Effects of Probiotics, Prebiotics, and Postbiotics on Human Health (2nd Edition)

For a long time, it has been widely documented that probiotics, either alone or in combination with prebiotic supplements, play a vital role in host health and disease management. However, at present, with increased knowledge of their specific actions, i.e., their antioxidant and immunomodulatory effects and enhancement of epithelial barrier function, most likely driven by the modulation of local microbiota, as well as their beneficial effects in disease prevention and treatment, a significant proportion of experimental research, in addition to hundreds of clinical applications, is currently focused on investigating their use. With increasing evidence supporting the impact of beneficial bacteria, alone, with prebiotics, or, alternatively, with postbiotics-inanimate microorganisms and/or their components that confer a health benefit on the host-on specific mechanisms of human biology, and the two-way communication of local microbiomes via the nervous system, there is increasing interest in harnessing these bacterial elements both to prevent and treat illness, and sustain and improve health. This Special Issue presents a collection of exceptional research, featuring both research articles and reviews, that delves into the diverse applications of microbiome-modulating interventions, providing insights into their physiological and clinical implications. It is our hope that this Special Issue will serve as a valuable resource, inspiring further exploration into the transformative potential of the human microbiome(s) in both preventive and therapeutic contexts.