Fermentations of fructo-oligosaccharides and their components by Bifidobacterium infantis ATCC 15697 on batch culture in semi-synthetic medium

Aims: To compare the physiological behaviour of Bifidobacterium infantis AT CC 15697 growing on synthetic oligofructose or its components. Methods and Results: The studies were carried out in regulated or non-regul ated batch cultures on semi-synthetic media. Differences between the carboh ydrate utilization patterns with glucose, fructose, sucrose and fructo-olig osaccharides (FOS) were determined. Glucose was the preferred substrate for growth and biomass production, whereas fructose was the best for lactate a nd acetate production. With sucrose, biomass production reached the level o btained with glucose, whereas with FOS, more metabolites were produced, as with fructose. In a mixture of FOS, the shorter saccharides were used first and fructose was released in the medium. Fructofuranosidase, an enzyme nec essary to hydrolyse FOS, was inducible by fructose. Conclusions: Glucose contained in FOS and sucrose might sustain growth and cell production, while fructose might enable the production of major metabo lites. Significance and Impact of the Study: A better understanding of the bifidog enic nature of oligofructose has been gained.