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Genus, species, and strain identification in probiotics: quality assurance
The quality and efficacy of a probiotic depend largely on its precise taxonomic identity. To verify this, it is essential to know and declare the genus, species, and especially the strain of the microorganism.
1. Gender
Genus is the first level of biological classification that groups organisms with common general characteristics.
Example: Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium.
Importance: Knowing the genus allows the probiotic to be placed in a microbial group with similar physiological properties, but it does not yet guarantee its specific clinical effect.
2. Species
Species defines a more restricted set of organisms within a genus that share genetic and functional traits.
Example: Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Bifidobacterium breve.
Importance: The species provides greater precision regarding the behavior of the probiotic, but within the same species there may be notable differences in safety and efficacy.
3. Strain
Strain is the most specific level of classification. It refers to a population descended from a single microbial isolate, with a unique genetic profile.
Example of complete nomenclature: Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (ATCC 53103).
The final part (“GG” or an alphanumeric code) identifies the specific strain and is linked to scientific studies, clinical trials and a deposit in a recognized strain bank.
Examples of strain banks:
ATCC (American Type Culture Collection, USA) → ATCC 53103.
DSMZ (Deutsche Sammlung von Mikroorganismen und Zellkulturen, Germany) → DSM 15954.
JCM (Japan Collection of Microorganisms, Japan) → JCM 1136.
CCT (Type Culture Collection, Brazil).
Strain designation is not decorative: it is the only way to correlate a probiotic with specific scientific evidence.
4. Strain nomenclature and traceability
A complete nomenclature is written at three levels: genus + species + strain identifier.
Example: Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis HN019.
“HN019” corresponds to the strain registered in international banks and used in clinical studies on digestive and immunological health.
Without this identifier, it is impossible to ensure that the microorganism has the same benefits proven in the literature.
5. Risks of a probiotic without a declared strain
A product that only states “contains Lactobacillus acidophilus” or “contains Bifidobacterium breve” lacks verifiable scientific value because:
It cannot be linked to specific clinical trials.
It may present differences in safety, antibiotic resistance, intestinal adhesion capacity or metabolite production.
There is no way for the consumer or the health authority to verify its identity or effectiveness.
It is not advisable to rely on a probiotic without a declared strain, as its quality, safety, and efficacy remain uncertain. Traceability to international strain banks ensures that the product actually contains the microorganism studied in the scientific literature.
Ref.: Best Practices Guidelines (2017) — Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN) & International Probiotics Association (IPA)
Ref.: IPA Guidelines: "Qualify a microorganism to be termed as 'probiotic'"
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AL Global Solutions is a company specializing in providing comprehensive supply chain management, procurement, and market development solutions in Asia. Based in Guangzhou, China, it acts as a local strategic partner for international clients, identifying savings opportunities, improving efficiency, and ensuring quality standards.