Streptococcus thermophilus is a Gram+ bacterium that is part of the intestinal microbiota.
It belongs to the phylum Firmicutes.
It is chain-shaped and, as its name suggests, develops at an optimal warm temperature between 37 and 60°C.
As a lactobacillus, Streptococcus thermophilus has the enzymes to break down lactose, which is its energy source.
It is also found in yoghurt and other fermented dairy products.
Streptococcus thermophilus, a bacterium of the intestinal microbiota, is beneficial for patients suffering from irritable bowel syndrome.
It is able to ferment lactose, which leads to acidification of the environment and induces a reduction in bacteria, including Bilophila wadsworthia (Proteobacteria), which is thought to be involved in bowel disease.
Streptococcus thermophilus synthesises butyrate, a short chain fatty acid (SCFA) that has a beneficial effect on the gut ecosystem.
This bacterium provides nutritional support for severe and/or chronic intestinal hyperpermeability and contributes to the normal functioning of the immune system.