Yakult scientific events, IYS2018

_{By Dr. Bruno Pot, Science Director, Yakult Europe B.V}

It is our pleasure to announce that  IYS2018 was held in Ghent, Belgium on the 19-20^th of April. The main objective of the symposium was to discuss the “Role of probiotics on the roadmap to a healthy microbiota”. This event brought together to nearly 200 international scientists giving a special opportunity in exploring academic and industry research performed on the gut microbiota.

Interview with Dr Fujimoto, the science director at Yakult Honsha European Research Centre (YHER) in Ghent Belgium

_{By Jia Zhao and Takeshi Yoshimoto, Science Department, Yakult Europe B.V}

In this issue we have an interview with the science director Dr. Junji Fujimoto on the activities of the Yakult Central Institute in Japan through the Europe branch in Ghent. Looking into the future, Dr Fujimoto indicates the intention to participate in more EU research projects as well as more interaction with European scientist and research institutes.

Scientific article, linking between health and gut microbiota diversity

_{Dr. Olaf Larsen, Assistant Professor VU University Amsterdam, Science Manager Yakult Netherlands}

The Science Manager from Yakult Netherlands, Dr. Olaf Larsen, shares in this issue one of his most recent publication dedicated in finding a link between health and gut microbiota diversity. Despite that a great number of studies report the importance of steering the gut microbiota richness in order to promote health, there is no evidence of a mechanistic action supporting such effect. The present study revealed a basis from a mechanistic aspect in the microbiota – host health interaction which leads to the development of more effective strategies in the field of microbiota management.

Scientific article, Lactobacillus casei Shirota (LcS) and the delicate balance in the gut

_{Dr. Alberto Finamore, Centre for Food and Nutrition, Council for Agricultural Research and Economics, Italy}

In Western societies, most people spend a considerable time in a non-fasting state consuming meals high in fat content. These are contributing factors to postprandial metabolic stress, a condition that subsequently promotes chronic inflammation or oxidative stress. Probiotics have been proposed as modulators in the activation of cellular defenses, helping the body to cope better with these conditions. Although the exact mechanism remains unclear, a novel mode of action has been recently proposed.

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