from Satoru Fukiya , Tohru Suzuki, Yasunobu Kano and Atsushi Yokota writing in Lactic Acid Bacteria and Bifidobacteria: Current Progress in Advanced Research:
Bifidobacteria are one of the beneficial intestinal bacteria that exert health-promoting effects in humans. As evidence for their beneficial effects has accumulated, the scientific and commercial importance of bifidobacteria is increasing. In contrast, the mechanisms of the beneficial effects of these bacteria have not been well-clarified primarily because the development of gene manipulation methodology in bifidobacteria is far behind that in other probiotic bacteria, such as lactobacilli. However, the recent accumulation of genomic sequence information has opened the way for the gene function analysis in this bacterium. This chapter will describe the current knowledge of bifidobacterial genetic materials, such as cryptic plasmids and transposable elements. Additionally, the current status and future perspectives on the development of gene manipulation tools in bifidobacteria will be discussed.
Further reading: Lactic Acid Bacteria and Bifidobacteria: Current Progress in Advanced Research