The generation time of a bacterium is defined as the time taken by it to double its numbers. Whether a bacterial species can work very fast has to do largely to its generation time. One of the proposed modes of action of the probiotic bacteria to exert its beneficial effects is to have a rate of proliferation greater than that of its colonial competitors. Once that is done it can easily achieve its goal to flourish rapidly and outnumber the undesirable or pathogenic bacteria, the so called ‘bad bugs’ of the body. Generally, there are many strains of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium that have a very short generation time. The average doubling time of the species of most of these bacteria is mostly in the range of 2-3 hours in the intestinal tract. This is a short enough time to get growth within the food as it moves along through the digestive system. However, there are strains that have a comparatively large generation time in vivo and consequently they are unable to show such colonization of food during its movement. Nonetheless, the bacteria with smaller doubling time can eventually aid in the digestion of the food and even prevent food poisoning. The trait can be put to use in patients with digestive malfunction. But before that a precise characterization of the growth characteristics of the probiotics in use has to be done. [Read more…]