Bifidobacteria

J Dairy Sci, 1996 May, 79(5), 750 - 7
Improvement of lactose digestion in humans by ingestion of unfermented milk containing Bifidobacterium longum; Jiang T et al.; Fifteen lactose malabsorbers were studied to evaluate the effects of consumption of milk containing different strains of Bifidobacterium longum on lactose digestion . Influences of different growth substrates, bile sensitivity, and lactose transport on lactose digestion by bifidobacteria were also investigated . Lactose malabsorption was determined by measuring breath hydrogen excretion of subjects fed four different test milks (three of which contained 5 x 10(8) cfu/ml of B . longum) on 4 different d using a randomized, double-blinded trial . Test milks included 1) 400 ml of lowfat milk (control), 2) 400 ml of milk containing B . longum B6 that had been grown with lactose, 3) 400 ml of milk containing B . longum B6 grown with lactose plus glucose, or 4) 400 ml of milk containing B . longum ATCC 15708 grown with lactose . beta-Galactosidase activity was highest in milk containing B6 grown with lactose but was extremely low in milk containing B6 grown with lactose and glucose . Consumption of milk containing B6 grown with lactose resulted in significantly less hydrogen production and flatulence than occurring after consumption of control milk or the milk containing B6 grown with both lactose and glucose . Hydrogen production after ingestion of 15708 was also significantly lower than hydrogen production after ingestion of the control milk . We concluded that milks containing B . longum might reduce breath hydrogen response and symptoms from lactose malabsorption when the culture is grown in a medium containing only lactose to induce a higher beta-galactosidase level and increase rate of lactose uptake.

Biol Pharm Bull, 1996 May, 19(5), 705 - 9
Purification and characterization of a novel sennoside-hydrolyzing beta-glucosidase from Bifidobacterium sp . strain SEN, a human intestinal anaerobe; Yang L et al.; A novel beta-glucosidase, which is inducible and capable of catalyzing the hydrolysis of sennosides, was purified from Bifidobacterium sp . strain SEN with Triton X-100 solubilization and DEAE-cellulose column chromatography, by which hydrolytic activities toward sennoside B, 4-methylumbelliferyl beta-glucoside (MUG), and p-nitrophenyl beta-glucoside (pNPG) were obtained together in the same eluted fractions . The activity was stable against detergents such as sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and Triton X-100, but was denatured by SDS and beta-mercaptoethanal when heated . The final preparation was shown to be nearly homogeneous on SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) either after the enzyme was denatured or when it was not denatured . In the non-denaturing SDS-PAGE, a single protein band hydrolyzed MUG on the gel . In the denaturing SDS-PAGE, the subunit mass of the enzyme was estimated to be 110 kDa . The enzyme was optimally active at pH 6.0 for hydrolysis of sennoside B and MUG . Km values for sennoside B and MUG are 0.94 and 0.53 mM, respectively . The enzyme also catalyzed the hydrolysis of pNPG, amygdalin, geniposide and salicin . It was less active against methyl beta-glucoside and incapable of hydrolyzing cellobiose . The beta-glucosidase activity was inhibited by deoxynojirimycin and p-chloromercuribenzenesulfonic acid, but was less susceptible to several metals (FeSO4, ZnCl2, and CuSO4), and 5,5'-dithio-bis(2-nitrobenzoic acid).

Biol Pharm Bull, 1996 May, 19(5), 701 - 4
A sennoside-hydrolyzing beta-glucosidase from Bifidobacterium sp . strain SEN is inducible; Yang L et al.; Bifidobacterium sp . strain SEN was isolated and characterized by hydrolytic conversion of sennosides to sennidins (Akao et al., Appl . Environ . Microbiol., 60, 1041 (1994)) . The sennoside-hydrolyzing capacity of the strain SEN was disappeared following the addition of glucose to the media in spite of good bacterial growth and potent activity hydrolyzing p-nitrophenyl beta-D-glucopyranoside (pNPG) . In a fructose-containing medium, no such suppressing effect was shown . Following a 10 h incubation in 50 mM potassium phosphate buffer (pH 7.4), the sennoside-hydrolyzing activity of the bacterium increased, dose-dependently, with the addition of sennoside B . Inhibition of the substrate-induced increase in sennoside-hydrolyzing activity was observed following the addition of some antibiotics (chloramphenicol, streptomycin, and rifampicin) . In particular, chloramphenicol completely inhibited the increase of sennoside-hydrolyzing activity while 38% pNPG-hydrolyzing activity remained . It is suggested that the strain SEN produces two different beta-glucosidases of which the sennoside-hydrolyzing enzyme is inducible . In addition, the glucosides pNPG, esculin, salicin, or amygdalin stimulated the induction of the sennoside beta-glucosidase, but less markedly than sennoside . Sennidin A or sugars (glucose, fructose, cellobiose, or maltose) did not induce the enzyme.

Appl Microbiol Biotechnol, 1996 May, 45(4), 484 - 9
Construction of an integrative food-grade cloning vector for Lactobacillus acidophilus; Lin MY et al.; An integrative cloning vector was constructed using a randomly cloned HindIII-digested chromosomal fragment from Lactobacillus acidophilus ADH inserted into an Escherichia coli vector, pBluescript II SK+ . Southern hybridization studies demonstrated homology of the inserted fragment with one other L . acidophilus strain and one Bifidobacterium strain . Identification of a SauI site located near the middle of the 1.9-kb ADH chromosomal fragment made it possible to clone the Lactobacillus bulgaricus beta-galactosidase (EC 3.2.1.23) gene into this vector . The vector was unable to replicate in the homologous host, L . acidophilus ADH, following electroporation . The chromosomal fragment allowed the integration of the beta-galactosidase gene (beta gal) into the host chromosome via homologous recombination . The size of the two flanking L . acidophilus ADH chromosomal fragments, approximately 0.95 kb each, was sufficient to allow the double cross-over to take place . Southern hybridization demonstrated that only L . acidophilus and L . bulgaricus DNA had been integrated into the chromosome of the host strain . The beta-galactosidase activity of the transformant was increased approximately 200-fold when compared to the enzyme activity of the wild-type strain . The beta gal gene remained stable in the transformant strain after 30 transfers in growth media without selection pressure . This first-generation integrative cloning vector is constructed solely of DNA from organisms consumed by humans and could be considered a food-grade vector system.

J Nutr, 1996 May, 126(5), 1505 - 11
Feeding human milk to rats increases Bifidobacterium in the cecum and colon which correlates with enhanced folate status; Krause LJ et al.; The purpose of this investigation was to determine if feeding diets containing human milk resulted in increased numbers of microorganisms implicated in increased folate production and the effect on folate availability . Following a folate-depletion period (5 wk), 30 rats were fed folate-repletion diets (4 wk) with or without 20% milk solids (human, cow or goat) and containing either 906 or 4530 nmol folic acid/kg . At the end of the test period, the cecum and colon were removed in an anaerobic chamber, homogenized, diluted (10(-2) -10(-8)), and the contents of each plated on selective and nonselective media . In addition to enumeration of the total anaerobic load, five genera of bacteria were counted (Bacteroides, Bifidobacterium, Clostridium, Escherichia and Streptococcus) . Rats fed human milk solids had at least a seven- and onefold mean increase in the Bifidobacterium concentration in the cecum (P < 0.006) and colon (P < 0.04), respectively, compared with rats fed other diets . The total anaerobic bacterial concentration in the cecum and the colon of rats fed human milk solids was also greater than that of rats fed the other diets (P < 0.05) . The single exception was the total anaerobic count in the cecum of rats consuming goat milk solids, which did not differ from that of rats consuming human milk solids . Further, rats fed human milk solids had at least a 42 and 48% higher mean plasma folate concentration and total cecal material folate content, respectively, than rats in other dietary treatments containing 906 nmol/kg folic acid . Therefore, the improved folate status of rats fed human milk-containing diets appears to be due, at least in part, to increased folate synthesis by Bifidobacteria and other folate-synthesizing microbes in the cecum and colon.

J Nutr, 1996 May, 126(5), 1362 - 71
Probiotics, cecal microflora, and aberrant crypts in the rat colon; Gallaher DD et al.; Our hypothesis was that administration of bifidobacteria, Lactobacillus acidophilus or both to rats will minimize the numbers of aberrant crypts in the distal colon that develop in response to the carcinogen 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH) . A series of experiments was designed to test this hypothesis where the treatments used were as follows: skim milk controls (Skim-Basal), skim milk + bifidobacteria (Bifido-Basal), skim milk + fructooligosaccharide (Skim-FOS), and skim milk + bifidobacteria + fructooligosaccharide (Bifido-FOS) . In two experiments, bifido-bacteria + FOS administration significantly decreased the number of aberrant crypts that developed, but there was no clear relationship of aberrant crypts to numbers of bifidobacteria or Clostridium perfringens . In the third experiment, the Bifido-FOS treatment led to significantly fewer aberrant crypts and aberrant crypt foci than the Bifido-Basal treatment . The Skim-FOS group had significantly more cecal bifidobacteria than the Skim-Basal group and significantly fewer C . perfringens than the Skim-Basal and Bifido-Basal . In a fourth experiment, L . acidophilus was added as an additional treatment . The number of aberrant crypts was not significantly different among the groups . However, the number of C . perfringens was significantly decreased by the addition of bifidobacteria, L . acidophilus or the combination of the two, whereas the numbers of bifidobacteria and L . acidophilus were not affected by treatment . A significant correlation (R2 = 0.84, P < 0.01) was noted between the body weight of rats at DMH administration and the magnitude of the difference in aberrant crypts between the Skim-Basal rats and the Bifido-FOS rats . The results suggest that there is variability in the effects of bifidobacteria and L . acidophilus administration on both aberrant crypt formation and C . perfringens.

Biol Pharm Bull, 1996 Apr, 19(4), 647 - 48
Reduction of oxazepam to desmethyldiazepam by human intestinal bacteria; Okamura T et al.; The biotransformation of oxazepam by Bifidobacterium bifidum was studied . The major metabolite was purified by chromatographic methods and found to be desmethyldiazepam using NMR, IR and other physicochemical data.

Int J Syst Bacteriol, 1996 Apr, 46(2), 564 - 71
Bifidobacterium inopinatum sp . nov . and Bifidobacterium denticolens sp . nov., two new species isolated from human dental caries; Crociani F et al.; In a previous investigation of bifidobacteria isolated from human dental caries (V . Scardovi and F . Crociani, Int . J . Syst . Bacteriol . 24:6-20, 1974), 40 strains were assigned to the new species Bifidobacterium dentium . In this study we examined 70 new strains of bifidobacteria isolated from dental caries . The morphological characteristics, biochemical reactions, fermentation patterns, end products from glucose metabolism, protein electrophoretic patterns, levels of DNA hybridization, and DNA G+C contents of these organisms revealed that they belong to three different taxa . One of these taxa was identified as B . dentium . The other two are described as the following new Bifidobacterium species in this paper: Bifidobacterium inopinatum (type strain, DSM 10107) and Bifidobacterium denticolens (type strain, DSM 10105) . The two new species differ from other Bifidobacterium species in their morphological characteristics (especially B . inopinatum, with its very small coccoid cells), in their carbohydrate fermentation patterns (most strains ferment dextran, and B . inopinatum does not ferment galactose), and in their DNA base compositions (especially B . inopinatum).

Jpn J Antibiot, 1996 Apr, 49(4), 367 - 76
{In vitro activities of sulopenem, a new parenteral penem, against anaerobes}; Watanabe K et al.; In vitro activities of sulopenem, a novel parenteral penem, was compared with those of imipenem, flomoxef, cefuzonam, cefoperazone and sulbactam/ampicillin against 66 reference strains (19 genera, 61 species) and 392 recent clinical isolates of anaerobic bacteria and fastidious aerobic bacteria . Sulopenem had a very broad spectrum against anaerobic bacteria . In general, this compound was active against anaerobic reference strains with MICs of < or = 0.78 micrograms/ml, while being the least active against Bifidobacterium spp . and less active than imipenem against Lactobacillus spp . Sulopenem was more active against Bacteroides fragilis isolates than imipenem and had the highest activities against Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron, Prevotella intermedia, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Fusobacterium spp . and Peptostreptococcus spp . among the antibiotics tested . Sulopenem was not hydrolyzed by oxyiminocephalosporinase type 1 produced by B . fragilis GAI-0558, GAI-7955 and GAI-10150 and its stability was comparable to imipenem . Its susceptibilities to hydrolysis by a metallo-beta-lactamase from B . fragilis GAI-30144 was less than imipenem . Sulopenem (120 mg/kg, 3 times a day for 4 days) was as effective as imipenem/cilastatin against a mixed intraabdominal mice infection due to E . coli and B . fragilis . Sulopenem (20 mg/kg twice a day for 5 days) did not induce an overgrowth of Clostridium difficile in the caecum of mice.

J Dent Res, 1996 Apr, 75(4), 1008 - 14
The final pH of bacteria comprising the predominant flora on sound and carious human root and enamel surfaces; van Houte J et al.; Acidogenesis at low pH appears to be an important bacterial cariogenic trait . However, most information in this regard pertains to only a few of the acidogenic dental plaque bacteria . Therefore, the 'final' pH in sugar broth was determined for a wide variety of oral bacteria . Their source was: (1) carious material from advanced root lesions (ARL), (2) plaque from sound root surfaces of root-caries-free subjects (SRS), (3) plaque from "white spot" coronal lesions and sound coronal surfaces of caries-active subjects, and (4) plaque from sound coronal surfaces of caries-free subjects . Strains from groups 1 and 2 (ARL, 389 strains; SRS, 358 strains) were previously identified (van Houte et al., 1994) to the genus/species level and belonged to the predominant cultivable flora (PCF) . Strains from groups 3 and 4 also belonged to the PCF but were not identified . All strains were placed in one of 4 final pH categories: < 4.2, 4.2-4.4, 4.4-4.6, and > or = 4.6 . The main findings were: (1) ARL samples contained many strains with a final pH < 4.2 (mean percentage of 25.7) . They included all strains of Lactobacillus and mutans streptococci (MS), most Bifidobacterium strains and non-mutans streptococci (non-MS), and about 20% of the Actinomyces strains . By contrast, SRS samples contained far fewer strains with a final pH < 4.2 (mean percentage of 8.4) which were nearly all non-MS . (2) Organisms with a final pH < 4.4 constituted mean percentages of 41.5 and 32.1 for the ARL and SRS samples, respectively . (3) The final pH distribution of strains in samples from coronal surfaces showed a tendency relative to caries activity (group 3 vs . group 4) similar to that for groups 1 and 2 . Our findings further support the concept that increased cariogenic conditions are associated with increased proportions of organisms capable of acidogenesis at a low pH and that this shift involves organisms other than the MS and lactobacilli.

Z Ernahrungswiss, 1996 Mar, 35(1), 22 - 31
{Structural and functional aspects of oligosaccharides in human milk}; Kunz C et al.; About a century ago, pediatricians observed that in feces of breast-fed infants, compared to those of bottle-fed infants, Bifidobacterium bifidum was the predominant microorganism . It was shown thereafter that aminosugar-containing oligosaccharides are growth factors for a specific strain of Bifidobacterium . Meanwhile, more than 130 lactose-derived oligosaccharides have been identified in human milk . Some of these oligosaccharides like Lacto-N-Tetraose and Lacto-N-Fucopentaose I and II do not occur in minute amounts but in concentrations up to 1-2 g/L . As the total amount of complex oligosaccharides is between 3-6 g/L those components have to be considered as major human milk constituents . There is striking evidence that human milk oligosaccharides are potent inhibitors of bacterial adhesion to epithelial surfaces, an initial stage of infective processes . Therefore, these oligosaccharides are considered to be soluble receptor analogues of epithelial cell surfaces participating in the non-immunological defense system of human milk-fed infants.

Res Microbiol, 1996 Mar-Apr, 147(3), 183 - 92
Ribosomal DNA polymorphism in the genus Bifidobacterium; Mangin I et al.; Ribosomal DNA polymorphism was studied in order to demonstrate intra- and interspecies differentiation of 42 Bifidobacterium strains . DNA from these strains was digested with the endonucleases BamHI, EcoRV, HindIII and PvuII and then analysed by Southern blotting . Ribosomal patterns using a part of an rRNA 23S gene as a probe clearly differentiated the majority of species from each other . Only B . indicum ATCC 25912T and B . infantis ATCC 15697T displayed identical ribosomal patterns, even though they are classified into two different species . Moreover, ribotypes were able to distinguish between strains belonging to the same species . Furthermore, these strains generally showed common bands, except for B . infantis strains and two strains of B . animalis.

Res Microbiol, 1996 Mar-Apr, 147(3), 133 - 43
Characterization of the plasmid pMB1 from Bifidobacterium longum and its use for shuttle vector construction; Rossi M et al.; The nucleotide sequence of the 1847-bp Bifidobacterium longum B2577 cryptic plasmid pMB1 was determined . The plasmid had a G+C content of 62.0%, and contained two open reading frames, orf1 and orf2, likely arranged in an operon . The proteins encoded by orf1 and orf2 show the highest degree of similarity with similarly arranged peptide sequences translated from Corynebacterium glutamicum pXZ10142 and Mycobacterium fortuitum pAL5000 plasmids . Recombinant plasmids containing the pMB1 replicon were able to replicate in Bifidobacterium animalis MB209 . The successful transformation of this strain with pMB1-based plasmids facilitated characterization of this replicon, results of which showed that both orf1 and orf2 are necessary for plasmid replication . A family of new Escherichia coli-B . animalis shuttle plasmids, based on the pMB1 replicon and expressing a cat and an ery gene, was constructed.

Brain Dev, 1996 Mar-Apr, 18(2), 160 - 2
Neonatal meningitis caused by Bifidobacterium breve; Nakazawa T et al.; We are reporting a male neonate with meningitis caused by Bifidobacterium breve . This is only the second case reported so far to our knowledge . The patient's clinical course was excellent and inflammatory indications, such as serum C-reactive protein, were weak . Although the antibiotics used for the patient were effective against this bacterium both in vitro and in vivo, two relapses occurred which might have been caused by an incomplete remission due to the low permeability of antibiotics through the blood-brain barrier under the very mild inflammation of the meninges, and also by the discrepancy between minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBC) and minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) . Anaerobic meningitis is very rare, but it may exist in more than the reported cases . Anaerobic culture should be performed for patients with culture-negative purulent meningitis.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1996 Mar-Apr, (2), 88 - 91
{The probiotic correction of microecological and immune disorders in gastroduodenal pathology in children}; Lykova EA et al.; The state of microbiocenosis was studied and the level of immunoglobulins was determined in the gastric juice and feces of children with chronic diseases of the digestive system . In 20% of patients an increase in the contamination of the gastric biotope with opportunistic microflora was established . The isolation rate of Helicobacter pylori was 56% . The detection of H . pylori was found to be accompanied by the aggravation of the form and course of gastritis . In cases of Helicobacter-associated pathology the deficiency of Lactobacillus sp . in the stomach was established, which was accompanied by their deficiency and absence in feces . The study also revealed a decrease in the population level of Bifidobacterium sp . with a simultaneous increase in the population of opportunistic enterobacteria and changes in the state of local immunity: the decreased level of SIgA in most samples and the decreased level of IgG in the presence of H . pylori . The correction of microecological and immune disturbances with probiotic preparations, containing bifidobacteria (bifidumbacterin-forte) and lactobacilli, yielded good results.

Carbohydr Res, 1996 Feb 23, 281(2), 285 - 91
Structure of a galactan from cell walls of Bifidobacterium catenulatum YIT4016; Nagaoka M et al.; A structural study was carried out on a galactose-rich polysaccharide fraction isolated from cell walls of Bifidobacterium catenulatum YIT4016 after N-acetylmuramidase digestion . The polysaccharide contained galactose and glucosamine in a molar ratio of 16.9:1.0 . Data obtained by 13C NMR spectroscopy showed that the backbone chain of this polysaccharide is composed of galactofuranose residues, while the branches consist of galactopyranosyl residues . Furthermore, the data obtained from NaIO4 oxidation, partial methanolysis and methylation analysis indicated that this polysaccharide consists of a trisaccharide repeating unit having the following structure: {sequence: see text}

Biosci Biotechnol Biochem, 1996 Feb, 60(2), 188 - 93
Purification and characterization of beta-D-glucosidase (beta-D-fucosidase) from Bifidobacterium breve clb acclimated to cellobiose; Nunoura N et al.; The beta-D-glucosidase (EC . 3.2.1.21) activity of Bifidobacterium breve 203 was increased by acclimation with cellobiose, and the enzyme was purified to homogeneity from cell-free extracts of an acclimatized strain of B . breve clb, by ammonium sulfate fractionation and column chromatographies of anion-exchange, gel filtration, Gigapaite, and hydrophobic interaction . This enzyme had not only beta-D-glucosidase activity but also beta-D-fucosidase activity, which is specific to Bifidobacteria in intestinal flora . The molecular weight of the purified enzyme was estimated to be 47,000-48,000 and the enzyme was assumed to be a monomeric protein . The optimum pH and temperature of the enzyme were around 5.5 and 45 degrees C, respectively . The enzyme was stable up to 40 degrees C and between pH 5 and 8 . The isoelectric point of the enzyme was 4.3 and the Km values for p-nitrophenyl-beta-D-glucoside and p-nitrophenyl-beta-D-fucoside were 1.3 mM and 0.7 mM, respectively . This enzyme had also transferase activity for the beta-D-fucosyl group but not for the beta-D-glucosyl group . The N-terminal amino acid sequence of this enzyme was similar to those of beta-D-glucosidase from other bacteria, actinomycetes, and plants.

Lett Appl Microbiol, 1996 Feb, 22(2), 145 - 8
A partially purified beta-glucosidase from Bifidobacterium adolescentis converts cycasin to a mutagenic compound; Choi YJ et al.; beta-Glucosidase was extracted from sonicated Bifidobacterium adolescentis Int-57 and partially purified by Sepharose CL-6B gel-filtration and DEAE-cellulose ion-exchange chromatography . The partially purified enzyme was confirmed to convert cycasin to a mutagen in the Ames and SOS chromotests . beta-Glucosidase negative strains were unable to activate cycasin mutagenically.

J Clin Microbiol, 1996 Feb, 34(2), 376 - 84
Rapid characterization of periodontal bacterial isolates by using fluorogenic substrate tests; Maiden MF et al.; Eighty-nine species of subgingival bacteria, represented by 121 reference strains and 892 patient isolates, including gram-negative, gram-positive, aerobic, facultatively anaerobic, microaerophilic, and anaerobic species, were characterized with a panel of fluorogenic, 4-methylumbelliferyl-linked substrate tests . Identifications of all patient isolates were confirmed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) of whole-cell proteins relative to reference strains . Characteristic profiles of positive fluorogenic reactions differentiated most of the species, including five Porphyromonas species, six pigmenting and five nonpigmenting Prevotella species, Bacteroides forsythus, three Capnocytophaga species, six Actinomyces species, four Propionibacterium species, and eight Streptococcus species . Two mannoside isomers differentiated Actinomyces israelii and Actinomyces gerencseriae . In addition to Porphyromonas gingivalis, B . forsythus, and Capnocytophaga species, Fusobacterium alocis, Actinomyces odontolyticus, Actinomyces meyeri, and Bifidobacterium dentium were all positive for so-called trypsin-like activity . Fusobacterium nucleatum, Eikenella corrodens, Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, and Campylobacter species were nonreactive with the carbohydrate-based substrates tested . Fluorogenic substrate tests provided a sensitive and simple method for biochemical characterization that could presumptively identify to species level most subgingival isolates within 4 h . The method was ideal for rapidly obtaining presumptive identifications of isolates prior to confirming identifications by definitive methods, such as SDS-PAGE.

Int J Food Microbiol, 1996 Feb, 29(1), 11 - 29
Differentiation of bifidobacteria by use of pulsed-field gel electrophoresis and polymerase chain reaction; Roy D et al.; Several different genomic fingerprints can be obtained from various commercially-important species of Bifidobacterium using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) following digestion of DNA with XbaI and SpeI . Four different genomic finger printings were discernible for reference strains of Bifidobacterium animalis, five for B . bifidum, three for B . breve, five for B . infantis and three for B . longum . Standard commercially-available industrial strains of B . animalis are identical to the reference strain ATCC 27536, previously isolated from chicken feces . There was more genomic heterogeneity among industrial strains of B . longum, in that only one gave profiles similar to the type strain of this species (ATCC 15707) . The other 14 commercially-available strains of B . longum (mainly isolated from Japanese commercial preparations) were divided into four new molecular types based on their PFGE patterns . The PFGE method indicated that only five distinct strains of B . longum and one strain of B . animalis are used in commercial preparations . Additionally, the use of polymerase chain reaction amplification of portions of 16S rDNA provides a highly specific technique to discriminate between the species B . breve, B . infantis and B . longum.

Antibiot Khimioter, 1996, 41(11), 28 - 32
{The efficacy of the eubiotic bifacide when used in the combined antibacterial therapy of newborn infants with infectious-inflammatory diseases}; Kushnareva MV et al.; The efficacies of bifacid and bifidumbacterin were studied comparatively in the correction of intestinal biocenosis in 60 newborns with infectious inflammatory diseases and intestine disfunction treated with massive doses of antibacterial drugs . The study showed that the use of bifidumbacterin was accompanied by significant disturbances in the biocenosis and by development of the intestinal syndrome . The protective action of the drug was observed after a short-term use only of one antibiotic and when the course of the bifidum therapy was continued after discontinuation of the treatment with antibacterial drugs . The use of bifacid was accompanied by a rapid (by the 2nd or the 5th day fo the treatment) and stable normalization of the stools and a marked improvement of the patient general state . The clinical efficacy of bifacid was much higher than that of bifidumbacterin . At the background of the bifacid therapy there was observed correction of the intestinal microflora composition due to normalization of the count of Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus and Colibacillus as well as to eradication of opportunistic pathogens.

Ter Arkh, 1996, 68(2), 24 - 7
{Enterosorption in ulcerative lesions of the gastrointestinal tract with concomitant intestinal dysbacteriosis}; Krylov AA et al.; Adjuvant use of enterosorbents in combined therapy of gastroduodenal ulcers (158 patients), nonspecific ulcerative colitis with intestinal dysbacteriosis was assessed . Enterosorption in combined therapy of gastrointestinal diseases with dysbacteriosis potentiated positive effect . The highest benefit of enterosorption occurs in intestinal affections (nonspecific ulcerative colitis, irritable bowel-syndrome, chronic enteritis, colitis) . In gastroduodenal ulcer lignin sorbent (polyfepan) is preferable . Polyfepan acted positively on intestinal dysbacteriosis through eliminating Escherichia with hemolyzing properties and enterococci, by reducing lack of bifidobacteria.

Vestn Ross Akad Med Nauk, 1996, (2), 8 - 11
{Role of anaerobic non spore-forming bacteria in maintaining human health}; Shenderov BA; The paper gives brief information on the fact that anaerobic non spore-forming bacteria take an active part in the metabolism of various substances and imbalance in their microscopic flora may be a trigger in the development of many human diseases . In the past 2 decades, Russia has been using various pharmaceuticals based on bifidobacteria, lactobacilli and their complexes, increasing colonization resistance, normalizing the pool of cholesterol, oxalic acid, free histamine, and making the liver function normally . Special emphasis is laid on the design of functional nutrition products by means of the above bacteria . It is emphasized that the industrial development of functional nutrition will determine human health in the twenty-first century.

Vestn Ross Akad Med Nauk, 1996, (2), 60 - 5
{Rational approach to correction of intestinal microflora}; Korshunov VM et al.; This paper reviews the present notions of the mechanisms of probiotics' action and analyzes selective approaches to correcting the intestinal microflora, such as the use of antibiotic-resistant and highly-adhesive probiotics, treatment with autostrains of lactobacilli and bifidobacteria, and the application of fermented-milk probiotics . Methods for optimization of the intestinal microflora in the newborns by using the maternal strains of bifidobacteria and the drug Zlemik that contains highly-adhesive lactobacilli are discussed . It is shown that parameters of immunotropic activity and involvement in the bacteriocin-mediated interactions may be used to design new probiotics . In future, the application of gene engineering methods will aid in designing a new generation of probiotics with predicted biological properties.

Microbiology, 1996 Jan, 142 ( Pt 1), 109 - 14
A convenient and reproducible method to genetically transform bacteria of the genus Bifidobacterium; Argnani A et al.; A protocol was developed for the introduction of foreign plasmid DNA into various Bifidobacterium strains . The method, which is applicable to all Bifidobacterium species tested so far, is based on electroporation of bacteria made competent by preincubation in electroporation buffer for several hours at 4 degrees C . Transformation of Bifidobacterium could be achieved with a plasmid vector originating from Bifidobacterium and with plasmid vectors from Corynebacterium, but not with vectors carrying replicons from Lactococcus or Lactobacillus.

Int J Syst Bacteriol, 1996 Jan, 46(1), 102 - 11
16S rRNA and 16S to 23S internal transcribed spacer sequence analyses reveal inter- and intraspecific Bifidobacterium phylogeny; Leblond-Bourget N et al.; In the last few years many attempts have been made to differentiate more than 20 Bifidobacterium species . It has been recognized that identification of bifidobacterial species is problematic because of phenetic and genetic heterogeneities . In order to contribute to our understanding of Bifidobacterium taxonomy, we studied Bifidobacterium phylogeny by performing both 16S rRNA and 16S to 23S (16S-23S) internally transcribed spacer (ITS) sequence analyses . In this study, we determined 16S rRNA sequences of five Bifidobacterium strains representing four species, and compared them with the sequences available in the GenBank database, and used them to construct a distance tree and for a bootstrap analysis . Moreover, we determined the ITS sequences of 29 bifidobacterial strains representing 18 species and compared these sequences with each other . We constructed a phylogenetic tree based on these sequence data and compared this tree with the tree based on 16S rRNA sequence data . We found that the two trees were similar topologically, suggesting that the two types of molecules provided the same kind of phylogenetic information . However, while 16S rRNA sequences are a good tool to infer interspecific links, the 16S-23S rDNA spacer data allowed us to determine intraspecific relationships . Each of the strains was characterized by its own ITS sequence; hence, 16S-23S rRNA sequences are a good tool for strain identification . Moreover, a comparison of the ITS sequences allowed us to estimate that the maximum level of ITS divergence between strains belonging to the same species was 13% . Our data allowed us to confirm the validity of most of the Bifidobacterium species which we studied and to identify some classification errors . Finally, our results showed that Bifidobacterium strains have no tRNA genes in the 16S-23S spacer region.

J Bacteriol, 1996 Jan, 178(1), 317 - 20
Isolation and structural analysis of polysaccharide containing galactofuranose from the cell walls of Bifidobacterium infantis; Tone-Shimokawa Y et al.; We isolated cell wall polysaccharides (PS-1 and PS-2) from Bifidobacterium infantis Reuter ATCC 15697 and found that the backbone of PS-2 is-->3)-beta-D-Galf-(1-->3)-alpha-D-Galp- (1-->in which beta-D-Galf and alpha-D-Galp are partially substituted at O-6 with beta-D-Glcp . This is the first report of the presence of this disaccharide backbone in a gram-positive bacterium; it resembles the O antigen of some bacteria.

Appl Microbiol Biotechnol, 1995 Nov, 43(6), 995 - 1000
Isolation and characterization of exocellular polysaccharides produced by Bifidobacterium longum; Abbad Andaloussi S et al.; When grown anaerobically at pH values above 5.0, on ultrafiltered complex media containing excess lactose, Bifidobacterium longum formed up to 140 mg l-1 (glucose equiv.) exopolysaccharides . The highest yield was obtained when the cells were cultivated in a peptone/yeast extract medium with pH controlled by additions of NH4OH . Whatever the conditions under study, exopolysaccharides represented about 30% of the polysaccharides produced by B . longum after 48 h of culture . Crude pronase-treated exopolysaccharide preparations were adsorbed on ion-exchange chromatographic resin to yield an anionic heteropolysaccharide fraction . Two subfractions with apparent molecular masses of 1.2 MDa and 0.36 MDa respectively were subsequently recovered after gel filtration on Sepharose 4B . In both subfractions, glucose, galactose and small amounts of uronic acids and hexosamines were present in similar molar proportions, suggesting that the excreted polymers may be synthesized from the same base unit and may have a structure resulting from repeating subunits.

Mol Gen Mikrobiol Virusol, 1995 Oct-Dec, (4), 27 - 9
{Approaches to classifying bifidobacteria based on DNA structural data}; Blokhina IN et al.; A brief historical review of classifications of Bifidobacteria demonstrates the difficulties in this problem, for the present-day classifications are far from being satisfactory . Based on the genotypical heterogeneity of the genus Bifidobacterium, the authors validate the possibility of raising it to the status of the family Bidobacteriaceae fam . nov . The principle of forming new genera within the frames of this hypothetical family, discussed in the paper, originates from the genomic similarity of representatives of some species of this group of microorganisms.

J Dairy Sci, 1995 Oct, 78(10), 2108 - 12
A selective enumeration medium for bifidobacteria in fermented dairy products; Lim KS et al.; A selective medium, blood-glucose-liver agar containing oxgall (.2 mg/ml) and gentamicin (30 micrograms/ml), was formulated for the selective enumeration of bifidobacteria in fermented dairy products containing both lactobacilli and streptococci . Recovery rates of bifidobacteria on this selective medium were around 90% of recovery on blood-glucose-liver agar . Strains of lactobacilli and streptococci were mostly inhibited with higher dilutions on this selective medium.

