Bifidobacteriales

Overview

Bifidobacteriales is an order of Gram-positive, strictly anaerobic bacteria within the phylum Actinobacteria. The order contains the family Bifidobacteriaceae, which includes the genus Bifidobacterium — among the most widely studied probiotic organisms and a hallmark of healthy infant and adult gut communities.

Members of this order are saccharolytic fermenters producing acetate and lactate via the "bifid shunt" pathway. They play protective roles through competitive exclusion of pathogens, immune modulation, and maintenance of gut barrier integrity.

Disease Associations

Bifidobacteriales depletion is observed in endometriosis mouse models, where gut microbiota alterations include loss of these protective commensals alongside enrichment of Proteobacteria ([1]). Mendelian randomization analyses of postpartum depression identify Bifidobacteriales-related blood metabolites as part of the causal pathway linking gut dysbiosis to mood disorders ([2]).

Cross-References

References (3)

  1. Ming Yuan, Dong Li, Zhe Zhang et al. (2018). Yuan 2018 — Endometriosis Induces Gut Microbiota Alterations in Mice. Human Reproduction. doi:10.1093/humrep/dex372
  2. Zhan Gao, Runze Zhou, ZhiQiang Chen et al. (2024). Gao 2024 — Dissecting Causal Relationships Between Gut Microbiota, Blood Metabolites, and Postpartum Depression: A Mendelian Randomization Study. Research Square (preprint). doi:10.21203/rs.3.rs-4911853/v1
  3. Liu J, Chen Y, Peng C (2024). Liu 2024 — Causal relationship between gut microbiota and diabetic complications: a two-sample Mendelian randomization study. Diabetology & Metabolic Syndrome. doi:10.1186/s13098-024-01424-7

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