In vitro kinetic analysis of fermentation of prebiotic inulin-type fructans by XXXX species reveals four different phenotypes.

@entity948 @entity598 @entity1735 @entity11276 @entity880 @entity38269 @entity1068 @entity5189
Kinetic analyses of bacterial growth, @entity1735 consumption, and metabolite production of 18 @entity38269 strains grown on @entity948 , @entity11276 , or inulin were performed. A principal component analysis of the data sets, expanded with the results of a genetic screen concerning the presence of a beta-fructofuranosidase gene previously encountered in @entity38269 (T), revealed the existence of four clusters among the bifidobacteria tested. Strains belonging to a first cluster could not degrade @entity11276 or inulin. Strains in a second cluster could degrade @entity11276 , displaying a preferential breakdown mechanism, but did not grow on inulin. @entity948 consumption was faster than @entity11276 degradation. A third cluster was composed of strains that degraded all @entity11276 fractions simultaneously and could partially break down inulin. @entity11276 degradation was substantially faster than @entity948 consumption. A fourth, smaller cluster consisted of strains that shared high @entity948 consumption and @entity11276 degradation rates and were able to perform partial breakdown of inulin. For all strains, a metabolic shift toward more @entity598 , @entity5189 , and @entity1068 production, at the expense of @entity880 production, was observed during growth on less readily fermentable energy sources. No correlation between breakdown patterns and the presence of the beta-fructofuranosidase gene could be detected. These variations indicate niche-specific adaptation of bifidobacteria and could have in vivo implications on the strain specificity of the stimulatory effect of inulin-type fructans on bifidobacteria.
