title: Degradation of complex carbohydrates by Bifidobacterium spp.
abstract: Two hundred and ninety strains of 29 species of bifidobacteria from human and animal origin were surveyed for their ability to ferment complex carbohydrates. The substrates fermented by the largest number of species were D-galactosamine, D-glucosamine, amylose and amylopectin. Many of the species isolated from animal habitats showed reduced fermentation activity. Bifidobacterium dentium strains fermented gum guar and gum locust bean; porcine gastric mucin was fermented only by B. bifidum, B. infantis was the only species to ferment D-glucuronic acid; strains of B. longum fermented arabinogalactan and the gums arabic, ghatti 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.
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Citomorfologia Normale e Patologica, CNR Sezione di Bologna, Istituto Codivilla Putti, Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Crociani
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alessandrini
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Mucci
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Biavati
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001644:Bifidobacterium / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D050260:Carbohydrate Metabolism; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates / Q000378:metabolism; D005285:Fermentation; D005516:Food Microbiology; D006801:Humans; D007422:Intestines / Q000382:microbiology; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates