title: Bifidobacterium bifidum as an example of a specialized human gut commensal.
abstract: Bifidobacteria are considered dominant and for this reason key members of the human gut microbiota, particularly during the first one to two years following birth. A substantial proportion of the bifidobacterial population in the intestine of infants belong to the Bifidobacterium bifidum taxon, whose members have been shown to display remarkable physiological and genetic features involving adhesion to epithelia, as well as utilization of host-derived glycans. Here, we reviewed the current knowledge on the genetic features and associated adaptations of B. bifidum to the human gut.
authors.affiliation: Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre and Department of Microbiology, Bioscience Institute, National University of Ireland Cork, Ireland.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Turroni
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Probiogenomics, Department of Life Sciences, University of Parma Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: Sabrina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Duranti
authors.affiliation: Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre and Department of Microbiology, Bioscience Institute, National University of Ireland Cork, Ireland.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bottacini
authors.affiliation: Department of Food, Environmental and Nutritional Sciences, University of Milan Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Guglielmetti
authors.affiliation: Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre and Department of Microbiology, Bioscience Institute, National University of Ireland Cork, Ireland.
authors.forename: Douwe
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Van Sinderen
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Probiogenomics, Department of Life Sciences, University of Parma Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ventura
keywords: Bifidobacterium bifidum; bifidobacteria; genomics; microbiota; probiotics