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Probiotics are defined as live microorganisms which, when ingested in adequate amounts, confer health benefits on the host. Chronic diseases such as diabetes, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, coronary artery disease, a variety of chronic inflammatory disorders with an immune basis, and some forms of cancer are increasing in incidence around the world and in India, and may be attributable in part to rapid changes in our lifestyle. There is considerable public interest in India in the consumption of probiotic foods. This brief review summarizes the background of the gut microbiota, the immunological reactions induced by these, the evidence linking the microbiota to health outcomes, and the evidence linking the use of probiotics for amelioration of chronic lifestyle diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Novel orange-pigmented, Gram-negative, rod-shaped, non-motile bacteria, designated strains NIO-S3T and NIO-S4, were isolated from a water sample collected from Cochin back waters, Thanneermukkom and Arookutty, Kerala, India. Both strains were positive for oxidase and catalase activities, and hydrolyzed gelatin and Tween 40. The predominant fatty acids were iso-C15:0, anteiso-C15:0, iso-C17:0 3OH, C16:1 ω7c/C16:1 ω6c (summed feature 3) and iso-C17:1 ω9c/C16:0 10-methyl (summed feature 9), whereas MK-7 was the major respiratory quinone, and phosphatidylethanolamine, two unidentified phospholipids and one unidentified lipid were the only polar lipids. The DNA G+C content of the two strains was 43.7 and 43.6mol%, respectively. The 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis indicated that they were members of the genus Algoriphagus and closely related to Algoriphagus olei CC-Hsuan-617T, Algoriphagus aquatilis A8-7T, Algoriphagus aquaeductus LMG 24398T and Algoriphagus mannitolivorans DSM 15301T, with pairwise sequence similarities of 96.8, 96.6, 96.2 and 96.2%, respectively. DNA–DNA hybridization between strains NIO-S3T and NIO-S4 showed a relatedness of 89%. Based on data from the current polyphasic study, the strains are proposed as a novel species of the genus Algoriphagus, for which the name Algoriphagus shivajiensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of A. shivajiensis is NIO-S3T (=JCM 17885T =MTCC 11066T). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]