*3.9. Prebiotic E*ff*ect of CP and Its Degradation Product MCP-0.3 on Lactobacillus Strains*

The prebiotic effects of CP and MCP-0.3 on Lactobacillus strains were studied as described in Zheng et al. [41]. Briefly, Lactobacillus strains, including *L. rhamnosus* strains JAAS8 and ITF-1, and *L. plantarum* strains CH4, P3-18, S52, C88, and K25, were pre-cultured in De Man Rogosa Sharpe (MRS) liquid at 37 ◦C for 16 h. Then, the cells were inoculated with an inoculum size of 2% in 100 μL modified MRS media containing 5 mg/mL CP or MCP-0.3 as the sole carbon source. Then, the cells were collected by centrifugation after cultured at 37 ◦C for 16 h and washed twice with PBS buffer. The cell pellet was re-suspended in 200 μL PBS buffer, and the OD 600 nm was detected by the Tecan Infinite F50 microplate reader. All data are shown as the averages of triplicate measurements (± SD).
