The dichotomy between probiotic lactic acid bacteria and Plasmodium: A promising therapeutic avenue

•Advances in microbiota assessment technologies have opened new avenues for combating diseases.•Studies show that disease severity (including malaria) is affected by modulating gut microbiota.•Lactic acid bacteria like Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, etc. show promise in malaria protection.•Probiotic supplementation emerges as a safe, affordable and compelling adjunct therapy against malaria. Our understanding of gut microbial populations and their immense influence on host immunity, health, and diseases has increased deeply in recent years. Numerous reports have identified the role of mosquito and mammalian gut microbiota in the modulation of host susceptibility to Plasmodium infection. Artemisinin resistance in malaria-endemic regions necessitates the development of new, safer, and more affordable treatments to supplement existing therapies. In this review, we compiled a colossal amount of data from numerous studies that have assessed the roles played by gut microbial communities in Plasmodium infection, progression, transmission, and severity. Most interestingly, our study points to the overwhelming evidence from experimental studies in mural malaria to human trials, suggesting that the presence of lactic acid bacteria in the gut microbiota of mammalian hosts provides a great degree of protection against malaria. Therefore, our study provides a compelling narrative for probiotic administration as an adjunct therapy for combatting malaria. [Display omitted]