Therapeutic Role of Microbial Metabolites in Health and Disease

Abstract

One of the most powerful forces that drives relationships between kingdoms, including the interactions between microbes and the multicellular hosts they inhabit, is metabolism. Traditionally, it was thought that metabolism was responsible for fueling energy requirements and providing building blocks for biosynthetic pathways. In this article, we will discuss recent developments in our mechanistic knowledge of how metabolites originating from microbiota coordinate and promote physiological responses in the host. These responses include immunology, inflammation, defense against infections, and metabolism. Once we have a greater understanding of how microorganisms communicate metabolically with their hosts, we will have the potential to better define how a host interacts with all types of microbes, including helpful, pathogenic, and commensal microbes, as well as the opportunity to find new approaches to treat diseases that are caused by germs. Because of the vast number of uses that nanomaterials have, in recent years we have seen their introduction into the fields of biology, medicine, electronics, and agriculture. Because of their nanoscale sizes, they exhibit a large surface-to-volume ratio, characteristic shapes, and dimensions that are comparable to those of biomolecules. As a result, they possess exceptional qualities that are useful in the field of biomedicine. Both chemical and physical approaches to the synthesis of nanoparticles have their own inherent constraints, which can be circumvented by employing biological approaches to the synthesis. In addition, by way of the biogenic synthesis approach, the use of microorganisms has supplied a technique for the synthesis of nanomaterials that is dependable, sustainable, risk-free, and environmentally pleasant. It is well established that the cells of bacteria, algae, fungi, and yeast are capable of transporting metals from their surroundings and converting them into elemental nanoparticle forms, which can then either be stored or released. Additionally, viruses have been utilized in the development of very reliable nanocarriers. During the biosynthesis process, capping compounds are frequently released in order to prevent aggregation and to improve the nanoparticles' stability. Biomedical uses for microbial nanoparticles include quick diagnostics, imaging, biopharmaceuticals, drug delivery systems, antimicrobials, biomaterials for tissue regeneration, and biosensors. In addition, microbial nanoparticles have been shown to inhibit the growth of pathogens. Biocompatibility, bioavailability, stability, degradation in the gastro-intestinal tract, and immunological response are some of the primary obstacles that need to be overcome in order to make therapeutic applications of microbial nanoparticles a reality. In light of this, the current review article focuses on the microbe-mediated synthesis of a variety of nanoparticles, the numerous microbial strains that have been investigated for such synthesis, as well as the present and potential future applications of these nanoparticles in the biomedical field.