Comparison of partial gene sequences encoding a phosphoketolase for the identification of bifidobacteria

In this study, a new identification method for Bifidobacterium species based on sequencing of a partial xylulose-5-phosphate/fructose-6-phosphate phosphoketolase gene (xfp) was evaluated. Approximately 500 bp sequences from 68 different strains including 34 type strains were compared. The results showed that this method discriminated between all bifidobacteria, generally with greater accuracy than 16S rDNA sequence analysis. It even clearly distinguished B. longum biovar infantis from B. longum biovar longum and B. longum biovar suis, as well as B. animalis from B. lactis.