REVIEW PAPER
Figure from article: Omics-driven and in silico...
 
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Probiotics are defined as live microorganisms that confer health benefits to the host; nevertheless, their therapeutic potential has been historically constrained by a reliance on phenotypic screening and generalized efficacy claims. This review shifts probiotic research toward a system-level understanding by highlighting the transformative impact of omics technologies and in silico approaches in overcoming these limitations. We examine how integrating genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics can enable precise identification of strains, elucidate mechanisms of action, and reveal strain-specific functional properties often missed by conventional methodologies. A key focus of this review is the application of computational biology, including genome-scale metabolic models and artificial intelligence, which facilitates the predictive modeling of host–microbe interactions and accelerates the rational design of next-generation probiotics. The review further synthesizes recent insights regarding the role of these technologies in supporting personalized nutrition interventions that are specifically tailored to individual molecular profiles, while placing probiotics within the broader context of fermented foods and microbiota-modulating strategies. Finally, we address critical challenges – including issues related to data standardization, regulatory hurdles, and validation of in silico predictions – that must be resolved to translate these technological advances into safe, effective, and customized clinical applications.
REFERENCES (50)
1.
Abdul Manan M. 2025. The role of probiotics in persona­lized therapeutics: advances in gut microbe-driven interventions. Microbe. 8: 100497. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.micr....
 
2.
Alemu TT, Kuyu CG. 2024. A review of the production, qua­lity, and safety of traditionally fermented cereal-based alcoholic beverages in Ethiopia. Food Sci Nutr. 12: 3125–3136. https://doi.org/10.1002/fsn3.4....
 
3.
Ashaolu TJ. 2020. Immune boosting functional foods and their mechanisms: a critical evaluation of probiotics and prebiotics. Biomed Pharmacother. 130: 110625. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biop....
 
4.
Baião AR, Cai Z, Poulos RC, Robinson PJ, Reddel RR, Zhong Q, Vinga S, Gonçalves E. 2025. A technical review of multi-omics data integration methods: from classical statistical to deep generative approaches. Brief Bioinform. 26: bbaf355. https://doi.org/10.1093/bib/bb....
 
5.
Baimakhanova BB, Sadanov AK, Ratnikova IA, Baimakhanova GB, Orasymbet SE, Amitova AA, Aitkaliyeva GS, Kakimova AB. 2025. In silico modeling of metabolic pathways in probiotic microorganisms for functional food biotechnology. Fermentation 11: 458. https://doi.org/10.3390/fermen....
 
6.
Benabbou N, Abik M, Baichoo S. 2026. Integrative multi-omics and machine learning/deep learning approaches in cancer knowledge discovery: a scoping review. Cancer Treat Res Commun. 47: 101136. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctar....
 
7.
Chakraborty S, Sharma G, Karmakar S, Banerjee S. 2024. Multi-OMICS approaches in cancer biology: new era in cancer therapy. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis. 1870: 167120. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbad....
 
8.
Chisompola D, Luwaya E, Nzobokela J, Mwansa P, Chakulya M. 2026. AI-powered analysis of viral metagenomic sequencing data for rapid outbreak investigation and novel pathogen discovery. Front Microbiol. 16: 1717859. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.....
 
9.
Dahiya D, Nigam PS. 2022. The Gut microbiota influenced by the intake of probiotics and functional foods with prebio­tics can sustain wellness and alleviate certain ailments like gut-inflammation and colon-cancer. Microorganisms 10: 665. https://doi.org/10.3390/microo....
 
10.
Davani-Davari D, Negahdaripour M, Karimzadeh I, Seifan M, Mohkam M, Masoumi S, Berenjian A, Ghasemi Y. 2019. Prebiotics: definition, types, sources, mechanisms, and clinical applications. Foods 8: 92. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods8....
 
11.
Deehan EC, Al Antwan S, Witwer RS, Guerra P, John T, Monheit L. 2024. Revisiting the concepts of prebiotic and prebiotic effect in light of scientific and regulatory progress – a consensus paper from the Global Prebiotic Association. Adv Nutr. 15: 100329. https://doi:10.1016/j.advnut.2....
 
12.
Deka B, Dash B, Saud B, Bhattacharjee B, Ikbal AMA. 2021. Critical overview of probiotics efficacy on health and its safety. Pharm Biosci J. https://doi.org/10.20510/pbj/9....
 
13.
D’Urso F, Broccolo F. 2024. Applications of artificial intelligence in microbiome analysis and probiotic interventions – an overview and perspective based on the current state of the art. Appl Sci. 14: 8627. https://doi.org/10.3390/app141....
 
14.
Erem E, Kilic-Akyilmaz M. 2024. The role of fermentation with lactic acid bacteria in quality and health effects of plant-based dairy analogues. Compr Rev Food Sci Food Saf. 23: e13402. https://doi.org/10.1111/1541-4....
 
