Lactic acid bacteria isolated from raw and fermented pork products: Identification and characterization of catalase-producing Pediococcus pentosaceus

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) from raw and fermented pork samples were screened for their inhibitory activity by an agar spot test in order to obtain a LAB strain with suitable property to be used as meat starter cultures. Among the 174 isolates, 73 were positive to inhibit at least one of the seven indicator bacteria, which were further characterized. The most suitable isolate was isolate P0805, identified as Pediococcus pentosaceus. This bacterium was catalase- and nitrate reductase-positive and amino acid decarboxylase-negative; moreover, it produced inhibitory substances against Salmonella Typhimurium with the activity of the partially purified inhibitory substances of 409,600 AU/mL. To further characterize the catalase-producing ability of P. pentosaceus P0805, the effect of hematin on its catalase activity in Sausage Model Broth (SMB) was evaluated, and it enhanced catalase production. The catalase activity was found in both SMB with and without hematin. It was concluded that catalase produced by this bacterium was heme-independent catalase.