The team has also developed a yogurt using this probiotic bacterium which can be consumed to derive all these health benefits.

A team of scientists at the Institute of Advanced Study in Science and Technology (IASST), Guwahati, an autonomous institute of the Department of Science & Technology, Govt. of India, searched for healthy bacteria to promote healthy living in fermented dairy products following the proposal of Nobel laureate Dr. Elie Metchnikoff.

The study led by Dr. Mojibur R. Khan, Associate Professor and Prof. Ashis K. Mukherjee, Director, in collaboration with Prof. M. C. Kalita of Guwahati University and research scholars, Mr. Arun Kumar and Ms. Tulsi Joishy has shown that the bacterium demonstrated a 27.81% increase in the life span of the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans accompanied by the hallmarks of healthy aging by providing improved immunity against pathogenic infections increased learning ability and memory, gut integrity, and oxidative stress tolerance.

In contrast, it significantly reduced the accumulation of body fat and inflammation. Prof. Mukherjee, Director of IASST, alleged that the probiotic promises to delay onset of age-associated diseases, such as obesity, decline in cognitive functions, and immunity in the elderly.

The team has also developed a yogurt using this probiotic bacterium which can be consumed to derive all these health benefits. A patent has been filed (Indian patent application no: 202231001501). Professor Mukherjee hopes that the probiotic will be commercialized soon so that the laboratory-generated technology reaches general people.

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