Medicine in MicroecologyPub Date : 2025-12-01Epub Date: 2025-09-13DOI: 10.1016/j.medmic.2025.100151
B. Aswinanand , Jeeva Balakrishnan , Kathiravan Muthu Kumaradoss , Mikhlid H. Almutairi , Bader O. Almutairi , S. Karthick Raja Namasivayam , Senthilkumar Palaniappan , Jesu Arockiaraj
{"title":"Thiazol-sulfonyl derivative KM9 mitigates hyperglycemia-associated steatotic liver injury in in-vitro and in-vivo models","authors":"B. Aswinanand , Jeeva Balakrishnan , Kathiravan Muthu Kumaradoss , Mikhlid H. Almutairi , Bader O. Almutairi , S. Karthick Raja Namasivayam , Senthilkumar Palaniappan , Jesu Arockiaraj","doi":"10.1016/j.medmic.2025.100151","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.medmic.2025.100151","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is a growing health challenge worldwide, strongly connected to hyperglycemia (HG). This study investigates the therapeutic potential of 4-methyl-N-(6-methyl-1,3-benzothiazol-2-yl) benzene-1-sulfonamide (named KM9), a novel compound consisting of thiazol and sulfonyl groups, for HG-associated MASLD. In silico analysis using network pharmacology verified that KM9 is involved in lipid metabolism and insulin signaling pathways. In vitro and in vivo studies using HepG2 cells and zebrafish embryos demonstrated the cytotoxicity and effective dose of KM9. These studies further revealed its ability to reduce oxidative stress indicators, including reactive oxygen species (ROS), apoptosis, and lipid peroxidation (LPO) induced by alloxan (ALN). In ALN-exposed zebrafish, KM9 significantly reduced glucose levels and enhanced glucose uptake. It also lowered lipid accumulation, cholesterol, and triglyceride levels. KM9 exhibited anti-inflammatory effects by reducing macrophage localization and increased the activity of antioxidant enzymes, including superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione S-transferase (GST), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx). Furthermore, KM9 regulated genes associated with lipogenesis (<em>fasn</em>, <em>srebp1</em>), inflammation (<em>il-6</em>, <em>tnf-α</em>), and insulin receptor expression (<em>ins</em>, <em>insra1</em>, <em>insrb1</em>). These findings demonstrate that KM9 exerts multifaceted protective effects, which collectively decrease liver damage and improve liver health, as evidenced by histopathological analysis.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":36019,"journal":{"name":"Medicine in Microecology","volume":"26 ","pages":"Article 100151"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145105233","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Probiotic regulation of gut hormones following antibiotic-induced dysbiosis: Insights into host-microbiota-endocrine interactions","authors":"Pathipati Hareesha , Devaraju Terepogu , Gopi Krishna Pitchika , Viswanath Buddolla","doi":"10.1016/j.medmic.2025.100158","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.medmic.2025.100158","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Antibiotic therapy significantly disrupts the gut microbiota, leading to dysbiosis and impacting the secretion of gut hormones crucial for metabolic regulation, appetite control, and immune homeostasis. This review explores how probiotics can help restore microbial balance and modulate gut hormones, such as glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), peptide YY (PYY), and ghrelin, which are key regulators of metabolic processes including insulin sensitivity, glucose tolerance, fat storage, and appetite. The mechanisms involve microbial metabolite signaling, host-epithelial interactions, and communication along the gut-brain axis. The current review synthesizes information on the effects of antibiotics on the enteroendocrine network and investigates how probiotics might alleviate these disturbances through direct and microbiota-mediated pathways. Emerging technologies such as metagenomics and metabolomics are paving the way for targeted probiotic interventions. While current findings show promising potential, further rigorous clinical trials are essential to fully understand and apply these microbiome-based strategies for managing antibiotic-induced metabolic and inflammatory conditions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":36019,"journal":{"name":"Medicine in Microecology","volume":"26 ","pages":"Article 100158"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145576076","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Medicine in MicroecologyPub Date : 2025-12-01Epub Date: 2025-11-25DOI: 10.1016/j.medmic.2025.100159
Amruta A. Joshi, Ravindra H. Patil
