“…One way to achieve this is by improving the nutritional quality of food and increase the spread of functional foods, nutraceuticals and dietary Correspondence: Veselin Bivolarski (morydin@abv.bg), Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Plovdiv University "Paisii Hilendarski", 24 Tzar Assen Str., 4000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria Abbreviations: DP, degree of polymerization; GH70, glycoside hydrolase family 70; GOSs, glucooligosaccharides; M/S, maltose / sucrose; L/S, lactose / sucrose; R/S, raffinose / sucrose; L., Leuconostoc; Lb., Lactobacillus; LAB, lactic acid bacteria; μ, specific growth rate; mMRS, modified medium of de Man, Rogosa and Sharpe supplements [1]. In this regard, the concept of prebiotics is gaining an ever wider realization in the practice of producing healthy foods [2,3]. On the basis of the scientific knowledge that has accumulated up to now, it is clear that oligosaccharides and polysaccharides of microbial origin have proven prebiotic properties, and are particularly desirable sweeteners in the low-calorie foods [4,5].…”