Probiotics, the Natural Microbiota in Living Organisms

Book excerpt: Beneficial microbes called probiotics exist naturally in our bodies and play a vital role in our health. Probiotics have been known to produce important microbiota of antimicrobial compounds that enhance our immunity to counter the harmful effects of pathogenic organisms. These microbes are also used in the treatment of diseases and in negating the side effects of chemically synthesized medicines. The study of probiotic organisms and their wide applications in industrial products for human and animal uses has thus gained momentum. This book provides a comprehensive review on the research and applications of probiotics. It serves as a reference and resource for undergraduate and postgraduate students, researchers, companies, and policy makers who are active in fields related to functional food and feed, industrial biotechnology, nutraceuticals, and medicine. All chapters in this book have been written and edited by leading experts in the respective fields from academia, industry, or government.