Preliminary Characterization of the Probiotic Properties of a Bacterial Strain for Used in Monogastric Nutrition

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate some probiotic properties of Bacillus subtilis ATCC 6051a. The phenotypic profile, resistance to pH by simulated gastric juice (pH 2 and 3), bile salts by simulated intestinal fluid, survivability (%), heat and antibiotics tolerance were investigated. The strain is a Gram-positive, rod-shaped bacteria, arranged in short chains or in small irregular pairs with the ability to produce spores. Good viability at pH 2 and 3, with a survival of more than ≥80%, was found. In the presence of bile salts 0.3%, over 4 h, the strain exhibited a survival ≥85%. At 80°C, for 120 min., the strain showed good growth (9.04 log CFU/ml). Results were sensitive to most antibiotics, with a highly susceptible (between 16 – 25 mm) to erythromycin, clindamycin, amoxicillin, chloramphenicol, ciprofloxacin, amikacin and kanamycin. The strain was found to be sensitive to vancomycin, gentamicin, and tetracycline. The present research demonstrated that Bacillus subtilis ATCC 6051a can survive under gastrointestinal conditions, which involves them to future in vitro and in vivo probiotic studies.