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The objective of this work was to isolate Bacillus strains from Korean traditional soy sauces, and evaluate them for probiotic potential and safety. Three Bacillus strains, MKSK-E1, MKSK-J1 and MKSK-M1, were selected which were highly resistant to simulated gastrointestinal tract conditions, and showed antimicrobial activity against Bacillus cereus , Listeria monocytogenes , Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli . MKSK-M1 possessed the highest relative survival rate, with 96.0% survival in 0.1% pepsin solution (pH 2.0) and 99.3% survival in 3% bile salt solution for 3 h. All three strains exhibited amylase and protease activity, and utilized more than 19 carbohydrates among 49 tested carbohydrates. MKSK-E1 inhibited the growth of 11 of 13 tested foodborne pathogens. All three selected strains possessed strong antimicrobial activity against E . coli and B. cereus . They had antibiotic susceptibility against 8 tested antibiotics. Also, all strains were non-hemolytic on sheep blood, and non-biogenic amine producers. The results of this work indicate that MKSK-E1, J1 and M1 could be used as probiotic cultures for human consumption and animal feeds and as probiotic starter cultures in food industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and probiotic potential characteristics of ten Lactobacillus spp. strains ( Lactobacillus fermentum SJRP30, Lactobacillus casei SJRP37, SJRP66, SJRP141, SJRP145, SJRP146, and SJRP169, and Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus SJRP50, SJRP76, and SJRP149) that had previously been isolated from water buffalo mozzarella cheese. The safety of the strains was analyzed based on mucin degradation, hemolytic activity, resistance to antibiotics and the presence of genes encoding virulence factors. The in vitro tests concerning probiotic potential included survival under simulated gastrointestinal (GI) tract conditions, intestinal epithelial cell adhesion, the presence of genes encoding adhesion, aggregation and colonization factors, antimicrobial activity, and the production of the β-galactosidase enzyme. Although all strains presented resistance to several antibiotics, the resistance was limited to antibiotics to which the strains had intrinsic resistance. Furthermore, the strains presented a limited spread of genes encoding virulence factors and resistance to antibiotics, and none of the strains presented hemolytic or mucin degradation activity. The L. delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus strains showed the lowest survival rate after exposure to simulated GI tract conditions, whereas all of the L. casei and L. fermentum strains showed good survivability. None of the tested lactobacilli strains presented bile salt hydrolase (BSH) activity, and only L. casei SJRP145 did not produce the β-galactosidase enzyme. The strains showed varied levels of adhesion to Caco-2 cells. None of the cell-free supernatants inhibited the growth of pathogenic target microorganisms. Overall, L. fermentum SJRP30 and L. casei SJRP145 and SJRP146 were revealed to be safe and to possess similar or superior probiotic characteristics compared to the reference strain L. rhamnosus GG (ATCC 53103). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Four Enterococcus faecium strains isolated from fermented products were evaluated for potential use as probiotic strains. In addition to efaAfm gene, commonly found in E . faecium food isolates, none of the isolates possessed virulence genes and none had positive reactions for the production of tyramine, histamine, putrescine and cadaverine in the screening medium used. All of these four isolates proved to be resistant to 65 °C. E . faecium 119 did not show antimicrobial activity against any of the target bacteria investigated. E . faecium 85 and 101 inhibited Listeria innocua and E . faecium DSMZ 13590. The strain E . faecium 120 inhibited seven target bacteria ( Listeria monocytogenes 7946, L . monocytogenes 7947, L . innocua 2030c, L . innocua NCTC 11286, E . faecium DSMZ 13590, Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 29212 and Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 29213) and was chosen as the representative to assess the ability to survive gastrointestinal tract passage simulation, as well as the protective role of two food matrices (skim milk and Alheira ) during its passage. For both matrices used, no significant differences ( p < 0.05) were obtained between the types of digestion — quick and slow passage simulation. In the skim milk matrix the isolate was reduced to values below the detection limit of the enumeration technique by the end of the two digestions, in contrast to the Alheira matrix, for which isolate 120 showed a reduction of only ca. 1 log CFU/ml. The E . faecium strain 120 was shown to be a potential candidate for further investigations as a potential probiotic culture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]