International projects
Organisations (1)
, Researchers (2)
1604 University of Maribor, Faculty of health sciences
| no. |
Code |
Name and surname |
Research area |
Role |
Period |
No. of publicationsNo. of publications |
| 1. |
19880 |
PhD Sabina Fijan |
Microbiology and immunology |
Head |
2019 - 2022 |
483 |
| 2. |
26388 |
PhD Maja Strauss |
Public health (occupational safety) |
Researcher |
2019 - 2022 |
217 |
Abstract
Probiotics are defined as “live microorganisms that, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host.” This definition has been developed and endorsed by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics (ISAPP). The most extensively studied site of probiotic action in the human body is the gut. The discovery of interconnected axes, such as the gut–brain and gut–brain–skin axes, has opened new avenues of research.
In addition to mechanistic studies addressing fundamental aspects such as antimicrobial activity, competitive exclusion, immunomodulation, and strengthening of the intestinal epithelial barrier, a substantial body of research focuses on microbiome-mediated effects on the immune, central nervous, and endocrine systems. However, the potential applications of probiotics extend beyond the gastrointestinal tract.
The skin is an essential organ and represents the first line of defense against the external environment. Despite being a dry, nutrient-poor habitat with an acidic pH, the skin is colonized by beneficial microorganisms that act as an additional biophysical barrier against pathogen invasion. When this barrier is disrupted or when the balance between commensal and pathogenic microorganisms is disturbed, skin diseases may occur. Probiotics therefore represent a promising alternative or adjunctive therapeutic strategy. In cases of dysbiosis of the natural skin microbiota, probiotics have been shown to exert positive effects on host skin health and wound healing by stimulating immune cell production and/or through competitive exclusion of pathogenic microorganisms responsible for skin infections.
The aim of this project is to conduct an in vitro investigation of the effects of selected probiotics on reducing the concentration of common skin pathogens.