Lesaffre is participating in the 11th Beneficial Microbes Conference, a major international event dedicated to the latest advances in prebiotics, probiotics, and postbiotics, and their role in human and animal health.
This year’s conference, taking place in Amsterdam (Netherlands) from November 3 to 5, 2025, addresses emerging topics such as artificial intelligence applied to microbial research, next-generation probiotics and fermented foods, while opening the debate on the regulatory and ethical dimensions of biotechnology.
As a major global player in fermentation and microorganisms, Lesaffre is contributing to the event with three scientific presentations illustrating its commitment to innovation in support of the One Health strategy.
Building on the public’s acceptance of probiotics and the progress of research on the gut microbiome, there is currently a growing interest in next-generation probiotics as biotherapies capable of modulating the intestinal microbiome and influencing the development of various diseases.
- Hugo Roume, coordinator of the microbiome program at Lesaffre, will highlight the potential of genetically modified microorganisms as a new generation of probiotics. Recent developments in new genetic technologies have made it possible to design new therapeutic functions in yeasts and bacteria, with the potential to address major global health challenges. Hugo Roume will also discuss the evolution of the international regulatory framework and the need for public dialogue to support these responsible innovations that reconcile health, sustainability, and social acceptance.
Probiotics and their postbiotic derivatives, such as extracellular vesicles, are attracting growing interest due to their potential applications in the field of health.
- Laurent Pineau will present work carried out by the Lesaffre Institute of Science & Technology, which has explored for the first time the potential of “extracellular vesicles derived from a probiotic Bacillus subtilis (BSCU1) in human health and their immunomodulatory properties.” The results suggest that these extracellular vesicles could potentially strengthen the protection of the respiratory tract against pathogens. Given the proven scalability of their isolation, this work could pave the way for a new generation of postbiotic solutions derived from probiotic fermentation co-products.
While probiotic bacteria dominate the market, yeasts have unique characteristics that make them a promising source of probiotic candidates.
- Kimmo Mäkinen, Global Head of Scientific Affairs at Gnosis by Lesaffre, will speak on the power of probiotic yeasts. These yeasts help maintain immune homeostasis, produce gut-brain axis mediators, and influence the composition and functions of the host microbiome. They also have cell wall components with powerful health-promoting properties, favorable technological characteristics, and, unlike bacteria, are resistant to antibiotics. For example, four human clinical studies conducted by Gnosis by Lesaffre have demonstrated the efficacy of the S. cerevisiae CNCM I-3865 strain as a candidate for the alleviation of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Encouraging results on the vaginal microbiota were also obtained. In order to discover new strains of probiotic yeasts, Lesaffre’s RD&I teams are conducting an ambitious screening program outside the Saccharomyces group; several of these strains already stand out for their specific health beneficial properties.
Through these contributions, Lesaffre reaffirms its scientific leadership and commitment to developing safe, effective, and sustainable microbial innovations to improve the health of humans, animals, and ecosystems.