Bifidobacterium is an important bacterial genus and in the first few months of life it constitutes an significant component of the microbiota of the gastrointestinal tract of healthy humans. There has been much recent interest in specific strains of bifidobacteria as their presence in the gut microbiota has been linked to a range of health benefits and a number of strains are considered as probiotic organisms. In order to exert a probiotioc effect bacteria need to be able to colonise a host. Comparative genomic studies have suggested that the synthesis of exopolysaccharides (EPS) is one strategy adopted by bacteria to enhance their ability to colonise hosts. A number of different Bifidobacteria breve strains have been found in human milk, in the adult gut and in the human vagina. At the same time genomic studies have identified that B breve strains have the capacity to synthesis EPS but todate the structures of these polysaccharides are not known.
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