Probiotic Characterization of Enterococcus spp. Isolated from Raw Goat Milk

Abstract: The aim of this research was to determine the probiotic potential and safety of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) isolated from raw goat milk. Gram positive and catalase negative bacteria were isolated from raw goat milk (n = 61) and identified as LAB. LAB isolates were screened for antimicrobial, probiotic and technological characteristics. LAB isolates showed antimicrobial activity against foodborne pathogens (Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Salmonella Typhimurium) and high survival rate at pH 2 (93.54-100.38% after 4h), in the presence of 0.3% bile salts (100.85-108.96% after 4h) and simulated gastric fluid (74.16-80.13% after 3h). Three LAB isolates (1, 3 and 13) with high antimicrobial activity against all foodborne pathogens and probiotics characteristics were subjected to 16S rRNA sequencing and identified as Enterococcus faecium strains. Enterococcus spp. exhibited milk coagulation potential, amylolytic activity, susceptibility to antibiotics and no evidence of hemolysis. Enterococcus spp. isolated from goat milk showed probiotic and technological characteristics and can be used as a starter culture after further safety evaluation.

Antibacterial Effects of Cinnamon Extract, Clove Oil and Antibiotics against Helicobacter pylori Isolated from Stomach Biopsies

Abstract Helicobacter pylori is a pathogenic bacterium causing gastric problems such as, peptic ulcers and stomach cancer. H. pylori were isolated from the stomach biopsy specimens (n = 100) of gastric patients by performing polymerase chain reaction (PCR) against cagA (cytotoxin associated gene A) and ureC (Urease subunit alpha) genes. Furthermore, antibiogram studies of the H. pylori isolates were evaluated against the common antibiotics. The overall detection rate of H. pylori was 71% in biopsy specimens of gastric patients. The antimicrobial susceptibility test revealed the resistance rate of H. pylori isolates against metronidazole (50%), clarithromycin (28.33%), tetracycline (21.66%), amoxicillin (18.33%), and ciprofloxacin (11.66%). However, the H. pylori isolates were completely resistant to vancomycin, erythromycin and nalidixic acid antibiotics. Clove oil showed a remarkable antimicrobial effect against H. pylori whereas, mild inhibition (10 mm) was observed in case of curcumin extract. Due to increase incident of resistance and high prevalence of H. pylori in gastric patients, natural antimicrobial like clove oil can be explored as an alternative treatment.