"... a useful guide to how microbiology is developing ... a wide range of important topics ... production is beautiful, with clear diagrams, a nice typeface and two text columns per 17x25 cm page ... a most valuable text" from Brian Wood (University of Strathclyde) in Microbiology Today

Further reading: Lactobacillus Molecular Biology: From Genomics to Probiotics

Labels: book review, lactic acid bacteria, lactobacilli, lactobacillus

Lactobacillus Molecular Biology: From Genomics to Probiotics
http://www.horizonpress.com/lactobacillus

"the chapters are edited competently and constitute outstanding independent reviews ... very informative and provides a comprehensive overview of the genus Lactobacillus" from Biospektrum (2009) 15: 348.

Further reading:
Lactobacillus
Metagenomics: Theory, Methods and Applications
Environmental Molecular Microbiology
Bacterial Polysaccharides
Bacterial Secreted Proteins
Biopolymers

Labels: lactic acid bacteria, lactobacilli, lactobacillus, probiotics

from Jens Walter (University of Nebraska) in Biotechnology Journal

"... an interesting blend of fundamental and applied topics relevant to the use of these important organisms in research and industry. Fundamental aspects covered in the book are taxonomy, metabolism, stress response, genomics, and surface proteins of lactobacilli. Also included are chapters on applications of Lactobacillus strains and their potential as probiotics in the treatment of diseases such as cancer or urinary tract infections.

... contributions from respected international scientists, many of which are leaders in their respective fields, this book constitutes an authoritative resource about both fundamental research and applications of lactobacilli. ... essential and up to date information for anyone interested in the biology of lactobacilli. The book will clearly be of interest to microbiologists, nutritionists, food scientists, and medical practitioners alike, and it is a valuable contribution to the probiotic literature."

Further reading: Lactobacillus

Labels: book review, lactic acid bacteria, lactobacilli, lactobacillus, probiotics

Lactobacilli are members of the Lactic Acid Bacteria group and constitute an ecologically and phylogenetically very diverse group. Some strains are of industrial importance since they are applied in a range of fermentation processes, whereas other strains are exploited for their probiotic properties. Ten Lactobacillus genomes encompassing nine species have been sequenced, and their genome content broadly reflects the diversity of this genus. With the exception of members of the "acidophilus- complex", there is no long range synteny based on whole-genome alignments. The species are diverse in their metabolic capacity, and some species appear to be in an ongoing phase of specialization, largely determined by preferred ecological niches. Each of these species produces proteins which enable them to compete or survive within their preferred habitat. A repertoire of diverse adhesins has been functionally characterized in several gastrointestine-associated lactobacilli. The comparative genomics of different Lactobacillus strains has revealed novel insights in the complexity of this diverse genus.

from Van Pijkeren and O'Toole in Lactobacillus Molecular Biology (Chapter 3)

Labels: genomics, lactic acid bacteria, lactobacillus

The human intestine harbours an immense collection of microbes which have co-evolved with us. Recent studies indicate that the gut microbes regulate energy harvest from the diet and participate in the peripheral body metabolism. Gut microbial dysbiosis severely affects many body functions, including a complex interplay of gut-brain interactions, now under intense study. Most probiotic strains belong to the genus Lactobacillus. The promising results of a first generation of probiotic microbes indicate a promising future for coming generations of probiotics. Antibiotic-associated, travellers' and pediatric diarrhea have been most studied, and more recently, inflammatory bowel disease and irritable bowel syndrome. Future probiotics may contain mixes of strains with complementary characteristics, tailormade for different gastrointestinal diseases, vaginosis or as delivery systems for vaccines, immunoglobulins and other protein based therapies.

from Ljungh and Wadstrom in Lactobacillus Molecular Biology: From Genomics to Probiotics

Labels: biotherapeutics, lactic acid bacteria, lactobacillus, probiotics

Gram-positive bacteria are generally divided into the Actinobacteria and the Firmicutes.

The Actinobacteria or actinomycetes are a group of Gram-positive bacteria with high G+C ratio. They include some of the most common soil bacteria. Other Actinobacteria inhabit plants and animals and including some pathogens, such as Mycobacterium, Corynebacterium, Nocardia, Rhodococcus and a few species of Streptomyces. Actinobacteria produce secondary metabolites and are important to the pharmacological and biotechnology industries. Streptomyces species, for example, produce important antibiotics. Some Actinobacteria form branching filaments and some Actinomycetes species produce endospores.

