PROBIOTICS DATABASE
Bacteria from the Lactobacillus paracasei species are typically rod shaped, gram-positive and facultatively heterofermentative, meaning that in addition to lactic acid, they can also produce other metabolites such as ethanol/acetic acid and carbon dioxide (CO2), depending on the conditions and what types of sugars are available to them.
As of April 2020 L. paracasei has been officially reclassified to Lacticaseibacillus paracasei subsp. paracasei (Zheng J et al., 2020).
L. paracasei is one of the species of lactic acid bacteria which is brilliantly able to adapt to different environments; this is why L. paracasei is found naturally in both the human and animal gut as well as being used as a starter culture in the food industry, commonly in dairy products. It is also a species which has received GRAS (generally recognised as safe) status and is used in probiotic supplements.
Historically there has been significant debate over the nomenclature of L. paracasei & L. casei species, with many strains being classed under either species in literature where they would in fact be more accurately labelled Lactobacillus paracasei subsp. paracasei, if we were to follow current guidelines.
As some properties & benefits of probiotics may be strain-specific, this database provides even more detailed information at strain level. Read more about the strains that we have included from this genus below.
Lactobacillus acidophilus strains: Lactobacillus acidophilus LA-05, Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM®, Lactobacillus acidophilus Rosell-52.
Lactobacillus casei strains: Lactobacillus casei Shirota, Lactobacillus casei DN-114001.
Lactobacillus plantarum strains: Lactobacillus plantarum LP299v.
Lactobacillus reuteri strains: Lactobacillus reuteri Protectis and Lactobacillus reuteri RC-14®.
Lactobacillus rhamnosus strains: Lactobacillus rhamnosus LGG®, Lactobacillus rhamnosus HN001, Lactobacillus rhamnosus GR-1® and Lactobacillus rhamnosus Rosell-11.
Lactobacillus paracasei strains: Lactobacillus paracasei CASEI 431®.
For more insights and professional updates on probiotics, please visit the Probiotic Professionals pages.
Zheng J, Wittouck S. et al., (2020) 'A taxonmonic note on the genus Lactobacillus: Description of 23 novel genera, emended description of the genus Lactobacillus Beijerinck 1901, and union of Lactobacillaceae and Leuconostocaceae'. Int.J.Syst.Evol.Microbiol, 70(4): 2782-2858. DOI: 10.1099/ijsem.0.004107