In vitro fermentation of breast milk oligosaccharides by Bifidobacterium infantis and Lactobacillus gasseri

Abstract

It has been proposed that human milk oligosaccharides (HMO) function as a prebiotic for bifidobacteria, yet this activity has not been adequately investigated. In this study, Bifidobacterium infantis was shown to ferment purified HMO as a sole carbon source, while another gut commensal, Lactobacillus gasseri, did not ferment HMO. Our results support the hypothesis that HMO selectively amplify bacterial populations in the infant intestine.

Figures

FIG. 1.

Growth of B. infantis ATCC 15697 and L. gasseri ATCC 33323 on glucose (▴), HMO (▪), and inulin (⧫). The initial pHs of the MRS broth media were 6.13 (HMO), 6.44 (inulin), and 6.47 (glucose). The final pHs for B. infantis were 4.63 (HMO), 5.05 (glucose), and 6.46 (inulin). The final pHs for L. gasseri were 5.83 (HMO), 3.94 (glucose), and 6.13 (inulin).

FIG. 2.

Results of MALDI-FTMS analysis of HMO in control and spent media. The inset shows the constituent monosaccharides for the HMO species detected. Hex, hexose; HexNAc, hexosamine; Fuc, fucose.