ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY OF MICROORGANISMS ISOLATED FROM KEFIR GRAINS

Abstract Kefir is the product of milk fermentation by kefir grains. These grains contain a mixture of symbiotic bacteria and yeasts embedded in a matrix composed of polysaccharides and proteins. Many human health benefits have been attributed to kefir, including antimicrobial activity against Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria. We studied the antimicrobial activity of sixty bacterial strains isolated from kefir grains compared to Escherichia coli O157:H7, Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serotypes Typhimurium and Enteritidis, Staphylococcus aureus, and Listeria monocytogenes through antagonism test. We tested the antimicrobial activity of lactic acid bacteria supernatants that were active in the antagonism test. The experiment was repeated using supernatants with neutralized pH. Salmonella Typhimurium and Enteritidis survived for 24 hours in kefir fermentation. E. coli O157:H7, S. aureus and L. monocytogenes were recovered up to 72 hours after the start of fermentation. All isolates showed antimicrobial activity against at least one of the pathogens used in the test of antagonism. Supernatants of 25 isolates showed inhibitory activity, and three maintained this activity with neutralized pH. Pathogenic bacteria studied survived for longer than the time normally used for fermentation of artisanal kefir, characterizing a potential danger to the consumer when the raw material does not provide health security. Lactobacillus isolated from kefir grains exhibit antimicrobial activity against strains of E. coli O157:H7, Salmonella serotypes Typhimurium and Enteritidis S. aureus, and L. monocytogenes in addition to that exerted by the lower pH values.