Molecular identification of bifidobacteria from infant faeces

Bifidobacteria have been in the spotlight of scientific research due to their health promoting effects in humans. They play a significant role in controlling pH of the large intestine through liberation of lactic and acetic acid, thereby restricting the growth of many potential pathogens and putrefactive bacteria. This paper discusses the isolation and identification of bifidobacterial species from infant faeces by molecular methods. A study was conducted to isolate and identify bifidobacterial species from the faeces of 46 breast fed infants. Molecular tools like 16S rDNA targeted genus and species specific mPCR primers were used for confirmation. A total of 4 isolates were confirmed namely Bifidobacterium longum (Isolate code: IB10 and IB12) Bifidobacterium breve (Isolate code: IB39) and Bifidobacterium bifidum (Isolate code: IB42). Subsequently, the nucleotide sequences of the identified species were submitted to the GenBank for acquisition of accession numbers. The accession numbers assigned to the isolates were JN 656706 and JN 656707 for B. longum (IB10) and B. longum (IB12), respectively; JN 656708 for B. breve (IB39) and JN 656705 for B. bifidum (IB42).