African Journal of
Microbiology Research

  • Abbreviation: Afr. J. Microbiol. Res.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 1996-0808
  • DOI: 10.5897/AJMR
  • Start Year: 2007
  • Published Articles: 5238

Full Length Research Paper

Probiotic properties of Lactobacilli isolated from human milk and their inhibitory effect on gastrointestinal pathogenic bacteria

Mohammad Mehdi Soltan Dallal
  • Mohammad Mehdi Soltan Dallal
  • Division of Food Microbiology, Department of Pathobiology, School of Public health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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Niloofar Moghadam Maragheh
  • Niloofar Moghadam Maragheh
  • Division of Food Microbiology, Department of Pathobiology, School of Public health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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Zahra Rajabi
  • Zahra Rajabi
  • Food Microbiology Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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Mohammad Bagher Hosseini
  • Mohammad Bagher Hosseini
  • Pediatric Health Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
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Moslem Papizadeh
  • Moslem Papizadeh
  • Research Assistant Microbiology Research Center, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran.
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Gholamreza Hassanpour
  • Gholamreza Hassanpour
  • Parasitology, Center for Research of Endemic Parasites of Iran, Tehran University of Medical Sciences Tehran, Iran.
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Sara Sharifi Yazdi
  • Sara Sharifi Yazdi
  • School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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Mojtaba Memariani
  • Mojtaba Memariani
  • Skin Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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Shabnam Haghighat Khajavi
  • Shabnam Haghighat Khajavi
  • Department of Food Science and Technology, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
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Seyedeh Masoomeh Abrichamchian langaroodi
  • Seyedeh Masoomeh Abrichamchian langaroodi
  • Pathobiology Laboratory Center, No17, Gharani Alley, Valiasr Ave, Tehran, Iran.
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Hedroosha Molla Agha Mirzaei
  • Hedroosha Molla Agha Mirzaei
  • Food Microbiology Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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Mehrnaz Mirzababaei
  • Mehrnaz Mirzababaei
  • Division of Food Microbiology, Department of Pathobiology, School of Public health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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  •  Received: 12 March 2021
  •  Accepted: 01 June 2021
  •  Published: 30 June 2021

Abstract

Breast feeding has critical effects on the newborns and either mother’s health. Some of such health-improving effects of the mother’s milk is associated with the beneficial microbes, lactic acid bacteria (LAB), which are normally present in the mother’s milk. Thus, human milk-associated lactobacilli were isolated in this study and some of their probiotic properties was investigated. Afterwards, Lactobacillus strains were screened for low pH and bile acids tolerance. Molecular identification was carried out using 16SrDNA and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Antibiotic resistance was evaluated with disk diffusion assay and the inhibitory effect of isolates on pathogenic bacteria was examined with well assay and zone inhibition. Isolation experiments resulted in 122 human milk- associated lactobacilli belonging to 12 species. The most dominant species was Lactobacillus casei followed by Lactobacillus fermentum, Lactobacillus plantarum and Lactobacillus gasser, respectively. Screening for probiotic properties showed that 19 isolates, belonging to, Lactobacillus, have interesting probiotic characteristics. The most prevalent antibiotic resistance was observed in case of vancomycin (63.15%) and no drug resistance was detected for chloramphenicol, penicillin, rifampin (0%). Three Lactobacillus strains, designated as L4, L14 and L16, were found as potential probiotic strains since they have indicated promising inhibitory effects against the studied pathogenic bacterial strains. Our results shed light on the considerable diversity of lactobacilli in human breast milk. Furthermore, the candidate probiotic strains detected in this research might be used as potential probiotic strains.

 

Key words: Breast milk, Lactobacillus, probiotics, inhibitory effect, polymerase chain reaction.