What are probiotics?

• Probiotics are live microorganisms that may be able to help prevent and treat some illnesses. 
• This includes bacteria, yeasts and viruses — with bacteria making up the vast majority.
• Promoting a healthy digestive tract and a healthy immune system are their most widely studied benefits.
• These are also commonly known as friendly, good, or healthy bacteria. 
• Probiotics can be supplied through foods, beverages, and dietary supplements.

What is the Gut Microbiome?

• The ‘gut microbiome’ is made up of the trillions of microorganisms and their genetic material that live in our intestinal tract.
• These microorganisms, mainly comprising bacteria, are involved in functions critical to your health and wellbeing.
• These bacteria play a key role in digesting food we eat, and they help with absorbing and synthesising nutrients too.
• These are also involved in many other important processes including metabolism, body weight, and immune regulation, as well as brain functions and mood.

Why in News?

A study by IIT Madras researchers of 36 strains of gut bacteria commonly found in the gut reveals their metabolism and could bring added rigour into the development of probiotics.

Gut bacteria

• The human gut microbiome has a huge number of beneficial bacteria, collectively called commensals, living in it.
• Key among these are the bacteria of the Bifidobacterium genus.
• Bifidobacterium adolescentis and B. longum are found in the adult human gut whereas B. bifidum are found in the infant gut.
• Bifidobacterium is one of the largest genera among gut bacteria and its species are known to be early colonisers of the breastfed infant gut.

References:

What is the Gut Microbiome?

https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/iit-madras-study-reveals-metabolism-of-key-gut-microbiota/article31821977.ece

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/probiotics-101

https://www.medicinenet.com/probiotics/article.htm