Saprophytic growth uses D-xylose, D-mannose, and cellobiose. They ferment D-glucose and also ferment D-mannitol, L-rhamnose and cellobiose. Cellobiose is a disaccharide with the formula (CH(OH)O)O. In this cell-free biosystem, beta-1,4-glycosidic bond-linked cellulose is partially hydrolyzed to cellobiose. Cellobiose can be used as an indicator carbohydrate for Crohn's disease and malabsorption syndrome.