Bifidobacterium Species (bifidobacterium + species)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Investigation of the Immunomodulatory Effects of Lactobacillus casei and Bifidobacterium lactis on Helicobacter pylori Infection

HELICOBACTER, Issue 3 2008
Li Zhang
Abstract Background:,Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium species have shown beneficial effects in the treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection; however, the mechanisms behind such effects are not fully understood. In this study, we have investigated the immunomodulatory effects of probiotics in a mouse model of H. pylori infection. Materials and methods:,H. pylori -infected C57BL/6 mice were treated with L. casei L26, B. lactis B94, or no probiotics for 5 weeks, respectively. Mice not infected with H. pylori were included as normal controls. Gastric histology, protein levels of interleukin (IL)-1,, IL-10, IL-12/23p40, and H. pylori colonization density in the gastric tissues, as well as H. pylori -specific antibodies were examined. Results:, In mice receiving L. casei L26 and B. lactis B94, gastric neutrophil infiltration and IL-1, were significantly decreased and IL-10 was significantly increased as compared with mice receiving no probiotics. In mice receiving B. lactis B94, IL-12/23p40 was significantly increased and H. pylori IgG was significantly reduced as compared with mice receiving no probiotics. No significant difference of H. pylori colonization was observed among the three groups of mice. Conclusion:, The reduced level of IL-1, and neutrophil infiltration observed in mice infected with H. pylori following treatment with L. casei L26 and B. lactis B94 resulted from a modulation of immune response rather than a decrease of H. pylori colonization. Furthermore, B. lactis B94 has the intrinsic ability to promote a Th1 immune response through an increase in IL-12/IL-23. [source]


Conjugated linoleic acid biosynthesis by human-derived Bifidobacterium species

JOURNAL OF APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 1 2003
M. Coakley
Abstract Aims: To assess strains of Lactobacillus, Lactococcus, Pediococcus and Bifidobacterium for their ability to produce the health-promoting fatty acid conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) from free linoleic acid. Methods and Results: In this study, strains of Lactobacillus, Lactococcus, Pediococcus and Bifidobacterium were grown in medium containing free linoleic acid. Growth of the bacteria in linoleic acid and conversion of the linoleic acid to CLA was assessed. Of the bacteria assessed, nine strains of Bifidobacterium produced the c9, t11 CLA isomer from free linoleic acid. The t9, t11 CLA isomer was also produced by some strains, but at much lower concentrations. Conclusions: The production of CLA by bifidobacteria exhibited considerable interspecies variation. Bifidobacterium breve and B. dentium were the most efficient CLA producers among the range of strains tested, with B. breve converting up to 65% linoleic acid to c9, t11 CLA when grown in 0·55 mg ml,1 linoleic acid. Strains also varied considerably with respect to their sensitivity to linoleic acid. Significance and Impact of the Study: The production of CLA by probiotic bifidobacteria offers a possible mechanism for some health-enhancing properties of bifidobacteria and provides novel opportunities for the development of functional foods. [source]


Growth, Viability and Activity of Bifidobacterium spp. in Skim Milk Containing Prebiotics

JOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE, Issue 7 2002
F.A. Bruno
ABSTRACT: Growth, activity and mean doubling time (Td) of five Bifidobacterium species in the presence of four types of prebiotics, and concentrations of acetic and lactic acids were determinted during fermentation and after 4 weeks of refrigerated storage. The Td was lowest for B. animalis with raftilose and inulin. Retention of viability of bifidobacteria was greatest with hi-amylose corn starch (hi-maize). The average pH of skim milk at the end of 4 wks storage averaged 4.34 (for B. animalis with raftilose) to 4.07 (for B. longum with inulin). The highest levels of acetic acid and lactic acid were produced by B. pseudolongum with lactulose and B. infantis with lactulose, respectively. [source]


In vitro fermentation of cereal dietary fibre carbohydrates by probiotic and intestinal bacteria

