Development of a Chemically Defined Medium for Growth of Bifidobacterium animalis

ABSTRACT The growth of Bifidobacterium animalis was tested, under batch and continuous culture conditions, for dependence upon specific nitrogen compounds. The addition of nitrogen bases (adenine, xantine, and guanine) to the medium containing acid-hydrolyzed casein significantly affected the growth of B. animalis , whereas no significant growth was reported when those bases were added to the medium containing only free amino acids; B. animalis was characterized by a μmax of 0.16/h when growth took place in PROLAB medium containing lactose and nitrogenous bases. Our study is potentially important toward design of improved infant milk formulations for healthy newborns.