is to review the current knowledge on the effects of probiotics on intestinal infections and to provide insights on the possible cellular and molecular mechanisms of probiotics? action, especially those affecting the intestinal immune system.