TY - JOUR AU - Rios-Covian, David AU - Cuesta, Isabel AU - Alvarez-Buylla, Jorge R. AU - Ruas-Madiedo, Patricia AU - Gueimonde, Miguel AU - de los Reyes-Gavilán, Clara G. PY - 2016 DA - 2016/07/15 TI - Bacteroides fragilis metabolises exopolysaccharides produced by bifidobacteria JO - BMC Microbiology SP - 150 VL - 16 IS - 1 AB - Bacteroides fragilis is the most frequent species at the human intestinal mucosal surface, it contributes to the maturation of the immune system although is also considered as an opportunistic pathogen. Some Bifidobacterium strains produce exopolysaccharides (EPS), complex carbohydrate polymers that promote changes in the metabolism of B. fragilis when this microorganism grows in their presence. To demonstrate that B. fragilis can use EPS from bifidobacteria as fermentable substrates, purified EPS fractions from two strains, Bifidobacterium longum E44 and Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis R1, were added as the sole carbon source in cultures of B. fragilis DSMZ 2151 in a minimal medium. Bacterial counts were determined during incubation and the evolution of organic acids, short chain fatty acids (SCFA) and evolution of EPS fractions was analysed by chromatography. SN - 1471-2180 UR - https://doi.org/10.1186/s12866-016-0773-9 DO - 10.1186/s12866-016-0773-9 ID - Rios-Covian2016 ER -