Molecular mechanism of a probiotic

摘要

Bifidobacteria form a dominant portion of the human intestinal microbiota, with so-called "probiotic" members of the genus Bifido-bacterium thought to exert specific health benefits. Saranna Fanning et al. (pp. 2108-2113) investigated such claims by focusing on Bifido-bacterium breve and its cell surface-associated sugar polymer, known as exopolysaccharide (EPS). Genetic analysis and treatment of mice with B. breve EPS revealed that the sugar polymer aids in acid and bile resistance while also enhancing bacterial persistence in the gut.