Evaluation of the probiotic potential of Pediococcus strains from fermented dairy product kefir

Abstract

Fermented dairy products mostly harbour some microbiota, also known as probiotics. Over the last years, there has been a significant increase in interest in probiotics. Among them, Pediococcus strains also exist in fermented

dairy products, including kefir. However, the probiotic potential of Pediococcus strains has not been explored exten- sively. This study was performed to evaluate the probiotic potential of Pediococcus strains from traditionally produced

kefir samples. To do this, a total of 32 kefir samples from Marmara and Central Anatolia regions in Turkey was collected. The samples were exposed to conventional microbiological analysis to culture lactic acid bacteria (LAB), followed

by identification using VITEK® mass spectrometer (MS), and molecular characterisation of Pediococcus strains by poly- merase chain reaction (PCR). After that, the probiotic potential of each Pediococcus strain was tested for resistance

to gastric acidity and bile salt and property of hydrophobicity. Overall, 22 strains (34.9%) were identified as Pediococ- cus spp. out of 63 LAB isolates. Among them, only one isolate, Pediococcus pentosaceus K6, was found to be resistant

to gastric acidity, bile salt and to have hydrophobic properties. In conclusion, our study suggests that a limited number

of strains could reveal their potential probiotic action on the host organism. Thus, Pediococcus strains of diverse natu- ral origins can provide more insights into further probiotic supplement designs in human nutrition without genomic

intervention.