Abstract:

Abstract The knowledge of lactic acid bacteria of raw milk and the main factors affecting their variability are particularly important issues for the control of cheese processing and the bioconservation of farm raw milk food products. The present research study concerned the isolation and identification of twenty strains of the Lactobacillus genus from goat milk originating from the Oulmes region, using the API 50 CH system. All isolates found represented five species: Lactobacillus plantarum (43.75 %), Lactobacillus brevis (37.75 %), Lactobacillus pentosus (6.25 %), Lactobacillus salivarus (6.25 %), and Lactobacillus acidophilus (6.25 %). According to biochemical activities, the majority of the strains displayed weak acidification and autolysis activities in milk. In contrast, they showed high extracellular proteolytic activity. All isolates produced exopolysaccharides and most of them could metabolize citrate. The absence of hemolytic activity may suggest the use of these isolates as adjunct starters in the food fermentation process.

Keywords: