The aim of this study was to evaluate the functional properties of lactic acid bacteria from various sources and to identify strains for use as probiotics. Ten Lactobacillus strains were selected and their properties such as bile tolerance, acid resistance, cholesterol assimilation activity, and adherence to HT-29 cells were assessed to determine their potential as probiotics. Lactobacillus sp. JNU 8829, L. casei MB3, L. sakei MA9, L. sakei CH8, and L. acidophilus M23 were found to show full tolerance to the 0.3% bile acid. All strains without L. acidophilus M23 were the most acid-tolerant strains. After incubating the strains at pH 2.5 for 2 h, their viability decreased by 3 Log cells. Some strains survived at pH 2.5 in the presence of pepsin and 0.3% bile acid. Lactobacillus sp. JNU 8829, L. acidophilus KU41, L. acidophilus M23, L. fermentum NS2, L. plantarum M13, and L. plantarum NS3 were found to reduce cholesterol levels by >50% in vitro. In the adhesion assay, Lactobacillus sp. JNU 8829, L. casei MB3, L. sakei MA9, and L. sakei CH8 showed higher adhesion activities after 2 h of co-incubation with the intestinal cells. The results of this comprehensive analysis shows that this new probiotic strain named, Lactobacillus sp. JNU 8829 could be a promising candidate for dairy products.

Lactic acid bacteria were isolated from piglets and chicken and characterized. Lactic acid bacteria showing resistance to low pH and bile, adhesion to intestinal epithelium cells, and the inhibition of Escherichia coli and Salmonella spp. were identified as Lactobacillus acidophilus. L. acidophilus PF01 survived for 2 h in MRS broth adjusted to pH 2. L. acidophilus CF07 was less resistant than L. acidophilus PF01 to pH 2, but survived at pH 2.5 for 2 h. Both of isolates were able to grow in MRS broth containing 0.3% (w/v) bile, with L. acidophilus CF07 being more tolerant to bile than L. acidophilus PF01. L. acidophilus PF01 and CF07 adhered specifically to the duodenal and jejunal epithelium cells of piglet, and the cecal and duodenal epithelium cells of chicken, respectively. Both of isolates did not adhere to the epithelium cells of the various animal intestines from which they were isolated. When L. acidophilus was cultured with E. coli and Salmonella spp. in MRS broth, MRS broth containing 2% skim milk powder or modified tryptic soy broth at 37°C, L. acidophilus PF01 and CF07 inhibited the growths of E. coli K88 and K99, and S. enteritidis and S. typhimurium, respectively. Both of isolates were found to possess the essential characteristics of probiotic lactic acid bacteria for piglet and chicken. (Asian-Aust.