Production of a potentially probiotic culture of Lactobacillus casei subsp casei CECT 4043 in whey

Batch and fed-batch fermentations for the production of a highly concentrated culture of Lactobacillus casei CECT 4043 were carried out in whey-based media. In batch fermentation, the maximum concentrations of biomass (0.33 g L(-1)) and antibacterial activity (3.42 AU mL(-1)) were obtained in diluted whey medium (2% w/v lactose, initial pH 7.0) after 12 h. Based on these results, biomass and antimicrobial metabolites production in two re-alkalized fed-batch fermentations were carried out in diluted whey medium. The first fed-batch culture was fed with concentrated whey (5% w/v lactose) and a 400 g L(-1) concentrated lactose solution. The second culture, which was fed with a concentrated mussel processing waste (10% w/v glucose) and a 310 g L(-1) concentrated glucose solution, provided the highest concentrations of biomass (1.7 g L(-1)), viable cells (similar to 1.7 x 10(10) cfu mL(-1)), lactic acid (27.8 g L(-1)), acetic acid (3.9 g L(-1)) and antibacterial activity (74.2 AU mL(-1)). (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.