Evaluation of functional aspects in Lactobacillus strains isolated from dry fermented sausages

The aim of this study was to characterize lactobacilli isolated front a traditional Italian dry-fermented sausages inoculated with Lactobacillus casei/paracasei for use as probiotics. Strains isolated were L. casei (38%), L. paracasei paracasei (32%), Lactobacillus rhamnosus (21%) and Lactobacillus sakei sakei (9%). L. paracasei paracasei and L. rhamnosus showed no significant decrease in viability compared with L. casei and L. sakei sakei in artificial gastric juice; L. casei and L. sakei sakei were not affected by artificial intestinal fluid. In human embryonic intestine cell line (INT407) in vitro model, L. rhamnosus and L. sakei sakei were more adhesive than the other strains. The production of acetic acid (40.92 +/- 1.94 mmol/L) and propionic acid (0.14 +/- 0.07 mmol/L) was similar in all strains tested. Considerably higher (100-250 mmol/L) levels of lactic acid were produced by L. casei, L. paracasei paracasei and L. rhamnosus, and were varied depending on microaerobic or anaerobic conditions. L. casei and L. rhamnosus had the best antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Salmonella enterica ssp. enterica (serovar Typhimurium). These findings suggest that L. casei and L. rhamnosus merit further investigation as novel starter cultures in meat products.