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Microbes & Immunity Probiotics from ancient wisdom to modern days

7. Personalized medicine and probiotics This strain is known for its ability to survive stomach acid
and bile, allowing it to reach the gut alive and provide
The concept of personalized medicine or precision health benefits. A study analyzed 100 different strains
medicine is transforming health care by tailoring of L. rhamnosus. Out of the 100 strains considered
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treatments to individual patients based on their unique identified strain A and strain B, which were different
genetic and microbial profiles. This approach holds great strains of L. rhamnosus. Both strains could be found in the
promise for the field of probiotics, as the composition of the intestines, but strain B could be characterized similarly to
gut microbiome varies significantly between individuals. the well-known GG strain. Strain A and strain B can be
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By analyzing an individual’s gut microbiome, researchers distinguished by the following:
can identify specific probiotic strains that may be most • Lack of pili: Strain A does not have the hair-like pili,
beneficial for that individual. This personalized approach which are crucial for adhesion to the mucus gut lining
can help to maximize the efficacy and safety of probiotic • Carbohydrate metabolism: Strain A metabolizes
interventions. different carbohydrates, including D-lactose and
Practitioners will need to understand both the pathology D-maltose. This is indicative of its adaptation to a
of a patient’s dysbiosis and the specific strain of probiotics dairy-like environment (making cheese).
that has the propensity to address the problem – an essential On the other hand, strain B has traits that make it
foundation for effective treatment. Strategies for developing well-suited for the intestinal tract, such as bile resistance,
personalized probiotic therapies can then include the production of pili, and the ability to utilize L-fucose,
comprehensive microbiome profiling, strain-specific a type of sugar. Thus, strain B survives stomach gastric
testing, and potentially the use of artificial intelligence (AI) juices better and lasts longer in the intestines, adhering to
to predict individual responses to different probiotic strains. the mucus lining. It is therefore not surprising that strain
Some companies(e.g Zoe.com) now offer at-home B performs better in fixing the illness above. Whatever
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microbiome tests. Typically, stool samples are taken at number of strain A survives the hostile environment of the
home and sent in for analysis. One consumer advocacy stomach, it just passes through, not having pili to anchor.
group. Evaluated three such companies and offered some All of which is to illustrate the importance of getting the
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caution: type of strain right to suit the intended disease application.
• If you are curious about your gut health, a gut
microbiome test can be interesting 7.2. Limitations of probiotics
• However, if you have gastrointestinal symptoms, it To illustrate this section, we offer an excerpt from a Social
is best to see your health-care provider for routine Media post, as follows:
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clinical testing to detect common pathogens
Taking certain strains of probiotics years ago gave
• Companies offering these services caution against me severe health problems, when before I was perfectly
making major dietary changes based on home gut healthy. My body initially reacted to them as if I (had)
microbiome test results
• They recommend seeking further advice from caught a severe stomach bug. After taking them, I got
diarrhea, nausea, swollen lymph nodes, fatigue, nerve
qualified health-care professionals before making pain, severe chronic belching, chronic mal-digestion of
significant changes to your diet
• Remember, these tests are fascinating but are not yet foods, constant sore throat, etc. It continued to progress to
the point of panic attacks, having zero appetite, and having
diagnostic tools.
severe flu-like symptoms all the time. I did an antibiotic
As an aside, this trend presents a great opportunity for regiment and recovered in less than a week, being able
gathering vast amounts of microbiome data, though it also to eat anything and everything without any problems
raises important privacy and ethical considerations. besides feeling completely amazing. I then took a different
probiotic with different strains, and my body got just as
7.1. Strain specificity sick from it. I was never able to truly recover after that
The effects of probiotics are highly strain-specific. Not all point. Antibiotics helped again temporarily but stopped
probiotic strains are equally effective or safe for all individuals. working. Without severe intervention on my part, my body
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This further supports the need to account for both the slips quickly into misery, and I basically go insane. Medical
particular strain of probiotics as well as the target disease. tests are inconclusive, and my gastroenterologist thinks it’s
Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) is a well-researched my immune system overreacting and I agree.
probiotic strain, first isolated by scientists Sherwood I think I am a one in a million case where taking
Gorbach and Barry Goldwin, hence the “GG” designation. certain probiotics shifted the bacteria in my gut to a point

Volume 2 Issue 3 (2025) 38 doi: 10.36922/mi.6424