Lactobacillus rhamnosus(Hansen 1968) Collinset al. 1989Lactobacillus caseisubsp.rhamnosusHansen 1968 (Approved Lists 1980)
Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus(previouslyLactobacillus rhamnosus) is abacteriumthat originally was considered to be a subspecies ofL. casei, but genetic research found it to be a separate species in theL. caseiclade, which also includesL. paracaseiandL. zeae.It is a shortGram-positivehomofermentativefacultative anaerobicnon-spore-forming rod that often appears in chains. Some strains ofL. rhamnosusbacteria are being used asprobiotics, and are particularly useful in treating infections of the female urogenital tract, most particularly very difficult to treat cases ofbacterial vaginosis(or "BV").The speciesLacticaseibacillus rhamnosusandLimosilactobacillus reuteriare commonly found in the healthy female genito-urinary tract and are helpful to regain control of dysbiotic bacterial overgrowth during an active infection.L. rhamnosussometimes is used indairy productssuch as fermented milk and as non-starter-lactic acid bacterium (NSLAB) in long-ripened cheese.While frequently considered a beneficial organism,L. rhamnosusmay not be as beneficial to certain subsets of the population; in rare circumstances, especially those primarily involvingweakened immune systemor infants, it may causeendocarditis.Despite the rare infections caused byL. rhamnosus, the species is included in the list of bacterial species with qualified presumed safety (QPS) status of theEuropean Food Safety Agency.
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