The Bifidobacteria and Related Organisms: Biology, Taxonomy, Applications

The Bifidobacteria and Related Organisms: Biology, Taxonomy, Applications brings together authoritative reviews on all aspects of Bifidobacteria and related genera. Their place within the Phylum Actinobacteria is discussed first, and this is followed by descriptions of the genera Bifidobacterium, Alloscardovia, Aeriscardovia, Bombiscardovia, Gardnerella, Metascardovia, Parascardovia and Scardovia and the currently accredited species within those genera.

The increased availability of genome sequences and molecular tools for studying bifidobacteria provides important information about their taxonomy, physiology and interactions with their host. Also considerations about common bifidobacterial core maintenance during the mutual coevolution of a host and its intestinal microbes could be relevant for health claims for the ability of symbiotic gut bacteria to provide health benefits to their host, and for evaluating such claims in scientifically valid experiments.

Chemotaxonomy is important to our understanding of these genera and so is considered along with physiological and biochemical aspects before proceeding to examine clinical and other practical aspects. The ability to maintain pure cultures and to grow cells in industrial quantities when required for applications requires that the cells’ environmental and nutritional needs are well understood. Some species are important clinically and as animal digestive tract synbionts-and even play a part in honey production-so these matters are considered along with milk oligosaccharides’ roles in gut flora development in neonates.

Presents information on all bacteria in this group in one placeProvides applications and technological considerations placed alongside more academic matters such as nomenclature and phylogenyIncludes basic information on the beneficial role of bifidobacteria in the human gut, with particular importance for infantsProvides information on genomic and gene modification technologies

1. The phylum Actinobacteria
  Paul A. Lawson
2. Species in the Genus Bifidobacterium
  Paola Mattarelli, Bruno Biavati
3. Related Genera Within the Family Bifidobacteriaceae
  Bruno Biavati, Paola Mattarelli
4. Isolation, Cultivation and Storage of Bifidobacteria
  Monica Modesto
5. Chemotaxonomic Features in the Bifidobacteriaceae Family
  Paola Mattarelli, Barbara Sgorbati
6. Nutritional Requirements of Bifidobacteria
 Rachel Levantovsky, Cary R. Allen-Blevins, David A. Sela
7. Stress Responses of Bifidobacteria: Oxygen and Bile Acid as the Stressors
 Shinji Kawasaki, Masamichi Watanabe, Satoru Fukiya, Atsushi Yokota
8. Carbohydrate Metabolism in Bifidobacteria
  Muireann Egan, Douwe van Sinderen
9. Interactions Between Bifidobacteria, Milk Oligosaccharides and Neonate Hosts
 Guy I. Shani, Zachary T. Lewis, Ashanti M. Robinson, David A. Mills
10. Biological Activities and Applications of Bifidobacterial Exopolysaccharides: From the Bacteria and Host Perspective
  Nuria Castro-Bravo, Borja Sánchez, Abelardo Margolles, Patricia Ruas-Madiedo
11. Folate and Bifidobacteria
 Thomas A. Andlid, Maria R. D’Aimmo, Jelena Jastrebova
12. Bifidobacteria: Ecology and Coevolution with the Host
  Francesca Turroni, Christian Milani, Douwe van Sinderen, Marco Ventura
13. Clinical Significance of Bifidobacteria
  Christian U. Riedel
14. Honeybee-Specific Bifidobacteria and Lactobacilli
  Tobias Olofsson, Alejandra Vásquez
15. Genetic Manipulation and Gene Modification Technologies in Bifidobacteria
 Satoru Fukiya, Mikiyasu Sakanaka, Atsushi Yokota
16. Production of Probiotic Bifidobacteria
  Arthur C. Ouwehand, Sara Sherwin, Connie Sindelar, Amy B. Smith, Buffy Stahl
17. Prebiotics, Probiotics and Synbiotics: A Bifidobacterial View
  Lorenzo Morelli, Maria L. Callegari, Vania Patrone
18. Evidence of the In Vitro and In Vivo Immunological Relevance of Bifidobacteria
Susana Delgado, Lorena Ruiz, Arancha Hevia, Patricia Ruas-Madiedo, Abelardo Margolles, Borja Sánchez