ArticleGenes & nutrition2011
The immunomodulatory properties of probiotic microorganisms beyond their viability (ghost probiotics: proposal of paraprobiotic concept).
Article in Genes & nutrition, 2011. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 283 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
283 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 644 citations in OpenAlex.
- Postbiotics Formulation and Therapeutic Effect in Inflammation: A Systematic Review.Nutrients · 2025Pooled it
- It's Dead! Can Postbiotics Really Help Performance and Recovery? A Systematic Review.Nutrients · 2024Pooled it
- Effect of probiotics and paraprobiotics on patients with sleep disorders and sub-healthy sleep conditions: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Frontiers in neurology · 2024Pooled it
- Effects of Heat-KilledNutrients · 2026Trial
- Live and Heat-Killed ProbioticNutrients · 2022Trial
- Oral Administration of Live and Dead Cells of Lactobacillus sakei proBio65 Alleviated Atopic Dermatitis in Children and Adolescents: a Randomized, Double-Blind, and Placebo-Controlled Study.Probiotics and antimicrobial proteins · 2021Trial
- Viability-Dependent and Structural Modulation of IL-10 Secretion in THP-1 Cells by Lactobacillus gasseri and Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus.Probiotics and antimicrobial proteins · 2026Article
- Effect of Non-viable Probiotics on Obesity-Related Outcomes in Rodent Models: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Probiotics and antimicrobial proteins · 2026Review
- Development of Pharmabiotic Gel-Serums withGels (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- The Role of Postbiotics in Poultry Health and Performance: A Review on Existing Knowledge and Further Research Needs.International journal of molecular sciences · 2026Review
- Postbiotics and Paraprobiotics as Next-Generation Gut Microbiome Modulators in Sustainable Aquaculture Health.Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Review
- Cold-Active Postbiotics from Fermented Food-Derived Lactobacillus fuchuensis H.Y.35 Exhibit Multifunctional In Vitro Bioactivities.Probiotics and antimicrobial proteins · 2026Article
- Preservation of Antioxidant and Immunomodulatory Properties in a Heat-Treated Probiotic Blend: Insights from Preclinical Models.Microorganisms · 2026Article
- Postbiotics in Food Systems: Components, Production Methods, Food Applications, Functional Properties, and Technological Challenges.Food science & nutrition · 2026Review
- Lactic Acid Bacteria-Derived Postbiotics in Dairy Foods: Definitions, Functions and Regulatory Challenges.Microorganisms · 2026Review
- Postbiotics: An Overview and Recommendations for Improved Reporting.Molecular nutrition & food research · 2026Review
- Protective effects of cell-free supernatants from a kefir-derived microbial consortium against multidrug-resistant Candida glabrata associated with vulvovaginal candidiasis.Medical mycology · 2026Article
- Comparative effects of viable and gamma-irradiated Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis on immune modulation and resistance to furunculosis in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss).BMC microbiology · 2026Article
- Genotoxicity, acute and subchronic oral toxicity assessments of postbiotics of Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus IDCC 3201.Journal of microbiology (Seoul, Korea) · 2026Article
- GC-MS-Based Metabolomic Insights Into Fermentation-Induced Bioactive Compounds and Metabolic Health-Related Activities of White Corn Steep Liquor.Food science & nutrition · 2026Article
223 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
2 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
The probiotic approach represents a potentially effective and mild alternative strategy for the prevention and treatment of either inflammatory or allergic diseases. Several studies have shown that different bacterial strains can exert their probiotic abilities by influencing the host's immune system, thereby modulating immune responses. However, the emerging concern regarding safety problems arising from the extensive use of live microbial cells is enhancing the interest in non-viable microorganisms or microbial cell extracts, as they could eliminate shelf-life problems and reduce the risks of microbial translocation and infection. The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of the scientific literature concerning studies in which dead microbial cells or crude microbial cell fractions have been used as health-promoting agents. Particular attention will be given to the modulation of host immune responses. Possible mechanisms determining the effect on the immune system will also be discussed. Finally, in the light of the FAO/WHO definition of probiotics, indicating that the word 'probiotic' should be restricted to products that contain live microorganisms, and considering the scientific evidence indicating that inactivated microbes can positively affect human health, we propose the new term 'paraprobiotic' to indicate the use of inactivated microbial cells or cell fractions to confer a health benefit to the consumer.
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.