Lactobacillus rhamnosus
Plain-English definitions of microbiome research vocabulary — the terms you'll see across articles, testing services, and probiotic claims.
One of the most extensively studied probiotic species. The strain L. rhamnosus GG has strong evidence for preventing antibiotic-associated diarrhoea and acute gastroenteritis in children. The strain L. rhamnosus JB-1 has shown anxiolytic effects in animal models via the vagus nerve, though human trials have been less conclusive.
Related terms
Lactobacillus
A genus of lactic acid-producing bacteria found naturally in the gut, mouth, and vaginal tract. Certain strains (L. rhamnosus GG, L. plantarum 299v) have strong clinical evidence for specific health benefits. Now reclassified into multiple genera including Lacticaseibacillus and Limosilactobacillus.
Probiotic
Live microorganisms which, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host. Benefits are strain-specific, not species-wide.
Psychobiotic
A live organism (probiotic) that, when ingested in adequate amounts, produces a health benefit in patients suffering from psychiatric illness. A term coined by Dinan et al. in 2013.