Production of bacteriocin-like inhibitory substances (BLIS) by Bifidobacterium lactis using whey as a substrate

The objective of this work was to evaluate the production of bacteriocin-like inhibitory substances (BLIS) by Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis in whey supplemented with yeast extract, inulin, Tween 80 or L-cysteine. Cell growth, acidification, glucose and lactose consumption as well as BLIS production were measured during fermentations carried out in shake flasks. The best additive for both cell growth and BLIS production was shown to be yeast extract, which gave the highest concentrations of biomass (9.9 log CFU/mL) and BLIS (800 AU/mL). In a bench-scale fermenter, B. lactis growth and BLIS production were between 6 and 25 % higher than in flasks depending on the conditions assayed.