J Appl Bacteriol, 1995 Oct, 79(4), 475 - 9
In vitro inhibition of Helicobacter pylori NCTC 11637 by organic acids and lactic acid bacteria; Midolo PD et al.; In this study the effects of both pH and organic acids on Helicobacter pylori NCTC 11637 were tested . Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lact . casei, Lact . bulgaricus, Pediococcus pentosaceus and Bifidobacterium bifidus were assayed for their lactic acid production, pH and inhibition of H . pylori growth . A standard antimicrobial plate well diffusion assay was employed to examine inhibitory effects . Lactic, acetic and hydrochloric acids demonstrated inhibition of H . pylori growth in a concentration-dependent manner with the lactic acid demonstrating the greatest inhibition . This inhibition was due both to the pH of the solution and its concentration . Six strains of Lact . acidophilus and one strain of Lact . casei subsp . rhamnosus inhibited H . pylori growth where as Bifidobacterium bifidus, Ped . pentosaceus and Lact . bulgaricus did not . Concentrations of lactic acid produced by these strains ranged from 50 to 156 mmol l-1 and correlated with H . pylori inhibition . The role of probiotic organisms and their metabolic by-products in the eradication of H . pylori in vivo remains to be determined.

J Nutr, 1995 Oct, 125(10), 2604 - 9
Dietary fructooligosaccharide, xylooligosaccharide and gum arabic have variable effects on cecal and colonic microbiota and epithelial cell proliferation in mice and rats; Howard MD et al.; Two experiments were conducted to determine if supplementing soluble fiber (fructooligosaccharide, xylooligosaccharide or gum arabic) to a semi-elemental diet would beneficially change cecal and colonic microbiota populations and enhance epithelial cell proliferation . Experiments 1 and 2 used identical dietary regimens; mice and rats were given free access to a powdered semi-elemental diet . Animals were assigned to one of the four following treatment groups: control, no supplemental dietary fiber, fructooligosaccharide, xylooligosaccharide and gum arabic . Dietary fiber was supplied via drinking water at 30 g/L . In Experiment 1 populations of Bifidobacteria and total anaerobic flora were enumerated from the contents of the cecum and colon of weanling mice . Consumption of fructooligosaccharide increased (P < 0.05) the concentrations of Bifidobacteria and the ratio of Bifidobacteria to total anaerobic flora . In Experiment 2 tissue from the cecum and distal colon of weanling rats was examined for morphological changes of the mucosa . Consumption of xylooligosaccharide increased (P < 0.05) cecal crypt depth and labeling index relative to the other three treatments . Consumption of gum arabic and the control diet increased (P < 0.01) cecal proliferation zone . Consumption of xylooligosaccharide and the control diet increased (P < 0.01) cecal cell density (number of cells in a vertical-half of the crypt) . Distal colonic crypt depth was greatest (P < 0.05) in controls and rats fed fructooligosaccharide, intermediate in those fed gum arabic, and smallest in those fed xylooligosaccharide . These results suggest that fructooligosaccharide effectively stimulates growth of Bifidobacteria and xylooligosaccharide supports a modest enhancement of cecal epithelial cell proliferation.

Carbohydr Res, 1995 Sep 8, 274, 245 - 9
Structural studies on a cell wall polysaccharide from Bifidobacterium longum YIT4028; Nagaoka M et al.; The major fraction of rhamnogalactan was isolated from the cell wall of Bifidobacterium longum YIT4028 by treatment with N-acetylmuramidase . This polysaccharide was composed of rhamnose and galactose in a molar ratio of about 2:3 . The 13C NMR spectrum indicated that it contained a pentasaccharides repeating unit . This observation, and the results of Smith degradation, partial acid hydrolysis and methylation analysis led to the conclusion that its structure is {formula: see text}

Antibiot Khimioter, 1995 Sep, 40(9), 20 - 5
{Ribosomal RNA degradation in gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria under the action of minimal bactericidal doses of chlorhexidine and heating}; Lishchenko NN et al.; The mechanism of the minimal bactericidal action of chlorhexidine, an antiseptic, and heating was studied . The bactericidal doses (BD99) of the above factors were determined with respect to the representatives of 5 families: Enterobacteriaceae, Pseudomonas, Vibrio, Bacillus and Bifidobacterium . Their effect on the ribosomes in the cells of the exponentially growing cultures was estimated . It was shown that these factors induced selective damage of the 30S subunits in the gram-negative bacteria at the account of a specific degradation rRNA in them while in the gram-positive bacteria there was observed no rRNA degradation under such conditions . Differences in the mechanisms of the ribosome damage in the cells of the gram-negative bacteria of the various families were detected . Since the above factors at the levels used had no effect on the bacterial ribosomes in vitro, it was suggested that the primary link in the damages was the cell membrane while the ribosome degradation was secondary, though biologically the process leading to the bacteria death was of great importance.

Int Endod J, 1995 Sep, 28(5), 244 - 8
Studies into the microbial spectrum of apical periodontitis; Brauner AW et al.; This study examined the variety of obligate and facultative anaerobic bacterial species recovered from cases of acute apical periodontitis . A total of 19 root canal samples and 24 periapical granuloma samples were taken from patients suffering pain and discomfort . Bacteria were identified by applying the following techniques: culturing on various media, Gram-staining and using commercially available biochemical test strips . In addition, Prevotella intermedia and Porphyromonas endodontalis were differentiated on a molecular genetic level using species-specific oligodeoxynucleotide probes . The most frequently identified bacteria were Prevotella intermedia, Bifidobacterium spp., Streptococcus sanguis, Streptococcus milleri-group and Bacteroides spp . Obligate anaerobes occurred at a rate of 82.3%, and the average number of isolates was 6.4 per sample.

Mutat Res, 1995 Sep, 331(1), 133 - 41
Antimutagenicity of components of dairy products; Abdelali H et al.; This paper reports the potential antimutagenicity of some components of dairy products . For both milk and fermented milk, Bifidobacterium sp . Bio (strain Danone 173010), casein and calcium showed a dose-dependent antimutagenic activity against benzo{a}pyrene mutagenicity in the Ames test using Salmonella typhimurium TA98 . Fatty compounds present in milk had no antimutagenic effect . At the level occurring in cultured or uninoculated milks, and even more, the bifidobacteria, casein and calcium showed less antimutagenic activity than fermented and uninoculated milks . So, the mix of all these components must contribute to the total protective effect of dairy products against induced mutagenicity, and this does not rule out the possibility of contribution of other unknown substances . The total antimutagenicity of uninoculated skim milk corresponds to the additional activity of casein and calcium . The observed antimutagenic activity of fermented skim milk remains lower than expected.

Lett Appl Microbiol, 1995 Sep, 21(3), 149 - 51
Effects of three strains of bifidobacteria on cholesterol; Tahri K et al.; To determine the validity of the hypothesis of assimilation or precipitation of cholesterol by Bifidobacterium species, resting cell assays and cultures were undertaken in TPY medium containing oxgall . With resting cell assays (pH 5), cholesterol was precipitated and redissolved in phosphate buffer (pH 7) . At the end of the cultures, only part of the removed cholesterol from the culture medium was found in the phosphate buffer, while the missing cholesterol was in cell extracts . It appeared that removal of cholesterol during culturing was not solely due to its precipitation . It is concluded that growing bifidobacteria cells are able to remove cholesterol both by precipitation and assimilation.

Lett Appl Microbiol, 1995 Sep, 21(3), 146 - 8
Adhesion of different bifidobacteria strains to human enterocyte-like Caco-2 cells and comparison with in vivo study; Crociani J et al.; The validity of the in vitro adhesion tests performed with cultured cell lines, was determined in this study by comparison with results obtained in vivo, in a previous study . To make this experiment the in vitro adhesion tests were performed during a long period by utilization of an appropriate medium, to determine the capacity of the adhered strain to colonize the intestinal tract . It was demonstrated that the ability of the strain to adhere and colonize the intestinal cell in vivo or the cultured intestinal cells in intro was similar.

Poult Sci, 1995 Sep, 74(9), 1418 - 25
In vitro fructooligosaccharide utilization and inhibition of Salmonella spp . by selected bacteria; Oyarzabal OA et al.; In vitro experiments were conducted to determine: 1) inhibitory capacities of potential direct-fed microbial bacteria against Salmonella serotypes; and 2) the ability of Bifidobacterium bifidum, Enterococcus faecium, Lactobacillus casei, Lactococcus lactis, Pediococcus sp., and Salmonella spp . to grow in media containing fructooligosaccharides (FOS-50 or FOS pure formulation) as the only carbohydrate source . Thirteen bacteria (two strains of Bacillus coagulans, Bacillus licheniformis, Bacillus subtilis, B . bifidum, E . faecium, two strains of Lactobacillus acidophilus, L . casei, Pediococcus sp., Propionibacterium acidopropionici, P . jensenii, and Propionibacterium sp.) were tested for inhibition of six Salmonella serotypes (S . california, S . enteritidis, S . heidelberg, S . mission, S . senftenberg, and S . typhimurium) using a spot-the-lawn technique . Bifidobacterium bifidum, E . faecium, all lactobacilli, and Pediococcus sp . clearly inhibited growth of all Salmonella serotypes . In the growth experiments, E . faecium, L . lactis, and Pediococcus sp . grew in media with either FOS-50 or the pure formulation of FOS as the sole carbohydrate source . All tested Salmonella serotypes utilized FOS-50 for growth; however growth varied among the serotypes . In contrast, none of the Salmonella serotypes grew in media containing the pure formulation of FOS as the only carbohydrate source.

J Infect Dis, 1995 Aug, 172(2), 403 - 9
Passive protection against rotavirus-induced diarrhea of mouse pups born to and nursed by dams fed Bifidobacterium breve YIT4064; Yasui H et al.; Mouse pups born to and nursed by dams fed Bifidobacterium breve YIT4064 and immunized orally with rotavirus were more strongly protected against rotavirus-induced diarrhea than those born to and nursed by dams immunized with rotavirus only . The level of antirotavirus IgA in milk of dams fed B . breve YIT4064 and immunized orally with rotavirus was significantly higher than that of dams immunized with rotavirus only . The antirotavirus IgA level in feces of dams immunized orally with rotavirus was also increased by oral administration of B . breve YIT4064 . These findings demonstrate that oral administration of B . breve YIT4064 enhanced antigen-specific IgA antibody in the mammary gland and in the intestine . Oral administration of B . breve YIT4064 may enhance antigen-specific IgA antibody against various pathogenic antigens taken orally and induce protection against infections in various mucosal tissues.

J Appl Bacteriol, 1995 Aug, 79(2), 117 - 27
Degradation and fermentation of alpha-gluco-oligosaccharides by bacterial strains from human colon: in vitro and in vivo studies in gnotobiotic rats; Djouzi Z et al.; The ability of several human gut bacteria to break down alpha-1,2 and alpha-1,6 glycosidic linkages in alpha-gluco-oligosaccharides (GOS) was investigated in vitro in substrate utilization tests . Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron, Bifidobacterium breve and Clostridium butyricum, which are usually found in the infant gut and have been associated with both beneficial and deleterious effects on health, were studied . Alpha-Gluco-oligosaccharide degradation was compared in vitro and in vivo in gnotobiotic rats associated with these organisms, inoculated alone or in combination . Oligomer breakdown and short chain fatty acid and gas production indicated hydrolysis and fermentation of the substrate . In vitro and in vivo, Cl . butyricum was the least efficient in utilizing GOS, whereas Bact . thetaiotaomicron was the most efficient . Kinetic studies on GOS hydrolysis in pH-regulated fermenters showed that alpha-1,2 glucosidic bonds, which characterize the substrate, were more resistant than alpha-1,6 linkages . Adaptation of gnotobiotic rats to a diet containing 2% (w/w) GOS significantly increased the hydrolysis of alpha-1,2 glucosidic bonds . Combination of bacteria in trixenic rats improved GOS degradation and inhibited Cl . butyricum metabolism . This inhibition was confirmed in pH-regulated fermenters containing GOS as the principal carbon source . The association of beneficial bacteria and GOS may therefore have a potential health-promoting effect in human neonates.

J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr, 1995 Jul, 21(1), 54 - 8
Enhancement of lysozyme trypsin-mediated decay of intestinal bifidobacteria and lactobacilli; Heine W et al.; Lysozyme-mediated lysis of Bifidobacteria and Lactobacilli was studied in in vitro tests using the agar gel plate and turbidometric Micrococcus luteus (lysodeikticus) procedure as a standard . Suspensions of the strains Bifidobacterium infantis, B . infantis liberorum, B . breve, B . longum, B . ssp, and Lactobacillus acidophilus proved to be resistant to egg white lysozyme and human milk lysozyme when incubated at 37 degrees C in concentrations of 5, 50, and 500 mg lysozyme/L, respectively, through 30 and 60 min . Heat treatment at 100 degrees C for 1 h and pretreatment with ether, acetone, ascorbic acid, and hydrogen peroxide failed to incline the bacteria to the lytic effects of lysozyme . Consecutive incubation of the lysozyme-pretreated bacteria with trypsin resulted in a significantly enhanced bacteriolysis in all strains of bacteria, with the exception of B . longum . The mode of action of lysozyme and proteolytic enzymes on Bifidobacteria and Lactobacilli offers an explanation for the release of microbial building blocks and their colonic absorption and retention in the breast-fed baby.

Curr Microbiol, 1995 Jul, 31(1), 49 - 54
Characterization of fructose 6 phosphate phosphoketolases purified from Bifidobacterium species; Grill JP et al.; Fructose 6 phosphate phosphoketolases (F6PPKs) were purified from Bifidobacterium longum BB536, B . dentium ATCC 27534, B . globosum ATCC 25864, and Bifidobacterium animalis ATCC 25527 . Concerning ions (Cu++, Zn++, Ca++, Mg++, Fe++, Co++, Mn++) and common enzyme inhibitors (fructose, ammonium sulfate, iodoacetate, and parachloromercuribenzoic acid), no difference appeared between the enzymes . Cu++, parachloromercuribenzoic acid (pCMB), and mercuric acetate induced high enzymatic inhibition . The study of pCMB demonstrated a noncompetitive inhibition . Additional results showed that the sulfhydryl group was not involved in catalytic reaction . Photooxidation experiments and determination of ionizable group pKas (5.16-7.17) suggested the presence of one or more histidines necessary for the catalytic reaction and explained the inhibition observed with pCMB . In light of the noncompetitive inhibition, this group was not directly involved in substrate binding . Determination of Km demonstrated that the affinities for fructose 6 phosphate in the case of animal and human origin strains were close . In addition, the same enzymatic efficiency (Kcat/Km) was obtained for each strain . The F6PPK activity was regulated by sodium pyrophosphate, ATP, and especially by ADP.

Curr Microbiol, 1995 Jul, 31(1), 23 - 7
Bifidobacteria and probiotic effects: action of Bifidobacterium species on conjugated bile salts; Grill JP et al.; The effect of six different conjugated bile salts (two trihydroxyconjugated bile salts: tauro and glycocholic acids; and four dihydroxyconjugated bile salts: tauro- and glycochenodeoxycholic, tauro- and glycodeoxycholic acids) on eight bifidobacteria strains were studied . A strong growth-inhibitory effect was observed (80% at 0.95 mM) for each bile salt and strain . This phenomenon was explained by the production of deconjugated bile salt during bifidobacteria growth . The deconjugation phenomenon was concurrent with biomass production, and deconjugated bile salts were the sole compound produced during bifidobacteria biotransformation . In resting cell experiments, differences appeared between the strains and the kind of bile salts, particularly concerning taurocholic acid . The Bifidobacterium longum strains were the most efficient among the bacteria tested.

Scand J Gastroenterol, 1995 Jul, 30(7), 675 - 80
Inability of Lactobacillus casei strain GG, L . acidophilus, and Bifidobacterium bifidum to degrade intestinal mucus glycoproteins; Ruseler-van Embden JG et al.; BACKGROUND: Lactic acid bacteria have been suggested for use in the prevention of relapse of ulcerative colitis and of recurrent pouchitis . These strains may not damage the protective intestinal mucus glycoproteins . METHODS: Lactobacillus casei strain GG and strains isolated from a commercial fermented product (Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bifidobacterium bifidum, and a mesophylic lactic culture) were cultured in vitro on hog gastric mucin and human intestinal glycoproteins . Furthermore, germ-free rats were mono-associated with Lactobacillus GG and poly-associated with the other strains . Glycoproteins were isolated from rat distal ileum, cecum, and colon . Mucus degradation was established by assaying carbohydrates (hexosamines, hexoses, pentoses), proteins, and blood group antigenicity . RESULTS: All strains colonized the intestinal mucus but were not found in the deep crypts . Degradation of mucus glycoproteins was observed neither in vitro nor in vivo . CONCLUSION: The tested strains do not break down intestinal mucus glycoproteins and thus far are safe to use for therapy.

J Nutr, 1995 Jun, 125(6), 1401 - 12
Dietary modulation of the human colonic microbiota: introducing the concept of prebiotics; Gibson GR et al.; Because the human gut microbiota can play a major role in host health, there is currently some interest in the manipulation of the composition of the gut flora towards a potentially more remedial community . Attempts have been made to increase bacterial groups such as Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus that are perceived as exerting health-promoting properties . Probiotics, defined as microbial food supplements that beneficially affect the host by improving its intestinal microbial balance, have been used to change the composition of colonic microbiota . However, such changes may be transient, and the implantation of exogenous bacteria therefore becomes limited . In contrast, prebiotics are nondigestible food ingredients that beneficially affect the host by selectively stimulating the growth and/or activity of one or a limited number of bacterial species already resident in the colon, and thus attempt to improve host health . Intake of prebiotics can significantly modulate the colonic microbiota by increasing the number of specific bacteria and thus changing the composition of the microbiota . Nondigestible oligosaccharides in general, and fructooligosaccharides in particular, are prebiotics . They have been shown to stimulate the growth of endogenous bifidobacteria, which, after a short feeding period, become predominant in human feces . Moreover, these prebiotics modulate lipid metabolism, most likely via fermentation products . By combining the rationale of pro- and prebiotics, the concept of synbiotics is proposed to characterize some colonic foods with interesting nutritional properties that make these compounds candidates for classification as health-enhancing functional food ingredients.

Biosci Biotechnol Biochem, 1995 Jun, 59(6), 1150 - 1
Natural rubber serum that contains a special growth promoter for Bifidobacterium; Ishizaki A; Natural rubber serum (NRS), was found to have a remarkable growth-promoting effect on various kinds of microorganisms, in particular, anaerobes . NRS stimulated the growth of all the species of Bifidobacterium tried and synergism was noted between the effects of NRS and nutrients in media that contained yeast extract, meat extract, and the casein as nutrients.

Biosci Biotechnol Biochem, 1995 Jun, 59(6), 1021 - 6
Formation of oligosaccharides from lactose by Bacillus circulans beta-galactosidase; Yanahira S et al.; Eleven oligosaccharides formed by a transglycosylation reaction during lactose hydrolysis with Bacillus circulans beta-galactosidase were purified by gel permeation chromatography, charcoal chromatography, and HPLC . From the results of methylation analysis, and MS and NMR studies, it was concluded that these oligosaccharides were beta-D-Galp-(1-->3)-D-Glc, beta-D-Galp-(1-->6)-D-Glc, beta-D-Galp-(1-->2)-D-Glc, beta-D-Galp-(1-->4)-beta-D-Galp-(1-->4)-D-Glc, beta-D-Galp-(1-->6)-{beta-D-Galp-(1-->2)}-D-Glc, beta-D-Galp-(1-->6)-{beta-D-Galp-(1-->4)}-D-Glc, beta-D-Galp-(1-->4)-beta-D-Galp-(1-->3)-D-Glc, beta-D-Galp-(1-->4)-beta-D-Galp-(1-->2)-D-Glc, beta-D-Galp-(1-->4)-{beta-D-Galp-(1-->2)}-D-Glc, beta-D-Galp-(1-->4)-beta-D-Galp-(1-->6)-D-Glc, beta-D-Galp-(1-->6){beta-D-Galp-(1-->3)}-D-Glc . The last five are newly observed oligosaccharides . The results of a use test (in vitro) by human intestinal bacteria showed that the oligosaccharides containing lactose units were predominantly used by human intestinal bifidobacteria.

Mol Cell Probes, 1995 Jun, 9(3), 167 - 74
Development of a species-specific polymerase chain reaction assay for Gardnerella vaginalis; van Belkum A et al.; The nucleotide sequence of the region between the 16S and 23S rRNA genes of the facultative anaerobic bacterium Gardnerella vaginalis has been determined, together with the 5' proximal 500 nucleotides of the 23S rRNA gene . Regions suited for the development of specific, probe-confirmable polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays were selected . PCR assays were evaluated with respect to sensitivity and specificity, the latter in comparison with a number of G . vaginalis reference strains and closely related species like Bifidobacterium spp . In an initial diagnostic study it appeared that the PCR test detected G . vaginalis in 40% of women irrespective of their clinical status . Ten out of 11 patients suffering from bacterial vaginosis as defined on the basis of clinical parameters were carrying G . vaginalis.

Biosci Biotechnol Biochem, 1995 May, 59(5), 860 - 3
Effects of the lipid-saccharide complex and unsaponifiable matter from sunflowers on liver lipid metabolism and intestinal flora in rats; Fukushima M et al.; The effects of the flower lipid-saccharide complex and unsaponifiable matter (1 g/kg of diet) from the sunflower on liver lipid metabolism and intestinal flora was studied in rats given cholesterol-enriched diets . After six weeks of feeding, the microsomal cholesterol concentration in the liver had been significantly reduced with the sunflower diet . The ratio of cholesterol/phospholipid was also reduced by the sunflower diet . The 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase activity of the sunflower groups was significantly lower than that of the control group . There was no significant difference in the cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase activity, although this tended to increase with dietary sunflower consumption . The number of Bacillus in the cecum flora was significantly higher in the lipid-saccharide complex group than in the other groups, while Bifidobacterium and Eubacterium in the cecum flora was significantly higher in the unsaponifiable matter group when compared to the control group . These results suggest that the lipid-saccharide complex and unsaponifiable matter in the sunflower are related to liver cholesterol synthesis and intestinal flora.

Lett Appl Microbiol, 1995 May, 20(5), 328 - 30
Effect of bifidobacteria on nitrites and nitrosamines; Grill JP et al.; The effects of six different bifidobacteria strains were studied on two procarcinogens: nitrite and nitrosamines . Growth of bifidobacteria was not affected by nitrite concentrations below 50 mumol l-1 . At nitrite concentrations greater than 2000 mumol l-1, total growth inhibition was observed . Nitrite elimination by a non-enzymic mechanism was noted for six strains of bifidobacteria . Acids produced by the bacteria seem to be involved in nitrite elimination . Nitrosamines tested had no effect on growth of bifidobacteria . Only one strain (Bifidobacterium longum BB 536) was able to metabolize nitrosamines by an intracellular mechanism.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1995 May-Jun, (3), 113 - 6
{The genital tract microflora in patients with a papillomavirus infection}; Bagirova MSh et al.; In 70 patients of reproductive age (20-30 years) with the papilloma virus infection of the uterine neck the microflora of vaginal contents was studied . The study revealed the specific diversity of bacteria colonizing the vagina and the uterine neck . High occurrence of Chlamydia and Gardnerella was established . The detected dysbiotic disturbances in patients with condylomatosis of the uterine neck were manifested by a decrease in the isolation rate of lactobacteria and bifidobacteria and by an increase in the isolation rate of opportunistic bacteria . The most pronounced dysbiosis in the microflora of the vagina and the uterine neck was characteristic of patients with papilloma virus infection in association with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia of the III degree.

Carbohydr Res, 1995 Apr 18, 270(1), 33 - 42
Structure determination of galacto-oligosaccharides by pyridylamination and NMR spectroscopy; Kimura K et al.; Galacto-oligosaccharides formed from lactose by the action of some beta-galactosidases were subjected to gel chromatography on Bio-Gel P-2, and the resulting oligosaccharide fractions were converted into pyridylamino (PA) derivatives . Each PA-oligosaccharide fraction, which consisted of several isomers in a given size-class, was then subjected to HPLC on an ODS column . Twenty-one individual galacto-oligosaccharide components were isolated in this way . The structures of most of these compounds, namely six disaccharides, five trisaccharides, two tetrasaccharides, and a pentasaccharide, were determined by 13C-NMR spectroscopy . The results obtained will be useful for the study of the activity of various galacto-oligosaccharides on the growth of Bifidobacterium species.

Mikrobiol Z, 1995 Mar-Apr, 57(2), 54 - 60
{A microflora study of the gastrointestinal tract of mink housed within and outside of the area of the Chernobyl Atomic Electric Power Station}; Sudenko VI et al.; Quantitative differences in the content of lactic acid bacteria isolated from the content of the stomach, small and large intestine have been established when studying microflora of the gastrointestinal tract of minks kept in the 30-kilometer zone of the Chernobyl NPP (experimental animals) and at the Cherkassy fur farm (control animals) . Obligate heterofermentative species of lactic acid bacteria related to Lactobacillus fermentum and L . reuteri prevailed in the stomach of experimental minks . Species composition of lactic acid bacteria isolated from the stomach of the Cherkassy minks is characterized by the availability of both obligate and facultative heterofermentative species of bacteria--L . bavaricus, L . coryniformis, L . reuteri and of obligate homofermentative bacteria--L . salivarius and L . jensenii . In limiting dilutions (10(-9)-10(-10)) of the content of small intestine of the control minks one could find bacteria of L . coryniformis species and representatives of obligate heterofermentative bacteria--L . confusus and L . fermentum that is 1-2 orders higher then in the experimental minks . Both lactic acid bacteria and bifidobacteria (the latter up to 10(+9) cells/g of the content) were isolated from the lower departments of small and large intestine of the Chernobyl and Cherkassy minks . Among the species of lactic acid bacteria isolated from the experimental animals homofermentative species (L . acidophilus, L . sharpeae) and, heterofermentative (L . confusus, L . fermentum) in the control were found.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Mikrobiologiia, 1995 Mar-Apr, 64(2), 222 - 7
{Architectonics of Bifidobacteria populations: submicroscopic aspect of cell cohesion in Bifidobacterium adolescentis and Bifidobacterium bifidum}; Novik GI et al.; Populations (cultures) of Bifidobacterium adolescents and B . bifidum, growing on artificial liquid and agar media, are presented by highly ordered mycelial structures . The topography of them depends on mutual arrangement of polymorphic cells and the way of their daughter cells separation after division . Evidences obtained by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of total preparations and by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) of ultrathin sections correlate well . These data showed the existence of morphologically varied intercellular contacts (coherence) that ensure the stability of such microbial consortia during adaptation to ambient conditions . Intercellular contacts with the aid of different extracellular structures--microfibrillae, knob-like juts, cell wall evaginations, and capsuleform stuff(glycocalix)--are the result of genetically determined self-regulating development of microbial populations as multicellular systems.

J Dairy Sci, 1995 Feb, 78(2), 268 - 76
Viability and enzymatic activity of bifidobacteria in milk; Hughes DB et al.; Bifidobacterium breve NCFB 2258, Bifidobacterium bifidum NCFB 2715, Bifidobacterium longum ATCC 15707, Bifidobacterium angulatum ATCC 27535, and Lactobacillus acidophilus N2 were evaluated for viability and beta-galactosidase and alpha-galactosidase activities under conditions of refrigerated and frozen storage in reconstituted NDM . beta- and alpha-Galactosidase activities were variable . Bifidobacterium angulatum 27535 exhibited much greater enzymatic activities than those of the other strains . All strains demonstrated culture and enzyme stability upon refrigerated storage in fermented and unfermented reconstituted NDM . Bifidobacteria were significantly less tolerant of low temperature storage than was L . acidophilus N2.

J Periodontol, 1995 Feb, 66(2), 102 - 8
Detection and incidence of the tetracycline resistance determinant tet(M) in the microflora associated with adult periodontitis; Lacroix JM et al.; Subgingival plaque samples were collected from 68 patients with adult periodontitis, enumerated on Trypticase-soy blood agar plates, with and without tetracycline at 4 micrograms/ml, and incubated anaerobically for 5 days . Each different colony morphotype was enumerated, and a representative colony was subcultured for identification and examined for the tetracycline resistance gene tet(M) . Both PCR amplification and DNA hybridization, using a fragment of tet(M) from Tn1545, were used to detect tet(M) . The PCR primers (5'-GACACGCCAGGACATATGG-3' and 5'-TGCTTTCCTCTTGTTCGAG-3') were chosen to amplify a 397 bp region of tet(M) . Tetracycline-resistant bacteria represented approximately 12% of the total viable count . The percentage of tet(M)-positive bacteria in the tetracycline resistant microflora varied from < or = 0.05 to 83% (mean of 10%) . tet(M) was detected in 60% of 204 tetracycline-resistant strains subcultured and identified . The tet(M) containing strains consisted of streptococci (55%, mainly S . intermedius, S . oralis, S . sanguis, and Streptococcus SM4), Actinomyces D01 (14%), Bifidobacterium D05 (11%), and Veillonella spp . (10%) . Tetracycline-resistant strains in which tet(M) was not detected included the Prevotella and Bacteroides species (41%, mainly Bacteroides D28, P . intermedia, P . nigrescens, and P . oris) . These results suggest that tet(M) is widely spread in the adult periodontal microflora, but it appears, with the exception of S . intermedius, to be mainly associated with microorganisms not considered to be periodontopathogens . Assessment of other tetracycline-resistant genes in oral organisms is needed to fully evaluate the nature of resistance to this antibiotic in the oral flora.

Nutr Cancer, 1995, 24(2), 99 - 109
The effect of dietary fermented milk products and lactic acid bacteria on the initiation and promotion stages of mammary carcinogenesis; Rice LJ et al.; The effects of spray-dried yogurt powder product (YPP), bifidobacteria, and Lactobacillus acidophilus were studied during the initiation and promotion phases of carcinogenesis using the 7,12-dimethylbenz{a}anthracene (DMBA)-induced mouse mammary carcinogenesis model . In two separate studies, Sencar mice were fed a diet consisting of 86%, 43%, or 0% YPP or 0% YPP, but with added cultures of bifidobacteria or L . acidophilus . When the animals were 55-63 days old, DMBA was administered by intragastric gavage at 1 mg/mouse and continued once a week for six weeks . During the initiation study, the test diets were fed for four weeks before and during DMBA administration . One week after the final DMBA treatment, all animals were switched to a basal diet based on the AIN-76 formulation . For the promotion study, the diets were introduced one week after the final dose of DMBA and fed for the remainder of the study . Palpable tumor development was monitored weekly throughout the studies . For the initiation study, mice fed 86%, 43%, or 0% YPP or 0% YPP supplemented with bifidobacteria or L . acidophilus had a histologically verified mammary tumor incidence of 15%, 35%, 19%, 30%, and 20%, respectively . The histologically verified tumor incidence for the promotion study was 48%, 58%, 36%, 59%, and 43% in the mice fed diets consisting of 86%, 43%, or 0% YPP or 0% YPP supplemented with bifidobacteria or L . acidophilus, respectively . The data indicate that neither the initiation nor the promotion phase of carcinogenesis is significantly affected by diets composed of 86% YPP, 43% YPP, 0% YPP, or 0% YPP supplemented with bifidobacteria or L . acidophilus.

Nutr Cancer, 1995, 24(2), 121 - 32
Effect of dairy products on initiation of precursor lesions of colon cancer in rats; Abdelali H et al.; This study reports the modulating effect of some dairy products on initiation of putative preneoplasic lesions in rat colon (aberrant crypts) by 1,2-dimethylhydrazine dihydrochloride . Uninoculated skim milk, skim milk fermented with Bifidobacterium sp Bio (Danone strain 173010), and a suspension of the same lactic acid bacteria were incorporated in the animals' diet . The tested diets significantly reduced the incidence of aberrant crypts compared with the control diet by 51%, 49%, and 61%, respectively . The effects of the diets on cecal pH, hepatic UDP-glucuronyltransferase activity, and cecal microflora enzyme beta-glucuronidase were also studied . There was no significant difference in cecal pH between rats fed experimental diets and control rat . The diet supplemented with the Bifidobacterium strain suspension significantly decreased only the cecal beta-glucuronidase activity . Both enzyme activities were reduced in rats fed fermented skim milk- or uninoculated skim milk-supplemented diets compared with control animals.

Res Microbiol, 1995 Jan, 146(1), 59 - 71
Selection of species-specific DNA probes which detect strain restriction polymorphism in four Bifidobacterium species; Mangin I et al.; Randomly cloned fragments (in a size range 1 to 2.5 kb) of DNA from Bifidobacterium longum ATCC 15707, B . adolescentis CIP 64.59T, B . bifidum CIP 64.65 and B . animalis ATCC 25527 were used as hybridization probes to characterize strains of these species and distinguish them from closely related Bifidobacterium species . The fragments were screened for hybridization with native DNA from 41 different Bifidobacterium strains . For each species, a fragment hybridizing specifically with DNA from strains of the same species was isolated . Each fragment was then hybridized with restriction digests in order to study the genome polymorphism . In some of the tested B . longum strains including strain ATCC 15707, the species-specific fragment L6/45 hybridized with 2 fragments instead of one as expected . Sequence of the fragment revealed the presence of an ORF which had an amino acid sequence similar to the site-specific recombinases of lambda integrase family . Moreover, Southern analysis demonstrated that at least 3 copies of this fragment are present in the chromosome of B . longum ATCC 15707 and in some other B . longum strains . The species-specific fragment A6/17 of B . adolescentis hybridized with the same restriction fragment on the eight strains of this species tested . The B . bifidum-specific fragment hybridized with different DNA restriction fragments according to the strain . The restriction fragment an1 from B . animalis ATCC 25527 hybridized with the same restriction fragment from strain B . animalis ATCC 27536 . However, these two strains could be differentiated by another restriction pattern . Thus, hybridization results highlight the genetic polymorphism which exists among Bifidobacterium strains of the same species.

