Screening of lactic acid bacteria as suitable human probiotics isolated from ‌Azerbaijan dairy products

 Among functional foodstuffs, the use of probiotics is rapidly increasing now. Probiotics are defined as living microorganisms that are beneficial to a person when consumed in sufficient quantities. Among probiotics, lactic acid bacteria are the most popular. Given the high number of probiotic bacteria in the gut, probiotics seem to be one of the most interesting candidates for the treatment of the Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Probiotics strengthen Paneth and Goblet cells in the gut by enlarging the mucosa. They also modulate the gut microbiota by maintaining balance and suppressing the growth of potentially pathogenic bacteria in the gut. This research aimed was to isolate and identify new isolates of lactic acid bacteria from the traditional dairy products of the region of Azerbaijan (Varzeqan), with appropriate human probiotic ability.

 In this study, lactic acid bacteria in dairy products of the Varzeqan region of East Azerbaijan were isolated and characterized by biochemical and molecular methods and their probiotic ability was evaluated. The isolates were then selected using morphological characteristics, gram staining, catalase test, growth test at 15, 37, and 40 ° C, fermentation ability in different sugars, acid resistance, bile salts, arginine hydrolysis. 16S rRNA gene sequencing was used for molecular characterization.

 In this study, 104 isolates of dairy samples were purified and evaluated for probiotic properties of Lactobacillus, Lactococcus and Enterococcus. By examining the probiotic properties in these isolates, 13 isolates showed good probiotic capability.

 According to the results, Lactobacilli isolates had a good ability to be probiotic in terms of acid tolerance and bile salts and could have sufficient survival for use in the gastrointestinal tract.

The results showed the traditional dairy products of the region of Azerbaijan have a desirable potential to isolation of suitable human probiotics.