{"title":"Corrigendum to “Nanoparticles targeting biofilms: A new era in combating antimicrobial resistance” [Med Microecol, Volume 26, December 2025, 100156]","authors":"Amruta A. Joshi, Ravindra H. Patil","doi":"10.1016/j.medmic.2025.100159","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.medmic.2025.100159","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":36019,"journal":{"name":"Medicine in Microecology","volume":"26 ","pages":"Article 100159"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145623120","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Medicine in MicroecologyPub Date : 2025-12-01Epub Date: 2025-10-25DOI: 10.1016/j.medmic.2025.100156
Amruta A. Joshi, Ravindra H. Patil
{"title":"Nanoparticles targeting biofilms: A new era in combating antimicrobial resistance","authors":"Amruta A. Joshi, Ravindra H. Patil","doi":"10.1016/j.medmic.2025.100156","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.medmic.2025.100156","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Due to biofilms' unique ability to protect bacteria from antibiotics and host immune responses, biofilm-associated infections continue to be a persistent problem and are at the core of the rise in antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Structured microbial communities called biofilms, which are surrounded by an extracellular polymeric matrix that the bacteria manufacture on their own, can increase bacterial resistance to therapy by up to 1000 times. This protected environment promotes the horizontal transfer of resistance genes in addition to impeding medication efficacy. Nanoparticles (NPs) have become a promising weapon in the fight against biofilms in recent years. They can break down structural integrity, improve antibiotic delivery, and penetrate biofilm matrices because of their unique physicochemical characteristics. This review article highlights the classes of NPs used as anti-biofilm agents —such as metal and metal oxide nanoparticles, polymeric nanocarriers, and lipid-based systems sheds light on their mechanisms of action, including reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, inhibition of quorum sensing, degradation of biofilm matrix, and enhanced drug permeability. Finally, the challenges in the clinical application of NPs such as nanotoxicity, environmental issues, practical applications and future directions are discussed.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":36019,"journal":{"name":"Medicine in Microecology","volume":"26 ","pages":"Article 100156"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145424434","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Medicine in MicroecologyPub Date : 2025-12-01Epub Date: 2025-08-20DOI: 10.1016/j.medmic.2025.100144
Balapuwaduge Isuru Layan Madusanka Mendis , L. Sarvananda , Thilini N. Jayasinghe , Iyanthimala Harshini Rajapakse , Arosha Sampath Dissanayake
{"title":"Mechanisms and key mediators of gut microbiota and type 2 diabetes mellitus: A comprehensive overview","authors":"Balapuwaduge Isuru Layan Madusanka Mendis , L. Sarvananda , Thilini N. Jayasinghe , Iyanthimala Harshini Rajapakse , Arosha Sampath Dissanayake","doi":"10.1016/j.medmic.2025.100144","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.medmic.2025.100144","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The gut microbiota is a major component of the human microbiome, crucial for gastrointestinal function. Dysbiosis of the gut microbiota has been linked to the development, progression, and susceptibility to type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) through energy and fatty acid metabolism, intestinal barrier integrity, glucose homeostasis, insulin sensitivity, and inflammatory pathways. Additional connections have been identified with obesity and the gut-brain axis. Key microbial metabolites include short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), lipopolysaccharides, secondary bile acids (SBAs), branched-chain amino acids, tryptophan derivatives, trimethylamine N-oxide, imidazole propionate, bioactive peptides, postbiotics, and fasting-induced adipose factor. Individuals with T2DM often exhibit reduced microbial diversity, lower levels of SCFA-producing bacteria, and increased presence of opportunistic, endotoxin-producing gram-negative bacteria. Key microbial genera implicated in T2DM include <em>Clostridium, Bifidobacterium, Akkermansia, Bacteroides, Lactobacillus</em> spp., and members of the <em>Firmicutes</em> phylum. The gut microbiota is shaped by diet, medications, health conditions, genetics, lifestyle, and environmental factors. Despite the complex inter/intra-individual variability of the gut microbiome, robust evidence may emerge through large-scale cohort studies employing deep sequencing and metagenomics. This