Possibilities for stimulation of Bifidobacterium growth by propionibacteria

Abstract

Twenty-seven propionic acid bacteria (PAB) strains were studied for their ability to produce metabolites, which stimulated the growth of six Bifidobacterium strains. In addition, the 27 investigated PAB strains were examined for their influence on the growth of four Gram(-) strains belonging to species Escherichia coli and Yersinia enterocolitica, their abilities to survive at pH 2.0, 2.5, 3.0 and in the presence of 4% bile salts as well as their sensitivity against 12 selected antibiotics. All PAB strains stimulated growth of from 3 to 6 of the examined Bifidobacterium strains and simultaneously produced antibacterial metabolites against Gram(-) rods. Fifteen PAB strains inhibited growth of the particular Bifidobacterium strains. Five PAB strains were resistant to acidity surviving for 2 h in pH 2.5 at population level 102-106 cfu·mL-1 and 3 strains were resistant to bile salts. Only one PAB strain survived in both the acidic and the bile salt environments. All PAB strains were sensitive to a majority of the antibiotics used in the investigations.