DEGRADATION OF COMPLEX CARBOHYDRATES BY BIFIDOBACTERIUM SPP

Two hundred and ninety strains of 29 species of bifidobacteria from hu man and animal origin were surveyed for their ability to ferment compl ex carbohydrates. The substrates fermented by the largest number of sp ecies were D-galactosamine, D-glucosamine, amylose and amylopectin. Ma ny of the species isolated from animal habitats showed reduced ferment ation activity. Bifidobacterium dentium strains fermented gum guar and gum locust bean; porcine gastric mucin was fermented only by B. bifid um, B. infantis was the only species to ferment D-glucuronic acid; str ains of B. longum fermented arabinogalactan and the gums arabic, ghatt i and tragacanth; alpha-L-fucose was fermented by strains of B. breve, B. infantis and B. pseudocatenulatum. A key to the differentiation of Bifidobacterium species of human origin is provided.