Sixty lactic acid bacteria (LAB) isolated from human breast milk were screened for exopolysaccharides (EPS) production. EPS characterization and Bifidobacterium sp. growth support were investigated. The highest EPS-producing isolate was EJRM152 which identified as Enterococcus faecalis (98% similarity) based on the 16S rDNA gene sequence. Product yield coefficient (YEPS/x) and EPS production were 3.68 and 4.32 g/l, respectively. Crude EPS was purified by DEAE-cellulose and a Sephacryl S-400 column, and it revealed different molecular weights and molar ratios of glucose, galactose, rhamnose, arabinose and fructose. FT-IR spectroscopy of EPS showed functional groups including hydroxyl and carbonyl. B. animalis TISTR 2194, B. breve TISTR 2130, B. bifidum TISTR 2129, and B. longum TISTR 2195 grew well in media containing EPS, comparing with commercial prebiotics. Results suggest that EPS produced by E. faecalis EJRM152 could be a potential candidate prebiotic.
Keywords: Bifidobacterium sp.; Exopolysaccharides; Human breast milk; Prebiotics.
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