In vitro effects of phosphatidylcholine and transgalactooligosaccharides on the production of 1,2-sn-diacylglycerol by Bifidobacterium longum biovar infantis.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the production of the tumour promoter 1,2-sn-diacylglycerol (DAG) by a human gut isolate of Bifidobacterium longum biovar infantis.


RESULTS
Bifidobacterium longum biovar infantis was grown in vitro using anaerobic static batch cultures in the presence of phosphatidylcholine (PC) and trans-galactooligosaccharides (TOS). Production of DAG was found to be dependent upon the presence of PC, while TOS had a reducing effect. Considerable differences in morphology, growth and metabolic end products from the micro-organism were observed under the different culture conditions.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results have provided evidence that B. longum biovar infantis can produce DAG in vitro and that a prebiotic exerted a reducing effect upon this production.


CONCLUSIONS
The results presented in this study demonstrate an ability of ostensibly beneficial member of the colonic environment to produce unwanted compounds under certain conditions. Therefore, it may be important that a combination of substrates and other factors are assessed when studying the behaviour of any bacterial group or species, especially when designing the dietary interventions.
Vulevic
J
J
Food Microbial Sciences Unit, Department of Food Biosciences, The University of Reading, Reading, UK. j.vulevic@reading.ac.uk
Gibson
G R
GR
D019342:Acetic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D001644:Bifidobacterium / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D004075:Diglycerides / Q000378:metabolism*; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D005285:Fermentation; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D009844:Oligosaccharides / Q000378:metabolism*; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines / Q000378:metabolism*
C011439:1,2-diacylglycerol; D004075:Diglycerides; D009844:Oligosaccharides; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines; D019344:Lactic Acid; D019342:Acetic Acid