Discussion groups at the ISAPP meeting will be held on the afternoon of 15th July. You will be asked to select a discussion group upon meeting registration – group sizes are limited so please register early.

Click on the discussion groups below to see full descriptions.

Chairs: Maria Marco PhD, University of California, Davis, USA and Gabriel Vinderola PhD, National University of Litoral and CONICET, Argentina

Fermented foods and many postbiotics contain a wide range of microbially-derived compounds comprised of thousands of metabolites, enzymes, and cell-wall components not contained in the raw material. Although many of these compounds are known to induce immune, epithelial, and neural responses when provided individually or synthesized by members of the gut microbiome, there is little evidence showing how they contribute to health benefits conferred by fermented foods and postbiotics. However, the potential for those compounds to affect the host is evident, based on studies showing that β-galactosidase made by bacteria during yogurt production drives relief from lactose intolerance symptoms. This discussion group will evaluate what is known about individual metabolites present in fermented food and postbiotic preparations with regard to their physiological relevance and effects on the target host. We will examine recent findings on the structural and metabolic bioactive compounds present in bacteria and fungi, reflect on challenges to identify the health-modulatory roles of individual compounds in complex mixtures, and to control and optimize fermented foods and postbiotics for their delivery.  A better understanding of these knowledge gaps may help further advance the science of fermented foods and postbiotics, paving the way for a wider popular use and contributing to nutritional recommendations.

Key aims

  • Examine the potential for ingested metabolites made by microorganisms to benefit host health.
  • Define the main compounds in fermented foods and postbiotics with health modulatory potential.
  • Explore the influence of particular microbes and substrates on the metabolite profile of fermented foods, with a view to predicting and optimizing health benefits.
  • Identify gaps in knowledge to guide future research

Key Questions

  • Do fermented foods and postbiotics have health-promoting metabolites in common?
  • Can individual compounds be singled-out as the main cause of health benefits from fermented foods and postbiotics?
  • How may metabolite profiles vary between different preparations of fermented foods and postbiotics?
  • Are health-promoting bioactive compounds in fermented foods and postbiotics substrate specific? Are there common metabolites shared across different fermented food and postbiotic types?
  • What is the state of tools for predictions of the above, e.g. in silico tools?
  • Is ingestion of bioactive compounds, also made by members of the gut microbiome (for example indole-3-lactic acid (ILA) and phenyllactic acid (PLA)), sufficient to achieve the desired host-modulatory effect?

Chairs: Eamonn Quigley MD, The Methodist Hospital and Weill Cornell School of Medicine, Texas, USA and Geoffrey Preidis MD, PhD, Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children’s Hospital, USA

While a variety of biotics have been the subject of clinical trials in humans and animals, in many cases the selection of product, dose and means of administration seemed to owe more to conjecture or convenience than science. This approach was not unreasonable when little was known of the structure and function of the gut microbiome or of its interactions with the host. The thesis that forms the basis of this discussion group is that, given tremendous progress in our understanding of the host response, a much more rational and informed process can now guide the precise selection of a biotic for a given indication. To achieve this goal, we plan to explore various determinants of the host response including, but not limited to the commensal microbiome and components of the host immune and neuro-endocrine responses as well as impacts on metabolic functions and the brain-gut axis.

Along the way we will identify targets that have the potential to be modulated by a biotic intervention and then review the evidence that biotics can actually modify these responses. The basic mechanisms and pathways whereby such modulations can occur will be explored,the accessibility and reproducibility of potential biotic targets will be critically evaluated and an attempt to prioritize targets in terms of their relevance to individual biotics and potential for translation to human studies performed. Looking to the future we will discuss emerging approaches for studying host-microbiome interactions (e.g., human-derived organoids, gut on a chip, machine learning approaches). Finally, and mindful of the challenges inherent to translation from bench to bedside in this area, we will attempt to develop recommendations for the future design of human studies with particular attention to choice of biotic product and human disease targets.

Chairs: Colin Hill PhD, DSc, University College Cork, Ireland and Andrey Shkoporov PhD, APC Microbiome, University College Cork, Ireland

A recent ISAPP blog  considered whether or not bacteriophage could be considered a member of the ‘biotic’ family (probiotics, prebiotics, postbiotics, etc). Phage as ‘biotics’ would of course include classical phage therapy for the treatment of infections, as has been used for almost a century, but also include other mechanisms by which phage could be used to improve human and animal health. This discussion group will explore the use of phage (or whole viromes) as tools to manipulate the bacteriome, as agents of horizontal gene transfer, as biomarkers of bacterial community composition or host health, or as agents to deliver DNA to in situ members of communities, etc. Experts will discuss the latest data from clinical and preclinical intervention studies as well as insights from biological and ecological studies of the virome and its role in host and microbiome health.

