Carbohydrate metabolism in Bifidobacteria |
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Authors: | Karina Pokusaeva Gerald F. Fitzgerald Douwe van Sinderen |
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Affiliation: | 1Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre, Department of Microbiology, University College Cork, Western Road, Cork, Ireland ;2Department of Pathology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX USA ;3Department of Microbiology, University College Cork, Room 4.05, Western Road, Cork, Ireland |
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Abstract: | Members of the genus Bifidobacterium can be found as components of the gastrointestinal microbiota, and are believed to play an important role in maintaining and promoting human health by eliciting a number of beneficial properties. Bifidobacteria can utilize a diverse range of dietary carbohydrates that escape degradation in the upper parts of the intestine, many of which are plant-derived oligo- and polysaccharides. The gene content of a bifidobacterial genome reflects this apparent metabolic adaptation to a complex carbohydrate-rich gastrointestinal tract environment as it encodes a large number of predicted carbohydrate-modifying enzymes. Different bifidobacterial strains may possess different carbohydrate utilizing abilities, as established by a number of studies reviewed here. Carbohydrate-degrading activities described for bifidobacteria and their relevance to the deliberate enhancement of number and/or activity of bifidobacteria in the gut are also discussed in this review. |
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Keywords: | Carbohydrate metabolism Prebiotic Probiotic Carbohydrate Bifidobacterial metabolism Bifidobacterium breve UCC2003 Glycosyl hydrolases |
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