Physiological Characteristics and Immunomodulating Activity by Lactobacillus paracasei subsp. paracasei BFI46 Isolated from New-Born Infant Feces

In order to develop a new starter for fermented milk, Lactobacillus paracasei subsp. paracasei BFI46 (BFI46) obtained from new-born infant feces was investigated for physiological characteristics. Good immunomodulating activity was evident compared with commercial lactic acid bacteria starter cultures. The optimum growth temperature of BFI46 was 40℃ with 12 h required to reach pH 4.3. Testing with 13 different antibiotics revealed greatest sensitivity of BFI46 to penicillin-G and chloramphenicol, and heightened resistance to neomycin, kanamycin and polymyxin. BFI46 displayed higher esterase activities compared to 18 other enzymes, was comparatively tolerant to bile juice and able to survive at pH 2 for 3 h, and displayed high resistance against Escherichia coli and Salmonella Typhimurium with a survival rate of 57.14% and 96.36%, respectively. The results indicate that BFI46 could be an excellent starter culture for fermented milk with high level of immunomodulating activity.