Factors involved in the colonization and survival of bifidobacteria in the gastrointestinal tract

Abstract

Probiotics are live microorganisms that when administered in adequate amounts confer a health benefit on the host. They are mainly bacteria from the genera Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium. Traditionally, functional properties of lactobacilli have been studied in more detail than those of bifidobacteria. However, many recent studies have clearly revealed that the bifidobacterial population in the human gut is far more abundant than the population of lactobacilli. Although the 'beneficial gut microbiota' still remains to be elucidated, it is generally believed that the presence of bifidobacteria is associated with a healthy status of the host, and scientific evidence supports the benefits attributed to specific Bifidobacterium strains. To carry out their functional activities, bifidobacteria must be able to survive the gastrointestinal tract transit and persist, at least transiently, in the host. This is achieved using stress response mechanisms and adhesion and colonization factors, as well as by taking advantage of specific energy recruitment pathways. This review summarizes the current knowledge of the mechanisms involved in facilitating the establishment, colonization, and survival of bifidobacteria in the human gut.

Plant Polyphenols Stimulate Adhesion to Intestinal Mucosa and Induce Proteome Changes in the Probiotic Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM

“…Adhesion of microorganisms to the intestinal mucosa is important for GIT residence time and correlated to the ability of the strains to beneficially influence host health including immune modulation and competitive exclusion of pathogens. [27,28,31,32] Favorable effects of polyphenols were reported for the probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus 299 enhancing proliferation and adhesion simultaneously with inhibition of growth and adhesion of pathogens. [3] The impact largely depended on the phenolic structure and its dosage, [34] as also found in our study to represent important factors in conferring beneficial effects.…”

Capsular polysaccharide inhibits adhesion of Bifidobacterium longum 105-A to enterocyte-like Caco-2 cells and phagocytosis by macrophages

“…After oral intake by the host, Bifidobacteria have to reach the colon, the suitable niche, and deal with the stresses throughout the gastrointestinal tract including the low-pH environment of the stomach and bile salts excreted in the duodenum [80, 81]. The pH of gastric acid is 1.5–3.5 in the human stomach lumen and gradually increases in the small intestine from pH 6 to about pH 7.4 in the terminal ileum.…”

Update on antibiotic resistance in foodborne Lactobacillus and Lactococcus species

“…and food processing features (processing temperature and pH, length of seasoning, etc.). The probiotic hype of the past decade has led to extensive characterization of the nutritional and health-associated features of LAB, especially of lactobacilli and bifidobacteria which are highly represented in the human gut, mainly to substantiate health claims of commercial probiotic products (Parvez et al, 2006; Gonzalez-Rodriguez et al, 2013). Due to the presence of a wide variety of LAB species associated with health-promoting features, fermented foods are often considered “naturally functional.” However, the role of LAB as reservoir of antibiotic resistance (AR) determinants with transmission potential to pathogenic species is now increasingly acknowledged (reviewed in: Teuber et al, 1999; Marshall et al, 2009; van Reenen and Dicks, 2011), thus representing a potential health risk which was neglected for a long time.…”