A genome-based identification approach for members of the genus Bifidobacterium.

During recent years, the significant and increasing interest in novel bifidobacterial strains with health-promoting characteristics has catalyzed the development of methods for efficient and reliable identification of Bifidobacterium strains at (sub) species level. We developed an assay based on recently acquired bifidobacterial genomic data and involving 98 primer pairs, called the Bifidobacterium-ampliseq panel. This panel includes multiplex PCR primers that target both core and variable genes of the pangenome of this genus. Our results demonstrate that the employment of the Bifidobacterium-ampliseq panel allows rapid and specific identification of the so far recognized 48 (sub)species harboring the Bifidobacterium genus, and thus represents a cost- and time-effective bifidobacterial screening methodology.