From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Bifidobacterium is a genus of Gram-positive, non-motile, often branched anaerobic bacteria inhabiting the Gastrointestinal tract and Vagina[1]. Bifidobacteria are one of the major genera of bacteria that make up the gut flora, the bacteria that reside in the colon. Bifidobacteria aid in digestion, are associated with a lower incidence of allergies [2] and also prevent some forms of tumor growth [3]. Some bifidobacteria are being used as probiotics.
Before the 1960s, Bifidobacterium species were collectively referred to as "Lactobacillus bifidus".
[edit] References
- ^ Schell MA, Karmirantzou M, Snel B, Vilanova D, Berger B, Pessi G, Zwahlen MC, Desiere F, Bork P, Delley M, Pridmore RD, Arigoni F (October 2002). "The genome sequence of Bifidobacterium longum reflects its adaptation to the human gastrointestinal tract.". Proceedings of the National Academy of Science U S A.: 14422-7. PMID 12381787. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12381787.
- ^ Björkstén B, Sepp E, Julge K, Voor T, Mikelsaar M (October 2001). "Allergy development and the intestinal microflora during the first year of life". The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology 108 (4): 516–20. doi:10.1067/mai.2001.118130. PMID 11590374.
- ^ Guarner F, Malagelada JR (February 2003). "Gut flora in health and disease". Lancet 361 (9356): 512–9. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(03)12489-0. PMID 12583961.
[edit] See Also
Acidophilus
[edit] External links
