Probiotics, included in functional foods, nutritional supplements, or nutraceuticals, exhibit\ndifferent beneficial effects on gut function. They are extensively used to improve the digestive\nprocesses as well as reduce the symptoms and progression of different diseases. Probiotics have\nshown to improve dysbiosis and modulate the immune response of the host by interacting with\ndifferent cell types. Probiotics and the host can interact in a direct way, but it is becoming apparent\nthat communication occurs also through extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from probiotics. EVs are\nkey for bacteriaâ??bacteria and bacteria-host interactions, since they carry a wide variety of components\nthat can modulate different signaling pathways, including those involved in the immune response.\nInterestingly, EVs are recently starting to be considered as an alternative to probiotics in those cases\nfor which the use of live bacteria could be dangerous, such as immunocompromised individuals or\nsituations where the intestinal barrier is impaired. EVs can spread through the mucus layer and\ninteract with the host, avoiding the risk of sepsis. This review summarizes the existing knowledge\nabout EVs from different probiotic strains, their properties, and their potential use for the prevention\nor treatment of different gastrointestinal diseases.
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