Heteropolysaccharide-producing bifidobacteria for the development of functional dairy products

Abstract

Bifidobacterium longum INIA P132 and Bifidobacterium infantis INIA P731, isolated from infant-faeces, were investigated in this work. Regarding the probiotic and technological potential of the bifidobacteria, both were resistant to gastrointestinal tract simulated conditions. B. longum showed high survival upon freezing and thawing as well as lyophilisation and was able to grow in milk. B. Wands had higher adhesion capacity to human Caco-2 cells than the commercial probiotic Bifidobacterium animalis BB12 strain. Moreover, both bacteria secrete heteropolysaccharides (HePS) composed of rhamnose, galactose and glucose. In a dextran sodium sulphate induced enterocolitis model in zebra fish larvae, treatment with each HePS preparation resulted in a decrease of the larval mortality. In addition, the HePS from B. longum immunomodulated in vitro human macrophages treated with the inflammatory Escherichia coli O111:B4 lipopolysaccharide. Thus, both studied bifidobacteria and their HePS have potential beneficial effects on health and thus, to their application in functional foods.