Biol Pharm Bull, 1995 Jan, 18(1), 148 - 53
Analysis of antitumor properties of effector cells stimulated with a cell wall preparation (WPG) of Bifidobacterium infantis; Sekine K et al.; Intestinal Bifidobacterium species are thought to be beneficial in animal and human intestines . We studied the mechanisms of Bifidobacteria in antitumor activity using a cell wall preparation (WPG) of B . infantis (Cancer Res., 45, 1300, (1985)) . WPG enhanced the in vitro antitumor activities of mouse peritoneal exudate cells elicited with proteose-peptone (P-PEC) and thioglycollate broth (TG-PEC), determined by cytostatic ({3H}thymidine uptake inhibition) and cytolytic ({3H}uridine release) assays . Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and reactive nitrogen intermediates (RNI) play a role in such augmented cytotoxicity, because anti-TNF-alpha antibody almost completely blocked the increased cytolytic activity of P-PEC in the presence of WPG . Moreover, WPG induced RNI in the supernatant of TG-PEC in a dose-dependent manner . The mRNA expression of several cytokines (IL-1 beta, IL-6, IL-10, IFN-alpha and TNF-alpha) was induced in BALB/c mouse peritoneal cells 3 h after an intraperitoneal injection of WPG (3 h WPG-PEC) . However, this expression disappeared from 24 h WPG-PEC, except for that of IFN-alpha . IFN-gamma was not induced . Kinetic studies of the tumor neutralizing activities of the WPG-PECs by means of the in vivo Winn assay revealed that the activity emerged at 1.5 h, became maximal at 3 h and disappeared at 24h . These results indicated that Bifidobacterial WPG is a Biological Response Modifier (BRM) with characteristics similar to those of other bacterial BRMs.

Int J Food Microbiol, 1994 Dec, 24(1-2), 199 - 210
Degradation of complex carbohydrates by Bifidobacterium spp; Crociani F et al.; Two hundred and ninety strains of 29 species of bifidobacteria from human and animal origin were surveyed for their ability to ferment complex carbohydrates . The substrates fermented by the largest number of species were D-galactosamine, D-glucosamine, amylose and amylopectin . Many of the species isolated from animal habitats showed reduced fermentation activity . Bifidobacterium dentium strains fermented gum guar and gum locust bean; porcine gastric mucin was fermented only by B . bifidum, B . infantis was the only species to ferment D-glucuronic acid; strains of B . longum fermented arabinogalactan and the gums arabic, ghatti and tragacanth; alpha-L-fucose was fermented by strains of B . breve, B . infantis and B . pseudocatenulatum . A key to the differentiation of Bifidobacterium species of human origin is provided.

Dig Dis Sci, 1994 Nov, 39(11), 2334 - 40
Reduction of virus shedding by B . bifidum in experimentally induced MRV infection . Statistical application for ELISA; Duffy LC et al.; The protective effect of a human strain of Bifidobacterium bifidum (B . bifidum) against murine group A rotavirus (MRV) was examined in the intestines of BALB/c infected mice . In experiments designed to determine whether B . bifidum mediated MRV shedding during diarrheal disease, pregnant dams (and their expected litters) were randomly assigned to the following groups: (1) mice infected with MRV alone; (2) B . bifidum-treated + MRV-infected mice; (3) B . bifidum-treated controls; and (4) saline control animals . An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the detection of group A rotavirus was used to measure virus protein . The sensitivity of the MRV antigen detector ELISA was determined by serially diluting the rotavirus antigen in test samples . Antigen was detected in dilution ranges of 1:256-1:4096 during the acute phase and 1:16-1:512 in the recovery phase of MRV clinical disease, in the samples tested . Treatment with B . bifidum significantly reduced shedding of MRV antigen (P < 0.009) on days 2-10 postinoculation . The reduction in shedding of virus protein corresponded well with delayed onset of acute diarrhea (P < 0.02) . Closer examination of tissue cross sections under electron microscopy revealed that the B . bifidum-ingested strain adhered to the epithelium of the small intestine . These results suggest that priming the intestine with B . bifidum is effective against experimental MRV challenge and confirmed the potential usefulness of this detector ELISA for studying the kinetics of group A rotavirus infection in animals and humans.

Mikrobiol Z, 1994 Nov-Dec, 56(6), 51 - 7
{The microbiocenosis of the large intestine in animals with constant radiation exposure in the area of the Chernobyl Atomic Electric Power Station}; Zagoruiko EE et al.; State of microbiocenosis of large intestine in rats and furo subjected to constant combined irradiation has been studied in full-scale experiments in the emergency rooms of the Chernobyl NPP and in the nearest zone of its effect . The higher diversity of microflora (as compared to initial one), sharp increase of the amount of Candida genus fungi, a decrease of the number of bifidobacteria and increase of the amount of conditionally pathogenic flora were observed in rats with the dose of external irradiation of 1.43 Gr absorbed for 14 days . The expressed associative character of disbioses is distinctly traced . In furo affected by the radion exceeding the background level feeding with products contaminated by radionuclides leads to changes whose individual character corresponds to the picture of disbiosis under radiation injury.

Immunopharmacol Immunotoxicol, 1994 Nov, 16(4), 589 - 609
Adjuvant activity of the cell wall of Bifidobacterium infantis for in vivo immune responses in mice; Sekine K et al.; We examined the adjuvant activity of the Bifidobacterial Cell Wall preparation (WPG) for in vivo immune responses in mice . We studied three classical immune responses, which are thought to be T-cell mediated responses, to evaluate the adjuvant activity of WPG . The delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) responses of sheep blood red cell (SRBC)-sensitized mice were significantly augmented by WPG, although the enhancement varied with the timing, route and dosage of injection . The adjuvant activity of WPG was also confirmed by using a glutaraldehyde treated- and Concanavalin A associated- tumor vaccine (G-Con A tumor vaccine) system . BALB/c mice sensitized with G-Con A tumor vaccine and WPG improved synergistically in survival time and cure rate compared with those given G-Con A vaccine alone . Spleen cells of Meth A tumor-bearing mice induced antitumor neutralizing activity with the growth of tumor but the activity declined and disappeared at the late stage of tumor growth (over 28 days after tumor transplantation) . On the other hand, antitumor neutralizing immunity was prolonged for as long as 33 days in mice inoculated with Meth A tumor and WPG . The requirement of a T-cell subpopulation in the spleen cells of tumor plus WPG treated mice was confirmed using anti-Thy 1.2 antiserum + complement to deplete them . The adjuvant activities of the Bifidobacterial cell wall demonstrated by the in vivo immune responses predict that Bifidobacteria may play a role as an immunomodulator in human and animal intestines.

Poult Sci, 1994 Nov, 73(11), 1663 - 72
Effects of dietary supplementation with lactosucrose (4G-beta-D-galactosylsucrose) on cecal flora, cecal metabolites, and performance in broiler chickens; Terada A et al.; The effects of dietary lactosucrose on cecal flora, cecal metabolites, and performance were studied in eight 20-d-old and eight 62-d-old broiler chickens fed a basal diet (control) or a diet with .15% lactosucrose added . On Day 20 of age, the frequency of occurrence of lecithinase-negative clostridia were decreased (P < .05) by lactosucrose consumption . On Day 62 of age, the numbers of bifidobacteria were increased (P < .05) by lactosucrose consumption, but the counts of lecithinase-positive clostridia, including Clostridium perfringens, bacteriodaceae, and staphylococci, total anaerobic bacteria, and the frequency of occurrence of pseudomonads were decreased (P < .05) . No detectable change was observed in counts of other organisms throughout the experimental period . Cecal concentration of ammonia (P < .01), phenol (P < .05), and cresol (P < .05) were decreased on Day 62 of lactosucrose consumption . Acetic acid and butyric acid were increased (P < .01 and P < .05, respectively) on Day 62 of lactosucrose consumption . Environmental ammonia and odor of chicken ceca were greatly reduced by lactosucrose consumption.

J Dairy Res, 1994 Nov, 61(4), 545 - 52
Inhibitory effect of dairy products on the mutagenicities of chemicals and dietary mutagens; Cassand P et al.; The antimutagenic effects of uninoculated milk and milks cultured with Bifidobacterium or Lactobacillus strains towards the mutagenicity induced by two direct mutagens, 4-nitroquinoline N-oxide and 2-nitrofluorene, and three dietary indirect mutagens, aflatoxin B1, benzo(a)pyrene and quercetin, were investigated using the in vitro Salmonella typhimurium test . Each cultured milk sample and control milk had a significant antimutagenic effect, to an extent varying with the mutagen used . Uninoculated milk had a greater inhibitory effect than cultured milks towards dietary indirect mutagens.

J Appl Bacteriol, 1994 Oct, 77(4), 412 - 20
Regulatory effects of bifidobacteria on the growth of other colonic bacteria; Gibson GR et al.; In the human large intestine bifidobacteria are a numerically important group of micro-organisms which are considered to exert a range of biological activities related to host health . One aspect is the inhibitory effect of these bacteria on other species, possibly excluding long term colonization by invasive pathogens . It has been suggested that the mechanism of inhibition carried out by bifidobacteria is related to the fermentative production of acids such as acetate and lactate . Experiments reported in this paper attempted to address this theory . Co-culture experiments whereby Bifidobacterium infantis was incubated with Escherichia coli and Clostridium perfringens, in a variety of fermentation systems, indicated that the bifidobacterium was able to exert an inhibitory effect not necessarily related to acid production . Further studies showed that eight species of bifidobacteria could variously excrete an anti-microbial substance with a broad spectrum of activity . Species belonging to the genera Salmonella, Listeria, Campylobacter and Shigella, as well as Vibrio cholerae, were all affected . These results show that bifidobacteria are able to exert more than one mechanism of inhibition, which may be of some importance with regard to protection against gastroenteritis.

Vet Q, 1994 Oct, 16(3), 152 - 6
Establishment of a microbiologically acceptable daily intake of antimicrobial drug residues; Nouws JF et al.; A model is presented to calculate the microbiologically acceptable daily intake (ADIm) of antibiotic residues in food products . The ADIm calculation is based on MIC values for indicator bacteria Escherichia coli, Bacteroides fragilis, Bifidobacterium spp . and Eubacterium spp., established under gut-like conditions in an in vitro simulation model . The maximum residue level (MRL) for residues in food products can be derived from the ADIm . Four phases can be distinguished in this gastro-intestinal simulation model, namely: 1 . In vitro determination of the MIC for each bacterial strain by a standard method . 2 . Incorporation of the drug into food (meat, milk) followed by testing of the stability of the antibiotic under gut-like conditions . 3 . Adjustment of the 'gastric' fluid to the duodenal situation, inoculation with the test bacteria and anaerobic incubation at 37 degrees C for at least 18 h . 4 . MIC reading confirmed by counting bacteria growing on specific solidified media . In this study the method for calculation of ADIm and MRL is given for flumequine as model drug . On the basis of MIC50 values for E . coli strains, a MRL for flumequine of 1.0 microgram/g meat or 0.25 microgram/ml milk was calculated . It is suggested that, depending on the antibacterial spectrum of the antibiotic involved, the ADIm can be determined with selected indicator bacteria, incubated under simulated gastrointestinal conditions.

New Microbiol, 1994 Oct, 17(4), 327 - 31
Characterization of the plasmid pVS809 from Bifidobacterium globosum; Mattarelli P et al.; A plasmid from a B . globosum strain was cut with 38 restriction enzymes and a physical map was constructed . Out of a total of 121 clones from curing experiments, plasmid was lost in 58% and 100% for acridine orange and ethidium bromide curing agent respectively . The plasmid does not exist as a chromosomal integrated form . An attempt to determine phenotypic characters encoded by the plasmid was made by electrophoretic analyses of the total proteins.

J Dairy Sci, 1994 Oct, 77(10), 2854 - 64
Growth and viability of Bifidobacterium bifidum in cheddar cheese; Dinakar P et al.; Bifidobacterium bifidum (ATCC 15696) was grown in MRS broth containing cysteine.HCl at 37 degrees C, and the cells were harvested by centrifuging at 1300 x g for 15 min at 4 degrees C . Equal volumes of the cell slurry and a 2.5% solution of kappa-carrageenan were mixed and transferred by drops into a solution of .3 M KCl at 20 degrees C under an atmosphere of nitrogen . The gelled beads were separated, frozen, and lyophilized immediately . This preparation and a commercial powder preparation were added to Cheddar cheese curd at milling as two treatments . Treatments did not affect cheese composition . Soluble protein increased during ripening at 7 degrees C but without differences between treatments; SDS-PAGE patterns of proteolysis were also similar . Lactic acid content of cheeses increased during ripening, but differences between treatments were minor . Acetic acid and ethanol, common metabolites of bifidobacteria, were not detected during ripening . Bifidobacteria remained viable and increased in numbers in cheese during this 24-wk study but did not affect the flavor, flavor intensity, texture, or appearance of the cheese compared with that of the control.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1994 Sep-Oct, (5), 13 - 7
{The effect of SolcoTrichovac on the vaginal microflora of patients with a papillomavirus infection associated with a cervical intraepithelial neoplasm}; Korshunov VM et al.; The microbiological study of vaginal secretions of 39 female patients of reproductive age (20-30 years) with papilloma virus infection associated with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) was carried out . Of these patients, 28 with papilloma virus infection associated with CINI-II made up group I and II having this infection associated with CINII made up group 2 . Dysbiotic disturbances in vaginal bacterial flora, found in these patients, were manifested by a decrease in the isolation rate and number of the lacto- and bifidobacteria simultaneously with the excessive growth of opportunistic bacteria . The results of the oral administration of Solco-Trichovac are indicative of the effectiveness of this preparation, which was confirmed by the data of clinical and bacteriological studies . Together with an increase in the isolation rate of lacto- and bifidobacteria, the level of the contamination of the cervicovaginal niche with opportunistic and pathogenic bacterial strains decreased . The results thus obtained make it possible to recommend Solco-Trichovac for the complex treatment of with papilloma virus infection associated with CIN.

Plasmid, 1994 Sep, 32(2), 208 - 11
Transformation of Bifidobacterium longum with pRM2, a constructed Escherichia coli-B . longum shuttle vector; Missich R et al.; An Escherichia coli-Bifidobacterium longum shuttle vector, designated pRM2, was constructed by cloning a B . longum plasmid and an enterococcal spectinomycin resistance gene into a commercial E . coli vector . The plasmid was successfully introduced into B . longum cells by electroporation and into E . coli cells by both electroporation and chemical transformation.

Int J Food Microbiol, 1994 Sep, 23(1), 55 - 70
Characterization of dairy-related Bifidobacterium spp . based on their beta-galactosidase electrophoretic patterns; Roy D et al.; Numerical analysis of phenotypic characteristics based on enzymatic activity and carbohydrate fermentation allowed the discrimination of most strains of bifidobacteria of animal origin from those of human origin . Strains of bifidobacteria studied were separated into nine groups based on numerical analysis . Three groups contained most strains of animal origin, three groups comprised both strains of animal and human origin, and three groups were strictly composed of strains of human origin . The results indicate that one group of animal origin (group II) contained all reference strains of Bifidobacterium animals and 10 strains isolated from fermented milks or commercial preparations . Although numerical analysis of enzymatic activities and carbohydrate fermentation patterns allowed the differentiation of 'wild' strains of B . animalis and B . longum isolated from commercial preparations, this method failed to confirm the species . In the present study, the determination of electrophoretic patterns of beta-galactosidases resulted in the development of a new technique for the differentiation of Bifidobacterium species . Several isoenzymes of beta-galactosidase were detected among strains of bifidobacteria . Each species had a specific electrophoretic pattern . The detection of beta-galactosidase by electrophoresis is a new tool for distinguishing between dairy- and non-dairy-related bifidobacteria . Dairy-related bifidobacteria (B . bifidum, B . breve, B . infantis and B . longum) as well as B . animalis could be better differentiated from other bifidobacteria by comparison of their beta-galactosidase electrophoretic patterns, rather than by numerical analysis of their phenotypic characteristics.

Biol Pharm Bull, 1994 Aug, 17(8), 1012 - 17
Anti-ulcer effects of lactic acid bacteria and their cell wall polysaccharides; Nagaoka M et al.; The anti-ulcer effects of bifidobacteria, lactobacilli and streptococci were examined using the acetic acid-induced gastric ulcer and ethanol-induced erosion models in rats . Bifidobacterium breve YIT4014 and 4043, and Bifidobacterium bifidum YIT4007 were administered orally, and anti-ulcer effects were confirmed for not only these organisms but also their polysaccharide fractions (PSFs) . The major component of these anti-ulcer polysaccharides was rhamnose . In particular, polysaccharides in which the rhamnose content exceeded 60% were more effective in healing gastric ulcers . After administration of the PSF from B . bifidum YIT4007, the levels of epidermal growth factor and basic fibroblast growth factor increased in gastric tissues . Similar results were observed for the culture supernatant of gastric epithelial cells cultured with PSF . Furthermore, the production of 6-ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha by macrophages was also enhanced by PSF . These results indicated that these bacteria and their polysaccharides induced host repair and protective systems in the gastric ulcer model.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1994 Jul-Aug, (4), 22 - 4
{The intestinal microflora of patients with inflammatory diseases of the maxillofacial area}; Bevz NI et al.; The microflora of the large intestine in patients with odontogenic phlegmons of different localization were studied . 80.8% of such patients were found to have microecological disturbances, characterized by a decrease in the number of bacteria belonging to the genera Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, Enterococcus and Bacteroides and by an increase in the number of opportunistic microorganisms.

J Mol Biol, 1994 May 13, 238(4), 615 - 25
Allosteric activation in Bacillus stearothermophilus lactate dehydrogenase investigated by an X-ray crystallographic analysis of a mutant designed to prevent tetramerization of the enzyme; Cameron AD et al.; The crystal structure of a mutant Bacillus stearothermophilus lactate dehydrogenase, into which an additional loop has been engineered in order to prevent tetramerization of the enzyme, has been solved and refined at 2.4 A . The minimal repeat unit in the crystal is a dimer and the tetramer cannot be generated by any of the crystallographic symmetry operations in P2(1) . The loop protrudes out into the solvent, stabilized by a good hydrogen bonding arrangement, and clearly sterically hinders tetramer formation . This is the first structure of B . stearothermophilus lactate dehydrogenase (bsLDH) in which the allosteric activator fructose, 1,6-bisphosphate (FBP) is not present . To investigate the mechanism of allosteric activation in this enzyme we have compared the structure with a ternary complex of B . stearothermophilus lactate dehydrogenase . Many of our observations confirm those reported from a comparison of FBP-bound ternary bsLDH complex with an FBP free LDH from another bacterial source, Bifidobacterium longum . Our results suggest that quaternary structural alterations may have less influence on the mechanism than previously reported . The differences in the quaternary structural behaviour of these two enzymes is discussed.

Gut, 1994 May, 35(5), 658 - 64
Pouchitis: result of microbial imbalance?
Ruseler-van Embden JG, Schouten WR, van Lieshout LM.
To elucidate the role of microbiological factors in pouchitis, this study investigated the composition of ileal reservoir microflora, the mucus degrading capacity of bacterial enzymes as well as the pH and the proteolytic activity of pouch effluent . Stool samples were collected from five patients with pouchitis and nine patients without pouchitis . The flora of patients with pouchitis had an increased number of aerobes, a decreased ratio anaerobes to aerobes, less bifidobacteria and anaerobic lactobacilli, more Clostridium perfringens, and several species that were not found in control patients (for example, fungi) . Furthermore the pH was significantly higher in patients with pouchitis (median value 6.5) than in control patients (5.4) . To find out if the pH might influence the breakdown of intestinal mucus glycoproteins, the activity of glycosidases and proteases, and the degradation of hog gastric mucin by the pouch flora was tested at pH 5.2-7.6 . Some glycosidases were inhibited, others were stimulated by a low pH, however, in each sample the proteolytic activity was inhibited for 75% at pH 5.2 compared with pH 6.8 and 7.6 . Degradation of hog gastric mucin by the pouch flora was an active process at pH 7.2: within two to four hours of incubation more than half of the mucin was degraded . At pH 5.2 it took twice as long . It is concluded that pouchitis possibly results from instability of the flora in the pouch, which causes homeostasis to disappear (dysbiosis), and the protection of the pouch epithelium by the mucus layer becomes affected by increased activity of bacterial and host derived enzymes.

Mikrobiologiia, 1994 May-Jun, 63(3), 515 - 22
{Cellular ultrastructure of various species of the genus Bifidobacterium}; Novik GI et al.; Morphologic heterogeneity of cells from developing populations of bifidobacteria correlates with ultrastructure peculiarities . Active proliferating cells in exponential phase are characterized by formation of intracytoplasmatic membrane complex represented by lamellar, myelinoform, vesicular structures . Nucleoid is localized as the central polybranched or disperse osmophobic zone . Nucleoid distribution is determined by morphogenesis processes--exobudding, branching or multiseptation . Electronograms reveal multiple polyphosphate and polysaccharide inclusions . Ageing of bifidobacterial populations is accompanied with ultrastructural changes: cell wall hypersynthesis, reorganization and increased size of intracytoplasmatic membrane complex, altered morphology and compactness of nuclei, formation and dissimilation of inclusions.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1994 May-Jun, (3), 21 - 3
{The exonuclease activity of strictly anaerobic bacteria isolated from patients and healthy persons}; Polikarpov NA et al.; The comparative study of the frequency of DNAase and RNAase and the activity of their formation in 59 strains of anaerobic opportunistic bacteria isolated from traumatic and orthopedic patients and in 154 strains of bifidobacteria isolated from feces of healthy persons has been made . The study has revealed that cultures with exonuclear activity occur among opportunistic bacteria and among bifidobacteria, the representatives of human obligate anaerobic automicroflora . However, in opportunistic bacteria the frequency of the above-mentioned enzymes and the activity of their formation have proved to be significantly higher than in bifidobacteria.

Biol Pharm Bull, 1994 May, 17(5), 596 - 602
Purification and characterization of beta-fructofuranosidase from Bifidobacterium infantis; Imamura L et al.; beta-Fructofuranosidase activities of eight strains of Bifidobacteria, intestinal bacteria, were assayed and Bifidobacterium infantis was selected for purification of the enzyme . beta-Fructofuranosidase activity was recovered in the supernatant fraction after disruption of B . infantis cells with sonication and was purified to homogeneity by ammonium sulfate fractionation, and DEAE-cellulose, butyl-Toyopearl and Sephacryl S-300 column chromatographies . The enzyme (molecular weight (M.W.) 232000) was composed of three identical subunits (M.W . 75000) whose NH2-terminal amino acids were threonine . The enzyme was stable at pH 6-8, having the optimum activity at pH 6.0-6.2 . The enzyme activity was stable under 40 degrees C and the optimal temperature was 55 degrees C . This enzyme catalyzed the hydrolysis of sucrose, 1-kestose, nystose, inulin and raffinose at the relative velocities of 100, 297, 365, 140 and 3.8, respectively, but did not catalyze the hydrolysis of maltose or cellobiose . These results indicated that this fructooligosaccharide hydrolyzing enzyme is a novel type of beta-fructofuranosidase.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1994 May, 60(5), 1451 - 8
Identification of Bifidobacterium strains by rRNA gene restriction patterns; Mangin I et al.; Total DNA from 21 collection or industrial Bifidobacterium strains was cleaved with various restriction endonucleases . Following electrophoresis, the fragments were subjected to Southern blot hybridization with a heterologous {alpha-32P}dCTP-labeled rDNA (genes coding for rRNA) 23S gene probe . The ribosomal patterns allowed all tested strains to be differentiated and previous classifications to be confirmed . The same method was used to characterize DNA from 121 Bifidobacterium isolates collected from the intestinal flora of five human volunteers after the induction of colonic bacterial imbalance by antibiotics and absorption of a resistant exogenous Bifidobacterium strain . Hybridizations with the ribosomal probe revealed 11 different ribosomal patterns in addition to that of the exogenous strain . They permitted the Bifidobacterium populations belonging to the dominant colonic flora to be monitored over time . This experiment revealed significant and sustained alterations of the endogenous intestinal flora; indeed, some strains were eliminated, while others, probably belonging to subdominant flora, replaced them . Furthermore, even 2 months after the end of antibiotic treatment, the colonic flora remained different from that observed before treatment . Finally, our results showed that antibiotherapy did not allow colonic colonization by the exogenous strain.

Lipids, 1994 Apr, 29(4), 289 - 96
Delta 22-beta-muricholic acid in monoassociated rats and conventional rats; Kayahara T et al.; Bile acids were analyzed in the bile, small and large intestines, and feces of germ-free rats after a single inoculation with one of six intestinal bacteria that had been originally isolated from human feces . Bacteroides vulgatus and Bifidobacterium longum preferentially deconjugated tauro-beta-muricholic acid and taurocholic acid, respectively . Clostridium ramosum, Peptostreptococcus productus and Lactobacillus gasseri deconjugated both bile acids, but Escherichia coli did not deconjugate either one . Rats inoculated with bacteria that deconjugated tauro-beta-muricholic acid produced delta 22-beta-muricholic acid in the feces . In contrast, delta 22-cholic acid could not be detected in rats inoculated with bacteria that deconjugated taurocholic acid.

New Microbiol, 1994 Apr, 17(2), 159 - 62
Murein types in Bifidobacterium ruminantium, Bifidobacterium merycicum and Bifidobacterium saeculare; Weiss N et al.; The murein types of strains belonging to Bifidobacterium ruminantium, Bifidobacterium merycicum and Bifidobacterium saeculare were determined . B . ruminantium was found to posses a different type of murein from B . adolescentis . B . merycicum and B . saeculare have the same type of murein that is shared by many other species of the genus.

J Nutr Sci Vitaminol (Tokyo), 1994 Apr, 40(2), 181 - 8
Biotin production by bifidobacteria; Noda H et al.; Biotin production and the growth of the strains of Bifidobacterium adolescentis, B . bifidum, B . breve, B . infantis, and B . longum were studied . These five strains showed heavy growth on BL medium . But when yeast extract medium (carbon source, glucose) was used, the extent of their growth was significantly decreased, one-half or less than that of the growth on BL medium . B . bifidum grew well on yeast extract medium containing oligosaccharides, such as isomaltooligosaccharide, and produced biotin extracellularly . The utilization of oligosaccharides in biotin production by these five strains was investigated.

Biosci Biotechnol Biochem, 1994 Apr, 58(4), 691 - 4
Purification and characterization of D-xylose isomerase from Bifidobacterium adolescentis; Kawai Y et al.; D-Xylose isomerase was purified to homogeneity from cell-free extracts of Bifidobacterium adolescentis by ammonium sulfate fractionation and chromatographies on DEAE-cellulose and Butyl-Toyopearl . The molecular weight of the purified enzyme was estimated to be 168,000 by gel filtration on TSKgel G-3000SW, and 53,000 on SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis . The optimum pH was around 7 and the enzyme was stable at pH 7-8 . The enzyme required bivalent cations, Mg2+, Co2+, or Mn2+ for the activity, particularly Mn2+ to be best . The enzyme had a pI of 4.3, and the Km for D-xylose was 4 mM . The N-terminal amino acid sequence of the enzyme was not similar to those of D-xylose isomerases from other sources such as Clostridium thermosulfurogenes, Escherichia coli, or Bacillus subtilis.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1994 Mar, 60(3), 1041 - 3
Isolation of a human intestinal anaerobe, Bifidobacterium sp . strain SEN, capable of hydrolyzing sennosides to sennidins; Akao T et al.; A strictly anaerobic bacterium capable of metabolizing sennosides was isolated from human feces and identified as Bifidobacterium sp., named strain SEN . The bacterium hydrolyzed sennosides A and B to sennidins A and B via sennidin A and B 8-monoglucosides, respectively . Among nine species of Bifidobacterium having beta-glucosidase activity, only Bifidobacterium dentium and B . adolescentis metabolized sennoside B to sennidin B, suggesting that the sennoside-metabolizing bacteria produce a novel type of beta-glucosidase capable of hydrolyzing sennosides to sennidins.

Nat Struct Biol, 1994 Mar, 1(3), 176 - 85
T and R states in the crystals of bacterial L-lactate dehydrogenase reveal the mechanism for allosteric control; Iwata S et al.; The crystal structure of L-lactate dehydrogenase from Bifidobacterium longum, determined to 2.5 A resolution, contains a regular 1:1 complex of T- and R-state tetramers . A comparison of these two structures within the same crystal lattice and kinetical characterization of the T-R transition in solution provide an explanation for the molecular mechanism of allosteric activation . Substrate affinity is controlled by helix sliding between subunits which is triggered by the binding of the activator, fructose 1,6-bisphosphate . The proposed mechanism can explain activation by chemical modification and mutagenesis, as well as suggesting why vertebrate counterparts are not allosteric.

Clin Diagn Lab Immunol, 1994 Mar, 1(2), 244 - 6
Augmentation of anti-influenza virus hemagglutinin antibody production by Peyer's patch cells with Bifidobacterium breve YIT4064; Yasui H et al.; Bifidobacterium breve YIT4064 was tested an an adjuvant for oral influenza vaccine by the murine Peyer's patch cell culture method . The organism augmented production of anti-influenza virus hemagglutinin immunoglobulin A antibody by Peyer's patch cells in response to addition of hemagglutinin . These antibodies may be disseminated to the respiratory mucosal tissue and prevent influenza virus infection.

J Mol Biol, 1994 Feb 25, 236(3), 958 - 9
A regular 1:1 complex of two allosteric states in the single crystal of L-lactate dehydrogenase from Bifidobacterium longum; Iwata S et al.; Single crystals of the regular 1:1 complex of T and R-state tetramers of L-lactate dehydrogenase from Bifidobacterium longum have been grown from polyethylene glycol 6000 solution in the presence of NADH, fructose 1,6-bisphosphate and oxamate . The crystals belong to space group F222 with unit cell dimensions of a = 148.4 A, b = 295.9 A and c = 71.0 A . The crystals are suitable for X-ray analysis and diffract to beyond 2.5 A spacing . A crystallographic study showed that the asymmetric unit contains two subunits and that one of them belongs to the T-state tetramer and the other to the R-state tetramer.

Wei Sheng Wu Xue Bao, 1994 Feb, 34(1), 9 - 13
{Isolation and identification of an oxygen-tolerant strain of Bifidobacterium from human feces}; Xu B et al.; This paper reports 136 strains suspected to be species of the genes Bifidobacterium isolated from adult human faeces . Through detection of the ability to tolerate molecular oxygen in cultural environments, we obtained an oxygen-resistant strain TQ21-2-2 according to the Bergy's manual . It was identified as Bifidobacterium longum . A limited number of drinking the beverage, the experiments also using this strain in milk as a starter revealed that this strain has been found useful for treating cases with constipation.

J Dairy Sci, 1994 Feb, 77(2), 393 - 404
Growth stimulator for bifidobacteria produced by Propionibacterium freudenreichii and several intestinal bacteria; Kaneko T et al.; A bifidogenic growth stimulator was present in the cell-free filtrate of Propionibacterium freudenreichii 7025 culture and in the methanol extract fraction of the cells . Several intestinal bacteria, such as Bacteroides, Enterobacter, and Enterococcus, which also released a growth stimulator for bifidobacteria, may play an important role in regulation of a bifidobacterial population in colonic microflora . The water-soluble stimulator from the methanol extract of the cells was partially purified . The molecular weight of the stimulator appeared to be < 3000 . The stimulatory activity was unaffected by treatments with pronase, carboxypeptidase A, ribonuclease, or nuclease P1 and was heat stable over a wide pH range . This stimulator differed from cyanocobalamin and from organic acids, such as acetate and propionate . Because it was stable to heat and proteolytic enzymes, the stimulator is a useful bifidogenic factor that can reach the large intestine while retaining its activity . Short-chain fatty acids were highly inhibitory to the growth of many intestinal bacteria, particularly Gram-negative facultative and obligatory anaerobes . The short-chain fatty acids (especially propionate) stimulated the growth of bifidobacteria . The growth of Bifidobacterium adolescentis 6003 was further enhanced in the presence of short-chain fatty acids and the stimulator produced by P . freudenreichii 7025 . Viable counts of strain 6003 grown with Bacteroides vulgatus JCM 5826T increased more than 10(4) over those of the single culture of strain 6003 . However, the growth of strain 6003 was inhibited in the mixed culture with Clostridium perfringens 7028 . In continuous culture, the growth of bifidobacterial strain 6003 could be greatly enhanced, even in the presence of clostridial strain 7028, in media with short-chain fatty acids and stimulator produced by P . freudenreichii 7025.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1994 Jan-Feb, (2), 37 - 9
{A trial of using a dry bifidobacterin preparation with newborn risk groups to prevent acute intestinal infections}; Chernysheva NA et al.; The dried preparation of bifidumbacterin was administered to newborn infant during 4-6 days of their stay in a maternity clinic . The test group consisted of 110 infants and the control group, of 115 infants . Bacteriological studies indicated that the administration of bifidumbacterin produced a positive effect on the formation of the intestinal microflora in infants . During the first 3 months of life the registered cases of acute enteric infections among the children of the test group were 3 times less frequent than among the children of the control group . A perceptible prophylactic effect produced by this preparation with respect to purulent septic infections of the skin and the buccal mucosa was also noted.

