BackgroundMulti-drug resistance in microorganisms is a serious problem at national as well as at a global level. Many researches have suggested alternatives to antibiotics with minimal or no major side effects. LAB is one of the most human-friendly probiotic strains known to mankind from times immemorial. With the objective to deal with progressing antibiotic resistance among microorganisms, the present work demonstrates the inhibitory activity of LAB consortium against MDR clinical isolates.MethodsTotal of nine hospital isolates of staphylococci were obtained and distinguished as S.aureus and coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (CoNS) based on their ability to ferment mannitol and form clumping with citrated plasma. All the test organisms were tested for antibiotic sensitivity with HiMedia (India) Octadisc Combi 92. Sets of L .plantarum, L .acidophilus and L.casei var. rhamnosus were prepared and tested against a standard culture of S.aureus NCIM 2129 by agar well diffusion method. To identify the primary source of substances responsible for inhibitory action, whole broth, cell-free supernatant, and cell lysate was prepared from the above-mentioned set. These were tested for their inhibitory action initially against standard S.aureus NCIM 2127, followed by clinical isolates.ResultsThe antibiotic sensitivity profile revealed that all clinical isolates were multi-drug resistant. The maximum inhibitory potential was seen in a combination of the three LAB in the ratio 1:1:1. Highest antagonistic activity was observed with whole broth and cell lysate of LAB consortium. In liquid broth assay, the cell lysate of LAB consortium astoundingly exhibited up to 85% inhibition of multi-drug resistant Staphylococcus isolates.ConclusionsOur results suggest antagonistic role of LAB metabolites against methicillin resistant staphylococci.

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The increased demand for Lactobacillus bacteria in industry and the developing probiotic sector prompts a quest for cost-effective prebiotics and fermentation medium that provide a high yield and quality of these bacteria. The mean doubling time of Lactobacilli identified the optimum concentration of honey and inulin as 0.5% and 5%, respectively. The effect of pH (2.5) on honey and inulin-supplemented lactic acid bacteria was observed to show an absorbance (620 nm) of 0.54 and 0.62, respectively, as compared to the control of 0.49 at 4 h. The prebioticsupplemented Lactobacillus strains were able to exhibit higher growth in presence of 0.4% bile salts, and 15% NaCl, and higher cell surface hydrophobicity as compared to Lactobacillus without supplementation of prebiotics. The effect of prebiotics on Lactobacillus strains in skimmed milk exhibited 2.31 times more growth, after 5 weeks of refrigerated storage. Kirby-Bauer assay confirmed the enhanced anti-methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus activity of Lactobacillus strains in prebiotic-supplemented skimmed milk. The study concluded that honey supplemented in skimmed milk can serve as potential growth and anti-MRSA enhancer for Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus acidophilus, and Lactobacillus casei var. rhamnosus.

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