In vitro fermentation of human milk oligosaccharides by individual Bifidobacterium longum-dominant infant fecal inocula

Abstract

This study investigated the fermentation characteristics and microbial responses of human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) by individual Bifidobacterium longum-dominant infant fecal microbiota. Fucosylated neutral HMOs (2′-fucosyllactose, 2′-FL; 3-fucosyllactose, 3-FL), sialylated HMOs (3′-sialyllactose, 3′-SL; 6′-sialyllactose, 6′-SL), and non-fucosylated neutral HMOs (Lacto-N-tetraose, LNT; Lacto-N-neotetraose, LNnT) were fermented in vitro, with fructooligosaccharides (FOS) and galactooligosaccharides (GOS) as positive controls. The fermentation rate was not affected by the molecular specificity of HMOs. Acetate (98–104 mM) and lactate (9–19 mM) were the primary metabolites at the end of fermentation. All six HMOs showed the same levels of acetate production, but sialylated HMOs produced significantly less lactate than neutral HMOs. HMOs and GOS could maintain the dominance or increase the relative abundance of Bifidobacterium longum, while FOS remarkably promote Klebsiella pneumoniae with the highest gas production and the least acetate and lactate yield. The findings are supportive to optimize infant nutrition strategies for enhanced functions.