PARABIOTICS

programs of study of research carried out during the last few years have shown the important role played by the intestinal microbiota in the health of the host. In the case of overweight and obesity, it has been observed that obese individuals present alterations in the composition of the intestinal microbiota (dysbiosis), with physiological and metabolic consequences. One of the mechanisms by which the intestinal microbiota seems to affect the metabolism of the host is mediated by certain metabolites of the microbial digestion of some nutrients or ingredients of the per diem expenses, the so-called postbiotic agents, with biological activity.

Despite the health benefits, the use of live microorganisms as food supplements presents certain limitations, such as the possibility of virulence gene transfer, difficulty in maintaining viability and production stability, the development of antibiotic resistance, among others. Therefore, it is essential to expand the knowledge and development of postbiotic components derived from probiotics. In addition, as an alternative strategy to the use of live cells, the use of paraprobiotics, dead, inactive microorganisms or fragments of their cells with beneficial properties for health, has been suggested.  

Therefore, the general goal of this project is the identification and functional characterization of probiotic strains that, either in inactivated form (paraprobiotics) or through their metabolites (postbiotics), are able to improve obesity-related parameters such as excess weight, adiposity, insulin resistance or inflammation.

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