Functional Significance of Probiotic Bacterial Interactions with Milk Fat Globules in a Human Host

Dairy products often serve as matrices for delivering probiotic bacteria to humans through the diet; however, little is known about the impact of milk fat globules on the growth and survival of probiotic microorganisms. This review discusses current knowledge on the structure and functionality of th...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Withanage Prasadini Wasana, Mark Waterland, David W. Everett, Caroline Thum
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-01-01
Series:Microorganisms
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/13/2/223
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850080395684478976
author Withanage Prasadini Wasana
Mark Waterland
David W. Everett
Caroline Thum
author_facet Withanage Prasadini Wasana
Mark Waterland
David W. Everett
Caroline Thum
author_sort Withanage Prasadini Wasana
collection DOAJ
description Dairy products often serve as matrices for delivering probiotic bacteria to humans through the diet; however, little is known about the impact of milk fat globules on the growth and survival of probiotic microorganisms. This review discusses current knowledge on the structure and functionality of the milk fat globule membrane (MFGM) and the structural components contributing to the mechanisms of interactions with probiotic bacteria. We analyzed studies published between 2001 and 2025 with reference to earlier foundational research on probiotics and MFGM structure to explore the functional significance of MFGM–probiotic interactions. Recent research indicates that the effects of MFGM interaction with bacteria are species-specific and may influence probiotic activity in the host, including enhancing probiotic viability during intestinal transit and modulating probiotic colonization. In general, research findings suggest that the MFGM holds potential for use as a probiotic carrier to the gut with beneficial health consequences.
format Article
id doaj-art-e928a39980244ef5a3a390f1e97062cc
institution DOAJ
issn 2076-2607
language English
publishDate 2025-01-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Microorganisms
spelling doaj-art-e928a39980244ef5a3a390f1e97062cc2025-08-20T02:44:56ZengMDPI AGMicroorganisms2076-26072025-01-0113222310.3390/microorganisms13020223Functional Significance of Probiotic Bacterial Interactions with Milk Fat Globules in a Human HostWithanage Prasadini Wasana0Mark Waterland1David W. Everett2Caroline Thum3Food Function and Physiology Team, AgResearch, Palmerston North 4410, New ZealandSchool of Food Technology and Natural Sciences, Massey University, Palmerston North 4410, New ZealandRiddet Institute, Massey University, Palmerston North 4410, New ZealandFood Function and Physiology Team, AgResearch, Palmerston North 4410, New ZealandDairy products often serve as matrices for delivering probiotic bacteria to humans through the diet; however, little is known about the impact of milk fat globules on the growth and survival of probiotic microorganisms. This review discusses current knowledge on the structure and functionality of the milk fat globule membrane (MFGM) and the structural components contributing to the mechanisms of interactions with probiotic bacteria. We analyzed studies published between 2001 and 2025 with reference to earlier foundational research on probiotics and MFGM structure to explore the functional significance of MFGM–probiotic interactions. Recent research indicates that the effects of MFGM interaction with bacteria are species-specific and may influence probiotic activity in the host, including enhancing probiotic viability during intestinal transit and modulating probiotic colonization. In general, research findings suggest that the MFGM holds potential for use as a probiotic carrier to the gut with beneficial health consequences.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/13/2/223milk fat globulesprobioticsbacterial adhesioninteractionshost health
spellingShingle Withanage Prasadini Wasana
Mark Waterland
David W. Everett
Caroline Thum
Functional Significance of Probiotic Bacterial Interactions with Milk Fat Globules in a Human Host
Microorganisms
milk fat globules
probiotics
bacterial adhesion
interactions
host health
title Functional Significance of Probiotic Bacterial Interactions with Milk Fat Globules in a Human Host
title_full Functional Significance of Probiotic Bacterial Interactions with Milk Fat Globules in a Human Host
title_fullStr Functional Significance of Probiotic Bacterial Interactions with Milk Fat Globules in a Human Host
title_full_unstemmed Functional Significance of Probiotic Bacterial Interactions with Milk Fat Globules in a Human Host
title_short Functional Significance of Probiotic Bacterial Interactions with Milk Fat Globules in a Human Host
title_sort functional significance of probiotic bacterial interactions with milk fat globules in a human host
topic milk fat globules
probiotics
bacterial adhesion
interactions
host health
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/13/2/223
work_keys_str_mv AT withanageprasadiniwasana functionalsignificanceofprobioticbacterialinteractionswithmilkfatglobulesinahumanhost
AT markwaterland functionalsignificanceofprobioticbacterialinteractionswithmilkfatglobulesinahumanhost
AT davidweverett functionalsignificanceofprobioticbacterialinteractionswithmilkfatglobulesinahumanhost
AT carolinethum functionalsignificanceofprobioticbacterialinteractionswithmilkfatglobulesinahumanhost