Postbiotic

Paraprobiotics could be generated using different methods:[6]

• Heat-inactivation (also includes tyndallisation)
• Ultraviolet-inactivated
• Chemical treatment (e.g. formalin)
• Gamma-irradiation
• Sonication

In most cases heat treatment is considered the method of choice for deactivating probiotic strains. The effect that different types of inactivation have on bacterial structure and components as well as the maintenance of probiotic properties requires further research.

The mechanisms of action for paraprobiotics is less understood, though the possible mechanisms include immune system regulation and interference with pathogen attachment to host cells. Limited research hypothesises that immobilised paraprobiotics release key bacterial components, such as lipoteichoic acids, peptidoglycans, or exopolysaccharides which exhibit key immunomodulating effects and antagonising properties against pathogens.[6]

As paraprobiotics are newly emerging, so is the evidence to support the use of paraprobiotics. Emerging clinical and pre-clinical studies have demonstrated that paraprobiotics play a role in general health and well-being and for improving host immune function like that of probiotics.[7][8][9] It is paraproulated that paraprobiotics induce changes in the gut microbiome and the altered gut microbial composition is associated with increased levels of innate and acquired immunity biomarkers.[10] paraprobiotics also seem to exhibit antioxidant effects and has indicated its potential applications in food and pharmaceutical industries. [11]

Paraprobiotics (mostly heat-killed) have been evaluated in small study sizes and seem to be beneficial for the following clinical applications:

• Gastrointestinal diseases (bloating, paediatric disorders, infantile colic, diarrhea, extra-intestinal diseases) [3][6]
• Upper respiratory tract infections [9]
• Ocular disorders including eye fatigue[12]
• There is a growing body of pre-clinical evidence supporting the use of paraprobiotics for the following applications:
• Asthma[13]
• Inflammatory bowel diseases (ulcerative colitis)[14][15]
• Colitis-associated colorectal cancer[16]
• Type 2 Diabetes (improved glycemic parameters)[17]
• Liver injury[18][19]
• Atopic dermatitis[20]
• Influenza viruses[21][22][23]
• Cardiac injury[24]

Many species of bacteria have been identified to have benefits as paraprobiotic strains:

• Bifidobacterium breve [14][15]
• Bifidobacterium infantis [14][15]
• Bifidobacterium longum [14][15]
• Enterococcus faecalis [16][20]
• Lactobacillus acidophilus [14][15]
• Lactobacillus brevis[20][25]
• Lactobacillus bulgaricus [14][15]
• Lactobacillus casei[14][15][26]
• Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. Bulgaricus[27]
• Lactobacillus fermentum [27]
• Lactobacillus johnsonii [18]
• Lactobacillus paracasei [7][8]
• Lactobacillus plantarum [10][11][13][14][15][21]
• Lactobacillus reuteri[24][28]
• Lactobacillus salivarius [18]
• Lactococcus lactis[9]
• Streptococcus salivarius subsp. thermophilus [14][15][17]