Exploiting Bifidobacterium genomes: the molecular basis of stress response.
Bifidobacteria represent important human commensals because of their perceived contribution to the maintenance of a balanced gastro intestinal tract (GIT). In recent years bifidobacteria have drawn much scientific attention because of their use as live bacteria in numerous food preparations with various health-related claims. For such reasons these bacteria constitute a growing area of interest with respect to genomics, molecular biology and genetics. This review will discuss the current knowledge on the molecular players that allow bifidobacteria to contend with heat-, osmotic-, bile-and acidic stress. Here, we describe the principal molecular chaperones involved in such stresses, as well as their use as phylogenetic markers for gaining insight into the evolutionary history of high G+C Gram positive bacteria.
De Dea Lindner
Juliano
J
Department of Genetics, Anthropology and Evolution, University of Parma, parco Area delle Scienze 11a, 43100 Parma, Italy.
Canchaya
Carlos
C
Zhang
Ziding
Z
Neviani
Erasmo
E
Fitzgerald
Gerald F
GF
van Sinderen
Douwe
D
Ventura
Marco
M
D000222:Adaptation, Physiological / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D001644:Bifidobacterium / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D004064:Digestive System / Q000382:microbiology*; D005516:Food Microbiology; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D016680:Genome, Bacterial; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D018832:Molecular Chaperones / Q000502:physiology*
D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins; D018832:Molecular Chaperones