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Fermentation is a processing method used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). However, traditional fermentation methods suffer from poor production control. In contrast, probiotic fermented herbal medicine (PFHM) offers advantages such as the use of pure strains, a controllable process, and the ability to produce a variety of active enzymes during fermentation. As a result, PFHM has become a research hotspot. This review focuses on the progress, challenges, and opportunities in the research of PFHM. The use of probiotic enzymes during fermentation alters the active ingredients of TCM, resulting in positive pharmacological effects such as increased active ingredients, reduced toxicity, new pharmacological effects, and the reuse of herbal residues. PFHM has the potential to transfer the metabolic transformation of the effective components of TCM by intestinal flora outside the body during production and preparation, which has a broad application prospect. However, due to the complexity of the chemical composition of TCM, the mechanism of PFHM requires further investigation. Finally, we discuss the prospects of industrializing PFHM, which is essential for promoting the innovation and modernization of TCM.

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For the months of September and October 2022, APBN looks at toxins from the natural world and consider its benefits to humanity despite the negative connotation.

First up, we have a contribution from Vanessa Lunardi on snake venoms in venom therapy. Then Tara Ng dives into plant secondary metabolites, its properties, and potential applications.

While not wholly related to venom therapy, Chang Wei and Dr Mohd Redzwan Sabran from the University of Putra Malaysia, discuss a family of fungal toxins called aflatoxins, its toxic effects, and how probiotics might have aflatoxin-reducing properties.

Other highlights in this issue include a column by Dr Chen Min Wei, Consultant Surgeon from the National Neuroscience Institute, and Samuel Choo, Co-Founder and Head of Product at Kyalio, on how immersive virtual reality is bridging the gap between studying and performing surgery, and an interview with Andreas Joergensen, Managing Director of the SEA Cluster at Organon, on women’s healthcare and reproductive health awareness in Asia.

The commensal genus Bifidobacterium has probiotic properties. We prepared a public library of the gene functions of the genus Bifidobacterium for its online annotation. Orthologous gene cluster analysis showed that the pan genomes of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus exhibit striking similarities when mapped to the Clusters of Orthologous Group (COG) database of proteins. When the core genes in each genus were selected based on our statistical definition of “core genome”, core genes were present in at least 92% of 52 Bifidobacterium and in 97% of 178 Lactobacillus genomes. Functional comparison of the core genes of the two genera revealed a significant difference in the categories “amino acid transport and metabolism” representing their difference in niche specificity. Over-represented Bifidobacterium protein families were primarily involved in host interactions, the complex compound metabolism, and in stress responses. These findings coincide with the published information and validate our bias-resilient definition of the core genome.