Identification of lactic acid bacteria from raw milk of Wagyu cattle and their tolerance to simulated digestive juice

Abstract

　The purpose of this study is to investigate lactic acid bacterial distribution in raw milk of Wagyu cattle, and to evaluate a tolerance of the lactic acid bacteria against simulated digestive juices. Isolates from raw milk were identified as Lactobacillus reuteri, Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactococcus garvieae, Lactococcus lactis, Enterococcus hirae, Enterococcus faecalis, Enterococcus saccharolyticus, Weissella thailandensis and Pediococcus pentosaceus based on their physiological and biochemical characteristics as well as by 16S rDNA sequence analysis. Lb. reuteri PUHM1004 and E. hirae PUHM1011 exhibited more than 50% of survival rate after 6 hours incubation in MRS broth supplemented with 0.3% oxgall. These strains survived after 3 hours in simulated gastric juice adjusted pH 2.0, and grew in a simulated intestinal juice. These strains could be used for probiotic food and feed.