Ter Arkh, 1994, 66(11), 17 - 8
{Intestinal dysbacteriosis in yersiniosis patients and the possibility of its correction with biopreparations}; Kuznetsov VF et al.; Intestinal dysbacteriosis was found in all 37 patients with intestinal yersiniosis or pseudotuberculosis . Administration of biopreparations containing lacto- or bifidobacteria produced a good clinico-microbiological response rate (above 90%) . The authors think it valid to include biopreparations in combined treatment of yersiniosis to prevent unfavourable outcomes.

Microbios, 1994, 80(325), 231 - 43
Positive and negative associations between bacterial species in dental root canals; Gomes BP et al.; Significant associations have been previously reported between certain pairs of bacterial species isolated from human dental root canals . The aim of this study was to examine microbiologically a more extensive series of cases, with particular reference to obligate anaerobes which accounted for 64% of total isolations . A total of 65 different species was isolated and individual root canals yielded a maximum of eleven bacterial species . Highly significant positive associations (p < 0.001) were found between Peptostreptococcus spp . and Prevotella spp., between Peptostreptococcus spp . and P . melaninogenica, between P . micros and Prevotella spp., P . micros and P . melaninogenica and between Prevotella spp . and Eubacterium spp., all with an ODDS ratio of > 9.0 . In contrast, negative and highly significant associations (p < 0.01) were found only between the four species pairs: B . vulgatus/F . necrophorum, P . magnus/Bifidobacterium spp., B . gracilis/F . nucleatum and between B . gracilis/Fusobacterium spp.; all with an ODDS ratio of < 0.5 . Some previously published associations were confirmed and some new associations were found, while some negative associations became apparent.

Annu Rev Microbiol, 1994, 48, 257 - 89
The molecular phylogeny and systematics of the actinomycetes; Embley TM et al.; Sequences of 16S ribosomal RNA have provided actinomycetologists with a phylogenetic tree that allows the investigation of the evolution of actinomycetes and also provides a basis for classification . The origin of actinomycetes and, except for bifidobacteria, the order by which the main sublines evolved, cannot yet be determined with certainty . However, calibration of rRNA sequence divergence with palaeochemical data, and previously published substitution rates of endosymbiotic bacteria, suggest that the main radiation occurred less than 1 billion years ago . Within this radiation, several phylogenetically homogeneous, but sometimes phenotypically heterogeneous, clades appear to have diverged over a short evolutionary period . The resolution of the 16S rRNA molecule appears to be insufficient to clearly determine the branching patterns between clades in this area of the phylogenetic tree . The distribution of some morphological and chemotaxonomic traits such as types of peptidoglycan, menaquinone, phospholipids, cell wall sugars, and fatty acids facilitate the phenotypic delineation of genera within each clade . At higher taxonomic levels, e.g . at the family level, phenotypic similarities are unpredictable and tend to be less conserved . With the exception of mycolic acids, most traits are polyphyletic--hence they are unreliable indicators per se of phylogenetic relationships . Nevertheless, combinations of phenotypic properties are invaluable for predicting whether a new organism is likely to be a member of an established or a novel taxon . Current knowledge about the phylogenetic structure of the actinomycetes provides not only a sound basis for future taxonomic work but also a framework for the rational exploration of their ecology and biotechnological potential.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1993 Dec, 59(12), 4121 - 8
Adhesion of human bifidobacterial strains to cultured human intestinal epithelial cells and inhibition of enteropathogen-cell interactions; Bernet MF et al.; Thirteen human bifidobacterial strains were tested for their abilities to adhere to human enterocyte-like Caco-2 cells in culture . The adhering strains were also tested for binding to the mucus produced by the human mucus-secreting HT29-MTX cell line in culture . A high level of calcium-independent adherence was observed for Bifidobacterium breve 4, for Bifidobacterium infantis 1, and for three fresh human isolates from adults . As observed by scanning electron microscopy, adhesion occurs to the apical brush border of the enterocytic Caco-2 cells and to the mucus secreted by the HT29-MTX mucus-secreting cells . The bacteria interacted with the well-defined apical microvilli of Caco-2 cells without cell damage . The adhesion to Caco-2 cells of bifidobacteria did not require calcium and was mediated by a proteinaceous adhesion-promoting factor which was present both in the bacterial whole cells and in the spent supernatant of bifidobacterium culture . This adhesion-promoting factor appeared species specific, as are the adhesion-promoting factors of lactobacilli . We investigated the inhibitory effect of adhering human bifidobacterial strains against intestinal cell monolayer colonization by a variety of diarrheagenic bacteria . B . breve 4, B . infantis 1, and fresh human isolates were shown to inhibit cell association of enterotoxigenic, enteropathogenic, diffusely adhering Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium strains to enterocytic Caco-2 cells in a concentration-dependent manner . Moreover, B . breve 4 and B . infantis 1 strains inhibited, dose dependently, Caco-2 cell invasion by enteropathogenic E . coli, Yersinia pseudotuberculosis, and S . typhimurium strains.

Endocr Regul, 1993 Dec, 27(4), 223 - 9
Effectiveness of Bifidobacterium bifidum in experimentally induced MRV infection: dietary implications in formulas for newborns; Duffy LC et al.; The protective effect of a human strain of Bifidobacterium bifidum (B . bifidum) against murine Group A rotavirus (MRV) was examined in the intestines of BALB/c infected mice . In experiments designed to determine whether B . bifidum mediated MRV shedding during diarrheal disease, pregnant dams (and their expected litters) were randomly assigned to the following groups: 1 . Mice infected with MRV alone; 2 . B . bifidum treated + MRV infected mice; 3 . B . bifidum treated controls; 4 . Saline control animals . An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the detection of group A rotavirus was used to measure virus protein . Treatment with B . bifidum significantly reduced shedding of MRV antigen (P < 0.009) days 2-10 post-inoculation . The reduction in shedding of virus protein corresponded well with delayed onset of acute diarrhea (P < 0.02) . Closer examination of tissue cross-sections under electron microscopy revealed that the B . bifidum ingested strain adhered to the epithelium of the small intestine . In further experiments, adherent properties of the ingested strain were related to enhancement, although nonsignificant, in immunoglobulin secreting cell responses in Peyer's patch lymphocytes . These results suggest that priming the intestine with B . bifidum is effective against experimental MRV challenge . Closer examination of B . bifidum and related growth factors in suckling neonates on gut physiology and enhancement of local immune responses has potential dietary implications in formulas for newborns.

Pharmacology, 1993 Oct, 47 Suppl 1, 125 - 33
Cleavages of the O- and C-glucosyl bonds of anthrone and 10,10'-bianthrone derivatives by human intestinal bacteria; Hattori M et al.; A strictly anaerobic bacterium, Bifidobacterium sp . SEN, capable of hydrolyzing the O-glucosyl of sennosides was isolated from human feces . The bacterium stepwisely hydrolyzed sennoside B to sennidin B through sennidin-8-monoglucoside in PYF medium but not in GAM broth . Addition of D-glucose to PYF medium resulted in loss of the hydrolyzing activity in culture but addition of D-fructose did not affect the activity . Coculture of this bacterium with Peptostreptococcus intermedius led to rapid accumulation of rhein anthrone in the medium . Similarly, a bacterium, Eubacterium sp . BAR, capable of cleaving the C-glucosyl of barbaloin was isolated from human feces . This bacterium grew in PYF medium containing barbaloin and produced enzyme(s) that cleave(s) the C-glucosyl . The induction of the enzymes was completely inhibited in the presence of D-glucose . Nojirimycin inhibited the enzyme activity induced by barbaloin but it did not inhibit the bacterial growth in the presence of D-glucose.

J Appl Bacteriol, 1993 Oct, 75(4), 373 - 80
Effects of the in vitro fermentation of oligofructose and inulin by bacteria growing in the human large intestine; Wang X et al.; The in vitro fermentability of oligofructose and inulin was compared with a range of reference carbohydrates by measuring bacterial end-product formation in batch culture . Short chain fatty acid and gas formation indicated that these substrates, which occur naturally in the diet and reach the colon in a largely intact form, were utilized by mixed populations of gut bacteria . Bacterial growth data showed that oligofructose and inulin exerted a preferential stimulatory effect on numbers of the health-promoting genus Bifidobacterium, whilst maintaining populations of potential pathogens (Escherichia coli, Clostridium) at relatively low levels . Pure culture studies confirmed the enhanced ability of bifidobacteria to utilize these substrates in comparison with glucose . Batch culture experiments demonstrated that the growth of Bifidobacterium infantis had an inhibitory effect towards E . coli and Clostridium perfringens . Potentially, an increase in the concentration of these substrates in the diet may therefore improve the composition of the large intestinal microflora and have positive effects on the quality of the Western diet.

Antibiot Khimioter, 1993 Oct-Nov, 38(10-11), 44 - 8
{The chemoprophylaxis and chemotherapy of opportunistic infections}; Mel'nikova VM et al.; Actual problems of organization and performance of chemoprophylaxis and chemotherapy of surgical opportunistic infections are discussed with an account of the main principles of and new approaches to the use of antibacterial drugs . The analysis of the authors' observations showed that the pre- and postoperative use of parenteral antibacterial drugs such as cephalosporins (cefazolin and ceftriaxone) and their combinations with aminoglycosides, the simultaneous use of beta-lactams and lysozyme, the local application of new ointments based on polyethylenglycol, foaming agents and gentacycol were prophylactically efficient in patients with high risk of surgical infections . Endolymphatic administration of gentamicin and cefotaxime was highly efficient in the treatment and prophylaxis of severe surgical infections with lymphogenous dissemination of the pathogen or its risk . In the prophylaxis of endogenous infections special attention should be paid to the suppression of the opportunistic intestinal microflora by the use of fluorquinolones and selective decontamination followed by the correction of the intestinal microbiocenosis with probiotics (bifidobacteria), lysozyme and immunological lactoglobulins as dosage forms or dry milk biologically active additives to children diet and dietotherapy.

Am J Physiol, 1993 Oct, 265(4 Pt 1), G699 - 703
Origin of D-alanine present in urine of mutant mice lacking D-amino-acid oxidase activity; Konno R et al.; Urine of mutant ddY/DAO- mice lacking D-amino-acid oxidase contained 13 times more D-alanine than that of normal ddY/DAO+ mice . Because D-alanine is a component of bacterial cell walls, the possibility that the urinary D-alanine came from intestinal bacteria was examined . In ddY/DAO- mice that were made germ free at birth and reared in a germ-free environment, the quantity of urinary D-alanine was found to be at a low level comparable to that of the normal mice . When these germ-free mice were made gnotobiotic by inoculation with gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli and Bacteroides vulgatus), the urinary D-alanine increased to a high level . When these gnotobiotic mice were further inoculated with gram-positive bacteria (Bifidobacterium longum and Eubacterium aerofaciens), the urinary D-alanine increased further . These results indicate that most of the urinary D-alanine of the conventionally reared ddY/DAO- mice is of gastrointestinal bacterial origin.

Cancer Res, 1993 Sep 1, 53(17), 3914 - 8
Inhibitory effect of Bifidobacterium longum on colon, mammary, and liver carcinogenesis induced by 2-amino-3-methylimidazo{4,5-f}quinoline, a food mutagen; Reddy BS et al.; The inhibitory effect of lyophilized cultures of Bifidobacterium longum on 2-amino-3-methylimidazo{4,5-f}quinoline (IQ)-induced carcinogenesis was investigated in male and female F344 rats . Beginning at 5 weeks of age, male and female rats were divided into various experimental groups and fed one of the high-fat, semipurified diets containing 0 and 0.5% lyophilized cultures of B . longum with or without 125 ppm IQ in the diet . All animals were continued on this regimen until the termination of the study . All animals were necropsied during the 58th week . The results indicated that dietary B . longum significantly inhibited the IQ-induced incidence (percentage of animals with tumors) of colon (100% inhibition) and liver (80% inhibition) tumors and multiplicity (tumors/animal) of colon, liver, and small intestinal tumors in male rats . In female rats, dietary supplementation of Bifidobacterium cultures also suppressed the IQ-induced mammary carcinogenesis to 50% and liver carcinogenesis to 27% of those observed in animals fed the control diet, but the differences did not reach a statistical significance at P < 0.05; however, the mammary tumor multiplicity (tumors/animal) was significantly (P < 0.05) inhibited in female rats fed the diet containing Bifidobacterium cultures . These findings suggest that Bifidobacterium supplements in the diet inhibit IQ-induced colon and liver tumors and to a lesser extent mammary tumors in F344 rats.

Res Microbiol, 1993 Sep, 144(7), 581 - 90
Bifidobacterial cell wall proteins (BIFOP) in Bifidobacterium globosum; Mattarelli P et al.; Nearly 150 strains of Bifidobacterium globosum were isolated from faeces of calf, chicken, lamb, rabbit and rat, from sewage, from rumen content and from human infant faeces between 1962 and 1973 and scored by SDS-PAGE for the presence of cell-wall-related proteins, i.e . BIFOP (bifid outer proteins); their apparent molecular masses ranged from 94.5 to 34 kDa and were designated A to L . Purified preparations from six of these ten proteins were employed to produce polyclonal rabbit antisera for use in immunoblots to investigate the interrelationships of the major antigens, A, B and C (94.5-85.5 kDa) and their distribution in strains of various origin . Two antigens differently migrating (or polymorphic forms) reacted with anti-BIFOP F serum (called F- and F+); the identity of BIFOP E with respect to these antigens was studied with anti-E serum . Only one antigen in all strain preparations reacted to anti-BIFOP H serum, which was raised against an antigen purified from a 13.5-MDa plasmid-bearing strain from rumen.

J Dairy Sci, 1993 Sep, 76(9), 2493 - 9
Effect of antioxidative lactic acid bacteria on rats fed a diet deficient in vitamin E; Kaizu H et al.; Lactic acid bacteria, including Bifidobacterium, with antioxidative activity were selected by in vitro screening . The effect of the antioxidative activity was investigated by in vivo experiments using rats that were deficient in vitamin E . In the first stage of screening, 570 strains were examined; intracellular cell-free extracts of 19 strains (16 lactobacilli, 2 streptococci, and 1 lactococci) had antioxidative activity as determined by an assay using rat liver microsomes and thiobarbituric acid . In the second stage of screening, 7 strains of lactobacilli showed over 70% inhibition of oxidation activity . The highest activity was obtained by heterofermentative Lactobacillus sp . SBT 2028 . The effect of two strains, Lactobacillus sp . SBT 2028 and Lactobacillus casei ssp . rhamnosus SBT 2257, was evaluated for improvement of the condition of rats fed a diet deficient in vitamin E . Intracellular cell-free extracts of those two strains were also used for in vivo experiments . Hemolysis of red blood cells was inhibited in rats that were administered the extract of Lactobacillus sp . SBT 2028, which proved that the extract improved the vitamin E deficiency status . Antioxidative activity of an extract from L . casei ssp . rhamnosus SBT 2257 determined by hemolysis was relatively weak compared with the activity of Lactobacillus sp . SBT 2028 extract.

J Dairy Sci, 1993 Sep, 76(9), 2485 - 92
Augmentation of macrophage phagocytic activity by cell-free extracts of selected lactic acid-producing bacteria; Hatcher GE et al.; Oral and intraperitoneal administration of lactic acid-producing bacteria can significantly augment the immune response in murine models; however, the immunopotentiating effects in these studies differ significantly . Murine macrophagelike cell line J774 was cultured in the presence of cell-free extracts of Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium longum, and the effect on macrophage function was evaluated by measurement of synthesis of selected enzymes and their ability to take up either acrylamide particles or live Salmonella typhimurium . Lysozyme activity of J774 cells was significantly decreased by cell-free extracts of B . longum, but not of L . acidophilus, whereas extracts of both strains induced morphological changes and significantly enhanced phagocytosis of inert particles or viable Salmonella . Whole cell extracts of lactic acid-producing bacteria are therefore capable of altering macrophage function in a strain-dependent manner.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1993 Sep, 59(9), 2876 - 83
Trypsin-dependent production of an antibacterial substance by a human Peptostreptococcus strain in gnotobiotic rats and in vitro; Ramare F et al.; An antibacterial substance appeared within 1 day in feces of gnotobiotic rats harboring a human intestinal Peptostreptococcus strain . It disappeared when the rat bile-pancreatic duct was ligatured or when the rats ingested a trypsin inhibitor . Anaerobic cultures of the Peptostreptococcus strain in a medium supplemented with trypsin also exhibited an antibacterial activity, which was also inhibited by the trypsin inhibitor . In vitro the antibacterial substance from both feces and culture medium was active against several gram-positive bacteria, including other Peptostreptococcus spp., potentially pathogenic Clostridium spp . such as C . perfringens, C . difficile, C . butyricum, C . septicum, and C . sordellii, Eubacterium spp., Bifidobacterium spp., and Bacillus spp . Whatever the order of inoculation of the strains, a sensitive strain of C . perfringens was eliminated within 1 day from the intestine of rats monoassociated with the Peptostreptococcus strain . These findings demonstrate for the first time that very potent antibacterial substances can be produced through a mechanism involving intestinal bacteria and exocrine pancreatic secretions.

Mikrobiol Z, 1993 Sep-Oct, 55(5), 84 - 8
{Development of a method for assessing viable Bifidobacterium in the preparation Bifikol}; Evlashkina VF et al.; The method has been developed for accounting viable bifidobacteria in the complex preparation biphicol using the growth inhibitor of Escherichia coli (0.01% solution of sodium azide), added to the growing medium . Choice of sodium azide concentration inhibiting growth of Escherichia coli M-17 and not affecting the growth of Bifidobacterium bifidum 1 is described in detail . Data are presented on the quality of commercial preparation made at different enterprises.

J Dairy Sci, 1993 Aug, 76(8), 2168 - 74
Antimicrobial susceptibility of bifidobacteria; Lim KS et al.; The antimicrobial susceptibility of 37 strains of bifidobacteria to 18 antimicrobial agents was determined by a macrodilution broth method . Most of the strains used were isolated from commercial yogurts and starters . Tested organisms were usually sensitive to Gram-positive spectrum antibiotics (bacitracin, erythromycin, lincomycin, and vancomycin), and most of the organisms were inhibited by a concentration < 1.56 micrograms/ml . Erythromycin was the most active agent; all strains were inhibited by < .19 microgram/ml . beta-Lactam antibiotics (penicillin G, ampicillin, methicillin, and cephalothin), showing a wide range of minimum inhibitory concentration, were less effective than Gram-positive spectrum antibiotics . Most strains were somewhat resistant to cephalothin, exhibiting inhibition at concentrations of 6.25 to 25.0 micrograms/ml . Test organisms were most resistant to kanamycin, neomycin, paromomycin sulfate, nalidixic acid, and polymyxin B sulfate; inhibition occurred only at > or = 50 micrograms/ml, and strains were somewhat less resistant to gentamicin and streptomycin . Susceptibility to nitrofurantoin and tetracycline was variable; minimum inhibitory concentrations ranged from 1.56 to 50.0 and .39 to 50.0 micrograms/ml, respectively, but chloramphenicol had a narrow range from 1.56 to 6.25 micrograms/ml.

J Anim Sci, 1993 Aug, 71(8), 2173 - 9
The effect of feeding various levels of Bifidobacterium globosum A on the performance, gastrointestinal measurements, and immunity of weanling pigs and on the performance and carcass measurements of growing-finishing pigs; Apgar GA et al.; Four trials using 312 weanling pigs (average initial weight, 7.2 kg) were conducted to examine the effect of Bifidobacterium globosum A (BGA) on the growth performance, scour scores, humoral and cell-mediated immune response, and pH and chloride ion concentration (CIC) of feces and gastrointestinal tract contents of pigs . Dietary treatments were 0, 5.0 x 10(4), 6.7 x 10(6), and 7.5 x 10(8) colony forming units (cfu) of BGA/d in Trial 1 and 0, 6.0 x 10(4), 5.0 x 10(5), and 5.0 x 10(6) cfu/d in Trials 2 through 4 . Pigs fed the low or medium levels of supplemental BGA had a greater ADG (P < .05) than control pigs throughout Trial 1, whereas ADG was quadratically increased (P < .05) for the low or medium levels only during wk 3 to 5 for the pooled data for Trials 2, 3, and 4 . The primary effect of dietary BGA additions on ADFI was a quadratic increase during wk 3 to 5 for Trial 1 (P < .05) and for the pooled data of Trials 2 through 4 (P < .10) . Gain:feed ratios were generally unaffected by addition of BGA . Both ADFI and ADG tended to be decreased (P < .10) at the highest level of BGA in all trials . Scouring was not severe in any of the trials and was not consistently affected by feeding BGA . The pH and CIC of gastrointestinal contents or feces were not influenced by the feeding of BGA.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Int J Syst Bacteriol, 1993 Jul, 43(3), 565 - 73
Phenotypic and genomic analyses of human strains belonging or related to Bifidobacterium longum, Bifidobacterium infantis, and Bifidobacterium breve; Bahaka D et al.; A numerical analysis based on phenotypic characteristics (89 enzymatic tests and 49 carbohydrate acidification tests), in which experimental strips from Biomerieux-API, La Balme les Grottes, France, were used, was performed to characterize 82 new isolates belonging or related to Bifidobacterium longum, Bifidobacterium infantis, and Bifidobacterium breve . A total of 72 strains were isolated from child or adult feces, and the other strains were obtained from human vaginas and bronchi . In this study we also included 38 type and reference strains that were representative of all species of the genus Bifidobacterium and 6 strains belonging to the genus Lactobacillus . DNA-DNA relationships between B . longum and B . infantis were determined by using 19 strains related to these species, as determined by the numerical analysis . The degree of DNA binding was determined by the S1 nuclease method . The phenotypic study revealed that there were six main clusters, which were subdivided into nine subclusters . Subcluster Va contained the type strains of B . longum and B . infantis . The DNA-DNA relatedness values of some of the new isolates were very similar to the DNA-DNA relatedness values of the type strain of B . longum . On the basis of these data, it was difficult to isolate B . infantis strains and then to define B . infantis as a single species separated from B . longum . Subclusters IVb to IVf comprised reference strains of B . breve . Cluster III and subcluster Ia were not identified.

Rinsho Byori, 1993 Jun, 41(6), 661 - 5
{Intestinal flora of inpatients and isolation frequency of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus}; Furuta I et al.; The authors compared intestinal flora from 30 healthy volunteers and 128 inpatients . E . coli, B . fragilis, and Bifidobacterium were each detected in the stools of healthy subjects at a frequency of more than 90%, while the incidences of such flora were low in the stools of inpatients: A significant difference was observed between the two groups . E . faecium, P . aeruginosa, Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), C . difficile, and Candida were detected at high frequencies in the stools of inpatients, as compared with healthy subjects . This finding is attributed to the administration of antimicrobial agents . It is also considered that microbial interaction in maintaining the balance among normal intestinal flora had been lost in patients from whom MRSA and/or C . difficile was isolated . The decrease or elimination of bacterial species antagonistic to such resistant strains must be guarded against, because this can lead to weakening of the defence mechanism against intestinal infection.

Clin Infect Dis, 1993 Jun, 16 Suppl 4, S299 - 303
Peritonsillar abscess, retropharyngeal abscess, mediastinitis, and nonclostridial anaerobic myonecrosis: a case report; Civen R et al.; Peritonsillar abscess is a potentially life-threatening complication of acute tonsillitis . On occasion, peritonsillar abscess can extend to neck spaces and/or to the mediastinum . We describe a case of a patient with a peritonsillar abscess that extended to the neck, producing bilateral retropharyngeal abscesses and myonecrosis of the strap muscles . Culture of a specimen of the necrotic muscle yielded Prevotella intermedia, Prevotella buccae, Lactobacillus catenaforme, another Lactobacillus species, Peptostreptococcus anaerobius, and some nonanaerobes . Culture of the peritonsillar abscess yielded P . intermedia and P . buccae plus P . anaerobius, Peptostreptococcus asaccharolyticus, Bifidobacterium dentium, viridans and group F streptococci, and Citrobacter diversus . Culture of the retropharyngeal abscess yielded Fusobacterium nucleatum and Actinomyces odontolyticus in addition to most of the aforementioned organisms . The patient underwent repeated drainage and debridement procedures and was treated with various antimicrobial agents and ultimately recovered . This case highlights the polymicrobial nature of peritonsillar abscess and the serious complications that this infection may lead to.

FEMS Microbiol Lett, 1993 Jun 1, 110(1), 11 - 20
Analysis of the genome of the five Bifidobacterium breve strains: plasmid content, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis genome size estimation and rrn loci number; Bourget N et al.; The genomes of the five Bifidobacterium breve strains available from culture collections were compared by restriction endonuclease analysis . Electrophoretic migration of undigested DNA allowed us to detect a 5.6-kb circular plasmid in two of these strains . A restriction map of this plasmid was constructed using 10 enzymes . With DraI endonuclease, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis has allowed the determination of the five B . breve genome sizes to 2.1 Mb . This estimation was further confirmed for CIP 6469 (type strain) and ATCC 15698 using XbaI and SpeI enzymes . In addition, rRNA gene regions were used as probes for strain characterization and suggest that there are at least three rrn loci in B . breve.

Int J Food Microbiol, 1993 May, 18(3), 179 - 89
Microflora and acidification properties of yogurt and yogurt-related products fermented with commercially available starter cultures; Kneifel W et al.; Yogurts and yogurt-related milk products were produced using 44 commercially available starter cultures from 8 suppliers . The yogurt starters consisted of the classical yogurt microflora and the yogurt-related cultures containing Lactobacillus acidophilus and/or Bifidobacterium spp . instead of or in addition to the yogurt bacteria . The counts of lactobacilli in the fresh yogurts varied between 5.5 x 10(7) and 6.5 x 10(8) CFU/ml, and the counts of streptococci varied from 3.5 x 10(7) to 1.2 x 10(9) CFU/ml . About 80% of the yogurts had higher counts of cocci than rods . During storage of the products for 2 weeks at 6 degrees C the stability of the microflora differed markedly among the cultures . In the fresh yogurt-related products the L . acidophilus counts ranged from 4.0 x 10(5) to 2.6 x 10(8) CFU/ml; bifidobacteria were found at levels between 4.0 x 10(6) and 2.6 x 10(8) CFU/ml . In most products reduced viable counts of these bacteria were observed after 2 weeks . Titratable acidity increased on average by 22.3% in the yogurts, and by 14.9% in the yogurt-related products during storage . In most products a higher amount of L(+)- than D(-)-lactic acid was found.

Mikrobiol Zh, 1993 May-Jun, 55(3), 63 - 7
{The bacteriological and immunological efficacy of biosporin in nonspecific ulcerative colitis}; Cherniakova VI et al.; The results from examination of intestinal microflora and immune status in 75 patients with nonspecific ulcerative colitis with different degree of disease seriousness are presented . The deviations in the composition of normal microflora were primarily expressed in a decrease of the number of bifidobacteria . In 64.9% of patients the disease proceeded against the background of deficit of T-cellular immunity link . The sufficiently expressed bacteriological and immunological efficiency of complex therapy including preparation from spore-forming bacteria as a normalizer of microflora is shown.

Vopr Pitan, 1993 May-Jun, (3), 46 - 50
{Antagonism of microbial population of protective flora and its relation to microbiocenosis and nutritional factors}; Kuvaeva IB et al.; Total antagonistic activity (TAA) of the populations of bifidobacteria, lactobacilli, enterobacteria was considered in relation to the method of its evaluation which has been modified, criteria of TAA assessment permitting its measurements in per cents . The technique proposed bases on determination of the metabolites capable of inhibiting pathogenic and opportunistic bacteria and provides information on the action of alimentary factors under study on the function of intestinal microbiocenosis . The factors may produce a multidirectional effect on the structure and biological activity of the microbial populations . The method can work to characterize microbiocenosis both in normal and pathological conditions, to evaluate efficacy of specially devised food products.

Biotechnol Prog, 1993 May-Jun, 9(3), 291 - 7
Effect of chelatants on gellan gel rheological properties and setting temperature for immobilization of living bifidobacteria; Camelin I et al.; The effect of various concentrations of sequestrants (sodium citrate, sodium metaphosphate, and EDTA) was studied on gellan gel (1.5-2.5% (w/v)) setting temperature and rheological properties . Addition of EDTA between 0 and 0.8% (w/v) led to a progressive decrease of setting temperature . Citrate and metaphosphate decreased this parameter when added up to 0.4 or 0.6%, depending on gellan gum concentration, eventually resulting in the absence of gel formation at room temperature for the 1.5% gellan solution containing 0.4% citrate . This effect was accompanied by a significant decrease of gel strength and stiffness and might be attributed to the binding of the divalent cations required for chain association during gelation by chelatants . With the aim of lowering the gel setting temperature during the cell entrapment process while maintaining high mechanical properties, a gel made of 2.5% gellan gum and 0.2% sodium citrate was used to entrap Bifidobacterium longum ATCC 15707 . Ions and pH of the inoculum during the immobilization step influenced the long-term mechanical stability of the gel beads during continuous fermentation in a stirred tank reactor . High stability as well as high biocatalyst activity was obtained when a washed cell suspension was used as the inoculum . Gellan gel produced by dissolving gellan gum in a sodium citrate solution may be a promising entrapment matrix for temperature-sensitive cells such as mesophilic lactic acid bacteria and eukaryotic cells.

Clin Infect Dis, 1993 Apr, 16(4), 476 - 80
Significant recovery of nonsporulating anaerobic rods from clinical specimens; Brook I et al.; Eighteen isolates of Bifidobacterium species, 99 of Eubacterium species, and 38 of anaerobic Lactobacillus species were recovered from 3,971 clinical specimens submitted to the anaerobic microbiology laboratory at the National Naval Medical Center over a period of 10 years (June 1978 to June 1988) . Clinically significant infection was documented in association with 53 isolates recovered from 52 patients: 8 (44%) of the 18 Bifidobacterium isolates, 30 (30%) of the 99 Eubacterium isolates, and 15 (39%) of the 38 Lactobacillus isolates . The rest of the isolates were considered to be contaminants or to be of uncertain pathogenic significance . The significant infections that were documented mostly involved abdominal abscesses, obstetric and gynecologic sites, and wounds . Predisposing conditions (primarily prior surgery, immunodeficiency, malignancy, presence of a foreign body, or diabetes) were apparent in 7 (87.5%) of the 8 patients infected with Bifidobacterium species, in 23 (85%) of the 27 patients infected with Eubacterium species for whom clinical records were available, and in 8 (67%) of the 12 patients infected with Lactobacillus species for whom clinical records were available . Antimicrobial therapy was administered to 40 (85%) of the 47 patients for whom clinical records were available; such treatment was given in conjunction with surgical drainage or correction for 31 of these 47 patients (66%) . No patient died of infection due to anaerobic, nonsporulating, gram-positive rods . These data illustrate that, although Bifidobacterium, Eubacterium, and Lactobacillus species are infrequently associated with infections, they occasionally do cause serious illness.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1993 Apr, 59(4), 1120 - 4
The assumed assimilation of cholesterol by Lactobacilli and Bifidobacterium bifidum is due to their bile salt-deconjugating activity; Klaver FA et al.; To study the mechanism of the propsed assimilation of cholesterol, we cultured various strains of Lactobacillus acidophilus and a Bifidobacterium sp . in the presence of cholesterol and oxgall . During culturing, both cholesterol and bile salts were precipitated . Because of bacterial bile salt deconjugation, no conjugated bile salts were observed in either the culture fluids or the pellets . During incubation, the cell count and optical density decreased . The degree of precipitation of bile salts and of cholesterol was dependent on the culture conditions . If L . acidophilus RP32 was cultured under acidifying conditions, the degree of precipitation of deconjugated bile salts was higher than if the pH was maintained at 6.0 . Under acidifying conditions, cholesterol was coprecipitated with the bile salts, whereas in pH-controlled cultures, no coprecipitation of cholesterol was observed . From control experiments with different mixtures of bile salts, it appeared that coprecipitation of cholesterol during culturing was a result of formation of deconjugated bile salts, which have a decreased solubility at pH values lower than 6.0 . It is concluded that the removal of cholesterol from the culture medium by L . acidophilus RP32 and other species is not due to bacterial uptake of cholesterol, but results from bacterial bile salt-deconjugating activity.

J Dairy Sci, 1993 Apr, 76(4), 962 - 71
Growth characteristics of bifidobacteria in ultrafiltered milk; Ventling BL et al.; Five replicates of raw skim milk were ultrafiltered at 54 degrees C to total protein concentration ratios of 2:1, 3:1, 4:1, and 5:1 . Bifidobacterium bifidum and Bifidobacterium longum were inoculated at 5% into skim milk that was not ultrafiltered (1:1) and into ultrafiltered skim milks followed by incubation at 37 degrees C . The mean maximum bacterial count (colony-forming units per milliliter) range and protein concentration ratio were from 6.25 x 10(8) to 1.69 x 10(9), skim milk; 4.42 x 10(8) to 3.56 x 10(9), 2:1; 2.62 x 10(8) to 3.94 x 10(9), 3:1; 6.67 x 10(8) to 1.88 x 10(9), 4:1; and 2.90 x 10(9) to 3.59 x 10(9), 5:1 . The mean developed acidity at maximum B . bifidum population in skim milk was .16%, and pH was 5.55 . The 5:1 concentrate had a higher mean developed acidity of .57% at pH 5.35, which was similar to that of the skim milk . Trends were similar for B . longum . Because of the increased buffering capacity of highly concentrated ultrafiltered milks, pH 5.5 or higher was maintained longer, along with high developed acidity . Scanning electron micrographs showed distinct morphological variations between bifidobacteria grown in broth versus those grown in the milks.