review provides novel insights into how gut microbiota-derived metabolites influence host physiology, epigenetics and gut-brain axis signaling using comprehensive synthesis of mechanisms, microbial mediators, synergistic factors, and therapeutic modulators in a single context, allowing readers to understand the holistic role of gut microbiota in T2DM pathophysiology. As T2DM is a complex metabolic disorder requiring multidimensional approaches, such integration offers valuable perspective for prevention and therapy. Emerging strategies, including fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) and bacteriophage therapy, also show promise. A multidisciplinary research agenda, incorporating large-scale cohort studies, omics technologies, and systems biology, is essential to identify causal relationships and personalize interventions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":36019,"journal":{"name":"Medicine in Microecology","volume":"26 ","pages":"Article 100144"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144920189","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Medicine in MicroecologyPub Date : 2025-12-01Epub Date: 2025-08-15DOI: 10.1016/j.medmic.2025.100145
Rousilândia de Araújo Silva , Igor Eduardo Silva Arruda , Maria Cidinaria Silva Alves , Ana Luiza Trajano Mangueira de Melo , Felipe de Albuquerque Marinho , José Lamartine Soares Sobrinho , Valdir de Queiroz Balbino , Cristiane Moutinho-Melo
{"title":"Bioinformatics and omics revolutionizing leprosy research: Unveiling mechanisms and driving therapeutic innovations","authors":"Rousilândia de Araújo Silva , Igor Eduardo Silva Arruda , Maria Cidinaria Silva Alves , Ana Luiza Trajano Mangueira de Melo , Felipe de Albuquerque Marinho , José Lamartine Soares Sobrinho , Valdir de Queiroz Balbino , Cristiane Moutinho-Melo","doi":"10.1016/j.medmic.2025.100145","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.medmic.2025.100145","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The integration of bioinformatics and omics technologies has revolutionized leprosy research, providing insights into <em>Mycobacterium leprae</em> (<em>M. leprae</em>) biology. In this context, the present review analyzes two decades (2001–2021) of research using computational approaches to elucidate molecular mechanisms, identify biomarkers, and support drug discovery for leprosy. The search was conducted in the Web of Science database and found 30 studies, of which 23 met the inclusion criteria with a focus on genomic, proteomic and immunoinformatics applications targeting leprosy. Key advances include the identification of unique antigenic proteins, prediction of drug resistance mechanisms, and the development of <em>in silico</em> tools for diagnostics and therapeutic targeting. Comparative genomic studies have identified genes unique to <em>M. leprae</em>, such as ML2613, that may serve as potential therapeutic targets. Furthermore, bioinformatics has been used to identify biomarkers such as the recombinant antigen rMLP15, which has been shown to be effective in the diagnosis and differentiation between paucibacillary and multibacillary patients. Therefore, the present study highlights the role of bioinformatics in driving innovation for leprosy and underscores the need for continued investment in computational approaches to improve diagnostics and treatment strategies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":36019,"journal":{"name":"Medicine in Microecology","volume":"26 ","pages":"Article 100145"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144879374","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Gut virus axis: Unravelling viral contribution to gut microbiota dysbiosis and translational medicine in inflammatory bowel disease","authors":"Naziya Akhtar, Chirag Jain, Shikha Baghel Chauhan, Indu Singh","doi":"10.1016/j.medmic.2025.100148","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.medmic.2025.100148","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The gut microbiota and immune system are significantly influenced by the human gut-virus axis, which is mostly composed of bacteriophages and eukaryotic viruses. Through mechanisms affecting microbial balance, immunological responses, and intestinal barrier integrity, recent research emphasizes its role in the onset and progression of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). This review examines the ways in which gut viruses—bacteriophages in particular—contribute to dysbiosis through biofilm development, transduction, and bacterial diversity modulation. We also go over how the virome affects chronic inflammation and host immunological signaling. The virome in IBD patients can now be thoroughly profiled thanks to developments in metagenomic and viromic technologies, which have identified unique changes that could be used as therapeutic targets or diagnostic biomarkers. Integrating virome research into the larger framework of the gut microbiota offers a fresh viewpoint on the pathophysiology of IBD and has the potential to advance precision medicine techniques and virus-based treatments, despite the fact that the topic is still understudied.