Lactobacillus acidophilus

Lactobacillus acidophilus
"Lactobacillus acidophilus", Numbered ticks are 11 μm (micrometers)
Lactobacillus acidophilus, Numbered ticks are 11 μm
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Bacteria
Phylum: Bacillota
Class: Bacilli
Order: Lactobacillales
Family: Lactobacillaceae
Genus: Lactobacillus
Species:
L. acidophilus
Binomial name
Lactobacillus acidophilus
(Moro 1900) Hansen & Mocquot 1970

Lactobacillus acidophilus (Neo-Latin 'acid-loving milk-bacillus') is a rod-shaped, Gram-positive, homofermentative, anaerobic microbe first isolated from infant feces in the year 1900.[1] The species is commonly found in humans, specifically the gastrointestinal tract and oral cavity as well as some speciality fermented foods such as fermented milk or yogurt, though it is not the most common species for this. The species most readily grows at low pH levels (below 5.0), and has an optimum growth temperature of 37 °C. Certain strains of L. acidophilus show strong probiotic effects, and are commercially used in dairy production. The genome of L. acidophilus has been sequenced.

L. acidophilus has antagonistic effects on the growth of Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhimurium, and Clostridium perfringens.[2] Out of the four organisms, Staphylococcus aureus is the most affected. Along with S. aureus, the other Gram-positive bacteria, C. perfringens, was affected more by L. acidophilus, than the two other bacteria that are Gram-negative. L. acidophilus is found to also reduce oral plaque formation by Streptococcus mutans.[3]

  1. ^ Huang Z, Zhou X, Stanton C, Ross RP, Zhao J, Zhang H, et al. (September 2021). "Comparative Genomics and Specific Functional Characteristics Analysis of Lactobacillus acidophilus". Microorganisms. 9 (9): 1992. doi:10.3390/microorganisms9091992. PMC 8464880. PMID 34576887.
  2. ^ Gilliland SE, Speck ML (December 1977). "Antagonistic Action of Lactobacillus acidophilus Toward Intestinal and Foodborne Pathogens in Associative Cultures 1". Journal of Food Protection. 40 (12): 820–823. doi:10.4315/0362-028x-40.12.820. PMID 30736216.
  3. ^ Tahmourespour A, Kermanshahi RK (February 2011). "The effect of a probiotic strain (Lactobacillus acidophilus) on the plaque formation of oral Streptococci". Bosnian Journal of Basic Medical Sciences. 11 (1): 37–40. doi:10.17305/bjbms.2011.2621. PMC 4362563. PMID 21342140.