PROBIOTICS YOGHURT FOR A LONG & HEALTHY LIFE

PROBIOTICS YOGHURT FOR A LONG & HEALTHY LIFE

TOPIC: Science & Tech

Context- Indian scientists recently identified a next-generation probiotic bacterium, Lactobacillus plantarum JBC5, from a dairy product that showed promise in promoting healthy ageing. The team has also developed a yoghurt using this probiotic bacterium.

Concept-

Lactobacillus plantarum JBC5:

• Lactobacillus plantarum JBC5 showed great promise in promoting healthy ageing in a model organism, Caenorhabditiselegans, a worm with genetic characteristics similar to those of humans.
• LPJBC5 improved learning and memory.
• LPJBC5 conferred resistance against abiotic and biotic stresses such as oxidative, heat, and pathogen.
• LPJBC5 reduced the production of reactive oxygen species and improved mitochondrial function, thereby reducing apoptosis in worms.

Probiotics:

• Probiotics are foods that are made up of good live bacteria or yeasts that naturally stay in the human body.
• Human body is a host to good and bad bacteria. Whenever one gets an infection, there is more bacteria that is bad.
• Probiotic supplements add good bacteria to the human body.

What are Probiotics made of:

• These are a combination of beneficial bacteria and yeasts that naturally stay in the human body.
• Bacteria is not always a negative addition to the body, it is positive too.
• Probiotics are part of a larger microbiome. These microbes are a combination of:
  • Bacteria:
    • Lactobacillus
    • Bifidobacterium
  • Fungi (including yeasts)
    • Saccharomyces boulardii
  • Viruses
  • Protozoa

Where do Probiotics live in the body?

• The most common place where beneficial microbes are is the gut of the human body. This mostly includes large intestines.
• They also exist in your:
  • Gut
  • Mouth
  • Vagina
  • Urinary tract
  • Skin
  • Lungs