Biological attributes and enzyme profiling of Bifidobacterium sp.: A State-of-art review

Abstract

Bifidobacterium represents a genus within the phylum Actinobacteria. It representing ubiquitous inhabitants of the human orogastrointestinal tract and vagina. Some of its species and typical inhabitants in the human gut.The genus consists of more than 50 species, with only 10 species being found in humans. The Bifidobacterium species were classified into four classes viz. oxygen hypersensitive, oxygen sensitive, oxygen tolerant and microaerophilic. B.adolescentis and B.longum subspecies are the major bifidobacterium species in the adult intestinal flora and B.longum species. All Bifidobacterium strains possessed leucine aminopeptidase, α- and β – galactosidase and α-glucosidase activities. β – glucosidase was not detected in B.bifidum or B.longum, but it was present in all other species. N-acetyl - D - glucasaminidase activity was present in B.bifidum (ATCC 11863) had higher N-acetyl - D – glucasaminidase activity than the other bifidobacteria. The present research investigation is focused on the state-of-art review on the various biological and enzymatic attributes of Bifidobacterium sp. It is well established that Bifidobacteria confer positive health benefits to their host via their metabolic activities. The availability of complete bifidobacterial genomes and corresponding comparative analysis allow for the identification of mechanisms underlying bifidobacterial metabolic activity. Carbohydrate utilization studies and identification of metabolic pathways also provides fundamental information allowing for the identification of novel & effective probiotic compounds.