15.
Espitia PJ, Batista RA, Azeredo HM, Otoni CG. 2016. Probiotics and their potential applications in active edible films and coatings. Food Res Int. 90: 42–52. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.food....
 
16.
Gomez Quintero DF, Kok CR, Hutkins R. 2022. The future of synbiotics: rational formulation and design. Front Microbiol. 13: 919725. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.....
 
17.
Haranahalli Nataraj B, Behare PV, Yadav H, Srivastava AK. 2024. Emerging pre-clinical safety assessments for potential probiotic strains: a review. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 64: 8155–8183. https://doi.org/10.1080/104083....
 
18.
Hasanzad M, Sarhangi N, Ehsani Chimeh S, Ayati N, Afzali M, Khatami F, Nikfar S, Aghaei Meybodi HR. 2021. Precision medicine journey through omics approach. J Diabetes Metab Disord. 21: 881–888. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40200....
 
19.
He X, Liang Z, Wu Y, Huang J, Pu Y, Liu J, Pi J, Zhang H. 2025. Integration analysis of transcriptomics and proteomics reveals molecular pathways of duck intestinal epithelial cells in response to oxidative stress. Poult Sci. 104: 106044. https://doi:10.1016/j.psj.2025....
 
20.
Ikwelle TA, Ihim AC, Ozuruoke DFN, Obi PC, Obi CU, Onuora IJ, Chimezie AJ, Romanus OO. 2025. Multi-omics integration in personalized medicine: advancing laboratory diagnostics and precision therapeutics in the era of individualized healthcare. J Drug Deliv Ther. 15: 132–142. https://doi.org/10.22270/jddt.....
 
21.
Jadhav NK, Magdum AB, Shinde KV, Nimbalkar MS. 2026. Next-generation probiotics: from traditional strains to personalized therapeutics. Mol Nutr Food Res. 70: e70339. https://doi.org/10.1002/mnfr.7....
 
22.
Jena S, Panda SH. 2023. Asian fermented legumes, pulses, and oil seed-based products. In: Adebo OA, Chinma CE, Obadina AO, Soares AG, Panda SK, Gan RY (eds.). Indigenous Fermented Foods for the Tropics. Elsevier. p. 85–95.
 
23.
Jo DM, Ko SC, Kim KW, Yang D, Kim JY, Oh GW, Choi G, Lee DS, Tabassum N, Kim YM, et al. 2025. Artificial intelligence-driven strategies to enhance the application of lactic acid bacteria as functional probiotics: health promotion and optimization for industrial applications. Trends Food Sci Technol. 165: 105309. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tifs....
 
24.
Kaur K. 2025. Application and challenges of using probiotic Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium to enhance overall health and manage diseases. Diseases 13: 345. https://doi.org/10.3390/diseas....
 
25.
Kerry RG, Patra JK, Gouda S, Park Y, Shin HS, Das G. 2018. Benefaction of probiotics for human health: a review. J Food Drug Anal. 26: 927–939. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfda....
 
26.
Künzel SE, Flesch LTM, Frentzel DP, Knecht VA, Rübsam A, Dreher F, Schütte M, Dubrac A, Lange B, Yaspo ML, et al. 2023. Systemic blood proteome patterns reflect disease phenotypes in neovascular age-related macular degeneration. Int J Mol Sci. 24: 10327. https://doi:10.3390/ijms241210....
 
27.
Kwoji ID, Aiyegoro OA, Okpeku M, Adeleke MA. 2023. ‘Multi-omics’ data integration: applications in probiotics stu­dies. Npj Sci Food. 7: 25. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41538....
 
28.
McFarland LV, Evans CT, Goldstein EJC. 2018. Strain-speci­ficity and disease-specificity of probiotic efficacy: a syste­matic review and meta-analysis. Front Med. 5: 124. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmed.2....
 
29.
Mohr AE, Ortega-Santos CP, Whisner CM, Klein-Seetharaman J, Jasbi P. 2024. Navigating challenges and opportunities in multi-omics integration for personalized healthcare. Biomedicines 12: 1496. https://doi.org/10.3390/biomed....
 
30.
O’Connell TM. 2020. The application of metabolomics to probiotic and prebiotic interventions in human clinical studies. Metabolites 10: 120. https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo....
 
31.
Papadaki E, Kakkos I, Vlamos P, Petropoulou O, Miloulis ST, Palamas S, Vrahatis AG. 2024. Recent web platforms for multi-omics integration unlocking biological complexity. Appl Sci. 15: 329. https://doi.org/10.3390/app150....
 
32.
Pawar SV, Saldinger SS, Shemesh M. 2026. Postbiotics for improving food quality and safety: from mechanistic insights to industrial applications. LWT. 241: 119066. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lwt.....
 
