Genetic basis for probiotic yeast phenotypes revealed by nanopore sequencing.

Probiotic yeasts are emerging as preventative and therapeutic solutions for disease. Often ingested via cultured foods and beverages, they can survive the harsh conditions of the gastrointestinal tract and adhere to it, where they provide nutrients and inhibit pathogens like Candida albicans. Yet, little is known of the genomic determinants of these beneficial traits.

Yeasts originating from fermented foods, their potential as probiotics and therapeutic implication for human health and disease.

Yeasts derived from fermented foods have historically been known for their organoleptic properties, enriching nutritional values, and producing bioactive metabolites with therapeutic potential. In this review, we discuss the yeast flora in fermented foods, their functional aspects in fermentation, as well as their probiotic and biotherapeutic properties. These yeasts have numerous physical and biochemical characteristics, such as larger cells as compared to bacteria, a rigid cell wall composed primarily of glucans and mannans, natural resistance to antibiotics, and the secretion of secondary metabolites that are both pleasing to the consumer and beneficial to the host's health and well-being.

Secondary Metabolites from Food-Derived Yeasts Inhibit Virulence of Candida albicans.

A sparse number of available antifungal drugs, therapeutic side effects, and drug resistance are major challenges in current antifungal therapy to treat Candida albicans-associated infections. Here, we describe two food-derived yeasts, Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Issatchenkia occidentalis, that inhibit virulence traits of C. albicans, including hyphal morphogenesis, biofilm formation, and adhesion to intestinal epithelial cells.

Application of Probiotic Yeasts on Species Associated Infection.

Superficial and life-threatening invasive infections are a major clinical challenge in hospitalized and immuno-compromised patients. Emerging drug-resistance among species is exacerbated by the limited availability of antifungals and their associated side-effects. In the current review, we discuss the application of probiotic yeasts as a potential alternative/ combination therapy against infections.

Probiotic Yeasts Inhibit Virulence of Non Species.

Systemic infections of species pose a significant threat to public health. Toxicity associated with current therapies and emergence of resistant strains present major therapeutic challenges. Here, we report exploitation of the probiotic properties of two novel, food-derived yeasts, (strain KTP) and (strain ApC), as an alternative approach to combat widespread opportunistic fungal infections.