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":36019,"journal":{"name":"Medicine in Microecology","volume":"26 ","pages":"Article 100148"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144925950","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Gut microbiota dysbiosis and the gut–liver–brain axis: Mechanistic insights into hepatic encephalopathy","authors":"Priyanka Manothiya , Debabrata Dash , Raj Kumar Koiri","doi":"10.1016/j.medmic.2025.100157","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.medmic.2025.100157","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Hepatic encephalopathy (HE), a severe neuropsychiatric manifestation of cirrhosis, is increasingly being understood to be intimately associated with dysbiosis of gut microbiota. The intestinal microbiota, an ever-changing consortium that performs a very critical role in the preservation of barrier function, immune homeostasis, and metabolic harmony, becomes deeply disturbed in cirrhosis. This dysregulation enhances gut permeability and enables translocation of neurotoxic metabolites like ammonia and endotoxins into systemic circulation, triggering systemic inflammation that further disrupts the blood–brain barrier and aggravates neuroinflammation beyond ammonia-mediated toxicity, accelerating hepatic decompensation and inducing neuroinflammation along the gut–liver–brain axis. This review attempts an extensive review of the changing notion regarding gut microbiota implication in HE pathogenesis. It places emphasis on mechanistic interaction among microbial dysbiosis, immune activation, and dysfunction of the central nervous system and comprehensively critiques present treatments like probiotics, prebiotics, antibiotics, and faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT). Although FMT has shown promising results in restoring microbial balance and improving neurological function, its application is limited by donor variability, procedural risks, and uncertain long-term safety. Although some clinical evidence is promising, its utility is restricted by patient-to-patient variability in microbial response, lack of beneficial biomarkers, and knowledge gaps of mechanisms. Technical innovations in metagenomics, metabolomics, and computational biology have the potential to reveal disease-specific microbial signatures and create personalized, microbiome-directed therapeutic interventions. Reestablishing microbial homeostasis is a new and potentially revolutionary treatment strategy to abrogate neuroinflammation, restore gut–liver–brain axis function, and enhance HE outcomes. This review concludes that targeting gut dysbiosis represents a paradigm shift in HE management, though personalized approaches based on a deeper mechanistic understanding are needed for future success.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":36019,"journal":{"name":"Medicine in Microecology","volume":"26 ","pages":"Article 100157"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145473951","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Medicine in MicroecologyPub Date : 2025-12-01Epub Date: 2025-08-23DOI: 10.1016/j.medmic.2025.100147
Michael Owen Hogipranata , Muhammad Reva Aditya , Imanuel Yuerrico Subianto , Virginie Trias Salim , Valeska Theodora Beatrice , Kana Mardhiyyah , Dewi Indiastari
{"title":"Gut microbiota modulation using prebiotics, probiotics, and synbiotics for CD4+ T-cell recovery in HIV: A systematic review and meta-analysis","authors":"Michael Owen Hogipranata , Muhammad Reva Aditya , Imanuel Yuerrico Subianto , Virginie Trias Salim , Valeska Theodora Beatrice , Kana Mardhiyyah , Dewi Indiastari","doi":"10.1016/j.medmic.2025.100147","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.medmic.2025.100147","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) compromises the immune system by targeting key regulatory lymphocytes essential for coordinating immune responses. It continues to pose a significant global health burden, with approximately 40 million cases recorded by the end of 2023. Currently, highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) is the key therapeutic strategy, but it has several limitations, prompting the importance of new therapeutic approaches. This paper evaluates the effectiveness of gut microbiota basesd immunomodulatory therapies, consisting of prebiotics, probiotics, and synbiotics in HIV treatment while considering clinical, socioeconomic, and therapeutic influencing factors.