Fermentation Conditions for the Production of Cell Mass and Comparison of Saccharide Utilization in Bifidobacterium longum and B. breve

Saccharide utilizations for the growth by Bifidobacterium longum and Bifidobacterium breve were compared. B. longum fermented glucose more rapidly than lactose as a carbon source whereas B. breve fermented lactose at a rate higher than that of glucose. The highest cell concentration, in the case of B. longum, was obtained when cultivated in a jar fermentor that contained modified MRS medium that half the beef extract was replaced by the same amount of tuna extract, and that pH was controlled at 6.0. B. breve showed the best growth when grown in a jar fermentor containing the MRS medium with lactose instead of glucose, controlled at pH 6.0. The optimal concentration of peptone in MRS medium for the growth of B. breve was 5 g/l.