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Nestlé sequences the genome of a probiotic bacterium

Lausanne, February 19, 2004


The complete genome sequence of the human commensal bacterium Lactobacillus johnsonii La1, known for its health beneficial effects, has been determined by a team of scientists at the Nestlé Research Center in Lausanne (Switzerland). The genome sequence and its analysis are published as The genome sequence of the probiotic intestinal bacterium Lactobacillus johnsonii NCC 533 on the internet site of the journal “Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America”, website address: http://www.pnas.org/papbyrecent.shtml.

This finding holds much promise, since it will promote the understanding of the physiology of the probiotics, as well as the way that these colonizing bacteria positively influence our health.

As a pioneer in the genomics of probiotics, the Nestlé Research Center has taken another major step forward in building scientific knowledge and in understanding how probiotic bacteria influence the immune system and the intestinal functions and how they strengthen their defense. The results of these investigations will allow Nestlé to broaden probiotics applications in a wide range of new products.

Reference of the article:
R. David Pridmore, Bernard Berger, Frank Desiere, David Vilanova, Caroline Barretto, Anne-Cecile Pittet, Marie-Camille Zwahlen, Martine Rouvet, Eric Altermann, Rodolphe Barrangou, Beat Mollet, Annick Mercenier, Todd Klaenhammer, Fabrizio Arigoni, and Mark A. Schell, 2004, " The genome sequence of the probiotic intestinal bacterium Lactobacillus johnsonii NCC 533", Proc Natl Acad Sci USA.;101: 2512-2517

For more information, please contact:
Ms H. van der Kaaij, Communication Group, Nestlé Research Center, Tel.: 0041-21-785 95 57, e-mail : hengameh.vanderkaaij@rdls.nestle.com



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