Analysis of technological and probiotic properties of Algerian L. mesenteroides strains isolated from dairy and non-dairy products

Abstract

Six Leuconostoc mesenteroides strains isolated from camel (3) and sheep (1) milk, silage (1) and honey (1) have been investigated. All showed probiotic properties due to their resistance to gastrointestinal tract stresses, antibiogram profiles, hydrophobicity levels and antimicrobial activities against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. Six had proteolytic, lipolytic, acidifying, and coagulation activities and five produced dextran. Metabolic flux analysis during growth in a sucrose-containing medium of two representative dextran-producing strains, and a non-producing strain revealed differences in the levels of the sucrose metabolites: fructose, glucose, lactic acid and mannitol, and a correlation between sucrose consumption and dextran synthesis for the producing strains. CM9 from camel milk showed high dextran production and the best pattern of intestinal tract colonization of gnotobiotic zebrafish embryos. These facts together with CM9’s technological and probiotic properties indicate that this strain may be useful for the production of functional dairy food.

Keywords

• Leuconostoc mesenteroides
• Technological properties
• Dextran
• Metabolic study
• Probiotic properties
• Zebrafish