Combining Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis and human milk oligosaccharides synergistically increases short chain fatty acid production ex vivo.

To enhance health benefits, a probiotic can be co-administered with a metabolizable prebiotic forming a synergistic synbiotic. We assessed the synergies resulting from combining Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis LMG 11588 and an age-adapted blend of six human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) in ex vivo colonic incubation bioreactors seeded with fecal background microbiota from infant and toddler donors.

Influence of the C/N ratio on the performance of polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) producing sequencing batch reactors at short SRTs.

Many waste streams that are suitable substrates for mixed culture bioplastic (polyhydroxyalkanoate, PHA) production are nutrient limited and may need to be supplemented to allow sufficient growth of PHA accumulating bacteria. The scope of this study was to investigate the necessity of nutrient supplementation for the enrichment of an efficient PHA producing mixed culture. We studied the influence of different degrees of carbon and nitrogen limitation on the performance of an acetate-fed feast-famine sequencing batch reactor (SBR) employed to enrich PHA storing bacteria.

Influence of ammonium on the accumulation of polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) in aerobic open mixed cultures.

Mixed microbial cultures enriched in feast-famine sequencing batch reactors (SBRs) can accumulate large amounts of the bioplastic PHB under conditions of ammonium starvation. If waste streams are to be used as a substrate, nutrient starvation may not always be achievable. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of ammonium on PHB production in the PHB production stage of the process.

Short- and long-term temperature effects on aerobic polyhydroxybutyrate producing mixed cultures.

Short- and long-term temperature effects on polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) producing mixed cultures enriched in feast-famine sequencing batch reactors (SBRs) were investigated in a temperature range of 15-35 degrees C and 15-30 degrees C, respectively. After short-term temperature changes (i.e.

Model-based data evaluation of polyhydroxybutyrate producing mixed microbial cultures in aerobic sequencing batch and fed-batch reactors.

The production of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) with mixed microbial cultures is a promising approach for the sustainable production of bioplastics. Usually a two-step process is employed consisting of (i) the enrichment of a PHA producing mixed culture in a sequencing batch reactor (SBR) and (ii) the subsequent PHA production in a fed-batch reactor. Both reactors are highly dynamic systems, particularly if the SBR is working at low sludge residence times (SRTs) or if growth is (partly) permitted in fed-batch systems.

Enrichment of a mixed bacterial culture with a high polyhydroxyalkanoate storage capacity.

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are microbial storage polymers that attract interest as bioplastics. PHAs can be produced with open mixed cultures if a suitable enrichment step based on the ecological role of PHA is used. An acetate-fed sequencing batch reactor operated with 1 day biomass residence time and with feast-famine cycles of 12 h was used to enrich a mixed culture of PHA producers.