Short communication: 3-Phenyllactic acid production in milk by Pediococcus pentosaceus SK25 during laboratory fermentation process

3-Phenyllactic acid (PLA) is a broad-spectrum antimicrobial compound, produced by a wide range of lactic acid bacteria. A novel lactic acid bacteria strain with high PLA-producing ability, Pediococcus pentosaceus SK25, was isolated from traditional Chinese pickles. When grown in de Man, Rogosa, Sharpe broth at 30°C for 36 h, this strain produced 135.6 mg/L of PLA. Using this strain as starter for milk fermentation, 47.2 mg/L of PLA was produced after fermentation for 12 h. The PLA production was significantly improved by phenylalanine supplement, but was completely inhibited by tyrosine supplement.