The aim of this study was to determine some in vitro probiotic features of Lactobacillus spp. isolated from Minas artisanal cheese from Serra da Canastra in order to select some bacteria for future production of safer cheeses keeping their natural flavor and tradition. The evaluated properties were antagonism against indicator microorganisms, antimicrobial susceptibility and also sensitivity to gastric acid and to bile salts. All lactic acid bacteria tested were resistant to gastric acid (pH 2.0) and bile salts (0.3%). Antagonistic activities were detected against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella entericavar. Typhimurium, Enterococcus faecalis and other lactic bacteria isolated from the same cheese - Lactobacillus plantarum (D27) and Lactobacillus rhamnosus (B25). All samples were sensitive to the antimicrobials erythromycin, tetracycline and resistant to ciprofloxacin, gentamycin, oxacillin, streptomycin and vancomycin. L.plantarum (B17) presented the best probiotic potential. Further studies are needed to verify the presence and the capacity of transmission of antimicrobial resistance genes to other microorganisms and evaluate the in vivo probiotic potential of the selected microorganisms.
artisanal Minas cheese; lactic acid bacteria; probiotic potential