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World J Gastroenterol. Nov 7, 2014; 20(41): 15163-15176
Published online Nov 7, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i41.15163
Published online Nov 7, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i41.15163
Intestinal microbiota in health and disease: Role of bifidobacteria in gut homeostasis
Rafael Tojo, Gastroenterology Department, Hospital de Cabueñes, 33203 Gijón, Asturias, Spain
Adolfo Suárez, Gastroenterology Department, Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias (HUCA), 33006 Oviedo, Asturias, Spain
Marta G Clemente, Respiratory Department, Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias (HUCA), 33006 Oviedo, Asturias, Spain
Clara G de los Reyes-Gavilán, Abelardo Margolles, Miguel Gueimonde, Patricia Ruas-Madiedo, Department of Microbiology and Biochemistry of Dairy Products, Instituto de Productos Lácteos de Asturias-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (IPLA-CSIC), 33300 Villaviciosa, Asturias, Spain
Author contributions: Tojo R, Suárez A, Clemente MG, de los Reyes-Gavilán CG, Margolles A, Gueimonde M and Ruas-Madiedo P contributed equally to this work; Tojo R and Suárez A wrote the section “microbiota and gastrointestinal pathology”; Clemente MG and Margolles A wrote the section “microbiota and extra-intestinal pathology”; de los Reyes-Gavilán CG, Gueimonde M and Ruas-Madiedo P wrote the remaining sections; Tojo R, Suárez A, Clemente MG, de los Reyes-Gavilán CG, Margolles A, Gueimonde M and Ruas-Madiedo P wrote the paper and approved the final draft of the review.
Supported by The Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness and by FEDER European Union funds, projects No. AGL2010-14952, No. AGL2010-16525 and No. AGL2012-33278
Correspondence to: Patricia Ruas-Madiedo, PhD, Department of Microbiology and Biochemistry of Dairy Products, Instituto de Productos Lácteos de Asturias-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (IPLA-CSIC), Paseo Río Linares s/n, 33300 Villaviciosa, Asturias, Spain. ruas-madiedo@ipla.csic.es
Telephone: +34-895-892131 Fax: +34-985-892233
Received: March 19, 2014
Revised: May 8, 2014
Accepted: June 14, 2014
Published online: November 7, 2014
Processing time: 235 Days and 21.9 Hours
Revised: May 8, 2014
Accepted: June 14, 2014
Published online: November 7, 2014
Processing time: 235 Days and 21.9 Hours
Core Tip
Core tip: In this review we focus on how bifidobacteria can contribute to maintain a proper health status through their interactions with gut microbiota and the host. We present several gastrointestinal and extra-intestinal pathologies associated with imbalances in the microbiota composition and function, including bifidobacteria-associated dysbiosis. We review up-to-date scientific evidence sustaining the use of probiotic bifidobacteria to prevent, or treat, several disorders, and we include a list of specific Bifidobacterium strains that have been tested in human clinical studies.