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The aim of this study was to screen lactic acid bacteria for the fermentation of garlic and to assess the increase in inhibitory activity of garlic fermented against antibiotic-resistant pathogens for use as an animal feed supplement. We screened 45 strains of lactobacillus for the fermentation of garlic. Of these strains, 23 showed similar growth rates with or without allicin. Cultures of the 23 strains were mixed with an equivalent amount of garlic juice and incubated overnight at 37°C. The three strains with the lowest pH values were Lactobacillus paracasei KCTC 3169, L5 strain, and L. reuteri SW. Garlic juice fermented by the L5 strain more strongly inhibited antibiotic-resistant pathogenic bacteria than L. paracasei KCTC 3169, L. reuteri SW, or garlic juice itself. By examining carbohydrate utilization, morphologic properties and 16S rRNA gene sequences, we identified the L5 strain as Pediococcus pentosaceus and deposited it in the name of P pentosaceus KACC 91419 into the Korea Agricultural Culture Collection. To identify the antimicrobial compound from the garlic filtrate fermented by P pentosaceus KACC 91419, we fractionated P. pentosaceus KACC 91419 culture on a C 18 column and checked the antimicrobial activity of fractions A6 to A10. Only fraction A9 showed inhibitory activity on Staphylococcus aureus. Comparing the mass spectra of the fractions with and without antimicrobial activity, we observed a single dominant product ion (m/z 157.99) from the fraction showing antimicrobial activity. Its molecular mass (157.99) was 2 atomic mass units less than that of allicin (162.02). This suggests that allicin might be converted to its derivative, which has antimicrobial activity, during fermentation by P pentosaceus KACC 91419.

This study was carried out to obtain conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) producing lactic acid bacteria for further study on the enzymes related to the production of CLA which has gained considerable attention and on the development as a probiotic culture. Total 34 lactic acid bacteria were isolated from 19 feces samples of healthy babies. CLA forming ability was measured spectrophotometrically by the modification of linoleate 12-cis, 11-trans-isomerase activity measuring method, and CLA of the cultures were extracted, methylated, and examined by HPLC analysis. CLA methyl ester of only one culture showing the highest value of CLA forming ability could be detected by HPLC analysis. The culture was found to be Gram positive, rods and catalase negative. It grows at 45°C but not at 15°C, and was identified to be Lactobacillus fermentum on the basis of the biochemical characteristics and the utilization of substrates. These results provide an efficient experimental method to screen CLA producing lactic acid bacteria. (Asian-Aust. J. Anim. Sci. 2002. Vol 15, No. 7 : 1031-1035)