BIO 3124 Lecture Notes - Lecture 15: Immunogenicity, Constipation, Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Document Summary
Alternative to antibiotherapy: probiotics and phage therapy: probiotics (pro: for, biotic: life) Live microbial feed supplements that have bene cial effects on the host by improving its intestinal microbial balance. Essentially, a microorganism is used to try to prevent other microorganisms from growing/establishing themselves. Able to attach to the intestinal epithelia and colonize. Able to utilize the nutrients in a normal diet. Capable of exerting a bene cial effect on host. Modes of action: stimulation of immune system: enhance production of secretory antibodies, competition for adhesion sites and essential nutrients, production of antimicrobial factors (ie. bacteriocins, provide favourable environment for growth of other bene cial bacteria. Mainly used for disorders of the digestive system: Constipation: phage therapy: use of bacteriophages to treat bacterial infections. Bacteriophages are viruses that only infect bacteria and which are speci c to a single bacterial strain (natural enemies of bacteria).
