LACTOBCILLUS FERMENTUM BACTERIA WITH ANTIFUNGAL ACTIVITY

Abstract

The present invention relates to a bacterium of the species Lactobacillus fermentum capable of inhibiting the growth of the fungus Penicillium solitum, identified by serial number DSM32093, or the growth of the fungus Penicillium brevicompactum, identified by serial number DSM32094, by at least 50%. The inhibitory activity can be determined in an assay comprising: (1) the preparation of a fermented dairy product by: (a) inoculating milk with Lactobacillus fermentum at a concentration of at least 10⁷ CFU / g with a starter culture, (b) fermentation to a pH of 4.6, and (c) solidification of the fermented milk with the addition of agar; (2) the generation of at least one point of P. solitum or P.(3) the determination of the percentage of inhibition by determining the largest diameter of the colony formed by the development of P. solitum or P. brevicompactum in agar-solidified fermented milk with a concentration of 500 spores per spot, and its incubation for 7 days at a temperature of 25 °C; (3) the determination of the percentage of inhibition by determining the largest diameter of the colony formed by the development of P. solitum or P. brevicompactum and expressing the diameter as a percentage of the largest diameter formed under the same conditions but in the absence of the Lactobacillus fermentum strain. The invention further relates to compositions comprising the bacteria, methods for preparing fermented dairy products using the bacteria, and the products obtained in this manner.