33.
Ranjha MMAN, Shafique B, Batool M, Kowalczewski PŁ, Shehzad Q, Usman M, Aadil RM. 2021. Nutritional and health potential of probiotics: a review. Appl Sci. 11: 11204. https://doi.org/10.3390/app112....
 
34.
Sehrawat R, Abdullah S, Khatri P, Kumar L, Kumar A, Mujumdar AS. 2022. Role of drying technology in probiotic encapsulation and impact on food safety. Dry Technol. 40: 1562–1581. https://doi.org/10.1080/073739....
 
35.
Sen M. 2019. Role of probiotics in health and disease – a review. Int J Adv Life Sci Res. 2: 1–11. https://doi.org/10.31632/ijals....
 
36.
Sherwani MK, Ruuskanen MO, Feldner-Busztin D, Nisantzis Firbas P, Boza G, Móréh Á, Borman T, Putu Erawijantari P, Scheuring I, Gopalakrishnan S, et al. 2025. Multi-omics time-series analysis in microbiome research: a systematic review. Brief Bioinform. 26: bbaf502. https://doi.org/10.1093/bib/bb....
 
37.
Sibilio P, De Smaele E, Paci P, Conte F. 2025. Integrating multi-omics data: methods and applications in human complex diseases. Biotechnol Rep. 48: e00938. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.btre....
 
38.
Silva B, Oliveira P, Casal S, Alves M, Dias T. 2017. Promising potential of dietary (poly)phenolic compounds in the prevention and treatment of diabetes mellitus. Curr Med Chem. 24: 334–354. https://doi.org/10.2174/092986....
 
39.
Song D, Hayek S, Ibrahim S. 2012. Recent application of probiotics in food and agricultural science. Inst New Technol. https://doi.org/10.5772/50121.
 
40.
Thorakkattu P, Khanashyam AC, Shah K, Babu KS, Mundanat AS, Deliephan A, Deokar GS, Santivarangkna C, Nirmal NP. 2022. Postbiotics: current trends in food and pharmaceutical Industry. Foods 11: 3094. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods1....
 
41.
Uhegwu CC, Anumudu CK. 2025. Probiotic potential of tra­ditional and emerging microbial strains in functional foods: from characterization to applications and health bene­fits. Microorganisms 13: 2521. https://doi.org/10.3390/microo....
 
42.
Van Der Hof S, Van Hilten S, Ouburg S, Birk MV, Van Rooij AJ. 2022. “Don’t gamble with children’s rights” – how beha­vioral design impacts the right of children to a playful and healthy game environment. Front Digit Health. 4: 822933. https://doi.org/10.3389/fdgth.....
 
43.
Verma I, Banerjee B, Singh A, Kannan P, Saleena LM. 2025. Exploring omics approaches in probiotics: contemporary developments and prospective pathways. J Microbiol Methods 232–234: 107135. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mime....
 
44.
Wegh CAM, Geerlings SY, Knol J, Roeselers G, Belzer C. 2019. Postbiotics and their potential applications in early life nutrition and beyond. Int J Mol Sci. 20: 4673. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms20....
 
45.
Wiegers C, van Beek EH, Larsen OF. 2023. Clinical research with probiotics as an indicator of global valorization since the year 2000. Front Microbiol. 14: 1323920. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.....
 
46.
Yan F, Polk DB. 2011. Probiotics and immune health. Curr Opin Gastroenterol. 27: 496–501. https://doi.org/10.1097/MOG.0b....
 
47.
Yassin LK, Skrabulyte-Barbulescu J, Alshamsi SH, Saeed S, Alkuwaiti SH, Almazrouei S, Alnuaimi A, BaniYas S, Aldhaheri D, Alderei M, et al. 2025. The microbiota–gut–brain axis in mental and neurodegenerative disorders: opportunities for prevention and intervention. Front Aging Neurosci. 17: 1667448. https://doi:10.3389/fnagi.2025....
 
48.
Zhao Y, Ren Z, Xu Q, Zhu T, Hu H, Fu Y, Jiang J, Zhai Q. 2026. Factors influencing gut microbial colonization: a host–microbe–environment interaction perspective. Curr Res Food Sci. 12: 101361. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crfs....
 
49.
Zimbru EL, Zimbru RI, Bojin FM, Chiriac SD, Haidar L, Andor M, Tănasie G, Tatu C, Georgescu M, Uța C, et al. 2025. Microbiota-driven immune dysregulation along the gut–lung–vascular axis in asthma and atherosclerosis. Biomedicines 14: 73. https://doi.org/10.3390/biomed....
 
50.
Żółkiewicz J, Marzec A, Ruszczyñski M, Feleszko W. 2020. Postbiotics – a step beyond pre- and probiotics. Nutrients 12: 2189. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu1208....
 
eISSN:2353-9461
ISSN:0860-7796
Journals System - logo
Scroll to top