Abstract Traditionally, probiotic microorganisms are isolated from human and animal intestinal microbiota. However, the demand for diversification of biofunctional products has driven the search for new sources of probiotic candidates, such as fermented foods and vegetables. The present study found that strains isolated from the fermentation of fine cocoa from southern Bahia have biotechnological potential for use as a probiotic, since they showed capacity for self-aggregation and co-aggregation, antimicrobial activity against intestinal pathogens and resistance to gastrointestinal transits. Scores of importance for each property were established in order to more accurately assess the probiotic potential of the strains. The tests carried out contemplate the criteria previously established for the selection of probiotic candidates.

Abstract Search for alternative methods for the treatment of bacterial vaginosis has been growing, and probiotics being among them. The most well-known probiotic microorganisms are lactobacilli, which are naturally present in the vaginal microenvironment. Cocoa fermentation is a source of lactic acid bacteria, with lactobacilli being the most prominent. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antagonistic activity of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum 6.2 a strain of lactobacilli isolated from cocoa fermentation, and its cell-free supernatant on Gardnerella vaginalis. It was shown that Lpb. plantarum 6.2 and its supernatant, used at three concentrations, i.e., 40, 20 and 10 mg/mL, have a strong antagonistic activity against G. vaginalis, with a probable action of proteinaceous bacteriocins; the activity was lost after heat treatment. The ability to exclude and displace G. vaginalis from the adhesion site to vaginal HMVII epithelial cells was also demonstrated by the lactobacilli and the supernatant, with the latter showing a bactericidal effect. Thus, the Lpb. plantarum 6.2 strain presents itself as a good probiotic with potential to be used not only as a therapeutic alternative for vaginosis but also as a complement to existing therapies.

Na degradação de acetonitrila, foram testadas células livres de Candida guilliermondii UFMG-Y65 e imobilizadas em diferentes suportes, quais sejam, Ba-alginato, kapa-carrageno e pectina cítrica. A velocidade de degradação da acetonitrila foi monitorada por 120 h, mediante o crescimento da levedura e geração de amônia. Diferentes concentrações de alginato não afetam a viabilidade das células; mas o período de incubação, em solução de BaCl2, reduziu o número de células vivas. Da mesma forma, a natureza do gel e a estrutura da matriz do suporte, ambas resultantes das condições de imobilização das células, foram de fundamental importância para a atividade catalisadora e sua performance; afetando assim, os padrões de crescimento microbiano e a de atividade enzimática. As células imobilizadas em alginato degradaram acetonitrila com maior eficácia do que as imobilizadas em kapa-carrageno ou as células imobilizadas em pectina cítrica.

Different encapsulation matrices were tested for immobilized cells of Candida guilliermondii UFMG-Y65 used for acetonitrile degradation. Acetonitrile degradation by free cells and cells immobilized in Ba-alginate, kappa-carrageenan and citric pectin was studied. The rate of acetonitrile degradation was monitored for 120 h by measuring yeast growth and ammonia concentration. Different alginate concentrations did not affect cell viability, but the period of incubation in BaCl2 solution reduced the number of viable cells. Likewise, the gel nature and the matrix structure of the support resulting from the cell immobilization conditions were of fundamental importance for biocatalyst activity and performance, affecting substantially the patterns of microbial growth and enzymatic activity. Alginate-immobilized cells degraded acetonitrile more efficiently than kappa-carrageenan or citric pectin-immobilized cells.