[Frontiers in Bioscience 14, 4673-4684, January 1, 2009]

[Frontiers in Bioscience 14, 4673-4684, January 1, 2009]

Bifidobacteria: from ecology to genomics

Francesca Turroni¹, Douwe van Sinderen², Marco Ventura¹

1 Department of Genetics, Biology of Microorganisms, Anthropology and Evolution University of Parma, Italy, ²Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre and Department of Microbiology, Bioscience Institute, National University of Ireland, Western Road, Cork, Ireland

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Abstract
2. Introduction
3. Bifidobacteria and ecology
4. Bifidobacteria and their role in the human gut
5. Bifidobacteria and health-promoting effects 5.1.Modulation of harmful intestinal microflora: 5.2. Immune modulation; 5.3. Allergic disease; 5.4.Acute gastro-enteritis and diarrhoea caused by viral and bacterial infections; 5.5.Lactose intolerance; 5.6. Inflammatory bowel disease; 5.7. Constipation
6. Genomics and bifidobacteria
7. Plasmids in bifidobacteria
8. Bifidobacteria and genetic adaptation to the human gut
9. Bifidobacteria and prebiotics: 9.1. Fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS); 9.2.β-galactosidases; 9.3.Arabinoxylan and arabinogalactan; 9.4.α-Galacto-oligosaccharides and galactomannan; 9.5.Starch; 9.6.Mucin
10. Bifidobacterial genomics: biosynthetic and metabolic capabilities
11. Bifidobacteria genomics and host interactions
12. Functional genomics and bifidobacteria
13. Acknowledgments

14. References 1. ABSTRACT

Bifidobacteria are high G+C Gram positive bacteria belonging to the phylum Actinobacteria. In recent years bifidobacteria have attracted a lot of attention because of their perceived positive contribution to the functionality of the human gastro intestinal tract. For this reason, scientific research on these bacteria has been rapidly expanding, in particular in areas such as genomics, molecular ecology and genetics. Ecological studies together with genome-based sequencing efforts have provided scientific evidence for the considerable contribution of bifidobacteria to the human gut microbiome. Furthermore, bifidobacterial genomics has revealed various genetic adaptations of these bacteria to the gastrointestinal niche.