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Probiotics, Prebiotics, Postbiotics: From Mechanisms to Applications

A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Food Science and Technology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 10 December 2025 | Viewed by 1772

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, China
Interests: probiotics; postbiotics; nanomaterial bioapplication; foodborne pathogens
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue will explore the mechanisms and diverse applications of probiotics, prebiotics, and postbiotics in promoting health and addressing complex pathologies, with a focus on technological innovations in their formulation and optimization. Probiotics, prebiotics, and postbiotics play a critical role in modulating microbiota composition and systemic physiological homeostasis. Core research themes include their efficacy in alleviating liver injury, enhancing metabolic detoxification processes, and mitigating oxidative stress and inflammatory responses.

The scope of this Special Issue covers innovative applications in functional foods and formulation technologies to improve strain stability and bioavailability during production, storage, and gastrointestinal transit. Additionally, this Special Issue will emphasize the optimization of probiotic encapsulation techniques for intestine-targeted delivery, their controlled-release efficacy, and their potential in personalized nutritional interventions. Submissions may focus on mechanistic studies (e.g., gut microbiota modulation, short-chain fatty acid synthesis), animal models, clinical trials, or translational research, while addressing challenges such as strain specificity, scalable manufacturing processes, and regulatory safety evaluations.

We welcome multidisciplinary contributions across fields including microbiology, food engineering, pharmaceutical research and development, and nutritional sciences to advance the frontiers of applications of probiotics/prebiotics/postbiotics in therapeutic strategies, functional food development, and precision health management.

Prof. Dr. Hengyi Xu
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Applied Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • probiotics
  • prebiotics
  • postbiotics
  • gut microbiota modulation
  • health intervention
  • functional foods
  • metabolic detoxification
  • probiotic encapsulation
  • formulation stability
  • oxidative stress
  • personalized nutrition

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

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23 pages, 3832 KiB  
Article
Novel Probiotic Strain Lactiplantibacillus plantarum CNTA 628 Modulates Lipid Metabolism and Improves Healthspan in C. elegans
by Ignacio Goyache, Lorena Valdés-Varela, Raquel Virto, Miguel López-Yoldi, Noelia López-Giral, Ana Sánchez-Vicente, Fermín I. Milagro and Paula Aranaz
Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(14), 8007; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15148007 - 18 Jul 2025
Viewed by 361
Abstract
The call for new approaches to prevent and treat metabolic syndrome-related diseases has led to research on the use of lacto-fermentative probiotics with beneficial metabolic properties like Lactobacilli. Here, we characterize the probiotic properties of a novel strain, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum CNTA 628, [...] Read more.
The call for new approaches to prevent and treat metabolic syndrome-related diseases has led to research on the use of lacto-fermentative probiotics with beneficial metabolic properties like Lactobacilli. Here, we characterize the probiotic properties of a novel strain, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum CNTA 628, and investigate its potential anti-obesity and health-promoting activities in the Caenorhabditis elegans model, additionally elucidating the molecular mechanisms involved. Lactiplantibacillus plantarum CNTA 628 exhibited sensitivity to the entire spectrum of antibiotics analyzed, gastric and intestinal resistance in vitro, β-galactosidase and bile-salt hydrolysate activities, and the capacity to form biofilms and produce SCFAs. In addition, it reduced the binding of the pathogenic E. coli O157:H7 to intestinal epithelial cells (Caco-2) and exerted immune-modulating effects in cellular models. Supplementation with this probiotic significantly reduced C. elegans fat accumulation by more than 18% under control and high-glucose conditions, lowered senescence, improved oxidative stress, and significantly enhanced lifespan without affecting the development of the worms. Gene expression analyses evidenced that L. plantarum CNTA 628 plays a role in regulating daf-22 and maoc-1 gene expression, both linked to beta-oxidation pathways. Our results demonstrate the health-benefiting properties of this novel strain and suggest its potential as probiotic candidate for the prevention and treatment of metabolic syndrome-related conditions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Probiotics, Prebiotics, Postbiotics: From Mechanisms to Applications)
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Review

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27 pages, 2003 KiB  
Review
Unlocking Wellness: Probiotics as Key Drivers in Functional Food Innovation and Health Promotion
by Yifei Huang, Yuankun Zhou and Hengyi Xu
Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(12), 6498; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15126498 - 9 Jun 2025
Viewed by 1162
Abstract
Probiotics play a pivotal role in functional food development owing to their distinct health-promoting properties. This review comprehensively examines probiotics’ classifications and functional mechanisms and their roles in modulating intestinal microbiota, enhancing immunity, and intervening in metabolic diseases. The diverse applications of probiotics [...] Read more.
Probiotics play a pivotal role in functional food development owing to their distinct health-promoting properties. This review comprehensively examines probiotics’ classifications and functional mechanisms and their roles in modulating intestinal microbiota, enhancing immunity, and intervening in metabolic diseases. The diverse applications of probiotics in dairy and meat products are examined alongside technological innovations, including microencapsulation, biofilm systems, and personalized strain screening that have been employed to enhance probiotic stability and efficacy in functional foods. We analyze safety concerns and regulatory challenges, emphasizing the need for rigorous pre-market evaluation and international regulatory harmonization. This study aims to review the existing scientific evidence on the application of probiotics in functional foods, providing a theoretical reference for the development of the next generation of high-quality functional foods. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Probiotics, Prebiotics, Postbiotics: From Mechanisms to Applications)
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