Bifidobacterium breve & Streptococcus thermophilus: Novel aspects of these beneficial bacteria

Summary

Bifidobacterium breve and Streptococcus thermophilus are two beneficial bacteria that have been widely studied and used in fermented food products for human consumption. B. breve has been primarily used as probiotic bacteria and S. thermophilus as starter bacterial culture in the elaboration of dairy products.
These bacteria are currently used together in the production of infant formula which has proven to have beneficial effects in infants, which include the stimulation of the immune system, positive modulation of the gut microbiota and reduction of acute diarrhea. However, some aspects that explain how these bacteria function under certain conditions are unknown. In this thesis, several aspects of these two probiotic bacteria were investigated individually and in co-culture to look further in depth some of the mechanisms with which they produce positive effects on the host.