Intestinal bacteria and their potential as probiotics

Several bacteria in the natural gut flora or non-pathogenic bacteria which can colonise the gut have been shown to have preventive or even therapeutic effects on pathogens. Most commonly used and studied are bifidobacteria and lactobacilli (see Fig. 13.2) they have been shown to stimulate the innate immune system to produce cytokines, antimicrobial compounds and other metabolites affecting either the host and/or enteric bacteria (Aattouri et al., 2001 Xuan et al., 2001 Kralik et al, 2004 Scharek et al., 2005 Tannock, 2005 Davis et al., 2006). 

In the last on-line edition of The Prokaryotes (Biavati and Mattarelli, 2001) the genus Bifidobacterium is associated with the Bifidobacteriaceae family. Within the genus Bifidobacterium and the relevant Bifidobacteriaceae family, 

The main species currently considered or used for the development of probiotic products in pig and poultry are L. reuteri, L. acidophilus, L. rhamnosus, L. plantarum, L. delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus, L. lactis and L. brevis (Massi et al 2006 Bilgili and Moran, 1990). 

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