TABLE 1.
Cluster | Strain | Inulin-type fructan degradation profile |
---|---|---|
A | B. breve Yakult | Neither oligofructose nor inulin degradation |
B | B. adolescentis LMG 10734 | Oligofructose degradation with preferential breakdown of short fractions; oligofructose degradation slower than fructose consumption; no inulin degradation |
C | B. angulatum LMG 11039T | Nonpreferential oligofructose degradation; oligofructose degradation faster than fructose consumption; degradation of short fractions of inulin |
D | B. longum LMG 11047 | Nonpreferential oligofructose degradation; equally fast fructose consumption and oligofructose degradation; degradation of short fractions of inulin |
Each species represents a phenotypical cluster of bifidobacteria exhibiting distinct inulin-type fructan degradation profiles (9).