Fermented milk products are a major source of health-promoting microorganisms known as probiotics. To characterize the probiotic properties of lactic acid bacteria isolated from Ghanaian traditionally fermented milk, thirty (30) isolates comprising Enterococcus faecium (1), Lactobacillus fermentum (14), Lb. plantarum (2) and Pediococcus acidilactici (13) identified by 16S rRNA gene sequencing, were tested for survival at low pH (2.5) and bile salts (0.3% (w/v)), hydrophobicity, co-aggregation, auto-aggregation and antimicrobial activities against selected pathogens. Safety of potential probiotic bacteria was assessed by hemolytic activity on blood agar and susceptibility to nine different antibiotics. Majority (90%) of the strains showed survival rates above 80% at pH (2.5) and in bile salts (0.3% (w/v)). Hydrophobicity ranged from 5 to 61% while cell auto-aggregation ranged from 41 to 80% after 24 h. Co-aggregation with E. coli (3.7-43.9%) and S. Typhimurium (1.3-49.5%) were similar for the LAB strains at 24 h. Cell- free supernatants of all LAB strains inhibited E. coli while S. Typhimurium was not sensitive to cell-free supernatants of five Pd. acidilactici strains: OS24h20, OS18h3, OY9h19, OS9h8 and 24NL38. None of the LAB strains showed β-hemolysis but 38% of strains showed α-hemolysis. Susceptibilities to antibiotics were strain-specific; only four strains, two Lb. fermentum and two Pd. acidilactici were susceptible to all nine antibiotics tested. Based on high survival rates in bile salts, low pH and generally good hydrophobicity, auto-aggregation, co-aggregation and inhibitory activities, 15 out of 30 strains tested were considered qualified candidates for development of probiotic cultures for fermented milk products in sub-Saharan Africa.
Keywords: Antibiotic resistance; Fermented milk; Lactic acid bacteria; Probiotic characteristics.