Press Release:

The 3rd International Probiotic Conference highlighted the current advances in probiotic science and witnessed a bright future for new probiotics and novel applications.

Probiotics reach new frontiers also in space.

The 3rd International Probiotic Conference held on 4th – 7th June 2008 at High Tatras, Slovakia. focused on the current state of probiotic science and research.

200 scientists from 56 countries presented and discussed the achievements and current advances of probiotic research. Participants from Japan, China, South-Korea, India, South-Africa, Brazil, Mexico, United States and Canada and from all European countries provided evidence that probiotic science has moved from the empirical early stage to a multidisciplinary scientific field with promising perspectives.

The highlights of the conference were the numerous new approaches to identify and characterize novel probiotic strains. In addition to routine culturing methods state-of-the-art approaches like cell line adhesion tests, gene sequencing, molecular cloning are gaining more and more importance. As Prof. Alojz Bomba - President of the 3rd International Probiotic Conference – states: "Due to these new methods not only broader perspectives open up for probiotics but the required time between strain isolation and marketable applications can be reduced substantially. Hence the achievements of probiotic science faster can reach the
stage of applicable products, and deliver new benefits to the customers and patients faster. With other words the body of knowledge about probiotics reached the critical mass and can be transferred faster in products than ever before."

One of the most interesting lectures about probiotics was about their possible role in maintaining the intestinal health of astronauts during long-term space missions. Probiotics herewith reached a new frontier and may contribute to the maintenance of human health even under the most unearthly circumstances.

The participating scientist presented scientific evidence that probiotics are not only able to stabilize the beneficial intestinal flora but have potential to improve immune defense, prevent allergy and help cancer prevention. The young scientist award was presented to Dinesh Thapa, University of Hohenheim for his work on the antimutagenic property of exopolysaccharide producing lactic acid bacteria. Mr. Thapa’s work further strengthens the vision of using probiotics in cancer prevention.

On behalf of the
Organizing Committee of 3rd International Probiotic Conference, High Tatras, Slovakia

The abstract of the referenced works are attached in the Appendix.
When using the attached or other conference material please refer to the 3rd International Probiotic Conference 2008, High Tatras.

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