Molecular characterisation and biomass and metabolite production of Lactobacillus reuteri LPB P01-001: a potential probiotic

lactobacillus reuteri lpb p01-001 was isolated from the gastrointestinal tract of wild swine and was characterised by biochemical testing and sequencing of gene 16s rrna. a simple and low-cost culture medium based on cane sugar (2.5% p/v) and yeast extract (1% p/v) was used in the production of this probiotic. the fermentative conditions were a) ph control at 6.5 and b) no ph control; both were set at 37°c in a 12 l slightly stirred tank bioreactor. fermentation parameters such as the specific growth rate, productivity and yield of biomass, lactic and acetic acid levels were determined. l. reuteri lpb p01-001 behaves as an aciduric bacteria because it grows better in a low ph medium without ph control. however, the lactic acid production yield was practically half (9.22 g.l-1) of that obtained under a constant ph of 6.5, which reached 30.5 g.l-1 after 28 hours of fermentation. the acetic acid production was also higher under ph-controlled fermentation, reaching 10.09 g.l-1 after 28 hours of fermentation. these parameters may raise the interest of those committed to the efficient production of a probiotic agent for swine.