2001 Volume 48 Issue 9 Pages 688-692
The stimulative effect of Lactobacillus gasseri NY0509 and L. casei NY1301 on the in vitro growth of Bifidobacterium species, human intestinal bacteria, was investigated. L. gasseri NY0509 and/or L. casei NY1301 were mixed-cultured with four strains of Bifidobacterium species (B. longum JCM 1217T, B. adolescentis JCM 1275T, B. breve JCM 1192T, and B. bifidum JCM 1254) in 10% skim milk. L. gasseri NY0509 and L. casei NY1301 markedly increased the numbers of B. longum JCM1217T, B. adolescentis JCM 1275T, and B. breve JCM 1192T at early stationary phase in comparison with monoculture of Bifidobacterium, respectively. On the contrary, the growth rate of B. bifidum JCM 1254 was only stimulated in the mixed-culture with L. casei NY1301. These results suggest that L. gasseri NY0509 and L. casei NY1301 stimulate the growth of Bifido-bacterium species, beneficial bacteria in human intestine.