J Mol Biol, 1993 Mar 5, 230(1), 21 - 7
Molecular basis of allosteric activation of bacterial L-lactate dehydrogenase; Iwata S et al.; The three-dimensional structure of allosteric L-lactate dehydrogenase from Bifidobacterium longum, the first example of a T-state structure of L-lactate dehydrogenase, has been determined to 2.0 A . A comparative study of this structure with the previously reported R-state structure from Bacillus stearothermophilus has revealed the allosteric activation mechanism of the bacterial L-lactate dehydrogenase . The fructose 1,6-bisphosphate-induced conformational change at the effector site and the substrate affinity change at the activity site are clearly shown at a molecular level . Coupling of these changes can be simply explained by a set of concerted rotations between subunits in the tetramer of the enzyme . This T to R transition is the first example for a tetrameric allosteric protein where the rotations occur around each of three axes of symmetry.

In Vivo, 1993 Mar-Apr, 7(2), 175 - 9
Effect of a biological response modifier, PSK, on intestinal flora of tumor-bearing mice; Sakurai K et al.; PSK, a protein-bound polysaccharide derived from basidiomycetes, is a biological response modifier that exhibits a variety of activities following oral administration, including prevention of infection . In this study, the effects of oral administration of this drug on microbial flora of tumor-bearing mice were examined . Numbers of Staphylococcus, Streptococcus and Pseudomonas were increased, and those of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus were reduced in fresh feces of mice from later than 9 weeks after inoculation of sarcoma 180 . However, these changes were prevented by oral administration of PSK . In mice bearing sarcoma 180, the increases in numbers of Staphylococcus and Pseudomonas and the decrease in those of Bifidobacterium were further enhanced by intraperitoneal administration of anticancer agent mitomycin C, but such changes were suppressed by oral administration of PSK . These results suggest that PSK has a preventive effect against abnormal conditions of the intestinal flora induced by tumor inoculation or the administration of anticancer agents.

Eur Cytokine Netw, 1993 Mar-Apr, 4(2), 133 - 8
Influence of intestinal bacterial flora on cytokine (IL-1, IL-6 and TNF-alpha) production by mouse peritoneal macrophages; Nicaise P et al.; The effect of bacterial flora on cytokine production from resident peritoneal macrophages was investigated in the mouse . The production of IL-1, IL-6 and TNF-alpha was determined in germ-free, and "conventionalized" mice, as well as in monoxenic mice implanted with either the Gram-negative bacterium E . coli, or the Gram-positive organism Bifidobacterium bifidum . Macrophages from the "conventionalized" mice produced significantly more IL-1 and IL-6 in vitro than those of the germ-free mice . IL-1 and IL-6 production from germ-free mice implanted with E . coli was comparable to that from "conventionalized" mice . However, implantation with Bifidobacterium bifidum did not increase production of these two cytokines above levels observed for macrophages from the germ-free mice . A little TNF-alpha was produced by only the macrophages from the "conventionalized" and monoxenic mice implanted with E . coli . Soon after implantation, the bacterial flora stimulated cytokine production by mouse peritoneal macrophages and our results suggest that Gram negative bacteria are the most efficient stimulus for this production.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1993 Mar-Apr, (2), 114 - 8
{The manifestation of functional heterogeneity of the peptidoglycans in opsonophagocytic reactions}; Maianskii AN et al.; The peptidoglycan activity of Staphylococcus aureus CCM 885 and Bifidobacterium bifidum 1 was studied in the opsonophagocytic system on the basis of the luminol-dependent chemiluminescence of human neutrophils . B . bifidum peptidoglycan was more active in direct interaction with neutrophils . After treatment with normal human serum S . aureus peptidoglycan showed more pronounced neutrophil-stimulating properties . This phenomenon was in accord with a higher content of IgG antibodies to S . aureus peptidoglycan, as well as with its capacity for the classical direct activation of the complement . Moreover, in reactions with S . aureus peptidoglycan "minor" opsonins, independent of antibodies and complement, were detected . B . bifidum peptidoglycan did not activate the complement, could not be opsonized with the serum having no specific antibodies and did not react with "minor" opsonins.

Ann Pediatr (Paris), 1993 Jan, 40(1), 13 - 22
{Development, equilibrium and role of microbial flora in the newborn}; Ducluzeau R; Development of the digestive tract intestinal flora is the result of a specific selection process to which the multiple maternal or environmental bacteria that penetrate into the neonatal gut are subjected . In breast-fed infants, Escherichia coli and streptococci are the first bacteria to appear in the gut . They are usually, but not always, followed by a population of Bifidobacterium which quickly becomes predominant . In bottle-fed infants, the intestinal flora is more variable and often includes, in addition to the organisms mentioned above, other enterobacteria and a wider range of obligate anaerobes . Studies of experimental models have shown that the nature of milk fed to the offspring and even the lactating mother's diet have substantial effects on the sequence of development of the neonatal intestinal flora . A large number of factors capable of inhibiting or permitting in vitro growth of various bacterial species have been identified in milk . However, no in vitro activity of these factors added to milk has ever been demonstrated . These factors include "bifidus factors", which promotes the growth of Bifidobacterium, and lactoferrin and immunoglobulins, which prevent colonisation of the gut by pathogenic enterobacteria . Immune factors in milk play a key role in interactions between the microbial flora and gut mucosa . However, they seem to have no effect on the growth of bacterial populations in the gut lumen . A number of pioneer bacteria, which are the first to arrive in the gut, are capable of effectively blocking growth of other bacteria introduced later in the ecosystem . In some instances, these pioneer bacteria also inhibit production of toxins by pathogenic species . Consequently, it is important to adhere to the recommended gradual changes in diet which allow these species to sequentially colonize the gut.

Chirality, 1993, 5(5), 385 - 92
Chirality of amino acids of microorganisms used in food biotechnology; Bruckner H et al.; Bacteria of the genera Acetobacter, Bifidobacterium, Brevibacterium, Lactobacillus, Micrococcus, Propionibacterium, and Streptococcus, which are used as so-called starter cultures for the large-scale production of fermented foods and beverages in food biotechnology, have been investigated for the chirality of their amino acids (AA) by gas chromatography (GC) . Bacteria were grown in complex media, centrifuged, and washed with 0.85% aqueous NaCl . Aliquots were totally hydrolyzed (6 M HCl, 110 degrees C, 18 h), or extracted with 70% aqueous ethanol in order to isolated free AA . The AA were adsorbed on Dowex WX 8 cation-exchanger, eluted with 4 M ammonia and converted into their N(O)-trifluoro-acetyl(TFA) 2-propyl esters or TFA methyl esters . The AA derivatives were investigated by capillary GC using the chiral stationary phases Chirasil-L-Val, Chirasil-D-Val, and Lipodex E . Besides L-AA, in all bacteria D-amino acids (D-AA) were detected; those in the highest relative amounts were D-Ala and D-Asp (occurring in all bacteria) and, in several cases, D-Glu . Lower, but significant amounts of other D-AA such as D-Ser, D-Pro, D-Val, D-Thr . D-Ile, D-Leu, D-Met, D-Phe, D-Tyr, D-Orn, and D-Lys were also detected in certain bacteria . These findings explain the origin of D-AA found in all fermented foods and drinks produced with the aid of bacterial starter cultures.

Ter Arkh, 1993, 65(6), 41 - 3
{Microecological disorders in the intestines of patients with chronic kidney failure and the arterial hypertension syndrome}; Bobrov VA et al.; Changes in the microfloral species quality and quantity, blurring of the ecological niche, reduction or disappearance of lacto- and bifidobacteria, emergence of opportunistic and saprogenic flora were found in the intestine of patients with intestinal chronic renal failure . These findings are indicative of microecological abnormalities in the above patients.

Wien Klin Wochenschr, 1993, 105(12), 359 - 61
{Actinomycosis infection of the cerebellum}; Schwarz A et al.; The case is presented of a 37-year-old male with a cerebellar abscess due to Actinomyces israelii . The patient was admitted after dental surgery because of fever and symptoms indicative of raised, intracranial pressure . No abnormalities were detected in peripheral blood and cerebrospinal fluid . CT scan revealed a space-occupying lesion in the left cerebellar hemisphere with perifocal oedema and occlusive hydrocephalus . After emergency external ventriculostomy complete removal of the mass was achieved in a two-stage surgical procedure . Culture of the pus under anaerobic conditions resulted in a growth of Actinomyces israelii, Peptostreptococcus anaerobius and Bifidobacterium adolescentis . A 20-day regimen of antibiotics including penicillin G 10 million U x 3/d and clindamycin 900 mg x 3/d was administered . The patient made a full recovery . Pathogenesis and therapeutic principles of CNS infections due to Actinomyces israellii are discussed.

Arch Microbiol, 1993, 160(2), 144 - 51
Transport and metabolism of glucose and arabinose in Bifidobacterium breve; Degnan BA et al.; Glucose was required for the transport of arabinose into Bifidobacterium breve . The non-metabolisable glucose analogue 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG) did not facilitate assimilation of arabinose . Studies using D-{U-14C}-labelled arabinose showed that it was fermented to pyruvate, formate, lactate and acetate, whereas the principal metabolic products of D-{U-14C}-labelled glucose were acetate and formate . In contrast to glucose, arabinose was not incorporated into cellular macromolecules . A variety of metabolic inhibitors and inhibitors of sugar transport (proton ionophores, metal ionophores, compounds associated with electron transport) were used to investigate the mechanisms of sugar uptake . Only NaF, an inhibitor of substrate level phosphorylation, and 2-DG inhibited glucose assimilation . 2-DC had no effect on arabinose uptake, but NaF was stimulatory . High levels of phosphorylation of glucose and 2-DC by PEP and to a lesser degree, ATP were seen in phosphoenolpyruvate: phosphotransferase (PEP:PTS) assays . These data together with strong inhibition of glucose uptake by NaF suggest a role for phosphorylation in the transport process . Arabinose uptake in B . breve was not directly dependent on phosphorylation or any other energy-linked form of transport but may be assimilated by glucose-dependent facilitated diffusion.

J Dairy Sci, 1992 Dec, 75(12), 3296 - 306
Relationship between oxygen sensitivity and oxygen metabolism of Bifidobacterium species; Shimamura S et al.; Bifidobacteria, which are obligate anaerobes, were studied to determine the relationship between their sensitivity to oxygen and oxygen metabolism . Among the four species tested, Bifidobacterium infantis, Bifidobacterium breve, and Bifidobacterium longum differed from Bifidobacterium adolescentis in sensitivity to oxygen . The former three species showed marked growth under conditions of partial aeration, whereas the growth of B . adolescentis was suppressed by low concentrations of oxygen . Bifidobacteria express reduced NAD-oxidase and -peroxidase activities, which function in a pathway for two-electron reduction of molecular oxygen, producing hydrogen peroxide and, subsequently, water . Activities of reduced NAD-oxidase and -peroxidase were inversely correlated with their sensitivities to oxygen . Bifidobacterium adolescentis exhibited lowered activities of these two enzymes; the activities were 10 to 20% of those observed with B . infantis, B . breve, and B . longum . These observations are compatible with the hypothesis that reduced NAD-oxidase and reduced NAD-peroxidase in Bifidobacterium species play a role in prevention of oxygen toxicity . Superoxide dismutase activity was also detected in Bifidobacterium species . Superoxide dismutase is probably not involved in detoxification of oxygen, because the activity of this enzyme was extremely low, and the sensitivity to oxygen varied independently of superoxide dismutase activity.

Gene, 1992 Dec 1, 122(1), 193 - 7
Cloning and sequence analysis of the gene encoding L-lactate dehydrogenase from Lactococcus lactis: evolutionary relationships between 21 different LDH enzymes; Griffin HG et al.; Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH; EC1.1.1.27) is a key enzyme in the fermentation of milk by lactic acid bacteria used in the dairy industry . An 800-bp DNA fragment containing part of the gene (ldh) encoding LDH was amplified from Lactococcus lactis in a polymerase chain reaction using primers designed from the partial amino acid sequence of a lactococcal LDH . This fragment was radioactively labelled and used to probe a phage lambda library of Lc . lactis genomic DNA . Fragments containing ldh were subcloned from lambda to pUC13 and pUC18 and a 1.2-kb region was sequenced . The deduced aa sequence reveals that the lactococcal LDH is highly homologous to the LDHs of other organisms . The active site and several other domains of unknown function are highly conserved between all LDH enzymes (prokaryotic and eukaryotic) . An evolutionary study of LDH sequences clearly divides the prokaryotic from the eukaryotic enzymes except for the Bifidobacterium longum LDH which anomalously groups with the eukaryotic enzymes . The LDHs from Gram-positive bacteria form a separate group from the enzymes from the Gram-negative organisms . The lactococcal LDH is phylogenetically closest to the streptococcal LDH.

Antibiot Khimioter, 1992 Dec, 37(12), 41 - 3
{Immunomodulating properties of various microbes--representatives of normal intestinal microflora}; Mal'tseva NN et al.; The impact of oral administration of heat-killed bifidobacteria, lactobacteria, enterococci and bacteroides on mouse resistance to experimental salmonellosis and content of immunoglobulin-synthesizing cells in the proper plate of the small intestine was studied . It was shown that the administration of the killed bifidobacteria, lactobacteria and enterococci increased the animal resistance to experimental salmonellosis infection and induced an increase in the content of immunoglobulin-synthesizing cells in the proper plate of the small intestine . The administration of the killed bacteroides had no such effect . Possible development of bacterial preparations with immunomodulating properties based on killed bifidobacteria, lactobacteria or enterococci is discussed.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1992 Dec, 58(12), 4076 - 9
Species-specific oligonucleotide probes for five Bifidobacterium species detected in human intestinal microflora; Yamamoto T et al.; Portions of the 16S rRNA from closely related species of the genus Bifidobacterium that are found in the human intestinal microflora were sequenced in order to design species-specific oligonucleotide probes . Five oligonucleotide probes ranging from 16 to 19 bases in length and complementary to 16S rRNA sequences from Bifidobacterium adolescentis, B . bifidum, B . breve, B . infantis, and B . longum were synthesized . With crude high-molecular-weight RNA preparations as targets, these probes showed the desired species specificity, even down to a 1-nucleotide difference . For the practical evaluation of these probes, their specificity and sensitivity were tested against seven strains of the same species and 54 strains of heterologous bacteria with fixed whole cells as targets . The probes for B . adolescentis, B . breve, and B . longum showed efficient and specific hybridization . Although the probes for B . bifidum and B . infantis cross-reacted with a few bacterial strains not isolated from humans, these probes showed species specificity for human intestinal bacteria . These 16S rRNA probes should prove valuable for the identification and detection of human intestinal Bifidobacterium species.

Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek, 1992 Nov, 62(4), 291 - 7
High-affinity oxygen uptake by Bifidobacterium bifidum; Cox RP et al.; Oxygen uptake by washed cell suspensions of Bifidobacterium bifidum DSM 20082 was studied by using spectrophotometric measurements of the degree of oxygenation of added myoglobin as a measure of the concentration of dissolved O2 . The absorbance changes during consumption of O2 in a closed reaction vessel were analysed by computer to obtain estimates of the changes in dissolved O2 concentration with time . These were then used to calculate the rate of O2 uptake as a function of the dissolved O2 concentration . The cell suspensions showed Michaelis-Menten kinetics with an apparent Km value of 0.06 microM O2 . Cell-free extracts contained a soluble NADH oxidase activity with a stoichiometry corresponding to the reduction of O2 to H2O and with a high affinity for O2.

Acta Paediatr, 1992 Oct, 81(10), 784 - 7
Transient colonization of the gut of newborn infants by orally administered bifidobacteria and lactobacilli; Bennet R et al.; We investigated if orally administered bifidobacteria and/or lactobacilli could be cultured from faeces of infants after antibiotic treatment, when these bacterial species are usually absent . Lyophilized Bifidobacterium longum, strain BB-536, B . breve, strain BB-576, or Lactobacillus acidophilus, strain LAC-343, were used . Doses of 3 x 10(9) cells of one strain, or a mixture of all three strains 3 x 10(9) cells each were fed three times daily at mealtimes to 11 infants aged 0-8 weeks . Treatment was started the first day after antibiotic treatment and was continued for 5 days . The bacterial species were isolated in 9 of 11, 7 of 10 and 2 of 9 specimens obtained on the last day of bifidobacteria or lactobacilli administration, 5 and 15 days thereafter, respectively . No side effects were noted.

J Vet Med Sci, 1992 Aug, 54(4), 703 - 6
Impact of the advances in age on the gastrointestinal microflora of beagle dogs; Benno Y et al.; The gastrointestinal microflora of male beagle dogs in two different age groups; I) less than month 12 of age, and II) more than year 11 of age, was compared . No detectable difference occurred on the microflora of stomach, duodenum, jejunum, and ileum in both dogs . Large bowel (cecum, colon and rectum) microflora in both dogs yielded the different microbial populations . In all regions of large bowel, the levels of bacteroides, eubacteria, peptostreptococci, bifidobacteria, lactobacilli, and staphylococci in the elderly dogs were lower than those in the younger animals, whereas the numbers of Clostridium perfringens and streptococci in the elderly animals were higher than those in the youngers . The high incidence of lecithinase-negative clostridia was observed with advances in age, but not that of spiral shaped rods . The result of this study shows that the advances in age of beagle dogs yield some changes in the microbial population of large bowel in the animals.

J Nutr Sci Vitaminol (Tokyo), 1992 Aug, 38(4), 343 - 51
Effects of cultured milk products by Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium species on the secretion of bile acids in hepatocytes and in rats; Imaizumi K et al.; Whey preparations prepared from cultured milk by 19 Lactobacillus (2 species) and 20 Bifidobacterium (5 species) strains were examined for the effects of secretion and synthesis of bile acids in primary cultured rat hepatocytes . The stimulating effect of whey preparation on bile acid secretion depended on the species as well as the strains used for milk fermentation . Two strains belonging to L . casei SBT 2230 (LC2230) and B . longum SBT 2912 (BL2912) produced the whey which stimulates both the secretion of bile acid and the activity of cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase, a rate-limiting enzyme for bile acid synthesis . When the cultured products by these two strains were given to rats for 14 days, the products from L . casei (LC2230) were found to stimulate the biliary secretion of bile acids . These results suggest that primary cultured hepatocytes were a useful experimental system as an initial screening for an active principle modulating cholesterol metabolism.

APMIS, 1992 Jul, 100(7), 655 - 62
Detection and identification of Mobiluncus species by direct filter hybridization with an oligonucleotide probe complementary to rRNA; Pahlson C et al.; A hybridization assay for direct detection and identification of Mobiluncus species has been developed and tested . A {32P}-labelled synthetic oligonucleotide probe, complementary to a nucleotide sequence in the variable region V8 of Mobiluncus 16S ribosomal RNA, was utilized . One of the advantages of using rRNA as target molecule for the hybridization assays is the copy number of rRNA, which can be as high as 10(4), and that additionally three to six sites on the minus strand of the DNA gene can be utilized . This probe was found to be sensitive and to react with 62 of 68 tested typical or atypical Mobiluncus isolates . It was also specific, and was shown not to react with 96 tested unrelated bacterial species and isolates, including taxonomically closely related species like Actinomyces or Bifidobacterium spp., or with bacteria isolated from the vagina of both healthy persons with an undisturbed flora, as well as from patients suffering from the bacterial vaginosis syndrome (BV).

Res Vet Sci, 1992 Jul, 53(1), 110 - 5
Anaerobic microflora associated with the pars oesophagea of the pig; McGillivery DJ et al.; In healthy pigs aged one to 35 days significant populations of microorganisms (5.5 to 6.9 log10 viable count cm-2 of the tissue) were found, by strict anaerobic techniques, to adhere to the pars oesophagea . The genera of anaerobes which were isolated included Actinomyces, Bifidobacterium, Clostridium, Lactobacillus, Peptostreptococcus, Streptococcus and Veillonella and facultative anaerobes included Escherichia, Klebsiella, Staphylococcus, Streptococcus and yeasts . The microbial population adhering to the pars oesophagea varied little from birth till after weaning and Lactobacillus, Clostridium and Eubacterium predominated . There were generally small numbers of facultatively anaerobic microorganisms in the pars oesophagea of healthy sucking or weaned pigs but large numbers of anaerobes, particularly Lactobacillus . In the pars oesophagea of sucking and weaned pigs with diarrhoea, large numbers of facultative anaerobes were frequent but Lactobacillus were also present in large numbers.

Curr Microbiol, 1992 Jul, 25(1), 51 - 5
Phase variations in Bifidobacterium animalis; Biavati B et al.; Strains isolated from rabbit, chicken, and rat feces and from sewage and fermented milk products, all identified as Bifidobacterium animalis, were found to show phase variations in colony appearance and in cellular morphology . The rate of transition in a switching system from opaque to transparent colonies and vice versa was determined . Differences in protein components and in penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs) of the cells from different colony types are shown.

J Antimicrob Chemother, 1992 Jul, 30(1), 27 - 37
Comparative in-vitro activity of azithromycin, macrolides (erythromycin, clarithromycin and spiramycin) and streptogramin RP 59500 against oral organisms; Williams JD et al.; The in-vitro activities of azithromycin, clarithromycin, spiramycin and RP 59500 were compared with erythromycin against a wide range of oral organisms which have been implicated in oral infections and/or endocarditis (clindamycin was included for oral streptococci) . All compounds tested showed good activity against many of these organisms, although some variation was observed with different species . Clarithromycin was the most active of the antibiotics tested against Gram-positive anaerobes, including Actinomyces spp., Propionibacterium spp., Lactobacillus spp . and Bifidobacterium dentium . Azithromycin was slightly less active than erythromycin against these species . In general, RP 59500 had higher MICs than the macrolides, other than spiramycin, against these organisms, but was superior in activity against Peptostreptococcus spp., inhibiting all isolates at 2 mg/L . Azithromycin was, in general, the most active antibiotic tested against the Gram-negative anaerobes: Fusobacterium spp., Bacteroides spp., Wolinella spp., Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, Selenomonas spp . and Mitsuokella multiacida, including those isolates which were insusceptible to erythromycin . Clarithromycin showed similar activity to erythromycin against most Gram-negative species, but was superior against Capnocytophaga ochraceus and Eikenella corrodens . RP 59500 was less active than the macrolides against most Gram-negative anaerobes, but was superior to erythromycin and clarithromycin against Fusobacterium spp . and Leptotrichia buccalis, some strains of which were moderately resistant to erythromycin . The macrolides and clindamycin were about equally active against the oral streptococci, whereas RP 59500 showed lower inhibitory activity . The in-vitro results suggest that azithromycin and clarithromycin may be of value in the treatment of dental sepsis and the prophylaxis of endocarditis . RP 59500 showed useful activity against Gram-positive anaerobes and, because of its bactericidal activity against oral streptococci, may also prove to have a role in these areas.

J Dairy Sci, 1992 Jun, 75(6), 1415 - 22
Survival of Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium bifidum in ice cream for use as a probiotic food; Hekmat S et al.; Probiotic ice cream was made by fermenting a standard ice cream mix with Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium bifidum cultures and then freezing the mix in a batch freezer . Survival of the L . acidophilus and B . bifidum, as well as beta-galactosidase activity, was monitored during 17 wk of frozen storage at -29 degrees C . After freezing of the fermented mix, bacterial counts were 1.5 x 10(8) cfu/ml for L . acidophilus and 2.5 x 10(8) cfu/ml for B . bifidum . Seventeen weeks after freezing, these counts had decreased to 4 x 10(6) and 1 x 10(7) cfu/ml, respectively . During the same period, beta-galactosidase activity decreased from 1800 to 1300 units/ml . Probiotic ice cream was prepared at pH 5.0, 5.5, and 6.0 to determine consumer preferences and was compared with standard Utah State University "Aggie" ice cream . All samples were strawberry-flavored and were evaluated by 88 judges . The preferred pH of probiotic ice cream, based on overall acceptance, was pH 5.5 . We demonstrated that probiotic ice cream is a suitable vehicle for delivering beneficial microorganisms such as L . acidophilus and B . bifidum to consumers . The bacteria can be grown to high numbers in ice cream mix and remain viable during frozen storage.

Microbiologica, 1992 Apr, 15(2), 197 - 200
Survival of bifidobacteria from human habitat in acidified milk; Biavati B et al.; Some industrial preparations from milk, such as yogurt, contain bifidobacteria as an additional probiotic element . The acidic environment of these products affects the viability of the bifidobacteria . The survival in acidic environment of one-hundred and ten bifidobacterial strains from human habitat was tested.

Ann Rheum Dis, 1992 Apr, 51(4), 510 - 5
Influence of decontamination on induction of arthritis in Lewis rats by cell wall fragments of Eubacterium aerofaciens . Arthropathic properties of indigenous anaerobic bacteria; Kool J et al.; Although the cause (or causes) of rheumatoid arthritis is unknown, many workers have suggested that microorganisms play a part . The intestinal flora in particular has been related to the development of joint inflammation . It has been shown previously that cell wall fragments of several anaerobic Gram positive intestinal bacteria of human origin are arthritogenic after a single intraperitoneal injection in Lewis rats . The part played by indigenous microflora in this model has now been studied by decontaminating Lewis rats before the injection of Eubacterium aerofaciens cell wall fragments . The pattern and severity of arthritis appeared to be comparable in decontaminated and control rats . The second goal of this work was to isolate arthritogenic bacteria from the autochthonous intestinal flora of rats . Only a limited number of bacteria showing a resemblance to arthritogenic strains from human intestinal flora (i.e . E aerofaciens and Bifidobacterium adolescentis) could be isolated . These strains did not induce chronic arthritis after intraperitoneal injection . This may explain why spontaneous arthritis did not develop in Lewis rats.

J Dairy Sci, 1992 Apr, 75(4), 976 - 81
Antimutagenicity of milk cultured with lactic acid bacteria against N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine; Hosoda M et al.; The antimutagenic effect of cultured milk using 71 strains of lactic acid bacteria belonging to the genus Lactobacillus, Streptococcus, Lactococcus, and Bifidobacterium on the mutagenicity of N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine was investigated in vitro using Salmonella typhimurium TA 100 as an indicator bacterium . Each cultured milk sample displayed its characteristic antimutagenic effect on the mutagenicity of N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine . The milk cultured with Lactobacillus acidophilus LA 106 (LA2) showed the highest inhibition of 77% against the mutagenicity of N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine among the strains tested . Changes in the antimutagenic effect of the milk cultured by Lb . acidophilus LA 106 (LA2) during incubation were also examined using N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine as a mutagen.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1992 Apr, (4), 6 - 8
{The biological properties of Bifidobacterium}; Polikarpov NA et al.; The possibility of the formation of exoenzymes, such as DNAase, RNAase and hemolysin, by bifidobacteria was studied in comparison with their acid-forming and adhesive activity . Bifidobacterium reference strains, originally isolated from healthy adults and children, were studied . The study involved altogether 73 strains of bifidobacteria, including 24 B . bifidum strains, 13 B . adolescentis strains, 7 B . infantis strains, 10 B . breve strains and 19 B . longum strains . The bifidobacteria under study were shown to differ not only in the presence and activity of properties useful for macroorganisms, but also in the presence of enzymes having depolymerizing activity (DNAase, hemolysin) . Thus, out of 73 strains under study 9 proved to be DNAase-positive and 6, hemolysin positive . At the same time a specific feature of bifidobacteria was their high acid-forming activity with the complete absence of RNAase activity and insignificant DNAase- and hemolysin-forming activity.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1992 Mar, (3), 29 - 30
{Intestinal microflora in young children with rotavirus infection}; Gizatulina SS et al.; A total of 270 children with rotavirus diarrhea were examined . The quantitative and qualitative composition of their intestinal microflora was studied . Most frequently microorganisms of the genus Enterobacter and most seldom, Serratia were isolated . A decrease in the amount of bifidobacteria, normal Escherichia coli and an increase in the amount of lactose-negative Escherichia were noted . In cases of pronounced dysbiosis in young children the clinical course of rotavirus infection is aggravated and the period of rotavirus excretion is prolonged.

J Med Microbiol, 1992 Feb, 36(2), 96 - 103
The rectal mucosa-associated microflora in patients with ulcerative colitis; Hartley MG et al.; The rectal mucosa-associated flora (MAF) of patients with ulcerative colitis has been studied in 25 patients with newly diagnosed disease, 20 with relapse of existing disease, and 44 who were in remission . Patients with active disease were re-examined twice during treatment . The MAF was simpler and less dense than the microflora of faeces . Obligate anaerobes usually predominated in the MAF although the ratio of obligate anaerobes to facultative species was lower than that found in faeces . Viable counts of the total flora and of its constituent genera varied considerably between patients . Counts of the total flora, of obligate anaerobes (including bifidobacteria, eubacteria and clostridia), and facultative organisms and micro-aerobes (enterobacteria and lactobacilli) were reduced in patients with active disease compared with those with inactive disease; corresponding carriage rates were also lower . Counts and carriage rates increased during treatment and approached those found in quiescent disease . The alterations in the MAF were especially marked in patients experiencing their first attack of ulcerative colitis . The relationship between these alterations and the aetiology and pathogenesis of this disease remains unclear.

J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr, 1992 Feb, 14(2), 146 - 52
Influence of infant diets on the ecology of the intestinal tract of human flora-associated mice; Hentges DJ et al.; The effect of diet on intestinal ecology was studied in germ-free mice that were inoculated orogastrically with predominant intestinal flora components isolated from the feces of breast-fed human infants . The flora components colonized the intestines of mice and persisted at fixed population levels . Groups of flora- associated mice were fed either human milk, bovine milk, whey-dominant formula, or formula modifications exclusively for 2 weeks, and then examined for changes in small intestinal and cecal flora composition, cecal pH, and resistance to intestinal colonization with Salmonella typhimurium . Dietary variations influenced the composition of the flora to a moderate degree but the differences were generally not statistically significant . However, the addition of bovine lactoferrin to the whey-dominant formula resulted in significantly greater counts of Bifidobacterium, Bacteroides, Enterococcus and total aerobes in the small intestine when compared with mice fed unsupplemented formula . Bifidobacterium was present in large numbers in both the ceca and small intestines of mice fed the lactoferrin-supplemented formula . Despite similarities in intestinal flora patterns among mice fed the various diets, human milk consumption resulted in a lower pH of cecal contents and a greater resistance to colonization by Salmonella typhimurium after orogastric challenge than the consumption of the other diets.

J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr, 1992 Feb, 14(2), 192 - 7
In vitro hydrogen production by enteric bacteria cultured from children with small bowel bacterial overgrowth; Khin-Maung-U et al.; Lactulose breath hydrogen test and Enterotest string test were carried out simultaneously on 19 children 3-5 years old . Bacteria isolated from the jejunal fluid in upper small intestines of these children were incubated with lactulose at neutral pH . Anaerobes were present in all but one child, and in 15 children they were present in numbers greater than 5 log10 organisms per ml . Most of these bacteria did not produce hydrogen in vitro . Hydrogen production (greater than 100 ppm) was observed with the following bacteria: Bacteroides (5%), clostridia (8%), anaerobic corynebacteria (5%), Escherichia coli (67%), Lactobacillus (8%), Staphylococcus (8%), and Streptococcus (9%) . The following bacteria did not produce hydrogen in vitro: Actinobacter, Actinomyces, anaerobic cocci, Bifidobacterium, Fusobacterium, micrococci, Neisseria, Sarcina, and Veillonella . This study suggests that in the diagnosis of small bowel bacterial overgrowth using lactulose breath hydrogen test, it is important to consider that patients with a flat breath hydrogen response to a carbohydrate challenge during the first 60 min may be infected with enteric bacteria which are not capable of producing H2.

Am J Clin Nutr, 1992 Jan, 55(1), 78 - 80
Survival of bifidobacteria ingested via fermented milk during their passage through the human small intestine: an in vivo study using intestinal perfusion; Pochart P et al.; The ability of a strain of Bifidobacterium sp to survive passage through the upper gastrointestinal tract when ingested in fermented milk was investigated in six fasting healthy adults by using in vivo ileal perfusion . After ingestion of 10.0 +/- 0.5 log10 bifidobacteria in 400 g fermented milk, ileal flow of bifidobacteria increased significantly and reached a maximum of 8.8 +/- 0.2 log10 bifidobacteria/h 1.7 +/- 0.4 h after ingestion of fermented milk . The average number of bifidobacteria recovered from the terminal ileum during the 8 h after fermented-milk ingestion was 9.0 +/- 0.1 log10 and constituted 23.5 +/- 10.4% of the number ingested . These results indicate that in healthy adults Bifidobacterium sp survive transit through the gastrointestinal tract when ingested in fermented milk . Further studies are needed to investigate the behavior of these exogenous bacteria in the colonic lumen and to explore their effects on the physiology of the human gastrointestinal tract.

