Characterisation of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BB-12 and other probiotic bacteria using genomics, transcriptomics and proteomics

Determination of the complete genome sequence of a probiotic bacterium allows a number of new approaches to understanding the biology of the bacterium and provides new insight into the beneficial effects obtained through the use of probiotic products. Genomic information for B. animalis subsp. lactis strain BB-12 has been used to make microarrays and characterise the proteome of this important probiotic strain. These tools have been used to characterise other Bifidobacterium strains and to develop a better understanding of the stresses BB-12 is exposed to during industrial-scale production. In addition, changes in gene expression when cells are grown in the presence of bile salts or fructooligosaccharides have been determined. A comparison of information derived from the genome sequence of BB-12 to information derived from the published genome sequences of other probiotic bacteria is also provided.