Lactobacillus rhamnosus

Taxobox
color = lightgrey
name = "Lactobacillus rhamnosus"
regnum = Bacteria
divisio = Firmicutes
classis = Bacilli
ordo = Lactobacillales
familia = Lactobacillaceae
genus = "Lactobacillus"
species = "L. rhamnosus"
binomial = "Lactobacillus rhamnosus"
binomial_authority = (Hansen 1968)
Collins "et al." 1989

"Lactobacillus rhamnosus" is a probiotic bacterium that was originally considered to be a subspecies of "L. casei", but later genetic research found it to be a species of its own. "L. rhamnosus" inhibits the growth of most harmful bacteria in the intestine. It is used as a natural preservative in yogurt and other dairy products to extend the shelf life. Some studies have been done on its "in vivo" effects. While frequently considered a beneficial organism, "L. rhamnosus" has been discovered to be pathogenic in certain circumstances. [cite journal |author=Avlami A, Kordossis T, Vrizidis N, Sipsas NV |title=Lactobacillus rhamnosus endocarditis complicating colonoscopy |journal=J. Infect. |volume=42 |issue=4 |pages=283–5 |year=2001 |pmid=11545575 |doi=10.1053/jinf.2001.0793]

"Lactobacillus rhamnosus" GG

"Lactobacillus rhamnosus" GG (LGG) is a strain of "L. rhamnosus" isolated from the intestinal tract of a healthy human being in 1983, filed for patent on 17 April 1985, by Sherwood Gorbach and Barry Goldin. [cite patent|US|4839281] (The first letters of their last names provided the "GG"). [cite journal |author=Silva M, Jacobus NV, Deneke C, Gorbach SL |title=Antimicrobial substance from a human Lactobacillus strain |journal=Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. |volume=31 |issue=8 |pages=1231–3 |year=1987 |pmid=3307619] The patent refers to a strain of "L. acidophilus" GG" with American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) Accession No. 53103; the organism was later reclassified as a strain of "L. rhamnosus". The patent claims that the LGG strain is acid– and bile–stable, has a high avidity for mucosal cells of the human intestinal tract, and produces lactic acid.

Gorbach and Goldin have published a number of studies of LGG, for instance to demonstrate that LGG tolerates the acid conditions in the stomach and the bile acids in the small intestine. [cite journal |author=Conway PL, Gorbach SL, Goldin BR |title=Survival of lactic acid bacteria in the human stomach and adhesion to intestinal cells |journal=J. Dairy Sci. |volume=70 |issue=1 |pages=1–12 |year=1987 |pmid=3106442 |doi=] Acting as a probiotic, LGG is claimed to colonize the digestive tract and balance the intestinal microflora. However, Lactobacillus rhamnosus is much more likely to be a transient inhabitant and not autochthonous. [cite journal |author=Walter, J. |title=The ecological role of lactobacilli in the gastrointestinal tract: Implications for fundamental and biomedical research |journal=Appl Environ Microbiol. Ahead of Print 6 June 2008|year=2008 |] In 2005, LGG was used successfully for the first time to treat gastrointestinal carriage of vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) in renal patients. [cite journal |author=Manley KJ, Fraenkel MB, Mayall BC, Power DA |title=Probiotic treatment of vancomycin-resistant enterococci: a randomised controlled trial |journal=Med J Aust. |volume=186 |issue=9 |pages=454–7 |year=2007 |pmid=17484706]

LGG is a trademark owned by Valio Ltd. Corporation of Finland who signed an agreement with Gorbach and Goldin that gave Valio exclusive global rights to market the LGG probiotic brand.Fact|date=August 2007

References

Further reading