[Antimutagenicity of propionic acid bacteria]

The antimutagenicity of the cell extracts of Propionibacterium shermanii VKM-103, P. pentosaceum CCM 1859 and P. acnes CCM 3322 against mutagenicity of sodium azide and N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine was demonstrated for the first time. The extracts of propionic acid cocci didn't show such effect. The antimutagenic factor acts as a desmutagen, has polypeptide nature and evidently is an enzyme (enzymes). The inhibitory effect of the extract is due to the presence of more than one protein factor in it.