GROWTH OF BIFIDOBACTERIA AND THEIR ENZYME PROFILES

Bifidobacteria of human origin (22 strains) were evaluated for their potential use in yogurt-type products. Strains were grouped according to their growth rate in 12% reconstituted skim milk. Among the strains that grew quickly and produced acid in milk rapidly, the ratio of acetic: lactic acid varied from .4:1.0 to 3.0:1.0 Enzyme profiles of all strains were determined with the API ZYM system. All bifidobacteria possessed α- and β-galactosidases and α-glucosidase activities. A harmful enzyme, β-glucuronidase, was detected in only one strain of bifidobacteria tested. The faster growing strains also possessed high leucine aminopeptidase activity. © 1990, American Dairy Science Association. All rights reserved.