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Rapid Detection of Bifidobacterium dentium by Enzymatic Hydrolysis of β-Glucuronide Substrates
1Groupe de recherche sur les bactéries lactiques, Food Research and Development Centre, 3600 Casavant Boulevard West, St-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada, J2S 8E3.
Abstract:
Enzyme profiles and fermentation patterns of bifidobacteria were studied to determine phenotypic characteristics that allow the rapid detection of Bifidobacterium dentium and its differentiation from Bifidobacterium adolescentis , Bifidobacterium angulatum , Bifidobacterium catenulatum , and Bifidobacterium pseudocatenulatum . Among 43 bifidobacterial strains tested, the production of β-glucuronidase was limited to six strains of B. dentium . The presence of B. dentium on a selective medium may be rapidly confirmed by the detection of β-glucuronidase activity. Columbia agar containing propionic acid was chosen to enumerate bifidobacteria previously cultivated in MRS medium. After 48 h of incubation, β-glucuronidase activity was determined by using a plate staining procedure. B. dentium strains gave positive results for β-glucuronidase activity after application of the overlay solution of β-glucuronide substrate. The β-glucuronidase assay is a rapid screening method for B. dentium . This method might be useful for selection of nonpathogenic strains or detection of fecal contamination from human origin.
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