Probiotics and Beneficial Effects in the Intestine. Depiction of the interactions between beneficial
bacteria (left side), their secreted factors, pathogens, and the intestinal
mucosa (right side). Potential beneficial effects of probiotics are listed.
Only two host cell types are shown, intestinal epithelial cells and macrophages
although other cell types including dendritic cells, lymphocytes,
myofibroblasts, and neutrophils comprise the intestinal mucosa. The arrows
indicate the release and possible distribution of secreted factors derived from
probiotics.