[Patterns of growth and beta-galactosidase production by bifidobacteria]

We investigated the patterns of growth and beta-galactosidase formation in the strains Bifidobacterium adolescentis GO-13, MS-42, 91-BIM, and 94-BIM, and B. bifidum No. 1, LVA-3, 791 on media with various carbon sources. The synthesis of beta-galactosidase was shown to be associated with exponential growth of the cultures involved. The maximum specific rate of beta-galactosidase synthesis of 0.20 U mg(-1) h(-1) was observed in B. bifidum LVA-3 after 3-6 h of cultivation. This value for B. adolescentis 91-BIM and 94-BIM was lower and amounted to 0.03-0.08 U mg(-1) h(-1). On the medium with lactose, the highest specific growth rates for B. bifidum LVA-3 and B. bifidum No.1 were 0.38 and 0.60 h(-1), respectively, after 3-6 h of cultivation. For B. adolescentis 91-BIM and 94-BIM, this parameter peaked at 12-15 h of cultivation at 0.13 and 0.22 h(-1), respectively. The hydrolytic activity of beta-galactosidase in the growth medium decreased during the stationary growth phase of the tested cultures.