## 3 Results
### Fermentation of Fractan-Type Carbohydrates by BB-12 and Complex Microbiota (Experiment 3)
\begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c} \hline \hline \multirow{2}{*}{**Phylum**} & \multirow{2}{*}{**Family**} & \multirow{2}{*}{**Rank**} & \multicolumn{2}{c}{**OPT1**} & \multicolumn{2}{c}{**OPT2**} & \multicolumn{2}{c}{**OPT3N1**} & \multicolumn{2}{c}{**OPT3N2**} & \multicolumn{2}{c}{**IN1**} & \multicolumn{2}{c}{**IN2**} & \multicolumn{2}{c}{**IN3**} \\ \cline{3-14}  & & **BS-12** & **-** & **-** & **BS-12** & **-** & **BS-12** & **-** & **BS-12** & **-** & **BS-12** & **-** & **BS-12** & **-** & **BS-12** & **-** & **BS-12** \\ \hline \multirow{3}{*}{**Actionsheets**} & \multicolumn{1}{c}{**B**/_Molecular_} & **0.54** & **1.20** & **0.52** & **1.26** & **0.47** & **1.05** & **0.35** & **1.06** & **0.38** & **0.59** & **0.41** & **0.54** & **0.69** & **0.67** & **0.66** \\ \cline{2-14}  & \multicolumn{1}{c}{**C**/_C_ Cardiovascular_} & \multicolumn{1}{c}{} & \multicolumn{1}{c}{} & \multicolumn{1}{c}{} & \multicolumn{1}{c}{} & \multicolumn{1}{c}{} & \multicolumn{1}{c}{} & \multicolumn{1}{c}{} & \multicolumn{1}{c}{} & \multicolumn{1}{c}{} & \multicolumn{1}{c}{} & \multicolumn{1}{c}{} & \multicolumn{1}{c}{} & \multicolumn{1}{c}{} & \multicolumn{1}{c}{} & \multicolumn{1}{c}{} & \\ \cline{2-14}  & \multicolumn{1}{c}{**C**/_C_ Cardiovascular_} & \multicolumn{1}{c}{} & \multicolumn{1}{c}{} & \multicolumn{1}{c}{} & \multicolumn{1}{c}{} & \multicolumn{1}{c}{} & \multicolumn{1}{c}{} & \multicolumn{1}{c}{} & \multicolumn{1}{c}{} & \multicolumn{1}{c}{} & \multicolumn{1}{c}{} & \multicolumn{1}{c}{} & \multicolumn{1}{c}{} & \multicolumn{1}{c}{} & \multicolumn{1}{c}{} & \\ \cline{2-14}  & \multicolumn{1}{c}{**C**/_C_ Cardiovascular_} & \multicolumn{1}{c}{} & \multicolumn{1}{c}{} & \multicolumn{1}{c}{} & \multicolumn{1}{c}{} & \multicolumn{1}{c}{} & \multicolumn{1}{c}{} & \multicolumn{1}{c}{} & \multicolumn{1}{c}{} & \multicolumn{1}{c}{} & \multicolumn{1}{c}{} & \multicolumn{1}{c}{} & \multicolumn{1}{c}{} & \multicolumn{1}{c}{} & \multicolumn{1}{c}{} & \\ \hline \multirow{6}{*}{**B  
\begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c} \hline \hline
All fructans consistently increased Actinobacteria numbers, with an additional stimulatory effect being observed upon co-administration of BB-12. At family level, increased Actinobacteria numbers were mainly attributed to significant stimulation of _Bifidobacteriaceae_. At the lowest phylogentic level, it was observed that all fructans boosted the growth of _Bifidobacteriaceae_ OTU2 (related to _Bifidobacterium adolescentis_) and OTU21 (related to _Bifidobacterium longum_), while administration of BB-12 specifically enhanced engraftment of _Bifidobacterium animals_ OTU5. Upon the increase of BB-12, _Bifidobacteriaceae_ OTU2 and OTU21 tended to decrease, suggesting competition with BB-12. All fructans also significantly increased levels of _Eggerthelaceae_ OTU7 (related to _Ellagibacter isourolithinifaciens_) within the Actinobacteria phylum. Further, treatment with OF1, OF2 and OF/IN1 significantly reduced Bacteroidetes numbers, which was attributed to reduction of _Bacteroidaceae_ levels. Co-supplementation of BB-12 with OF/IN2 on the other hand significantly stimulated _Bacteroidaceae_ numbers. At OTU level, _Bacteroidaceae_ OTU9 (related to _Bacteroides cacae_) increased upon supplementation of the longer fructans (OF/IN2, IN1, IN2 and IN3), while specifically decreasing for the shorter fructans (OF1, OF2 and OF/IN1). Additionally, _Bacteroidaceae_ OTU11 (related to _Bacteroides uniformis_) specifically decreased upon treatment with OF1, OF2 and OF/IN1, while _Bacteroidaceae_ OTU6 (related to _Bacteroides dorei_) strongly decreased for all fructans. Furthermore, all fructan-type carbohydrates decreased _Tannerellaceae_ numbers significantly, while combination of OF/IN2 and IN2 with BB-12 again allowed stimulated this group. With respect to Firmicutes numbers, enhanced levels were observed upon treatment with OF2, OF/IN2 and IN1, while co-administration of OF/IN2 with BB-12 even further increased Firmicutes numbers.