Inhibition of Bacillus cereus in milk fermented with kefir grains

The effects of kefir-fermented milk were tested against a toxigenic strain of Bacillus cereus. The incubation of milk with B. cereus spores plus 5% kefir grains prevented spore germination and growth of vegetative forms. In contrast, when 1% kefir grains was used, no effects were observed. The presence of metabolically active kefir grains diminished titers of nonhemolytic enterotoxin A, as assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. During fermentation, kefir microorganisms produce extracellular metabolites such as organic acids, which could play a role in the inhibition of spore germination and growth of B. cereus, although the effect of other factors cannot be ruled out. Results of the present study show that kefir-fermented milk is able to antagonize key mechanisms involved in the growth of B. cereus as well as interfere with the biological activity of this microorganism.