Antimicrobial and antifungal activities of Lactobacillus curvatus strain isolated from homemade Azerbaijani cheese

The aims of this study were to characterize inhibitory activity spectra, some probiotic properties and safety of Lactobacillus curvatus A61 for its future application in production of fermented foods. The studied strain was isolated from traditional homemade cheese manufactured in Azerbaijan. The cell-free supernatant of culture of Lb. curvatus A61 inhibited the growth of tested LAB, as well as of Listeria monocytogenes and Bacillus cereus strains. The strain presented antifungal activity and inhibited the growth of Cladosporium and Fusarium ssp. during co-cultivation on agar media. PCR amplification with specific primers revealed the presence of curvacin A encoding gene in Lb. curvatus A61. Bacteriocin produced by the studied strain was heat stable and active in a broad pH range, and in the presence of Triton X-20, Triton X-80, Triton X-100, β-mercaptoethanol, Na-EDTA, SDS and NaCl. The mode of action of bacteriocin against selected indicator strains was found to be bacteriostatic. Lb. curvatus A61 was resistant to physiological concentrations of bile salts and showed high auto-aggregation ability, as well as co-aggregation ability with pathogenic L. monocytogenes strains. It was sensitive to chloramphenicol, penicillin, tetracycline, ciprofloxacin and vancomycin, but resistant to ampicillin and gentamicin.

► Bacteriocin producing Lb. curvatus strain with strong antilisterial activity was isolated.
► Antifungal activity against Cladosporium and Fusarium ssp. was detected.
► The strain exhibited the presence of curvacin A encoding gene.
► Bacteriocin was heat and pH stable and its mode of action was bacteriostatic.