The key difference between Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Lactobacillus reuteri is that Lactobacillus rhamnosus is a bacterial species that may sometimes be pathogenic in people who have weakened immunity and infants, while Lactobacillus reuteri is a bacterial species that is generally non-pathogenic.
Lactobacillus is a genus of bacteria that are generally gram-positive, rod-shaped, non-spore-forming, aerotolerant anaerobes or microaerophilic. The genus Lactobacillus contains 260 diverse bacterial species. The species of the Lactobacillus genus are the most common probiotics found in food, such as yogurt. Moreover, they protect hosts such as humans against potential invasions by other pathogens. Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Lactobacillus reuteri are two bacterial species of genus Lactobacillus.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Lactobacillus Rhamnosus
3. What is Lactobacillus Reuteri
4. Similarities – Lactobacillus Rhamnosus and Lactobacillus Reuteri
5. Lactobacillus Rhamnosus vs Lactobacillus Reuteri in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Lactobacillus Rhamnosus vs Lactobacillus Reuteri
What is Lactobacillus Rhamnosus?
Lactobacillus rhamnosus is a bacterial species that belongs to genus Lactobacillus. Earlier it was considered to be a subspecies of Lactobacillus casei but recent genetic research concluded that it is a separate species in the L. casei clade. L. rhamnosus is a gram-positive, homofermentative, facultative anaerobic, rod-shaped, and non-spore-forming bacterial species. It often appears in a chain. Some strains of this species are used as probiotics. They are also useful in treating infections of the female urogenital tract such as bacterial vaginosis.
Figure 01: Lactobacillus Rhamnosus
The bacterial species Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Lactobacillus reuteri are commonly found in the healthy female genitourinary tract. They are helpful to control dysbiotic overgrowth of other bacteria during the infection period. This bacterial species is sometimes used in dairy products such as fermented milk and long ripened cheese. Though this species is considered to be beneficial, it may not be beneficial to some subsets of the population. This is because in rare circumstances, it causes endocarditis in those who have weakened immunity and infants. However, despite the rare infections caused by L. rhamnosus, it is included in the list of bacterial species with qualified presumed safety status of the European Food Safety Agency.
What is Lactobacillus Reuteri?
Lactobacillus reuteri is a bacterial species belonging to the genus Lactobacillus, which is generally non-pathogenic. It is a well-studied probiotic bacterial species found in natural environments. It can colonize a large number of mammals, including humans. In humans, it is found in different body sites such as the gastrointestinal tract, urinary tract, and skin.
In addition to its usage as probiotics in food, L.reuteri provides several benefits to hosts such as humans. It produces antimicrobial compounds such as an antibiotic (reuterin), ethanol, and organic acids that can inhibit the colonization of pathogenic microbes. Some strains of this species modulate the host immune system by reducing pro-inflammatory cytokines while promoting regulatory T cell development and function. Furthermore, it also can strengthen the intestinal barrier, which plays a major role in reducing inflammatory diseases. In addition to the above benefits, L.reuteri also promotes dental health by killing Streptococcus mutans.
What are the Similarities Between Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Lactobacillus reuteri?
- Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Lactobacillus reuteri are two bacterial species belonging to the genus Lactobacillus.
- Both bacterial species belong to the lactic acid bacteria group.
- These bacterial species are gram-positive, rod-shaped, and non-spore-forming bacteria.
- Both are used as probiotics in foods such as yogurt and cheese.
- They are commonly found in the healthy female genitourinary tract, and both are helpful to control the dysbiotic overgrowth of pathogenic bacteria during the infection period.
What is the Difference Between Lactobacillus Rhamnosus and Lactobacillus Reuteri?
Lactobacillus rhamnosus is a bacterial species belonging to the genus Lactobacillus, which may sometimes be pathogenic in people who have weakened immunity and infants, while Lactobacillus reuteri is a bacterial species that belong to the genus Lactobacillus, which are generally non-pathogenic. Thus, this is the key difference between Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Lactobacillus reuteri. Furthermore, Lactobacillus rhamnosus is mainly found in the intestine, oral cavity, and vagina of humans, while Lactobacillus reuteri is mainly found in the gastrointestinal tract, urinary tract, skin, and breast milk of humans.
The below infographic presents the differences between Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Lactobacillus reuteri in tabular form for side by side comparison.
Summary – Lactobacillus Rhamnosus vs Lactobacillus Reuteri
Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Lactobacillus reuteri are two bacterial species belonging to the genus Lactobacillus. Both bacterial species are gram-positive, rod-shaped, and non spore-forming bacteria. Lactobacillus rhamnosus is a bacterial species that may sometimes be pathogenic in people who have weakened immunity and infants, while Lactobacillus reuteri is a bacterial species that are generally non-pathogenic. So, this is the summary of the difference between Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Lactobacillus reuteri.
Reference:
1. Raman, Ryan. “Lactobacillus Rhamnosus: Benefits, Side Effects, and Dosage.” Healthline, Healthline.
2. Mu, Qinghui, et al. “Role of Lactobacillus Reuteri in Human Health and Diseases.” Frontiers in Microbiology, Frontiers Media S.A.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Lactobacillus rhamnosus-LSU lab (Dr. Karen Sullivan)” By Bsimon2014 – This photo was taken under the supervision of an instructor at LSU. It was taken in the lab of Dr. Karen Sullivan (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia