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Disturbances in the gut flora can be precursors to the development of intestinal disorders ranging from diarrhoea to irritable bowel syndrome and colorectal cancer. This volume explores the potential of ´probiotics´ in restoring the balance of microbiota.

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Every day many people suffer from intestinal diseases. These disorders can result from pathogens like bacteria, fungi, parasites and viruses, but the causes of non-infectious intestinal disorders and colorectal cancers remain to be elucidated. Disturbances to the normal gut flora (the microbiota) are central to the development of many, if not all, of these disorders.

Disturbed gut microbiota is a prelude to public health issues like traveller´s-, antibiotic- and Clostridium difficile -associated diarrhoea, irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, and colorectal cancers. This book discusses the way intestinal disorders affect the microbiota, how the disturbed microbiotal balance leads to enteric disorders and the ways to prevent these disorders.

Further his book explores the potential of probiotics (live microorganisms that when ingested bring a health benefit) in treating enteric disorders by analysing the probiotic genome through proteomics, metabolomics and functional assays. Discussed is how the ingestion of specific microorganisms repairs the disturbed microbiota and subsequently ameliorates enteric disorders. Finally this book addresses how genetic engineering and biotechnology will contribute to the development of effective and safe designer probiotics.

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Section I : Introduction and History of Probiotics.- 1. Probiotics: From the ancient wisdom to the actual therapeutical and nutraceutical perspective.- Section II : The Gut Microorganisms and Probiotics.- 2. The Intestinal Microbiota and Probiotics.- 3. Ecology of Probiotics and Enteric Protection.- Section III : Pathophysiology of Enteric Disorders Due to Disturbed Microbiota.- 4. Factors Causing Disturbances of the Gut Microbiota.- 5. The gut microbiota, probiotics and infectious disease.- Section IV : Application of Molecular Biology and -omics of Probiotics in Enteric Protection.- 6. Application of Molecular Biology and Genomics of Probiotics for Enteric Cytoprotection.- 7. Application of Probiotic Proteomics in Enteric Cytoprotection.- 8. Promoting Gut Health with Probiotic Metabolomics.- Section V : Probiotics, Gut Immunology and Enteric Protection.- 9. Microbiota, Probiotics and Natural Immunity of the Gut.- 10. Interaction of Probiotics with the Acquired Immune System in the Gut.- 11. The Protective Role of Probiotics in Disturbed Enteric Microbiota.- 12. Modulation of Immune System by Probiotics to Protect against Enteric Disorders.- Section VI : Probiotics for Enteric Therapy.- 13. Probiotic-Pathogen Interaction and Enteric Cytoprotection.- 14. Bacteriocins of Probiotics and Enteric Cytoprotection.- 15. Probiotics in Clinical Practice as Therapeutics against Enteric Disorders.- 16. Potential Mechanisms of Enteric Cytoprotection by Probiotics: Lessons from Cultured Human Intestinal Cells.- 17. Probiotics and Enteric Cancers.- Section VII : The Future of Probiotics.- 18. Designer Probiotics and Enteric Cytoprotection.- 19. Future Prospects of Probiotics as Therapeutics against Enteric Disorders.

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