The human intestine is home of an almost inconceivable large number of microorganisms. The human gut microbiota can therefore be pictured as an organ placed within a host organism. The human gut microbiome, which in total may contain >100 times the number of genes present in our genome, endows us with functional features that we did not have to evolve ourselves. It is recognized that intestinal microbiota plays an important role in human health and disease. In fact, gut bacteria other than metabolize dietary components, may play complex roles such as modulation of the immune system and in reduction of gut infections. Variations in the presence and/or abundance of certain components of the intestinal microbiota have repeatedly been observed in patients that suffer from atopic diseases, inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn disease, ulcerative colitis, infectious colitis, colon cancer and diabetes. In this context, bifidobacteria represent one of the most common bacterial members of the human gut microbiota. Bifidobacteria are anaerobic, Gram-positive, irregular or branched rod-shaped bacteria that are commonly found in the gastro-intestinal tracts (GIT) of humans, especially during the first stages of life and most animal and insects. Bifidobacterial fluctuations seem directly associated with health effects and for these reasons they are being exploited as health-promoting or probiotic bacteria. However, despite the extensive commercial exploitation of bifidobacteria as probiotic bacteria, little is known about their impact or dependency on other members of the human gut microbiota or on their host. Genome analyses have highlighted the existence of gene repertoires encoding products that are responsible for the adaptation of bifidobacteria to the human intestine and intense research efforts at international level are ongoing to understand the molecular details of these interactions. Specifically, the molecular interactions that are presumed to exist between bifidobacteria and the human host, as well as interactions between different residents of intestinal microbiota are the main topic of bifidobacterial research communities.

The Bifidobacteria and Related Organisms: Biology, Taxonomy, Applications brings together authoritative reviews on all aspects of Bifidobacteria and related genera. Their place within the Phylum Actinobacteria is discussed first, and this is followed by descriptions of the genera Bifidobacterium, Alloscardovia, Aeriscardovia, Bombiscardovia, Gardnerella, Metascardovia, Parascardovia and Scardovia and the currently accredited species within those genera. The increased availability of genome sequences and molecular tools for studying bifidobacteria provides important information about their taxonomy, physiology and interactions with their host. Also considerations about common bifidobacterial core maintenance during the mutual coevolution of a host and its intestinal microbes could be relevant for health claims for the ability of symbiotic gut bacteria to provide health benefits to their host, and for evaluating such claims in scientifically valid experiments. Chemotaxonomy is important to our understanding of these genera and so is considered along with physiological and biochemical aspects before proceeding to examine clinical and other practical aspects. The ability to maintain pure cultures and to grow cells in industrial quantities when required for applications requires that the cells' environmental and nutritional needs are well understood. Some species are important clinically and as animal digestive tract synbionts—and even play a part in honey production—so these matters are considered along with milk oligosaccharides' roles in gut flora development in neonates. - Presents information on all bacteria in this group in one place - Provides applications and technological considerations placed alongside more academic matters such as nomenclature and phylogeny - Includes basic information on the beneficial role of bifidobacteria in the human gut, with particular importance for infants - Provides information on genomic and gene modification technologies

Drawing on expert opinions from the fields of nutrition, gut microbiology, mammalian physiology, and immunology, Diet-Microbe Interactions for Human Health investigates the evidence for a unified disease mechanism working through the gut and its resident microbiota, and linking many inflammation-related chronic diet associated diseases. State of the art post-genomic studies can highlight the important role played by our resident intestinal microbiota in determining human health and disease. Many chronic human diseases associated with modern lifestyles and diets — including those localized to the intestinal tract like inflammatory bowel disease and celiac disease, and more pervasive systemic conditions such as obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease — are characterized by aberrant profiles of gut bacteria or their metabolites. Many of these diseases have an inflammatory basis, often presenting with a chronic low-grade systemic inflammation, hinting at persistent and inappropriate activation of inflammatory pathways. Through the presentation and analysis of recent nutrition studies, this book discusses the possible mechanisms underpinning the disease processes associated with these pathologies, with high fat diets appearing to predispose to disease, and biologically active plant components, mainly fiber and polyphenols, appearing to reduce the risk of chronic disease development. - One comprehensive, translational source for all aspects of nutrition and diet's effect on gastrointestinal health and disease - Experts in nutrition, diet, microbiology and immunology take readers from the bench research (cellular and biochemical mechanisms of vitamins and nutrients) to new preventive and therapeutic approaches - Clear presentations by leading researchers of the cellular mechanisms underlying diet, immune response, and gastrointestinal disease help practicing nutritionists and clinicians (gastroenterologists, endocrinologists) map out new areas for clinical research and structuring clinical recommendations

