African Journal of
Biotechnology

  • Abbreviation: Afr. J. Biotechnol.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 1684-5315
  • DOI: 10.5897/AJB
  • Start Year: 2002
  • Published Articles: 12501

Short Communication

A direct and sensitive method for screening fructooligosaccharides-digesting microorganisms useful in food and health science

Trujillo L. E.*
  • Trujillo L. E.*
  • Industrial Biotechnology and Bioproducts Research Group, Universidad de las Fuerzas Armadas ESPE Ecuador.
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Granda S.
  • Granda S.
  • Industrial Biotechnology and Bioproducts Research Group, Universidad de las Fuerzas Armadas ESPE Ecuador.
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Ordoñez M. I.
  • Ordoñez M. I.
  • Industrial Biotechnology and Bioproducts Research Group, Universidad de las Fuerzas Armadas ESPE Ecuador.
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Ramos T. I.
  • Ramos T. I.
  • Industrial Biotechnology and Bioproducts Research Group, Universidad de las Fuerzas Armadas ESPE Ecuador.
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Avalos R.
  • Avalos R.
  • Industrial Biotechnology and Bioproducts Research Group, Universidad de las Fuerzas Armadas ESPE Ecuador.
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  •  Received: 11 July 2015
  •  Accepted: 31 August 2015
  •  Published: 23 September 2015

Abstract

Short-chain fructooligosaccharides (FOS) stimulate selectively the growth and activity of microorganisms in the colon providing positive health effects and well-being in humans and animals. The lack of accurate isolation methods, however, hampers the possibility of getting new potential fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS)-fermenting yeast or bacterial strains. A valuable screening procedure to visually detect bacterial and yeast strains able to ferment FOS in liquid or solid rich media supplemented with an innocuous pH indicator is described. Using this assay, 15 FOS-consuming strains isolated from different sources were successfully evaluated to prove the utility of the method. This screening procedure is a new and valuable tool in rapid large-scale detection of potential FOS fermenting-strains useful in food and health science.

Key words:  FOS-fermenting microorganisms, prebiotics, probiotics, symbiotics.

Abbreviation

FOS, Short-chain fructooligosaccharides; TLC, thin layer chromatography; HPLC, high pressure liquid chromatography; YNB, yeast nitrogen base.