Recent developments in probiotics: An emphasis on Bifidobacterium

Microorganisms colonize the human gastrointestinal tract. These microbes may vary depending upon age, food habits, and health conditions. Uses of probiotics and probiotic-containing foods are increasing with our understanding towards the beneficial associations of gut colonizing microbes and the human body. Numerous fermented products and dietary supplements contain beneficial probiotic microbial strains. Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium are the most common genera, which have been used as commercial probiotics. This review highlights recent progress related to the application of Bifidobacterium probiotic strains, their biofunctional attributes, safety evaluation, antibiotic resistance and the possibility to transfer antimicrobial resistance genes to other gut colonizing microbes. Further, few recently developed encapsulation methods to enhance the survivability of Bifidobacterium based probiotic formulations have also been discussed.

Automated summary

This article discusses the colonization of probiotics in the human gastrointestinal tract and their beneficial associations with the human body, as well as the latest developments in the application, biofunctional attributes, safety evaluation, and antibiotic resistance of Bifidobacterium probiotic strains. It also explores new methods to enhance the survivability of Bifidobacterium-based probiotic formulations.