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Foods
Special Issues
Innovations and Insights in Probiotics: Their Applications, Mechanisms and Safety
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Innovations and Insights in Probiotics: Their Applications, Mechanisms and Safety

A special issue of Foods (ISSN 2304-8158). This special issue belongs to the section "Food Microbiology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 1 August 2025 | Viewed by 8667

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Mohan Li

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Food Science, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang 110866, China
Interests: probiotics; gut microbiota; fermented foods; dairy products; multi-omics
Prof. Dr. Xiqing Yue

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Food Science, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, China
Interests: probiotics; gut microbiota; fermented foods; dairy products; multi-omics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Zhenmin Liu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
State Key Laboratory of Dairy Biotechnology, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Dairy Biotechnology, Dairy Research Institute, Bright Dairy & Food Co., Ltd., Shanghai 200436, China
Interests: dairy products; probiotics; cheese

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Probiotics have garnered substantial attention in recent years due to their potential health benefits and their integral role in fermented foods. As Guest Editors of this Special Issue, we are pleased to announce a comprehensive collection of articles that delve into the multifaceted world of probiotics. This Special Issue aims to explore the applications, functionalities, underlying mechanisms, and safety of probiotics, providing a holistic view of their role in human health and food science.

Probiotics have been consumed for centuries, providing not only preservation but also enhancing the nutritional value and health benefits of foods. The inclusion of probiotics in these foods has amplified their appeal, as these beneficial microorganisms can positively influence gut health, immunity, and overall well-being. This Special Issue will cover a wide range of topics including, but not limited to:

The Use of Probiotics in Fermented Foods: Exploring the incorporation of probiotics into various fermented products such as dairy, vegetables, meat, and beverages. We will examine innovative methods to enhance the viability and functionality of probiotics in these foods.

The Functional Properties of Probiotics: Discussing the health benefits of probiotics, including their role in gut health and immune modulation, their anti-inflammatory effects, and their potential in preventing and managing chronic diseases.

The Mechanisms of Probiotic Action: Investigating the molecular and cellular mechanisms through which probiotics exert their beneficial effects, as well as the effects of food ingredients on the intestinal microbiota. Understanding these mechanisms is crucial for developing targeted probiotic therapies and optimizing their use in the food industry.

Safety and Regulatory Aspects: Addressing the safety concerns associated with the use of probiotics in food products. This includes toxicology analyses, evaluating their potential risks, guidelines for safe usage, and regulatory frameworks that govern probiotic incorporation into foods.

Probiotic Processing Technologies: The development of advanced processing technologies is essential for maximizing the benefits of probiotics. This section will cover innovative delivery systems designed to enhance the stability, viability, and targeted delivery of probiotics. Topics will include encapsulation techniques, controlled release systems, and other cutting-edge processing methods.

Contributions to this Special Issue will come from leading researchers and practitioners in the field and provide cutting-edge insights and practical applications. We aim to create a resource that not only advances scientific understanding but also offers practical solutions for the food industry and healthcare sectors.

We invite researchers, academicians, and industry experts to submit research and review papers to this Special Issue. Together, we can shed light on the immense potential of probiotics and pave the way for future innovations in this exciting field.

Dr. Mohan Li
Prof. Dr. Xiqing Yue
Dr. Zhenmin Liu
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

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. Foods 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 2900 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
  • fermented foods
  • intestinal microbiota
  • delivery system
  • mechanism
  • application
  • safety

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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12 pages, 2313 KiB  
Article
A Postbiotic Derived from Lactobacillaceae Protects Intestinal Barrier Function in a Challenge Model Using Colon Organoid Tubules
by Colin I. Cercamondi, Igor Bendik, Erik Eckhardt, Tim Mak, Nicole Seifert, Karin Kuratli, Nathalie Richard, Balint Tamasi, Bernd Mussler and Eva Wintergerst
Foods 2025, 14(7), 1173; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods14071173 - 27 Mar 2025
Viewed by 410
Abstract
Postbiotics may help strengthen intestinal barrier function. This study assessed the effects of a postbiotic derived from Limosilactobacillus fermentum and Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. lactis on epithelial barrier and cytokine production. Human-derived colon tubules were cultured on chips for 15 days. On day 8, [...] Read more.
Postbiotics may help strengthen intestinal barrier function. This study assessed the effects of a postbiotic derived from Limosilactobacillus fermentum and Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. lactis on epithelial barrier and cytokine production. Human-derived colon tubules were cultured on chips for 15 days. On day 8, the epithelial barrier was disrupted with 0.7 μM afatinib. Postbiotic doses of 5, 10, or 20 mg/mL were added on days 6, 8, 11, and 13. Trans-epithelial electrical resistance (TEER) was measured on days 6, 8, 11, 13, and 15, along with phase contrast imaging. Cytokine levels were measured on day 13. All three postbiotic concentrations resulted in better TEER recovery on day 15 vs. the control (p < 0.001). On day 13, 10 and 20 mg/mL increased TEER (p < 0.001), but only 20 mg/mL did on day 11 (p < 0.05). Phase imaging confirmed the dose-dependent effect. The 20 mg/mL dose more effectively reduced CCL2, CX3CL1, CXCL1, CXCL5, IL-8, IL-11, and IL-4 than the other doses (p < 0.01), and 10 mg/mL more effectively reduced CCL2, CXCL1, CXCL10, IL-10, IL-11, and IL-23 than 5 mg/mL (p < 0.01). In a colonic organoid model, the Lactobacillaceae-derived postbiotic prevented drug-induced epithelial damage, enhanced recovery, and modulated cytokine secretion towards a more anti-inflammatory profile in a dose-dependent manner. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovations and Insights in Probiotics: Their Applications, Mechanisms and Safety)
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Review

