soulmate at picknowl.com.au wrote:
>> To anyone with information on Bifidobacteria,
>> I am currently writing a paper on the effects of Bifidobacteria on both
> E.coli levels and the effects on human health. If anyone has any
> referenced information (or internet references) on this, as well as as
> the following questions, this would be greatly appreciated. 1. What is
> the antibiotic that Bifidobacteria produces? Is it effective? 2. Why are
> older aged people more vulnerable to E.coli poisoning? 3. Does decreased
> Bifidobacteria levels increase the susceptibility of E.coli poisoning? 4.
> Can oral forms of Bifidobacteria be consumed? How? Is it effective? 5.
> Does fructooligosaccharides (FOS) promote Bifidobacteria growth? Does FOS
> have any other effects on the human body?
>> Any prompt reply would be appreciated.
>> Matthew
>soulmate at picknowl.com.au>> -------------------==== Posted via Deja News ====-----------------------
>http://www.dejanews.com/ Search, Read, Post to Usenet
In a sample of food, such as a yogurt, the Bifidobacteria will
lower the pH of the food to about 4.5 and the ordinary E.coli
will die out within a few days. The verotoxic strain of E. coli
O157 seems to be more resistant to acidic conditions. It could
survive and the standard tests for E.coli (growth at 44 deg C )
would indicate an absence of E.coli when in fact the O157 strain
were still present.
In a human body the situation would be different due to the
body's effect on pH control.
If a mixed batch of bacteria were eaten they would have to go
through the acid stomach and survival of the bacteria would
presumably depend on how much food was eaten and how much acid
was present.
Have you seen the Bad Bug Book
http://vm.cfsan.fda.gov/~mow/intro.html
Hope this helps Michele
