Colon Eubacterium

Creation of a suitable environment for the growth of colonic microorganisms, such as Bacteroids, Eubacterium, and Enterobacteriaceae, among others ... 

The colon contains about 400 different species of anaerobic and aerobic bacteria.15 The most common anaerobes in the colon are Bifidobacterium spp., Eubacterium spp., Peptostreptococcus spp., Fusobacterium spp., and Bacteroides spp. The most common aerobe in the colon is Escherichia coli.16,17 Colonic bacteria are involved in the synthesis of B complex vitamins and a majority of vitamin K.18... 

The final criterion for a prebiotic is that its fermentation in the colon has some beneficial impact on host health. In vitro studies using models of the colonic microbiota inoculated with human feces and studies in animals, have shown that fermentation of prebiotic fructans leads to accumulation of acetate and butyrate in intestinal/gut model contents. Fermentation of other prebiotics and certain dietary fibers has also been shown to increase propionate production in these systems. Small amounts of lactate and succinate can also be observed using in vitro models, but in vivo, these SCFA are rapidly converted into butyrate and propionate by the gut microbiota. Bifidobacteria and lactobacilli ferment carbohydrates mainly to acetate and lactate, but do not themselves produce butyrate. Recent studies have shown that dominant members of the Firmicutes, Eubacterium halli, Roseburia, Faecalibacterium prausnitzii and Anaerostipes caccae are able to cross-feed off acetate and lactate within the colonic milieu converting them into butyrate, providing a mechanism by which prebiotic modulation of acetate-produdng bifidobacteria can lead to elevated butyrate concentrations within the SCFA have been implicated... 

Microbial numbers and species diversity increases in the distal small intestine, with facultative anaerobes as well as more strict anaerobic species such as bacteroides, clostridia. Gram positive cocci and bifidobacteria reaching population levels of up to 10 colony forming units (CFU)/mL contents. The colon is the main site of microbial colonization in the gut, and the microflora is dominated by the strict anaerobes. This microflora is made up of Bacteroides spp., Eubacterium spp., Clostridium spp., Eusobacterium spp, Peptostreptococcus spp., and Bifidobacterium spp., with lower population levels of anaerobic streptococci, lactobacilli, methanogens and sulphate-reducing bacteria (Figure 6.2). Climax microbial populations occur (up to 10 cells/g) and estimates of diversity range from 400 to 500 different bacterial species. The facultative anaerobes such as lactobacilli, streptococci/enterococci and the Enterobacteriaceae occur in population levels about 100-1000-fold lower than strict anaerobes (Moore and Holdeman 1975 Conway 1995). 

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