Immunopharmacol Immunotoxicol, 1992, 14(1-2), 331 - 40
Effect of Bifidobacterium bifidum and Lactobacillus acidophilus on gut mucosa and peripheral blood B lymphocytes; De Simone C et al.; In 15 elderly individuals lyophilized Bifidobacterium bifidum (BB) and Lactobacillus acidophilus (LA) (Infloran) were administered in capsules (two capsules 4 times per day) for 28 days, while in 10 elderly controls placebo were given the same posology and for an equal period of time . The effects of this treatment on the immune system both at the periphery or the intestinal level were investigated . Results show that BB and LA significantly reduced the colonic inflammatory infiltration, without altering T, B and Leu7 + cell percentage . At the same time, a significant increase of B cell frequency in the peripheral blood was noted, in comparison to controls . The overall results suggest that the regular administration of BB and LA leads to a modulation of the immunological and inflammatory response in elderly subjects.

Microbiologica, 1992 Jan, 15(1), 71 - 4
Different electrophoretic patterns of cellular soluble proteins in Bifidobacterium animalis; Mattarelli P et al.; Twenty-nine strains of Bifidobacterium animalis, a species found only in animal habitats, were studied . Strains from known origins such as rat, rabbit and chicken feces and strains isolated from extrabody environments such as sewage and fermented milk products were examined . The intestinal origins of strains isolated from sewage and fermented milk products were determined by means of the comparison of electrophoretograms of cellular soluble proteins . Unknown origins of strains were recognized as being rabbit or chicken intestinal tract.

Microbiologica, 1992 Jan, 15(1), 7 - 13
Identification of bifidobacteria from fermented milk products; Biavati B et al.; Six samples of fermented milk preparations were examined for the presence of bifidobacteria . Identification was based on fermentation tests, genetic relatedness studies and electrophoretic analysis . Contrary to label information, Bifidobacterium animalis was the only species present.

Gastroenterol Clin Biol, 1992, 16(1), 25 - 8
{Survival of Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium sp . in the small intestine following ingestion in fermented milk . A rational basis for the use of probiotics in man}; Marteau P et al.; Oro-ileal intubation was performed in 6 healthy volunteers who ingested, either 100 g of a fermented milk containing 10(8)/g Lactobacillus acidophilus and 10(7)/g Bifidobacterium sp or sterilized fermented milk along with a meal in random order . Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium were counted in the ileal fluid which was aspirated continuously for 8 h, and flow rates were calculated using the constant slow infusion of PEG 4000 . After ingestion of fermented milk but not after control, hourly ileal flow rates of Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium increased form 4.8 +/- 0.2 and 4.9 +/- 0.6 to 7.2 +/- 0.3 and 8.0 +/- 0.3, respectively (mean +/- SE log10 CFU) . 8.3 +/- 0.2 Lactobacillus acidophilus and 8.8 +/- 0.1 Bifidobacterium were recovered in the ileum which represented 1.5 percent and 37.5 percent of the ingested bacteria, respectively . In conclusion, under usual conditions of fermented milk ingestion, a large number of living Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium pass through the upper gastrointestinal tract and reach the colon.

APMIS, 1992 Jan, 100(1), 1 - 9
Are intestinal bacteria involved in the etiology of rheumatoid arthritis? Review article; Hazenberg MP et al.; Observations in bowel-related joint diseases give support to this hypothesis . In Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, the bowel wall inflammation is complicated in about 20% of the patients by joint inflammation . Bowel infection by Salmonella, Shigella and Yersinia can provoke joint inflammation and supports an etiological link between bowel bacteria and arthritis . The arthropathic properties of the most abundant group of intestinal bacteria, i.e . the obligate anaerobic bacteria, were studied in an animal model . Cell wall fragments (CWF), with peptidoglycan as the major component, from some Eubacterium and Bifidobacterium species induced a severe chronic polyarthritis in Lewis rats after a single intraperitoneal injection . Eubacterium was found in numbers of 10(8)-10(9) per gram in stools of healthy subjects and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients . CWF of isolated strains of E . aerofaciens were arthropathic . Soluble peptidoglycan polysaccharide complexes (PG-PS) originating from the obligate anaerobic flora were purified from human intestinal contents . PG-PS from ileostomy fluid that proved to be less processed by intestinal enzymes induced chronic arthritis in rats after a single administration in oil in the base of the tail . It was concluded that the human intestinal bowel contains soluble bacterial cell wall products that are arthropathic in an animal model . Peptidoglycan (PG) or its subunits was reported to be present in mammalian tissues . Immunohistochemical studies from our group showed the presence of intestinal PG-PS in sections of normal rat spleen . Bacterial cell wall or PG-induced joint inflammation in rats is proven to be absolutely dependent on functional T cells . T-cell lines were isolated from the lymph nodes of rats with an E . aerofaciens CWF arthritis . A helper T-cell line B13 was in vivo arthritogenic in knee or ankle joints upon intravenous injection in rats and proliferated in vitro on syngeneic spleen cells alone, but was additionally stimulated by intestinal PG-PS and E . aerofaciens CWF . It was postulated that the arthritogenic T cells that seem to be autoreactive are, in fact, recognizing bacterial PG-PS on antigen-presenting cells (APC) . It is generally accepted that RA is a T-cell-dependent process and that therefore the reaction is directed at small peptides bound by the major histocompatibility complex of APC . The only peptides present in arthritis inducing intestinal PG-PS and in CWF are PG peptides interlinking the sugar chains . We feel that the immunoreaction against PG peptides plays a pivotal role in experimental and human arthritis of an unknown etiology.

Clin Ter, 1992 Jan, 140(1), 3 - 10
{The effect of Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium bifidum on the intestinal ecosystem of the elderly patient}; Pecorella G et al.; The authors have tested the therapeutic efficacy of a multibacterial combination consisting of Lactobacillus acidophilus (10(9)) and Bifidobacterium bifidum (10(9)) in elderly patients with bowel disorders . Bacteriological and histopathologic investigation showed this combination to yield excellent biologic results with restoration of duodenal bacterial flora and subsidence of clinical symptoms . The function of the muciparous glands was restored and the duodenal mucosa was normalized.

Prog Food Nutr Sci, 1992, 16(2), 181 - 97
Host-microflora correlations in infant nutrition; Heine W et al.; The intestinal microflora represents an enormous cell mass and has a high metabolic capacity . The symbiotic efficacy of these microbes in humans is still a matter of discussion . Of particular interest, from a biogenetic point of view, are potential symbiotic relations between the bifidobacterial microflora and the breast-fed infant . Our group has conducted studies related to this topic; they were aimed at determining the dimension of microbial assimilation by the host . Our studies with 15N-labeled bifidobacteria have shown that the bifidobacterial microflora is capable of upgrading nonessential nitrogen such as urea nitrogen for the synthesis of microbial protein . Oral single pulse labelings with 15N-labeled bifidobacteria were absorbed to approximately 90% and retained in the infant's protein pool to approximately 70% . These findings demonstrate the high intensity of the substrate flow from the microflora to the host . This might become important under conditions of marginal food protein intake or during periods of accelerated growth.

Int J Syst Bacteriol, 1992 Jan, 42(1), 161 - 5
Phylogenetic evidence for the transfer of Eubacterium suis to the genus Actinomyces as Actinomyces suis comb . nov; Ludwig W et al.; The 16S rRNA primary structures of Eubacterium suis DSM 20639T (T = type strain) and Bifidobacterium bifidum DSM 20456T were determined by sequencing in vitro amplified rDNA . Sequence comparisons indicated that B . bifidum is moderately related to representatives of the genera Actinomyces and Mobiluncus . The closest relative of E . suis is Actinomyces pyogenes . E . suis and A . pyogenes are more closely related phylogenetically to one another than to the other Actinomyces species that have been investigated by using comparative 16S rRNA analysis . Therefore, we propose that E . suis should be transferred to the genus Actinomyces as Actinomyces suis comb . nov.

Faraday Discuss, 1992, (93), 153 - 62
Mechanism of allosteric transition of bacterial L-lactate dehydrogenase; Ohta T et al.; The allosteric behaviour of L-lactate dehydrogenase (L-lactate:NAD+oxidoreductase, EC 1.1.1.27, LDH) from Bifidobacterium longum aM101-2 was studied by means of the subunit hybridization technique as well as X-ray crystallography . Homotropic allosteric response of the LDH activity was found against the concentration of its substrate, pyruvate . Heterotropic allosteric activation of the enzyme was induced by the addition of fructose 1,6-bisphosphate (FBP) . Two mutant enzymes, which had either altered sensitivity to FBP or altered substrate specificity from pyruvate to oxaloacetate, were made by site-directed mutagenesis . Hybrid LDHs, between the wild and the mutant LDHs, were made by in vivo subunit hybridization using double transformation of Escherichia coli with two plasmids carrying either the gene of wild or mutant LDH . Introduction of only one desensitized mutant subunit to the LDH changed the characteristic of the wild enzyme to that of the mutant LDH . Kinetic studies on hybrid enzymes consisting of subunits having different substrate specificity indicated that there was a strong cooperative interaction among subunits . These results strongly support the idea that the allosteric change of the LDH fits the concerted-symmetry model proposed by Monod, Wyman, and Changeux . We analysed the crystallographic structure of the LDH having low affinity to substrate at 1.9 A resolution . By the comparison of the structure with that of other LDHs, we concluded that the conformational transition of the LDH was mainly caused by concerted rotations of subunits.

FEMS Microbiol Lett, 1991 Nov 15, 68(2), 151 - 6
Comparison of carbohydrate substrate preferences in eight species of bifidobacteria; Degnan BA et al.; Eight species of bifidobacteria were tested for their abilities to grow on a range of monosaccharides (glucose, arabinose, xylose, galactose and mannose) . In contrast to the other sugars, glucose and galactose were utilized by all species and, in general, specific growth rates were highest on these sugars . Different substrate preferences were observed between species when the bacteria were grown in the presence of all five monosaccharides . For example, glucose and xylose were coutilized by Bifidobacterium longum, whereas glucose repressed uptake of all other sugars in B . bifidum and B . catenulatum . Galactose was the preferred substrate with B . pseudolongum . In B . angulatum, glucose and galactose were utilized simultaneously . B . breve did not grow on arabinose when this sugar provided the sole source of energy . However, glucose and arabinose were preferentially taken up during growth on sugar mixtures.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1991 Oct, (10), 17 - 9
{The intestinal microflora and acid-forming function of the stomach in peptic ulcer patients with Helicobacter pylori bacteriosis}; Il'chenko AA et al.; Seventeen duodenal ulcer patients were examined . H . pylori were detected in all the patients by histological and bacteriological methods . Changes in the enteric microflora, manifested by a decrease in the number of lacto- and bifidobacteria and by an increased level of opportunistic microflora, were established . Cimetidine treatment and the suppression of the acid-producing function of the stomach augmented enteric dysbacteriosis and H . pylori contamination of the gastric and duodenal mucosa.

Zentralbl Bakteriol, 1991 Oct, 275(4), 541 - 8
Occurrence of bifidobacteria in the stool of multiple sclerosis patients; Wagenfeld K; Stool specimens from 17 multiple sclerosis (MS) patients were examined for bifidobacteria . The count of colony forming units (CFU)/g faeces and the differentiation and typing of species, especially of Bifidobacterium adolescentis biotypes were performed . The pH of the samples was also measured . Stool specimens from 17 healthy volunteers were examined as a control by the same methods (a modified medium, suitable for the detection and recognition of bifidobacteria in adults is given) . The results demonstrate a significant deficiency in bifidobacteria of the adolescentis group in MS patients . In 3 patients, no bifidobacteria could be detected (less than 10(7} . In comparison with the samples from healthy donors, B . adolescentis "c" was reduced and B . adolescentis "a" could not be detected at all in MS patients' stool specimens . The occurrence of B . adolescentis "b" and B . adolescentis "d" as well as the species B . bifidum and B . longum did not significantly differ within both groups . The pH was only slightly increased in the MS group.

Antibiot Khimioter, 1991 Sep, 36(9), 37 - 8
{Chemotherapy of newborns with intestinal infections caused by opportunistic gram-negative aerobic bacteria}; Litiaeva LA; A clinical bacteriological examination was applied to 100 newborns with intestinal infections caused by opportunistic gram-negative aerobes . There was a correlation between the decrease in the quantity of the bifidobacteria and the predominance of various species of opportunistic gram-negative aerobes and their associations, as well as high sensitivity of clinical isolates of the opportunistic bacteria to phosphocin, gentamicin, polymyxin and specific bacteriophages . The study showed that the combined use of antibiotics with the biopreparations (the specific bacteriophages and bifidumbacterin) was effective in treating the newborns with the above mentioned infections.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1991 Jun, 57(6), 1850 - 2
Establishment of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium species in germfree mice and their influence on some microflora-associated characteristics; Norin KE et al.; Germfree mice were inoculated with both Lactobacillus acidophilus A10 and Bifidobacterium bifidum B11 . Both strains were established and present in more than 10(8) cells per g of cecum and colon contents . Furthermore, L . acidophilus A10 was established in high numbers in stomach and small intestine . Contents from different parts of the intestine were investigated with regard to the following microflora-associated characteristics: degradation of mucin, beta-aspartylglycine and tryptic activity, conversion of cholesterol to coprostanol and bilirubin to urobilinogen, deconjugation of bilirubin glucuronides, and reduction of the cecum size . In spite of being established, the microbes were not able to mediate any alterations of the parameters investigated . All animals retained values as found in their germfree counterparts.

Enzyme Microb Technol, 1991 Jun, 13(6), 495 - 8
Construction of a sucrose-fermenting bakers' yeast incapable of hydrolysing fructooligosaccharides; Oda Y et al.; Fructooligosaccharides stimulate the growth of intestinal bifidobacteria which are related to the favorable health and nutrition of humans and other animals . Since the efficient amount of fructooligosaccharide for an adult human is relatively large (about 5 g per day), its addition to daily foods like bakery goods might be beneficial . However, commercial Bakers' yeast hydrolyses fructooligosaccharides by the action of invertase encoded in SUC genes and ferments the resulting monosaccharides . According to the findings that strains carrying the MAL-constitutive gene and lacking the SUC gene fermented sucrose and not fructooligosaccharide, we constructed a sucrose-fermenting strain, YOY920, incapable of hydrolysing fructooligosaccharide, by cross-breeding a baking strain and a laboratory strain . In a molasses medium, the cell yield of YOY920 was comparable to that of a baking strain FSC6001, and much higher than that of the non-sucrose-fermenting strains . Although fructooligosaccharide inhibited the dough leavening ability of YOY920, white bread containing fructooligosaccharide could be produced in the defined dough formula using the new strain.

J Dairy Sci, 1991 May, 74(5), 1477 - 81
Binding of mutagens by fractions of the cell wall skeleton of lactic acid bacteria on mutagens; Zhang XB et al.; The binding effect of cells and cell fractions, cell wall skeleton, cytoplasm, whole cells, and cell wall skeleton treated by lysozyme and alpha-amylase at 37 degrees C for 5 h, on Trp-P-1 (3-amino-1,4-dimethyl-{5H}pyrido {4,3-b}indole) and Trp-P-2 (3-amino-1-methyl-{5H}-pyrido{4,3-b}indole) were investigated . The cell and cell wall skeleton of Streptococcus cremoris Z-25 had greater binding activity, but cytoplasm and extract of cell wall skeleton did not bind Trp-P-1 and Trp-P-2 . When the cells or cell wall skeleton were treated with lysozyme and alpha-amylase, unbound Trp-P-1 and Trp-P-2 concentrations were greater than that of the untreated control . It is possible that cell walls may be involved in the binding of mutagenic pyrolyzates to lactic acid bacteria . The cell wall skeleton of S . cremoris Z-25, Lactobacillus acidophilus IFO 13951, and Bifidobacterium bifidum IFO 14252 showed binding of Trp-P-1, 2-amino-6-methyldipyrido(1,2-a:3',2'- d)imidazole, 2-amino-5-phenylpyridine, 2-amino-3-methylimidazo(4,5-f)quinoline, 2-amino-3,4-dimethylimidazo(4,5-f) quinoline, and 2-amino-3,8-dimethylimidazo(4,5-f)quinoxaline . The cell wall skeleton of S . cremoris group and Streptococcus lactis also showed the binding activity with A N-nitrosodimethylamine . The binding of Trp-P-1 to cell walls was very high, and the binding of mutagenic pyrolyzates was variable with different bacterial species . The peptidoglycan complex and polysaccharides liberated from cell wall skeleton of S . cremoris Z-25 showed strong binding of Trp-P-2 . Peptidoglycans has a binding effect of about 19.86 micrograms/mg; polysaccharides had a binding effect of 14 micrograms/mg.

Ann Pediatr (Paris), 1991 May, 38(5), 331 - 5
{Behavior of Clostridium perfringens in the intestine of newborn infants born by cesarean section}; Bezirtzoglou E et al.; Colonization of the digestive tract by C . perfringens was studied in infants born by cesarean section . Correlations between the level of colonization and the environment, type of feeding, and presence of other anaerobic bacteria were looked for . Colonization by C . perfringens was found as early as the second day of life in one of the maternity wards studied, suggesting presence of the microorganism in the environment . By the 14th day of life, colonization with C . perfringens was demonstrated in all the bottle-fed or breast and bottle-fed infants . In strictly breast-fed infants, findings suggested antagonism between Bifidobacterium and C . perfringens . Bacteroides and Clostridium species other than C . perfringens were not found prior to colonization by C . perfringens.

J Dairy Sci, 1991 Apr, 74(4), 1187 - 95
Enhancement of immune response in Peyer's patch cells cultured with Bifidobacterium breve; Yasui H et al.; Bifidobacterium breve, included in fermented milk, was tested for adjuvanticity and mitogenicity using cells of mouse Peyer's patch, one of the gut-associated lymphoid tissues . Addition of B . breve enhanced antilipopolysaccharide antibody production in Peyer's patch cells and also anti-sheep red blood cell plaque-forming cells in Peyer's patch cells cultured with sheep red blood cells . Furthermore, addition of B . breve accelerated proliferation of Peyer's patch cells, particularly B cells . In BALB/c mice, enhancement of proliferation by B . breve was also found in Peyer's patch cells from nude mice and a B cell-enriched fraction, including both the B cell fraction and plastic-adherent cells . Enhancement was not found in the fraction in which Sephadex G10-adherent and carbonyl-iron phagocytic cells were excluded from Peyer's patch cells or in a pure B cell fraction in which plastic-adherent cells were excluded from the B cell-enriched fraction of Peyer's patch cells . The proliferation of B cells was enhanced when the supernatant of plastic-adherent cells cultured with B . breve was added . It is concluded that B . breve activated plastic-adherent cells and that these cells secreted a soluble factor that enhanced proliferation of B cells.

Rev Latinoam Microbiol, 1991 Apr-Sep, 33(2-3), 153 - 7
{Types of microbial contaminants in pharmaceutical raw materials}; Martinez-Bermudez A et al.; In order to analyze the significance of the microbial content of pharmaceutical raw materials contributed to the finished pharmaceutical products, we have carried out a study of contamination taking into account aerobic bacteria, anaerobic bacteria and fungi . None or only low numbers of pathogenic microorganisms was found in most analyzed products but in some materials, specially those of natural origin, we have detected high bacterial and fungal contamination . Microorganisms of the genus Bacillus have been the aerobic bacteria most frequently isolated; Bifidobacterium and Clostridium were the most common anaerobic bacteria and with respect to the fungi, Penicillium and Aspergillus have been found with the highest frequency . These microorganisms can produce problems in pharmaceutical finished products, due to their enzymatic or toxigenic activities.

J Dairy Sci, 1991 Mar, 74(3), 752 - 7
In vitro binding of mutagenic pyrolyzates to lactic acid bacterial cells in human gastric juice; Zhang XB et al.; The binding of mutagenic pyrolyzates to freeze-dried cells of Streptococcus cremoris Z-25 was investigated in human gastric juice and compared with the ability of these pyrolyzates to bind in distilled water (pH 6.30) . The pH of donated gastric juice ranged from 1.2 to 7.8 . Binding that occurred in gastric juice was pH dependent, and binding was affected by NaCl, CaCl2, and MgCl2 . Les sof Trp-P-2 was bound in gastric juice at low pH (1.2, 1.48, and 2.1) than at pH 4 to 8 . The strain bound simultaneously Trp-P-1, Trp-P-2, and Glu-P-1 . The maximum amounts of Trp-P-2 bound to S . cremoris Z-25 were approximately 47.50 micrograms/mg of cells . Freeze-dried cells treated at 120 degrees C for 15 min or 80 degrees C for 3 h showed increased binding of Trp-P-2 . However, binding decreased 10% after heating at 120 degrees C for 15 min . Cells nonthermally killed by gastric juice (pH 1.5) had the same Trp-P-2 binding capacity as viable cells . Lactobacillus acidophilus IFO 13951 and Bifidobacterium bifidum IFO 14252 representation of the intestinal bacteria nonthermally killed by gastric juice also showed larger binding of Trp-P-2.

J Dairy Sci, 1991 Feb, 74(2), 409 - 13
Bifidobacterium from fermented milks: survival during gastric transit; Berrada N et al.; Two Bifidobacterium strains contained in two different fermented milks behave very differently when exposed to an in vitro simulated gastric environment . One strain survives very well during at least 90 min (greater than 10(7)/g), but the second strain studied is much less resistant . These in vitro results, with slight differences, were confirmed by an in vivo study in humans . The assessment of the gastric emptying rate of these products allows an estimation of the amount of Bifidobacterium that may pass into the small intestine.

Pediatr Res, 1991 Feb, 29(2), 208 - 13
Response of bifidobacterium species to growth promoters in human and cow milk; Petschow BW et al.; We used an in vitro assay to study and compare the growth-promotional activity of protein and nonprotein components in human milk (HM) and cow milk (CM) samples for infant strains of Bifidobacterium species . HM samples varied considerably in growth-promotion activity for Bifidobacterium bifidum var pennsylvanicus, Bifidobacterium infantis, and Bifidobacterium breve . Pooled CM samples showed similar but less variable levels of activity when compared with HM samples . Separation of milk samples by ultrafiltration into protein nitrogen and nonprotein nitrogen (NPN) fractions revealed that the bifidobacteria growth-promotion activity of HM was associated primarily with the NPN fraction, whereas activity in CM whey was found in both protein nitrogen and NPN fractions . Testing of purified CM whey proteins showed that alpha-lactalbumin and lactoferrin were potent growth promoters, showing greater activity for B . infantis and B . breve than for two strains of B . bifidum . Conversely, N-acetylglucosamine and purified gastric mucin were highly active for B . bifidum strains but inactive for other Bifidobacterium species . Collectively, the data indicate that both protein nitrogen and NPN factors in HM and CM promote the growth of bifidobacteria and suggest that Bifidobacterium species differ in responsiveness to protein and oligosaccharide growth promoters.

Scand J Infect Dis, 1991, 23(1), 63 - 9
Intestinal bacteria of newborn Ethiopian infants in relation to antibiotic treatment and colonisation by potentially pathogenic gram-negative bacteria; Bennet R et al.; The aerobic and anaerobic intestinal microflora of 60 newborn infants in Addis Ababa was studied . As opposed to earlier published studies from Stockholm, there were no consistent changes of the microflora attributable to antibiotic treatment . The reason why antimicrobial agents caused quantitatively smaller changes of the intestinal microflora in newborn infants in Addis Ababa than in Stockholm is not known, but may be due to antimicrobial inactivation, or marked, continuous ingestion of bacteria . Colonisation by potentially pathogenic gram-negative bacteria was coupled to a low isolation rate of bifidobacterium, but not of lactobacillus . This is consistent with the hypothesis that bifidobacterium might convey some kind of resistance to colonisation by and overgrowth of gram-negative bacteria in newborn infants . Similar results have previously been obtained in Stockholm . In comparison to 45 healthy infants in Stockholm, the Ethiopian infants had more enterococcus and lactobacillus and less staphylococcus and bacteroides during the first 2 weeks of life . After that time, the only difference was more frequent colonisation by lactobacillus in Addis Ababa.

Int J Syst Bacteriol, 1991 Jan, 41(1), 163 - 8
Bifidobacterium ruminantium sp . nov . and Bifidobacterium merycicum sp . nov . from the rumens of cattle; Biavati B et al.; Among several hundred bifidobacteria isolated from bovine rumens, eight strains were recognized primarily on the basis of DNA-DNA hybridization results as members of two new distinct DNA homology groups . We studied the morphology, oxygen, carbon dioxide, temperature, and pH requirements, fermentation patterns, end products of glucose fermentation, biochemical reactions, protein electrophoretic patterns, isozyme patterns, DNA homology relationships, and guanine-plus-cytosine contents of these organisms, and we propose that these two groups of strains should be considered new species, Bifidobacterium ruminantium (type strain, strain ATCC 49390) and Bifidobacterium merycicum (type strain, strain ATCC 49391).

Scand J Infect Dis, 1991, 23(2), 247 - 54
Effect of lactic acid producing bacteria on the human intestinal microflora during ampicillin treatment; Black F et al.; 20 healthy volunteers participated in a double blind study concerning the effect of lactic acid producing bacteria on the intestinal microflora during ampicillin treatment . 10 volunteers received 500 mg ampicillin tablets t.i.d . together with capsules containing lactic acid producing bacteria (Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium bifidum) for 7 days, and the other 10 volunteers were given 500 mg ampicillin tablets together with placebo capsules t.i.d . for 7 days . Both groups of volunteers continued the intake of the capsules t.i.d . for another 14 days after the ampicillin administration had been completed . The number of enterococci, streptococci and corynebacteria decreased during ampicillin administration but returned to normal levels after 14 days . Yeasts increased during the antibiotic treatment but returned to the same levels as before treatment within 14 days . Escherichia coli strains were suppressed in most volunteers during ampicillin administration . The numbers of anaerobic gram-positive cocci and rods decreased in most subjects during ampicillin treatment but were normalized within 2 weeks . Bacteroides strains were recovered in higher numbers in the lactic acid producing bacteria group compared to the placebo group . The volunteers receiving lactic acid producing bacteria were recolonized slightly faster than those having placebo . There were adverse effects observed in 3 subjects receiving ampicillin plus placebo . In the lactic acid producing bacteria group, one subject had diarrhoea on day 3 to on day 3 to day 7.

Scand J Infect Dis, 1991, 23(2), 255 - 60
Effect of loracarbef on the normal oropharyngeal and intestinal microflora; Nord CE et al.; 20 healthy volunteers received loracarbef capsules 200 mg b.i.d . for 7 days . Saliva and stool specimens were taken before loracarbef administration and on the 2nd, 5th, and 7th day during the administration period, and again 2, 5 and 9 days after withdrawal of the antibiotic to study the effect of loracarbef on the normal microflora . The concentrations of loracarbef in serum, saliva and faeces were determined by an agar diffusion method . The mean serum peak concentration attained after 1 h was 6.8 mg/l and the saliva concentrations were in the range 0-0.9 mg/l . The loracarbef concentrations in faeces ranged from 0 to 0.9 mg/kg . The changes in the the oropharyngeal microflora were minor and only bacteroides rods were affected . In the intestinal aerobic microflora, the number of enterococci and streptococci slightly increased while staphylococci, micrococci, corynebacteria, bacillus and enterobacteria were not affected . The number of bifidobacteria and eubacteria in the anaerobic microflora decreased while no other bacterial groups were affected . One week after withdrawal of loracarbef, both the oropharyngeal and intestinal microflora had returned to normal . No new colonizing loracarbef resistant microorganisms were observed during the investigation period.

Microbiol Immunol, 1991, 35(12), 1041 - 7
Quantitative fluorometric assay for rapid enzymatic characterization of Bifidobacterium longum and related bifidobacteria; O'Brien M et al.; The quantitative, semi-automated assay described here is an alternative characterization method allowing for highly sensitive and specific detection of bifidobacterial enzymes . Twenty strains of Bifidobacterium longum, including the type strain ATCC 15707, and type strains of 15 other Bifidobacterium species were enzymatically characterized using 20 4-methylumbelliferyl conjugated substrates . Enzyme activities were determined by directly measuring the intensity of fluorescence derived from 4-methylumbelliferone, a fluorescent metabolic by-product . For this method, a Titertek Fluoroskan II fluorometer was used . Enzymes included glycosidases, an esterase, phosphatase, sulphatase, and neuraminidase . B . longum showed strong activity (greater than 1,000 absolute fluorescence units, afu) for alpha-L-Arabinopyranosidase and alpha-L-Arabinofuranosidase, beta-D-Fucosidase, alpha- and beta-D-Galactosidase, alpha-D-Glucosidase, and alpha-D-Mannosidase . No activity (less than or equal to 50 afu) was observed for beta-D-Cellobiosidase, alpha- and beta-L-Fucosidase, beta-D-Glucuronidase, beta-D-Mannosidase, Neuraminidase and Sulphatase . Enzymatic activity profiles in other bifidobacteria were different according to the species . This assay is simple and rapid (6 hr) . Special cultural requirements are unnecessary . Results are objective and quantitative . This assay may be a useful tool for bifidobacterial taxonomy.

Nutr Cancer, 1991, 16(3-4), 249 - 57
Long-term effect of Bifidobacteria and Neosugar on precursor lesions of colonic cancer in CF1 mice; Koo M et al.; This investigation was undertaken to study the role of Bifidobacteria and bifidogenic factor Neosugar in the process of 1,2-dimethylhydrazine-induced colonic carcinogenesis in CF1 mice . Intestinal colonization and selective proliferation of Bifidobacteria were achieved by oral administration of indigenous Bifidobacteria and the incorporation of 5% Neosugar in the diet of animals . The Bifidobacteria were isolated from the feces of CF1 mice and were identified to be Bifidobacterium pseudolongum biovar b . This incidence of aberrant crypts and foci were significantly lower 38 weeks after the last injection of the carcinogen in animals fed Bifidobacteria than in animals treated with the carcinogen alone . The aberrance also appeared to be confined to the more distal end of the colon in animals fed bifidogenic diet . Such changes in the precursor lesions of colonic carcinogenesis are presumably due to the increase in the number of Bifidobacteria and their acidifying action in the lower intestinal tract of the animals.

Nahrung, 1991, 35(9), 903 - 20
{Lactose--a potential dietary fiber . The regulation of its microecologic effect in the intestinal tract . 3 . Dietary fiber actions of lactose due to microbial activity}; Schulze J et al.; The activity of the mucosal beta-galactosidase of caecum and colon is low in both germfree and conventional rats . beta-Galactosidase activity occurs also in the chymus of germfree rats . It increases after monoassociation and is higher in conventional than in germfree animals . Lactose entering caecum and colon acts like dietary fibre and is hydrolysed mainly by the intestinal flora . Aerobe lactobacilli and bacteroides predominate in the microflora of rat caecum and colon . A lactose-containing diet increases the total number of germs and stimulates the growth of bifidobacteria . After special diets, rich in lactose and low in protein and phosphate (e.g . human milk and similar formulae), the number of bacteroides and other putrefactive germs decreases . Moreover, a lactose-containing diet alters the metabolic activity of intestinal microorganisms (activity of microbial beta-galactosidase, acidification and lowering of ph in the chymus, production of hydrogen, proteolytic activity.) Lactose as dietary fibre decreases the nitrogen excretion in the urine and increases the N-excretion in the faeces of conventional rats.

Br J Rheumatol, 1990 Dec, 29(6), 433 - 9
Intestinal flora of patients with rheumatoid arthritis: induction of chronic arthritis in rats by cell wall fragments from isolated Eubacterium aerofaciens strains; Severijnen AJ et al.; The composition of the obligate anaerobic intestinal flora of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) differed from that of healthy subjects (HS) . Total numbers of aerobes as well as anaerobic coccoid rods were found elevated when compared with HS . Eubacterium species were found in all stool samples of both groups; Bifidobacterium species were present in seven (RA) and eight (HS) out of 10 subjects . From the flora of two RA patients and two HS Eubacterium species were isolated and identified . Cell wall fragments from four E . aerofaciens strains (two from RA, two from HS) were tested for arthritis induction in rats . All four strains induced chronic arthritis which was histologically confirmed . We concluded that in the normal intestinal flora of RA patients Eubacterium species are present in high numbers (i.e . greater than 10(9)/g faeces); cell walls from isolated E . aerofaciens strains had arthropathic properties.

Lett Appl Microbiol, 1990 Oct, 11(4), 220 - 3
Characterization and molecular cloning of Bifidobacterium longum cryptic plasmid pMB1; Matteuzzi D et al.; The small cryptic plasmid pMB1 (1.9 kb), previously isolated from Bifidobacterium longum, has been characterized by physical mapping . Two cloning vectors, pMR3 and pDG7, carrying chloramphenicol and ampicillin resistances derived from pJH101, have been electroporated in Escherichia coli.

Clin Ter, 1990 Jul 15, 134(1), 41 - 6
{Competitive activity of a bacterial preparation on colonization and pathogenicity of C . pylori . A clinical study}; Gismondo MR et al.; The authors studied the ability of a live polymicrobial formulation containing Lactobacillus acidophilus 10(9) and Bifidobacterium bifidum 10(9) to act as an "ecological" therapy for gastritis and duodenitis . The study was carried out in volunteers suffering from these disorders which nowadays are attributed to C . pylori . The results obtained confirm previous findings in experimental animals . The polymicrobial formulation was found to be able to compete effectively with the microorganism responsible for the disorders and to improve the results obtained by traditional therapy.