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27 pages, 2745 KiB  
Review
The Role of Probiotics in Modulating the Gut Microbiome in Alzheimer’s Disease: A Review
by Yushi Dong, Xilin Wu, Yumeng Zhang, Adi Hu, Qian Zhou, Xiqing Yue, Zhenmin Liu and Mohan Li
Foods 2025, 14(9), 1531; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods14091531 - 27 Apr 2025
Viewed by 507
Abstract
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) has emerged as a global public health priority characterized by escalating prevalence and the limited efficacy of current therapeutic approaches. Although the pathological complexity of AD is well-recognized, its underlying etiology remains incompletely elucidated. Current research highlights a bidirectional gut–brain [...] Read more.
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) has emerged as a global public health priority characterized by escalating prevalence and the limited efficacy of current therapeutic approaches. Although the pathological complexity of AD is well-recognized, its underlying etiology remains incompletely elucidated. Current research highlights a bidirectional gut–brain axis (GBA) interaction, wherein gut microbiome perturbations may impair intestinal barrier stability, influence immune responses, and blood–brain barrier permeability through microbial metabolite-mediated pathways, thereby contributing to AD pathophysiology. Notably, probiotics demonstrate therapeutic potential by restoring gut microbiome homeostasis, reinforcing intestinal barrier integrity, and mitigating neuroinflammatory responses via GBA. This review focuses on investigating the gut microbiome alterations in AD pathogenesis, the interaction of probiotics with GBA, and its significance in AD pathogenesis. By synthesizing current clinical evidence, this review aims to establish a scientific foundation for probiotic-based interventions as a novel therapeutic strategy in AD management. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovations and Insights in Probiotics: Their Applications, Mechanisms and Safety)
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21 pages, 1603 KiB  
Review
Akkermansia muciniphila: A Potential Target for the Prevention of Diabetes
by Kairu He, Feiyu An, Henan Zhang, Danli Yan, Tong Li, Junrui Wu and Rina Wu
Foods 2025, 14(1), 23; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods14010023 - 25 Dec 2024
Viewed by 2427
Abstract
Akkermansia muciniphila, a Gram-negative anaerobic bacterium colonizing the intestinal mucus layer, is regarded as a promising “next-generation probiotic”. There is mounting evidence that diabetes and its complications are associated with disorders of A. muciniphila abundance. Thus, A. muciniphil and its components, including [...] Read more.
Akkermansia muciniphila, a Gram-negative anaerobic bacterium colonizing the intestinal mucus layer, is regarded as a promising “next-generation probiotic”. There is mounting evidence that diabetes and its complications are associated with disorders of A. muciniphila abundance. Thus, A. muciniphil and its components, including the outer membrane protein Amuc_1100, A. muciniphila-derived extracellular vesicles (AmEVs), and the secreted proteins P9 and Amuc_1409, are systematically summarized with respect to mechanisms of action in diabetes mellitus. Diabetes treatments that rely on altering changes in A. muciniphila abundance are also reviewed, including the identification of A. muciniphila active ingredients, and dietary and pharmacological interventions for A. mucinihila abundance. The potential and challenges of using A. muciniphila are also highlighted, and it is anticipated that this work will serve as a reference for more in-depth studies on A. muciniphila and diabetes development, as well as the creation of new therapeutic targets by colleagues domestically and internationally. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovations and Insights in Probiotics: Their Applications, Mechanisms and Safety)
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21 pages, 3184 KiB  
Review
The Role and Mechanism of Probiotics Supplementation in Blood Glucose Regulation: A Review
by Xinyu Shen, Chunmin Ma, Yang Yang, Xiaofei Liu, Bing Wang, Yan Wang, Guang Zhang, Xin Bian and Na Zhang
Foods 2024, 13(17), 2719; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods13172719 - 27 Aug 2024
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 4637
Abstract
With economic growth and improved living standards, the incidence of metabolic diseases such as diabetes mellitus caused by over-nutrition has risen sharply worldwide. Elevated blood glucose and complications in patients seriously affect the quality of life and increase the economic burden. There are [...] Read more.
With economic growth and improved living standards, the incidence of metabolic diseases such as diabetes mellitus caused by over-nutrition has risen sharply worldwide. Elevated blood glucose and complications in patients seriously affect the quality of life and increase the economic burden. There are limitations and side effects of current hypoglycemic drugs, while probiotics, which are safe, economical, and effective, have good application prospects in disease prevention and remodeling of intestinal microecological health and are gradually becoming a research hotspot for diabetes prevention and treatment, capable of lowering blood glucose and alleviating complications, among other things. Probiotic supplementation is a microbiologically based approach to the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), which can achieve anti-diabetic efficacy through the regulation of different tissues and metabolic pathways. In this study, we summarize recent findings that probiotic intake can achieve blood glucose regulation by modulating intestinal flora, decreasing chronic low-grade inflammation, modulating glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), decreasing oxidative stress, ameliorating insulin resistance, and increasing short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) content. Moreover, the mechanism, application, development prospect, and challenges of probiotics regulating blood glucose were discussed to provide theoretical references and a guiding basis for the development of probiotic preparations and related functional foods regulating blood glucose. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovations and Insights in Probiotics: Their Applications, Mechanisms and Safety)
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