Probiotic Potential of Bifidobacterium animalis Isolated from Humans and Animals

This research aimed to isolate and identify Bifidobacterium spp. from infants, chickens, and swines.  Probiotic properties of isolated Bifidobacterium spp. strains were also evaluated. Total number of 16 bacterial isolates inherited morphological and biochemical characteristics of Bifidobacterium spp. were retrieved and they were closely related to B. animalis based on phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA. Investigation of probiotics properties revealed that strains that were isolated from infants’ faeces (H1-05, H9-01 and H9-02) and from piglet stool samples (P8-S01) showed the best characteristics of probiotics since they had over 85% survival rate after exposure to acidic (pH 2.0) and 1% oxgall conditions. They showed high adhesion efficiency to intestinal mucus and they were able to survive at the maximum temperature of 60 O C. In addition, strain P8-S01 was able to grow in aerobic conditions. Keywords : Bifidobacterium  animalis , probiotics, infants, chickens, swines