Evaluation of probiotic and antifungal properties of the predominant LAB isolated from oat sourdough

Evaluation of probiotic and antifungal properties of the lactic acid bacteria (LAB) isolated from different sourdoughs is so important to prepare microbial cultures for fermentation industries. In the present study, a predominant LAB was isolated from oat sourdough through the back-slopping process, and then it was identified using PCR. Subsequently, probiotic properties of the LAB isolate (including resistance to acid and bile, antibacterial effect, auto and co-aggregations capabilities, antibiotic susceptibility and hemolytic activity), as well as its antifungal activity against Aspergillus niger were studied. Sequencing results of the PCR products led to the identification of Pediococcus pentosaceus as predominant LAB isolated from oat sourdough. The survival rate of the LAB isolates after continuous acid and bile treatment was 59.80% in comparison with the control. The antibacterial effect of the LAB on Bacillus cereus was also significantly (p<0.05) higher than the other studied food-borne pathogenic agents. Crude cell-free supernatant (CFS) of the LAB completely inhibited the growth of B. cereus, but reduced the growth of Salmonella enterica by 65.68%. Meanwhile, naturalized CFS of the LAB had no inhibitory effect on these bacteria. Furthermore, the LAB isolates had a proper co-aggregation with Escherichia coli, and showed resistance towards streptomycin, ciprofloxacin, nalidixic acid and vancomycin antibiotics. The LAB isolates had no hemolytic activity, and its antifungal effect on A. niger was also approved. Accordingly, P. pentosaceus isolate has proper potential to use as probiotic or preservative microbial culture in fermentation industries.