AUTHOR=Turroni Francesca , Duranti Sabrina , Bottacini Francesca , Guglielmetti Simone , Van Sinderen Douwe , Ventura Marco 

TITLE=Bifidobacterium bifidum as an example of a specialized human gut commensal

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Microbiology

VOLUME=5

YEAR=2014

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2014.00437

DOI=10.3389/fmicb.2014.00437

ISSN=1664-302X

ABSTRACT=<p>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 <italic>Bifidobacterium bifidum</italic> 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 <italic>B. bifidum</italic> to the human gut.</p>