Abstract
The aim and scope of this research/review article is to point out the role of probiotics and their immunomodulins to prevent or treat several incurable, acute and chronic metabolic diseases. The article is written to address physiological role of probiotics to prevent or treat such diseases at a molecular level, to safeguard humanity. It is also the aim of this research/ review article to educate the healthcare professionals on therapeutic aspects of several strains of probiotics, so that they can properly select them to treat their patients with greater efficacy.
This review and research article provides a comprehensive analysis of probiotics, with particular emphasis on their applications and significance in preventive and clinical medicine. The discussion encompasses morphology, cellular functions, distribution and predilection sites of the attachment of probiotics in the human gastrointestinal tract. In addition, definitions, regulatory considerations, and the therapeutic functions of various individual probiotic strains across different genera and species are presented with explicit details. Special attention is given to the biochemical mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects associated with the prevention or treatment of specific diseases and symptoms, by individual probiotic strains present in multiple mixed strain culture. A major focus is placed on the role of probiotics in the prevention and treatment of hospital-acquired (nosocomial) infections, certain cancers, and several viral infections, with particular emphasis on the recent COVID-19 pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 RNA coronavirus. The article offers a logical explanation of how probiotics may help modulate cytokine storms, a key factor in viral and bacterial infections, several allergies, obesity, and autoimmune disorders. During the course of research aimed at combating COVID-19, several serendipitous findings emerged, revealing potential therapeutic applications of probiotics in managing common conditions such as hypertension and type 2 diabetes. A scientific rationale is presented to explain the pathophysiology of these diseases and how probiotics may offer a novel approach to their treatment. Consequently, a concise pathophysiology of a particular disease has been presented to show exactly and hypothetically at what stage probiotics exert their therapeutic effect, for the sake of better understanding and appreciation by the readers. The article proposes function-specific combinations of probiotic strains that may serve as therapeutic agents for particular diseases or syndromes, offering a practical guide for physicians in clinical settings. The research/review article, presented with simplified and yet detailed schematic and pictorial presentation is an early guide to follow the theme of genesis, physiology, and role of probiotics to be used as preventative or therapeutic aids to prevent or cure several diseases in preventive or clinical medicine set up. For the sake of simplicity more emphasis has been placed on the pictorial presentations than elaborate and complex script for the sake of easy understanding, along with the pertinent references in this article.