Chairs: Anisha Wijeyesekera PhD, University of Reading, United Kingdom and Kelly Swanson PhD, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Illinois, USA

Precision nutrition is growing in recognition as a more data-driven, individualised approach to nutrition counselling, where dietary recommendations are tailored to an individual’s unique needs. Unlike traditional “one-size-fits-all” dietary guidelines, precision nutrition takes into account factors such as genetic and phenotypic characteristics, lifestyle and environmental factors, preferences, and health goals.

The gut microbiota is an integral component of the human phenotype, and recent advances in analytical technologies have furthered our understanding of host-gut microbiota interactions. Exploiting these mechanisms of action to develop biotic substances targeting specific microbes or metabolites/function, presents an exciting opportunity for biotics researchers to contribute to the precision nutrition effort. This discussion group will review the current status of precision nutrition, discuss the opportunities and potential for the development of targeted, precision biotic products, and conclude on the feasibility of the implementation of biotics substances in precision nutrition practice.

Chairs: Kristin Verbeke PhD, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium and Sarah Lebeer PhD, University of Antwerp, Belgium

Background and Objectives:
Prebiotics, while commonly used in food and supplement industries, are underutilized in pharmaceutical applications, and more so in symbiotic combinations in live biotherapeutic products (LBPs). The addition of prebiotics in pharmaceutical products has potential to enhance therapeutic efficacy for specific diseases or clinical indications. In addition to being the active ingredient themselves, they can also serve as excipients promoting the survival and efficacy of probiotics, which could complement or even potentiate the action of probiotics and other LBPs. 

The proposed discussion group will explore and discuss industrial and academic challenges, potential benefits, regulatory hurdles, and formulation innovations needed to advance prebiotics in pharmaceutical contexts.

Possible Discussion Points:

  1. Why Are Prebiotics Rarely Incorporated into Pharmaceutical Applications?
    • Formulation Challenges? Pharmaceutical-grade prebiotics must meet rigorous standards for purity, stability, and consistency. The challenges are different from   manufacturing LBPs under GMP conditions, but do not seem necessarily more complicated. Why, then, is pharmaceutical-grade production of prebiotics perceived as difficult or not clearly on the radar of academics and industry?
    • Regulatory Complexity: There may be regulatory ambiguity around prebiotics, particularly regarding their categorization and approval as therapeutics versus supplements. What specific regulatory challenges hinder the development of prebiotics as pharmaceutical agents, and how could these be addressed?
    • Market Demand and Incentives: Given the strong market for food-grade prebiotics, is there a lack of motivation to push prebiotics into the pharmaceutical space? Are there concerns around cost-benefit given that prebiotics are generally non-patentable, natural compounds?
  2. Defining Prebiotics’ Role in Pharmaceutical and Therapeutic Contexts
    • Clinical Efficacy and Endpoints: To establish prebiotics as therapeutic agents, it’s critical to define specific endpoints and mechanisms of action for specific clinical conditions and intended use. How can the field standardize clinical studies and efficacy measures to support prebiotics as a legitimate pharmaceutical category?
    • Patient Populations and Target Indications: Prebiotics could play a role in managing conditions such as metabolic disorders, immune modulation, and GI diseases. What specific patient populations and indications should be prioritized, and how might these influence regulatory and formulation strategies?

Input requested from ISAPP industry advisory committee

We welcome IAC members to suggest regulatory and market experts to actively join our group as experts.

Outcomes and Next Steps:
The group aims to work towards an overview or opinion paper which could include actionable steps to promote the integration of prebiotics in pharmaceutical applications. The exact content of this outcome and next steps will depend on the discussion at the annual meeting of ISAPP.

Chair: Hania Szajewska MD, PhD, The Medical University of Warsaw, Poland and Seppo Salminen PhD, University of Turku, Finland

This discussion group will address the important and timely topic of how cesarean section delivery affects early gut microbiota colonization, its impact on short- and long-term health outcomes, and emerging interventions to reduce potential negative effects.

Key themes include (subject to change):

  • Early Gut Microbiota Colonization Patterns: How birth mode influences microbial exposure, the role of maternal microbiota, and the impact of hospital environments and antibiotics.
  • Health Outcomes: Links between altered gut microbiota and immune system development, as well as long-term risks like allergies, asthma, and obesity.
  • Post-C-Section Influences on Gut Microbiota Development: The role of feeding methods, dietary factors, and environmental exposures in microbiota restoration.
  • Emerging Interventions: Innovative strategies such as vaginal seeding, maternal fecal microbiota transplantation, and the use of biotics.

Participants will discuss ways to bridge research and clinical practice, evaluate the feasibility and safety of interventions, and identify priorities for future research. This session aims to improve the understanding of the relationship between cesarean delivery and microbiota and to help shape future guidelines and strategies in this evolving field.