USE OF PURIFIED 2'-FUCOSYLLACTOSE, 3-FUCOSYLLACTOSE AND LACTODIFUCOTETRAOSE AS PREBIOTICS

1 . A method for stimulating the growth of a probiotic bacteria in a gastrointestinal tract of a mammalian subject, comprising administering to said subject a composition comprising a purified 2′-FL, 3-FL, or LDFT.

2 . A prebiotic composition comprising a purified human milk oligosaccharide in an amount effective to stimulate the growth of bacteria, wherein said oligosaccharide comprises purified 2′-fucosyllactose (2′-FL), purified 3-fucosyllactose (3-FL), or purified lactodifucotetraose (LDFT).

3 . The prebiotic composition of claim 2 , wherein said oligosaccharide comprises purified 2′-FL and purified 3-FL.

4 . The prebiotic composition of claim 2 , wherein said oligosaccharide comprises purified 2′-FL, purified 3-FL, and purified LDFT.

5 . The prebiotic composition of claim 2 , wherein said bacteria are commensal bacteria endogenous to the intestine of a mammalian subject.

6 . The prebiotic composition of claim 2 , wherein said bacteria are exogenously administered to a mammalian subject.

7 . The prebiotic composition of claim 2 , wherein said bacteria comprise bacteria of the genera Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus , or Streptococcus.

8 . The prebiotic composition of claim 2 , wherein said bacteria are selected from the group consisting of Bifidobacterium bifidum, Bacteroides fragilis, Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron, Bifidobacterium infantis, Bifidobacterium longum, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Bacteroides vulgatus, Lactococcus lactis , and Streptococcus thermophilus.

9 . The prebiotic composition of claim 2 , wherein said composition comprises between 0.01 g 2′-FL and 1 g 2′-FL per gram of composition.

10 . The prebiotic composition of claim 2 , wherein said 2′-FL comprises 90% to 99% by weight of said composition.

11 . The prebiotic composition of claim 2 , wherein said composition is in the form of a tablet, a capsule, a powder, or an infant formula.

12 . The prebiotic composition of claim 2 , wherein said composition is provided in dry milk, in mashed rice, in a banana, in a porridge, or in a gruel.

13 . The prebiotic composition of claim 2 , wherein said composition further comprises probiotic bacteria.

14 . The prebiotic composition of claim 2 , wherein said composition further comprises fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS) or galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS).

15 . A method of stimulating the growth of bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract of a subject comprising administering to the gastrointestinal tract a composition comprising an effective amount of a purified human milk oligosaccharide, wherein said oligosaccharide comprises purified 2′-fucosyllactose (2′-FL), purified 3-fucosyllactose (3-FL), or purified lactodifucotetraose (LDFT).

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein said 2′-FL, said 3-FL, or said LDFT is 95-99% pure.

17 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the local pH in said gastrointestinal tract is decreased following administration of said composition.

18 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the local lactate or lactic acid concentration in said gastrointestinal tract is increased following administration of said composition.

19 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the growth of pathogenic bacteria in said gastrointestinal tract is inhibited following administration of said composition.

20 . The method of claim 15 , wherein said probiotic bacteria is selected from the group consisting of Bacteroides vulgates, Lactococcus lactis, Bifidobacterium bifidum, Bacteroides fragilis, Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron, Bifidobacterium infantis, Bifidobacterium longum, Lactobacillus acidophilus , and Streptococcus thermophilus.

21 . The method of claim 15 , wherein said composition comprises between 0.01 g 2′-FL and 1 g 2′-FL per gram of composition.

22 . The method of claim 15 , wherein said composition further comprises probiotic bacteria selected from the group consisting of Bifidobacterium bifidum, Bacteroides fragilis, Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron, Bifidobacterium infantis, Bifidobacterium longum, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Bacteroides vulgatus, Lactococcus lactis , and Streptococcus thermophilus.

23 . The method of claim 15 , wherein said composition further comprises fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS) or galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS).

24 . The method of claim 19 , wherein said pathogenic bacteria is selected from the group consisting of Clostridium histolyticum, Clostridium difficile, Clostridium perfringens, Enterobacter aerogenes, Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella enterica, Yersinia enterocolitica , enterotoxigenic E. coli , and enteropathogenic E. coli.