JOURNAL OF THE SCIENCE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE, Issue 8 2002
Ross Crittenden
Abstract A range of probiotic and other intestinal bacteria were examined for their ability to ferment the dietary fibre carbohydrates ,-glucan, xylan, xylo-oligosaccharides (XOS) and arabinoxylan. ,-Glucan was fermented by Bacteroides spp and Clostridium beijerinckii but was not fermented by lactobacilli, bifidobacteria, enterococci or Escherichia coli. Unsubstituted xylan was not fermented by any of the probiotic bacteria examined. However, many Bifidobacterium species and Lactobacillus brevis were able to grow to high yields using XOS. XOS were also efficiently fermented by some Bacteroides isolates but not by E coli, enterococci, Clostridium difficile, Clostridium perfringens or by the majority of intestinal Lactobacillus species examined. Bifidobacterium longum strains were able to grow well using arabinoxylan as the sole carbon source. These organisms hydrolysed and fermented the arabinosyl residues from arabinoxylan but did not substantially utilise the xylan backbone of the polysaccharide. Arabinoxylan was not fermented by lactobacilli, enterococci, E coli, C perfringens or C difficile and has potential to be an applicable carbohydrate to complement probiotic Bif longum strains in synbiotic combinations. © 2002 Society of Chemical Industry [source]


Evaluation of the PCR method for identification of Bifidobacterium species

LETTERS IN APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 1 2008
S.Y. Youn
Abstract Aims:,Bifidobacterium species are known for their beneficial effects on health and their wide use as probiotics. Although various polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methods for the identification of Bifidobacterium species have been published, the reliability of these methods remains open to question. Methods and Results:, In this study, we evaluated 37 previously reported PCR primer sets designed to amplify 16S rDNA, 23S rDNA, intergenic spacer regions, or repetitive DNA sequences of various Bifidobacterium species. Conclusions:, Ten of 37 experimental primer sets showed specificity for B. adolescentis, B. angulatum, B. pseudocatenulatum, B. breve, B. bifidum, B. longum, B. longum biovar infantis and B. dentium. Significance and Impact of the Study:, The results suggest that published Bifidobacterium primer sets should be re-evaluated for both reproducibility and specificity for the identification of Bifidobacterium species using PCR. Improvement of existing PCR methods will be needed to facilitate identification of other Bifidobacterium strains, such as B. animalis, B. catenulatum, B. thermophilum and B. subtile. [source]


Altered early infant gut microbiota in children developing allergy up to 5 years of age

CLINICAL & EXPERIMENTAL ALLERGY, Issue 4 2009
Y. M. Sjögren
Summary Background Early colonization with bifidobacteria and lactobacilli is postulated to protect children from allergy, while Clostridium (C.) difficile colonization might be associated with allergic disease. Previous studies of infant gut microbiota in relation to subsequent allergy development have mostly employed culture-dependent techniques, studied genera of bacteria and the follow-up period was limited to 2 years. Objective To relate gut microbiota in early infancy, notably bifidobacteria and lactobacilli at species level, to allergy development during the first 5 years of life and study if environmental factors influence the early infant gut microbiota. Methods Fecal samples were collected at 1 week, 1 month and 2 months after birth from 47 Swedish infants, followed prospectively to 5 years of age. Bacterial DNA was analysed with real-time PCR and related to allergy development, family size as well as endotoxin and Fel d 1 levels in house dust samples. Primers binding to C. difficile, four species of bifidobacteria, two lactobacilli groups and Bacteroides fragilis were used. Children regarded as allergic manifested allergic symptoms and were skin prick test positive during their first 5 years while non-allergic children were neither. Results Children who developed allergy were significantly less often colonized with lactobacilli group I (Lactobacillus (L.) rhamnosus, L. casei, L. paracasei), Bifidobacterium adolescentis and C. difficile during their first 2 months. Infants colonized with several Bifidobacterium species had been exposed to higher amounts of endotoxin and grew up in larger families than infants harbouring few species. Conclusion A more diverse gut microbiota early in life might prevent allergy development and may be related to the previously suggested inverse relationship between allergy, family size and endotoxin exposure. [source]