The dual probiotic and antibiotic nature of Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus

• Published in: BMB reports Vol. 45; no. 2; pp. 71 - 78
• Main Authors: Dwidar, Mohammed, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology, Ulsan, Republic of Korea, Monnappa, Ajay Kalanjana, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology, Ulsan, Republic of Korea, Mitchell, Robert J., Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology, Ulsan, Republic of Korea
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Korea (South) Korean Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 01-02-2012; 생화학분자생물학회
• Subjects: Animals; Antibiosis; Bacteria - drug effects; Bdellovibrio; Bdellovibrio - growth & development; Bdellovibrio - physiology; DEPREDACION; Humans; PREDATION; Probiotic; PROBIOTICOS; PROBIOTICS; Probiotics - pharmacology; PROBIOTIQUE; 화학
• ISSN: 1976-6696; 1976-670X
• DOI: 10.5483/bmbrep.2012.45.2.71

Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus is a predatory bacterium which attacks and consumes other bacterial strains, including the well known pathogens E. coli O157 : H7, Salmonella typhimurium and Helicobacter pylon. This remarkable activity has been the focus of research for nearly five decades, with exciting practical applications to medical, agriculture and farming practices recently being published. This article reviews many of the exciting steps research into this bacterium, and similar bacteria, has taken, focusing primarily on their use as both an antibiotic to remove harmful and pathogenic bacteria and as a probiotic to help curb and control the bacterial populations within the intestinal tract. Owing to the unique and dual nature of this bacterium, this review proposes the use of "amphibiotic" to describe these bacteria and their activities.