Unlocking the Potential of Ghost Probiotics in Combating Antimicrobial Resistance

Abstract

Antimicrobial resistance is a global concern that requires immediate attention. Major causes of development of antimicrobial resistance in microbial cells are overuse of antimicrobials along the food chain especially in livestock, in preventing infections as well as misuse of antimicrobials by patients. Probiotics could be a viable alternative to antibiotics in the fight against antimicrobial resistance. Probiotic strains can act as a complement to antimicrobial therapy, improving antimicrobial function and enhancing immunity. However, there are safety concerns regarding the extensive use of live microbial cells especially in immunocompromised individuals; these include microbial translocation, inhibition of other beneficial microorganisms and development of antimicrobial resistance, among other concerns. Inevitably, ghost probiotics have become the favored alternative as they eliminate the safety and shelf-life problems associated with use of probiotics. Ghost probiotics are non-viable microbial cells (intact or broken) or metabolic products from microorganisms, which when administered in adequate amounts have biologic activity in the host and confer health benefits. Ghost probiotics exert biological effects similar to probiotics. However, the major drawback of using ghost probiotics is that the mechanism of action of these is currently unknown, hence more research is required and regulatory instruments are needed to assure the safety of consumers.

Improving Antimicrobial Stewardship in Human Health Using Probiotics and Their Derivatives

“…They are favored because they have a longer shelf life, which makes it easier to distribute them without refrigeration to various locations. In immune-compromised people, the use of ghost probiotics lowers the likelihood of contamination, microbial translocation, or heightened inflammatory immune responses [8,32].…”

“…They can interact with dietary components and release bioactive compounds such as short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) or other metabolites. SCFAs, for example, can provide energy to colon cells, support the gut barrier function, and have systemic effects on metabolism [32].…”

Designing a novel method based on multiplex PCR for detecting various meat of birds in processed ground meat products

“…There has been an increasing need for the development of techniques that may rapidly and correctly identify the adulteration on site in cases of possible food adulteration ( Ndudzo et al, 2022 ). Additionally, the food sector is looking at detecting techniques that may be used outside of laboratories since it must adhere to food-labeling compliance ( Loeffler et al, 2022 ).…”