To investigate the prebiotic properties of the levantype
EPS in more detail, the in vitro fermentation was repeated
(series II) with levan, EPS 1729, and EPS 2590 as
carbon sources. Microbial analysis of the enrichment cultures
was performed by bacteriological culture after 48 h
of fermentation. In addition, the cultures were analysed
by PCR-DGGE along the course of fermentation. As
shown in Table 2, the analysis of the cultures with and
without carbohydrates revealed differing enrichments
within the microflora. Compared to the cell counts of the
effective inoculum, the counts of all bacterial groups increased
except for those of bifidobacteria and lactobacilli.
The numbers of bifidobacteria increased (ca. 100 fold)
exclusively with EPS whereas those of lactobacilli decreased
concomitantly. In addition, with EPS the coliform
counts increased less pronounced in comparison to the