title: Carbohydrate catabolic diversity of bifidobacteria and lactobacilli of human origin.
abstract: Because increased proportions of particular commensal bacteria such as bifidobacteria and lactobacilli have been linked to human health through a variety of mechanisms, there is corresponding interest in identifying carbohydrates that promote growth and metabolic activity of these bacteria. We evaluated the ability of 20 carbohydrates, including several commercially available carbohydrates that are sold as prebiotic ingredients, to support growth of 32 human-derived isolates belonging to the genera Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus, including those isolated from healthy elderly subjects. In general, bifidobacterial strains were shown to display more diverse carbohydrate utilization profiles compared to the tested Lactobacillus species, with several bifidobacterial strains capable of metabolizing xylo-oligosaccharide (XOS), arabinoxylan, maltodextrin, galactan and carbohydrates containing fructo-oligosaccharide (FOS) components. In contrast, maltodextrin, galactan, arabinogalactan and galactomannan did not support robust growth (≥0.8 OD600 nm) of any of the Lactobacillus strains assessed. Carbohydrate fermentation was variable among strains tested of the same species for both genera. This study advances our knowledge of polysaccharide utilization by human gut commensals, and provides information for the rational design of selective prebiotic food ingredients.
authors: School of Microbiology, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland; Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre, Cork, Ireland.
authors: Heather P
authors: HP
authors: McLaughlin
authors: School of Microbiology, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland; Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre, Cork, Ireland.
authors: Mary O'Connell
authors: MO
authors: Motherway
authors: Teagasc Moorepark, Fermoy, Co. Cork, Ireland; Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre, Cork, Ireland.
authors: Bhuvaneswari
authors: B
authors: Lakshminarayanan
authors: Teagasc Moorepark, Fermoy, Co. Cork, Ireland; Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre, Cork, Ireland.
authors: Catherine
authors: C
authors: Stanton
authors: Teagasc Moorepark, Fermoy, Co. Cork, Ireland; Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre, Cork, Ireland.
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Paul Ross
authors: General Mills, Bell Institute of Health & Nutrition, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
authors: Jennifer
authors: J
authors: Brulc
authors: General Mills, Bell Institute of Health & Nutrition, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
authors: Ravi
authors: R
authors: Menon
authors: School of Microbiology, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland; Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre, Cork, Ireland.
authors: Paul W
authors: PW
authors: O'Toole
authors: School of Microbiology, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland; Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre, Cork, Ireland. Electronic address: d.vansinderen@ucc.ie.
authors: Douwe
authors: D
authors: van Sinderen
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001644:Bifidobacterium / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007223:Infant; D007422:Intestines / Q000382:microbiology; D007444:Inulin / Q000378:metabolism; D007778:Lactobacillus / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D009844:Oligosaccharides / Q000378:metabolism; D056692:Prebiotics; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D009844:Oligosaccharides; D056692:Prebiotics; D007444:Inulin
keywords: Functional foods; Gut commensal; Microbiota; Prebiotic; Probiotic