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 ATCC 15697 growing on synthetic oligofructose or its components. Methods and Results: The studies were carried out in regulated or non-regulated batch cultures on semi-synthetic media. Differences between the carbohydrate utilization patterns with glucose, fructose, sucrose and fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS) were determined. Glucose was the preferred substrate for growth and biomass production, whereas fructose was the best for lactate and acetate production. With sucrose, biomass production reached the level obtained 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 necessary 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 metabolites. Significance and Impact of the Study: A better understanding of the bifidogenic nature of oligofructose has been gained.