Molecular Characterization and Identification of Bioactive Peptides Producing Lactobacillus sps. Based on 16S rRNA Gene Sequencing

Abstract

In the present study, 3 bacterial cultures were isolated from faecal samples of human infant. The biochemical traits showed similarity with Lactobacillus sps and 16S rRNA sequence analyses, confirmed as Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus casei, and Lactobacillus rhamnosus. The cultures were screened for their proteolytic activity and good ability to release peptides from milk proteins was found. Hence, these bacteria were used as a proteolytic starter culture for the fermentation of skim milk and whey for the liberation of small peptides. Bioactive nature of the peptides released from whey and skim milk was tested, and results demonstrated that peptides obtained after fermentation of whey and skim milk by Lactobacillus strains showed antimicrobial activity against all the pathogens causing food borne infections in humans. These peptides also indicated antioxidant as well as ACE (angiotensin-converting enzymes) inhibitory activity.