The majority of Firmicutes have Gram-positive cell wall structure. However some, the Mollicutes or mycoplasmas, lack cell walls altogether and therefore do not respond to Gram staining. They do however lack the second (outer) membrane found in Gram-negative bacteria. Others members of the group, such as Megasphaera, Pectinatus, Selenomonas, and Zymophilus have a porous pseudo-outer-membrane that causes them to stain Gram-negative. The Firmicutes are generally restricted to a core group of related bacteria, called the low G+C group in contrast to the Actinobacteria. Firmicutes can be cocci or rod-shaped forms. Many produce endospores. They are found in various environments and some members of the group are important pathogens.

Recommended reading:

Clostridia: Molecular Biology in the Post-genomic Era      

Corynebacteria: Genomics and Molecular Biology

Mycobacterium: Genomics and Molecular Biology

Bacillus: Cellular and Molecular Biology

Staphylococcus: Molecular Genetics

Lactobacillus Molecular Biology: From Genomics to Probiotics

Genomics of GC-Rich Gram-Positive Bacteria

Labels: bacillus, bacteriology, bacterium, clostridia, clostridium, corynebacterium, lactobacillus

The 9th Symposium on Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB9) will open soon (August 31st) in the Congress Centre “Hotel Zuiderduin”, Zeeweg 52, Egmond aan Zee, the Netherlands. The 9th Symposium programme will involve a limited number of plenary invited lectures covering state-of-the-art developments with attention on Systems Biology, Evolution and Health, as well as a larger number of plenary or parallel short lectures. Besides scientists working on LAB, key note lecturers from outside the LAB field will give stimulatory talks on subjects that are of emerging interest and importance for the LAB. Evening thematic sessions on topics of specific interest will take place.

Poster contributions in all areas of research on Lactic Acid Bacteria, especially also on industrial applications are encouraged. There will be ample time for poster viewing and the posters will be on display during the whole symposium.

Finally, there will be several plenary sessions during which a number of selected posters will be explained briefly.

Further information   More microbiology conferences: Microbiology Conference

Further reading: Lactobacillus Molecular Biology: From Genomics to Probiotics

Labels: lactic acid bacteria, lactobacillus, probiotics

from Chandra Iyer and James Versalovic

Beneficial bacteria include Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium spp. and other lactic acid bacteria (LAB) commonly known as probiotics. LAB possesses numerous potential therapeutic properties including anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer activities and other features of interest. In recent years, studies with in vitro cell culture and animal models that clearly demonstrated protective effects of LAB for anti-tumor and anti-cancer effects. Dietary administration of LAB alleviated the risks of certain types of cancers and suppressed colonic tumor incidence, volume and multiplicity induced by various carcinogens in different animal models. Oral administration of LAB effectively reduced DNA adduct formation, ameliorated DNA damage and prevented putative preneoplastic lesions such as aberrant crypt foci induced by chemical carcinogens in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract of various animal models. LAB also increased the latency period and survival rates in test animals when challenged with carcinogenic agents. Reports also indicated that LAB cultures administered to animals inhibited liver, colon, bladder and mammary tumors, highlighting potential systemic effects of probiotics with anti-neoplastic activities.

Further reading: Lactobacillus Molecular Biology: From Genomics to Probiotics

Labels: Bifidobacterium, cancer, lactic acid bacteria, lactobacillus, probiotics

Scientists at the Institute of Food Research, Norwich UK found that probiotic bacteria in a daily drink can modify the immune system's response to grass pollen. Volunteers with a history of seasonal hay fever drank a daily milk drink with or without live Lactobacillus casei over 5 months. The study was double-blinded and placebo controlled, so neither the volunteers nor the scientists knew who had been assigned the probiotic drinks.

Blood samples were taken before the grass pollen season, then again when it was at its peak (June), and 4 weeks after the end of season. There were no significant differences in levels of IgE in the blood between the two groups at the start of the study, but IgE levels were lower in the probiotic group both at the peak season and afterwards. IgE stimulates the release of histamine which produces the symptoms of hayfever.

Further reading: Lactobacillus Probiotics

Labels: bacteriology, biotechnology, lactic acid bacteria, lactobacillus, probiotics