Fermentative process for the manufacture of maltosyl-isomaltooligosaccharides (mimo)

Abstract

Described herein are efficient, low cost methods for making prebiotics that contain maltosyl-isomaltooligosaccharides (MIMOs), as well as compositions made by such methods.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 (a) contacting dextransucrase-producing bacterial cells with an aqueous culture medium comprising a ratio of sucrose to maltose ranging from 2.0 to about 4.5 to form a fermentation mixture, where the sucrose, the maltose, or a combination thereof comprises one or more of raw sugar, maltose syrup, high maltose syrup, malt, or saccharified starch; and   (b) fermenting the fermentation mixture for a time and under conditions to generate a composition comprising maltosyl-isomaltooligosaccharides (MIMOs) with a mass average molecular weight distribution of about 650 to 2000 daltons.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , where the raw sugar comprises molasses, sugar cane syrup, sweet sorghum, energy cane syrup, beet sugar, beet molasses, sugar beet greens, maple syrup, algae, or any combinations thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , where the saccharified starch comprises corn/maize starch, potato starch, tapioca starch, wheat starch, oat starch, millet starch, sorghum starch, rice starch, arrowroot starch, taro starch, kudzu starch, yam starch, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , where the raw sugar, maltose syrup, high maltose syrup, malt, and saccharified starch does not contain toxic compounds, heavy metals, or toxic materials detectable by HPAEC-PAD, HPLC, ICP-MS, or HPLC-RID. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , where the dextransucrase-producing bacterial cells are  Leuconostoc mesenteroides, Leuconostoc citreum, Leuconostoc gasicomitatum, Leuconostoc kimchi, Leuconostoc amelibiosum, Weissella confusa, Weissella cibaria, Lactococcus  spp.,  Streptococcus mutans, Lactobacillis  spp.  Pediococcus pentosaceus  spp. or a mixture thereof.