Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA)-producing bacteria are of clinical and industrial interest due to the multiple beneficial effects of this bile acid on human health. UDCA is the 7 b -OH epimer of the primary (i.e. synthesized by the liver) bile acid chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA). Epimerization proceeds in two subsequent and reversible steps, catalysed by a 7 a - and a 7 b -hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (7 a - and 7 b - HSDH), with 7oxo-lithocholic acid (7oxo-LCA) as the intermediate product. The aim of this study was to test the 7 a - and 7 b -HSDH activities of anaerobic whole cell cultures of a number of lactic acid bacteria and human intestinal isolates, using CDCA, UDCA and 7oxo- LCA as the substrates. Among 140 strains tested, 21 exhibited at least one of both 7-HSDH activities. 7 a -HSDH activity was detected in six strains, 7 b -HSDH in nine strains, and both activities in six other strains. All active strains were isolated from normal human and infant faeces. They belonged to the genera Clostridium , Eubacterium and Ruminococcus , whereas no strain of Lactobacillus , Bifidobacterium or Streptococcus was found to be active under our study conditions. The present study therefore revealed, for the first time, a number of normal human intestinal isolates supporting the epimerization of CDCA to UDCA, and further extended our knowledge of those intestinal bacteria which are responsible for 7 a -or7 b -HSDH activity. Key words: screening, bile acids, epimerization, intestinal microflora, lactic acid bacteria, probiotics.