The Food Forum convened a public workshop on February 22-23, 2012, to explore current and emerging knowledge of the human microbiome, its role in human health, its interaction with the diet, and the translation of new research findings into tools and products that improve the nutritional quality of the food supply. The Human Microbiome, Diet, and Health: Workshop Summary summarizes the presentations and discussions that took place during the workshop. Over the two day workshop, several themes covered included: The microbiome is integral to human physiology, health, and disease. The microbiome is arguably the most intimate connection that humans have with their external environment, mostly through diet. Given the emerging nature of research on the microbiome, some important methodology issues might still have to be resolved with respect to undersampling and a lack of causal and mechanistic studies. Dietary interventions intended to have an impact on host biology via their impact on the microbiome are being developed, and the market for these products is seeing tremendous success. However, the current regulatory framework poses challenges to industry interest and investment.

The Microbiota in Gastrointestinal Pathophysiology: Implications for Human Health, Prebiotics, Probiotics and Dysbiosis is a one-stop reference on the state-of-the-art research on gut microbial ecology in relation to human disease. This important resource starts with an overview of the normal microbiota of the gastrointestinal tract, including the esophagus, stomach, Ileum, and colon. The book then identifies what a healthy vs. unhealthy microbial community looks like, including methods of identification. Also included is insight into which features and contributions the microbiota make that are essential and useful to host physiology, as is information on how to promote appropriate mutualisms and prevent undesirable dysbioses. Through the power of synthesizing what is known by experienced researchers in the field, current gaps are closed, raising understanding of the role of the microbiome and allowing for further research. - Explains how to modify the gut microbiota and how the current strategies used to do this produce their effects - Explores the gut microbiota as a therapeutic target - Provides the synthesis of existing data from both mainstream and non-mainstream sources through experienced researchers in the field - Serves as a 'one-stop' shop for a topic that's currently spread across a number of various journals

Nowadays, most of Western consumers are aware that a targeted diet could be an important tool for fighting ageing and diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, and obesity. Microorganisms may be exploited for setting up novel foods that, beside their nutritional value, may positively impact on consumers’ health. Some microorganisms may benefit host when ingested as viable cells carried by food and beverages. This falls in the intriguing field of probiotics, recently brought forward by the numerous probiotic claims rejected by the European Food Safety Authority. This research topic includes research articles and reviews/perspectives that (i) contribute to understand the mechanism underlying the health effects of probiotic microorganisms; (ii) show integrated approaches for selecting new probiotics; (iii) report about non-dairy food items as novel carriers of probiotics; and (iv) deal with biologically active compounds from microorganisms.

**Selected for Doody's Core Titles® 2024 in Nutrition** Ketogenic: The Science of Therapeutic Carbohydrate Restriction in Human Health presents the most up-to-date and evidence-based science and research available in the field of TCR, with the purpose of training medical and allied healthcare professionals on the effective therapeutic use of low-carbohydrate and ketogenic nutrition in clinical practice. This book explores the appropriate, safe, and effective use of TCR to improve patient outcomes in a broad range of chronic metabolic conditions and aims to promote health. Focused on lifestyle management, health support and the treatment of diseases rooted in poor nutrition, this book explores the role of food and lifestyle modification as medicine and is a valuable resource for nutritionists, dietitians and medical professionals who provide diet-related counselling, as well as those researching or studying related areas. - Presents new best-practice guidelines for using TCR to treat, improve or reverse nutrition-related metabolic conditions and diseases that were previously thought to have a chronic, irreversible progression - Provides an overview of the most recent evidence outlining the biochemistry and physiology pertaining to human nutrition and health - Offers evolutionary and historical context to human nutrition - Contains clinical practice guidelines for the implementation of TCR from medical practitioners who prescribe TCR in their practices, allowing readers to understand real-life concerns in the field - Features case studies that provide practical examples of how to assess, monitor and intervene with patients that practitioners encounter in their practices - Explains the physiology and biochemistry of the normal and pathophysiological state for each condition and links these to the application of TCR