Antibiot Khimioter, 1990 Jul, 35(7), 21 - 2
{Isolation of plasmid DNA from Bifidobacterium}; Donskikh EE et al.; Conditions for accumulation of the biomass and a procedure for isolation of plasmid DNA from bifidobacteria in microquantities were developed . It was shown that all the strains tested had 1 to 3 plasmids of different molecular weights electrophoretically detected . Relation between the detected plasmid DNA and bifidobacteria resistance to tetracycline and fusidin as well as utilization of some carbohydrates is discussed.

Carbohydr Res, 1990 Jun 15, 201(1), 115 - 23
Primary structure of ten galactosides formed by transglycosylation during lactose hydrolysis by Bifidobacterium bifidum; Dumortier V et al.; Oligosaccharides formed by a transgalactosylation reaction during lactose hydrolysis with Bifidobacterium bifidum were separated into eight fractions by gel-permeation chromatography and their structures studies determined by trimethylsilylation analysis, methylation analysis, f.a.b.-m.s., g.l.c.-m.s . and enzymic hydrolysis as beta-D-Galp-(1----3)-D-Glc, beta-D-Galp-(1----6)-D-Glc, beta-D-Galp-(1----6)-D-Gal, beta-D-Galp-(1----3)-beta-D-Galp-(1----4)-D-Glc, beta-D-Galp-(1----6){beta-D-Galp-(1----4)}-D-Glc, beta-D-Galp-(1----2){beta-D-Galp-(1----6)}-D-Glc, beta-D-Galp-(1----3)-beta-D-Galp-(1----3)-beta-D-Galp-(1----4)-D-Glc, beta-D-Galp-(1----3)-beta-D-Galp-(1----3)-beta-D-Galp-(1----3)-beta-D-Ga lp- (1----4)-D-Glc, beta-D-Galp-(1----3)-beta-D-Galp-(1----3)-beta-DGalp-(1----3)-beta -D-Galp-(1----3)-beta-D-Galp-(1----4)-D-Glc, and beta-D-Galp-(1----3)-beta-D-Galp-(1----3)-beta-D-Galp-(1----3)-beta-D-Ga lp-(1----3)-beta-D-G-alp-(1----3) beta-D-Galp-(1----4)-D-Glc.

J Dairy Sci, 1990 Jun, 73(6), 1478 - 84
Uncoupling of growth and acids production in Bifidobacterium ssp; Desjardins ML et al.; Kinetics of batch cultivation of four species of Bifidobacterium in milk were examined in detail . Bifidobacteria could grow well in milk inoculated with cultures prepared in a synthetic medium . Cessation of growth occurred, however, in pH-controlled batch cultures, although incomplete utilization of lactose was observed . Lactate and acetate accumulation caused limitation on growth of bifidobacteria leading to an uncoupling of biomass and product formation . From 70 to 75% of both final lactate and acetate concentrations were produced during the stationary growth phase of Bifidobacterium bifidum, Bifidobacterium breve, and Bifidobacterium longum cultivated in milk, whereas Bifidobacterium infantis produced less acetate or lactate during this phase.

J Appl Bacteriol, 1990 Jun, 68(6), 619 - 24
Detection of Bifidobacterium species by enzymatic methods; Chevalier P et al.; The properties of Bifidobacterium strains of human origin were examined by three enzymic tests and the amounts of acetic and lactic acids produced were also quantified . It was evident that two strains of the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) did not belong to the genus . Moreover, at least one strain of Bifidobacterium added to some milk preparations did not show distinctive characteristics of the genus . It was also shown that most of bifidobacteria studied produced alpha-galactosidase (EC 3.2.1.22) and alpha-glucosidase (EC 3.2.1.20) . The presence of alpha-galactosidase could afford a rapid differentiation of bifidobacteria used in some dairy products since this enzyme was not detected in Lactobacillus strains studied.

J Int Med Res, 1990 May-Jun, 18(3), 191 - 200
A multicentre study to evaluate the effect of sulbactam/ampicillin combination on anaerobic micro-organisms; Leone F et al.; Ampicillin combined with the beta-lactamase inhibitor sulbactam was compared with ampicillin alone, cefoxitin and metronidazole against 569 clinical strains of anaerobic organisms . The strains included 289 species of Bacteroides, 160 strains of Clostridium and 120 strains of various species of Streptococcus/Peptostreptococus, Fusobacterium, Veillonella, Eubacterium, Bifidobacterium, Actinomyces and Propionibacterium . Sulbactam/ampicillin was as effective as cefoxitin and metronidazole against all anaerobic species tested, inhibiting more than 90% of strains at the breakpoints (16, 32 and 32 mg/l, respectively) . Sulbactam/ampicillin was also significantly more active than ampicillin against strains of Bacteroides, the minimal inhibitory concentration being at least four-fold lower . In contrast, the activity of the combination did not differ from that of ampicillin alone against Fusobacterium species and Gram-positive rods and cocci.

Biochimie, 1990 Apr, 72(4), 207 - 12
Characterization of HU-like protein from Bifidobacterium longum; Goshima N et al.; A HU-like protein (HBl) of Bifidobacterium longum was purified and characterized . HBl is heat-stable and acid-resistant, and has a molecular weight of about 9.1 kDa as estimated by its mobility on electrophoresis . HBl is intermediate in basicity (pI 9.8) between the HU-1 and HU-2 proteins of Escherichia coli, and is dissociated from a calf thymus DNA-cellulose column at 300-400 mM NaCl . Its amino acid composition shows many similarities with that of E coli HU . The NH2-terminal amino acid sequence of HBl also shows significant similarities to the consensus sequence deduced from the sequences of eleven HU-like proteins from prokaryotic sources . Chemical crosslinking analysis indicated that the HBl protein predominantly forms a homotypic dimer.

J Clin Microbiol, 1990 Feb, 28(2), 287 - 92
Growth promotion of Bifidobacterium species by whey and casein fractions from human and bovine milk; Petschow BW et al.; An in vitro assay was used to study the growth-promotional activity of human milk (HM), cow's milk (CM), and whey and casein fractions of HM and CM for five strains of Bifidobacterium species isolated originally from stools of human infants . Whey- and casein-predominant CM-based infant formulas were studied as well . When compared on an equivalent protein basis, the growth promotion activity of HM was greater than that of CM for Bifidobacterium bifidum serovar pennsylvanicus and Bifidobacterium longum but comparable for B . bifidum, Bifidobacterium infantis, and Bifidobacterium breve . Pasteurization of HM and CM resulted in an increase of growth promotion activity for B . bifidum serovar pennsylvanicus and B . bifidum, a decrease for B . infantis, and no change for B . longum and B . breve . The growth promotion activity of HM whey was slightly higher than that of HM casein for four strains of bifidobacteria . When CM casein was a substrate, virtually no growth occurred for B . bifidum serovar pennsylvanicus, B . bifidum, B . infantis, and B . longum . The growth promotion activity of CM whey, however, was similar to that of HM whey . A similar trend was observed for CM-based infant formula . Whey-dominant formulas promoted better growth of B . bifidum serovar pennsylvanicus, B . bifidum, and B . infantis than casein-dominant formulas . The data suggest a direct relationship between amount of whey-specific factors and the ability to promote growth of clinically relevant strains of Bifidobacterium species by HM, CM, and CM-based infant formulas.

J Bacteriol, 1990 Feb, 172(2), 845 - 52
Structure of macroamphiphiles from several Bifidobacterium strains; Iwasaki H et al.; Lipoteichoic acid-like substances, macroamphiphiles, were isolated from cell homogenates of Bifidobacterium bifidum YIT 4007 and YIT 4013, Bifidobacterium breve YIT 4010 and YIT 4014, and Bifidobacterium longum YIT 4021 by phenol extraction followed by nuclease digestion, gel chromatography, ion-exchange chromatography, and hydrophobic interaction chromatography . The macroamphiphile preparations from these five strains contained D-glucose, D-galactose, glycerol, phosphorus, L-alanine, and fatty acids in molar ratios of 1.00, 1.57 to 1.95, 1.02 to 1.99, 0.97 to 1.72, 0.15 to 0.46, and 0.16 to 0.43 . Data from structural analyses including methylation, 1H nuclear magnetic resonance measurement, alkaline hydrolysis, mild acid hydrolysis, and hydrogen fluoride treatment led to the most likely common structure for the macroamphiphiles of the examined strains, (formula; see text) where Gro-P is glycerophosphate, m is the number of repeating units of galactofuranan, and n is the number of repeating units of glucan . Whereas the polymers from the respective strains differed in the numbers of repeating units of the galactofuranan and glucan moieties and in the number of fatty acid residues, the proposed structure is essentially the same as that reported previously for the macroamphiphile of B . bifidum subsp . pennsylvanicum DSM 20239 by W . Fischer (Eur . J . Biochem . 165:639-646, 1987).

Oral Microbiol Immunol, 1990 Feb, 5(1), 39 - 42
Identification procedures for oral Actinomyces species; Kalfas S et al.; Rapid tests for carbohydrate fermentation, nitrate reduction and enzymic reactions with single reagents were used for species identification of 144 isolates being gram-positive pleomorphic rods and belonging to the genus Actinomyces . The isolates derived from human supragingival and subgingival plaque . The results were compared with those obtained with reference strains as well as other previously identified strains belonging to Actinomyces and to the related genera Arachnia, Bifidobacterium, Propionibacterium and Rothia . The results showed that species identification within the genus Actinomyces was possible with the tests studied . A key for identification work is hereby provided.

Int J Syst Bacteriol, 1990 Jan, 40(1), 100 - 2
Bifidobacterium gallicum sp . nov . isolated from human feces; Lauer E; A bifidobacterial isolate from human feces was found to have very low genetic relatedness to any previously described species of the genus . This strain, which also contained a unique type of peptidoglycan, L-lysine-L-alanine-L-serine (A3 alpha), is considered to represent a new species, which is designated Bifidobacterium gallicum . Its description is presented . The type strain is strain DSM 20093 . gallicum . Its description is presented . The type strain is strain DSM 20093.

Biol Neonate, 1990, 58(5), 247 - 51
Occurrence of Bifidobacterium in the feces of newborns delivered by cesarean section; Bezirtzoglou E et al.; In cesarean section newborns, colonization by Bifidobacterium occurs generally within 4 days of life . Breast-fed infants, independent of the delivery procedure, harbor a gastrointestinal flora characterized by a predominance of Bifidobacterium . Breast-fed {corrected} newborns delivered by cesarean section present a predominance of Bifidobacterium bifidum and bifidobacterium infantis in their stools . Investigation of variation in the incidence of Bifidobacterium among cesarean section newborns shows a larger variety of bifidobacterial species in an urban hospital . The prevalence of Bifidobacterium is lower in a newly constructed suburban hospital . Alimentation and environment hence seem to constitute important factors in the control of bifidobacterial flora.

Ann Trop Paediatr, 1990, 10(4), 339 - 45
Physicochemical characteristics and flora of diarrhoeal and recovery faeces in children with acute gastro-enteritis in Kenya; Fujita K et al.; Physiochemical characteristics and flora of diarrhoeal and recovery faeces were investigated in 14 Kenyan children with acute gastro-enteritis . Causative micro-organisms were Shigella, Campylobacter, enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli, rotavirus and unknown in 6, 2, 1, 2 and 3 patients, respectively . The mean values of the pH of the diarrhoeal specimens were significantly higher than those of the recovery specimens . Large amounts of acetic acid and many other kinds of fatty acids were detected in the recovery specimens, but small amounts and few kinds of fatty acids were detected in the diarrhoeal specimens . Bacterial counts of anaerobic organisms, such as Bacteroides, Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus and Eubacterium, were lower in the diarrhoeal specimens than in the recovery ones . The normal anaerobic intestinal flora is remarkably disturbed in patients with acute gastro-enteritis . This may result in changes in fatty acid contents and in the pH of diarrhoeal faeces.

J Gen Microbiol, 1990 Jan, 136 ( Pt 1), 37 - 43
Partial 16S rRNA primary structure of five Actinomyces species: phylogenetic implications and development of an Actinomyces israelii-specific oligonucleotide probe; Stackebrandt E et al.; The intra- and intergeneric relationships of the genus Actinomyces were determined by comparing long 16S rRNA sequences, generated by reverse transcriptase . All species formed a phylogenetically coherent cluster in which Actinomyces bovis, A . viscosus, A . naeslundii, A . odontolyticus and A . israelii constituted genetically well defined species . A . israelii DSM 43322 (serotype 2) was not closely related to three other strains of this species (serotype 1) and, as judged from phylogenetic distances, could be accommodated within A . naeslundii, or represent a new species . In contrast to previous findings, members of the genus Actinomyces appear to be related to Bifidobacterium bifidum . Sequence information was used to develop an oligonucleotide probe for the A . israelii serotype 1 strains, which did not react with the serotype 2 strain or with rRNA from strains of eight Actinomyces species.

Microbios, 1990, 61(247), 89 - 98
Glucanase-producing organisms in human dental plaques; Johnson IH; Selective media were used to isolate a wide range of bacteria from sixty human dental plaques . Glucanase activities of the isolates were determined on dextran- and starch-containing media . All sixty samples of dental plaque yielded some colonies showing amylolytic and dextranolytic activities . The glucanase-producing organisms comprised 20% of the isolates . Of these 38% were Gram-positive rods, 27% Gram-positive cocci, 28% Gram-negative rods and 7% were Gram-negative cocci . The cultural groups most commonly represented among the glucanase-producing isolates were Actinomycetaceae, streptococci, haemophili and Gram-negative anaerobes . Species prominent among these isolates included Streptococcus sanguis, Streptococcus mitior, Actinomyces naeslundii, Actinomyces viscosus, Bacterionema matruchotii, Bifidobacterium sp . and Bacteroides sp . No isolates capable of degrading starch or dextran were identified as Streptococcus milleri, Rothia dentocariosa or Fusobacterium sp . This study has shown that a wide range of bacterial species commonly isolated from human dental plaques exhibit both amylolytic and dextranolytic activities . In order to understand glucan metabolism in human dental plaques further investigation of these catabolic activities is necessary.

Clin Ter, 1989 Dec 31, 131(6), 397 - 402
{Oral bacteriotherapy with Bifidobacterium bifidum and Lactobacillus acidophilus in cirrhotic patients}; Colle R et al.; Thirty-five patients with alcohol cirrhosis were treated for several months (average 4 months) with Infloran (6 capsules daily) . Thirty cirrhotics were treated for the same length of time with lactulose and diuretics . Infloran-treated patients showed reduced ammonium levels, improvement of mental status and psychological performance . In addition, patients who required hospitalization had shorter in-patient periods thanks to a more rapid psychological and physical improvement . Infloran may be considered a valid alternative to conventional therapy for the out-patient management of subjects with alcoholic cirrhosis.

Gene, 1989 Dec 21, 85(1), 161 - 8
Sequence and characteristics of the Bifidobacterium longum gene encoding L-lactate dehydrogenase and the primary structure of the enzyme: a new feature of the allosteric site; Minowa T et al.; The gene ldh, encoding L-lactate dehydrogenase (LDH; EC 1.1.1.27) of Bifidobacterium longum aM101-2, was cloned in Escherichia coli using an oligodeoxyribonucleotide hybridization probe . The amino acid (aa) sequence, deduced from the sequence of the cloned DNA, was consistent with the results of protein chemical analysis of B . longum LDH . The transcription start points (tsp) in B . longum were identified by S1 nuclease mapping . A sequence, GTAGCAA-(14 bp)-TTATAGA, which is located a few bp upstream from the tsp, was assigned as the promoter of this ldh gene . In the 3'-noncoding region, there were two structures that strongly resembled the Rho-independent transcriptional termination signal of E . coli . Therefore, the B . longum ldh gene might form a monocistronic unit . The deduced primary structure of B . longum LDH had 40% identity with LDHs from Thermus caldophilus, Bacillus stearothermophilus, Lactobacillus casei and dogfish muscle . Most bacterial LDHs are allosterically regulated by fructose 1,6-bisphosphate (FBP), while the vertebrate LDHs are not . The anion-binding site of vertebrate LDHs has been thought to correspond to the FBP-binding site of bacterial LDHs . Although the B . longum LDH was regulated by FBP, the charge properties of aa residues in the putative FBP-binding site of the LDH were closer to those of the vertebrate LDHs than to those of bacterial LDHs.

J Biochem (Tokyo), 1989 Oct, 106(4), 558 - 9
Crystallization of and preliminary crystallographic data for allosteric L-lactate dehydrogenase from Bifidobacterium longum; Iwata S et al.; L-Lactate dehydrogenase from Bifidobacterium longum aM101-2 was overexpressed in Escherichia coli and then purified . The enzyme was crystallized from a polyethylene glycol 6000 solution by the hanging drop vapor diffusion method . Crystals grown in the presence of NADH (type II), both NADH and oxamate (type III), and NADH, oxamate, and FBP (type IV) were analyzed . All three crystal forms belong to the orthorhombic system, space group P2(1)2(1)2 . The cell dimensions of the type II crystals were a = 106.2 A, b = 131.6 A, and c = 63.8 A . Those of the type III and type IV crystals were a = 106.4 A, b = 131.4 A, and c = 63.8 A . The type III crystals diffract X-rays to beyond 2.5 A spacing . The type II and type III crystals were stable as to X-ray irradiation.

Gut, 1989 Aug, 30(8), 1094 - 8
Impaired bacterial flora in human excluded colon; Neut C et al.; We compared the rectal microflora of 16 patients with surgically excluded colorectum with 16 healthy controls . The cause of diversion was inflammatory bowel disease (n = 10), colon cancer (n = 3), miscellaneous (n = 3) . Six patients had a diversion colitis . In the excluded colorectum, the total bacterial count was only slightly lower than controls but the variety of the flora was significantly reduced . This reduction was confined to strict anaerobes, mainly the genus Eubacterium and Bifidobacterium . Among aerobes, enterobacteria were more often isolated than in controls . This altered microflora of excluded colorectum could be involved in the mucosal damage observed in some cases.

Infection, 1989 Jul-Aug, 17(4), 232 - 6
Modulation of Clostridium perfringens intestinal colonization in infants delivered by caesarean section; Bezirtzoglou E et al.; The colonization by Clostridium perfringens was investigated in 19 infants delivered by caesarean section during the two first weeks of life . The pattern of C . perfringens colonization depended upon the feeding . Breast feeding led to the repression of C . perfringens, whereas bottle feeding allowed its maintenance . On the contrary, Bifidobacterium bifidum growth was favoured by breast feeding . However, in one breast-fed infant, B . bifidum was never isolated and C . perfringens decreased . Breast feeding was able to directly modulate C . perfringens numbers . In fact, B . bifidum also had an effect, as demonstrated by the lower mean counts of C . perfringens, in bottle-fed infants carrying the bifidobacteria flora (p = 0.05) . None of the bifidobacteria investigated in this study led to the same decrease.

Antibiot Khimioter, 1989 Jun, 34(6), 462 - 6
{Microbial ecology of the intestines in health and in pathology}; Goncharova GI et al.; Bifidoflora constitute 85--95 per cent of the large intestine microbiocenosis in children under 1 year of age . Bacteroides are not specific of children under 6 months of age . Lactobacilli, lactic acid streptococci, colon bacilli, enterococci and staphylococci (saprophytic, epidermal) constitute not more than 15 per cent . The predominating group peculiar of eubiosis in adults includes bifidobacteria and bacteroides . Changes in human autoflora are often induced by such factors as impaired ecology, stress, uncontrolled use of antibacterial drugs, radio- and chemotherapy, etc . Dysbacteriosis (first of all lower quantitative contents of bifidoflora) has an unfavourable effect on the intestine secretory function, absorption and certain indices of protein, lipid and mineral metabolism, vitamin synthesizing and fermentative functions and leads to disfunction of the gastrointestinal tract . It is a cause of persisting and relapsing infections in children and adults . High and optimal levels of bifidoflora in the intestine usually prevent the pathogenic action of pathogens . Lysozyme of digestive secretion and secretory immunity with immunoglobulin A prevalence also play an important role in the complicated mechanism of the protective barrier . The use of bacterial preparations such as bifidumbacterin, lactobacterin or bifilact for stabilization and recovery of high bifidoflora levels is indicated in all the cases with impaired microbiocenosis of the intestine.

Antibiot Khimioter, 1989 Jun, 34(6), 453 - 7
{Intestinal microbial ecology and its modulation under the influence of immunodepressants}; Amanov N et al.; Oral administration of immunodepressants such as imuran (purine analog) and batriden (gossypol derivative) for 3 months led to development of dysbacterioses in various sections of the rat gastrointestinal tract . The dysbacterioses differed in their levels and the pattern of the recovery process . As compared to batriden, imuran in a dose of 30 mg/kg body weight administered at the early observation periods (days 7, 14 and 30) induced more marked disorders in the intestine microecology . The imuran-induced dysbacteriosis was characterized by lower quantities of lactobacilli and bifidobacteria in the rat intestine . After the use of batriden the quantities of bifidobacteria, lactobacilli and bacteroides decreased . After the batriden use at the late observation periods (days 60 to 90) the ratio of anaerobes and lactobacilli to aerobes recovered at the background of increased quantities of Candida in all the intestine sections while the ratio of bacteroides recovered in the stomach . When immunity was suppressed by imuran the recovery period was characterized by normalization of the microflora composition in the distal sections and preservation of the contamination symptom in the proximal section which was evident from predominance of aerobes over anaerobes.

Biol Trace Elem Res, 1989 Jun, 20(3), 251 - 67
Ferrous iron uptake by Bifidobacterium breve; Bezkorovainy A et al.; Bifidobacterium breve transports ferrous iron in preference to the ferric form in a saturable, concentration-dependent manner with an optimum pH of 6 . Iron transport is highly temperature sensitive . Two transport systems with apparent Km's of 86 +/- 27 and 35 +/- 20 microM (p greater than 0.01) were distinguished, one operating at high iron concentrations, the other at low iron concentrations . Iron uptake could not be accounted for by surface binding . Uptake of iron was inhibited by iron chelators, a protein ionophore, and ATPase inhibitors, and it was stimulated by potassium ionophores . The presence of a ferri reductase in the insoluble cell fraction of B . breve and its "spent" growth medium was demonstrated . The hypothesis is presented that iron uptake by bifidobacteria is related to the nutritional immunity phenomenon.

Mikrobiol Zh, 1989 May-Jun, 51(3), 43 - 7
{Action of microbe-antagonists on bacilli and corynebacteria of the skin of the breast in nursing women}; Reznik SR et al.; Five microbes-antagonists are studied for their inhibitory action on 769 strains of bacilli (241) and corynebacteria (528) isolated from the mammary gland skin of 120 nursing women on the 2nd-5th day after labour . Escherichia coli M-17 and Mycococcus krassilinikovi are established to possess the highest antagonistic properties against the spore-bearing aerobic and coryneform bacteria . Bifidobacterium bifidum has exerted a moderate antagonistic action on the culture under study, Bacillus subtilis has exerted a strong inhibitory action on corynebacteria . B . licheniformis has slightly inhibited the both bacterial groups.

J Invest Dermatol, 1989 May, 92(5 Suppl), 326S - 328s
Current status of melanoma treatment with interferon, cytokines and other biologic response modifiers in Japan; Ishihara K et al.; This paper introduces the current status of melanoma treatment with various biologic response modifiers (BRMs) in Japan, with an emphasis on the clinical results of Interferon therapies . The authors also refer briefly to the current situation of interleukin-2 (IL-2) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) in Japan . Many BRMs have been used in treatment of melanoma, e.g., IFN, IL-2, TNFs, BCG, MY-1 (DNA extracted from BCG), WPG (CWs of Bifidobacterium infantis, ATCC 15697), OK-432 (Picibanil, Streptococcus pyogenes preparation), bestatin, and forphenicinol . Some of these have completed clinical trials, while others are still undergoing clinical testing . Among IFN-alpha, beta, and gamma, intralesional administration of natural IFN-beta was found to be more effective than IFN-alpha for metastatic skin melanoma, the survival time of patients being prolonged by the administration of IFN-beta . IFN-gamma appeared to have lower efficacy than IFN-alpha and beta . The frequency of BRM application to melanoma treatment will increase . The authors foresee that combinations with radio- and/or other chemotherapy will be more common than the single use of a BRM, especially in the case of IFN.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1989 Mar, 55(3), 672 - 8
Studies on mixed populations of human intestinal bacteria grown in single-stage and multistage continuous culture systems; Allison C et al.; Mixed intestinal bacteria were grown for 336 h in two identical single-stage chemostats at low growth rates in a carbohydrate-limited medium . Complex bacterial populations were maintained and anaerobes always outnumbered aerobes . The predominant organisms belonged to the genera Bacteroides, Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, Clostridium, Eubacterium, Propionbacterium, Peptococcus, and Peptostreptococcus . Bacteroides species predominated in both fermentors, particularly B . ovatus and B . thetaiotaomicron . A high degree of reproducibility of bacteriological and fermentation product data was obtained in these experiments . When gut contents were inoculated into a five-stage continuous culture system (retention time of 79 or 38 h) containing soya bran, the medium flow rate had little quantitative effect on the formation of acidic fermentation products; however, more oxidized fermentation acids were produced at the higher retention time . Diverse bacterial populations were maintained in every vessel at each flow rate . Bacteroides fragilis group organisms, especially B . ovatus, were numerically the most important . The viability of bacteria decreased through the system, especially at a retention time of 79 h, when the bacteria were growing under severely nutrient-limited conditions.

Kinderarztl Prax, 1989 Mar, 57(3), 109 - 16
{The bifidogenic effect of breast milk . Theories and facts}; Heine W; Human milk has the unique capability to originate and maintain a predominance of bifidobacteria in the large bowel of infants . There is evidence, that besides other protective factors this special microbiologic effect may have beneficial influences on the resistance against enteral infections as well as on a symbiotic utilization of some milk components . This is the reason, why there have been many attempts in past to imitate the bifidogenic effect in infant formulas . The different theories formed for the classification of this principle focus on either the low buffer capacity of mother's milk, the mutarotation of lactose and the existence of antimicrobial and bifidus growth factors, respectively . The bifidogenic principle is, however, in all probability not related to only one of these factors . It can rather be considered a complex of interacting factors, of which rapid gastric emptying due to the relatively high concentration of free amino acids and peptides, missing bacterial colonization of the small bowel, absence of antigenic effects of the food protein and low enterocyte regeneration may play an additional role . These aspects can be looked upon as a challenge for further research on mother's milk composition and on the metabolic effects of its constituents in future.

Klin Med (Mosk), 1989 Feb, 67(2), 123 - 5
{Intestinal dysbacteriosis in patients with functional and inflammatory diseases of the large intestine}; Sarkisian BG et al.; Data are given on the study of changes in microflora of the intestinal contents in patients with functional diseases: irritable colon syndrome (ICS), chronic catarrhal colitis (CCC) and non-specific ulcerous colitis (NUC) . In ICS dysbacteriosis was absent in 40 per cent of the patients, 1st group dysbacteriosis was found in 44.3 per cent of cases; more serious dysbacteriosis (of the 2nd and 3rd groups) was found in CCC and NUC (34.3 and 52.3 per cent of cases, respectively) . ICS, CCC and NUC patients had almost the same incidence of decreased Bifidobacterium level.

J Dairy Sci, 1989 Jan, 72(1), 30 - 5
Immunogenicity of Bifidobacterium breve and change in antibody production in Peyer's patches after oral administration; Yasui H et al.; Immunogenicity in the intestine of Bifidobacterium breve, included in fermented milk, was compared with that of Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron, also predominant in human intestine . In vivo, serum antibody to B . breve was detected first in mice fed the organism for 33 d; antibody decreased in mice fed these for more than 33 d . Serum antibody to Bact . thetaiotaomicron was detected in mice fed the organism for 7 d and was maintained at the same level in mice fed these for more than 7 d . From in vitro tests, the optimal doses of B . breve and Bact . thetaiotaomicron to induce antibody production by Peyer's patch cells, intestinal lymphoid tissue cells, were 5 x 10(8) and 5 x 10(7) bacteria/ml, respectively . Therefore, it was suggested that immunogenicity of B . breve is weaker than that of Bact . thetaiotaomicron . Furthermore, the change of antibody production to the organism by Peyer's patch cells in the mice administered B . breve orally was tested by the Peyer's patch cell culture method . Antibody production against B . breve by Peyer's patch cells in mice given B . breve for 25 and for 33 d increased and decreased, respectively, in comparison with the control . These results suggest that when serum antibody to B . breve increases significantly, anti-B . breve antibody production by Peyer's patch cells is suppressed, and thereafter, serum antibody to B . breve decrease and is not detected . These findings favor the view that serum antibody production to B . breve is regulated in Peyer's patches.

Indian J Med Res, 1989 Jan, 89, 36 - 9
Ischaemic mouse thigh model for evaluation of pathogenicity of non-clostridial anaerobes; Chatterjee BD et al.; A mouse thigh model has been devised in which the growing culture of non-clostridial anaerobe in the ischaemic tissue produces inflammatory swelling and death . The swelling of the right thigh served as an index of pathogenicity of the test strain in comparison to the negatively reacting left thigh which received injection of the control strain of Bifidobacterium infantis . Actinomyces naeslundii exceptionally caused death in all animals within 24 h . Mortality and thigh swelling were pronounced (greater than 75%) in case of Fusobacterium gonidiaformans and Propionibacterium acnes but less (less than 50%) in Acidaminococcus fermentans . High (less than 75%) rate of thigh swelling was also encountered in case of Bacteroides oralis, Bacteroides corrodens, Fusobacterium necrophorum, Fusobacterium prausnitzii, Fusobacterium plauti, Peptococcus prevotii, Streptococcus intermedius, Eubacterium lentum and Propionibacterium freudenreichii ss . shermanii.

Lab Anim, 1989 Jan, 23(1), 62 - 5
Gastrointestinal flora of cotton rats; Itoh K et al.; The gastrointestinal (GI) flora of cotton rats was examined . No lactobacilli were detected in any part of the GI tract . Anaerobes, including Peptococcaceae, Bacteroidaceae, bifidobacteria and eubacteria, were the predominant bacteria in the stomach, small intestine, caecum and faeces . Aerobes and facultative anaerobes, including Enterobacteriaceae and streptococci, were detected at low numbers and very low frequency of occurrence in all parts of the GI tract . Sixty-one isolates of bifidobacteria were recovered from the stomach, small intestine, caecum and faeces of cotton rats . They were identified as Bifidobacterium animalis, B . pseudolongum biovar a and b . The study showed that the GI flora of cotton rats seem to be very different from the GI flora in other rodents.

Antibiot Khimioter, 1989 Jan, 34(1), 28 - 31
{Sensitivity of bifidobacteria to antibacterial drugs}; Liannaia AM et al.; Twenty one strains of bifidobacteria belonging to various species were studied with respect to their sensitivity to antibacterial drugs most widely used in medical practice . The strains were isolated from practically healthy persons and from persons in contact with antibiotics in their production . It was found that sensitivity of the strains was the highest with respect to penicillins and tetracyclines . With respect to kanamycin, monomycin and levomycetin the strains were resistant . Strain differences in resistance to separate antibacterial drugs were observed . Increased streptomycin and tetracycline resistance of the strains isolated from the persons being for a prolonged period in contact with these antibiotics in their production, was stated.

J Dairy Sci, 1988 Dec, 71(12), 3214 - 21
Growth-enhancing supplements for various species of the genus Bifidobacterium; Poch M et al.; Various biological materials were tested for their growth-promoting activity of several bifidobacterial species in a synthetic medium containing ample sources of inorganic salts, vitamins, nitrogen, and carbon . It was found that only Bifidobacterium adolescentis and B . longum (ATCC 15708) grew optimally or near optimally in the synthetic medium . All the other bifidobacteria tested grew optimally only in the synthetic medium supplemented with a growth promoter . The best growth promoters for all bacteria were bovine casein digest and yeast extract rather than human milk whey . Other growth promoters, including human and bovine milk wheys, hog gastric mucin, and bovine serum albumin digest were effective with some bacterial species but not with others . Bifidobacteria also grew well when the bovine casein digest (20 mg/ml) was used as the nitrogen source . Only the yeast extract was able to improve growth under these circumstances . The nature of these growth factors has not yet been determined.

Am J Ophthalmol, 1988 Oct 15, 106(4), 458 - 62
Source of the conjunctival bacterial flora at birth and implications for ophthalmia neonatorum prophylaxis; Isenberg SJ et al.; To understand better the source of conjunctival bacteria in neonates, we studied 106 infants immediately after birth before any eyedrops were applied . The 50 infants delivered by cesarean section had significantly fewer species (0.50 +/- 0.85 vs 1.84 +/- 1.33) and colony forming units (272 +/- 1,019 vs 1,790 +/- 3,779) cultured per subject than the 56 infants delivered vaginally . In infants delivered by cesarean section within three hours of membrane rupture, 24 of 30 (80%) of the conjunctival cultures were sterile, while the rest bore a few cutaneous bacteria (0.23 +/- 0.50 species and 2 +/- 9 colony forming units per subject) . The conjunctivae of infants delivered vaginally bore significantly more bacteria characteristic of vaginal flora: microaerophilic as Lactobacillus or truly anaerobic as Bifidobacterium . Neonates delivered by cesarean section more than three hours after membrane rupture showed a bacteriologic flora mixture quantitatively and qualitatively midway between those two groups . Infants delivered by cesarean section within three hours of membrane rupture may not need prophylactic eyedrops because of the type and scarcity of conjunctival bacteria.

