Gram-positive anaerobic bacteria
Bifidobacteria
Category: Bacteria
from Bifidobacteria: Genomics and Molecular Aspects
Bifidobacteria are Gram-positive anaerobic bacteria, found naturally in the gut of humans and other mammals. They are widely used as probiotic organisms in a vast array of formulations for the prevention, alleviation and treatment of many intestinal disorders. However bifidobacteria are fastidious microorganisms and difficult to study in the laboratory, so until recently, understanding of their genetics lagged behind that of other high GC content Gram-positive bacteria. The application of modern whole genome approaches to bifidobacteria research has changed all of this, permitting the accumulation of an impressive amount of data, something that could not have been foreseen a few years ago.
Among the myriad of bacterial species that inhabit the human gut and the gut of many animals, bifidobacteria are almost certainly the microbial group that has the greatest effect on the health of the host. In most people, bifidobacteria are present in high numbers (108-109 cells/g of intestinal content) throughout their lives, although each individual permanently harbours only several species or specific biotypes. Apart from lactobacilli, bifidobacteria is the only intestinal microbial group that is generally recognized to possess such positive characteristics through its capacity to produce short chain fatty acids, vitamins, bacteriocins and antibiotic-like substances, and of exerting immunomodulating and immunostimulating activities. Moreover, the bifidobacterial species so far identified lack enzyme urease, azo- and nitro-reductase, beta-glucuronidase and alpha-dehydrolase that exert enzymatic and metabolic effects that are perceived to be toxic to the host. Consequently, bifidobacteria can be considered as valuable probiotics and today they are not only used in the food industry to relieve and treat many intestinal disorders, but they are increasingly attracting the scientific interest of clinicians and researchers.
Further reading:
Bifidobacteria are Gram-positive anaerobic bacteria, found naturally in the gut of humans and other mammals. They are widely used as probiotic organisms in a vast array of formulations for the prevention, alleviation and treatment of many intestinal disorders. However bifidobacteria are fastidious microorganisms and difficult to study in the laboratory, so until recently, understanding of their genetics lagged behind that of other high GC content Gram-positive bacteria. The application of modern whole genome approaches to bifidobacteria research has changed all of this, permitting the accumulation of an impressive amount of data, something that could not have been foreseen a few years ago.
Among the myriad of bacterial species that inhabit the human gut and the gut of many animals, bifidobacteria are almost certainly the microbial group that has the greatest effect on the health of the host. In most people, bifidobacteria are present in high numbers (108-109 cells/g of intestinal content) throughout their lives, although each individual permanently harbours only several species or specific biotypes. Apart from lactobacilli, bifidobacteria is the only intestinal microbial group that is generally recognized to possess such positive characteristics through its capacity to produce short chain fatty acids, vitamins, bacteriocins and antibiotic-like substances, and of exerting immunomodulating and immunostimulating activities. Moreover, the bifidobacterial species so far identified lack enzyme urease, azo- and nitro-reductase, beta-glucuronidase and alpha-dehydrolase that exert enzymatic and metabolic effects that are perceived to be toxic to the host. Consequently, bifidobacteria can be considered as valuable probiotics and today they are not only used in the food industry to relieve and treat many intestinal disorders, but they are increasingly attracting the scientific interest of clinicians and researchers.
Further reading: