Abstract
A total of 19 species of Bifidobacterium were screened for the ability to grow with fructooligosaccharides (FOS) as the carbohydrate source. Several strains of animal origin (B. thermophilum, B. minimum, and B. cuniculi) grew significantly better than strains from human source on inulin (degree of polymerization (DP) ≤ 15). These strains grew equally well on inulin from several sources, but were unable to metabolize levan, a polymer of β (2-6)-D-fructose. Best growth was obtained on FOS preparations containing a significant proportion of low-molecular-weight (DP≥5) carbohydrates. Strains which grew best on inulin required the presence of this FOS for maximal induction of the exo-inulinase. These results suggest that animal strains of bifidobacteria may be used in conjunction with short-chain FOS as a supplement to animal feed.
