Symbiosis between host and gut bacteria can be optimized by prebiotics. Inulin-type fructans have been shown to improve the microbial balance of the intestinal ecosystem by stimulating the growth of bifidobacteria and lactobacilli. These changes have been associated with several health benefits, including the prevention of gastrointestinal and systemic infections in animal models and human stud...

Fructans are polyfructose molecules that function as nonstructural storage carbohydrates in several plant species that are important crops. We have been studying plants for their ability to synthesize and degrade fructans to determine if this ability is advantageous. We have also been analyzing the ability to synthesize fructan in relation to other nonstructural carbohydrate storage forms like ...

Background Inulin-type fructans have already been studied with respect to their stimulation of bifidobacteria and butyrateproducing colon bacteria, such as Anaerostipes caccae and Roseburia spp. However, much less is known about their effects on other butyrate-producing colon bacteria, such as Butyricicoccus pullicaecorum, Eubacterium spp. and Faecalibacterium prausnitzii and the interactions o...

FODMAPs are fermentable oligo-, di-, monosaccharides, and polyols. The application of homofermentative lactic acid bacteria (LAB) has been investigated as a promising approach for producing low-FODMAP whole-wheat bread. diet is recommended to treat irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Wheat flour staple many diets significant source fructans, which considered FODMAPs. reduction fructans via sourdoug...

INTRODUCTION F ructose is a hexose that is present widely in the diet as free fructose, in the disaccharide, sucrose, and in fructans, which are chains of fructose with a terminal glucose. Fructans are also known as inulins (when the number of fructose molecules, or degree of polymerization or DP, is ≥10), or fructo-oligosaccharide (FOS) or oligofructose (when the DP is <10). Fructose has creat...

Inulin-type fructans are the simplest and most studied fructans and have become increasingly popular as prebiotic health-improving compounds. A natural variation in the degree of polymerization (DP) of inulins is observed within the family of the Asteraceae. Globe thistle (Echinops ritro), artichoke (Cynara scolymus), and Viguiera discolor biosynthesize fructans with a considerably higher DP th...

Remarkably, within the Asteraceae, a species-specific fructan pattern can be observed. Some species such as artichoke (Cynara scolymus) and globe thistle (Echinops ritro) store fructans with a considerably higher degree of polymerization than the one observed in chicory (Cichorium intybus) and Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus). Fructan:fructan 1-fructosyltransferase (1-FFT) is the enzy...