Mutat Res, 1988 Sep, 206(1), 47 - 54
Some studies on the DNA-repair-eliciting and genotoxic activity of cell-free extracts of Lactobacillus bifidus; Natarajan AT et al.; Cell-free extracts of Lactobacillus bifidus have been reported as possessing DNA-repair-eliciting properties in UV-irradiated human cells, and suggestions have been made that these extracts could be used to protect human skin cells from DNA-damaging effects induced by natural UV light . In view of the importance of these findings, and because extracts of other bifidobacteriae had previously been shown to possess genotoxic activity in bacterial systems, it seemed appropriate to perform some experiments aimed at evaluating the ability of cell-free extracts of L . bifidus, as well as the bacterial suspension medium, to modulate DNA repair and/or to exert potentially adverse genotoxic effects in a variety of mammalian cells in culture . Chinese hamster cells, human fibroblasts, and human lymphocytes were used to evaluate the influence of the extract on the repair of UV-damaged DNA and on several biological effects (cell cycle progression, cell killing, chromosomal aberrations, and sister-chromatid exchanges) induced by DNA-damaging agents . The results show that neither the extract nor the suspension have any influence on DNA repair or other biological endpoints induced by UV and other DNA-damaging agents . In conclusion, the present findings do not indicate that cell-free extracts of L . bifidus specifically promote the repair of UV-damaged DNA in human cells . Neither do they indicate that these extracts have a promoting activity on UV-induced (misrepair) mutagenesis in mammalian cells . Finally, the present experiments indicate that the L . bifidus extracts used in our experiments are devoid of any direct mutagenic and/or genotoxic activity in mammalian cells.

Biol Trace Elem Res, 1988 Sep-Dec, 17, 123 - 37
Transport of ferrous iron and lactate production in Bifidobacterium bifidum var . pennsylvanicus; Bezkorovainy A et al.; Initial rates of ferrous iron transport into Bifidobacterium bifidum var . pennsylvanicus were measured at low and high iron concentrations . The low affinity system (LAFIUS) had an apparent Km of 167 microM, the high affinity system (HAFIUS) had a Km of 50 microM . Iron removal from preloaded bifidobacteria revealed the existence of a labile and an inert iron pool in the bacterial cells . Iron uptake by the bifidobacteria was associated with lactate production, though lactate production could continue without iron uptake . Cessation of iron uptake and lactate production was not because of an exhaustion of any nutrient nor the accumulation of fermentation end products in the medium . It was apparently the result of an inactivation of the cellular enzyme machinery without replacing it through normal biosynthetic processes.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1988 Jul, 54(7), 1715 - 8
Selective medium for isolation and enumeration of Bifidobacterium spp; Munoa FJ et al.; A new method was developed for the isolation and enumeration of Bifidobacterium spp . from natural aquatic environments . The method was based on the utilization of a new medium, Bifidobacterium iodoacetate medium 25, and resuscitation techniques were used to isolate injured bifidobacteria . The new medium was tested with a nonselective reference medium on sewage and sewage-polluted surface waters . Relatively little colonial growth of any other bacterial genera occurred; when such colonies did grow, Bifidobacterium could be easily differentiated by its colonial morphology or, after Gram staining, by its typical bifidobacterial morphology.

J Dairy Sci, 1988 Jul, 71(7), 1777 - 82
Preparation of the bifidus milk powder; Nagawa M et al.; Malt extract and skim milk were used as the culture medium for bifidobacteria . Bifidobacterium longum E194b (ATCC 15707) selected from among four strains grew well in a nitrogen atmosphere regardless of the initial dissolved oxygen level of the culture medium . The optimum temperature range for growth was 34 to 37 degrees C . The viable cell numbers of Bifidobacterium in freeze-dried powder from neutralized bifidus milk were 20 times those found in powder from nonneutralized milk after storage for 30 d at 35 degrees C . The optimum residual water content in the powder for bacterial stability was about 3.5% or less . Bifidus milk powder prepared under these optimum conditions contained at least one billion viable cells even after storage for 30 d at 35 degrees C . The powder must be sealed with material made of aluminium for storage.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1988 Jul, (7), 46 - 50
{Influence of the oral administration of indigenous microorganisms on the resistance of mice to Salmonella infection}; Shkarupeta MM et al.; The influence of the oral administration of killed bifidobacteria, lactobacteria, bacteroids and fusobacteria on the anti- Salmonella resistance of mice, infected orally with S . dublin, was studied . Bifidobacteria and lactobacteria were shown to produce a dose-dependent immunostimulating effect . The oral administration of killed bifidobacteria and lactobacteria led to the enhanced resistance of mice to Salmonella infection . The oral administration of killed bifidobacteria was conductive to the normalization of the intestinal microflora in dysbacteriosis developing in cases of Salmonella infection . Bacteroids and fusobacteria were found to possess no such effect.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1988 Jul, (7), 11 - 5
{Qualitative and quantitative composition of acids formed by bifidobacteria}; Donskikh EE et al.; The dynamics of acid production in 18 strains of bifidobacteria, belonging to 5 different species, has been studied Bifidobacteria have been found to produce 3 acids, lactic, acetic and formic, in the process of their metabolism . The lactic acid/acetic acid quantitative ratio varies, depending on the culture medium on the average, 1:2 in Blaurock medium, 1:5 in milk hydrolysate medium . Various strains have also been found to differ in the dynamics of acid production with respect to the amounts of lactic and acetic acids . The study has shown that, despite the active production of acids for a period of up to 72 hours, a decrease in the pH of the medium is observed for not more than 48 hours . The existence of a specific mechanism permitting bifidobacteria to regulate the acidity of their environment is supposed.

Cancer Res, 1988 Jun 1, 48(11), 3031 - 4
Significance of bacterial flora in abdominal irradiation-induced inhibition of lung metastases; Matsumoto T et al.; We have previously reported that abdominal irradiation prior to i.v . injection of syngeneic tumor cells reduced metastases in lung . Our report described an investigation of the significance of intestinal organisms in the radiation effect . We found that eliminating intestinal organisms with antibiotics totally abolished the radiation effect . Monoassociation of germ-free mice revealed that the radiation effect was observable only for Enterobacter cloacae, never for Streptococcus faecium, Bifidobacterium adlesentis, or Escherichia coli . After abdominal irradiation of regular mice, E . cloacae multiplied in cecal contents, adhered to mucous membranes, invaded the cecal wall, and translocated to mesenteric lymph nodes . Intravenous administration of E . cloacae in place of abdominal irradiation inhibited metastases . E . cloacae-monoassociated mice developed fewer metastases than germ-free mice, and the reduction was further enhanced by abdominal irradiation . We concluded that abdominal irradiation caused the invasion of E . cloacae from the mucous membrane of the intestine and inhibited formation of lung metastases.

Mol Gen Mikrobiol Virusol, 1988 May, (5), 15 - 6
{Restriction endonucleases from Bifidobacteria}; Skrypina NA et al.; The sitespecific restriction endonucleases were found in four strains among the twelve strains of anaerobic bacteria of generum Bifidobacterium . Two of the restriction endonucleases studied, BadI from B . adolescentis LVA1 and BbfI from B . bifidum LVA3, are isoshizomers of XhoI and recognize the nucleotide sequence CTCGAG . The restriction endonucleases Bbf7411I from B . bifidum 7411 and Bla7920I from B . lactentis 7920 recognize and hydrolize the nucleotide sequence TCCGGA having the specifity analogous to the one of restriction endonuclease CauB3I . Like CauB3I, these restriction endonucleases are unable to hydrolyize DNA if the adenine residues in the recognition site are methylated.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1988 May, 32(5), 788 - 90
In vitro activities of daptomycin (LY146032) and paldimycin (U-70,138F) against anaerobic gram-positive bacteria; Chow AW et al.; The in vitro activities of daptomycin (LY146032), paldimycin (U-70,138F), vancomycin, and penicillin G against 344 clinical isolates of anaerobic gram-positive bacteria were determined by an agar dilution method in calcium-supplemented (50 micrograms/ml) Wilkins-Chalgren medium, using an inoculum of 10(5) CFU . Daptomycin demonstrated excellent activity against a broad range of anaerobic gram-positive cocci and bacilli, including Peptostreptococcus, Eubacterium, Bifidobacterium, Actinomyces, Propionibacterium, and Lactobacillus species and Clostridium difficile . Highly resistant strains (MIC, greater than or equal to 64 micrograms/ml) were encountered sporadically from different genera, but these accounted for only 3% of all isolates tested . Vancomycin showed similar activity but was less active against Lactobacillus species and Peptostreptococcus prevotii . Paldimycin was inactive against most genera of anaerobic gram-positive bacteria . Overall, penicillin G remained the most broadly active agent against these isolates.

Vet Hum Toxicol, 1988 Apr, 30(2), 104 - 7
Fructooligosaccharides: a review; Fishbein L et al.; Fructooligosaccharides are naturally occurring compounds that have been reported in a variety of plants . Neosugar is a fructooligosaccharide mixture of 1F-(1-beta-fructofuranosyl)-sucrose polymers which is produced on a commercial scale from sucrose using a fungal fructosyltransferase . The resulting product is 0.4 to 0.6 times as sweet as sugar and is resistant to digestion by mammalian alpha-amylase, sucrase and maltase . Although Neosugar is non-digestible in humans, it is selectively utilized by bifidobacteria . Neosugar has been examined extensively in human and animal studies which indicate a lack of toxicity, carcinogenicity and genotoxic effects . Neosugar is used as a feed additive for poultry and swine in Japan and has been approved in foods as a raw material . Additional studies in progress in the US suggest that it could provide an economic alternative as an additive to poultry and swine feed.

J Biochem (Tokyo), 1988 Apr, 103(4), 618 - 21
Structure of 6-deoxytalose-containing polysaccharide from the cell wall of Bifidobacterium adolescentis; Nagaoka M et al.; The isolation and analysis of the cell wall and the polysaccharide-glycopeptide complexes of Bifidobacterium adolescentis YIT4011 are presented . Polysaccharide-glycopeptide complexes, PS-GP1 and PS-GP2, were solubilized from the cell wall by treatment with N-acetylmuramidase . PS-GP1 and PS-GP2 were found to be composed of glucose, 6-deoxytalose and a small amount of glycopeptide . The products of Smith degradation of the PS-GPs had no glucose-containing fraction, but were composed of 1,2/1,3-linked 6-deoxytalose . Furthermore, a second Smith degradation of this fraction yielded trisaccharide-glyceraldehyde . These results and methylation analysis led to the conclusion that PS-GP1 or 2 has a repeating unit of----3)6dTal(beta 1----3)6dTal(beta 1----3)6dTal(beta 1----2)-6dTal(alpha 1----2)6dTal(alpha 1----2)6dTal(alpha 1-, and that glucose residues are linked to position C-3 of the 2-O-substituted 6-deoxytalose residues.

Ann Surg, 1988 Mar, 207(3), 341 - 6
Microbial colonization of tumors in relation to the upper gastrointestinal tract in patients with gastric carcinoma; Sjostedt S et al.; The microbial colonization of the oropharynx, the esophagus, the stomach, and the duodenum was studied in relation to the microbial flora found on tumor and gastric mucosal biopsies in 23 patients with gastric carcinoma . The tumor was colonized in all patients, and the stomach, the esophagus, the duodenum, and the gastric mucosa were colonized in 96%, 87%, 83%, and 78% of the patients, respectively . The most common microorganisms isolated were streptococci, bifidobacteria, lactobacilli, and Bacteroides species, belonging to the normal oropharyngeal flora . Microbial colonization with gram-negative rods, Clostridium species or yeasts, was present in at least one site in 91% of the patients . Clostridium species were isolated from 57% of the patients . The total numbers of microorganisms recovered from the tumor biopsies did not vary with the intraluminal gastric pH . A relation between the gastric pH and the total number of microorganisms in the gastric juice existed . Significant higher numbers of different strains of microorganisms (p less than 0.005) colonized the tumor compared to the gastric mucosa . Anaerobic microorganisms colonized the tumor significantly more often than the mucosa (p less than 0.001) . Antibiotic agents used as prophylaxis in gastric cancer surgery should cover both aerobic and anaerobic microorganisms, including B . fragilis.

Biochimie, 1988 Mar, 70(3), 317 - 24
Molecular taxonomy and phylogenetic position of lactic acid bacteria; Stackebrandt E et al.; Lactic acid bacteria, important in food technology, are Gram-positive organisms exhibiting a DNA G + C content of less than 50 mol% . Phylogenetically they are members of the Clostridium-Bacillus subdivision of Gram-positive eubacteria . Lactobacillus and streptococci together with related facultatively anaerobic taxa evolved as individual lines of descent about 1.5-2 billion years ago when the earth passed from an anaerobic to an aerobic environment . In contrast to the traditional, morphology-based classification, the genus Lactobacillus is intermixed with strains of Pediococcus and Leuconostoc . Similarly, the physiology-based clustering of lactobacilli into Thermo-, Strepto- and Betabacterium does not agree with their phylogenetic relationships . On the other hand, the phenotypically defined genus Streptococcus is not a phylogenetic coherent genus but its members fall into at least 3 moderately related genera, i.e . Streptococcus, Lactococcus and Enterococcus . The genus Bifidobacterium, frequently grouped with the lactobacilli, is the most ancient group of the second, the Actinomycetes subdivision of the Gram-positive eubacteria . In addition, propionibacteria, microbacteria and brevibacteria belong to this subdivision but the latter organisms appear as offshoots of non-lactic acid bacteria.

Scand J Infect Dis, 1988, 20(5), 547 - 52
Impact of cefixime on the normal intestinal microflora; Nord CE et al.; The ecological effects on the normal intestinal microflora after cefixime tablets in doses of 200 mg twice daily for 7 days were studied in 10 healthy volunteers . Stool specimens were collected before and 2, 4, 7, 14 and 21 days after start of treatment . Plasma samples were collected during 12 h after the first dose on day 1 and 1 sample was taken on day 7 for bioassay of cefixime concentration . Peak plasma concentration of cefixime occurred after about 4 h with a mean of 3.0 mg/l . The mean AUC0----oc after a single dose was estimated at 21.9 mg x h/l and the mean elimination half-life was 3.9 h . The mean plasma concentration of cefixime 3 h after the morning dose on day 7 was 2.0 mg/l . The concentrations of cefixime in faeces increased during treatment . One subject had detectable concentrations in faeces on day 2, three subjects on day 4 and 8 subjects on day 7 in the order of 237-912 mg/kg faeces . There was a marked decrease in the numbers of streptococci and Escherichia coli and an increase in the numbers of enterococci during the administration of cefixime . In the anaerobic microflora, the numbers of cocci, clostridia and bacteroides were suppressed while there were minor changes in the numbers of bifidobacteria . Clostridium difficile was isolated in 5 subjects on day 7 but cytotoxin was only detected in one subject . The intestinal microflora was normalized within 2 weeks after treatment had stopped . Slightly soft stools were reported by 7 subjects . One subject had abdominal pain and diarrhoea 1 week after treatment followed by anal irritation and itching.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Jpn J Cancer Res, 1988 Jan, 79(1), 109 - 16
Antitumor effect of normal intestinal microflora on Ehrlich ascites tumor; Sakamoto K et al.; In order to investigate the antitumor activity of intestinal microflora, the constitution of normal flora was examined in humans, guinea pigs and mice . It was clarified that Eubacterium, Bifidobacterium and Bacteroides were the predominant bacterial genera in humans . In addition, neither Clostridium nor Enterobacteriaceae was detected in guinea pigs and neither Clostridium nor Bifidobacterium was present in mice . Total bacterial counts in tumor-bearing mice were reduced in comparison with those in normal mice . Especially, in the ileum of tumor-bearing mice, the incidence of anaerobic bacterial genera was strikingly decreased . From the bacteria found, 59 living and killed strains isolated from intestinal microflora were examined for antitumor activity against Ehrlich ascites tumor . It was observed that 11 of the tested strains had antitumor activity . Four of these were toxic to the host, and in particular, all mice injected with Pseudomonas aeruginosa (TYM-8) died within several days . Eubacterium lentum (TYH-11), Propionibacterium acnes (TYM-28), Proteus mirabilis (TYM-7) and Serratia marcescens (TY-142), in which antitumor activity was recognized with living and formalin-killed bacteria, cured the tumor-bearing mice, and the culture supernatant of S . marcescens contained apparent antitumor activity.

Scand J Infect Dis Suppl, 1988, 57, 24 - 34
Anaerobic infections in the head and neck region; Tabaqchali S; Anaerobic bacteria form the predominant flora of the oral cavity, outnumbering facultative organisms by 10-1,000: 1 . The type of anaerobic bacteria and their concentration depend on the anatomical site and the degree of anaerobiosis in the different sites in the mouth . Three groups of anaerobic bacteria inhabit the oral cavity; the strict anaerobes, the moderate anaerobes, and the microaerophilic group of organisms . The majority of anaerobic bacterial infections occurring in the region of the mouth, head and neck are caused by the commensal flora . These infections include dental and periodontal disease where the predominant organisms are Bacteroides species, Veillonella, Bifidobacteria, Peptococcus, Peptostreptococcus and Propionibacterium species . More recently, Bacteroides endontalis has been isolated from a periapical abscess of endodontal origin and B . gingivalis, B . intermedius, Haemophilus actinomycetemcomitans and Wollinella species in chronic periodontal disease . Treponema species and other strict anaerobes are seen in smears of severe periodontal disease and acute necrotising gingivitis, but have not yet been isolated in pure culture . Until such time, their role in disease remains uncertain . Fusobacterium nucleatum is specially associated with severe orofacial infections which may extend into the mediastinum . Other anaerobic infections include chronic otitis media, chronic sinusitis and mastoiditis, and brain abscess . Treatment of these conditions should include the use of beta-lactamase resistant antimicrobials, such as clindamycin or one of the nitroimidazoles with penicillin.

J Biochem (Tokyo), 1987 Dec, 102(6), 1423 - 32
Structural studies of cell wall polysaccharides from Bifidobacterium breve YIT 4010 and related Bifidobacterium species; Habu Y et al.; The chemical compositions of the cell walls obtained from 8 strains in 5 species of Bifidobacterium were analyzed . These cell walls were shown to be composed of peptidoglycan and polysaccharide moieties . Some variations with respect to contents of neutral sugars and content of phosphorus were observed with some cell wall preparations from the same species . The neutral polysaccharides in cell walls of 4 strains of Bifidobacterium (B . bifidum YIT 4007, B . breve YIT 4010, B . infantis YIT 4025, and B . longum ATCC 15707) were purified and their chemical structures were analyzed . One of these polysaccharides, obtained from B . breve YIT 4010, was analyzed in detail by GLC, 1H- and 13C-NMR spectroscopic analyses, methylation, Smith degradation and acetolysis, and the results suggested the following structure for the repeating unit of the polysaccharide: (Formula: see text).

Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg {A}, 1987 Oct, 266(3-4), 330 - 7
Bacterial colonization of the large intestine in newborns delivered by cesarean section; Neut C et al.; Colonization of the gastrointestinal tract in newborns delivered by Cesarean section occurs during the first days of life by bacteria provided by the environment . It is more rapid in breast-fed infants than in bottle-fed babies . The intestinal flora is more diversified if the infants receive formula feeding . The first bacteria encountered are facultative anaerobes; they remain predominant during the first two weeks of life . In comparison to vaginal delivery, there were low levels of strict anaerobes after Cesarean section; members of the Bacteroides fragilis group were still completely lacking after 14 days of life and Bifidobacteria were only isolated sporadically.

Ann Inst Pasteur Microbiol, 1987 Sep-Oct, 138(5), 529 - 36
Rapid isolation of DNA from Actinomyces; Barsotti O et al.; DNA could not be quickly extracted from members of the genus Actinomyces by the usual methods of lysis . Treatment of 7 different actinomyces cells with lysozyme and achromopeptidase, both 5 mg/g wet cells, for 2 h, followed by SDS (0.2%), proteinase K (5 mg/g wet cells) and EDTA (lmM) for 1 h, lysed the cells . The yield obtained in one day was 337 micrograms per 200 mg of bacterial cells . The treatment was also found to work effectively on strains belonging to Veillonella, Staphylococcus, Fusobacterium and Bifidobacterium genera.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1987 Aug, 31(8), 1231 - 3
Antimicrobial substance from a human Lactobacillus strain; Silva M et al.; Lactobacillus sp . strain GG, which was isolated from the feces of a normal person, produced a substance with potent inhibitory activity against a wide range of bacterial species . It inhibited anaerobic bacteria (Clostridium spp., Bacteroides spp., Bifidobacterium spp.), members of the family Enterobacteriaceae, Pseudomonas spp . Staphylococcus spp., and Streptococcus spp., as demonstrated by a microbiological assay; however, it did not inhibit other lactobacilli . The inhibitory activity occurred between pH 3 and 5 and was heat stable . Bactericidal activity against Escherichia coli was demonstrated at a dilution of 1:128 . The inhibitory substance was distinct from lactic and acetic acids . It had a low molecular weight (less than 1,000) and was soluble in acetone-water (10:1) . Because of these characteristics, the inhibitory material could not be considered a bacteriocin; it most closely resembled a microcin, which has been associated previously with members of the family Enterobacteriaceae.

Eur J Biochem, 1987 Jun 15, 165(3), 647 - 52
Analysis of the lipoteichoic-acid-like macroamphiphile from Bifidobacterium bifidum subspecies pennsylvanicum by one- and two-dimensional 1H- and 13C-NMR spectroscopy; Fischer W et al.; The native lipoteichoic-acid-like amphiphile from Bifidobacterium bifidum subspecies pennsylvanicum and its basic glycan moiety, obtained by alkaline hydrolysis, were studied by 1H-, 13C-, and 31P-NMR, DEPT (distorsionless enhancement by polarization transfer), 1H-1H correlation spectroscopy and 13C-1H shift correlation NMR spectroscopy . The results are consistent with the structure elucidated by chemical analysis (Fischer, W., preceding paper in this journal): (formula; see text) and establish the structures of the repeating units independently . In addition to characteristic shifts in the 13C-NMR spectrum, the sites of phosphodiester and alanine ester bonds are also manifest in the 1H-NMR spectrum . Substitution of the glycerophosphate residues can be recognized in the 31P-NMR spectrum also.

Eur J Biochem, 1987 Jun 15, 165(3), 639 - 46
'Lipoteichoic acid' of Bifidobacterium bifidum subspecies pennsylvanicum DSM 20239 . A lipoglycan with monoglycerophosphate side chains; Fischer W; The lipid macroamphiphile of Bifidobacterium bifidum subsp . pennsylvanicum DSM 20239 was extracted with phenol/water and purified by treatment with nucleases and hydrophobic interaction chromatography . From analytical data, the results of Smith degradation, hydrolysis with HF and methylation studies, the following structure is proposed: (formula; see text) where n and m are approximately 7-10 and 8-15, respectively . The monoglycerophosphate residues have the sn-glycero-1-phosphate configuration; 20-50% of them are substituted with L-alanine in ester linkage . The lipid anchor is most likely a galactosyldiacylglycerol, part of which carries a third fatty acid . This is the first example among gram-positive bacteria of a glycerophosphate-containing lipid macroamphiphile that carries the glycerophosphate residues as monomeric side chains on a lipoglycan . Further, it contains L-alanine in place of the D-alanine found in lipoteichoic acids.

Vopr Pitan, 1987 May-Jun, (3), 55 - 8
{A new type of creamery butter for pediatric and dietetic nutrition}; Brents MIa et al.; The paper presents the data on the chemical composition and the technology of manufacturing a new sort of butter for child's and dietetic nutrition . The butter has high biological value due to the introduction of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUSFA) with vegetable oils and milk-protein ingredients . The milk-protein ingredients also play the role of the butter structure stabilizers . The chemical composition of the new sort of butter, including the vitamin and mineral content, as well as the amino-acid composition of the butter plasma are described . It is shown that the content of PUSFA in the new sort of butter is 10-fold higher than in the routine butter . Various kinds of dessert butter have been developed with different flavoring additives . One of the butter variant has been enriched with bifidobacteria . The new sort of butter is recommended for the dietetic nutrition of children and adults suffering from obesity, as well as for the nutrition of the middle- and old-aged subjects to prevent lipid metabolism disorders.

Antibiot Med Biotekhnol, 1987 Mar, 32(3), 184 - 6
{The dysbacteriosis of extreme states}; Liz'ko NN; The study was aimed at investigation of the characteristic features of intestinal dysbacteriosis in man under extreme conditions and development of methods for correcting intestinal microflora for prevention of dysbacteriosis under such conditions . Microbiocenosis of the intestine was investigated in 99 practically healthy persons under model earth conditions and in 34 cosmonauts after space flights of various duration . The following factors influencing intestinal microflora in man under extreme conditions were studied: neuroemotional tension, hypokinesia, increased physical loads, isolation under conditions of altered gaseous environment and microclimate . The study revealed that the above factors participated in development of dysbacteriosis . It was shown that the neuroemotional stress played the main role in development of dysbacteriosis in man under extreme conditions: intestinal microflora responded under extreme conditions by decreased counts of bifidobacteria and lactobacilli participating in maintenance of the intact ecological barrier and colonization resistance . For preventing dysbacteriotic reactions of intestinal microflora it was recommended to use bifidobacterin tablets . Bifidobacterin correction was shown to be efficient in prevention of dysbacteriosis in persons under extreme conditions.

Antibiot Med Biotekhnol, 1987 Mar, 32(3), 179 - 83
{Human Bifidobacterium flora, its normalizing and protective functions}; Goncharova GI et al.; The paper is concerned with investigation of the normalizing and protective role of the Bifidobacterium flora in humans and its quantitative predomination in intestinal microbiocenosis of children and adults . The data on antagonistic properties of bifidobacteria with respect to pathogenic and facultative pathogenic bacteria, the Bifidobacterium flora influence on the host metabolism and efficiency of bifidobacterin in recovery of the Bifidobacterium flora optimal level are presented.

Antibiot Med Biotekhnol, 1987 Mar, 32(3), 170 - 3
{Gnotobiology of the host microflora and antibiotic therapy}; Chakhava OV; Gnotobiological studies showed that under natural conditions normal microflora (microsymbiocenosis) is necessary for normal vital activity . In addition to autochthonous flora microsymbiocenosis includes an insignificant number of facultative pathogenic bacteria . In etiotropic antibiotic therapy it is important to preserve the autochthonous portion of the microsymbiocenonosis: bifidobacteria, lactobacilli, propionic bacteria and others . However, with respect to certain indications (diseases associated with suppression of resistance to infections) total decontamination with obligatory isolation of the patient under gnotobiological conditions is possible . In selective decontamination the facultative pathogenic portion of the intestinal microflora is the sole target of antibiotics . Selective decontamination is one of the methods for control of nosocomial infections, dysbacteriosis . It is indicated that establishment of departments in charge of investigation of intestinal microflora of patients and medical staff in hospitals is required for detecting risk groups which can be both the source of infection and the population most susceptible to hospital strains of antibiotic resistant facultative pathogenic bacteria.

Jpn J Med Sci Biol, 1987 Feb, 40(1), 15 - 26
Effects of dietary lactose and purified diet on intestinal microflora of rats; Morishita Y et al.; In the rats fed on lactose-containing purified diet (PDL), bifidobacteria remarkably increased in number in both the jejunum and cecum as compared with those fed on control diet (PD) or conventional diet (NMF) . Besides, lactobacilli, streptococci, staphylococci, and Escherichia coli increased in number in the jejuna and/or ceca of rats fed on PDL as compared with those fed on PD . The incidence and numbers of Lactobacillus species were remarkably different between the rats fed on PDL and those on any of the other diets . Indole-producing Bacteroides spp . were rarely isolated from the PDL-fed rats . The cecum was markedly enlarged in the PDL rats and reduced in the PD rats as compared with that in the NMF animals.

Microbiol Immunol, 1987, 31(9), 943 - 7
Effect of the two-year milk-feeding on the gastrointestinal microflora of the cynomolgus monkey (Macaca fascicularis); Benno Y et al.; The effect of the two-year milk-feeding on the gastrointestinal (GI) microflora of a cynomolgus monkey was determined . Bifidobacterium spp . in the animal fed with cow's milk alone were distributed in higher number in the stomach, duodenum, cecum, and rectum . The increasingly higher numbers of Lactobacillus spp . and Candida spp . were counted in all regions of the GI tract of the animal fed with the formula diet . Bacteroidaceae, Enterobacteriaceae, and Streptococcus spp . were detected from the upper to lower intestines in the monkey given only milk, whereas in the monkey given the formula, those bacterial species were localized in only the lower intestines.

Int J Clin Pharmacol Res, 1987, 7(1), 39 - 43
In vitro activity of imipenem against gram-positive anaerobic bacteria; Dubreuil L et al.; The in vitro activity of imipenem, a new penem antibiotic, was determined against 210 clinical Gram-positive anaerobic isolates and compared with the activities of metronidazole, clindamycin, cefoxitin, moxalactam, ceftizoxime, ceftriaxone and cefotiam . All investigated strains were inhibited by a 4-mg/l concentration of imipenem . Cefoxitin demonstrated good activity against most strains with exception of some Clostridium difficile and Clostridium ramosum strains . Cephalosporins were classed in decreasing activity order as follows: cefoxitin moxalactam ceftriaxone ceftizoxime cefotiam . Metronidazole had better activity against Clostridium spp . than against non-sporulated bacilli . Clindamycin resistance rates were superior to 10% for most groups, with the exception of Clostridium perfringens . Actinomyces and Bifidobacterium . Imipenem was the most potent inhibitor, as 81% and 95% of tested strains were inhibited at concentrations of 0.25 and 0.5 mg/l respectively.

Nahrung, 1987, 31(5-6), 421 - 5
{Changes within Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium species}; Muller-Beuthow W et al.; Laboratory rats with a gut flora unambiguous free from Bifidobacterium revealed three days after an application of a lactose-rich food a dominating Lactobacillus plantarum flora . Up from this date, Bifidobacterium could be detected for the first time . At the beginning, there was to be observed merely B . adolescentis and B . pseudolongum, at the 5th to the 10th day B . bifidum supervened . Finally this species together with B . infantis was dominating . With in vitro experiments, by a systematic modifying of the medium changes from Bifidobacterium species typical to faeces from infants to such species only to meet in faeces from adults could be observed only after a long time of cultivation.

G Batteriol Virol Immunol, 1987 Jan-Dec, 80(1-12), 189 - 205
Evaluation of antinfective activity of an association bifidobacterium/lactobacillus in mouse intestine; Fichera GA et al.; The present research aimed at studying the action of an association of Bifidobacterium bifidum and Lactobacillus acidophilus, in controlling an experimental severe infection by Salmonella enteritidis administered in mouse per os . The behaviour of some parameters was undertaken, checking for the pH of intestinal content; the condition of the colonization in the intestinal wall by means of scanning electron microscopy and plates cultures; the presence of antibodies IgA in intestinal content; the index of mortality in the diversely treated animal's groups . The reported data show a string incidence of the administration of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus in increasing the animal's resistance against the lethal infection.

Int J Biochem, 1987, 19(6), 517 - 22
Ferrous iron uptake by Bifidobacterium bifidum var . pennsylvanicus: the effect of metals and metabolic inhibitors; Bezkorovainy A et al.; Ferrous iron uptake studies in Bifidobacterium bifidum var . pennsylvanicus were carried out in a well-defined salt solution termed "modified Hanks solution" at both high iron concentrations (LAFIUS conditions) and low concentrations (HAFIUS conditions) . Various divalent metals, Mn2+, Zn2+, Ni2+ and Cu2+, inhibited iron uptake under HAFIUS conditions in a non-competitive manner, and in a pseudo-competitive manner under LAFIUS conditions . Cr2+ had no effect . Co2+ inhibited iron uptake competitively under HAFIUS conditions . Metabolic affectors that inhibited iron uptake both under HAFIUS and LAFIUS conditions were: tetraphenylphosphonium chloride, diethylstilbesterol, vanadate, carbonylcyanide-m-chlorophenyl-hydrazone, and a mixture of valinomycin and nigericin . Substances that stimulated iron uptake were KCl, valinomycin, and nigericin . Iron uptake under LAFIUS conditions in piperazine-buffered modified Hanks solution was higher than that in the acetate-buffered solution, and acetate inhibited iron uptake in the piperazine buffer . HAFIUS showed no difference . It is concluded that iron uptake in bifidobacteria is driven by an ATPase-dependent proton-motive force and that both the pH gradient and membrane potential are involved in this process . Mn2+, Zn2+, Ni2+, and Cu2+ may be transported via LAFIUS, but not HAFIUS . HAFIUS may transport only Co2+ in addition to Fe2+.

J Clin Pathol, 1986 Oct, 39(10), 1130 - 4
Antibody response to anaerobic coccoid rods in Crohn's disease; Bull K et al.; The IgG and IgM specific antibodies against a panel of 23 anaerobic gut bacteria were examined in Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, and healthy controls . Four of the organisms, Bifidobacterium bifidum, Coprococcus comes (ME46), Coprococcus comes (Sp4), and Eubacterium limosum gave abnormal antibody titres in Crohn's disease compared with those of controls . In Crohn's disease specific IgG antibodies to three of the organisms were low and the IgM antibodies were higher than those of controls . IgM antibodies were also raised in ulcerative colitis . Antigenic cross reactivity could be shown between some of these organisms . The possible clinical importance of these abnormal antibody responses to specific organisms is unexplained.

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