By Ricardo García Gamboa, Alejandro García Gonzalez and Yocanxóchitl Perfecto-Avalos.
Postbiotics are compounds produced by bacteria during their metabolic processes [1]. While they might seem like waste products, our research shows they’re much more than that.
We’re particularly interested in understanding the effects of postbiotics on the entire gut ecosystem. Previous studies have highlighted key benefits, such as improved mineral absorption—including calcium—which could play a role in preventing osteoporosis [2].
Microorganisms in Our Gut
The gut microbiota is a diverse community of bacteria (bacteriota) and fungi (mycobiota) that coexist and perform vital functions for our health [3].
Some fungal species, like Candida albicans and Candida kefyr, are integral to the mycobiota and are in significant amounts in the gut [4]. However, these fungi have been linked to imbalances in the microbiota, known as gut dysbiosis, particularly in people with obesity, where their overgrowth might contribute to health issues [5].
In this study, we evaluated postbiotics’ impact on Candida species’ growth using a synthetic model mimicking the gut mycobiota—a community of microorganisms composed of two yeast species (Figure 1).
We assessed the growth dynamics of each yeast species separately and together. Once their normal growth patterns were established, we exposed both species to postbiotics to analyze their influence on development.
This approach allowed us to observe how these yeasts might behave in the gut when coexisting and exposed to postbiotics [4].
Our results revealed that at a 12.5% concentration, postbiotics significantly inhibited the growth of Candida albicans and Candida kefyr.
This inhibitory effect was even more pronounced when both species were cultivated together, suggesting that the interaction between these two yeasts, combined with postbiotics, could be an effective strategy to control fungal overgrowth in the gut [6].
Obesity and the Microbiota
A recent study by our research team indicated that obesity might be associated with an imbalance in the gut microbiota, including fungi and yeasts. The excessive growth of certain fungi could contribute to inflammation and other metabolic disorders [7].
As we deepen our understanding of the connections between diet, microbiota, and health, postbiotics emerge as a promising alternative to restore microbial balance. According to our findings, they could help reestablish equilibrium in the gut microbiota [8].
Postbiotics could be a valuable tool in addressing fungal dysbiosis associated with obesity, paving the way for a more comprehensive approach to managing gut health.
Exploring the potential of postbiotics further is essential, and this study marks a step forward in understanding how we can harness the benefits of the microbiota to enhance overall health.
References
- Bourebaba, Y., Marycz, K., Mularczyk, M., & Bourebaba, L. (2022). Postbiotics as potential new therapeutic agents for metabolic disorders management. Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy, 153, 113138.
- Friling, M., Haber, A., Furman-Assaf, S., Israel, D., Harari, G., Evans, M., Crowley, D. C., Ouwehand, A. C., & Ivanir, E. (2023). Bioavailability of calcium in an enriched postbiotic system compared to calcium citrate in healthy postmenopausal females; A randomized, double-blind, comparator-controlled, crossover study. Frontiers in Nutrition, 10.
- Coker, O. O. (2023). Non-bacteria Microbiome (Virus, Fungi, and Archaea) in Gastrointestinal Cancer. In J. Yu (Ed.), Microbiome in Gastrointestinal Cancer (pp. 91–106). Springer Nature.
- García-Gamboa, R., Kirchmayr, M. R., Gradilla-Hernández, M. S., Pérez-Brocal, V., Moya, A., & González-Avila, M. (2021). The intestinal mycobiota and its relationship with overweight, obesity and nutritional aspects. Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, 34(4), 645–655.
- Zhan, H., Wan, Y., Sun, Y., Xu, Z., Zhang, F., Yang, K., Zhu, W., Cheung, C. P., Tang, W., Ng, E. K., Wong, S. K., Yeoh, Y. K., Kl Chan, F., Miao, Y., Zuo, T., Zeng, Z., & Ng, S. C. (2024). Gut mycobiome alterations in obesity in geographically different regions. Gut Microbes, 16(1), 2367297.
- García-Gamboa, R., Díaz-Torres, O., Senés-Guerrero, C., Gradilla-Hernández, M. S., Moya, A., Pérez-Brocal, V., Garcia-Gonzalez, A., & González-Avila, M. (2024). Associations between bacterial and fungal communities in the human gut microbiota and their implications for nutritional status and body weight. Scientific Reports, 14(1), 5703.
- García-Gamboa, R., Perfecto-Avalos, Y., Gonzalez-Garcia, J., Alvarez-Calderon, M. J., Gutierrez-Vilchis, A., & Garcia-Gonzalez, A. (2024). In vitro analysis of postbiotic antimicrobial activity against Candida Species in a minimal synthetic model simulating the gut mycobiota in obesity. Scientific Reports, 14(1), 16760.
- Gomaa, E. Z. (2020). Human gut microbiota/microbiome in health and diseases: A review. Antonie van Leeuwenhoek, 113(12), 2019–2040.
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Status of This Research
This study, recently published in Scientific Reports, a journal from the Nature Publishing Group (García-Gamboa et al., 2024), was conducted by a research team at the Tecnológico de Monterrey, Guadalajara Campus. The team includes graduate students in Biomedical Sciences and undergraduate students in Biosciences.
Authors
Yocanxóchitl Perfecto Avalos. Biotechnology Engineer, Master of Science in Medical Sciences and Biotechnology, and Doctor of Science in Engineering. She is currently a full-time professor at Tecnológico de Monterrey, Guadalajara campus. She is a member of the National System of Researchers. Her research areas include searching for active compounds from marine organisms, modeling and validating the dynamic interaction of the human microbiota, nanobiotechnology, and data science strategies for clinical and biological research.
Ricardo García Gamboa. A researcher specializing in gut microbiota with an academic background in Nutrition, Food Sciences, and Biotechnology Innovation. His research focuses on gut microbiota, obesity, probiotics, prebiotics, and the antimicrobial effects of functional ingredients. He has published scientific articles, gained teaching experience at Tecnológico de Monterrey, and completed international research stays. His interests include human health, nutrition, and functional ingredients.
Alejandro García González. A biomedical and biological systems researcher with expertise in mathematics and biomedical engineering. His work is modeling microbiota interactions and developing advanced gastrointestinal simulators, including synthetic microbiota models and 3D bioprinting platforms. He has successfully led the creation of patented medical devices and high-tech functional prototypes.
