title: Genome of Bifidobacteria and Carbohydrate Metabolism.
abstract: In recent years, the knowledge about bifidobacteria has considerably evolved thanks to recent progress in molecular biology. The analysis of the whole genome sequences of 48 taxa of bifidobacteria offers new perspectives for their classification, especially to set up limit between two species. Indeed, several species are presenting a high homology and should be reclassified. On the other hand, some subspecies are presenting a low homology and should therefore be reclassified into different species. In addition, a better knowledge of the genome of bifidobacteria allows a better understanding of the mechanisms involved in complex carbohydrate metabolism. The genome of some species of bifidobacteria from human but also from animal origin demonstrates high presence in genes involved in the metabolism of complex oligosaccharides. Those species should be further tested to confirm their potential to metabolize complex oligosaccharides in vitro and in vivo.
authors.affiliation: Fundamental and Applied Research for Animal & Health (FARAH), Food Science Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liège, Sart-Tilman, B43b Liege, B-4000 Belgium.
authors.forename: Pauline
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bondue
authors.affiliation: Fundamental and Applied Research for Animal & Health (FARAH), Food Science Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liège, Sart-Tilman, B43b Liege, B-4000 Belgium.
authors.forename: Véronique
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Delcenserie
keywords: bifidobacteria; bovine milk oligosaccharide; complex oligosaccharides; galacto oligosaccharides; genomic; human milk oligosaccharide; inuline