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>This study was conducted based on PRISMA guidelines using multiple databases. Studies were employed based on established inclusion parameters, focusing on the efficacy of gut microbiota interventions in CD4<sup>+</sup> T-cell counts.Subgroup analyses were performed based on intervention type, dosage, duration, HAART status, and clinical setting. Moreover, sensitivity analysis, meta-regression, and publication bias assessment were also performed to ensure findings robustness and explore source of heterogeneity.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>A total of 21 studies were assessed in this meta-analysis. Risk of bias assessment indicated that most studies had a low risk of bias, though some concerns were noted. Prebiotics showed the greatest improvement by a mean difference (MD) of 52.15 cells/mm<sup>3</sup> (95 % CI: −5.64 to 109.93), though not statistically significant (p = 0.08). Synbiotics showed a more consistent and statistically significant effect (MD = 39.48 cells/mm<sup>3</sup>; 95 % CI: 34.39 to 44.58; p < 0.00001). Notably, greatest immunological benefits were observed among HAART-naive individuals, with low-dose prebiotics (4–10 g/day), moderate intervention durations (4–6 months), and in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Sensitivity analysis using leave-one-out method confirmed findings robustness, while meta-regression identified key variables contributing to heterogeneity. Moreover, publication bias using Egger's and Begg's test was not evident in most outcomes, except for LMIC-based studies, which showed potential small-study effects.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Gut microbiota based immunomodulators show promising potential in supporting immune function among people living with HIV. However, due to study variability, high heterogeneity and wide confidence intervals (CI) in some subgroups, these findings are hypothesis-generating. Further high-quality studies should focused in homogeneous populations to validate efficacy and guide clinical implementation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":36019,"journal":{"name":"Medicine in Microecology","volume":"26 ","pages":"Article 100147"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144925949","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Gut microbiota dysbiosis and probiotic interventions in childhood stunting: Mechanistic insights and therapeutic potential","authors":"Rizqi Yanuar Pauzi , Annisa Nurul Ilmi , Laksita Widya Kumaratih","doi":"10.1016/j.medmic.2025.100152","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.medmic.2025.100152","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Stunting remains a significant public health challenge, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, with long-term consequences for physical growth, cognitive development, and future economic productivity. Emerging evidence highlights the critical role of the gut microbiota in early life nutrition, immune development, and linear growth, offering new insights into the pathogenesis of stunting. Children with stunting often exhibit reduced microbial diversity, dysbiosis, and decreased production of beneficial metabolites such as short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), which are essential for intestinal health and metabolic regulation. Probiotics, especially strains of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, have shown promise in modulating gut microbiota composition, enhancing nutrient absorption, improving intestinal barrier function, and promoting growth outcomes in malnourished children. This review synthesizes the current evidence on the interplay between stunting, gut microbiota, and probiotic interventions, emphasizing their mechanistic links and therapeutic potential. We also discuss the challenges in implementing probiotics at scale, including strain-specific efficacy, variability in host responses, and the need for long-term clinical trials. Targeting the gut microbiota through probiotic supplementation may serve as a complementary strategy to conventional nutritional programs to prevent and mitigate childhood stunting.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":36019,"journal":{"name":"Medicine in Microecology","volume":"26 ","pages":"Article 100152"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145226852","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}